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Where is the style

May 3, 2015, 12:58 pm
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Style is fluid. Not only does it vary from individual to individual, you also eventually realise that it varies from time to time. I believed I was as sure of what my stand on personal style was, as sure as I am of the fact that we are a nation of slightly weird people celebrating the birth of the Royal baby like it was of the utmost consequence to us. But without taking a detour to what I believe is one of the most over-hyped events of the year, let me quickly get to the point that I am attempting to establish here.

Not every day is about hours of conceivable permutation combinations of clothing before the decision is made. Not every woman is of the belief that style comes with extreme effort. This post is my ode to omnipresent style. The kind that exists in the mundane. The kind that goes ignored by the millions who do not stop to look for it. As a part of my production, I have obviously modelled fully aware of the camera but we have tried to create prototypes for my personal concepts of what, in the large scheme of things could silently, in a subtle manner of sorts, qualify as mundane yet stylish moments. The outfit is very downtown New York, incorporating a cool idea for summer layering yet keeping it nonchalant by slinging the jacket on the shoulder. The tan prairie boots and the delicate gold chain with a fine cotton boxy dress with bare make up give you the idea that the woman believes in comfort and colour without accentuating her appearance too much with any kind of artifice. I have tried to create a contrast of colours and moments. From hints of music to a breakfast on the go. From colours of red and blue against the green palette of the dress and a moment of pure comfort and ease where she decides to put up her hair on the go, sans any mirror, hairbrush et al. It is this that strikes me as the reinforcement of the belief that style is as style does.









Photography courtesy of Jagrati Marwaha, more of whose work you can also find on winterynights.tumblr.com and jagrati-marwaha.tumblr.com

Wearing:
Dress: COS (Spain)
Jacket: Forever 21
Boots: Forever 21
Necklace: c/o Miss Flurrty

Now for a foodie rant. I recently stumbled upon Foodpanda which is a website that essentially gives you the service of ordering take out from the cozy confines of your house in more than hundred cities in India. In the market where food apps and websites are bourgeoning by the minute, Foodpanda struck me as one of its kind mainly because of its cool filters that allow you to specifically look as particularly as 'late night delivery of food'. It also gives you every possible detail from what your minimum order should be to how much time they usually take to deliver. But my favourite part has to be their discount codes and vouchers which are privy to only their users. You can understand why I would be sold on such a concept given that my tales of laziness run all asunder. Have you tried it yet? Share your experience with me.




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What to do in Banaras

May 15, 2015, 5:18 am
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Not exactly your tropical weather, lounging around aimlessly kind of a holiday but Banaras has been one of my most enriching vacations. A four day trip to the state of Uttar Pradesh, to the holy city of Banaras or Varanasi as it is now known has managed to create for itself a large sketched heart over my virtual travel map. And no, it is not because I belong to the generation which tries too hard to be Indie-cool. I genuinely believe that unearthing the history of your own country and learning about its beautiful people is just as important as jet setting off to another continent. My trip was not propelled by the over simplified 'India is the land of yoga and god's men' belief but it definitely had an element of curiosity about how people who believe that, absorb Banaras. I do believe in the healing powers of yoga. I definitely do believe in a superior omnipotent power that looks over us all. But most importantly, I believe in the beauty of ancient architectural set up along with its mystifying creations. I believe in exploring and tracing my roots while absorbing the wafting aromas of the Indian palette on the way. From the famous Benarasi kachori to the Ganga Aarti by the banks of the River Ganga held at sunset, I managed to scale the entire city in a span of four days and in the the manner which is succinct and easy for you to refer to, I will give you a low down on all the do's and don'ts for your trip to the city of Banaras, whenever you decide to go. It helps that I got you a lot of photographs to incentivise your next holiday in Incredible India.


  1. It is ridiculously obvious that you would want to spend most of your time in the olden part of the city, close to the popular Ghats. Let me still, state the obvious. There are 365 ghats around the river Ganga in the city but only a handful are really significant. Dashashwamedha, Asi, Kedar, Munshi, these should be at the top of your list.
  2. The evening aarti at Dashashwamedha Ghat. No amount of photographs can do justice to the soulful experience of a gazillion temple bells and conch shells going off with the pandits performing the puja with an entire squad of lamps and diyas, in unison. The smell of incense soaks your senses and it is best to just be in the moment, at the evening aarti which starts off at nightfall. Find yourself a good spot and also, don't forget to let off your plate of flowers and a diya in the river to make a wish.
  3. A boat ride across the ghats. If you heard me on instagram then you know how despite the intrinsic touristy value of a boat ride, this one you will not regret. Also, it creates a great wonderful photo op.
  4. Food is beautiful in Benaras but if you do not believe in literally taking to the streets, some of your best bets for the sweets and savoury treats include Ksheer Sagar sweets. I could also dedicate a whole blog post to the amazing guys at Baba Lassi but let me just leave you with the thought that every conceivable lassi flavour to the power awesome infinity can be found here. It also helps that the owner is a chiller who you can have friendly conversations with over *ahem* lassi. You will see more of him in another blog post. 
  5. The hipster experience. I really do enjoy breaking free from the crowds and the social protocols and hanging loose and sometimes walking off the trodden path. It makes me an occasional hipster and I tend to be happy with it. Get lost in the lanes of Munshi Ghat. Take some time to admire the wall art or the beautiful carvings on the tiny colourful doors. Stop to talk to the locals or even buy some local incense. The Mona Lisa Cafe and German bakery is wonderfully nice with great wifi access but the food was not as great. For the great traveller cafe food experience, hit Pizzeria Vatika at Assi Ghat for fresh juices and authentic wood fire pizza. The cafe overlooks the ghats and is right next to a wonderful little bookshop that also sells beautiful postcards. What's not to love.
  6. The silk shopping. The best places and also with the most competitive pricing, to buy your stash of Banarsi silk sarees would have to be at the Chowk. From highly exclusive work that is supplied to the biggest retailers across the metropolitans to the smaller shops that cuts the cost of the middle men, this is your one stop shop for your silk shopping. Of course, shops are dotted across the entire city selling you silk sarees from as little as Rs. 500 (INR) to as much as Rs. 1,00,000(INR) but from our painstaking research and experience, this market should suffice.
  7. Do not trust the auto wallahs and rickshaw wallahs (the public mode of conveyance) in the city, with all your heart. We faced a small incident of petty undue pocketing and were more careful thereon. There are arbitrary rates with the rickshaws but try and establish that you know your way around and you would be less likely to get taken for a ride. Also, these are your best choices for transportation since the culturally rich parts of the city are made up of thin alleyways. 
  8. While a lot of websites point you towards, 'Open Hand cafe' and ' Baba Black Sheep', I would not put them on my list of 'cannot possibly miss' in the city. In one word: overrated. 
  9. Go to Banaras with the understanding that the entire city does not look like a postcard. There are parts of the city which would probably make you feel like you were in any developing city with its sprouting malls and a host of international stand alone stores. 
  10. If you plan to pick souvenirs or even trinkets or artefacts that would serve as constant reminders of your holiday, it is best to try the rows of small shops near the ghats (try Munshi Ghat). The cafes and emporiums will almost always have the same kind of products but with a higher price tag.
Pizzeria Vatika


