Travel Tales of Belgium

Published on November 18, 2018November 19, 2018 by Lavanya Pulijala1 Comment

While most of my trips are usually restricted to exploring places rather than food, this Belgium trip was more about food than places. Who would not want to taste those extremely soft waffles topped with some heavenly whipped cream and strawberries, or who wouldn’t want to relish the widely renowned Belgian chocolates and fries, and not to forget the wide variety of Belgian beers that are available!!

By the way, this is in continuation to my previous blog on Amsterdam which was my first destination in the backpacking trip. From Netherlands, we headed to Bruges followed by Brussels in Belgium.

Let me just jump into the details now 🙂

WhatsApp Image 2018-11-18 at 5.36.11 PM-2 — **Bruges, Belgium**

Bruges

Also known as ‘Venice of North’, this little town on the countryside of Belgium is widely known for its medieval homes, cobble-stoned streets with horse carriages roaming around and small canals lined with colorful dutch houses and filled with in-numerous white swans. The moment you see those streets and houses, I can guarantee you that it will just take you back in time. It feels like a fairy tale!!

( A must-visit place if you are planning to visit any nearby major cities. If you are visiting Brussels, then it’s just a 2 hr travel to reach this place and most of the tourists visit this place for a day tour)

Duration of Visit : 2 nights and 2 days

Temperature : 10-15 C (Visited in Mid-October. Warm clothes recommended as the place is windy)

Accommodation : We stayed at an airbnb in Hertsberge, Bruges which is 14 km away from the Bruges city centre. We choose this place as it had the best reviews and undoubtedly, our host was extremely cordial and the airbnb was too good. The only drawback is the location which is quite far off from the city and the lack of good internal public transport in the city makes it difficult unless you have a personal vehicle.

Main Places to Visit:

Belfry – It is the clocktower in the main market square of Bruges where you can take the stairs to go to the top of the tower. It gives a panoramic view of the entire city, sunset is usually good. Charges per person are around 10 euros but if you are below 25, there is a discount.

Markt – The main market square of Bruges where you get to see the horse carriages and the colourful medieval buildings along with the city hall.

Walplein Square – This is my most favourite spot in Bruges. It truly takes you back to 1900’s. It is a quaint little square with horse carriages and a canal filled with swans all the time. One can just sit back and relax.

Minnewater park – The castle in the minnewater park which is just by the lake is a visual retreat to anyone.

Begijnhuisje (Ten Wijngaerde) is a preserved beguinage (UNESCO World Heritage Site). I personally didn’t find it interesting. If you want to visit this place, visit before 5 pm and it is near Walplein.
We visited Church of Old Lady as well but didn’t find anything very special about it. It was similar to many other churches.

IMG_0609-2 — **View from the top of Belfry**

IMG_20181018_165316-2 — **Belfry of Bruges**

IMG_0757-2 — **Castle of Minnewater Park**

Things To Do :

Canal Boat Tour – Though it was not as good as Amsterdam, Bruges canal tour is interesting in terms of the very tiny canals that it has, and the beautiful houses. Costs around 8-10 Euro per person and is not more than 30 min. We choose Canal Boat Tours , the experience with them was just average (Guide was speaking Dutch, so it was difficult to understand)

Walk on the streets near Walplein – Noordstraat and Mariastraat are some good streets. Best way to explore Bruges is by walking around and since it is a small town, it is not so tiring to cover it by walking.

Try waffles at Chez Albert .The plain waffle is just too delicious.

Try Belgian fries at Chez Vincent

Try strawberries dipped in chocolate

If you are into berries, this place has really good berries

Belgium is famous for Lace as well. However, I found it expensive than India.

The only travel tip that I would suggest for Bruges is that, walking in the city is the best way to explore it.

WhatsApp Image 2018-11-18 at 5.40.05 PM — **Belgian** **Fries** **With** **Tender** **Chicken**

IMG_20181019_184332_Bokeh — Strawberries dipped in Chocolate

Brussels

Brussels has a busy city vibe with people hustling around. I didn’t find it interesting as a place, as I am inclined towards nature-centric or less-crowded places. However, one has to visit this place atleast for the chocolates, waffles, beers and fries.

Duration of Visit : 2 nights and 2 days

Temperature : 10-15 C (Visited in Mid-October. Warm clothes recommended as the place is windy)

Accommodation : We stayed at an airbnb right next to Manneken pis, which is just a 2 min walk to the Grand Place of Brussels (Main City Centre). It was a comfortable stay and it was very close to all the main locations of the city.

