Chiconomical

Holiday and saree isn't a combination I would have thought I'd consider before last year. While saree is extremely underrated in mainstream dressing, holidays for some reason instantly translate to bikinis and flowy dresses. Nobody seems to be reaching for a saree on holiday and this post is created just to help you rock the saree on a holiday! Read on and pick your favourites.

In case you missed it, this is almost like part 2 of the post that went up two days ago. Make sure to check it out, it has 6 amazing looks using the maxi skirt used in this post!

1. Half Saree


The easiest drape that can literally be worn on a trek, a party and pretty much any holiday-ey activity you can think of is the half saree. All you need to do is pleat it all the way to the end at the front and drape the pallu the way you normally would. It's super easy and gives you a unique but functional outfit. While I'm wearing a maxi skirt, you can just as easily wear this with a pair of denims or pants or even shorts. Really, go experiment and I promise you'll not be disappointed.

2. Cosy Drape



A half saree with a slightly different twist. For this, all that I've done is really just lengthen the pallu and drape it around your neck. It's simple but still gives a fresh new twist to an everyday outfit. This also works well if you want to add an extra layer on top like a coat but not ruin how your saree looks. Personally, I love wearing it this way when I don't want the pallu to be snagged while I walk.

3. Saree Skirt



Finally, a simple style but you literally get a new skirt from it. All you do is pleat the saree around your waist as you go around tucking it. It takes only a couple of minutes and is a lovely way to breathe some new life into a saree you didn't think you'd like wearing. Simple, sustainable and super easy to do!



I hope these three looks have given you some styling inspiration. If you need a bit more visual help, you should for sure check out my Instagram video that shows you how I create all these saree styles. If you do decide to try any of these looks out, please don't forget to tag me because you deserve to be featured and that's exactly what we'll do! Let's share our takes on styling and inspire others shall we!!

Outfit Details:
Saree: Rs. 1313, Suta (buy here)

Do you like sequins? I personally think sequins are so very underrated and deserve a moment in the spotlight. I know what you're thinking, can I spend so much money on sequins that I can't realistically wear everyday? Well, if you only adjust your perspective a little bit and try and push your boundaries, I think you'll be able to get more bang for your buck using the outfit tricks I'm sharing below. Yes, it might not be a piece for you but if you do own something flashy or shiny, the style tips I'm sharing below would work just as well. Read on to see my slight struggle and eventual triumph with sequins.



Right. So full disclosure, I was extremely vary of sequins till around 2 years ago. However, I went to an annual charity sale that I support, saw these trousers and thought to myself, ' It's for charity... might aswell try something completely left of my comfort zone and if it doesn't work, atleast I know my money isn't going to a big corporate machine but helping kids learn'. So that's exactly the thought that made me buy these pants. Cut to this year when I realised I wasn't wearing them because I was scared. I had of course done loads of research into how to wear these but somehow didn't do it (taunts self with chants of 'Chicken!!'). Anyway, that's exactly why I decided to create this post because if all else fails, you guys will be my inspiration to create new outfits!

1. The Casual Chica



This is honestly the easiest way to dress anything down. Just add a tshirt and anything fancy will suddenly look a lot more toned down. I bought this tshirt off the streets and while it's a little oversized it just adds to the slouchiness of the overall look. The pants are well fitted which means you end up with an outfit which is a mix of casual but chic. Of course, sequins are more of an evening wear piece but with this look, they make for a great daywear outfit too! Of course, confidence is essentially a major part of feeling that you can pull this look off so don't skimp out on that!!

2. Classy Office Party





I know parties will usually make you envision pretty dresses and heels but why not turn that idea around? If you've got a pair of bright printed or sequinned pants, pairing them with a simple black top/jumper/turtleneck (essentially whatever you own) is just the ticket! I idea is to keep the colours in the same shade range. A solid coloured top in black can help balance the bright bottoms and help create a more put together look. It's the easiest thing in the world honestly. Just pick everything in a single shade and then add a single statment piece. For me it's these trousers but you could also just wear all black and add a simple statement necklace or jacket. Idea is to let one piece be the hero piece and shine through!

3. Mad Party Girl



Okay. Cards on the table, I know a lot of you will probably love this look and a lot will run away till the blinding lights off my look fade away. I understand that completely! However, I wanted to give you lot an option that is a little out of the 'norm' when it comes to wearing statement pieces because I think fashion is a lot about making your personal statement irrespective of the rules. All those rules about not pairing sequins with sequins? Throw them out of the window and wear whatever the hell you want girl! Honestly, there's something so refreshing about wearing a head to toe statement look that you'll feel empowered just because you're in that outfit. Clothes have the power to give us confidence and this look does exactly that. I paired my sequinned jumper with the sequin pants and the result is mad, it's out there and it's (in my head atleast) absolutely stunning! Go ahead, break those rules and you might be surprised at the end result!

