From Shopping lists to App Carts !

I am a last minute kid. I studied last minute for exams… I wait for the very last day to fill out visa application forms .. I wait for the very last second before I absolutely need to get dressed for the day… And like all other things I waited for 15/05/2015 to happen to download the #MyntraApp ! I have been the last one to get onto technology ALWAYS. So today – at the very last minute, when I logged into the Myntra website for my Saturday routine.. I was told it has moved to greener pastures – I finally caved. I Went to the APP store, downloaded Myntra and now it is on my home page along with the others - WhatsApp, Facebook, Ola, Zomato, Photo Editor, Instagram and many more. I have joined the bandwagon.

Logging into apps is now just a few clicks to log u in… Immediately I hit on the sort and refine button to see if there were plus sizes available..I have always been a plus size kid – so shopping for me was disaster. With those nasty comments by the retailers, I hated going shopping to see the sheer disappointment in my mother’s face. Somewhere in between what I liked or loved to finding the correct size for me in the ladies department when I was only a child – I kind of  hoped that there was a magic wand I could wave – That I wouldn’t have to make all those disappointing trips between the trial room and the ever shrinking number of designs available as I grew not only in age but also size.

It’s not that I am ashamed of my body weight… I am very much confident under my skin. But if fashion has progressed – I am happy that it is empowering me. I salute companies like #Myntra who have made the big move to an app … Big, pun intended. I cannot even begin to imagine what a relief it is to put those filters of size and colour to sort out through the crazy big collection that they have. I mean if only the actual retail store had that filtration process, it would have scared me lesser. And all this, without wasting my actual time – TIME is always shrinking when you are in my line of business !

I also always wished there was someone who would just put together a wardrobe for me. When I first heard about a profession called a STYLIST, I secretly decided that if I became rich, I will hire one to put together looks and details for me. Now, my mother may call this whole putting together a “LOOK” fraud ! But I say #Myntra you are my #bff. It’s like I am 15 all over again discussing over my fancy new mobile phone on what to wear to college with a friend – she would know my entire wardrobe. I still reach out to my phone – only to pull together something without all that mindless chatter.

So here I am spending a better part of my Saturday afternoon sipping coffee snuggled up on my sofa with my phone... what started off as a little breather has just made my weekend shopping bright. What would take me an eternity, toiling in and out of the crazy bandra shops for the junk followed by an evening at Palladium for the funk, I wrapped up the rhapsody and used the time to enjoy doing NOTHING ! Happy Weekend Cheer and Beer to everyone ! 

Olive For this Summer

Yes, yes... I know I should still be excited about all the bright and vivid colors that Summer has to offer... but I've recently found myself re-kindling a deep love for the warmth that olive green brings to my life.. so much so that i even named my company after it .. Olive Inc. Just look at it. It's the perfect transitional color for Summer to Fall... and it looks great in both the wardrobe and in the home. I almost died when I saw that vintage green stove (below.) After that, it was a downward spiral of lust for my old friend, Olive. Oh boy... where's my paint brush?

PUGLY PIXEL DIY : Envelopes

 i love pugly pixel. not only is katrina generous of spirit, sharing photoshop tutorials on her blog with fans like me who are dying to learn how she makes everything look so pretty, but she also posts some awesome diy ideas, too. this one is for custom envelopes made from upcycling fashion magazines (she used a jcrew catalog) using her kuretake handmade mini envelope template. how cool are these!?

for the entire diy how to, hop on over to puxly pixel, and here for part one of her envelope tutorial.

Wanted : 50 Shades of Blue

 all i seem to be attracted to lately is a sea of blue. i’m not sure what it is — it’s so classic and sophisticated, but also really soothing. i want this framed needlepoint bag from anthropologie, and i want to wear it with a navy dress like this styled by ali of a noble savage.

 the perfect powder room wallpaper — flights of fancy by house of hackney, at anthropologie

 i want this hat. any ideas on where to find one like this, via the sartorialist?

 i quite like this colour study illustration print, by marius roosendaal.

 a gorgeous chair, and wonderful styling by lo bjurulf.

 i love the idea of this driftwood wreath, via arturo mata.

 love all shades of blue walls, this one photographed by mikkel vang for vogue (above); and another styled by hans blomquist (below) are exceptional.

