fashion trends – SLAY THE STYLE

Ways To Style A Kurti

Published on August 29, 2018August 29, 2018 by Lavanya Pulijala6 Comments

Well, it’s almost been a month since my last post and I am now back after having some quality time with myself and of course, with new content 😀

While I was trying to figure out your interests on my Instagram, quite a few wanted to know the ways to style a kurti.I heard you and I am back with some good feasible ways of manipulating your kurti to look different every time you wear it 🙂

This time, I have chosen to style the kurtis in such a way that it works for any working woman, a college going student or for that matter, anyone who is obsessed about wearing kurtis but at the same time, is bored of wearing it, the usual way.

Also, I am skipping the usual ways of wearing kurtis with chudidhars or leggings because I know, you are already better at styling that way 🙂

Here we go :

1. Tuck that kurti into a skirt

This is the most easy way to make your kurti look different. Tuck that kurti into your skirt and make it look like a top. Spend your money on some neutral color skirts like beige, white and black. Voila!! you can pair those skirts with most of your kurtis 😀

2. Turn that kurti into a dress

Grab that kurti and wear it simply as a dress. Cinch it around the waist with a belt or a safety pin to make it look more structured 🙂

3. Pick calf-length trousers instead of mainstream leggings

These mid-rise calf length trousers are both comfortable and chic . I usually prefer linen cropped trousers to pair with my kurtas. You need to stock on the basic shades of off-white, black and beige so that most of the kurtis could be matched with those 🙂

4. Don’t forget those harem & dhoti pants

Yeah!! aren’t they too comfortable to wear all day long??!! Match those printed dhoti pants with a similar pattern kurti ( Print-on-Print, of course).

Few Styling Tips:

If you choose high-neck kurtis, try not to use any neck-piece. It would just make it look clumsy
Own a plain black kurti, it can be of great use (Basic colors are a mandate)
If the entire outfit is single colored, add a pop of color with juttis or kolhapuris
It’s always better to own a pair of neutral colored juttis and kolhapuris – works for most kurtis

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Photos by Rishabh Kumar

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Kurtis : Sanghria (Jabong) |Cropped Trouser : W | Skirt : Global Desi | Kolhapuris : Bandra thrift store | Earrings : Colaba Causeway

An All-White Look

Published on May 7, 2018May 7, 2018 by Lavanya Pulijala1 Comment

“You need minimum color for maximum effect”

As it was rightly mentioned by some great fashion icon, minimum colour can create an incredible impact provided you understand how to add certain elements to the look which will help ace that thin line separating the boring single colour outfit and a striking single colour outfit.

Styling Tips:

When one is getting dressed in separates of exactly same solid colours, accessories play a major role.

For an all-white look : You can pair a white slogan tee/ plain tee with a white wide-leg trouser or a white short or a white skirt or a white pant suit
In case of an all-white look, add a pop of colour with one accessory if you want to give a casual vibe (say, a yellow clutch or green heels etc)- Remember that it should be only one accessory in focus and not all of them
If you want to go for an elegant / official look, stick to nudes for your footwear and makeup ; add some dainty jewellery
For beach all-white outfits, add some colorful tassel jewellery and tie-up footwear to create that bohemian vibe

This look that I have created is based on my recent favourite trend of pant suits. An all-white pant suit has been on fashion runways and also in many of the major fashion icons’ wardrobes. I am revealing one such look in this post while the rest of the possible looks will be going up on my Instagram next week. So, keep following me on Instagram to stay updated 😀

I have paired a white solid tee with white wide leg trousers and a white blazer. I chose to keep it less loud in terms of the colours of the accessories. So, picked nude heels and delicate jewellery to complete the look. If you opt for plunging necklines, layering of neckpieces would help to accentuate the look.

Here goes the look-book 😀

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If you do try any of my styling tips, do send in your pictures through email or Instagram!! I would love to see them 🙂

Blazer : Forever21| Top, Wide Leg Trouser, Heels : Zara| Jewellery : Thrift Market |Wrist Watch : DKNY

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Photos by Arun Premkumar

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Print On Print

Published on April 14, 2018April 14, 2018 by Lavanya Pulijala3 Comments

Prints and patterns have a lot of history, few of them having some political significance too. It started in 50’s and over time, experimentation continued till 90’s. Post 2000’s , it is mostly a revival of previous patterns with a touch of creativity.