Street art depicting the 'fearless' woman




The time I attained a little insight into peaceful living


Pizzeria Vatika










The jolly 'ol chap at Baba Lassi



Wearing:
Jumpsuit: C/O Stalk Buy Love

A few blogposts are on their way. Till then, I can't wait to address questions from you guys about this sojourn in Banaras. Ask away in the comments. 

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Sitara by Shalini: Lookbook shoot

May 20, 2015, 8:35 am
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The thing with beautiful jewellery, is that it's a joy forever. Much like any other thing of beauty, only more timeless. In a market where every designer, every mammoth of a design house is trying to carve a niche for themselves by creating products to cater to all levels of the market, Sitara by Shalini Bakliwal does the same thing with the utmost ease. When I first met the gorgeous Shalini of Sitara fame, I stopped in my tracks by the amount of knowledge she had amassed about every stone, every string that goes into making her line of precious jewellery. The label caters to the creme de la creme of Delhi city and is already making waves in the exhibition circles within a few years of its birth. I personally am the kind of target market Sitara jewellery is created for. The market who does not just believe in chunky kundan sets. The kind of market who believes in styling versatile looking kundan drop earrings in five different manners, as opposed to predictably wearing them with my handloom saree. In a situation where you are looking to make a huge investment in a stunning pair of say, polki chandelier earrings that you hope to pass on to your children one day, how great is it that you now have the option of reaching out to smaller designers who will ensure every bit of your earrings is customized to your liking, without leaving you to a 'soup kitchen' kind of a life forever. I, for one am sold on all her cocktail pieces that play with the likes of sparkling sapphires and rubies in wonderful modern looking constructs.
It was a pleasure styling and modelling for her first lookbook of the season, with the best team I could ask for. You can satiate all your precious bauble cravings from Sitara here on Sitara.fine jewellery by Shalinibakliwal and on instagram Shalini Chopra Bakliwal.



















Modelled and styled by: Shreya Kalra
Make up by: Sakshi Malik
Photography by: Arjun Mehta Photography

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Grace Kelly in the times of the Myntra app

May 22, 2015, 9:04 am
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There isn’t exactly a lot that can go wrong with you if you’re born into royalty. But that’s the thing with style, it isn’t your birthright simply by being born with a silver spoon. However, privileged are those who are born with the utmost understanding of fashion and style and not mentioning Grace Kelly in the same sentence would do her injustice. This Princess of Monaco definitely wrote her own fairytale with her impeccable acting career graph and her innate sense of style.

But in this day and age, all your fashion woes are a question away. Just sit back and think, 'what would Grace Kelly do' and the answers would come to you. This absolute looker would definitely have jumped on to the game changer that is the Myntra app for all her sartorial woes. A normal day in the life of this Principessa, would probably go something like this. A day parading around the royal courtyard and tea with the ladies? Worry not, hop on to the Myntra app and your next stylish buy is just a click away. But you cannot possibly compose that perfect Grace Kelly look without the right accompaniments, could you? It’s a good thing then, that the Myntra app takes care of your shoe needs too. But even if Grace needed to get her A-game on for say, something as dynamic as the Academy Awards, there isn’t nothing that a perfectly good shopping app like Myntra couldn’t do, along with her classic string of pearls of course. It’s nigh impossible for Grace to have ever got a foot wrong and in this modern day and age, I feel almost jubilant for the blessing that is technology. Fun, eclectic styles of clothing and accessories that are merely a tap away on your swanky gadgets.

Did I mention, I feel like a modern day Grace Kelly with all these styling options on the cool apps like Myntra, so accessible to me? #ItsPersonal

The cool, minimal Myntra app design totally gets our generation. Definite potential for creating quite a few geek chic princesses. Take a look at a few features I have highlighted for your benefit.









Grace Kelly would be proud of this modern day fairytale.