There are a lots of trains and buses running from Bruges to Brussels and vice versa (Also, you can get a train ticket at half the price if you are below 26). The journey is ~2 hrs.

WhatsApp Image 2018-11-18 at 10.48.08 PM — **Streets of Brussels**

Main Places to Visit:

Grand Place – It is a square in the centre of the city which is surrounded by age-old buildings with spell-bound architecture. Do visit this place in the night once all the buildings are well-lit and the vibe couldn’t be missed in the night!!

Place Poelaert – It is a place suggested by my friend and which is not so popular but has an amazing view of the city. Visit during sunset for the best experience.

Sablon – This is a peaceful and less crowded locality in Brussels with good restaurants around. Walk to explore this place.

Mont De Arts – It is a good place away from the hustle and bustle of Grand place with a view of the highest tower of Grand Place buildings. The view is good and if you want to chill and relax for some time, it’s a good place

We also visited Royal Palace of Brussels which was a good masterpiece of architecture. However, we couldn’t cover the European Parliament area (Do visit if you have time) and Atomium ( We didn’t find it interesting)

Things To Do :

Visit Delirium Cafe which serves almost 2000 types of brewed beers (If you are into beer, this should be on your list)

Taste desserts at Aux Merveilleux de Fred. Expect long queues and these desserts are slightly on the sweeter side. If you are into dark chocolates and don’t like too much sugar, it is not a place for you. But, it also serves amazing chocolate buns and croissants

Taste waffles at Waffle factory. Slightly expensive but I loved the whipped cream over there 😛 ( But I loved Bruges waffles more)

Taste fries at Fritland. They are really good and the sauce is something special which adds to the taste

Go to Rue Neuve for shopping. It almost has all the brands covered. Ensure you don’t plan it on Sunday as shops are usually closed on Sunday. Also, on weekdays, the stores get closed by 7 pm. Plan accordingly.

For more general Europe travel tips, visit my previous blog post.

I hope you find it useful if you are planning to visit Brussels or Bruges 🙂

Feel free to ping me on my Instagram or email me for any more travel tips or doubts 😀

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Previous post : A Ticket To Amsterdam

A Ticket To Amsterdam

Published on November 4, 2018November 4, 2018 by Lavanya Pulijala1 Comment

Amsterdam!!
It just broke the clichéd opinion that I had about this city before visiting. I knew this place more as a city for stoners and thought it to be over-hyped. To my surprise, it hosts some of the most beautiful canals, bridges, flowers and dutch architecture. The streets were all vibrant and buzzing with people who are moving around on cycles at any hour of the day.

Also known as a city where Cannabis and prostitution are legal, and where you can savour some of the most amazing dutch pancakes, and of course, lots and lots of canals and bridges.

Before I could explain any further about the city, let me just dive into the actual things to do and places to visit in Amsterdam. We spent around 4 days in Amsterdam during mid-October.

Temperature : 15-20 C (Warm clothes recommended as the place is windy)

Accommodation : We stayed at our friend’s place in Amsterdam Amstel which is pretty close to the city centre. Since I had already done my research about good hostels, dropping in some suggestions here : ClinkNOORD, Flying Pig

Main Places to Visit:

Rijks Museum – It is one of the best museums that I have seen so far. It showcases the rich heritage of their ancestors and their lifestyle incredibly. If you plan to visit, don’t forget to cover 2nd floor and also, the 1.2 section in 1st floor.

Red Light District – The widely renowned red light district of Amsterdam is a must visit after 11pm when the streets get lit up with red lights.

Zaanse Saanch – It is 40 min metro ride from Amsterdam to this beautiful place which is designed in a way to give you an essence of age-old dutch countryside with windmills!! It takes atleast 3 hrs to explore this place properly. Don’t miss this place if you have enough time.

Anne Frank House – It was the place where Anne Frank was reportedly in hiding for around 2 years during WWII. However, if you are planning to visit this place, ensure that you book your online tickets (no offline tickets available) well in advance (We couldn’t get the tickets )

Vondel Park – If you want to relax in a very silent place filled with beautiful trees, canals, and swans, you must visit this place. It had insane variety of trees sporting different fall colours. It is also a place where public sex is legal!!