Did you know that the polka dots pattern came into existence when a group of dancers wore polka dot blouses to protest Wall Street supporting Vietnam war!! Fashion does have some history attached to it in addition to the creative perspective.

Fashion runways have been flooded with Print on Print trend this season and I am sold for this trend due to the risk involved in creating a flawless look while keeping in mind the color palettes, print patterns, accessories and lot more.

Let’s not dig into the old trend of matching prints with solid plain opposites to which most of us are inclined to. Let’s just dive into mastering the art of matching prints which is quite a challenge for many of us unless we know how to decipher the logic behind that.

Since many of you also requested for a blog on this trend in my Instagram , let’s get started.

( In case you are still trying to figure out, mixing prints basically means matching a printed top with a printed bottom)

Firstly, the Do’s and Don’ts:

If you are mixing two different patterns, then it’s better to stick to similar color palette. It’s better not to go for contrasts in this case.
If you are mixing similar prints, you can play around with the color palette. Keep in mind, that the color of the pattern could be contrasted but the base color needs to same. ( Say, a white top with red polka dots can be matched with white trousers having vertical stripes in black)
Pattern colors could be matched based on contrast but NEVER the base colors.

I have experimented with mixing similar patterns – stripes. I stuck to monochrome and added some dainty jewellery to elevate the look.

I have also added some additional references for other types of mixing patterns. Hope it helps 🙂

Also, do let me know if it really helped 😀

1. Stripes All Over Look

Mixing stripes while keeping the base color constant.

2. Checks All Over

Matching checks keeping the base color constant is the only rule for this look.

3. Polka Dots

You may try mixing polka dots of varied sizes to make it look appealing. Again, first rule first, either same base color or flip the base color of top with pattern color of bottom.

4. Logo/Slogan Shirts and Patterned Bottoms

Pair a logo or slogan t-shirt with any kind of patterned bottom. Here, you can contrast the base colors, that’s actually the key to ace this look in a new way.

There are many other patterns which you can try, say, rainbow, animal, tropical prints and so on. Just stick to the main rules, you are good to go 🙂

If you do try any of my styling tips, do send in your pictures through email or Instagram!! I would love to see them 🙂

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Photos by Arun Premkumar

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10 Tips To Pack Outfits For A Beach Vacation

Published on December 13, 2017December 13, 2017 by Lavanya Pulijala2 Comments

Are you someone who hates tagging along heavy baggage to your vacation? Do you love to know how to optimise your packing list so that you don’t have to carry a lot of clothes but just pick few basics and style them differently to create new looks!!

Bingo!! I heard you 😀

December is here!! I guess most of you would be planning for a vacation and majorly, it is a perfect time for a beach vacation!!

So, here I go with all the styling tips which I am going to splurge at you for your beach vacation 😀

For me, an outfit includes clothing and accesories. These tips include all about those 🙂

1. Whites Will Be Your Saviour

White has that cool vibe which syncs in well with the beaches and adds a touch of boho vibe as well.

Whites !! Whites 😀

2. Choose A Pair Of Comfortable Shorts

Pick a pair of light-colored shorts-say, white or light-colored denim which could go with most of your tops

My go-to pair of shorts

3. Carry One Bohemian Shrug In Neutral Color

Preferably, a white shrug.It would be great to flaunt in a beach 🙂

All white lace shrug

4. Carry A Couple Of Floral/Embriodery Skirts

Since, our basic whites don’t add that pop of color, try to choose a couple of skirts which bring in that colorful essence to your outfit.

Floral/Embriodered Skirts- you can go for flowly skirts as well 🙂

5. Pick Good Shades / A Straw Hat

How can you miss these and that too for a beach vacation unless you want to get tanned!! Also, these accessories give a complete different look to your outfit.

Straw Hat

Shades

6. Carry A Mix of Neutral and Colorful Tops

Since we stuck to neutral colored shorts and shrugs, pick a few tops which are colorful and if you choose to carry a colorful shrug, pick light colored tops. Choose these tops such that they go with the skirts as well. Pack Less!!

A mix of light and bright colored tops

7. Don’t Forget Flip-Flops or Any Comfortable Pair Of Flats

I choose a pair of white mules which go with almost most of my outfits. You can choose even gladiators or boho sandals. Comfort should be your priority 🙂

8. Bohemian Backpack/ Sling

I prefer a backpack or a bucket sling as I can dump in a lot of stuff. Try sticking to tan colored bags as they can go with most of the outfits 🙂

Bohemian backpack

9. Convertible Dress

This is one boon if you could find a dress which can be converted into a shrug or a maxi which you style as skirt. You can easily create a minimum of 2-3 looks with such a dress.