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FTLOFAOT x LetterNote

May 26, 2015, 9:34 am
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Back in the day when Hauz Khas Village was on the verge of a cool hipster break out and hanging in its by-lanes wasn't as common as owning a Gucci bag in the city of Delhi, I enjoyed my occasional trips there. It helped that I lived close by and was always on the look out for niche boutiques and small labels that created interesting products. Not just to admire but to well, shop from since I self-diagnosed a serious case of a shopping disorder. Amongst my precious finds was the little boutique called LetterNote where I could spend countless hours just soaking in the the cool and aesthetically pleasing designs and their fun, inspiring design messages. It helped that I have and will for the foreseeable future be a stationery buff and obsessively collect notebooks. It was then, a delightful surprise to hear from them a few years later now to work with them on this post and shoot. I could not have been more pleased, and to have Jagrati Marwaha on board to do the photos just made my life easier. Breaking down the vibe of the concept and photography for you in common parlance would in my opinion, break the spirit of it all. Take a moment and savour this.



















Wearing:
Black bodysuit: C/O Stalk buy love
Denim cut offs: Forever 21
Oxford platforms: C/O Clarks
Oversized coat: H & M , France.

Find all the LetterNote goodness right here on their website and also on facebook.

Photography courtesy of Jagrati Marwaha, more of whose work you can also find on winterynights.tumblr.com and jagrati-marwaha.tumblr.com


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The style divide

June 1, 2015, 2:47 am
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Continuing from where I left, regaling you with my tales from the holy and sightly town of Banaras, I shot a blog post with the locals of the city. Travel is pointless if you do not come back with memories of strangers and experiences of how the unknown is not always strange. It is only befitting to sit by the Ghats, talk to the local sadhus who perform holy ceremonies and all kinds of Hindu rites there to see life from another spectrum. A city bustling with diversity in human life, everybody has a unique story to tell. I donned my comfortable white Gap India tee and swiped my red lipstick to get ready for a 'style divide' shoot with the locals. India has not always been a country that has seen too kindly over allowing FDI in the retail sector. We are lucky that as of today, the Indian Government allows for FDI in the retail sector up to 51%. While the debate still rages on about what opening up the FDI does to the Indian market and its retailers, I am of the opinion that allowing foreign players only exposes the market to healthy competition, more employment opportunities and more options for the people at large. It is not such a bad idea after all to make it a largely organised sector. Given how the Indian market has taken to foreign brands like Zara et al, it was only some time before Gap found its way here, soon to be followed by the likes of H & M and Massimo Dutti, I hear. From long before I took off on this soliloquy, I had thought about what the real street style heroes of India wore. I possibly cannot emphasise it enough but style to me will always be as style does. I spoke to four starkly diverse individuals in Banaras and took a crack at their story here. The real street style of India remains unfettered by the FDI policy and there in lies the beauty. The style divide as is highlighted by the images, shines through as I create the 360 degrees effect while my muse stays put.

This is Shanti. Clad in her polka dotted saree, I saw her at her make-shift shop set up under a tarpaulin cover of not a very large surface area. She sells trinkets, arms and amulets by the Dashashwamedha ghat of the river Ganga and has been working hard at her job for forty years now. It's no mean feat given the blazing sun and the soaring temperatures of Varanasi but she was still a sport and even smiled for us. I also told her I had her name tattooed at the nape of my neck. She smiled in response, hopefully not thinking that I was cuckoo for cocoa puffs.



Just by the way he poses you can tell that the man is a natural in front of the camera. Rajesh is a devout priest who has taken to this as his calling for five years now. We caught him right between his work and the myriad shades of saffron in the picture just speak to me as the colours of Banaras.



One of the brains behind the widely popular, 'Baba Lassi', Akash Yadav runs the place with his uncle. To claim that the lassi he hand makes each time is magical would be putting it mildly. An entrepreneurial drive that has made this joint hugely popular with international tourists makes Akash one of our street style heroes. He ensures that you scribble a message or a note for Baba Lassi on the large yellow walls which are already covered to every inch in ink by tourists from all across the world. We sat and had long chats with him over lassi.



This emerald green dhoti, amongst other things is what sets Lachhu Sahni apart from all the other boat owners and oarsmen at the ghats. He has his hands full with two fool proof business models of Banaras; a paan shop and the ownership of a boat. He was sporting enough to tether his boat to where we were so that we could shoot with him on it. The next day he also waved to us when we crossed the ghat yet again.


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Less is more

June 4, 2015, 8:52 am
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If less is more, what is more? You could pose this quasi-philosophical question to yourself and still receive no clear answer because there clearly isn't one. One day we are all about the emblazoned jackets and the other, it's all about trading everything dressy in your wardrobe for the 'homeless but has money for pizza' look, a.k.a the wave of normcore. The other day I read a tweet by Bryanboy about how normcore was dead and I am all like, is it time to fish out my sequins and fish nets yet?
But keeping up with the trends is becoming harder than keeping up with the Kardashians (and Jenners, if I might add). So I do what I do best. Cool, airy linen jacket and shorts co-ordinates with a side of flatforms and a slightly risqué crop top to show off those pizza-base with toppings, abs. 
Take a cue from this look: Less is more. Air as much of yourself as you can while the sun shines. I don't want too many long, heavy things to wear this summer. Unless it's a perfectly good man-repelling summer trench.









Wearing:
Linen jacket and shorts: C/O Stalk Buy Love
Crop top: Nasty Gal
Flatforms: Charles & Keith
All jewellery: C/O Miss Flurrty

Photography Courtesy: Riddhima Arora Behance or reach her on email at riddhimarora17@gmail.com
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Woodland Belle

June 26, 2015, 5:53 am
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The current weather in Delhi is mildly reminiscent of a sweaty armpit. Humid, sweaty and hot and needless to say, not extremely pleasant. Now that I have put this wildly vivid image in your head, I shall get on with my work. This shoot was not easy. Not just because of the aforementioned reasons but because the lighting becomes an issue when you live in the armpit. It's either too harsh or just not enough. Let's not forget how the sweat impacts your face in the photographs. I don't mind my make up melting off my face. There aren't five layers anyway. What I do however mind is looking like I stepped right out of the gym or splashed my face with water. It's not the sexy, sultry kind of a wet look, if you know what I mean. This look was specially hard given that we were shooting in a woodland and trying to create a blushing belle with the brambles and yellow flowers kind of a mood. It helps that the most exciting part of the outfit for me were the large gold jhumkas with the chunky domes at the bottom. Never one to shy away from a little masala tadka to your Parisian street style, I wouldn't wear my culottes without a beautiful piece of jewellery this season. How are you wearing yours? 
P.S: I might have broken a record for dabbing my face in order to rid it of the excessive sweat this shoot. Yay for small feats.
