Van Gogh Museum – If you are into paintings, you should consider visiting this place. (We couldn’t find time to visit it)

Things To Do :

Taste the most yummy dutch pancakes – Pancake bakery has some really good pancakes. (Try Banana Nutella if you have sweet tooth)

Go on a Canal Cruise – Avoid going for a hop-on hop-off canal cruise as that cruise doesn’t give a proper experience. You can opt for those cruises which take around 10 people (Try Friendship Cruise ). Costs around 8-10 Euro per person. ( Prefer Sunset time)

Try Space Cakes (brownies) – You can visit Boerejongens Coffeeshop for good ones. First timers, don’t dare to have more than 1/2. Costs around 8 Euros per brownie.

Walk along the canals from Amstel to Centraal – This route is much more prettier than the over-hyped Jordaan neighbourhood ( Do this after sunset when the bridges are all lit up). Explore the streets in the night.

Cycle in the VondelPark

Walk along the streets of Red light district in the night – It would be a completely different experience. Avoid clicking pictures here as it is a serious offence.

If you are interested in Strip clubs and peep shows (a tradition where you get to peep through the window to watch a porn play for a couple of minutes) – you can go to Banana club and Sex Palace respectively

Go to a coffee shop – If you are into smoking up, try going to one of these coffee shops and having it ( offers a complete different vibe)

Try different types of berries if you are into fruits. They are too good ❤

Swing Experience at Adams Lookout – It gives a panoramic view of the city while you are swinging on the edge of the highest building of Amsterdam. Costs around 18 Euros per person (including entry and swing) – expect longer queues

If you want to go shopping, you can find many shops near Dam Square or for street shopping, you can visit Albert Cuyp Market.

Also, you might want to get clicked before ” I Amsterdam ” Symbol which is just close to Van Gogh/ Rjiks Museum. You are lucky if you get a good picture without the crowd.

Few Travel Tips :

If you are below 25 yrs, you are most likely to get a discount in entry fees in most of the museums, historical monuments in Europe. Just ask them about it and flash your passport and you get a discount 😀 (I availed many such discounts)

If you are planning to rent a bicycle in Amsterdam, you can visit Mac Bikes . They charge around 10-15 Euros per day. Also, ensure that you carry a mobile holder otherwise it gets difficult to deal with google maps.

If you are planning for shopping, never plan it on Sunday as most of the stores remain closed that day. During regular days, the shops shut by 7-8 pm, so plan your shopping accordingly. Also, street shopping markets shut by 5 pm

Ensure that you have a minimum of 2-3 hrs to explore each museum. If you don’t have enough time, ask for the must-visit spots in the museum at the ticket counter. Also, while planning for museums, check for working days.

Pick pocketing is common in Europe. Be alert (Especially your passports and wallets)

You can get a metro pass for 4 days which costs around 18 Euros. It would be really helpful for internal travel.

If you are into exploring other museums, you can checkout “I Amsterdam” Card which offers many activities at a discounted price of 75 Euros per person. It covers most of the museums. Since I am not into museums, I didn’t take one.

I hope you find it useful if you are planning to visit Amsterdam 🙂

Feel free to ping me on my Instagram or email me for any more travel tips or doubts 😀

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Previous post : Ways To Style A Kurti

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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Previous post : Exploring Lisbon!!

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

Exploring Lisbon!!

Published on July 21, 2018July 21, 2018 by Lavanya Pulijala1 Comment

After a tiresome road journey of 12 hrs from Madrid, Portugal welcomed us with an impeccable view of the sunrise over the huge expanse of Tagus River on Vasco Da Gama Bridge. It just reminds me of how sleep deprived I was and how my eyes couldn’t stay open but that view was too mesmerising that my mind started shouting, ‘You Moron!! Look at the beauty and skip your sleep for sometime!! ‘ 😀

Cobblestone streets that are lined up with pastel coloured houses having balconies that flaunt the most colourful bunch of flowers are just a visual retreat in the older parts of the city. This hilly capital city with coastal beauty has a lot to offer!!

The essence and the actual culture of any city could be best witnessed in the older parts of the city. Go to such place and walk around to experience the best!!

We had 3 days to spend in Lisbon and I am a person who is not so keen on visiting the historical monuments unless it is highly highly recommended. So, if you are expecting that from this blog, then 😐

LISBON

4 days and 3 nights stay

Accommodation : Hub Lisbon Patio Hostel (The worst maintained among all other hostels I have been to, so please avoid it and search for some other option )

Main Places To Visit :

Alfamas – It’s old Lisbon and it literally takes you back in time with the trams on the road, old buildings, century old cathedrals ,castles and not to forget some old wine shops!! Visit the famous Lisbon cathedral if you visit Alfamas – the interiors are sure to impress you!!

