Oh Fridays!

ASOS top

Zara cardigan

Shop Nineteen shorts

Free People shoes

Bag (Local find from Auroville)

If we consider time, then going on dates with my husband is relatively quicker than how I did it while seeing him. I believe that you never dress badly (never according to him (he dare!)) rather you do it more quick-chic-ly . 

Playing a bed bug lately, I, post my C T M routine, hit the mattress and browse the Internet out of it. Although on early Friday evenings, my husband asks me out on a date. And instead of doing it the I-am-almost-there way, I mostly sneak out in house shorts (ofcourse I dress it up). In minutes I leave the house and fraction of seconds it takes to make him smile. 

First drops of drizzle

I don’t even realize to capture some of my most interestingly-put-together looks. They are like amazing moments that just pass by and me instead of social-media them, live them. But this time, I (acting like a full-time blogger), remembered to get this one clicked before hitting a day party. It’s a shirt (I call it my rickshaw shirt) that I wore over a shirt dress. And while the camera chased the colours of this dream Quirkbox piece, it began to drizzle. Brights, water splashes, heels! The party was already underway. 

Self loving

It's possibly impossible that my birthday comes and I don't think of shoes. Off late I am stuck on all things Indo-bohemian and Free People ( bet you will fall in love with everything on this website). So after a long hunt for clogs, I bumped into these. Fish scale texture with zipper details, something that I haven't come across while passing by endless Birks and Dr. Martens here. Got these, the two cutest pairs of socks and Lennons.  It was a celebration indeed.

P.S. Free People also ships to India.

It's all for comfort...

Inner - H&M racer-back

Dress - Nevada (vintage)

Shoes - Nike

Sunglasses - Aldo

I see everybody wearing sneakers here in Melbourne. Sometimes I even see people wearing active wear to office. We have been naming it sporty chic, luxe sport, minimal or give it the latest 'it' term, #normcore, but it all unjumbles to comfort. I wonder how much business the sporty chic trend has given to the likes of Nike and New Balance. These brands have now come up with trainers in muted and pastel tones unlike their bright classics. I guess, who cares as long as they can replace heels. Well, I am resisting to stay away from this new tide in the fashion ocean. So saying no to the not-made-for-running trainers, I will work my regular Nike shoes to run around for groceries. 

Shock and awe

This is the second time I have collaborated with Blueprint Coleccion. The two designer sisters sure know what they are doing. Steering clear of futuristic materials, the brand has constantly shown its love for the universally-loved fabric, cotton. Kitschy prints and glamorous silhouettes have been the foundation of their designs. The dress looks tricky and It did took me a while to do up this great summer piece but the Nasty Gal booties got the right shock and awe to the look. Your thoughts?

Hide and seek

I refrain from using such lines but this year has just flown by! Everyday, the time alarms me to come along but then it also ends up telling me that there is no hurry and I have begun to enjoy it. For a change, experiments are happening more in the kitchen than in the powder room. I have been busy doing up my place. Will show you soon what all I have been up to. 

Weather is all game for some hide and seek here. And on one of these windy-sunny cold days I decided to go sweater-less and just topped off the look with the newest addition in my closet, my Himachali cap. Surprisingly, I could feel Spring in this colourful, quintessential Autumn piece.

Melbourne

Anokhi button down dress

Old juttis (bought from Amritsar)

Silver finish kamarbandh

A big hello from Melbourne! What's up with everyone? Well, I have been managing to survive in a hotel since over a month. Not only because H&M is right opposite this place, Topshop is less than fifty meters away and Acne is on the way to the grocery store. It is the ever evolving fashion of CBD that hits me the moment I step out of the hotel. 

All this while I have been in a learning mode. Getting to know the places around, become more comfortable with the au dollar, cooking almost everyday and of course, hunting for a decent house. 

Spring time has officially begun in Aussie land, although the chill is yet to bid adieu. Thankfully last Sunday gave a great summer preview and resisting to celebrate the bloom of flora here couldn't have possibly happened. Dressing up in pink rose print, belted with kamarbandh and jadau juttis, was how I did it.

What's happening...

In exactly 25 days I will be off to Melbourne to start a new chapter in my life. Got to know about it almost a month back but it took time to sink in and then to pen it on the blog. Since then things have just been in a wrapping-up state and I have been drowned in a flood of calls for selling stuff.

All this has taken my attention away from By the Wear. I couldn't participate in Swarovski's #styleyourwaytoparis contest, have a number of unread emails in my inbox and wouldn't be visiting Lakme Fashion Week this time. This obligation has piled on a lot on the virtual blog table and I can't wait to settle down to share it with you all.

More than being excited about what Aussie land has in store for me, I am melancholic about leaving India, my favourite people and places here. But I know that the much said friendliness of people there and their immense love for fashion will make me come back to life.

And in this chaos, I somehow managed to visit Dastkaar that happened last Sunday in Bangalore. Thoughts of moving-away from the country got me a little emotional and I ended up shopping quite a bit. Needless to say that all these will be by-the-worn soon.

P.S Thank you Dheera for this wonderful sketch. 

Horse Warrior

Most of you must be following the Quirk Box blog on tumblr. But in case you missed it, here's the third outfit I styled for their latest collection. The turquoise and black horse warrior print didn't demand much of accessorizing. But the vintage Rajasthani necklace packed a punch. And I am back at my favourite backdrop in Bangalore. Everything looks great against these white and coral walls. Isn't it!

Talking about Bangalore, few of know it but I am officially going to announce something really soon. 

Parachutes

Quirkbox Twosie

M&S Visor

Vintage Rajasthani Earrings

I am usually not inclined to prints and had my doubts before receiving this twosie from Quirk Box. But from un-wrapping the package to dressing up, all those questions faded away and I felt great. So for all of you who think quirky may not look classy, you should reconsider.

The answer to scorching heat is none other than cheerful prints in happy colours. Although this pair is overdosed with bright parachutes but its well-thought-over backdrop changes the game.

Crop tops still raise a few eye brows and drop jaws on street but the modest length of the skirt hits the right spot of the conscious-Indian-me.

A non-sporty visor and heritage silver earrings are all it took to chic-en things up.

Camouflaging camo

Decathlon T-Shirt

Suede Waistcoat from Goa

Bhane denims

Jeffery Campbell heels

Titan watch

H&M sunglasses

Arrow brooch from Dilli Haat

I realize, this time no excuse would work. The silence became longer than I expected. My health demanded a weekend-ly attention so I took a pause for two full weeks.

This look got put together quite inadvertently. Only when a friend in office said that I am all brown today, my reflex was "I guess I am camouflaging camo". The next moment I decided to put this look on the blog. Just threw in my new Jeffery Campbell heels and I got dolled up in this military chic.

Annai Leather

Visited my restful retreat, Auroville over the weekend some days back. The place is well known for its leather and if you take a stroll around Auroville you'll find innumerable small shops with artisans busy making bags, footwear and other leather accessories. This one shop, Annai Leather, has become one of my must-visit shops every time I am here. I don't need to recommend this guy to anyone. Apparantly, his work has crossed international boundaries and has been walking on the fashionable streets of cities like Paris and Milan. He will take the challenge of all kinds of flat sandals and shoes. Here's a glimpse of my new addition straight from his hands.