I hope these looks give you some insight into how you can style your very own statement trousers. I know a lot of these outfits are not for everyone but I really think it's sometimes just about stepping out of what you enjoy and atleast trying something new when it comes to your personal style. You might hate it, you might love it but you'll definitely learn from it!

PS: I'm doing a little style series on my Instagram so make sure you're following me there so that you can get even more style inspo!!

Happy Tuesday friends! We're just a few days away from Republic day and I know you all have some patriotic function to attend. Whether it's for school, college, university, office, or just a get together in the building, we always have something to celebrate the day and it's quite right too! Now while I know there are a lot of those orange white and green lookbooks out there (I've done a few myself) I thought I'd share three simple looks you can create with a basic saree. Granted, my saree is more cream than white and that's because I'm on a no shop month and that means I can't quite indulge in getting myself a Suta white which is right up there on my list at the moment. However, this lookbook can definitely be used with any colour saree that you have that is appropriate for the Republic day. The idea is to give you some styling inspiration!



Classic Repulic Day Tricolor Look





For this look, I wanted to create a simple yet striking outfit. While I wish I could say I have several things in all these colours of the Indian flag, but the fact is.. I don't. Which meant that I add a bit of orange using flowers. This is a smart way to add an extra colour to a look without overpowering the outfit in my book. The 'blouse' is actually a crop top and the saree is one I bought from my trip to Kerala a couple of years ago. I bet you have atleast one white or off white saree lying around the house (mom's, friend's or your very own). This is a look that can be easily recreated using it. If you don't have a blouse in an appropriate colour, you can easily swap it out with just more flowers in your hair. Simple, striking no mush no fuss!

Boho Republic Day Tricolor Look




Is half saree my favourite way to wear a saree? Why yes it is! I love the fusion that I like to think of as the best of both worlds which means that I can walk around like I'm wearing pants (hop, skip jump) and still have the elegance of a saree. I added a pair of burnt orange dhoti pants and wore the same saree as before as a half saree and kept the rest of the look essentially the same! Simple, classic and super fun to walk around in.

Faux couture Republic Day Tricolor Look



For the final look, I decided I wanted to do something a little out there. I added a statement dupatta in orange and draped it so that it almost looks like it's part of the saree. It's simple but a great way to keep warm. This can totally work with any saree or even a shawl in a contrasting colour. It definitely is a little bit out there but I somehow felt like a couture queen when I wore this and it's possibly one of my recent favourite styling ventures.

And that's all folks! I hope you liked these looks and they gave you a little bit of inspiration to dress up for Republic day. In case you haven't noticed, I'd also like to proudly point out the not so fancy eyeshadow that I tried for these looks. Yes it isn't the greatest but I hope I'm getting better in creating these looks and you have to tell me if it's any good or if its a lost venture. Here's wishing you all a very Happy Republic Day! Don't forget to share your looks with me on social media using #Chiconomical. I stalk that hashtag like crazy and I'd love to see you use some of these styling tricks for yourself.



PS: In case you want even more republic day inspiration, I craeted an IGTV video that you can totally check out. Click here for the IGTV Video!

Hello folks! Yes I know it isn't Tuesday and we're technically posting this on Thursday but I've been rather unwell and the last three days have seen me being essentially a pillow on the bed all day and night! However, I'm so excited for today's post since it features this jumper that I've worn literally all December and it is absolutely lovely. However, I know a lot of people get stuck in the rut of wearing it with their denims and essentially using it as a casual outfit. Well, if that's you my friend, read on to figure out three ways that you can wear an oversized jumper and style it in a way that's totally appropriate for the crazy after work party!

1. Flowers and Metals



The oversized pink jumper is something seen as a casual piece and the trick to making it party appropriate is to add it a statement piece with it. I am a huge fan of metallic skirts and think they instantly make a look more interesting and polished. For this look, I wanted to created a fancy brunch look that can definitely work for an evening at the theater and dinner after (okay, I might just be dreaming of going to the theater since I realised I haven't seen a single play in 2018!). The floral scarf is just something that adds a bit of softness to an otherwise loud look.

2. Monotone



The easiest way to look put together is to wear a single colour and add a statement piece if needed. For this look, I paired my oversized jumper with a pair of trousers in the same shade of pink and added a statement necklace. I kept the rest of the look simple otherwise and added a structured bag. This is a look that I've actually worn to a couple of meetings in December and it is super comfortable but still looks professional. I'd say you can totally swap out the solid trousers with a pair of more statement trousers for a party in the evening.

