Chiconomical

Over the knee boots are a trend that's taken the blogosphere by storm. They're a nifty little way of wearing your short skirts while still ensuring that your feet don't turn blue. When I was hit by a bit of the flu a few weeks ago, I decided to pull out my trusty over the knee boots (these have seen wear during my time in cooler climes last year) and pair them with pretty much all the winter gear I own to keep toasty while walking around town on errands.




This grey jumper was bought last year for a complete bargain at Colaba Causeway. It's Zara knitwear, from the streets!! I have worn it multiple times already and its super toasty. While I haven't been able to find more on the streets this year, keep an eye on stores like PAX and the street stalls around electric house at Colaba Causeway for more additions the closer we get to December. The grey coat is something you've seen on the blog before alongwith the piano hat that I'm super proud of! Its possibly the best item I've knit till date! The rest of the look is simple and yes, I decided to go the uber cliched way of accessoring a winter look with a Starbucks cup! (I did drink all the coffee in it during the shoot though).

A grey look that's still sleek yet modern, this is my kind of winter dressing. While I know Mumbai weather doesn't usually allow for so many knitted layers, I still think this look is great for the cities that have lower temperatures. Wondering how to rock over the knee boots in Mumbai? Worry not, the next post will have you sorted!

Links à la Mode, October 20th

• Cat Eyes & Skinny Jeans: What’s in My September 2016 Secret Garden Glossybox
• Chiconomical: Quirk Pop
• Couture Crush: Couture Crushin: Wild Mantle Hooded Scarves
• Cover Mum: Embroidered Jeans
• Crisscross Style Boss: Fall Shoe Trends to Try
• Elements of Ellis: Tiger Denim Jacket
• Everest Says: How to Take Your Own OOTD Pictures
• Everyday Starlet: The Best Drugstore Mascaras | Try On & Review
• Goldwill Digger: Denim on Denim
• Have Clothes, Will Travel: Seasonally Confused
• Layers of Chic: The Secret to Dressing Like a Boss Lady
• Les Assorties: Fashion Tech Insights: Tagwalk
• Living After Midnight: Leather & Florals
• Middle of Somewhere: The Weekly Style Edit Link Up: Bomber Jackets
• One Awesome Momma: Flowing into Fall
• Style Pith: NSAD Preparation: The Work That Goes Into Grooming For Women
• The House Blend: Punk Rock Presence
• This Season’s Gold: Giving Back // Fall Fashion for Philanthropy
• What 2 Wear Where: Hilary’s Thigh High Boots
• Wish and Wear: Breaking the Pattern

SPONSOR: Amazon's Shopbop, Hunter Boots, Wolford Tights, Levi's Jeans, Juan Carlos Obando, AGOLDE, LOQ, Black Leather Jackets, Denim Skirts, Burgundy Bags, Men's Z Zegna

Nope, I won't be talking about the book that has become famous over the last couple of years. I'm talking about literally wearing shades of grey. Somehow, I seem to gravitate towards clothes that have shades of grey as I think they give a welcome break from wearing monochrome and still manage to look good with almost all other colors.

While a pair of grey trousers make workwear a little interesting (I still haven't found my perfect pair, mind you), grey doesn't mean boring! Yes, I know, those grey clouds that seem to hang around these days may make you think otherwise, but it isn't true. All you need to do is, add little pops of color and you're bound to get a fun look.








I got this grey skirt because of its embroidery. Its absolutely lovely and inspite of being jersey, its thick enough not to have awkward VPL moments. Ladies, if you don't like wearing thongs or seamless panties, I suggest doing a quick VPL check before buying any skirt.

In case of street shopping (like me) where you may not be able to try the item out, do the tissue and hand test (yes I just made that name up). All you need to do is, hold a handkerchief (a folded facial tissue also works) in your palm, stick your hand under the skirt, pull it tight over your hand and see if you can spot the lines of the napkin. If you can, its probably too thin and you may want to consider a different skirt.

The top is an old oversized vest that was bought initially as a beach cover up. I added a pop of color on the lips to keep the look fun. Well, turned out, when I shot for the look, the weather Grewas quite grey too, so I ended up taking quick shots indoors. The heels are from New Look and were bought on sale from Asos as an indulgence item and add a little subtle color too.

Tips to Wear Grey without looking boring:

• Grey doesn't have to be boring, add pops of color with your accessories. A bright statement necklace or bag, will make all the difference.
• Don't like accessories?Add a bright shade of lipstick to make your outfit more interesting, without adding any cumbersome accessories to the look.
• You can also add a pair of neon heels to make your outfit pop. 
• Have a grey office dress that just never makes you smile? Add a bright scarf, a pair of red pumps and a beige bag to make it interesting.
• Finally, mix and match your bright tops with grey bottoms, or vice versa to break away from boring black matchers. I assure you, you won't be disappointed! 

Fridays! Working on Fridays is always a mixed feeling isn't it? If you work in an office like mine, its probably the one day you can wear smart casuals to work, or if you work in a casual office already, its possibly the last working day of the week! Yes weekend is at your door! But what I have seen is a lot of struggle when it comes to office chic Friday dressing. Usually, as it is the only day you're allowed to wear jeans, everyone is in just another uniform or denims. I decided it was time to showcase an outfit that shows my personal preference when it comes to Friday Dressing.