Wearing:
White crop top: Zara
Striped culottes: C/O Stalk buy love
Earrings: Amethyst by Rahul Popli
Bracelet: C/O Miss Flurrty
Nude wedges: Random shoe store (Australia)

Photography by: Sohail Singh. Instagram (@sohailsingh)


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The Raymond Father's Day Contest

July 2, 2015, 12:04 am
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There is a certain 'je ne sais quoi' that I have, since time immemorial, associated with Raymond and all its Television Commercials. Maybe it is the fact that it makes you feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside because unfortunately, not a lot of brands have been able to maintain that kind of a solid buyer base or even have that kind of a brand loyalty in this day and age of global competition. That aside, Raymond has unfailing lived up to its tagline of 'The Complete Man' and all its marketing activities, at least to me have justifiably done the same. Father's Day might be over but it really never is a wrong time to make your old man's day special, is it? 
I can think of a gazillion reasons of what makes my father so special. Is it the way he embarrassingly still calls me 'princess'? Is it the way he melts every time I want something or want to undertake an activity that he would normally not be entirely comfortable with but doesn't know how to say no to me? Or maybe it's the undying support he has always offered me in whatever it is that I wish to do with my life including a huge decision to move from law to fashion without batting an eyelid?
Think back, throwback or whatever it is that you have to. Share your favourite father-son/father-daughter stories right here or on my instagram or just tweet it from your handle, using the following hashtags:

#RaymondILoveYouDaddy
#RaymondLtd
#Radio1Fathersday



and you can win some cool Raymond gift vouchers for the Daddy. It's as simple as that. Remember, entries without the hashtag would be deemed invalid.

Have you entered the contest yet?
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No one puts baby in the corner

July 11, 2015, 10:25 pm
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This post is going up slightly later than I planned. Mostly because I am currently travelling and because I like to write my pieces at the exact moment that I plan to post them. I find it a little unsettling to write pieces in advance because technically they lose relevance by the time they go live since those aren't my thoughts at those precise moments. I also understand that it is not entirely possible to write posts at the moment I wish to post them so maybe I will try harder to strike that balance.
Nevertheless, I wrote this post when the horrible weather in Delhi was putting me in a spot and I was very inspired by my favourite Dirty Dancing reference of all times when I decided on the title for this post. Currently the sticky sweet winds of Singapore are sweeping me off my feet and this outfit might not be ideal here but it is definitely something I would wear in Delhi. Almost like a uniform. Nasty Gal is giving me life in this day and age of too many e-commerce competitors and little inspiration in the clothing. Not only do they stock multiple labels, they are also right up my alley in terms of my style inspiration. Edgy and chic with just the right amount of drama.
How would you wear this floaty dream of a shirt dress?








Wearing:
Shirt Dress: Nasty Gal
White pants: Zara
Peep-toe block heels: Forever 21
Necklace: C/O Miss Flurrty
Ikat print clutch: C/O The Meraki Project

Two big announcements:

  1. My collection curated and shot by me for Miss Flurrty is now available online right here and we are giving all my readers a chance to get a flat 20% off on all those pieces. Enter the discount code 'FTLOFAOT' at checkout.
  2. I am now a member of the POPxo Blogger Network and I am obviously truly elated. Check out my first piece, which is actually an interview right here.
Photography Courtesy: Riddhima Arora Behance or reach her on email at riddhimarora17@gmail.com

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What do do in Singapore

July 28, 2015, 9:30 am
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I know what you're thinking. Really, who needs to know what to do in Singapore. We all have been there, done that. But that is where I come in. Everyone has been there, done that, yet there are places that remain unheard of, food that remains unexplored.  I got into a conversation with a lot of people who have spent an awful amount of time in Singapore and apart from a place or two, there weren't many places that I could find on both lists; mine and theirs. A travelogue for the uninitiated and a few fresh pointers for the regulars. Who could say no to that? 
With this little photo essay, I compile a list of ten things do in terms of where to eat, where to drink and where to shop for first timers and regulars. I am not going to wax eloquent about going to Sentosa or the Botanical Gardens because any guide for tourists would tell you that. So let's just skip the basics.

  1. Arab Street or Haji Lane: Definitely amongst my top favourite spots in Singapore, this area was primarily where the Arab exporters set up shop. From whole sale fabrics to design equipment, these shops sell everything. Once you cross that main stretch and are then on Haji Lane, that's where the hipsters are at. From large scale graffiti and wall art to the cutest concept bars and cafes, this place covers it all. Not to forget, the string of boutiques, some conceptual and others just plain vintage where you could strike gold if you looked thoroughly enough. The boutiques are slightly on the expensive side but there were few things that you could take delight in finding only there, like those Olympia Tan book clutches knock off but just much cuter. Blu Jaz Cafe would be my top pick from this locality.



     2.  Club Street: Imagine a street lined with bars and clubs on either sides that stretches for a good 500-600 metres and gives you everything from great heady music to the loud banging beats which make you wish you were 20 again. That is club street for you and everyone from college going teens to adults just grabbing drinks after work hang here for a slice of the fun. My favourite picks from Club Street would have to be the Rum Bar and Oxwells.



