Showing posts with label nine west. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nine west. Show all posts

Saturday, April 13, 2019

Why do I blog?

I feel one is not required to save the world with their creativity. Also your art doesn't need to be original or important.

I did not create this blog for you - the reader, I did not think 'oh this blog will help people get style ideas', Nope! That wasn't the first thought. I created this blog for me, for my own pleasure because I enjoy styling, taking pictures, editing them, writing posts, it is all enjoyable for me, I do my best considering my time constraints.

If you enjoy what you see and read here then that would definitely make me happy. If you say you got a few ideas because of the pictures then that would make me happy too, and if you say you don't like it and it is useless, even then I will keep posting. Because at the end of the day one must do what they do because they like doing it!





Sweater: Modcloth, Top: Ann Taylor, Jeans: American Eagle, Shoes: Nine West

Saturday, March 30, 2019

Fashion 1 0 1 : Part 13

Donate your clothes (when you are done using them) to someone you know or someone in need. As I said earlier clothes are not biodegradable. In my family we all use each other's clothes, my nieces use the clothes that don't fit me anymore or the ones that I think are no longer age-appropriate for me. I have no issues using clothes that someone else has used before but I know many people do not like it, using used clothes is too lowly for them - it is something that only the poor do, well I don't want to comment on how you should feel about it but think innovative ways of reusing, recycling and repurposing clothes. When it comes to donating clothes - My first preference is donating clothes to people I know - so that I can see them getting used and the next option is donating to the salvation army. I am sure you will find a lot of people around you who will happily accept used clothes - so donate.




Jeans: American Eagle, Top: Michael Kors, Shoes: Nine West, Scarf: Target

Saturday, March 23, 2019

Fashion 1 0 1 : Part 12


  1. Look for better alternatives. I buy only a few items every year from decent brands, I know their fabric is good quality - and I prefer to buy at brands who have ethical rules and regulations - you can check it on their websites if they follow an ethical process. People who can - should look for alternatives - look for tailors in your area, or local boutiques who you know are doing ethical business.




Jeans: Abercrombie and Fitch, Top: Anthropologie, Shoes: Nine West, Sweater: J Crew Factory

Saturday, March 9, 2019

Fashion 1 0 1 : Part 10


  1. Slow down. Don't let the ads tempt you, don't go browsing the shops. Detox. We're buying too much anyway. If you see a skirt for 4$ think what kind of quality it is - the good quality fabrics that I have bought in this country for sewing an adult size skirt takes at least 6$ a yard - so something that is sold for 4$ is plain bad quality and also think how much was the sewer paid for his/her hard work (as the company is going to keep maximum profit). Next time you buy at sale realize that the company is still making its profit - the sale that you get is by cutting the wages of the sewers. I have thought a lot on this topic and the best solution that I see is - Stop mindless consumption, reuse, recycle, repair and reduce.



Shoes: Nine West, Jeans: American Eagle, Top: Ann Taylor, Scarf: Target

Saturday, March 2, 2019

Fashion 1 0 1 : Part 9



I can't stand authoritarian opinions and I dislike selling my point of view. But remember that I am not knocking on your door telling you how to live your life, you have chosen to read this blog where I am expressing my opinions, so continue reading if you feel you need to change or make a difference in this scenario (how much ever little it is), else you can say 'I know how the fashion industry works but I don't care to make a difference', in that case, stop reading now.

Here are the steps that you can take if you care about finding a solution to the fast fashion problem as I do.

The industry works for us and gets rich thanks to us. The consumers are not some statistic, imaginary group: it consists of individuals, of you and me. We let it grow and get strong. So how do we start?

Coming up in the next posts...








Jeans: American Eagle, Shoes: Nine West, Top: H&M

Saturday, February 9, 2019

Fashion 1 0 1 : Part 6

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part5

We can buy clothes so cheaply because they are made of very poor quality materials and because people who make these clothes do not earn a living wage. They work in factories that do not fulfill safety requirements. They work with highly toxic materials. They often work over a dozen hours a day, six days a week, with no provisions and no legal arrangements, in locked buildings they cannot leave even in face of danger. The risk with their health and with their lives just so that we can buy a cheap t-shirt. And then, tragedies occur, like the one in Rana Plaza where over one thousand people were killed in a clothing factory building collapse. When we buy cheap clothes, we are playing with people's lives and well-being and on the most basic level, on human dignity.

