How was your week? It’s Thursday already, and one more day to go before it’s the weekend and I get to unwind a bit and go around beautiful Milano. The only thing perhaps that’s motivating me to work in this horrible rainy and cold weather (although it’s sunny today finally), is this super easy, super quick meal that’s not just healthy, but super yummy and filling too.
Being a college student, staying by yourself and managing EVERYTHING (!) is really not easy (I think I sound like broken record by now). Taking care of your health is of utmost importance, and hence, with the help of my lovely flatmates, here’s an amazing recipe to what I’d rank as my top favourite meal currently.
The Chickpeas Salad.
Ingredients:
So what you’ll need are the following easy to find food ingredients,
Boiled/canned chickpeas – rich source of proteins
Salad leaves – fibres, fibres, fibres…
Chopped olives – just yum.
Salad dressing of your choice (I chose Mayo and spicy ketchup) – for taste!
Sighhhhh what a week it has been! It feels like it has been forever since Avengers Endgame released and I still can’t stop thinking about it. Like, legit, I keep replaying my most favourite scenes in my head like there is no tomorrow! So I did the best thing I could to de-stress from this very unusual but expected behaviour of mine, I asked my mom to give me a good longgggg champi (head massage with oil, in Hindi) so I can stop thinking!
And here is what I mixed to make this. Half a cup of coconut oil, half a cup of almond oil and 1 tablespoon of rosewater for cooling! Keep it on for an hour and shampoo for frizz-free and soft hair!
To store the mixture, which is more than enough for a twice in a week application, I use recycled cleanser/toner bottles from body shop which allows me to regulate how much I apply in each section of my scalp too!
Coconut and almond oil nourishes the hair and removes the frizz, whereas the rose water keeps your head cool. You can either leave it overnight, or wash in a couple of hours!
Bonus tip: just 15 minutes before you shampoo your hair, you can also lather your hair with some fresh aloe vera gel. Like honestly, I’ve seen anything manage my frizz without even using a conditioner, as well as aloe vera does!
Most of the times, when deciding an outfit for anything, my greatest source of inspiration comes from the colours I see in my wardrobe. Very rarely do I pick up actual pieces that I am in the mood to wear and then look for complimentary pieces! This time round, inspired by a vision I sometimes have, here is HYDROPHILIC FLAME – a contrasting, vibrant palette that is sure spruce up your day at work!
Colour palettes give always give me a great sense of peace, as if the world is all in order and there is a sense of harmony that gets established with every colour palette I make for future outfits. This one is inspired by Limestone white and grey tones, with blue beach waters, the sandy beach and green foliage scattered beyond the shore, lining the beaches. Hope this brightens up your day at work!
This post is the result of exhaustive Pinterest-ing till both my phones died.
And one of the trends I’m looking to explore this spring & summer season is the double layered skirt. Unlike some of my inspirations on Pinterest, where the lighter, tulle skirts are worn over a shorter, fitter skirt, I am more inclined to wear the lighter one underneath the much shorter one. One of the reasons could be that I love the mermaid skirt silhouette it makes especially with a good belt on.
Preferring to wear the more distinguished silhouette (the denim), over a delicate lace skirt, I add more “graphic” accessories with black pumps and black thin waist to create a more fitted silhouette that goes with my slight high neck top.
The two skirts are incredibly summer friendly, so the layering of the two skirts didn’t bother me one bit in the heat.
I’d say, my summers are looking more stylish than usual. Leave a like if you think you can pull this style off too!
Originally, “kimono” was the Japanese word for clothing. But in more recent years, the word has been used to refer specifically to traditional Japanese clothing. Although the Kimono has undergone centuries of evolution, Kimonos as we know them today came into being during the Heian period (794-1192 AD) as shown below.
Source: keywordsuggest.org
Nowadays, Japanese people rarely wear kimonos in everyday life, reserving them for such occasions as weddings, funerals, tea ceremonies, or other special events, such as summer festivals.
