Showing posts with label Diwali. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Diwali. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Chic in Chiffon

For long as I remember, I have been in love with donning a saree. I still vividly remember being a four year old, draped in mom's saree and flaunting it around. My mum owned quite a few chiffons but my eyes always were on the graceful, golden-border sarees. I would wear them during Diwali, the most celebrated festival in India, and then Haldi-kumkum ceremony in Makar Sankranti. I remember, during college times, all of us friends would get together at my best friend's place to burst crackers and I would be the only one adorned in saree, jewelry and all that. Guess dressing up has been in my genes since long :) 

And as you can imagine, as I grew older, my love for saree grew stronger. I would look forward for every small occasion to wear it. I had matching blouses stitched for mom's kanjeevarams, and heavy border sarees. I got a hang of draping the saree from quite early one. I can drape a saree in less than 10 minutes, and chiffons and silk sarees are the easier ones to drape than the heavy kanjeevarams or brocade sarees. 

Coming back to recent times, I don't get to dress up in saree as much as I would. Living in the US, there are really one or two times in the year when you can dress up in your Indian fineries. Its usually during Diwali or Dassera or a Marathi Mandal celebration. I miss wedding seasons in India, so dearly I tell you! 

Anyhoo, my taste in sarees has moved past the heavy kanjeevarams to more subtle and soft and elegant chiffons. The pretty pink saree I am wearing in the post today is one of my recent loves. I actually got it cut and done up at a cloth store in Vile Parle (a suburb in Mumbai). When I first laid my eyes on it, I must admit, I wasn't it's biggest fan but my mum-in-law egged me on to try it. The sales guy helped me drape it and voila..gorgeous did it look! 

The neonish hue looked in-vogue and the material felt light-n-easy on me. Finding and stitching the right fit blouse is always a challenge when you visit India for less time. Well, good for me ready-made blouses were so in-trend in India and I gave in. The fit is great for a ready-made blouse and there are so many options available that stitching a blouse looks like a passe. I wore this saree for laxmi-pooja last year with the perfect traditional accessory there can be - a Maharashtrian Nath

Well, here's to many more occasions to don the most graceful attire in our Indian wardrobes...Saree!

This is a picture-heavy post..don't tell me later that I didn't warn you ;) Also, keeping with the tradition, sari post is my first outfit post of the year!

Blouse and sari - shops near Vile parle station (Mumbai) | Express gold necklace and earrings | Catwalk sandals | Bangles and clutch from Hill road, Bandra | Nath from my mom's closet


P.S.: I have shared this post on my blogger friend Aditi's blog So-Saree. It's her first blogiversary this week and as part of the celebrations she asked me if I could do a saree guest post. Show some love to her, will ya?



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Wednesday, October 30, 2013

DIY Art Project - How to Make a Diwali Lantern (Akaash Kandil)

So we met some of our friends for drinks and dinner last Friday night, and during the conversation, my friend totally inspired me to making a Diwali paper-lantern (akash kandil in Hindi). Well, I did have some free time on my hand this Diwali (which has happened after quite a few years!) I thought, why not give this a try. I mean it sounded like it's pretty easy; something that doesn't take more than a day....which really clicked with me. I am quite impatient by nature so if something's not coming together (pretty!) quickly, I give it up altogether. Well, lucky for the lantern it got built in a day, thanks to all the step by step instructions here, especially the ones with the dimensions (they are super important I tell you!).

Well, the dork that I am, I missed the step where one is supposed to fold the cylinder only after taping all the cones and decorations. And in my excitement, I cut the cardpaper and folded it right away. Well, decorating the lantern was rather awkward but nonetheless manageable.Other than that, no major issues. Ok, maybe only one 'cause of the stupid glue. The freaking thing wouldn't stick the thick card-paper ends together; so I had to hunt down the stick tape for my rescue. 

I skipped the the serrated edges for the squares, and instead of the flowers (on the folded ends of the card-paper), I used dainty diyas (that I accidentally created) which look kinda-perfect now. Some sparkling stickers later, the lantern was ready to be lit, in all it's glory!
You can go in for any bright color combination; since neon has been so in this past season, I decided to go for neonish orange hue and then nothing screams festive like red, right?

I took some pics on the way to building it, which I was hoping to upload if this project saw the light of the day (which it did and I feel good now....*blushes*)


It's as easy as it looks in these pics so are you gonna give it a try this Diwali!

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Blogger awards & Festive Look

Its raining awards, again! :) I am very much thankful for this appreciation from fellow bloggers and it is definitely rewarding!


So getting straight to the award formalities..yeah, blogger awards come with a list of to-do things :)

The lovely Pranitha nominated me for 'The Stylish Blogger' award.



Thank you so much Pranitha, getting called as Stylish is one hell of a compliment that every fashion blogger vies for ;) 
Visit Pranitha's food blog here for some interesting recipes.

