Chiconomical

Happy Diwali folks! Honestly, I've had a rough few weeks and this lookbook is literally coming out on Diwali day which I know isn't ideal but I hope it helps all you guys who are like me and have been working like crazy while trying to keep healthy at the same time. Or if you ended up with five hundred diwali party invitations for the week and can't actually afford to buy new outfits for every single party, this post is going to help you mix in your Diwali pieces with everyday clothes to create new, interesting (well, atleast for me) outfits! So with the festive spirit, let's dive into this post.

1. Shirt with a statement skirt



We're starting off with something that is super simple and uses two of my favorite things, a simple white shirt (and you KNOW I absolutely love it!) and a denim jacket. This look is for breaking up and using your regular office pieces. I added a denim jacket simply because I think that's a great addition to the regular look. If you're looking for an outfit for a house party, this could be the look for you.

2. All Monochrome Look



This look is for people who like minimal Diwali outfits. One thing that I always notice when I see the crazy expensive celebrity Diwali outfits is that they are actually quite minimal. If you're trying to look put together but still not worry about looking too loud, wearing a monochrome outfit makes you look well dressed and actually doesn't require a lot of effort. Just match shades and you're good to go!

3. Saree as a skirt/Maxi Dress



While I love wearing sarees as half-sarees, this look is actually highly inspired by something I saw on a draping website and think it looks so fierce. Draping has so many variations out there at the moment and I just had to create this look as we cannot not include a saree in an Indian outfit roundup. However, this look can be done with any plain saree too, you don't need an expensive fancy saree (the one I'm wearing is Rs. 1313) and just add the pleats to make it look good. I layered it over a plain black jumpsuit and the overall look is simple but striking!

4. Crop top and skirt as a flared kurta



This is yet another thing you've seen before. I've actually seen Komal Pandey show this with a ridiculously heavy lehenga and girls, I have my doubts on that if we're being honest but I like the idea. I added a simple maxi skirt to a full sleeved cold shoulder t-shirt and added a belt to make sure the skirt is secure in place. A pair of trousers masquerading as leggings and a black dupatta and you have your very own DIY anarkali. If you aren't a dupatta girl, you can most certainly skip it and wear this outfit the way it is with a pair of statement earrings and a whole lot of twirling!

5. Denims and a Jacket



Finally, if you're someone who cannot NOT wear their denims, even if it is the festive season, this look is for you. You can turn an uber casual outfit into a dressy look by simply throwing on a statement jacket. I'm using a jacket in a jacquard fabric that does all the work. If your statement piece isn't as long as mine, you can definitely wear what you have. Anything with an ethnic print or even a button down with an ethnic print or a shirt dress in something earthy works just as well. The trick is to add those pieces as layering pieces that can make your look go from everyday to boho chic.

I hope this post isn't too late for you to get some last minute inspiration for Diwali. Since we've just finished Navratri, I've actually reused a lot of pieces I wore for the Navratri style series since I firmly believe that you should be able to get the most out of the super expensive outfits that you buy for festivals and special occasions. If you enjoyed this lookbook please don't forget to comment down below with your favourite looks. I love hearing from you and it means a lot when you take the time to tell me your thoughts!

Day 1! Every single year I get over excited when it comes to Navratri Dressing. While I don't always enjoy the dancing bit (and my sister will attest to that fact loud and clear), I do enjoy the outfits. Last year, we did a 9 day long crazy series where I styled three outfits for the colours for each day and of course, after the massive response I got to those posts, I decided we'd do it again this year! There's going to be a lot of pieces that we'll reuse by style differently so you've got more looks to choose from! I'd love for you to swing by my posts from last year and check them out here.


Well, time to dive right in to today's colour. We're starting Navratri styling with a bang with one of my all time favourite colours, Royal Blue! Now, this is a super bold colour and while I have accent pieces in it, I only have one complete mad piece that is my royal blue jumpsuit! It's never really made an appearance on the blog before so I'm super excited to share it with you. While this particular piece is sold out, there's a few lovely ones you can still get your hands on like this one that's only Rs. 525 or this one that's got some dainty straps!

1. The Minimalist Maven




So you've actually gone to the Navratri event after spending a few hundred hours slaving in the office and obviously have your work bag that has no space after you've added that laptop, notebook, five packed 'healthy' meals (cos we all know we spend all our time in the office), that old guitar pic (how is that even there is a complete mystery) and that last minute makeup for when you've not had the time to put it on (erm...everyday). Well, this is a look that is minimal and can be created by literally carrying the pieces you need in a corner of your handbag. Honestly, I love a minimal look and while navratri outfits can be all about being over the top, there's something quite lovely about just a minimalist, clean look.

2. The Boho Balika


Well I know twirling is a major part of Navratri. There's just something magical about an outfit that can twirl. Well, why not give the regular loud skirts a fresh twist and wear them as a long top instead? I actually used an aline kurta and wore it one shoulder on top of my jumpsuit. The trick is to either add a belt so that it helps avoid any inadvertent peep shows while you dance or just layer it on top of a piece such as a jumpsuit the way I did. Either way, don't forget to twirl and show the pretty flare (even if I haven't quite managed to master the twirl on self timer shot yet).

