Chiconomical

We've all been there, we invest in work clothes, then we need party clothes and then suddenly all our clothes are too shiny and we need something for those sunday brunches because just when you found the perfect club dress, brunches are all the rage and those sequins just won't cut it! Oh yes, and now you have a closet full of pretty clothes but There's nothing to wear!

This is exactly why I try and figure out ways to make workwear do double duty so that it seamlessly s goes from work, to party without even changing what you're already wearing! Waaa!!!

A simple piece (and you may have heard me talk about it only about a 100 times) that every girl needs in her wardrobe for any occasion is the pencil skirt. While solid colors work best because they'er super easy to transition with the right pairings, if you're someone who likes prints, I'd say go for one in bright but not neon prints. The trick is finding prints that do not look out of place in the office (meaning best to leave those all over sequins skirts home) but still can look good in the evenings. However, for this look I wanted to give you a simple idea on how to make a black skirt work for pretty much anything.



The first look is something I have worn to the office multiple times (as my work colleagues will readily attest to I'm sure). This skirt is a simple piece that I bought around 3 years ago when I just started working a corporate job and while it isn't available, there's quite a few similar ones out there (linking them in the outfit details). The top is a classic street buy that has been worn countless times. I paired it with classic workwear pieces like my trusty black blazer and sensible pumps.





The second look is literally the first look going to play. For this, I took off the blazer, did a little tuck and roll for the top and switched out my workwear flats for heels. Add a statement belt and darker lipstick and you're ready to take the party scene by storm.

Now I know I promised you a how to take it to brunch in the intro (or atleast implied one) and I always keep my promises. If you're wondering how to take a pencil skirt to brunch, don't worry girl, I've got you covered. Swing by next week to check out the latest. In the meantime, why not go check out my take on other classics? There's a lovely article about layering for Mumbai weather here and in case you've got some workwear woes then you can sign up for the Chiconomical Newsletter and get to talk to me directly! Plus you get style tips delivered straight to your inbox! 

Am I filmy? Oh definitely not. I did not have the old Indian actresses as an inspiration for this look when I started creating it, but that's certainly what came out. A very simple, Indian classic, minimalist look, if you've got a boy who loves old Indian movies and dreams or dating the gorgeous actors from it, why not dress the dream? Oh, and you can even swing by one of those wedding events by just upstyling your hair!

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!

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!

It's Day 2 of Navratri! Did you guys have a fabulous time yesterday? I hope you celebrated in your own little way, maybe by dancing the night away, or maybe by praying. It's a new day and today's color is Green. Now I'm somebody who didn't own a lot of green till a while back. However, recent additions (thanks in large part to my sister) have made this post possible and honestly, it's more about giving you ideas to kickstart a style process than the colors. Today's post has my favorite office look (I really would wear it to work if it wasn't for my hairy legs). Anyway, let's get back to today's looks. Just like yesterday, I'm sharing three different look ideas with you guys, one for any kind of mood that strikes your fancy!

1. The Indowestern work look:


2. The Modern Desi Girl:



3. The Hardcore Desi Babe:

Denim in summer? You've got to be kidding. If this is what you think then worry not, today's post explains all about wearing denim effortlessly in summer without boiling and no, I'm not talking about denim shorts. While denim shorts are the perfect summer staple, sometimes you just need something different and dressier if you want to wear denims in summer.










Today's outfit is a simple way to wear denims in summer. Actually since the outfit was for a night out, I decided to add another layer in case the night got chilly. Yes! This is how you can wear denim and layer and still be perfectly cool in summer. A denim bralet or croptop is something you've probably seen on a lot of social media posts (including mine btw, I have actually shared this outfit on my Instagram before). I shot this look a couple of months ago and was supposed to share it much earlier but somehow it never really made it to the blog. However, now that it's going live I'm falling in love with the whole look all over again. A simple way to style denim on denim is to find separates that look part of a set. This skirt is actually a buy from Spoyl and the top was something I found on one of those 'I'm not going to shop but just look' days. Yep, I ended up buying this denim bralet/croptop piece for, hold your breath, 200 bucks!

Here are some of my hacks to wear denims in summer:

• Denim can be worn in summer as a layer! Think sun dress with denim jacket. Think a denim vest. Anything really that works with simple cotton clothes, is a great way to wear denim without burning up in summer. 
• Your legs need breathing space. No seriously, give all those skinny fit denims a miss and get yourself a line skirts or even shorts. Your legs will thank you for it, believe me! 
• Knit is everything. The knit of the denim will define the thickness and this means you need to pay attention to the fabric. Really, even if you wear denim shorts, if they don't let your body breathe, they're useless for the summer. 
• Less is more! Okay. you maybe didn't need me to point this out for you but less is more when it comes to wearing denim in summer. Maybe just DIY your plain white tshirt with a denim patch from your old jeans? Yep, its something I've been itching to try and it would look absolutely fab! 
• Finally, if you think that inspite of everything you're most comfortable in your old denim jeans, then go for it! Seriously, the classics will always work, but just make sure to stay out of the scorching heat!