My blog was nominated for 'The Lovely blog' award by the charming Priyanka. She's a traveler, dreamer and a fashionista like me..and from our email interactions I got to know that she's from my city – Mumbai! You can visit her blog here for interesting tid-bits on fashion, food, baking and travels. Plus, she has a lovey sketch in the blog header that I absolutely adore!



As part of  'The Lovely Blog' award, I am sharing 7 things about myself (apart from the things here and here)

1. I absolutely love to dance. J & I did once took salsa dancing classes before our trip to Puerto Rico, but Bollywood dancing remains to be my absolute favorite! 
2. I was not a brand -conscious person, but lately I think I have become; especially for brands that have great fit and colors and quality of course. 
3. I prefer travelling in public transport (local train/T train) to work rather than having to drive to work every day. I miss Mumbai local trains so very much (sometimes I see them in my dreams too :) guess, I spent too much time travelling in trains when I lived in Mumbai)
4. Bad music gives me headache.
5. I love travelling; travelling gets me out of the mundane life.
6. I don’t have a lot of patience. I can get fed up/frustrated if things are not working out as I wanted them to. But since I have started driving, this trait has slowly started to diminish (Husband, I leave up to you to validate that J)
7. I am big movie buff and a Bollywood junkie. I love watching classic movies, rom-coms and action movies. Horror movies I absolutely detest! 

For the Lovely Blog award, I nominate 10 fantastic blogs that I totally love!

Congratulations to all the bloggers!

And here are the rules for the nominated blogs:
1.            Thank the person who nominated you.
2.            Add the One Lovely Blog Award to your post.
3.            Share 7 things about yourself.
4.            Pass the award onto 15 nominees and let them know.

Well, getting to outfit-posting, this is what I wore for a Diwali party at a friend’s place. We had an awesome time playing dumb-charades, chit-chatting, giggling and of course hogging on delicious food and a yummy mango dessert. A sweet Diwali bash that was J




What I am wearing: Punjabi Suit - Haute Curry @ Shoppers Stop; Indian-clutch - Gift from aunt; Peacock-design earrings - Gift from mom; Sandals - Catwalk, India; 
Laakh bangles - picked on the trip to Rajasthan in Jan12; Ring - Pier1 Imports 
On my Nails - REVLON Raven Red 721 & REVLON sparkling 261
On my eyes: MAC Kajal; Loreal Masacara; MAC Cranberry Frost eye shadow
On my Lips: MAC Cremesheen Hang-up lipstick






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Saturday, November 17, 2012

Diwali night

So Diwali is almost over! Yeah. Almost. 'cause I have one more Diwali bash to attend tonight, and then it will be all!

Past seven days, I have been gorging on delicious (read calorie-heavy) fare non-stop. I didn't know I would say this but, I am kinda missing my 'soup-salad' dinner nights already. Well, no worries, they will be back in routine starting next week and then I know I would be missing hogging on Indian food. Such is life dearies!

Getting back to outfit posts for Diwali, I am super-excited! This is probably first time  that I will be posting an Indian outfit on the blog (if the post here is not considered as an Indian outfit).
I love (read 'love' raised to 1000 times) to drape a sari! My earliest memories of sari include wearing it as a kid and then I was out standing in front of the scooter (Hamara Bajaj) while dad was driving me around the town :D

So a 'sari' fan that I am, this is what I wore on the main Diwali night for Laxmi Pujan. It was one bone-chilling night and still the enthusiasts that we are, we managed to click few pictures for the blog and life-time memories of course :). Lighting up diyas (oil/wax lamps), kandil (lantern), puja, sweets and sumptuous feast- that completes Diwali celebrations!

Hope you had a lovely and memorable Diwali with your loved ones! Any special gifts you received? I know what I am getting :))




What I am wearing: Bandhani-print silk sari - picked from 'Rajasthali' on our trip to Jaipur in Jan 2012; Gold Jewelry - gift from hubs and in-laws; 'Laakh' Bangles - some where in Udaipur; Special mention to Sis-in-law, Neha, for attaching beautiful blue 'Gotas' on the knots at the back of the blouse.


moi and moi handsome photographer :)

Diyas - courtesy mom and mom-in-law. Our families sent us a huge package loaded with home-made sweets and snacks, diyas, lantern and gifts. It made our Diwali even more happening!

Special Diwali treat for dearest hubs - Chole, Dal-fry, Paneer Makhani, Jeera-fried rice, Rice kheer loaded with raisins and nuts and whole-wheat parathas (not in picture)


Monday, November 12, 2012

Happy Diwali!

This is my first Diwali with my lovely readers and blogger friends! I am so excited and happy to share the festivities with you all!

Wishing all the readers a Dazzling Diwali and a year filled with Happiness, Prosperity and Good Health!



P.S.: I am loving dressing up in Saris and Punjabi suits and all the ethnic jewelry. This is my favorite part of all the festivities apart from the food, sweets and fun time with friends and family! Diwali-special outfit posts will be coming up soon, so stay tuned :)

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