3. Winter Mini


Finally, we're creating that classic winter look that I've literally worn for several years now. I am super awkward when it comes to wearing mini skirts but somehow, the only time I do bring them out is the winters. Yes! I actually think a pair of knee-high boots with a mini skirt is the best way to be covered, warm a just a little bit sexy! I paired the jumper with a simple corduroy mini skirt from shein (which I'm putting up for sale cos I don't wear it nearly enough) and the overall look is just so chic and comfy I can't really stop wearing it! If you've got a mini skirt you don't feel comfortable wearing on it's own, pair it with knee high boots. The added coverage gives you the needed confidence to feel subtly sexy!!



And that's all folks! I thought it would be a good idea to share these looks with you since I've actually worn them all a whole lot in December. While Mumbai (that's where I live for those of you who don't know) is now slowly moving towards higher mercury measurements, I hope these looks can help you get more out of your jumpers if you do have a cold spell where you live! In fact, if you do use these tips to style yourselves I'd love to see it. Please tag your looks with #Chiconomical so we can all share the love and joy!!

Outfit Details: 

Pink Jumper: Rs. 800, Glamorous from Koovs
Silver Pleated Skirt: Rs. 1790, Zara
Floral Scarf: Rs. 599, QuirkBox
Structured Bag: Rs. 1000, Hong Kong Night Market
Mini Skirt: Rs. 500, Shein
Hat: Rs. 649, Shein
Over the Knee Boots: Rs. 1200, Koovs
Pink Trousers: Rs. 899, H&M
Statement Necklace: Baublebar, Gifted

Sarees in winter? Oh I know what you're thinking because I was thinking exactly the same thing which was, 'Oh no way! I refuse to freeze to death!'. However, 2019 is that year of finding yourself right? Well, let's pretend it is and power on because that's what you can do in life! While I was terrified of a saree for a long time, now I think there's some serious power in the nine yards and one of my goals for this year is to wear it atleast once a month. Even if there is no special reason. Even if there is no party that says the dress code is ethnic. A saree doesn't need a reason to be worn am I right ladies?

But I know something that I struggle with quite a bit...and that's rewearing a saree and looking boring in it. It's also the fact that I don't want to look older than I am (even if it's extremely superficial to think this way, I do!). Which is why I created this post to show off how you can just switch up the drape a little bit and still look different each time!

1. The Classic Saree Drape


This is the most common drape and really, it defines what anybody thinks of first when they think of a saree. Of course, we're starting with simple things and that means this simple yet timeless saree drape. For all the looks I've paired my black turtleneck with my saree so that you can really get a sense of how to recreate looks using the same basic pieces. Remember, before thinking of buying a new saree, it's worthwhile to rethink how to wear the one you already own!

2. The Belted Saree Drape



This is possibly my most favourite way to wear a saree. It doesn't require any fancy shenanigans, all you need to do is take the end off your shoulder (called a pallu incase anybody's interested or didn't know) and wrap it around your neck the way you would a long scarf. Next, arrange the pleats and add a simple belt to it to clinch your waist and ensure you aren't drowning in fabric. This keeps your chest warm and can also work as a layer over which you can add your long coat. In fact, I did this very thing in a saree tutorial that I shared on my Instagram videos. If you still need more style inspiration, that's the place to go but more on that at the end of this post!

3. The Saree Skirt Drape



Finally, we can't have a three ways to wear without a bit of whimsy. For this look, instead of wearing my saree as a well...saree, I decided to wear it as a skirt! The trick is quite simple, all you need to do is wear a saree the way you normally would and then instead of draping the pallu across, you wrap it around your skirt and voila, you have a skirt that's going to be the envy of lots of people out there! Think avante garde, straight of the ramp kinda vibes. (Well, atleast in my head and that's the most important part right?)

And those are my super quick ways to inject some fun into the regular saree drapes you create. If you still need more style inspiration, I actually created a short video on my Instagram (yes I told you about it before didn't I) that gives you a chance to see how you can style this very saree and jumper in three more ways. No faffing around (okay a little bit, but then it's me, what do you expect?), no fancy video editing, just straight up simple style pointers that you can use in your everyday winter wardrobe. You can watch the video here.

If you enjoyed this post, please don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter where I'm going to be starting a series where you get all the behind the scenes, the inside look at my style choices and yes, all those secret sale buys that I think are worth your coins. While I've let my newsletter slide over the last year, this year is going to definitely see a revival of that email connection and you don't want to miss out on it do you! Subscribe here!

