So my departure is close, and I am a bit upset with a heavy heart as saying goodbyes and leaving home is tough, especially when there is no guarantee of a return. I have just three days in hand which means ideally I should have started packing by now and progressed with checklists, but here I am, writing a post for you guys, telling you how difficult it is to pack 23 years in 2 suitcases over three days.
Since my departure to Istanbul is on Sunday and that country is going to be my home now for a long time for my MBA, I have been thinking of taking some modest yet stylish dresses because I need clothes and makeup to survive. While listing down the dresses and clothes and shoes of late, I came across this very pretty floral, double-flap neck white dress from the brand Afamado. It is so elegant and stylish, it was definitely in my “Take” list. I love the fact that it totally reflects my sense of personal style and comfort and their variety is endless.
I think Istanbul is looking a lot better as I am trying to pack my way through. What do you think?
It was a weekday and I clearly remember I was busy under piles of document work while being out with dad, that is when my good friend Tara gave me a call asking me if I wanted to be a part of an exhibition happening at the Conrad. Benefits of being there would be lots of jewellery and fashion. Now, hey, I was in a oversized shirt and messy bun but boy who cares about that when fashion and accessories is more than often what a girl like me lives for, also shoes. In an hour I had rushed back home, taken a good long shower, set my hair, put on a halter maxi dress, some tall shoes and voila! I was ready to head out.
As I drove down, I was so excited to see how the Conrad Couture Exhibition was going to be like. Once having reached, I found my way to the stalls of Shubhashini Ornamnetals and Wabi-Sabi. Established by jewellery designer Akassh k Aggarwal, the label Shubhashini Ornamentals boasted of some amazing collections of temple style bohemian jewellery and statement pieces that one had to be bold enough to carry off.
The label Wabi-Sabi on the other hand by Neeru Wadhwa from Hyderabad was a perfect blend of sustainable fashion and comfort fabric with indo-fusion style and flowing silhouettes complete with basic tie and dye prints. From two-tiered gowns to skirt-blouse combination and sarees, I was spoilt for choice. I also think apart from the fashion, more often than not, I feel more activated when I meet people who are passionate about what they do because that, believe it or not, makes me look radiant! It is like the vibe surrounds me and I cannot help but soak it in.
After getting acquainted and going through the collections, I loved their styles and enthusiasm. Akassh and Neeru were such warm and caring people and I was immediately at ease , picking out my clothing styles and deciding to create a few looks.
The Magenta Glory and Statement pieces
I absolutely loved the softness and comfort of the gown with the flare at the hem, as I did a balancing act with Akassh’s statement neck piece, bangle and a ring. How gorgeous does the collection look?
The Tie and Dye embracing Turquoise
Ever thought that a saree could be extremely casual and comfortable, styled with statement pieces and could be a transient from your day to night look. Well, then this is something to take an inspiration from.
The Skirt Blouse Duo with Stone pieces
My favourite look. Throw in a colourful shrug to add layering and break the monochrome tie and dye print. Akassh styled me with some of his best pieces and they are absolutely to die for!
I remember a weekend when I was extremely gloomy and I needed some retail therapy. The weather outside escalated the gloominess more and the monsoon was really caving it’s way in. I decided to stop being lazy and digging into sitcoms, I needed a good dose of fashion and style, I needed to dress up and splurge, I needed the whole package. I called up a few friends but they seemed to be busy. So what I did instead was I told myself that I could do this on my own, took the car out of the driveway and headed towards Seasons mall. Since it is also a place that is not too far away from where I live, I was really looking forward to checking out some of their recent collections that the brands they house have to offer.
I know that a lot of times, women who are plus sized and curvy find it a bit difficult to get their sizes in a mall. Quoting one of my main girl Raveena ,” The trial rooms of these malls sees so many hopes and dreams and when its not the right fit everything comes crashing in,” I mulled over at this statement while I parked.
Heading into the brand Splash first, I schemed through their collections and loved a few so much that i couldn’t resist being the quintessential fashionista in me take over. Splash has always been one brand that I find offers size variations and it is not very difficult to navigate your way through once they have new collections in stock. The designs and collections are extremely chic and trendy and offers a mix of personalities for every type of woman out there. Thanks to Seasons, I could immerse myself in clothes and accessories that did the exact effect as the extra fat and creamy ice creams had on Monica and Rachel.
-SPLASH
I love this blue dress and the sleeve details. Completely besotted and having some ultra retro and glamorous moments while accessorising with the ring glares and a choker. Add a pair of golden stilettos for the drama.
