Chiconomical

Prints! Glorious prints! If 2018 has one thing that's going for it, it's the gorgeous animal prints and unless you're living under a rock, you've seen leopards everywhere! I for one am quite impressed with the comeback of the animal print (or did it never actually leave?) and feel so excited that it's now socially acceptable again to wear a full on animal print and not look tacky. I know, my sister's reading this and thinking (NO!!!) but I have actually loved animal prints for a long time and there is just something super sexy about leopard no?


Anyway, today's post is all about two things.

A. Leopard Print (erm, just stating that if you haven't yet understood it)
B. Scarves and how they be worn to the office as a sneaky way to make a statement
C. Workwear!!


Okay, so that's actually three things but then its Monday and you know we've got workwear to talk about. Well, today's outfit is my take on parisian chic workwear dressing. If that's a thing (if it isn't then it definitely should be). Since a lot of people do actually wear just a bunch of monochrome outfits to the office inspite of several attempts by yours truly to make then try new things like this post and this post, I do get it. Black is easy, black is comfy and it shows just how black our souls are aswell (just kidding, that last one only applies to me). But I'm giving you 5 quick ways a scarf can help you introduce a bit of trend into your workwear wardrobe without too much investment. Yes, you can wear it every single day of the week and still look interesting. You're welcome!

1. Neckking



Honestly, this is what every single parisian chic image looks like in my head. Minimal outfit, a scarf around the neck and minimal makeup. This look works with almost any block colour outfit. Of course, this works great for anyone who doesn't quite like wearing necklaces but still wants to add a pop of bright accessories to the look. Oh and bonus points because I'm usually always cold in the office so this keeps my neck warm and still feels like a super soft luxurious fabric too!

2. Tied Up



Right. This look is actually the most 'fashion forward' way to wear a scarf that I know of. Of course I made a complete mess of the wrist tying 'fashun' bit but I still like the way it's turned into a bracelete. It kind of reminds me of the using a necktie to tie people up in those bondage books and movies (I'm talking about the disaster that was Fifty Shades of Gray people). However, I still enjoy using a piece in unexpected ways and this is a grey way to show the leopard print in a very minimal way and the polka dots peeking from the folds is actually making me really happy!

3. Tiny Dancer



Yes, this is the same outfit as the one in the above two looks. Yes, I'd tucked in the peplum frill part (is it just called peplum or frill of peplum? I can't quite decide) into the pants and whipped it out for this look. I tied the scarf as a belt which pretty much becomes a statement piece for this look. I think this would work really well with jeans too. As long as you wear bottoms that don't need a belt (which is about 1 pair of jeans for me at the moment), this tucked into the belt loops instead of a regular belt is I think a great look!

4. Messy Bessy




5. Casual Chic

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! 

• Look for structure and clean lines. This means not wearing all those kurtas with too many layers of chiffon or ruffles. I've found that cotton clothes instantly lend a much more formal look. 
• Ironed! This is something I'm guilty of skipping at times too. However, if you want to wear Indian outfits to work, you need to iron them. There are so many outfits that are perfect for work, if only they were perfectly ironed. Seriosly, don't skip this step when it comes to workwear. 
• Monochrome outfits work best to make you look put together. Just like the outfit above, the easiest way to make Indianwear look office friendly is to keep the look monotoned. A monochrome outfit not only works well for office, it also makes you look much taller!
• Keep the print mixing to a miminal. Too many prints may make you look frumpy especially when it comes to Indian outfits. Since these have multiple separates, look for solid colors with prints used as accents for a more complete look. 
• Finally, make sure you look for comfortable silhouettes! The simplest way is to pick your favorite Indian piece and build your wardrobe from there! Remember, if you feel good you'll look good instantly! 

Happy Monday folks!! I'm so happy you could spare some time to drop by and take a look at today's post. The current heat wave in Mumbai has been literally melting our faces off and while we may have strong air-con in our offices, it still begs for weather friendly outfits. I happen to have a super strong air-con (it literally feels like Antarctica at work) but then every time I go out of the building for some work, I'm melting in the summer sun. That's exactly why I've started a series for this Month that's all about dressing for work in Mumbai.

My favorite print for any season, as you all know very well already, is stripes! Now I'm not usually much for full price shopping (and even if I do buy something full price, I have to be super convinced it's worth it) but I still find that I love some brands simply because they do make quality products. Warehouse is just one of these all time favorite ones and while I can almost never afford anything Warehouse (it's just so expensive, even on sale!!) sometimes I put my pennies together and get myself a little treat. This dress was exactly that and while I may have worn it in real life, I didn't feel comfortable enough putting it on the blog. However, since it represents the part where it's okay to splurge (as long as it's not everything full price) sometimes, I decided to put it here. It's not my usual street buy, but it's still worth every penny simply for the joy it sparks!