Used a buttoned dress as a shrug

10. Bunch Of Bracelets and Rings

These are absolutely going to accentuate the look. Go clumsy with bracelets and rings and stay subtle with chains or go for a heavy boho neckpiece and ditch other accesories.

Never go heavy with all accessories. Highlight one and relax the others 🙂

You can clearly see that I have used the same pair of shorts for completely different looks and same is the case with tops.I choose tops and bottoms in such a way that they can be interchanged.

Hope these tips are helpful for you guys 😀

Shorts : HnM| Mules : Koovs| Jewelry : Street Buy | White Shrug, Hat, Shades and Yellow top : Shein | Backpack : Pushkar Market | Embriodered Skirt : Zara | Floral Skirt : Forever 21 | Blue Dress/Shrug : West Side | White top : Sarojini Nagar

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Photos by Rahul Kongala and Durga Pulijala

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Previous post : Tunes of Bohemian

Tunes Of Bohemian

Published on November 22, 2017November 22, 2017 by Lavanya Pulijala1 Comment

Every aspect in fashion creates its own vibe and each detail has its own significance. Bohemian is one such trend which demands more attention to details. It’s more about playing with a mix of colors and accessories.

Before I could jump into how to ace bohemian styles in my next articles, I thought that I need to release a bohemian lookbook just to give a brief idea for the bohemian amateurs.

As you know, I like keeping my lookbooks precise 🙂 (Thank God!! Not much to read 😛 )

About Look

For Bohemian looks, try to choose outfits which are easy-breezy and it’s your choice to decide on the amount of detail you need on the attire. The more the details on the outfit, the less you accessorize.

I choose an extremely comfortable printed jumpsuit and focused more on accessories. Also, metal mixing in accessories is something which I gave a shot in this look (Do let me know your comments about it 🙂 ). A statement neck-piece, a pair of mules and mix of metal bangles – these complete the look !!

Here we go 🙂

Jump suit : Vajor| Mules : Koovs| ,Jewelry : Street Buy

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Photos by Sampath Kumar

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Pamper the Colors

Published on October 14, 2017 by Lavanya Pulijala1 Comment

It’s time to pamper those lovely Indian traditional colors 🙂

However, should it always be the heavy lehengas , gowns or sarees to look festive?? Absolutely not!! For all those who prefer comfort over the struggle to handle sarees or lehengas, I plan to show how you can be comfortable and festive at the same time 😀

Since many of you asked me about styling festive outfits on Instagram, here are few of my general styling tips for festive outfits :

Have one piece of your outfit (say, Dupatta or Blouse or Skirt) which grabs the attention – colorful fabric / overall embroidery / bright addons like tassels/pompoms. In this case, the rest of the outfit should be kept simple.This is something which I tried in this blog post
Use statement jewelry ( adds life to any outfit)
Own a pair of silver and colorful kolhapuris/ juttis ( Ethnic footwear saviors- These two would be enough for almost every kind of ethnic outfit)

I styled my ethnic wear using a normal crop top and dhoti pant. I picked a embroidered dupatta to add color to the outfit. Statement earrings and colorful juttis are a perfect match.

I have styled the dupatta in three different ways to give different looks, here you go 🙂

Look 1 ( Similar to front pallu)

Look 2 ( Dupatta styled like a shrug)

Look 3 ( the casual one side dupatta style)

Crop top : Splash| Dhoti Pant : West side | Juttis , Jewelry and Shades: Street Buy

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Photos by Sampath Kumar

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Deciphering Fall Trends

Published on September 16, 2017September 16, 2017 by Lavanya Pulijala2 Comments

Fashion connoisseurs have been flooding the feed with New York fashion week trends, their experience of fashion shows, street styles and what not. New York seems to be glowing bright with this fall trends. Elf shaped heels, statement boots, bright colors, checkered blazers, over-sized sweatshirts, flared bottoms, dark florals, baseball caps, beach bags and the list is never ending. Each one had a street style statement to make. This is probably because this is the first time I paid more attention to the details of NYFW, not sure if it is the same every season.