Snappy Straps

 now these, my shutterbug friends, are some pretty snappy camera straps. made by bloom theory straps, they come in an array of very attractive textiles. attending a fancy wedding or a big soiree and want to step it up a notch? i think they’ve got you covered. feminine and fashionable — your neck in bloom.

Lady Perfume Bottles

While browsing eBay, I was admiring this green perfume bottle collection. Shortly after, I happened upon Rebecca's whimsical ceramic lady perfume bottles with atomiser bulbs. Naturally, I take this to mean the universe wants me to start a vintage perfume bottle collection. They really are quite charming and feminine, aren't they?

Berets

I tried to be a beret girl once upon a time. But it wasn't a good look. After seeing how much fun Carrie has with her collection, maybe I should give them a second chance. Do you wear berets?

Feline Noi

Where does one find such dazzling cat ear hats? They're so flirty and fun. These shots are from the Feline Noir spread in the December issue of Glamour Spain. Meeeeow.

A Timeless Pursuit

Aren't these old-Hollywood shots glamorous? A vintage polka dot Oscar de la Renta dress was the muse behind photographer, Gray Malin's series, A Timeless Pursuit. He followed this faceless woman all over the cities of Los Angeles, Paris and New York and compiled the images into a book.

Chick Alert @ Vero Moda Sale

When FASHION meets DISCOUNTS and the word SALE is attached to it – KHALLAS... You can expect there to be a CHICK-ALERT-A THON count downing to the day event. The Boxing Day Sale/ Labour Day Sale/ Christmas Sale day’s of around the world experience could be got in Amchi Mumbai for the Saturday Sale of Vero Moda/ Jack and Jones in their Khar – Linking Road outlet.

My friends and I like every other girl bundled up together – leaving all other important things called MONEY MAKING – to go and do some MONEY SPLURGING. I am not a big big fan of this place, but I don’t ever refrain from “checking out the scene”... And so we went. At first I couldn’t understand why the traffic was being held up by Santacruz Police station – just as your turn away from Juhu Tara Road extension. However – chattering about how we are going to go and raid the store kept us busy to not realise that it took over 20 mins to just travel less than a kilometre.

Much to our surprise, as we drove past Vero Moda – and saw the serpentine queue of GIRLS of all shapes and sizes chattering and almost littering the ever quite by-lanes of Khar/ Santacruz – you know that something’s up !!
It almost looked like the place was throwing free clothes. Women on the 3rs floor standing were seen next to the mannequin, searching high and low for that dress they have been eyeing for the last couple of months to go on SALE ! Guys lined up too – but were typically lesser in number.

We did not have the courage and the patience to join the queue – and so we drove past – all the way till Bandra and ended up eating a wholesome BRUNCH. Something which has become a bigger pass-time than any other activity for us girls.

Of course – it was only after a good brunch and a hard day at work, when we decided that we did not want to miss an experience ! So my sister and I decided to BRAVE the crowd and enter at 10 p.m. We were given an easy entry – presumably most people had finished shopping. Little did we know that they must have ravaged the entire space. The Place looked like it had just about managed to SURVIVE A WAR.

There were more clothes lying on the floor than they were on the racks. All the sizes were mixed up and people were treating items like a Rs 3295 jacket like a piece of RAG. Being a frequent visitor – since my friend AMI GATHANI and my sister DHWANI DOSHI are mad-shopped of Vero Moda – i knew some of the clothes i had never seen on the racks. Looked more like items shipped from Bangkok only to make a quick buck. And even if they were not – the way they were displayed made it feel like a garage sale.
The best items were already sold – i didn’t expect a miracle purchase anyway !! I had only gone to check the scene out. I did manage to find a nice top on the highest rack – having escaped the hands of a few 1000 girls who must have shopped there. But when I went to try it – the staff seemed overworked, hungry and exhausted and hence couldn’t care less to help me with my size or colour – not that I asked – i was just petrified at the woman who was screaming her lungs out “NO MORE THAN 3 ITEMS.” Of course it wasn’t her fault – it is something the management should have foreseen and planned in advance.

But it was an experience to see WOMEN still at it – buying clothes after clothes after clothes !!! We ended up buying lesser than we actually buy paying 100% MRP + TAX and minus the QUE... but as they say everything is an experience.

Double Decker Shop

Would you get onto a BUS and start shopping ?? Or should I ask you the other way around, Would you shop in a double decker BUS ??? Either way - this whacky idea is from a shop in Seattle. Trust the world for coming up with crazy ideas.