3. The Mashup Queen




Well, this is honestly the look I'd have when I want to stand out, be over the top and still look bohemian AF! Navratri for me is all about fusing traditional and modern aesthetics and is a festival that holds a special place in my heart. For this look, I decided to wear a simple cotton saree as a half saree on top of my jumpsuit. Then, to keep everything secure and give me freedom to do pretty much anything while still wearing a saree (that I usually am super nervous about) I added a belt to keep all the pleats in place. A few accent pieces and a messy updo and you're ready with a fusion outfit that is unique but practical too!

And that's it for today folks. In case you're interested, I'd highly recommend checking out my other Navratri posts. There's over a dozen outfits in a wide variety of styles that can help you figure out fresh way to style your existing pieces. We shall meet again tomorrow! So stay tuned!

Don't forget to swing by the Instagram feed since I do have several more style ideas that I'll be posting there daily through the entire festive season!

PS: Need some serious help in styling yourself this Navratri? Just join my free Pinterest community and I'll instantly help you with any style problems you might have!

Diwali! It's right round the corner and I bet you're all rushing around to get your houses ready and shopping and finding new bits for yourself! I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little excited but at the same time, completely frazzled with the idea of dressing up for Diwali. I think Diwali Outfit Ideas are something that get harder every year. I've shared some tips every year without fail and this year I simply didn't know what new things I could offer. So here's my take on it. What's one of my favorite things to wear? A maxi. So that's exactly what I'll be using to style myself and share some tips and tricks on refashioning your maxi skirts/dresses and creating a festive outfit.

Unlike most other Jewellry heavy posts you might see on other blogs, these looks are going to be rather fuss free and will focus on drapes and minimalism. Oh PS, in case you have any specific pieces your struggling with, send me a picture with #Chiconomical on any social media and I'll help you out! Anyway, let's get started!

1. Banjaran Batgirl





Okay, disclaimer time. Dad saw me shooting this look and said I looked like batgirl and I couldn't resist putting that as the title of this look. Now you're probably wondering, where the heck is the maxi dress in this look? Well, I had a button front maxi (which I got from Bombay Paisley) and decided it would be a good idea to wear it as a skirt. Then I thought, one isn't enough and paired it with yet another maxi skirt. I added a scarf as a headband and a single statement bracelet. If you're a banjaran at heart, this is definitely the look for you!

2. Modern Desi




Sometimes, the simplest things are the best. I decided since the print on this maxi dress was so beautiful, I had to do justice to it. Since even the extra small was still to big, I clenched it in at the waist with the scarf. This square scarf that's featured in all my posts has been in my life just for a day but it's quickly become an obsession. I think this is going to be seen in numerous posts

3. Desi Drapes

The thing about maxi dresses is that sometimes we're too afraid to mix things up. This look is exactly like the one before and has but one simple twist. I layered the maxi skirt from before and unbuttoned the maxi to switch up the neckline. Yet another fun thing that you can do is to wear your maxi skirt at your natural waist like this look. Created a paperbag waist by using, yep, the same scarf as the first one. A paperbag waist is something you don't always associate with Indian outfits but it's still very modern and if you've got a stretch waist skirt, I highly recommend you try it!

And that's it folks! I hope I've inspired you to try something new this Diwali. If you're still looking for more style inspiration, why not check these posts from some more style inspiration. There's a post for girls who don't like Indian outfits, and another that helps you dress up at the last minute for Diwali! Go check them out today!

Happy Monday folks! Navratri is over and if you're like me you're probably wondering what on earth you're gonna do with all those festive clothes. Read on if you need an answer to this problem!





In my book, the hardest thing to reuse is the flashiest blouse you've got. It's short, its embroidered and it's got a low back and all of these things equal big no-nos for the office. So of course I had to bring you a look that makes this complicated piece perfect for the office. Here, I paired by embroidered blouse with high waisted trousers. I added a long jacket to hide the low cut back and add a bit of structure to the whole look. Together, this look is perfect for the office and is perfectly polished and put together without being overly dressy.

If you've got a dressy blouse lying around in your closet that you think is only fit to be worn on festivals, think again. All it needs is a bit of imagination and you've got yourself a unique new outfit! If you've done something similar why not share it with me? I love to see how you use the ideas shared here. Go on, share with me on Social Media, you can reach me on Facebook or Instagram! 

Hello hello! It's day 3 and if you've just popped over to the blog, then let me fill you in. Since its Navratri, the nine day festival that's celebrated in India, I'm sharing 3 indo-western ways to wear on particular color for every.single.day of the festival. You heard me! That means there are 3 new looks that hit the blog everyday. In case you haven't seen them yet, here are the looks for the first two days! (Day 1 | Day 2)

Grey, this is a color that not many people associate with festivities. I for one didn't really know I could make it look fun till I started planning this post. Greys are good for giving yourself a break from the riot of colors that we always associate with festivals. This was supposed to go up yesterday but then life simply got in the way and that meant I needed to delay it by a day. But hey, better late than never! However, to make up for it, I've shared 4 looks for you!! And since I wanted to give you an indowestern look guide, every look here is designed to inspire you to use what you already own.

Look 1: Power Dressing


Look 2: Desi Working Girl




Think you can't wear pants with traditionals? Think again! Why not let your accessories do all the talking? Pair your statement accessories with trousers with a bit of ethnic touch and you've got an outfit that's workwear appropriate but still makes you stand out. A simple silver belt and a statement coin necklace take this look from normal to navratri approriate!