As I am typing this, sitting on my warm bed on a lazy morning, with the winter sunshine filtering in through the window beside me; I am feeling grateful to God for these serene winter days and for the fact that I can have the luxury of working from home - doing something I love while enjoying a quiet morning at the same time.
But, all days are not like this. There are days when I have too much going on to fit into 24 hours and days when all meetings, errands, events, socializing fall on one single day and I am left running from one to the other - out of breath, exhausted and not looking remotely fashionable by the end of it all!
Is it just me or does anyone else out there dread these kind of days? Specially the thought that you have to wear the same outfit to all these appearances, even when some of them might require you to dress up or down. Not to mention the fact that more than one picture will go on Facebook/Instagram with you wearing the same outfit, which might not be that much of a deal for many people, but just might be a big blow to your inner, fashion-conscious self. (At least, for me as a fashion industry individual, it is! Sigh!)
So, I thought of doing a post on how to create different looks with the same basic outfit by incorporating li'l sartorial tweaks here and there, so that you can sport slightly different looks at different occasions even if they are at a gap of few hours from each other! You can just layer up differently or change the accessories, bags or shoes to create different looks for a meeting followed by a lunch date without having to change your whole outfit!
Here are three different looks I created while keeping the basic outfit same and just changing the style of the looks from boho to fun to ethnic fusion! The experiment turned out to be fun, easy and effortless, and I'm surely going to try this trick the next time I have a day choc-a-bloc with back to back things to do!
Look 1: Layer Player
A slip dress or strappy top is great way of layering, while adding some interest to the outfit. You can easily put it on or take it off anywhere and even carry it around easily. I layered my core outfit of a bell-sleeved top (actually a dress, worn tucked in) and denims with a flared spaghetti strap embroidered top to add a touch of boho-chic to the look. I dressed up the outfit further with a statement necklace and my quirky donut clutch. The finishing touches of a pair of cat-eye sunnies and pretty cutwork slip-on shoes in a contrast pastel hue makes this outfit interesting and on-point for a lunch event or a friend's birthday party!
[Dress worn as top: Zara | Denim: Splash | Black spaghetti top: Pondicherry street shopping | Statement necklace: c/o The Jade Tree | Donut clutch bag: Koovs | Cat-eye sunglass: Koovs | Rose gold watch: Tommy Hifiger | Blue cutwork slip-ons: Koovs | On my lips: Peach Life by Colorbar]
Look 2: Just Jackets
For the second look, I switched the strappy boho top for a fun & colorful sleeveless long jacket to add a more casual vibe to the look. The long jacket creates an illusion of length and the vibrant abstract print of the jacket creates a fun contrast with the pin stripes of the top. The jacket is held together in the front with a cute rainbow pin that complements the equally cute patches on my denim slip-ons. I quirked up the outfit further with shoulder-grazing pompom earrings that add a touch of kitsch to the look! Voila! An easily transformed look that can effortlessly take you to a get-together with the girlfriends or to a weekend music festival!
[Dress worn as top: Zara | Denim: Splash | Sleeveless long jacket: Colaba Causeway, Mumbai | Pompom earrings: Pondicherry | Rainbow pin: Lifestyle | Aviators: Koovs | Rose gold watch: Tommy Hifiger | Denim slip-ons with patches: Max Fashion | On my lips: Red Coat by Lakme]
Look 3: Fusion Fun
I wanted to put a ethnic-fusion twist to the third look and hence ditched the jacket for a versatile favorite - a black scarf with multicolor tassels all around. Added li'l ethnic elements to the top-and-denim look in the form of embroidered jootis, brocade foldover clutch bag ethnic earrings and even a faux nose-pin! This is the first time I tried donning a nose-pin (albeit, a false press-on one) and I don't think it looks too bad on me, what say? If you are feeling adventurous like me, you can even try wearing the earring as a maang-tika! All in all, a fun, ethnic take on the original look that is apt if you have to run to a family lunch or drop in at a flea market!
[Dress worn as top: Zara | Denim: Splash | Tasseled scarf: Howrah Bridge | Jhumka earrings: gifted by sis | False nose-pin: Bibi's |Foldover clutch bag: Bibiana | Silver watch: Kenneth Cole | Embroidered jootis: Gujarat street shopping | On my lips: Cosmopolitan by Colorbar]
Photography by: Neetha Venkatesh
So, what do you think of this project of mine? Are the three looks looking different enough to take you through a busy day without making you feel like you are sporting the same outfit throughout?
Let me know your thoughts in the comments or share any more ideas you might have for this concept!
Would love to hear your thoughts!! :)
Love,
Anupriya