     3.  Tiong Bahru: This locality hosts a range of places to eat at, from local hawker food hot spots to some great cafes serving some delectable breakfasts and other such. My favourite find here, tucked in a corner was a bookshop called 'Books Actually'. The fact that this place gives a fillip to a lot of Asian authors is commendable and the fact that you find a Persian, who is a pet of the owners, calmly cascading across the billing counter doesn't hurt either. Tiong Bahru Bakery is great for breakfast but my other favourite would have to be the PS Cafe. The PS Cafe chain run all across Singapore and have some of the best properties. This one whips up some mean desserts and the best pepperoni Pizza.


      4.  Chinatown: This place might feature on many a tourist lists but Chinatown is where the locals head often too. Quaint markets that sell the oddest looking spices and dried meats (you possibly cannot identify half of them), that lead to the flea market and the open air food court which has stalls creating some amazing Asian delicacies. You can walk down the market to buy souvenirs, selfie sticks (yes, they do a roaring business in Singapore), hats, toys, chinese lamps, you name the most bizarre thing you can think of and they have it. There is also a TinTin store which you obviously don't want to miss. Grab a few bottles of tiger beer and some dumplings and maybe just sit and soak in the Chinatown feels.




      5.   Wild Honey and Toby's Estate: Two of the best breakfasts I had in Singapore had to be at these two cafes and I could not possibly create a listicle without emphasising on these. Both of these cafes have branches across the city. I ate at the Wild Honey  Scotts Square and they whipped up the meanest Norwegian eggs with salmon pearls. The Toby's Estate Coffee french toast with glazed bacon remains unmatched. I went to the one located at Robertson Quay but of course Toby's Estate is popular worldwide. If you get a chance, these two should be your failsafe breakfast/brunch options.



       6. St. John's Island and Kusu Island: A host of islands adjoining Singapore remain untouched by the wild commercial upheaval and many a locals head their via ferries to hit the lush green as far as the eye can see, dotted with picnic tables. St. John's houses wild cats and you also have the facility to barbecue while at the island. A little dipping of the toes in the sea and some rest and relaxation on a good day with a perfect picnic basket make these two my perfect Singaporean getaways. Not many a tourist guides or blogs talk about these and it would do good to explore these places a little more.



      7.  Orchard Road: From the tourists to the locals, everyone flocks to Orchard road to fulfil their crazy shopping desires. It is not an exaggeration to say that every nook and cranny in Singapore now sees a mall construction but this street in particular is where all the malls/shopping centres are at. Every conceivable international label and Singaporean label can be accessed here and Ion especially serves as my most favourite mall to shop at, given that it houses every possible high street brand there exists. I did not indulge in a designer label excess since it works out more expensive for me than say, shopping in Dubai or even Europe. Although, the SG 50 sale definitely helped matters and I could not resist a few of those flashing SALE signs. P.S.: Do not miss the bread ice-cream sandwich hawkers on the street which is such a Singapore gourmet food thing.
At TWG in Takashimaya, Orchard


       8.  Keong Saik Road: Another place full of the greatest bars in Singapore would have to be Keong Saik. Unlike Club Street, you do not hear thumping music from a mile away but when you cross the beautiful sushi bars and speak easies, you know there is a great vibe to it. The really bohemian Potato Head Folk carved out a place for itself in my heart with its great cocktails and the beautiful Naughty Fries drizzled some beautiful Spiced bernaise. The burgers looked phenomenal too.


       9.  Rooftop bars: This fact needs no reiteration but I'm still going to say it. One does not simply go to Singapore and not be seen at the right rooftop bars. Okay, maybe not the shallow reasons but you have to witness the beauty of the Singapore skyline which just glitters surreally as you stand at these beautiful rooftop bars. One Altitude needs no introduction, given that it is a tourist favourite. My favourite, however, would have to be Ku De Ta at the Fullerton Hotel. Your other great option, lower down on the altitude is Kinki. 

SG50 fireworks from Kinki

View from One Altitude
     10.  Boat Quay: Drink/Eat there for the views. Right next to water, the beautiful bars and restaurants just make for a perfect weekend spot. You can pick your fish/crab live at the restaurant and they cook the same for you. I would especially go back there for their Green Monster beer, which if you haven't already guessed is, *gulp* green.



You know what they say, make every holiday count. Welcoming all your questions, comments, remarks about this travelogue in the comments below.


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Heard of PepperTap?

August 1, 2015, 6:28 am
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At the onset, let me start with a disclaimer. I am not a very domesticated person and even though I take immense pride in the fact that I am an independent woman who sets straight her own affairs, domestic chores are something I steer clear from. All the 'didis' and 'ammas' have played a large hand in spoiling me rotten so much as that I have not had to lift a finger to buy mundane household groceries ever. Like they say, there is always a first time. I was introduced to this app called PepperTap by the lovely folks behind the same and as an enthusiastic blogger, I was happy to take it on myself to write an honest review about their services. 
As someone who had never bought vegetables, fruits extensively all by herself, the mere idea of having the option of almost every conceivable vegetable or fruit delivered to my doorstep by a mere tap is very exciting. I logged on to the website (there is also the app now) and started adding a few essentials to my cart and with three easy steps it was done. I entered my phone number and address and chose the option of cash on delivery and it was done. There was the live tracking of the order and according to me that is an added benefit.
After a slight confusion on the part of the delivery boy, my order was at my doorstep within two hours, as promised. Post admiring some good looking yellow peppers, I decided to jot a list of pros and cons of the app for you:
PROS:
1. Delivery made within the promised time of two hours.
2. Fresh looking produce, saving goofs like me the hassle of picking the good pieces from the bad in a supermarket.
3. Competitive prices
4. Great customer service
5. The best part is obviously the ease of access. You literally just have to move a finger.

