Carrie Bradshaw – New Quarantine Muse?

I always thought I was a Charlotte – despite my career is basically what Samantha does – I was convinced between the either – at least I wasn’t a Miranda. Maybe a Carrie – since I do like to write, especially when I’m sitting by my window, staring out and writing.

But this whole quarantine situation seems to have thrown everything in the gutter. After living in my rotating set of PJs for three weeks straight, I’m starting to really get bored and want to dress up – even if it’s for myself and my parents. And while I’m still doing the work that Samantha does (professionally, not you know what she mostly did on the show), I’m looking at fashion’s late 90s muse – Carrie Bradshaw on the secrets of quarantine dressing.

Carrie was a risk-taker when it came to her outfits – she dared combinations I still wouldn’t exactly wear – but as a freelance writer working from her Upper East Side apartment, she was often at home in from of her MacBook – and dressed to the toe. While her problems revolved around what to wear to brunch and when would Big come around and not social distancing and self-quarantine, there is still inspiration to be found in her wardrobe.  

With very little casual moments in everything that Carrie wore – even if it was for a grocery run or sitting down by the window to write her column. In an effort to find some joy in the new normal – here’s to embracing dressing up like Carrie.

For the Balcony:

While it’s no Parisian balcony with the Eiffel Tower in view, it’s a balcony – in the wild outdoors. Mix it up, put on a dress, maybe colour – and brush that beautiful mane.

For the Kitchen:

Bring out the checkered-shirts that you haven’t worn, matched unmatched PJs or add a pair of red heels to the outfit to make the drinking, I mean – cooking more fun!

For the Virtual Dinners in the living room:

Adding a little effort – maybe breaking in the big gowns, something with glitter, poofy sleeves, a giant flower broach or a tutu-skirt number for the surprise virtual dancing!

For the grocery runs:

Sure it might not be Manolo-s that you are going out for, but the grocery run every other day – could be the time to shine. Even elevate the simple capri and loose top with a pair of heels and a bandana. Bring out the pattern on pattern and the shiny belts you saved for some reason!

For the working out or athe-leisure dressing:

For someone who looked the way she did, Carrie didn’t do a lot of working out. So off-shoulder sweat shirt with pearls and mascara it is.

For the work video conferences:

I have seen those unfortunate videos of toilet sitting and no-pants *cringe* so, make a little desk – perhaps by the window. Add in a (faux) fur jacket, a headband or a bandana, a pearl necklace or just a cozy knit – add the chic in conferences that could be an email.

Confessions (of some kind) of a Clothes Hoarder

Imagine it is a cold, windy day, and you are walking around the stores and then suddenly you see something on one of the store windows that calls your name. You look at that item of clothing – I’m not going to get too specific here- and you know it belongs in your wardrobe. You go in, and ‘click-click’, ‘swiiish’ and a very mental ‘kachiiiiing’ later, it’s yours. Packed in a bag, sometimes wrapped in tissue, that item is yours. Sounds exactly like the first scene of Confessions of a Shopaholic? Well, welcome to my life.

‘The Confessions of Shopaholic Swati‘ will be saved for another time, but today, we discuss a very dire problem at hand – my out of control habit of hoarding clothes that are absolutely unnecessary, completely out of style and don’t even fit me properly. In many normal cases, this wouldn’t be a problem, but here- I’m a shopaholic who continues to buy clothes, likes not to get rid of the things she already has, therefore, continues to dig herself a larger hole to fall into with her clothes.

You would think that writing this post would make me realize that I have a problem and probably do something about it, like – I don’t know, clear my closet out? I am sincerely hoping for a similar outcome.

In this day and age, everyone tends to clean out their wardrobes, donate to the poor and wear out what they own. This way, every year, if not every season, most (normal) people tend to get rid of what they haven’t worn in a while. I’ve often tried to do the same- and with a lot of determination, but most of the time, I’ve gotten rid of maybe 5, at most 9 things – which were mostly clothes that were getting too hole-y for my benefit. And for me to get rid of that many things in a single sitting is a lot.

I guess that would have been fine had I been wearing them alternatively, but there are a some that just sit in a huge lot- taking up space and never being touched – except when I’m cleaning my closet (which is a full day task, btw) and they need to be refolded and colour coded.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had a very serious mental debate over and over again about this. And the only sound reasoning (I use the term ‘sound reasoning’ very loosely in this sense) that I could probably relate to was that I get emotionally to attached to my clothes.

Have you seen the episode from The Middle (Season 2, Episode 18) where the Hecks are spring cleaning, and there is a broken set of hair curlers that Sue owns but refuses to throw them because (gulp) they might have had feelings? Now, I not saying my clothes have feelings, but I bought them with so much feeling and love that I really, really don’t want to part with them – nevermind the fact that they still have their tag on and I only bought them because the salesgirl was too nice or too mean.

I have a friend, Nicole who is a stylist and a fellow shopaholic. I don’t even need to prove the fact that she for sure shops more than I do. But, as a rule, she always clears out (donate what she doesn’t need or wear) her closet every season. And recommends doing the same.

 

Would you do it? Would you throw away the clothes you handpicked with a lot of love? Do you get emotionally attached to your clothes? Do you have nothing to wear? Tell me I’m not alone…

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.

& Other Stories’ new campaign takes inspiration from Paris

The City of love, the city of Light has always been the life of every party, with everyone dressed in black. Presenting a collection of the nocturnal shade, & Other Stories’ newest collection is ‘From Paris, With Love’.

Handwritten Hoodie from ‘& Other Stories’

I know it’s still summer months, especially here in Dubai. But, with the crazy heat outside, the insides have the air-con on blast, making one feel like working with snow falling. And as someone who freezes instantly, I’m always carrying jackets around everywhere. This season’s favourite has been this pretty funky looking hoodie from & Other Stories x Kim Gordan.

Safe to say, this hoodie is coming with me to wherever I go.

Honest confession, I didn’t know who Kim Gordan was (I’m a 90s kid, and even in the 90s, I spent the first half as a toddler). But, I got in touch with the & Other Stories team and got all the deets.

& Other Stories were thrilled to introduce their new co-lab collection by Kim Gordon – artist, writer, musician and co-founder of Sonic Youth. The co-lab collection features a curated selection of pieces, crafted from organic cotton and silk, decorated with exclusive artwork by Kim Gordon.

For & Other Stories, the inspirational power of Kim Gordon never fades. The dream of collaborating with her gained new life with the opening of their design atelier in Los Angeles. Being a California native, Kim’s perspective and expression is a natural reflection of this direction. She created exclusive graphics for this co-lab collection, transforming basic wardrobe staples into special pieces with a whole new personality.

“Dealing with the structured shapes of t-shirts and hoodies in this collection was almost like working with empty canvases. I decided to do pronouns because I like the idea of a word, and the sense of drama surrounding it. Thinking of a word can create an atmosphere, and there’s a certain mystery about it. The screen printing makes the pieces feel more crafted and one-of-a-kind. Especially the abstract prints, they almost look tie-dyed, but more like art in a way. I like contrasts and when something unexpectedly is looking glam. Today, I think women can curate their environment by what they wear,” says Kim Gordon.

The concept for the graphics started with the pronoun “her” and then grew from there to include “they”, “the other”, “the shadow”, “the end” and “morning mirror” alongside more abstract paintings. Kim hand-painted the words and the abstract motifs with metallic ink on rice paper, contrasting the structed shapes of the garments with a performative feel. With carefully chosen printing techniques, each piece in this co-lab collection reflects the same authentic feel and depth as Kim’s original artwork.

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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!