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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Photos by Rishabh Kumar

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

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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Photos by Arun Premkumar

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‘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.

Look 4 :

Blazer + Basic Tee + Trouser : Match the blazer and trouser color palette and patterns.

Hope you enjoyed reading it as much I loved creating it 🙂

Hope it also helped you get an idea about styling blazers 😀

Blazer, Trousers, Heels, Bag, T-shirt : Zara | Jeans : Levis | Shades : Shein |Wrist Watch : Armani Exchange

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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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Tulle On Focus

Published on July 14, 2017July 30, 2017 by Lavanya Pulijala1 Comment

Soft and fine-net fabric ,versatile enough to be styled as a dress or skirt or top is being embraced by most of the fashion enthusiasts.The fabric is known as tulle and this tulle trend, I should say, brought out the creativity of styling a dress with jeans.

Wondering how one could wear a dress with jeans !!!

Styling a dress with jeans gives a complete different and refreshing look.Comfort and fashion go hand in hand. This trend can be aced if you could remember a few things before you style:

Monochrome dresses(body-hugging dresses), mini dresses don’t go well with jeans (strict ‘NO”)
Midi skater flowy dresses would be the most apt choice
Slim fit jeans preferred over boyfriend jeans

In this look, I have paired a midi tulle dress with torn-jeans, a simple white top, and sneakers.I prefer to have simple earrings for this look but I choose to go with a bunch of pearl bracelets so that they sync with my white sneakers.

Here goes the look 😀

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Wild In Green

Published on July 1, 2017July 1, 2017 by Lavanya Pulijala1 Comment

It’s all about the greens, cut-outs and head-scarfs. The wildness captured in the background brings the shades of green into focus. Pairing a maxi with different accessories gives unique looks every time.

Head scarf and long shrug are my weapons for this look-book apart from the usual maxi look.The contrast color of the head scarf gave a bohemian vibe while the shrug seemed to add a semi-formal touch to the outfit.Each of these accessories accentuated the look of the maxi.As you know, when I try western wear,I prefer statement jewellery. In this case, I picked statement earrings and kept it simple with no neck-piece.

Here goes the look !! Hope you enjoy it 🙂

Maxi: Ajio | Earrings : HnM | Bracelets : Accessorize and lifestyle | Shrug : Ajio | Heels : Carlton London | Scarf : Street buy

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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