For this post, I’m combining the loose-fit, boxy comfort that the kimono or the kimono silhouette brings, into my Indian aesthetics and styling 8 Outfits For The Wedding Season! Are you ready to check them out?
Cocktail Nights & Parties
1.The White Out on a Night Out. Who said kamarbandhs (waist chain) are only for the sarees or the lehengas. Tie up the boxy kimono silhouette top you have with a fancy kamarbandh, and watch how that outfit detail grabs attention!
Wearing here: White Organza Stripes top with custom lettering on the collar by Lyva. White striped culottes by Zara. Vintage handcrafted kamarbandh from karigar workshops in Ahmedabad. White shoes from Bata.
2. TheCandy Floss on Legs. Some fluff and some sleek. Pairing a textured top with flowing palazzos (think of fabrics like chiffon, georgette and liquid satin) is always a good idea. And while you’re at it, add some statement earrings and mules/slides/juttis to give the outfit more bling.
Wearing here: Candy Pink 3D Polka Dot tops from Lyva. Wine red high slit palazzo pants from Bershka. Floral mules from the streets of Ludhiana. Rococo style statement earrings from Globus.
3. TheOutfit From The Marzipan Layer. A bodycon dress to a kimono is what yin is to yang. Add drama with a dramatic sash belt / obi belt and slide into a pair of fantastic pumps. Now, because it’s the wedding season, I recommend to go with metallic shades.
4. The Case of Skirt Flares. When you’ve spent so many hours practicing for that Sangeet event, girls, you better get out your most flared skirt to go with every thumka and twirl! Wear it with a crop kimono sleeve top and a statement necklace to add a glam factor. I can’t think of a better way to shine and dance away under the spotlight!
Wearing here: White quilted top from Zara. Bohemian necklace from the Boho Queen Jewelry. Blue tiered (20 metres!) bandhani skirt from skilled karigars in Ahmedabad.
5. The Petal Talk. Girls, when it’s time for Mehendi, you need your outfit to be hands-free, and boy, do I know this from personal experience. So how about layering a long flared maxi dress (preferably monochrome) with an equally beautiful kimono short sleeve shrug (preferably of a similar hue as the dress)? The outfit is in full-bloom and you can sit down, relax and get your hands decorated!
Wearing here: Maroon tiered dress from Max and Kimono shrug from Globus. Earrings from Colaba Causeway in Mumbai.
6. The Purple Panther. Here’s another rendition of the maxi dress and kimono combo but this time with contrasting colours to make your outfit colour palette more interesting. Also, the kimono sleeve could be full-length and voluminous, for added drama. Just be careful not to let the henna get on the sleeves by learning How To Tie A Tatsuki! Tatsuki is a cord used to tie the sleeves of the kimono so that they don’t get in the way of doing chores (on in this case getting henna painted on your hands)!
Wearing here: Orange dress custom made by me. Purple full sleeve kimono from H&M.
The Wedding Bash
7. The Soft Wrap. Sometimes, for the big event, I personally like to make a huge statement just with my outfit components. Like a floor length wrap kurta (angrakha) with a voluminous skirt that allows me to glide as I walk, anywhere and everywhere! It’s the soft, subtle statement that sometimes ends up making a huge statement.
Wearing here: White Lucknowi floor length angrakha (wrap) top custom made by me. Blue tiered (20 metres!) bandhani skirt from skilled karigars in Ahmedabad.
8. The Saree Toppler. With the 8th outfit recommendation, here is the saree toppler outfit piece with the game changing palazzo saree pants that is the key to the modern day girl’s ethnic wardrobe choices. For all the girls who love the saree but often get tangled in 6 metres of fabric, this is the answer to all your prayers. Switch out the blouses riddled with long noodle straps with an easy-to-put kimono sleeve crop top. Add a statement necklace and SAY SHAVA SHAVA!
