Styling a Cargo Vest

Outfit Details: Dress Madewell, Vest Zara, Belt J.Crew, Bag SODA by Sai Sangeet Paliwal, Watch Michael Kors, Sunglasses PRADA Baroque, Sandal thongs Street market in Bangalore

These pictures were taken by my dear friend Sangeet on a nostalgic trip back home to my Alma Mater in Bangalore. The house behind me is almost 100 years old and had such a nostalgic feel to it of times gone by, we could resist but shoot here much to the amusement of passers by - One of the famous #bloggerproblems get used to passer by folks staring and sometimes clapping and whistling and pose away...

Shoot Location: by lanes of Commercial Street - Bangalore, India

Pictures taken by my very talented friend Sai Sangeet Paliwal to be featured on the blog soon 

The belt that maketh the outfit!

Outfit Details: Toggle Waist Belt BCBG, Dress BCBG, Shoes DVF, Mirrored Aviators Ray Ban

Just a quick hello and Happy Monday!

Found this very versatile belt at BCBG Max Azria that is a quick and easy way to take a frock from Blah to Fah la la la la. It was exactly the thing I needed to add some edge to sweet frocks this summer. Hope you have a fabulous start to the week!

Love,
Devyani

Favorite colors for Summer - Mint and Melon

Outfit Details: Tribal print blazer GAP, Nautical Striped Tee J.Crew, Ombre Mint Shorts Marshalls, Mint Hobo Marshalls, Mirrored Metallic Pumps J.Crew , Mirrored Sunnies Ray Ban, Necklace Jeweliq

Good Morning my lovelies!

I am completely loving mixing the bright tones of Mint and Melon right now. They both compliment each other so beautifully and scream loud and clear that you are embracing summer in all its colorful glory. Another trend I am loving as evident in this post is everything mirrored, I have contemplated  almost 8 months since I first spotted these orange metallic sunnies on a weekend trip to Monterrey whether I take the plunge and I got them at a sweet sample sale on Ideeli.com recently, so good things did come to those who waited and so glad I got them as we have been inseparable since. I strongly believe sunglasses were not meant to be a banal accessory and that they are meant to make a statement or be a weapon of stealth mode style, what do you think?

Thanks for reading!

Love,
Devyani

What to pack for a Tropical Getaway

Keeping your Getaway style fuss free and comfortable yet stylish while vacationing takes significant planning. After all you want to look blissed out and resort chic in all those Instagram updates! Below are my top 3 multitasking basics that can take the pain out of outfit planning for your next vacation:

The Multitasking Essentials:
1) The Jersey Maxi Dress - A multitasking superstar,  can be worn on a chilly flight with a cardi, with a fedora for sightseeing and with a statement cuff or necklace for dinner and it doesn't end here, it also doubles as a swimsuit cover up. Jersey maxi dresses also roll up easy, don't crease much and take very little space in your suitcase! I recommend  packing 2 one in a basic tone like navy or black and one in vibrant print like a tile or floral pattern or something reminiscent of Palm Springs (read Trina Turk or Lilly Pulitzer) or colors like Turquoise or Magenta.

2) The Denim Cut-offs - Another multitasker, can work with a basic tank for a warm day full of exploring, or a  boyfriend blazer for drinks and dinner, looks super stylish as a cover-up again! I recommend one either in a basic blue wash or a crisp white. Levis and Zara make great versions of this classic.

3) The Embroidered Ivory Boho Blouse - My favorite in the list! Vacations are the best time to unleash your inner flower child, Pack one of these lovelies and you can wear this blouse over your cutoffs or belted over the maxi dress. Take things to the next level by getting creative with a vibrant headscarf or headband or the local flower of your destination tucked loosely behind your ear. The styling options are endless and its oh so flattering on all body types.

Hopefully this makes the decision making easier on what to pack and what to leave as you pack up for your next beachy getaway! Summer travel season is on us and its time to find your beach. Wheels up and Chic Travels to you!

Love,
Devyani

Currently Instagraming...

I am currently obsessing more than usual with Instagram, for me it has become a source of discovering new blogs, cool new websites for unique jewelry and riff-raff (which is also a great online shop by the way) and getting inspired of course. why should you care you ask? Well here's what I offer - besides the ubiquitous #wiwt and #ootd shots if cats, far away travels, and finding cats in faraway travels interest you then run not walk and follow me on Instagram @devyanigupta 

Documenting work outfits and a healthy obsession with cap-toe shoes on the go 

SF is the perfect place to take walks for someone who love color, the Haight Ashbury district is specially beautiful if you're looking to treat them sore eyes

                         Wide eyed and fluffed to perfection, this is the "can I jump up on the bed?" look

Sometimes I feel I choose vacation spots based on their cat population, for the fellow cat groupies old San Juan Puerto Rico is a cat lovers paradise

MJ is having a pensive moment in Old San Juan PR

If being downright adorable wasn't enough, San Juan cats love to have an upper hand in the view department too - chilling on the roofs of cars

                               Meeting lovely and very inspiring bloggers at a Poshmark event in SF

Shoes in rotation last week - I just can't buy enough basic black and beige shoes, I have to have colors from every spectrum of the rainbow

A warm sunny weekend in Dolores Park SF, this lemonade was handmade and delivered on our picnic blankets by two very Cali entrepreneurs, I could get used to this

I look forward to seeing your Instagrams now, find me @devyanigupta and drop me a line so I can find you too, Can't wait!