White shirt? Who doesn't love a simple white shirt? Who doesn't own a white shirt (If you don't I suggest you go get one right now! Oh, and could you tell what you've been wearing all these years while you're at it?). Well, while we all own one (almost), its a little boring at times to wear it, simple because everyone has it. What is that quick fix you can do to make your white shirt look different from the sea of white. And trust me there is a lot of white out there in the summers. Well, the easiest fix is to pair it with a pair of interesting trousers. I know I'm a few years too late to the aztec print party, but in my defence, these trousers are worn so much they're always in the wash when its time to shoot. Somehow, I think the trousers give that little bit of oomph (or madness, whatever you prefer) to my plain old white shirt.

But sometimes, even a cool pair of pants isn't enough you say? Well, here's my super quick fix, at wearing the same white shirt+ printed jeans combo five different ways.

1. The Classic Tuck
The simplest, and most commonly used way to make things looks more clean and structured is the tuck it in the jeans. You can even try a half tuck to keep things a little more weekend casual. Add a little necklace, a pair of heels and you're all set to go attend that meeting, or travel in style. Of course, if you are travelling, I'd guess a pair of flats makes more sense.



2. Belt it Out
Belts are a great way to add an interesting dimension to your wardrobe. A simple untucked button down white shirt, can look different, just by adding a belt to it. You don't even have to be very posh about adding the belt, simply tuck and let the other end hang. Almost a little slouchy chic look. Oh, and an added bonus, if you work this with your boyfriend's button-down, you can hide all those little lumps you got from pigging out at dinner yesterday. W.i.n!


3. Knot it Up
Un-button the last two buttons at the end, and simply tie the ends in a knot. Its that ultimate weekend casual vibe. If you've worked hard for the summer ready tummy, this is a great way to flaunt it, without investing in those crop tops. Who needs a crop top when you've got a shirt right?


4. Layer the Goodness
Okay, are you one of those people who has to wear a vest under a shirt? (Shocked? I know atleast 6 girls who do this!). In that case, go bright, wear a bright vest and then add the shirt as almost an afterthought layer, a protection from the heat of summer.


5. Top it Up
Yes,  I know, you're probably wondering why I'm telling you to add another layer to the shirt. (Cue screams of its too hot here). But add a simple summer scarf or a very little jacket to a white shirt + jeans combo, to give it that unique little identity that's all you!



Tips to Keep in Mind while Buying A White Shirt:

• Fit, fit, fit! Fit is everything! A tailored white shirt will work well for all those office meetings, while an oversized shirt (you could just steal borrow it from your boyfriend) looks great for casual evenings. If you wear it to work, make sure you pair it with fitted bottoms.
• Buttons, a full button up or an open neck, figure out what you want!
• Sheerness. A white shirt that doesn't look sheer is great for the Indian weather, be sure to test it with the underwear you're planning to wear with it to make sure it doesn't give some muted signals that you can't see, but everyone else can! 
• Material. Yep, cotton, cotton blend, there's lots too choose from. Go for a material that won't loose structure after a few washes, a quick tip is to pull the end and see if it holds its shape.
• Pockets. Some shirts (like the one I'm wearing) have pockets on them and these are a personal favorite. However, if you don't wish to attract attention to the bust, I suggest you steer clear of these. 
• Finally, try out a few different styles that are on offer before you commit. I find white shirts to be an investment piece as they're always in style! So take your time to find the one (or more) you love and don't worry about the extra penny, cos they're well worth it!

Summer is finally here. Tis the season for crop tops and cool trousers. Recently, vintage looking outfits seem to catch my fancy. This outfit is something along those lines. I am currently all above high waisted skirts and pants with crop tops. I styled this outfit for a friend's dinner party. I had a meeting that day, so I actually wore a shirt through the day (remember this outfit) and then changed into the crop top and vest.










I have a lot of love for these trousers. They had to be altered and I can't believe I almost returned them! Thankfully, mom saw a way of altering them without messing up the silhouette. The button detailing at the waist is absolutely my favorite thing!  Oh, in case you've noticed, I've mentioned the approximate prices of items that weren't bought by me. A friend recently pointed out that I mention a lot of things that are gifted and in turn, don't add their prices to the overall total. Well, I may not always know the exact price of the gifts, but from now on, I'll mention prices of similar items. I hope this helps you guys get a better idea of the total outfit price range.

PS: Sorry I've haven't been posting regularly (Thank you, real life!). I've got a few people asking me if I'm unwell and its great to see that someone does read the blog and notices the absence of posts. I'm thankful for your kind words and I hope I can blog regularly soon. 

Its almost time for the so called biggest party of the year! Everyone's fretting about what they're wearing and where to shop (If you need help with this, read my last post here). Me? I never go out to party on New Year, simply because there's just too many people out and about, drinking, getting a little too tipsy and dancing around with strangers. I'd rather be home with my dear ones, eat good food, share good vibes and hope that I always stay connected to the people I care about. This year has made me realise that they may not always be with us the next year, so its better to treasure those moments you have with them.

Onto less sentimental things though, this doesn't mean I don't think about new year outfits! This little maxi dress with accessorised bling is just the ticket! I love how the little touches of gold make it acceptable and the simple style makes it very comfy for the long night to the new year!

A touch of neon never hurt anyone. And this doesn't hurt you're purse either!