Miradouro das Portas do Sol – This is the one of the best view point to see the entire rooftop view of Alfamas. Must visit!!

Bairro Alto – The streets have such a lovely vibe with Fado (Traditional Portugal music) being played by people and is lined up with some amazing restaurants!! Again, walk to experience 🙂

Cais do sodré – Best riverside neighbourhood to walk around and relax!!

Sintra – This place is on the countryside which is 40 min from Lisbon by train and is totally worth visiting. It has fairytale streets lined with tall and lush-green trees, not something you could see anywhere in Lisbon. Visit Pena Palace in Sintra for the incredible view it offers from the top!!

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Things to Do :

A walk in the streets of Alfamas

Try pizza and portugese red wine in Bairro Alto – totally flattered!!

Watch the sun go down with live jazz in background at Miradouro das Portas do Sol

If you like to just sit and watch the Tagus river, Praça do Comércio and Cais do sodré are the go-to options

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Previous post : Backpacking Trip To Spain

Maxi : Shein |Saree : Suta Bombay| Sneakers: Nike | Heels : Zara | Neckpiece : Jaipur thrift store

Backpacking Trip To Spain

Published on July 1, 2018July 1, 2018 by Lavanya Pulijala2 Comments

When it comes to ticking things off my bucket list, I have my head clear and my mind focussed 😀

Do you think anyone would want to have ‘facing a gruesome accident but managing to get out alive’ in their bucket list? Well, I did tick it off my list 😛

Brushing aside such not-so-sane things, I do have some travel goals and Europe was always on the list and I wanted to do one backpackers trip with strangers before I turn 25. And yeah, it’s done now (atleast, a little part of Europe)

Spain and Portugal exploration happened to be my first leg of Europe journey. To all those people who wanted to know about how I have planned the trip, about the backpackers group and about my experience in these two countries- this blog post, the upcoming one and my Instagram posts would answer all your queries. I will be pitching in my suggestions about the places to visit, the places you could skip and also, the precautions you need to take based on my personal experience.

Let’s get started!! 😀

Mumbai > Barcelona > Ibiza > Madrid > Lisbon > Mumbai

BARCELONA

5 days and 4 nights stay

Accommodation : Generator Hostel

Main Places to Visit:

La Sagrada Familia – Renowned for its captivating Gaudi architecture and magnificence. Book your tickets online and they don’t allow post your time slot (Be on Time).It will be a guided tour provided you make it on time. By the way, it is still being built!! (since a century almost )

Gothic Quarter – Old city of Barcelona. Explore the place on foot. Has a plethora of options for restaurants and clubs. Night life is good here.

La Rambla – You can’t miss this street. It is one of the best to witness the vibe of Barcelona city.

La Barceloneta – Seaside neighbourhood of Barcelona lined up with good restaurants along with a splendid view

Things to Do:

Cycling tour in the city ( they are going to show you some of the best streets in Barca)

Try Sangria and Aperol Spritz if you are into wine and alcohol

Try Paella, Tapas, Churros, Croissants when in Spain (Food)

Camp Nou (didn’t visit as I am not so much into football) and Opium (popular pub) are two things which have good feedback but I couldn’t make it. Try those if you find time.

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IBIZA

2 days and 2 nights

Accommodation : Amistat Island Hostel

Main Places to Visit:

Sant Antoni de Portmany – Town on the west coast of Ibiza (party place). Explore port area for night life.

Dalt Vila – It’s the old town of Ibiza which should be explored on foot. Such amazing fairy tale streets!!

Castell de Eivissa – You might want to visit this place to get a good panoramic view of Ibiza.

Things to Do:

Boat Party – You should not miss on this. A unique experience all together. Costs around 6-8k per person.

Watch the sun go down with wonderful live instrumental music and some wine at/ near Café Mambo in Sant Antoni de Portmany. Have to say, my best sunset so far.

Amnesia is apparently an amazing pub you can visit in Ibiza. We chose to party by the sea-side with some good wine and good company !! (my way of partying 😛 )

7=9 — **Sunset near Cafe Mambos in Sant Antoni de Portmany**

MADRID

3 days and 2 nights

Accommodation : Sun Gate One (best hostel in the entire trip)

Main Places to Visit:

Royal Palace of Madrid – One of the most popular places in Madrid. We didn’t enter inside though!! We were enjoying the view with some good live music 😀

Gran Via – This street is always buzzing and is the best for shopping 🙂

Toledo – It’s on countryside, a 45 min ride from Madrid. You can find many local travel agencies conducting a day trip to Toledo. Historically significant place!! Again, explore this beauty on foot.