Wearing here: Cashmere black crop top by Zara. Saree palazzo by Rheson. Jade and brown statement necklace by Diva accessories from Singapore.
So these were my outfit recommendations that I hope can give you an added style edge while you stay comfy and cosy before, during and even after you wear them!
Hope you liked them, and if you can think of adding to this list of using the kimono silhouettes to the ethnic styles, leave a comment below and I’ll update this post with you as a guest stylist!
So I hope to hear from you and see you in the next post!
“A girl can never have too many clothes or accessories.”
That is the biggest lie ever told to women, and we actually believe it. Yes, there ARE too many clothes in my wardrobe that I could ever maintain and keep a track of! But when I think of donating them away, it hurts to do so because these are the barely-worn-twice-in-my-lifetime pieces that I have actually become quite fond of. Like, even after giving away 6 large shopping bags full of clothes to H&M, I’m still having TOO many clothes to take care of. THAT many number of clothes I’m talking about guys; and yes, it’s a lot.
So to deal with this dilemma, I have come up with a solution which may help you if you are facing the same problems as I am. I have decided to pick a few shades of colours, and stick to those colours for at least 6 months. That way, I will repeatedly use at least the same clothes over and over again!
I’m very excited about this and for my own project, I have picked the main colour as Sherwin Williams’ Colour of the Year 2019 – Cavern Clay and an array of hues and shades of that warm and inviting brown, along with a selection of complementary and contrasting colours to wear it with. In total, I have 20 shades picked out for at least the first half of 2019. If I really like them till June, I might just continue with that colour palette for the rest of the year too! But before that I will re-read my copy of Marie Kondo’s “The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up” and clear some more clothes from my wardrobe.
So here’s my colour palette, that I’m very, very happy to share with you as well! And like the good girl I am, I’m sticking to this religiously.
What I like the most about this wardrobe hack is that it’s going to save me a lot of time thinking about what colour to wear every time I have to pick clothes. This colour palette, in my opinion, is very versatile – muted, dainty and mature.
Let me know if you face similar wardrobe issues, and how you tackle with them. I would love to have you share your past experience with this as I eventually would like to lead a minimal life! Dreaming real big here, guys. REAL. BIG.
So thanks guys for reading this blog post and see you in the next one with some more interesting experiments!
90% of my time on social media is spent on Pinterest. (Yes, even more than Instagram.)
90% of my go-to DIYs are old jeans in my wardrobe, teehee.
So, here’s one that is inspired from a potful of ideas like cuffed jeans, cropped jeans, pearl embellishments, and polka dots.
Assemble craft supplies needed for the Polka Dot Effect:
1x White Acrylic paint bottle
1x Q-tip
1x Glitter fabric paint
Pick a matching colour thread to sew up the cuffs.
Sew the cuffs along the previous cuffs’ stitch lines to keep the stitches clean.
Use the Q-tip to create polka dots (big and small, as you prefer on the sewn cuffs.
Add glitter polka dots to create a “rhinestone” effect.
Let it dry for 24 hours before turning it over inside-out and iron it, to permanently fix the design in place.
One suggestion would be to not wash the jeans for upto 72 hours, to let the design really fix and not get grungy in the first wash itself. Also, style it well with flouncy tops and show ’em what you made! I picked a printed brick tones top and cuffed the sleeves with traditional Indian oxidised silver cuff bracelets.
Check out my Pinterest board on Denims to find 500+ unique denim style inspirations.
While studying in Milan, during one of my research projects, I happened upon one of the most emotional pieces of Japanese art form called, kintsugi.
“By repairing broken ceramics with molten gold, silver or platinum, it’s possible to give a new lease of life to pottery that becomes even more refined thanks to its “scars”. The Japanese art of kintsugi teaches that broken objects are not something to hide but to display with pride.”
These emotions conveyed through the art are so strong yet so vulnerable, that their visual influence increases by tenfold! Their vibrancy enhances and suddenly these images give you a surge of new found confidence, peace and self-love.