Their need to work, their need to earn money is being misused, they are being treated as slaves. They need to be treated with as much respect as any other working professional would  - be it the working hours/ safe working conditions/ health benefits/ sick leave.

To be continued...

Saturday, December 8, 2018

Women: 2. The Housewife





This is the second part of the series. Earlier part - Part 1.


The Housewife


You have decided to be a housewife, okay, that is fine, but that does not mean it is something to be glorified. Just so you know I would have had the same opinion even if I was a 'housewife'. Someone sent me a forward that idolized the housewife, how she keeps the house clean, cooks and when her husband comes home all tired she welcomes him with a smile... something of that sort... you get the gist. If doing all this is making you happy, good for you! but again please don't glorify it.


From what I have seen women who go out and about, work in the real world are dealing with more prolific issues than if my bathroom sink looks spotless, they are facing more challenges, they are managing things better, most of them have their own share of responsibilities on the home front which they manage well too.


There are so many women out there that I have seen who manage a job, household chores, kids, exercise along with their hobbies. Just the other day one of my friends, working girl with kids, told me she wakes up at 4:30 every day to be able to achieve all of the above.


To be continued...






Jeans: American Eagle, Tee: Loft, Vegan (faux) Leather Jacket: Blank NYC, Shoes: Nine West








Saturday, July 7, 2018

Style blogging...



Most fashion bloggers are “influencers”, they are people who have the ability to influence you to spend your hard-earned money on stuff they just get for free!

Someone asked me if I have the pressure to continuously buy new things in order to be relevant in style blogging, my answer is no, I don’t. First of all, what I have is not a fashion/ new trends and style kind of a blog, this is a personal style blog, this is how I dressed and according to fashion and latest style standards, it could be completely outdated. I wouldn't know, fashion/ what's in and out changes every day and I do not want to track it. I do not propagate unnecessary spending on anything. I do not shop much, I do not follow trends, I do not talk about ‘sales’, because I myself never keep track of or buy at them. I urge people to invest in quality over quantity.

I am not dressing up for the blog, I am not here to show how much stuff I have, I am here to show how much can be done with however little that one has. I create a new outfit every day with just the same stuff that I already have.

I do not want my readers to come to my blog and feel they don't have things, I do not want them to be discontent with their current closet, I do not want them to go out there and buy what I am wearing, I do not want them to even copy my style or outfits.

I want my readers to visit my blog and get excited about getting dressed well. I want them to see their existing wardrobe with new energy. I want them to think before they shop. I want them to create a wardrobe that represents THEIR personal style. Having a lot of clothes or having what’s in the trend or walking in ladder-like high heels does NOT make you look stylish but feeling comfortable and confident in what you are wearing does. (and as I have said this before - fit body trumps jewelry, clothes, shoes, accessories, makeup, hairdos and all that)
2 combos:






Jeans: American Eagle

Shirt: American Eagle

Shoes: Tommy Hilfiger

Saturday, June 23, 2018

Decisions


I feel there is nothing wrong in staying single or choosing career over love or getting divorced or leaving your job and following your passion or having a kid or multiple kids or leaving your job to be a househusband/ housewife/ stay at home mom or dad, move to a different city or anything else for that matter - if you believe it will make you happy and that is what you want out of your life, then that is exactly what you should do. Life is too short to overthink. The only rule one must follow is - no whining! Make a decision and stick by it. Don't blame or curse the world, or stars and planets if your decisions do not work out. How the next person decides to lead their life should not influence anyone to make that same decision. Do what is right for you, the only thing that matters at the end of the day is happiness and mental peace. 



Pant: American Eagle, Top: Banana Republic, Shoes: Nine West, Jacket: United colors of Benetton

Saturday, June 9, 2018

Homesick...



Do you ever feel homesick? The feeling is quite traumatic, I get a heavy heart as if my chest is not able to contain the heart within. Then I get engulfed in the turbulence of thoughts... Yes, I am homesick... 

... I miss home and I also miss the past

I miss those days which cannot possibly come back. 