Here goes the list of trends

1. Bright Colors

This trend is evident across all the days of NYFW and I am already in love with it.People started making statement using one bright color , mostly – orange, pink, green, yolk yellow (Prabal Gurung’s show).

2. Plaid Blazers/Trousers

Plaid blazers, plaid wide legged trousers and plaid dresses are among the most popular trends.

3. High Waist Denim Bell-Bottoms

Especially, frayed bell bottoms are an eye-catcher for this season

4. Elf Shaped Heels/Flats

These heels are among my most favorite fall trends and I am literally waiting for such heels to be launched in India as I couldn’t find any such one online as of now.

5. Waist Belt Bag

Not among something I would like but yeah, it’s among the top list of fall trends.

6. Statement Boots

Printed, red, denim and thigh high boots – Yes Please 🙂

7. Bamboo Bags

One more thing that I am totally in love with ❤

8. Statement Sleeves

Just one top with statement sleeves and a simple denim is enough to make you look fashionable even on a lazy day

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Photos Sourced from New York Instagram accounts

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Modern Indian Woman- #Look103

Published on May 20, 2017July 21, 2017 by Lavanya Pulijala1 Comment

Hey folks, I am back with another new post as a part of the Modern Indian Woman series.I can say that this look is more skewed towards ethnicity rather than Indo-western fusion.

#Look103

To everyone who wants to start trying Indian ethnic wear, I strongly recommend owning certain wardrobe staples- a plain black kurti and a plain white kurti , solid black and solid white colored leggings, and a beautiful dupatta. With these staples, you can easily flaunt two gorgeous ethnic looks.

For this post, I choose a black kurti along with black leggings and added a pop of color with a beautiful handmade dupatta. If you have been following my blog, then you must have noticed this dupatta in my Kolkata shopping experience post.Beautifully crafted by local tribals, this dupatta depicts kantha work on a thappa (combination of different pieces of clothes).I accentuated the look with afghani earrings, a hand-bag prepared by Rann of Kutch artisans and kolhapuris.

Here goes the look 🙂

Details:

Kurti : Myntra|Leggings : Lyra | Kolhapuris : Street buy | Bag : Krafted with Happiness | Dupatta : Biswa Bangla

Photos by Sampath Kumar

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Modern Indian Woman- #Look 102

Published on May 13, 2017May 13, 2017 by Lavanya PulijalaLeave a comment

In continuation to my Modern Indian Woman series for this month, it’s time to talk about the second look. This look is going to be about how you could use your modern tops or crop-tops over ethnic bottoms to give an Indo-western/fusion look.

#Look102

This look helps in bringing out the boldness of a Indian Woman along with the creative aspect. Maroon shade of the crochet top, being one of the main Indian ethnic colors accentuated the look.The tassel earrings and thread jewellery are this season must-haves and I could completely count on these to complete the look with a bohemian vibe.I have used one of the coral chains which I purchased in Andaman as a bracelet.

Without further delay, let me just show you the final look 🙂

Details:

Crochet top and harem pant : West side | Silver Jewellery and Earrings : Colaba Causeway | Juttis : Bandra | Red coral chain : Andaman street shopping

Photos by Rahul Kongala

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Modern Indian Woman- #Look101

Published on April 27, 2017June 4, 2017 by Lavanya PulijalaLeave a comment

If you are one of those who follows me on Instagram, then you might have already had an idea about this post.If you are not sure what I am talking about, then it’s all about this month blog posts.Inline with my earlier blog post of Indo-western look , I am going to blog about my current modern-ethnic favorites which reflect the essence of a ” Modern Indian Woman”

There are going to be three such look-books which will be up on my blog during the course of this month, each focusing on bringing out a particular aspect of Indian woman nature in the outfit.I am trying to put forth looks keeping in mind the current trends and retaining the Indian flavor in the outfits.

#LOOK101

This look is trying to bring out the simplicity aspect of Indian Women.The outfit is colorful supporting our Indian ethnic theme and it was styled in a simple manner with minimum accessories, indicating simplicity.

Here goes the look-Hope you like it 🙂

Dress – Lil Flea Festival 2017-Vastra by Milonee | Kolhapuris – Bandra | Wallet – Global Desi | Earrings – Westside | Ring – All India Exhibition,Hyderabad

Stay tuned to my blog if you are interested in kicking up that Indo-western fashion appetite of yours or follow me here for more styling updates 🙂 🙂

Photos by Rahul Kongala