Make it Beige!

In the recent years, all the prominent fashion colour trends that have emerged, including millennial pink and a bubbling yellow, were bright, bold and unashamedly loud. But, its whole nude world, and beige is making a comeback in the rounds of all Fall Winter collections. Maybe it’s a subconscious version of #nofilter and a plea to return to simplicity.

Beige works as a building block in any wardrobe – whether you are a neutral novice or seasoned in mastering the fifty shades of sand. Embracing it as the colour of the season, we researched on incorporating beige to the many occasion wardrobes of the day. Whether it’s for work-wear or a wedding, here’s what is inspiring us.

Indian Wear in Beige

It’s always interesting to see how versatile traditional wear is becoming when it comes to contemporary trends. While my mummy will argue that khadi has been around a long time – Indian designers are adding their touch of beige to that isn’t just khadi. One of my favourite prêt couture brands, Paulmi and Harsh has some interesting pieces – pairing the colour with a touch of botanical hues. 

Workwear in Beige

We spend a lot of time at work – so, it is slowly becoming my fashion trial session – especially when there are no meetings on the agenda. I try out something different to test if it will work and see the reactions/opinions I get. And while Zara and Mango are my personal go-tos for workwear, I looked at how international fashion influencers and celebrities are wearing the trend without blending in the background. Beige, you would agree, makes the best option for workwear. From beige tops to beige pants – this muted shade is all kinds of chic.

Flower By Kenzo – The Poppy Story

I know, another fragrance story, what’s going on, Swati? But, as I mentioned in my previous post about the LOEWE 001 Perfumes, it’s very often that I end up reading about stories or inspirations behind different things. This time, it was the Poppy – of KENZO Parfum’s Flower By Kenzo.

 

Not many know, but, the flower Poppy doesn’t actually have a smell. It is a flower that is scentless – can you imagine that? I mean a flower usually stands for two things: pretty colours and an amazing sweet smell. But, here’s one flower, that looks really delicate, really pretty and really simple – and there is no smell.

The KENZO Parfum team briefed their noses (people who create the scent), that here’s this flower – that doesn’t have a smell – your job today, is to give it a scent. Create a perfume that depicts the flower. The kind of smell that when it’s in the air, people automatically associate it with the Poppy. Now, I’m not saying that was the exact conversation, it must have been in French, or Japanese – I’m not sure. But, this is how it went in my head.

And with that, here we are. They create a scent – exclusive to the poppy. I, genuinely, came across it as a kid – I always had this really thin, tall bottle that smelled like flowers. Even the bottle design, is delicate and shaped like a poppy.

 

Since then, the brand has launched several distinct scents that remind of a different aspect of a poppy.

LOEWE – Half of you, half of me, half of us

I work as PR in a luxury firm in Dubai, and often in my work, I come across lovely little stories of brands. Don’t get me wrong- I’m not trying to make a pitch here. It’s something very simple, but it easily calls to my heart – especially if there is a little bit of love in this story involved.

It started something like this – we were gifting a few things, and we included the LOEWE 001 fragrances in it. In the bags, we put men and women’s. Curiosity (and frugality) got the best of me and I asked why did we need to put both? We could conquer much more gifting if we just gifted based on the receiver’s gender. I really didn’t think there’d be a story to it. But, here goes:

The fragrant pair is both notable for their freshness and calming scents. After a little reading, I read that the brand says that, “Two unique fragrances, Man and Woman, created at the same time. Two accomplice fragrances, non-existent one without the other, in constant conversation … Perfectly complementary, when they are combined together, the two fragrances create a third scent.”

So, in simpler words – both the scents share 50% of the same ingredients and 50% different ingredients – just like how a couple is – similar but different, but together, they compliment each other.

 

Spring Accessories

In Dubai, the winter season is usually our spring, and our spring, summer and fall is all summer. Which makes pretty much the entire year to be beach-friendly. Pulling together my (some-wish) list of all the favourite Spring accessories to spot this season – here’s my selection. (Warning- there’s a lot of straw!)

One –Soludos Ciao Bella Smoking Espadrilles • Soludos • $75

Two- Straw Circle Bag • $75

Three- CULT GAIA Mini-Ark Handbag • Cult Gaia • $128

Four – All Things Mochi Aitana Earrings • $60

Five – Kate Spade New York Indi Slides • Kate Spade • $78

Six – Loewe Barcelona Small Grain Leather Crossbody Bag • Loewe • $1,750

Seven –Loeffler Randall Lulu Block Heel Mule • Loeffler Randall • $350

Eight – Castañer – Carina Canvas Wedge Espadrilles – Ivory • Castaner • $120

Walk-in Wardrobes you can live in!

Day-dreaming and looking for interior goals seem to be my favourite hobby, that I didn’t know I was so fond of. So while looking for inspirations of what my wardrobe would like, if you know I had the money to turn a whole room (or two) into a wardrobe, I stumbled upon some beautiful walk-in wardrobes that you could literally live in.

Keep it clean and simple: 

A little island with a lot of neatly hung racks. But, where do I put my shoes?

This super white work/closet space. 

A little royal ambience might just be the way to do it. 

Something like this totally works for me. 

