Old is Gold

There are some outfits that are part of your wardrobe forever. Although the trend has long past, you still hang onto your old favorite because it just makes you look so darn good. I bought this forest green tulip dress four years ago and every time I wear it I feel so sexy. It has a deep plunging neckline with a wrap around skirt that opens up showing quite a bit of leg while walking. The tulip cut gives me extra curve making my figure look pretty voluptuous. Yep, this dress is a sure fire head turner. 

I have to mention these gladiator heels that are so hot this summer. I had been stalking them online for quite a few days but could not find a pair in my size. A few weekends ago, while on a window shopping trip with my friend, I stumbled upon a pair in exactly my size, on sale, in Nordstrom Rack! So I had to wear them immediately and what better outfit than this sexy beautiful tulip wrap dress ?

Let me share a secret - If I really wanted to catch a guy's attention, I would wear this dress. So tell me... do you think this dress is va va voom or not ?

Dress: Bisou Bisou for JC Penney - $35 (similar here, here and here)

Shoes: 14th and Union - Nordstrom Rack $38.00 (available here, here and here)

Tote: Outrage Fashion - Kara Ruffled Tote $25.00

Earrings: Walmart (similar here and here)

Bracelet: Outrage Fashion (similar here)

Ring: Forever 21 (similar here)

Pendant Necklace: Gift (similar here and here)

Neon to chase the blues away

 Today is one of those days where nothing seemed to go right. The only bright spark in the day was that I got a chance to wear one of my most treasured outfits - my neon sun dress. I got this dress from Old Navy in the spring and it has been a crowd favorite ever since. Whenever I wear this dress, people tell me that I glow. I guess it is because the color enhances my dusky skin. I also used my "once a year" wedges that have matching neon rim and geometric patterns. "Once a year" because the platform heels are very high and I have to take care to wear them only when I know I wont be doing too much walking.

There have been a lot of inquires on the locations in the blog pictures. These were taken right outside my office. Most of my pictures are taken around my office, home or Palo Alto. I have a friend who lives in PA and I sometimes go over there for my shoots. The residential area in PA is very scenic and all I need to do is stand on the pavement or street and I can have amazing backgrounds for the pics.  The area around  office is also so beautiful. The shoot today was particularly hard as we were interrupted by many people going on their normal post lunch walk. But we did manage to get some good clicks. Special Thanks to my friend Rekha who took these lovely pictures and put up with my persnickety behavior.

Enjoy the pics while I go and try to bury my head in the sand or under the bed covers until tomorrow. Hopefully I will be out of the doldrums by then

 

Dress: Old Navy $24.99 (similar here, here and here)

Wedges: Target (similar here and here)

Tote: Charlotte Beach Tote - Outrage Fashion $29.00

Rings: Forever 21(available here and here)

Necklace: Kohl's (similar here and here)

Earrings: Gift (similar here and here)

Bracelet: Gift (similar here)

Comfy Shorts

How can you complete your summer wardrobe without having at-least a dozen shorts in every color possible ? Well I am not going to feature a dozen shorts, so don't fret. Maybe a post or two :)

Its been a cruel, cruel summer and most of US is in the grip of a heat wave. I have lived in California for almost a decade now and this is the first year that it is scorching outside. In the past we enjoyed light summers with no humidity. The only place where people would sweat was in the gym. Yep, BO was almost extinct, but this year no amount of deo is helping and we Californians are forced to acknowledge that we don't smell  as daisy fresh as we would like.

To beat the heat, I have stocked up on shorts in every color. I first started wearing shorts at home as a teenager. They were longer and very colorful, most often called as "Bermudas". However, these were consigned to be used only inside the house. In those days, women in India did not wear shorts or show their legs when going out in public. Showing the belly button by wearing a sari or half sari was fine but showing legs, especially above the knee, was a big No-No. Ladies daring to do this would be subjected to severe eve teasing. I find this so hilarious, as the US is opposite. Showing leg is fine but showing belly button is considered vulgar.

Checkout my simple summer ensemble, white tank and brown shorts for when I'm out running errands. The look is very monochromatic with just a pop of color on the straps of the handbag. This is a non fussy easy going outfit.

Top: Mossimo -Target $15

Shorts: Union Bay (similar here, here and here)

Bag: Miranda Tote - Outrage Fashion $59.00 (similar here)

Chain: Forever 21 $4.80

Earrings: Forever 21 $4.80 (similar here)

Rings: Forever 21 ~ $3.80 - $4.80 (similar here, here and here)

Sandals: Mia "Norway" Sandal $34.99

Shades: H&M $6.95 (similar here)

Chilling out in Chevron

This post highlights two of the year's hottest trends - Chevron and Royal Blue. I don't follow fashion trends very religiously, but loved the way this dress combined both so beautifully making me look effortlessly elegant.

This maxi dress has a long outer skirt but the inner skirt stops just above the knee. The sheer outer layer made of polyester has two knee high slits that move while walking, showing off my legs. The dress conceals yet reveals in a subtle way that's super sexy and chic at the same time.

Depending on the occasion, you can wear this dress for a movie night or to party at a friends place. Take care to accessorize appropriately. I wore this last week while attending a dear friend's Roce (traditional Mangaloren pre-wedding bash) and so, dressed it up. I also tried to create the smoky eye look but did not want to go too dark - lets just call it the semi smoky eye :)

Dress: Ross $14.99 (similar here, here, here and here)

Sandals - Apt 9 $26.99 

Clutch: Gift (similar here and here)

Rings: Forever 21 (available here and here)

Bracelet: NY&C $7.99 (similar here and here)

Earrings: Forever 21 $4.80 (similar here and here)

Nail Polish: OPI - Chick Flick Cherry $6.95 (Available here)

Note: If you have a Sephora, Walgreens, Target or any other drugstore/makeup outlet close by, I would suggest picking up the nail polish in person. Most online stores charge $5 for shipping which in my mind is not worth it, unless you plan on buying nail polish in bulk or combining this order with something else.

Little Black Dress

Most fashion magazines and stylists insist that every woman should have a little black dress to look sexy and sophisticated while going out. We have been hearing this mantra for so long that if you step out in the evening, you will see ninety percent of all women dressed in black. It makes me think that most of us have been brain washed into believing that black is the only option for evening wear.

  Sometimes I wonder what would happen if I took a peak into other women's closets? Would I find rows and rows of black dresses? I was so bent upon disproving this sexy black dress theory that I did not own a single black dress till a few months back. Even if I had to buy black, it would have polka dots or a print, and would not be classified as a "Little Black Dress". It recently occurred to me that while rest of the world was biased towards the black dress, I was biased against it. So, to tip the scales and make them more even, I set out on a hunt for my own LBD. And this dress is the result. It is not completely black but is blacker than anything else I own.I know it sounds weird but its true.

  In fact, I was so committed to the black theme that I went ahead and dyed my hair pitch black. It will fade out to its natural brown color in a couple of months but till then I'm loving this new darker look. Makes me feel like one of the Kardashian sisters.

Dress: Papaya Clothing $24.99 (similar here, here, here and here)

Shoes: Rock and Republic $29.99 (similar here)

Earrings: c/o Outrage Fashion - Miah Earrings $24.00

Watch: Michael Kors $250 

Clutch: c/o Outrage Fashion - Hart Clutch $45.00

Sun Glasses: Gift (Similar here and here)

Rings: Forever 21 $3.80 (similar here, here, here and  here)

Hair Color: L'Oreal Preference - Soft Black $9.99

Nail Color: Nirvana by Sinful Colors  $1.99 (details in this post)