The It Catalogue : December 2015

Friday 25 December 2015

Skinny Scarves, Momos, and Sangria

This outfit is my monochrome dream 'fit. I have a weakness for stripes, and I love combining different types together. Horizontal, vertical, thick, thin— It's easy to pair them when they follow a similar colour scheme. Not wanting to take away from the b&w magnificence, I kept accessories small (scroll down for accessory details), and my shoes grey. Skinny scarves are my new obsession! This black one was actually a light trench coat belt that turned out to be the right width and length. I'll probably buy one of every colour when I go to the shops, next.

--x-x-x-x--

I've thought long and hard about what to write today, but most of what came to mind was meretricious and kind of pretentious. I'm sure you wouldn't want to hear about the garden in my soul.

So I'm just going to tell you how I spent my day.

I woke this morning (after having slept for only a few hours) with a mission— I wanted to cook momos. So at 7 am I lay under my covers, eyes aching with lack of sleep, and googled recipes for the dish. It looked deceptively easy. Twelve hours later, I was in the kitchen covered in flour and chicken mince. My sister had made sangria at home, so I sipped on it while rolling and filling, rolling and filling, rolling and filling.

At that precise point I realised that I couldn't have spent my day any better. With the smell of food wafting in the air, and the warm chatter of loved ones, I was content.

Merry Christmas!

Scroll down for outfit + accessory details.

Details: Gold watch (Tommy Hilfiger) , black and gold bow bracelet (20dresses.com), gold rings (H&M), nude manicure.

What I'm wearing:

Shirt from Zara

Skirt from Forever New [similar here]

Skinny Scarf (makeshift) [similar here from Zara]

Snakeskin printed pumps from Charles & Keith

Vintage shades from Ray Ban

Photographs by Vaishnavi Kukillaya

Wednesday 16 December 2015

The Holiday Edit: Have a Very Zara Christmas!

Those who know me know that I swear by Zara. It's easily my favourite high street brand. The minimalist and sophisticated approach that the brand has towards fashion is the reason why my wardrobe is bursting with pieces from it—everything from t-shirts to gowns.

While browsing in a Zara store is always a spiritual experience, my favourite time of the year to go is during the fall/winter period. Their holiday collection is absolutely gorgeous, and some pieces are a must for this season. Here are my holiday favourites from Zara that I'm currently adding to my closet (and you should too!)

[Note: Click on the subheads to go to the Zara website to have a better look.]

Studio Velvet Trousers

These velvet soft trousers are my ideal pair of pants. Slouchy yet structured, and comfortable beyond imagination, the deep jade colour makes this my number one festive pick.

Blazer with Back Pleat

The retro cape-like silhouette is the highlight of this blazing red jacket. Watch Santa get jealous of how christmas-sy you look in this pretty pleated piece.

Beaded Drawstring Bag

For me, December is that time of the year when it's absolutely acceptable (and necessary!) to bring out all the bling. Trade in your sensible everyday tote for this beaded beauty and dance away with all your essentials tucked into this nifty purse.

Tie Style Scarf

This season saw the unprecedented rise of the skinny scarf across fashions. This burgundy scarf can dress up any old outfit and make it go from drab to fab in seconds. Definitely an investment!

Velvet Studio Dress

With Alexander Wang bringing out the sleepwear-inspired look for Spring/Summer 2016, I feel it's time to usher in the trend a little early with this shimmering dress. Velvet is becoming a quick favourite of mine for the coming months.

Peplum Blouse

The unique pleated and cinched peplum waistline of this blouse makes it stand out for me. The bold fire-engine red is a fitting ode to the holiday spirit and cheer.

Sequinned Blouse

This dreamy, sequinned off-the-shoulder blouse is the perfect amalgamation of dainty and party. It's easy to jazz up your favourite jeans and heels with this top.

Swiss Dot Tights

I unfailingly associate Christmas with tights in my mind—Every. Single. Year. The holidays call for dresses, and winter calls for tights, and these adorable dotted tights are the best solution to goosebumps-covered legs.

Long Earrings

Your go-to bauble for wintry night-outs has to be these collarbone-grazing gem and chain earrings. There can be no other in this 'lobe' affair.

Strappy Top with Neck Tie

What looks great with strappy tops? Answer: skinny scarves. Here, you get both together, and do they look absolutely smashing!

Halter Neck Shimmer Thread Dress

This shimmering piece should be the dress for your New Year's Eve celebrations. Skip all jewellery and wear it with your favourite heels and your hair down.

Laminated Flat Shoes

These mirror finish flats are my holiday shoes, period. The trendy slipper shape with the sensible single inch heel make this an on-point fashion and comfort choice.

Gemstone Necklaces

This set of five minimalist necklaces is absolutely stunning. Perfect for adding a chic amount of sparkle to your ensemble, the amulet-like pendants provide for a pop of colour. Wear them all together or separately!

So there you have it—my holiday edit from Zara. Happy shopping!

Monday 7 December 2015

What's In a Thigh Gap?

It's been one of those weeks—class seems pointless, you fret about being unproductive, people are uninspiring, and a deep sense of discontent sets in. Exhausting as they may be, the great thing about these slumps is that they make one think. Think and think and think. One thing that I have been pondering over a lot is body image. Most of us tend to turn inwards, and then outwards and pick our bodies apart. Is it really worth it?

These peach skinnies that I'm wearing here are one of my favourite pants. Despite being unhealthily attached to them, I don't wear these jeans very often because I'm of the firm belief that they make my thighs look fat. I've always had thick thighs, and I'm not ashamed of them. I don't see any reason to be. That said, I involuntarily pick darker colours and taller silhouettes while dressing.

So I decided to dedicate an outfit to these lovely jeans, no matter how they make me look. What prompted me to do this was a random little thought I had one morning, sprinting up six flights of stairs while trying to get to class (I am late very often). If I didn't have my thick thighs, I wouldn't be able to do that. I won't have the strength to squat down for long periods of time to pet dogs in the street. These thick thighs and skinny ankles carry this girl around the world, and damn right I'm going to show them off.

Love your body, you've only got one for this lifetime.

Side note: This military jacket was found and bought within a span of ten seconds. Best decision ever, because it's probably the only outerwear one can afford to wear in the inexorably muggy city that is Bombay.