A little goth never hurt anyone! 

This is very lovely on the light! 

This is one for the dreams:

Dark and sexy!

Pastel haven?

I love how much colour there is. 

This might be too small for my impromptu dances, but still bigger than the one I’m working with.

This is perfeccccct. 

This is so super organized, I doubt mine will look this way very long. 

Winter Essentials!

I’m dreaming about my December holiday and planning on where to go for the long weekend (it’s four days long!). And while I want to escape to somewhere cold and snowy, I’m already planning my wardrobe, especially since I saw & Other Stories’ AW 17 Campaign!

Sharp checks, faux fur, and a flash of white — freshen up your seasonal wardrobe with a new range of Autumn Winter essentials by & Other Stories. From city-chic boots to the return to the hobo, & Other Stories will keep you looking effortlessly trendy this season.

Blair Waldorf’s Best Outfits from Gossip Girl

If you’ve known me for a while, or have been reading my blog for a while, you’ll know that I love Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl. I still watch reruns of the show on Netflix to gather some fab wisdom from Ms. Waldorf.

So, this weekend, when I was watching the reruns of the show- I was thinking about pretty everyone’s costumes on the show are, especially Blair. It made obvious sense to write an entire article dedicated to her best looks from the show.

While I’m not the biggest Serena Van der Woodsen fan, she did have a fabulous wardrobe – that I will want to rob, so I’ll when inspired by her outfits do an entire or well, part of a post to her outfits.

The Green Coat

Handmade Software, Inc. Image Alchemy v1.14

How stunning is this look! This was my favourite look from Blair’s entire selection- in fact I was so obsessed with this green coat- that I actually ended up buying a coat in the same colour- a different style, though.

The most beautiful Elie Saab wedding dress for the much awaited wedding!

This red dress in which she was supposed to go meet the Prince, but ended up running to the train station, to Chuck Bass. And then happened my second favourite scene in the history of the show. 

And then this look, even though she was with Lonely Boy. *insert massive eye roll here*

Give her any shade of red in every fabric and she could literally carry it like a Queen that she is. I’m especially fond the dress in net with the boys on it.

And this green dress- because Blair Waldorf can even make a curtain cloth look chic.

I liked the Dior bags and cool french hat that no one but Blair could carry, but most of all, I was a big fan of these jackets she was often wearing so effortlessly.

And even though her wedding to the Prince was nothing but a nightmare, her wedding dress (and tiara) was what dreams are made of.

These two prints are very alike- with similar colour combinations and patterns- but two completely different designs. These are something that I’ll have lots in my wardrobe of.

One of my most favourite looks from the show, this one shoulder, polka-dot dress that she wore in Paris in Season 4.

Seriously, where did the stylists find all these amazing blazers?!

Paris-chic. Some of her best looks are from season 4. Interesting!

All this heart-warming dash of yellow!!

Let’s not forget this stunning look-

Or this stripey dress from the steps of the MET.

And all these floral options that are especially pretty.

She even made the granny coat look chic?!

And this pretty number-

Never in a million years would I be able to carry a dress as beautiful as the one below as effortlessly as Leighton Meester’s character does.

And this pink ensemble with a giant bow. Not many people who can carry it as well as Queen B

And finally this black dress from the very first episode. Can we talk about how PRETTY her headband is!

Travel Friendly Shoes

While we are busy packing clothes, beauty essentials, the only two bags you’d really only use, one of 3 passport cases you have, and other things- we tend to just stuff in the shoes- sometimes without a lot of thought. But really, how are you going to walk in heeled boots throughout the day without crying with pain after 3 hours of wandering. No number of amazing pictures will match the aching pain you’ll have every step of the way.

After a lot of travels, and some unfortunate choices of footwear, here are my suggestions for when you’re packing for your next travel.

1. Sneakers
   
   Comfortable sneakers that you can do pretty much anything in are the key. I carried some really heavy sneakers that didn’t really add to the purpose- so I ended up buying new sneakers/trainers when I was in St. Petersburg to make the rest of the trip easier.
2. Ballerina Flats and Espadrilles
   

   

   Picture from Weheartit.com

   I actually never travel without a pair of these. I have some very comfortable pairs that I especially keep for my travels that I walk in. They are versatile (the right ones, at least!), they look pretty and go with pretty much anything- dresses, skirts, pants, jeans.

3. Boots
   

   

   Picture from Weheartit.com

   If you’re packing boots, better pack tall boots for somewhere with a cold climate. I carried my pair of fancy boots to Rovaniemi, they had a little back heel in them- and after 2 hours of exploring the city in my boots, I walked back to the hotel and swapped them in for my trusty sneakers. Carry boots- because they can be functional and fashionable but make sure they are flat and comfortable for longer than 10-12 hours!

4. Sandals
   
   They are actually perfect if you’re going somewhere beach-y and hot. Because if it’s really hot- ballerinas and sneakers can get sweaty- and that’s never good. There are some really pretty ones that you can go for!
5. Flip Flops
   
   Don’t get me wrong- I’m a sucker for hotel room slippers- but I still like to carry my flip-flops whenever I’m travelling to somewhere I know I’ll be in the water at some point. They are actually especially perfect for beach days!