Also, Stadio Santiago Bernabeu if you are interested in football 🙂

**View of Toledo from the highest view point**

I didn’t find Madrid interesting though!! It mostly had the busy city vibe with good partying and shopping places. Teatro Kapitol is a must visit pub if you are into partying.

Alert : Pickpocketing is damn prominent in Spain. Be very very careful with your belongings!! You never even notice it, they are too good at it.

Backpackers Group

‘When in City’ is one such travel agency which frequently does backpackers’ trips across the world every year. Well, there are enough pros and cons when dealing with this group. So, weigh those if you are planning to join their trips

Pros being that you might end up meeting really cool people like I did. It could be a coincidence too. Of course, more than anything else, people you are with, is important.

Cons being that you are going to overpay for their not-so-good service and their not-so-experienced team. You end up paying a premium compared to other such groups. They have limited knowledge about the best places to explore (atleast in case of Spain and Portugal)- had received misleading guidance at times, and you will also see them become stingy (mostly in case of accommodation) – which was so disappointing for many of us. Their packages include only accommodation at hostels, internal flights and a trip guide ( International flights , visa charges not included). Many things in their itinerary require additional payment. So, take note of all those.

So, before you go ahead, decide if you are okay with the cons and then take a call.

Well!! These are some suggestions based on my travel experience. DM me on Instagram for more details. Would always love to help you guys 🙂

Hope this post is helpful for those planning to any of these places!!

**Those who made the trip worth-while 😀**

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Previous post : My Wardrobe Whereabouts

My Wardrobe Whereabouts

Published on May 26, 2018May 26, 2018 by Lavanya Pulijala3 Comments

One constant question which I keep receiving from many of you on my Instagram and other channels is about the places where I source most of my outfits. And, finally in the process of creating content based on the ideas that most of you guys suggested on my Instagram, here we go starting with the most frequent request 🙂

There is no such single brand which I count on, for all kinds of outfits. There are specific brands which I look forward to for each dressing style. Giving you guys a brief overview of my shopping pattern, I am not someone who usually spends a bomb on each piece of clothing. I try to spend money to get high-quality basics since those are something which I use literally everyday. Definitely, not an impulsive shopaholic.

Let’s quickly get into the whereabouts 😀

1. Basics

Basic jeans, solid black and white t-shirts, basic nude heels, black heels – these are fashion staples. And, when it comes to staples, it’s always suggestible to invest in good quality brands. I personally prefer Zara for all sorts of basics and for jeans, Levis is my go-to brand. Both brands are definitely worth the money you spend and the kind of attention that these brands pay to the fit is something I fall for.

2. Blouses or Tops

I prefer shopping online for most of my blouses, crop-tops etc. or Zara during Sale or Forever21. Shein and Forever21 are two of my current favourites to find something unique and interesting in terms of designs. The best part of both of these brands is that they offer products that are completely affordable. Shein, sometimes has few styles copied from Zara at a much lower price (of-course, don’t expect Zara quality at such low cost :P)

3. Jeans

I absolutely swear by Levis, Westside Nuon Brand and Zara. I would rank Levis on the top for fit and comfort followed by Westside. I would prefer Zara only for any unique design of jeans.

4. Skirts and Dresses

Forever21 and Zara are my go-to stores for skirts, skorts, dresses or trousers. They have such unique designs and flattering fit that I rarely divert from these brands.

5. Fusion Wear

When it comes to fusion wear, I rely completely on Westside: Bombay Paisley brand for most of my ethnic handloom dresses or formal solid coloured kurtis. They have a really good collection of fusion wear.

6. Dupattas

I had few of you ask me about the places where I source my dupattas from. Most of them are from handloom exhibitions or are something which I pick from local stores when I travel to different places as I consider them as souvenirs. Westside and FabIndia have a good collection of duppattas. FabIndia is however, a little expensive. If you happen to go to any place in India, search for government tourism stores which sell clothes and are specific to that place. That’s where you can find the gems. Visit Biswa Bangla if you happen to be in Kolkata.

7. Sarees

Most of the sarees I wear are something which I happen to pick from any handloom exhibition. Some of them are from Suta ( http://www.suta.in) which has an amazing handloom sarees collection. Personally, a great fan of Suta.

8. Men’s wear

Shirts and T-shirts from Levis or Jack and Jones. Blazers from Zara. At times, I pick sweatshirts from HnM Men’s section. Linen shirts from Marks and Spencer Men’s Collection.