The quote shirts have been in trend for a while and what better than to “Create your own”.
-WESTSIDE
I think westside is again another brand that houses some really good, trendy, fashionable and affordable brands. My certain favourites are Nuon, Giacurves and Bombay Paisley. The best part also is that both the brands are adjacently located so one really doesn’t waste much time getting the best of fashion right there. I also think Seasons houses all the best brands that come in with some really good collections and the mall is never overcrowded that you can’t manoeuvre through.
My first stop was at the brand Bombay Paisley inside the store. Thanks to all the gloominess on the weather front I needed to feel like I was running on sunshine, and ain’t no clouds coming in my way! I love the almost yellow with a tinge of mustard shade and the checks giving it an extremely semi formal yet brunch feel, complete with the belt to cinch the waist. Add a heavy neckpiece like i did to assert a statement.
For all those who follow me on my social medias will know that even if I am all up for experimentation and trying out new trends, there is nothing more that I love than a monochrome look, lace and sarees. Baby pink and Salmon shades are totally my personality, I think i belong a bit on both the extreme points of the fashion spectrum! I can dress up in a baby pink dress like this one paired with heels of the same shade and complete with a dainty piece of accessory, basking in my monochrome glory. I can also dress up in a complete punk or goth style! However, this dress was love at first sight.
If you are someone who is conscious of being a plus size, I would not advise you to steer clear of this choice, I would tell you to rush to Seasons right now and grab this from Nuon brand at Westside, and flaunt your curves. As long as you love yourself in it , that is the only validation that matters, not even me encouraging you, or showing you.
Okay, I let the grey weather take over me completely in this oversized top and layered accessories from Giacurves. What else does a girl really want now, eh?
I think when I left the place, I left with the experience that Seasons was not just a mall, it was an experience and lifestyle that is achievable and something one can possess. Human beings love possession, especially of experiences, not just of goods and products. I had to completely give it to Seasons Mall that day for brightening my mood and letting me feel like Carrie Bradshaw, needless to say, I got ‘carrie’d away 😉
Written by Adhisa Ghosh
Photography by Sameet Jain, Manjari Singh and Mehuljeet Singh
“It is a ceremony, the blowing of candles, the cutting of a cake – the mess of cream and sponge in your mouth. The taste is sweet and familiar, like a newly formed wish, fashioned from all the ones you’ve made before.
You don’t remember them in sequence – the things you ask for. You only recall those you wanted the most. Like the pair of neon pink roller-skates, you saw in the shop window when you were twelve. How deeply you felt their absence when you sat among the litter of torn wrapping paper and empty new possessions.
Or the year you turned sixteen, when your best friend’s mother got really sick, and all you wanted was for her to be okay again. It was the year you learned that shooting stars were either a blessing or a curse, depending on what you wanted to believe.
Then there was that year you fell in love. The one where there weren’t any candles – just you walking late at night through the city streets with your heart in pieces, wanting to give yourself to the first stranger who called you beautiful.
Since then it’s been the same every year. As soon as the first match is struck, the smell of burning takes you backwards through your memory. It stops you right at that moment on that warm, September night, as you watched the first trickle of melting wax hit the icing, and you couldn’t think of a single damn thing you wanted – because he was standing there, in the flickering light, asking you to make a wish.”
Starting this post by one of my favourite authors signifies the fact that this one’s going to be all about birthdays. Yes! I am so excited to finally reveal my looks from the collaboration with the brand XXllent, started in 2016 by Raksha Shetty. An online website portal for plus size shopping, the brand XXllent is synonymous with the belief that beauty is beyond size and that every body is beautiful.
Fashion and style are elements and state of the mind that transcends beyond a certain size, shape and colour. Well, it couldn’t have been a better fit when one day I sauntered into the Xxllent office in Pune and realised how extremely innovative, quick, hard working with a clear vision and goal the team was. There has always been a limitation in the availability of choice in fashion for the plus size women which compromises at least 60% of fashion choice for the Indian women and the brand Xxllent had been able to map this glaring gap in the market in the retail and fashion industry for plus size or curvy women. After all, why should any women need to settle for less variety in choice?
The brands’ stylist, Ritika Tara Sharma and I decided on a few looks and because my birthday was coinciding in the month of June, I decided to style a few looks and create a style guide for various birthday personalities. So, if your birthday is around the corner, keep calm and put your style game on because I am going to give you the following lay downs and help you up your fashion game !
1-Sophisticated meets Chic
This off-shoulder cape dress is such a winner if delicate and elegance is your style. I kept it simple by adding a lace choker as the only accessory.