But that doesn't stop me from wanting them back.

I wish it was possible to go back to those relationships which were purely based on the fact

that we shared the common classroom, and nothing else.

Or where having common interests meant we were going to be best friends forever.

I miss those carefree days of college and the days when everyone elder to me doted upon me for absolutely no reason.

Today is one such day when I am homesick and past-sick.


Sweater: Promod (India), Jegging: American Eagle, Shoes: Nine West, Tee: Loft

Sunday, March 18, 2018

In Harmony



What I truly don't get is the concept of "what's in" and "what's out"! I won't lie, I do read a lot of fashion blogs but I shop only on the basis of personal preference and good fit.

Here's a thought - Everything we wear doesn't have to be 'in-fashion' but definitely has to be 'in-perfect-harmony' with our personality and body type.




Shoes: Nine West, Tights: Target, Sweater: Modcloth, Skirt: United colors of benetton

Sunday, February 11, 2018

Not my concern



Some people want people they like, to get along with each other, they take measures to make sure that everyone they hang out with like each other back. For example, your friend might want you to get along well with her husband and kids, or your partner would like it if you got along with her family, your family would prefer it if you got along with all your relatives, your relatives would be elated if you got along with all their relatives, maybe that's bit of a stretch but you get the gist.

I understand that it can be very stressful mentally to be spending time with people you don't get along with - simply in the name of the association.

I am totally fine if two people I am extremely fond of, are not fond of each other much. The least I expect from people, in general, is to be civil and well-mannered no matter who they are and whom they like (or not). I have no need for my girlfriend to get along perfectly well with another girlfriend, or every family member to get along with every other family member, so on and so forth. It is great if they do, but if they don't it doesn't bother me.

It also does not bother me if someone I am fond of is hanging out with someone I don't get along with. I really don't care to indulge in anyone's personal dynamics with each other. I like giving people their space and letting them make their own choices about who they want in their lives and/or don't my wavelength matching or not matching with someone does not imply it will for you. I do not think to have me as a common link should be a punishment for anyone. The only relationship they need to care about is with me. Anything else is not necessarily my concern.



Jeans: Abercrombie and fitch, Belt: target, Top: Charter's Club




Jeans: Abercrombie and Fitch, Top: Charters's club, Shoes: Nine West

Sunday, December 24, 2017

food



We over glamorize the food we eat. We let food define our happiness and satisfaction. Food and shopping can never be hobbies or therapies.

Oh! a birthday without a big-fat-cake is a sacrilege, holidays without non-stop sugar munching are not worth it, buffets without over-load of desserts is a waste of money - all absolute nonsense.

I am not saying that I would have a birthday without a cake or go for buffets and not have desserts ... what I am saying is that I do not obsess over it. I do not have to have it! It's like you drink water, breathe air, you eat food. It doesn't require neurotic focus or attention. While I still crave chocolates and cakes among other forms of suicidal food, I have managed to (with a lot of will power) make healthy choices, which kind of balances out my once-in-a-blue-moon acts of sin. Though I am nowhere near a perfect lifestyle, weight or health... but I am sure and consistently trying to stay on the path of attaining one, that ought to count for something, right?








Pant: American Eagle

Top: Tommy Hilfiger Factory

Jacket: Zara

Shoes: Nine West

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

big bad world



Fashion/ personal style blogging has become a new Vogue, a platform to try and get people to buy more, spend more, want more ... and some times it also sets unrealistic standards for women. Of course not every style blog can be categorized in the same way but it is definitely getting harder to differentiate one blog from another.

When I started this blog my biggest goal and vision was to show how many combinations can be created with just some basic stuff in the closet, and that one can be well and sensibly dressed without spending loads of time or money on it. A lot of people suggested that I should add a variety of locations and better my picture quality... sorry I can't!  I do not want to spend more than two minutes to take pictures because as I said it is not worth spending too much time on clothes :-).

I never get ready just for the heck of taking pictures, I take pictures sometimes when I get ready for office or wherever the heck I am going. Most fashion blogs show women wearing these really fancy clothes, makeup, jewelry, hairdos and wearing the new items in every post, I can't do that, or for that matter, I haven't seen any women around me dress like how they do in fashion blogs. It is simply unrealistic. I want to share only doable styles.