2019 will be all about it – Self Love. Through this post, I want to embrace my life as it has been, fully, and walk proudly into the future. Inspired by Kintsugi and my urban life, here’s the new colour palette I am gushing about.
So, I am not sure if you guys have seen Sherwin Williams’ Colour of the Year 2019 – Cavern Clay, but I am seriously loving that shade more than Pantone’s Colour of the Year – Living Coral. Although the thought behind Pantone’e colour is really beautiful and powerful, in terms of colour preference however, I’m definitely swaying towards a neutral-oriented palette, which is not only going to make my room’s new decoration look nice and comfy (will post soon about it!) but also my wardrobe, calm, warm and very professional.
For your viewing pleasure and providing you with a source of inspiration, here is a curated moodboard dedicated to – Cement, Clay & Gold – the rich, humble and urban mood.
Home & Interiors can explore with contrasts and negative space by making the space seem more spacious which is always calming, and shift focus on key decorative or utilitarian objects.
Fashion can explore the colour tones and even silhouettes which are classics. Accessories can be more earthy, directly borrowed from nature so as to not over adorn or add more than necessary human touch to them like this beautiful wine tangled in a natural, humble bun.
For beauty, naturally pink glossy lips and gold eye-liners are a MUST TRY for my bucket list this year. All you need to remember is to keep the look in its most rawest form, and not “edit” it too much. Must try, must try!
Watch out for some of my upcoming posts on how I will be arranging my wardrobe for at least half a year so I don’t have to spend much time “matching” things. They will be inspired by this unique colour palette as well, and will save me so much time while getting ready in the morning, I can’t wait.
Also check out my newly segmented and curated board on Pinterest exclusively for Denims. Since, my next blog post will be about some good ol’ denims I found while packing away clothes I won’t be needing instantly in my wardrobe, you’ll love how dainty you can turn them with a little DIY. Also cover image credits go to the veryyyy refreshing Resort collection from 2014 by Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini.
If it were up to me, I’d totally and completely control myself, because it’s really easy to just flow with the trend and over consume stuff.
However, since I am me, and me or I has always preferred the “less is more” anthem, though the logomania trend has not completely escaped me, I believe there could be some really stylish, and (less or more) subtle ways to wear them and not make it look like we’re being tacky or overly brand conscious.
Out of all the trends, my favourites have to be slight logos on accessories (below) – mainly the footwear, zipper / bi-fold clutches and (surprise!) socks. You can, honestly, never have enough socks. And a bit of monogram visible on them is not an innovative way to emblazon the logos, I’ll admit, but they are definitely more to my liking because… they are socks!
Among others, there are 9 more interesting ways to wear your logos proudly but with a bit of “style humility” which, seems paradoxical to me tbh. So, here they are:
Bag Straps. Those detachable, change-able and personalised-able bag straps that almost every luxury brand is now selling!
Monogram prints on accessories or even clothing. They look like prints, but like, trademarked prints!
Graphic tshirts, styled with cute mini skirt underneath a sheath mini skirt. I love the Korean Streetstyle, and will be doing a piece on it superrr soon!
Tshirts underneath slip dresses. Classic 90s!
Trending fanny packs. Go ahead, buy them if you really love those1
Graphic tshirt, styled with a denim jacket. Classic, it really never gets old.
Logos on the back of the tshirt or the sweatshirt, styled with a shirts (plaid or not) tied around the waist to add more “colour zones” to the overall look.
Graphic tshirts styled with classy midi skirts. It could be an awesome Friday office look!
The Belt. Yes, I know a few of you sold your organs to get those GG belts, you die-hard fashionistas!
Well, logo or otherwise, in terms of styling, they do add an element of “the known” or “the relatability” factor to your outfit, which draws people in. So, I say, ride with the tide, my darlings! Go buy those logos but remember to style them well!
By Mosh 