I hope this resolves all your queries. Let me know through Instagram DM or Facebook if you want to know something more in detail 😀

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Previous post : An All-White Look

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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Previous post : Print On Print

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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Previous post : Men’s Spring Fashion Trends 2018

Men’s Spring Fashion Trends 2018

Published on March 31, 2018March 31, 2018 by Lavanya Pulijala1 Comment

In line with my belief that fashion is a form of art (Be it, women or men) , I decided to start penning down fashion stories for men as well. This is going to be a first attempt at writing about Men fashion.

One surprising fact that I have discovered during the research for this post is that the most prominent fashion magazines and websites in India hardly have any articles on Men fashion. However, there are enough on women fashion. This disparity is not only observed in India but also in other major fashion capitals ( even though, the situation is much better in other countries) .

Without delaying, let’s get into the trends of this spring for men.

1. Pleated Trousers

Don’t judge by the name that pleats are only for women. Pleated baggy trousers are back in trend for men.

Stick to just single pleated trousers and a strict NO to multiple pleats. Keep it baggy in the bottom and slim in the top.

2. Vertical Striped Shirts/ Trousers

Vertical Stripes are everywhere this season – A Unisex Trend. They are literally present in every global fashion week.

Caution : Stick to straight and narrow vertical stripes. Avoid those wide striped shirts or trousers

3. Tonal Dressing / Coordinates

This is one more unisex trend of the season. It basically means a monochrome outfit with same coloured trouser & blazer / shirt & trouser.

Focus on the pastel shades of colours. Go for bright colours if you want to stand out.

4. Linen

Linen shirts have been in trend since long time. Adding to that trend, linen trousers made an entry this season.

Must haves in men wardrobe : White & black & beige linen shirts

5. Side Striped Trousers

One more unisex trend. Though, I am not head over heels with this trend. If you want to try something different, then this needs to be in your list.

6. Statement Socks

How many of you have seen Justin Trudeau slaying those bright pink or blood red ankle socks?? Yeah!! They are clearly in Spring trends list now.

If you are not comfortable with bright colours, try patterned socks in basic colours.

7. Track Pants

Athleisure is one more go-to trend and is completely comfortable. Pick those baggy tracks lying in your workout wear and pair those with hoodies from the similar colour palette – That’s it, you are good to go out in those tracks rather than just sticking to gym.

8. Logo T-shirts

80’s trend of logo t-shirts is back on runways and street style trends this season. This requires minimal knowledge of styling because you can just wear that t-shirt, pair it with a denim and a pair of white sneakers – you are done 😀

All images are sourced from several fashion magazines ( street style photographs )

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Previous post : ‘P’ For Plaid

‘P’ For Plaid

Published on March 17, 2018March 17, 2018 by Lavanya Pulijala1 Comment

‘Plaid’ is one word which has been doing rounds all along the recent fashion weeks in London, Milan, Paris and New York. For those of you who find it hard to interpret this term, it’s basically patterns of colored checks and intersecting lines. Considering that 90’s fashion is back in loop now, pant suits , bell bottoms, plaid and sequin are current season favorites.

I have completely fallen for the pant suits (trouser + blazer) trend. It’s so elegant and just on-point. It’s been quite some time since I posted something about fashion. So, here I go , introducing the latest trend of plaid, pant suits and various ways to style a blazer.

Most of the power dressing looks that are created using paint suits require minimal accessories. The look should be kept as minimalistic as possible with fine jewelry, pointed heels, and a mini handbag.

I have created looks where I have used a plaid blazer with cropped jeans, plaid trouser, and a basic black tee. I chose tan colored pointed heels and a black mini handbag to complete the look.

Power dressing styling tips:

Go with sleek hairstyles for official purposes, else go wild with a wavy hairstyle
Subtle nudes play along with power dressing so well. However, if you want to use the same outfit for an informal event, go for darker shades of lipstick and smokey eyes
Go for fine jewelry
Definitely a thumbs up for pumps or ankle-strapped heels as footwear
A big NO to huge totes for this look

I have created looks both for formal and informal events for this post. Without any further delay, let’s dig into the looks 😀

Look 1:

Blazer + Jeans + Basic Tee : Instead of wearing the blazer in its complete shape, just throw it over your shoulder to give a casual look.

Look 2:

Blazer + Jeans : Wear a blazer as top if you know you can handle the plunging neckline.

Look 3:

Pant suit – Blazer + Trouser : Match the color palette on blazer and trousers. You may choose a plaid blazer and go for a plain trouser in dark color palette of the blazer.