2- Traditional meets Contemporary
This royal look with multicolour “ikat” combination with “gota patti” lace and gold border gives that royal look for that one event where class is priority. I decided to accessorise it with one statement neck piece and red lips.
3- The Summer baby
If you are a cool and breezy person who likes to be on the move and feel fluid and casual, even on days like birthdays, this batik print summer kaftan should be your favourite. I accessorised this with a simple Swarovski neck piece to give it a touch of luxury and a statement oxidised finger ring.
4- The Fiery College Teen
I love this look because of the very stated drama the flared kimono sleeves and tie up at the waist brings in infused with the lovely red hue. This ensemble completely embodies a fiery spirit who has a panache for some fun and drama. I let the dress speak for itself and added a simple pendant neck piece.
5- The dualist
Always in a rush and hopping from day to evening occasions and no time to change because all you have is a spare skirt in your car. Fear not, I got you covered with the reversible top which can be worn in both ways in both the colours – black and purple. I love monochrome solid looks that are clean and minimal and decided to add that headgear for a little greek inspiration ! Play with the shrug for both the looks and let it add that flare and glam.
It was pouring outside one evening while I was aimlessly sipping coffee, sitting at a cafe and strolling on social media, consuming news on fashion and beauty as usual. That’s when I got an invite for an event by Vidhya Tiwari, Editor-in-chief at Cariz, hosted along with her by Chanda Patil, for a Summer Pop Up exhibition at the gorgeous salon, Nails & More owned by Debarati Ghosh.
The pop up was brought in by Harshita Punjabi from Mumbai, whose label Jorss was a collection of summer wear carefully curated from across the world keeping the summers in mind. I decided to drop in for the pop up at the Nails & More on a weather temperamental Friday morning and get some much needed dose of my weekly Fashion inspiration.
Stepping in wearing Global Desi
Harshita Punjabi
While entering the quaint place I couldn’t help but soak in the neat interior giving out a very traditional yet contemporised vibe with copper vessels and reclined chairs, and adding to that was Harshita’s vibrant gesture that made me feel instantly at ease, like I was invited for a dress up party where I could browse through her collections at ease.
Nails and More
Glimpses from the pop up
Talking to the very talented young fashion designer from NIFT, Harshita explained how she usually does traditional wear but this collection was curated for being summer and travel friendly giving out a global vibe. A variety of collections of clothes from her various travels, each one unique and different from the other.
She stuck to summer tones for the colour palette. Pastels, nude tones and prints were her choice, perfectly reflecting the weather outside and my mood. Slim cuts and weather friendly fabrics were her silhouette and fabric choice and I instantly loved the collection while browsing through them.
When I asked her why did she zero in on Pune as the place for her exhibition, she quipped how the city has an undeniable potential for fashion and style. Also she and her beautiful friend cum owner of Nails & More, Debarati Ghosh had been planning to do the pop up since a very long time.
Harshita has always been very outgoing and an extrovert which I could tell from her way of easing her customers in.
Dreaming of being a designer as a little girl, she realised this dream at the age of 20 years, when she shaped her Indo – Western fusion brand under the label “Jorss”. After her graduation from NIFT, she soon found herself creating couture for the ‘Modern Indian Woman’. Jorss fashion is exclusive, elaborate and elegant and Harshita’s designs are whimsical and tasteful, effective with a variety of textiles, prints and sophisticated embellishments. After trying out a few of her collections and particularly loving two favourites, I realised that the heart of her designs lie in one of a kind outfits tailored to perfection for the urban woman.
Checking out some handpicked jewellery by Beadazzle by Soniya and Bling Spree
Being a curvy blogger, I couldn’t help but feel good about being able to ease into her designs and seeing variety not limited to a particular size. Upon asking her if she felt that fashion had a definitive size, her answer made all the positive difference making the collection more than just a display of her creativity. She quickly responded how she felt strongly about the fact that fashion was for all, and it wasn’t a size. It was clearly a state of mind and what made a woman feel like she was a queen! It was the confidence and the love for fashion and style that should transcend the obligation of feeling restricted.
I for one, couldn’t agree more. Also, I had so much fun playing dress up and twinning with her while getting to know all about this very talented designer!
I love the dramatic collar and cinched waist, and the pastel tone, very summer melting into monsoon feel!
This Batik print maxi dress is so soft and comfortable! Love!
Checking out some handpicked jewellery by Beadazzle by Soniya and Bling Spree
I love the dramatic collar and cinched waist, and the pastel tone, very summer melting into monsoon feel!
The Moody Suburban Girl 