CONS:
1. The app is still undergoing technical development so slight errors lead to confusion. Given that they are relatively young, I believe that those can be readily fixed.
2. A few things that I had placed an order for were not available.








Given that the list of pros far outweigh the cons, I am going to be ordering my groceries and other household care items from them often. Are you team PepperTap?

Disclaimer: The reviews on the website are absolutely honest and are entirely based on my opinions and experiences. 

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Like a hoopoe bird

August 6, 2015, 2:11 am
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A few days before I decided to shoot this outfit, I was chilling with a group of friends. The reason I insist on narrating, penning if you may, this anecdote to you bunch is because it has an inherent something to do with how this look came about. In a passing conversation about trends, being the resident fashionista with my friends I was asked if 'monochrome and lack of colours' was the new thing. On inquiring where they got this idea from, I was informed that my personal style seemed to reflect that a lot off late. Serious colours, lot of black and white and mostly a very normcore look. As much as I relate to and enjoy being on this certain wave of normcore style, I do believe that my style cannot easily be compartmentalised. It's like putting my free spirit into a box, just not in a creepy way. And that is when, ladies and gentlemen, I decided to bring the hoopoe bird back to town. I went on a wild riot of colours and put almost all spring-summer '15 trends into a blender to deliver this smoothie of a look. An off shouldered style- check, the colour tangerine- check, statement earrings- check, block heels- check, eccentric bag-check check check. Peppered with my sleek low ponytail and minimal make-up of course.
What do you think?












Wearing:
Dress: Bershka
Shoes: Kurt Geiger
Earrings: Atelier Mon
Clutch bag: Random boutique in Barcelona, Spain

Photography Courtesy: Riddhima Arora Behance or reach her on email at riddhimarora17@gmail.com.

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FTLOFAOTxMalasa

August 21, 2015, 10:54 am
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When I first received this crop top from Malasa, my first thought was how reminiscent it was of the beauty of an Elie Saab garment and yet had a distinct Eastern flavour to it. The beautiful interplay of beads, sequins and crystals on a palette of ivory create a constellation of spangly stars across this top and that, also happens to be the USP of Malasa. This label run by the dynamic mother daughter duo of Jyoti and Nimrit Gill has gone from strength to strength. From creating beautiful luxury garments for the women who exude the old world charm with the grace of a modern Grace Kelly to now dipping their toes into more contemporary garments like peplum tops and crop top cholis, these ladies are hitting all the right notes. It only helps that everyone from Aliaa Bhatt to Gauhar Khan has been spotted in their coveted label.
I decided to put my own spin on a very traditionally hand-crafted choli/crop top and after much deliberation and hours of endlessly staring inside my closet, I paired it with a pair of tie and dye pants in red with a joined wrap over the same. The combination of gold and red is ethereal and possibly the most traditionally Indian combination there was for wedding festivities. The outfit is perfect for the spunky bride on her sangeet who obviously thinks outside the box as far as her sartorial choices go, yet maintains a close relationship with all things traditional. A low twisted bun and a sun and moon maang-tikka completed this look and it was difficult to really categorise it as a traditional or modern. A fusion look which is easy on the eye and definitely a lot of fodder for the mind. How are you wearing your modern day choli, princess?
















Wearing:
Crop top: C/O Malasa
Pants: Folklore
Maang tikka: C/O Ae-Tee

Photography by: Saumya Gupta. Find her on Behance.

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FTLOFAOTxOrosilber

August 26, 2015, 2:33 am
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'Name tags' and personalized jewellery have taken over my bedside. Yes by bedside I mean that I wear these particular style of jewellery pieces so often off late that I almost feel that they have been around forever. That's not exactly a lie, is it now? When Shahrukh Khan wore his 'COOL' tag around his neck in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, we froze in our seats (mostly out of the sheer coolness) and when Carrie Bradshaw wore her 'Carrie' name tag and called it lucky, we believed it. And why wouldn't we? There's nothing a little self loving can't fix. This cool '90s trend is back and Orosilber for one is doing the coolest versions of the same. I like the fact that the quality of their jewellery is fine and hence you needn't think too much before you treat yourself to one of these. It is an added bonus that you can customise the length of the chain, the font and *Wait for it* they have a rose gold option which I excitedly opted for of course. They do some really rad lapel pins, cufflinks and ubiquitously favourite, fan merchandise. A pretty damn good reason to hop on and check them out would also be their one-of-a-kind personalised rakhi feature. I wouldn't mind gifting my brother that certain accessory for him to channel his inner LL Cool J. *could not resist the rapper references*
A cool idea to style these name tags is to keep the rest of the look, accessory free. Since they are delicate, it's best you let them shine as the centre piece of your look. Maybe layer a few cool tags at varying lengths, if you feel adventurous. This is how I wore mine. You can also find Orosilber on Facebook. 









Wearing:
Leather camisole: Banana Republic
Culottes: C/O Stalkbuylove
Necklace: C/O Orosilber
Bag: Gift from the sister
Shoes: Something Borrowed (Singapore)

Photography Courtesy: Riddhima Arora Behance or reach her on email at riddhimarora17@gmail.com