On this blog, you will never find one new item introduced with every post. It is just the same stuff repeating over and over again in many ways possible. Shopping was never my hobby and it never will be, if anything shopping stresses me out. I do not want to encourage mindless consumption with this blog. But I want to encourage feeling excited about even the basic clothes and colors that you have in your closet.

I do think that fashion blogging is already past its peak because every unique idea gets beaten down until it becomes mainstream. There are only so many ways in which clothes can be worn, and someone somewhere has probably already done that, so obviously I am not guaranteeing that what you see here is going to be unique because nothing is unique. You might be wearing a very similar combo as the person sitting next to you but the only differentiating factor would be your personality and the confidence with which you carry yourself.

A lot of brilliant and amazing personalities I have met have had sloppy style sense and I have also met some prim and properly dressed people who were not so nice people, so there is no association between clothes and personalities and no one is forming a judgment about you based on your clothes, the ones who do are idiots so never mind about them. On a day to day basis I hardly ever notice what others are wearing so if you ask me what were your team members wearing today then really I don't know, I wouldn't be able to tell if they wore the same thing for the whole week. I am sure most people don't notice it and what you wear is only to make yourself feel good.

All I can say is wear what you want to wear, it doesn't matter, but again wear what 'you' want to wear, like how 'you' want to see yourself and not based on someone else's idea of styling.

Look for ideas on these kinds of blogs, see how you can apply them to your existing closet and you are good to go. If you plan to get clothes and wear them how the fashion bloggers are, then you are probably going to get lost in the big bad world of mindless consumption, or at least that is what I think.




Wednesday, November 29, 2017

What the health: Part 20 - How to stay healthy continued ...



This is part 20 of ‘What the health’ series. You can find earlier parts here – part1part2part3part4,  part 5part 6part 7part 8,  part 9, part 10, part 11, part12, part13, part14, part15, part16, part 17, part18, part19

Mental health (2) - Mental health is as much important as physical health.

2. Meditation - Meditation helps a lot with releasing anxiety and stress - it also helps with a better quality of sleep. You don't need any Guru or spiritual organization to teach you meditation. Some people sit and meditate on their own, it doesn't work for me, I like guided meditations, like the ones which are available on an app called InsightTimer, Glenn Harrold being my favorite. I am sure there are other apps/ videos on which you will find guided meditations.

3. People and negativity - I go through stress if I have negative people around me, I can not function in such surroundings, even at work. I do like to be around positive, easy-going people (who are not full of hatred, jealousy, negativity or comparison) and I have written many posts on the traits that I do not like (rasikam.blogspot.com) - bullies, vampires, gossipmongers, male chauvinist pigs, negative people (we all have these traits - I am talking about the extreme cases here).

Weed out the negative people slowly from your life, the world is full of nice people that you will stumble upon every inch/ every corner and will be able to form new friendships. There is no need to be associated with people who are giving you humiliating, insulting or degrading treatment or the ones who do not give a shit about you. My life and headspace feel so much sorted since I decided enough is enough, that I am going to stand up against and not give in to any of these beastly creatures.

Cutaway toxic people and relationships, move away from situations and things and events that make you feel negative. Discuss ideas and not people, don't hang out with people to kill time - first check if your wavelength matches, society and socializing can make you feel drained or feeling empty, socializing is a boon and much needed when it leaves you feeling light and joyous in your heart, don’t let the insecurity, jealousy, and negativity of other people affect you or dent you no matter how much you want to react, you can not stop your life from moving on to react to people who don’t matter to you at all, insecure and negative people will try and pull you down always, keep moving forward offering them silent good wishes. 








Dress: tjmaxx

Shoes: Nine West

Thursday, October 26, 2017

What the health - Part 10 - More reasons you are not losing weight



This is part 10 of 'What the health' series. You can find earlier parts here - part1, part2, part3, part4,  part 5, part 6, part 7, part 8,  part 9

  1. Poor Digestion

You are not what you eat; you are what you digest and absorb!