A simple printed dress is the best option when it coming to summer dressing in India. Since the weather is too hot for anything else. Look for dressing in thicker fabrics since you don't want to end up in a transparent outfit at the end of the day. Think cotton or linen fabrics, think simple cuts and cool colors. Honestly, I think Mumbai summer will be spent wearing whites and more whites. If your office doesn't support cuts like this dress, I suggest wearing a thin kimono or cotton jacket on it for work. A pair of classic pumps and a structured bag and you're done. It's just that simple.

The length of this dress makes it great for work and the tie-belt at the waist is great for clinching in the waist. Overall, a dress like this makes workwear simple, easy and weather appropriate.

Happy Monday folks! One of the things that I get asked about the most is how to dress for work in a way that you can take the same look from work to a party. It's always hard to find an outfit that will work in both cases. However, sometimes you come across that one piece that will take you from day to night and give you a completely different look! That's what I discovered when I found this absolutely gorgeous piece in the Zara Sale a while back. I've worn it multiple times to work already and believe me, its an absolute go to piece in my wardrobe for lots of occasions!



Look 1: The Day Time Look




This first look is all about the working girl. This striped with its cap sleeves and extremely demure neckline is perfect for wearing under a blazer. Yes, I'd only wear it with a blazer and you'll find out exactly why in a bit. You can wear this with a classic pencil skirt (which is a complete essential if you're a working woman) and a structured blazer. You could also wear it with your staple black trousers the way I am. Personally, its a versatile piece that works with anything. Oh, and did I mention, the vertical stripes are also great for making you look slimmer!

Look 2: The Night Time Look






The second look is something I'm super excited about. I told you you'd need to wear this top with a blazer right? Well now you know why! The easiest hack you can find to take a look from a working day to a night party is to flip it around. Think tops with interesting back details like this one, or an interesting neckline. It's such a simple hack that you literally can look like you've put in the effort to dress up without doing anything more than take a quick trip to the restroom! Yes, I think these tops are lifesavers when it comes to taking a look from day to night! Actually you can wear your off shoulder tops with jackets to work and then just shrug out of the jacket for a night time look!

That's it folks! Next time you're out shopping, keep an eye out for a top with an interesting cut. It'll be an investment that will pay twice its price. In case you have such a top in your closet, go explore how you can wear it differently!

Links à la Mode, March 9, 2017

• A Sequin Love Affair:What the Heck is Body Positivity Anyway?
• Chiconomical: Office Chic: Power Dressing for The Modern Indian Woman
• Deluxe Redux: Making Mainbocher: The First American Couturier
• Elements of Ellis: All Black Outfit
• Have Clothes, Will Travel: My Team Instinct Outfit
• La Veine: Jobs in Fashion
• Minnie Muse: As Seen on my Blog
• Turning Point: How I Am Changing My Blog
• Smile Is It: A Capsule Wardrobe

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Let's face it, we've all been there. No matter how much we try to be cool and chic at the office, something always gets in the way and we end up dressing in drab boring clothes. Maybe your alarm didn't go off on time, maybe you planned your perfect Monday outfit but spilled coffee on it (yes, we've all done it sometime), maybe you didn't really plan and simply didn't have time. Don't worry, I've got you covered! Like last time, when we spoke about my first tip to anyone who wants to add some chic interest to their wardrobe lets get onto today's tip

Today's Boring to Interesting Tip: Attention to Details! (See last week's tip here)





You don't have to invest a lot in making things interesting. Sometimes, just a simple hint of lace or frill can make a boring old outfit go from drab to fab. Today's look features one of my all time favorite skirts that has been in my office dressing arsenal for around two years now. The color is everyday but the little lace trim at the bottom makes it superb for work. I have always gotten a compliment when I wear it. The lace balances out the slight power shoulder thing that's going on at the top and keeps you from looking too overbearing. Seriously, whenever you go shopping for workwear, pay attention to details!

For instance, when looking for a white shirt, my office dressing tip is to find one with detailing. This is exactly what makes you stand out in the sea of other white shirts. If looking for skirts, look for those with maybe an interesting back. Can't find the perfect workwear skirt? Not to worry! The easiest way to make a simple black skirt interesting is some DIY. Get a bit of trimming in any style you like (it can be lace, crochet, beads, anything) and add it to your skirt. Maybe at the hemline like mine or at the sides at the seams? The possibilities are endless. Just make sure to keep the color palette muted since you don't want to look like a shiny disco ball when you step out to work (unless you work at a club, and in that case, Bring on the Sequins!!!). Really, if you pay attention to details when you shop, then even that 'last minute rushing to catch the bus while eating breakfast outfit' for work will end up looking interesting!

Hope this has given you some insight into what to look for the next time you shop for workwear. I personally think that you can rock trends to work without looking frumpy and over the top. Come back next week for some more tips for making working interesting!