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Sinuously yours

September 4, 2015, 1:34 pm
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Somedays there is no gloss. No lacquer. Just plain old opinions with a side of questions. Served piping hot. Because as soothsayers of the fashion industry, we are plagued with the disease to be opinionated. Not mere cheer leaders. And mind you, an opinion formed out of knowledge and information is the only one that counts. Maybe today would be the ideal day to talk about what in my definition, is fashion blogging, not necessarily opposed to status quo. For those of you not interested in this ever raging monstrosity of a debate, you are free to browse through the images alone.
When I forayed into this now thickly populated jungle that is fashion blogging, almost six years back, my idea was this: I have a keen interest in fashion and I love writing and I'm going to put the two together and document interesting things that I have to say and shoot. I am happy to report that despite the dynamic nature of the internet and social media, I am till date, doing just that. Does that mean I have an opinion that will strike off a keen debate every time? Probably not but I do genuinely attempt to have an informed opinion about a variety of subjects under the vast realm of fashion that interest me. Does that mean that I'm an #ootd mannequin? Definitely not.
I find myself in the zone where I feel the need to talk about my ideas of fashion and style in things and perspectives much larger than OOTDs. I talk about my travel, however limited. I talk about books. I talk about issues that pertain to womanhood and society. And yes, I also post about my looks and OOTDs.
But where is the smart in the fashion blogger? Where is the funny in the fashion blogger? Are we going to start addressing everyone as a fashion blogger merely by the virtue of their overuse of the word 'chic'? Is everyone who posts their daily outfits on instagram a fashion blogger? What about the crazy perpetually-pushing-the-envelope fashion blogger? Where do I find her/him?
You know how a few grains of salt can make all the difference to an otherwise spectacular dish? From the perspective of a reader (of all kinds of fashion blogs), it is all about retaining that distinct flavour. Finding that one spice and perfecting it.
The aspiration is simple. To make people think. To maybe make a few smile. To inspire and create an aspirational value around whatever it is that you do best. To make a reader want to google a term by its smart, yet not overbearing use. To create a style statement (pardon the use of the cliche) that makes people want to pin you to their boards. (That came out much dirtier than expected) I simply mean be a pinterest sensation, maybe.
Not because I am an armchair policy maker but because as someone who professes fashion blogging as a career now, I want to feel the surge of inspiration to create a better body of work and be more critical of myself now more than ever.
Am I being cynical? Maybe. But I am also a reader who genuinely enjoys great written pieces and interesting styles documented by blogs. I take actual pride in the work that some of my favourite fashion blogs in the Indian circuit do and I make that amply clear.
But I believe that for every ten people who aspire to be or are fashion bloggers, at least five should enrich your (and my) life by cool/smart/fun value additions. Is it time to realign our paradigms of what we classify as fashion blogging in India? In my opinion, yes.
Let us inspire, empower and hatch plans to take over the world. 
I would be happy to entertain a healthy debate here including take criticism about my own work because God knows I have put out some not so funny and not so inspiring posts at some time or the other.

P.S.: I would have never had the gall to neckerchief my way into this outfit if it wasn't for Man Repeller and since this was the only one I had, I couldn't have been happier for the colour play.












Creative Direction, styling and modelling: Shreya Kalra
Photography by: Tarun Chawla Photography
Find him on instagram.

Wearing:
Denim shirt: Forever 21
Red pleated, inverse umbrella skirt: Cos
Sneakers: Stradivarius
Neckerchief: Old, battered, cannot remember 

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FTLOFAOTxSurbhi Shekhar Label

September 13, 2015, 1:07 am
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A label that can makes its mark and leave an imprint in a sea of extremely talented Gen-Next designers is one to really put your money on. As a fashion blogger who saw Surbhi's debut show at Lakme Fashion Week, I instantly warmed up to her ideas of fashion. She created dramatic face masks to accompany her dark, bohemian collection which played around with easy fluid drapes and some interesting, feline silhouettes. It helped that her collection the next season took the bohemian girl to a summer soiree and gave it the Midas touch of fun summer dressing. Surbhi Shekhar Label plays on its strengths of creating crisp modern separates and for someone like me who does not invest in one season wonders, her pieces lend a sense of utilitarianism to my wardrobe. It is a question a lot of designers should probably be answering too; whether their garments can stand the test of time. 
Since this garment by Surbhi was in these pretty tones of pastels, I decided to accentuate it with little bright pops. One in the form of the neon pink lips. The other in the form of the complementing neon threadwork on my backpack. The balmy blue diaphanous flowers truly embody the theme of Surbhi's collection; 'Diphylleia grayi' the skeleton flower. 
I would not shy away from donning this particular piece for a sun-downer or even a party for two by the beach. For folks out there who enjoy a particular youthful yet versatile style of clothing, this is a label you need to keep your eyes peeled for.
Find her on:
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram

On some days we are dreamers,
On other days, believers.
But every day we are lovers.
For there is none, that a mind cannot love.













Wearing:
Dress: C/O Surbhi Shekhar Label
Shoes: Stradivarius (Singapore)
Ring: C/O The Pink Post Inc Fooljhadi



Photography by: Fotuwali
Also find her on Instagram

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Wrogn with Virat Kohli

September 16, 2015, 1:31 am
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It all started with Virat Kohli and Wrogn flinging pearls of hangover wisdom at us on twitter which we lapped up, quite happily of course. But with not a clue of what was to follow. The next stage got real intense and was personally my favourite when Virat challenged the God of all things cricket, Sachin Tendulkar to a 'game' which he doubted he could handle. I'm certainly glad I got hooked at that point because it led me to this cool interactive game of WROGN auditions (with Virat sitting across me on the screen and conversing with me directly *gulp*) which could potentially *hold your breath* take me and three friends for a crazy Hangover-esue experience in Vegas. 
I'm not usually the one to fall bait to contests but this game essentially got me playing for a number of reasons.