Our gut health determines our overall wellbeing. The bacteria that lie in our gut help us to fight disease, process our food, make nutrients and make hormones. When your liver is sluggish, it struggles to process substances/toxins/hormones efficiently and this leads to toxic build-up and this will inevitably cause weight gain.

I would suggest fixing your digestion by eating simple and easy to digest foods, do not forget to drink one glass of buttermilk every day (not yogurt but homemade buttermilk).

  1. Don't Drink Water

Last but not the least, we have all heard how important H2O is when it comes to shedding pounds. It helps to suppress appetite, so you're less likely to overeat. Staying hydrated keeps all chemical reactions going on in your body run smoothly and it fixes metabolism. It allows your kidneys to function properly and filter everything that they need to. Water is great for skin too.

How much water should you drink? It depends on how much you weigh, what climate you live in and how much you work out. 0.5+ ounce per 1 pound of body weight, so if you weigh 150 pounds you would be drinking (75+ ounces (2.2 liters))+ (if you live in a hot climate then few more ounces) + (if you work out each day then few more ounces). I drink 3 liters (more or less) every day.

coming up in the next posts... how to lose weight and stay healthy





Top: Charters's Club

Skirt: J crew factory

Shoes: nine west

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

What the health: Part 6 - Lame excuses continued



This is part 6 of 'What the health' series. You can find earlier parts here - part1, part2, part3, part4,  part 5

  1. It hurts my body

If you have never worked out then yes, it would hurt for the first few days. But go past that and then you would get addicted to that 'good' pain. Stretch before and after a workout, get a massage once in a while, soak in warm water with Epsom salt.

  1. Exercise make me more hungry

Yes! That happens. The best solution to that is to have a protein shake right after your workout and have a lot of healthy snacks - fruits, salads, nuts. Munch on them every 2 hours even if you are NOT hungry.

  1. I don't know where to start

That's fine. Just start with walking for 30 mins, do yoga at home, what helps the most is joining classes - you pay for it so you show up and then it is easier to work out in a group of people...the atmosphere keeps you motivated.

  1. I am already skinny (thin)

A lot of people are skinny on the outside and have unhealthy fat reserves inside, some are skinny and have no energy to do anything, you can be thin but chances are you are not fit … so exercise and eat healthy home-cooked food!

I hope this helps and gives you a kick in the butt... exercise today if you haven’t already.




Skirt : Gap (12 years old)

Top: Old Navy (7 years old)

Shoes: Nine West (4 years old)

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Have you seen...?




Have you seen these 2 types of Indian women?

  1. Wearing gold bangles, anklets, earrings, necklaces, toe rings, rings, nose ring, bindi - along with flip flops, formal skirt, and formal shirt? - There is nothing wrong with wearing Salwar Kamiz or a Saree (even if you live outside India) than wearing a funny combination like that.

2. Wearing nighties at public places! Please ladies, I mean it looks bad even if you are in India.

Jegging: American Eagle

Shoes: Nine West

Button Down Chambray: American Eagle

Stripes top: Tjmaxx


Similar combo HERE

Monday, March 21, 2016

Using Timer



A lot of personal style bloggers get help from their friends/family to take pictures for their blog. Any professionally taken/edited pictures make the outfits look better than they actually are. I never use any outside help for taking my pics, I use a timer.

When I started taking pictures for this blog it took me some time to figure out the lighting/camera angle/ setting etc. - lack of sunlight in Seattle makes it a little challenging. Once I figured out the basic things now it takes me 5 minutes top to take pictures. The only thing I need to make sure is when the timer goes off I am standing still, otherwise, the picture is all blur and at times it does catch me when I am adjusting my hair or something (as in pic 2).

In case you are interested Here is a good 101 that I liked on using a timer for style blogs.
Silk Blouse: J crew

Sweater: J crew factory

Denim: Banana Republic

Shoes: Nine West



Thursday, February 18, 2016

Utilize what you have

I have a big basket where I put the used clothes (that are washed and ironed). I don't bring them back in the closet until I use (almost) everything remaining in the closet. This is a great way to utilize everything that you have. This also makes one realize how much stuff they already have! 
You can try similar thing for jewelry.

Jeans: 7 for all mankind
Chambray Button Down: American Eagle
Stripes Top: J Crew Factory
Shoes: Nine West