Outfit Details:
Saree: Rs. 899, Ajio (similar ones here, here and here)
Turtleneck : Rs. 1299, Mango (similar but cheaper one from Ajio here)
Boots: Rs. 1299, Zara, Thrifted
Necklace: Rs. 350, Janpath Online
Earrings: Rs. 350, Janpath Online
Bag: Rs. 1000, Label Life

Happy 2019 people! My excitement at being able to start this year with a three ways post actually knows no bounds! There's so much I want to share with you guys and I hope this post sets it up nicely. This year I hope to celebrate style with you and hopefully find new ways to inspire you to rework your old clothes in new, fun and fashionable ways.
Today's hero piece is something I bought on a whim last year because it was on sale, and because I told myself it was a basic. However, the fact that I live in a tropical country meant that I wasn't quite able to use it as much as I should have. Cards on the table... I took of the tags just last month. However, since this year is going to be about styling over buying, it couldn't have been better than this when it came to the first post of the year!

1. Parisian Chic




There's something to be said about classics. A bit of tan, a bit of animal print and a whole lot of basics. This look is something I'm sure you've seen several times before but trust me, there's just something so timeless about it. The trench coat keeps you warm and still gives an option to shed it if it gets a bit too warm. The leopard print scarf is something you've seen a few hundred times before if you're a regular reader and I think it adds just the right amount of whimsy to an otherwise monotone outfit.

2. Desi Chic



Blouses are something I'm slowly tiring off. While I recently took a flight in a saree (something I thought I'd never do) blouses and petticoats somehow never work for me. So for those days when it's quite cool, you can still flaunt your saree and look chic. I chose a black printed saree that I bought for a bargain from Ajio. This look is great for work as well as weekend brunches. My makeup was inclined more towards a weekend look but a bit more subtle makeup, and you'll have a great workwear look!

3. Hipster Chic




If there's one thing that will never change, it's my love for quirky prints and fabrics. This blazer from Quirk Box cost me 1/3 of my then salary to buy and while I wish I worked somewhere where I could flaunt it whenever I wanted, it just makes wearing this piece that much more special when I do! A simple look very similar to the first one, but still so different. Your outfit should be a representation of what you feel and want to send out into the world! This look is definitely one of those moments that you're owning your madness and putting it out there for the world to see. Try it! Pick a basic outfit and then add one statement print to it to make your personality shine!

And that's it folks! Those are some of my favourite ways to style this top. I genuinely enjoy finding new ways to rewear a simple piece in interesting ways. If you're someone who likes rewearing pieces aswell, please share it with me! Use the #Chiconomical #StylingoverBuying.

Outfit Details

White Turtleneck Jumper: Rs. 899, Splash Fashions
Black Trousers : Rs. 1699, Vero Moda
Quirkbox Blazer : Rs. 1600, Quirk Box
Printed Scarf : Rs. 990, Zara
Saree: Rs. 899, Ajio
Trench Coat: Rs. 2199, Forever21

It's holiday season and I'd asked my amazing followers to throw out some challenges to me! One of my lovely readers decided to make it difficult for me and threw a challenge to style a look mixing three prints and five colours in a single look! That meant, I had to dig deep into my inner style diva and find something really interesting that didn't look completely crazy. Not really sure I've tried, but we're going to try anyway.


1. That Girl Next Door



This is honestly one of my favourite looks and is most definitely something I'd wear on a regular basis if I was living in a cooler country. Florals for fall are actually one of my favourite things in the world! Add a bit of stripes and gingham and you've got an outfit that has all of my favourite prints together in a beautiful medley!

2. The Jungle Book




Did someone say avante garde? Well, this is the street version of what I'd consider avante garde. I started with this beautiful camo print maxi skirt and then added a beautiful scarf to bring together the animals and the jungle all in one look. Yes it isn't something that not everyone would wear but I'm actually really chuffed at how it turned out!

3. The London Girl


The easiest way to jazz up any outfit is to add a statement print to it. You can easily make an outfit look more polished if you just add a statement piece. While this skirt was seen first on Chicwish, I actually got mine from ali express because ahem...we're poor and it's actually possibly the real price for it. Either way, this one of those outfits I'd wear for an office party.

And that's all folks.... I really hope you enjoyed these looks. I'd appreciate it if you could leave me a comment with your favourite from these three! This post is shorter than the usual ones but I hope you come by tomorrow to see some more three ways to wear because we're in the last leg of this year and I'm going to try and share several style challenges through this week!