  • I love the graphics and sound effects of the game. I know as a non-gamer, I don't really carry a strong point of view about VFX but a game that gets you in the groove and wondering what Virat would throw next at you, is definitely high on the VFX quotient. It only helps that it feels like Virat is sitting across you and questioning you.
  • The format of the game. There is really no right or wrong answer for most questions if you think about it but Virat makes cool use of logic to decide whether your answer is right or wrong. 
  • The questions asked. "Can you parallel park when you're drunk?" The answer seems fairly obvious depending on your capabilities but in the face of fire, it's hard to really remember that you are not supposed to be driving at all since you're drunk. Another one of my favourites was the one where Virat asks if you had ever taken ten selfies in a day. Some days we are vainer than the rest of the days and ten almost seems a small number to weigh our vanity in terms of. But Virat's clear ideas of narcissism and how I should let other people take photos of me got me out of the game pretty early on. 
You could still be unsure about whether you want to spend a precious ten minutes attempting to play the game but then there is always a reminder: You could be in Vegas at Caesar's Palace reliving Hangover (sans a shirtless Bradley Cooper of course) if you win.



Maybe, just maybe..you want to play?


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Celebrating shapes with Myntra

September 22, 2015, 4:37 am
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"I need to drop a few sizes by December.""This isn't my size, I'm an Extra extra small.""Let's go shop in the side of the store that stocks bigger sizes." I've heard these comments far too often because as a part of our innate psychic, we tend to make all debates about weight, body shape, etc about the size. What we tend to forget is that size is only one aspect of it and the other happens to be your body shape. Most women in the Indian subcontinent want to shop for clothes based on the 'fit' of the clothing and what we don't realise is that a fit has as much to do with a body shape as it does with the size. For instance, I have a pear shaped body and I tend to gravitate towards clothes that accentuate my petite top and décolletage as opposed to emphasising on a larger bottom and thighs. Even when I wear pencil skirts, I tend to balance out the proportions by wearing something a little boxy or billowy at the top. As a fashion blogger, I feel a sense of responsibility to educate my readers about different things you can do to accentuate different body shapes. Because losing weight to get fitter and healthier is good but dropping sizes by starving yourself with an obscure dream of changing your body shape, is not. 
It's almost disheartening how we all dream of being a body shape that isn't ours. While you can drop a size or two, you cannot change your body shape and maybe it is time to celebrate that as we celebrate the myriad sizes that exist. As a part of a really interesting initiative by myntra, women across the country can now shop according to their shapes, not just their sizes. They are ushering in this cool feature by the concept of Shape ID- the ratio of bust:waist:hips (4:2:4, 3:2:4, 4:4:3, 3:3:3) that mirrors the shapes Hourglass, Pear, Apple, Rectangle and spans across sizes. This not just helps you discover your body shape, it helps you browse through pieces that are most likely to flatter your body shape. I find this commendable on two levels: a) You are sending out a message to your shoppers (a lot of whom happen to be of an impressionable age) that you are celebrating all body shapes b) You are aiding a lot of shoppers who shy away from online shopping make more informed choices online. 
Take a cue from some of India's most popular bloggers as they work these outfits based on their very different body shapes. Nitika of The Shopaholic Diaries, Pallavi of ModaNinja, Shaily of Confessions of a Closet, Sonaksha of The Sonshu, Anshita of Vanity No Apologies.

Get the Myntra app and try their shop by shape feature to experience the different recommendations made by them based on your body shape. For example, for a body type like mine which is Shape ID 3:2:4 (pear-shaped), Myntra recommends you wear ruffled tops, puff sleeves, embellished necklines, double-breasted jackets, among others that accentuate your elegant shoulder-line and move attention to your upper-body.

Leaving you with a penny for my thoughts. Think about the emphasis that is laid on celebrating and appreciating the different interests of every human being. We rejoice at the fact that not everyone aims to be a Doctor or an Engineer anymore and we are steering towards creating a place for every kind of passion and interest. If that was to apply to physical attributes, would it not be in place to make space for all shapes and not hold one higher up in the hierarchy? Maybe this initiative by Myntra is one step closer to ridding the society of this anathema?

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That '70s show

September 26, 2015, 1:16 am
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Trend chart timeline:
Plaid shirt from the '70s as popularised by Farrah Fawcett (Charlie's Angels fame)
Denim high waisted bell bottoms from the '70s as popularised by the Queen of Pop herself, Cher. (I could write a separate article just on how she's the ultimate icon of the '70s)
Fringe detailing on the shoes
Tinted large sunglasses

The seventies were very empowering for women. From the swinging (and later hippie) vibes of the sixties, the seventies ushered in an era of pantsuits (read: power suits), pussybow blouses, platforms, Studio 54-esque sequinned numbers and lots of bell bottomed jeans. We were no longer just a bunch of women preaching 'free love'. Even the classic fashion icons of the '70s embodied that kind of a certain sturdiness of principles and ideas. It's never disappointing to see how fashion affects society at large at any given point of time. It is interesting to note that while the bell bottoms made an appearance in the '60s, their place in widely accepted fashion was only secured in the '70s. 

In my fashescapades (yes, that is my word for fashion escapades), I saw the boot-cut rise to power in the '90s when my sister eyed a new pair of boot-cut Levi's every month and I was merely vicariously keeping up with the trends. In hindsight, I knew it all along that this is not going to be the end of the boot-cuts or the bell bottoms. (If only I had stowed away my mother's and sister's 'vintage' denims)

Doing street style circa '70s with a classic FTLOFAOT twist. Hope you like it.









Wearing:
Plaid shirt: Zara
Bell bottomed jeans: New Look (ASOS)
Fringed suede shoes: Jimmy Choo
Bucket Bag: Marc Jacobs
Sunglasses: Boutique (Melbourne)
Rings: Forever 21 and Loviza (Singapore)

Photography by: Saumya Gupta. Find her on Behance.

The next exciting thing on the horizon is The Amazon India Fashion Week presented by FDCI, of course. All you need to know about the biggest fashion extravaganza of the season can be found here and here. With Sanjay Garg of Raw Mango opening the week long fashion shindig and names like Maybelline India and Spaces Home and Beyond associated with AIFW this season, this is just going to be bigger and better than ever. More updates about AIFW on the blog and my twitter and instagram soon.


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