Love - Devyani

Monochromatic

Outfit details: Dress Mango, loving this version of monochromatic too, Shoes J.Crew similar here, Pouchette Kate Spade, Necklace t+j designs, Lips MAC Ruby Woo

 

Wide Monochromatic stripes were showing up everywhere this spring and it is a trend that is super flattering on everyone. There are several versions available at Zara even now and I highly recommend you pick some up pronto. Black and White is just so fun to accessorize too, you can add one punch of bright or several. I am back on the blog after a while thanks to some encouragement from new blogger friends, and I hope you all are having a fashionable summer so far!

Love - Devyani

Going Home to Love, Kitch and other addictions

I am flying off to New Delhi India for a 3 week 'Wercation' today, where I will work and vacay and spend some much needed time with Family. On the cards is also a wedding in Jaipur and meeting my maternal grandmother after almost 4 years. 4 generations of us girls will be in one room and I expect a lot of drama and loads of giggles.

I am a huge fan of Kitch and found these images on Google image search and fell in love. Kitch is an artistic style that is a tongue in cheek blend of street art, pop culture and core Indian elements like the Rickshaw (or Rick - a less expensive and way fun substitute to Taxis) who by the way do fly in throngs or the cold water vendors who sell cold water glasses like someone would Italian ice here stateside for just a rupee ( or 2 cents).

A rich tapestry of visual poetry to follow, which you can follow me on Instagram @devyanigupta to see real time -. Have a wonderful weekend my lovelies.

Au Revoir!

The Quirky One

Happy Friday everyone! talking about one of my quirky coats toady that's a fun leopard print and totally cozy and pettable! it's from last year from Banana Republic and I usually wear it to dinners to dress up skinny jeans or top of a cocktail dress when going dancing with my husband. Needless to say the chilly SF weather ensures I use this piece throughout the year.

The only place I haven't taken this jacket yet is to the office, while I wear neon bright pumps and jackets with aplomb and get quite a few stares and looks as I walk by at the office, I just feel the only day this jacket will see the inside of my office is when I go to pick up my laptop or use the scanner on a weekend.

What do you say, would you wear a leopard print jacket to work? Discuss...

What Say!

My threshold for shock is pretty high, but these Jimmy Choo pumps have done it! The fishing wire is taking the term 'strappy' to a whole new level! So now for one month's rent (in College Station Texas) you can keep your paws in place and hang that wall art you have been putting off for some time now with some fishing wire to spare. If you could justify the price tag, would you wear these my lovlies? Discuss...

Getting Dotty in Napa Valley CA

Here's an outfit post after what seems like ages, it was actually shot in the thick of the holiday season on a day trip to Napa Valley, We went to Sterling Vineyards and spent a lot of time just enjoying the lovely fall colors and sweeping views of the wine country. If you ever find yourself in Napa Valley Sterling Vineyards and Castello di Amorosa both right across from each other are must do experiential vineyards.

I LOVE mixing patterns specially of the dotty kinds, why this mix works is because its the same pattern in different sizes and navy is the binding color. Both the sweater and pants are from J.Crew and I am carrying an Aldo Clutch and wearing the favorite booties of the season from Coach.

Below is when the weather just cannot make up its mind, It blows hot and cold just like my darling but moody cat. the sunglasses are Chloe and I have had them forever.

Here are some 'wish you were here' shots of a different kind, gorgeous none the less. Have you been to Napa? what are you favorite vineyards? What do you wear to wine tasting trips, Discuss...

Thanks for stopping by, and hope you are having a great Wednesday!

Devyani

Mani Monday - taking the Ciaté Sequined Manicure for a test drive

This past weekend, I gave the Ciaté Sequined manicure look a try and it’s everything that I always wished a sequined nail should look like. I bought it from Sephora for $13 click here to check it out, I have read reviews about the caviar manicure also from Ciaté  and that it is a one day look as the beads begin to fall off, but the nail sequin look I have been wearing for 2 days no wand it’s still intact so that is a huge pro!

Getting it on: Application was simple - I just put a coat of the glitter grip polish on clean nails, dipped the nail front in the sequin pot and lightly dusted off the excess with the included brush. Then I tapped down my nail bed with another finger to help the sequins settle and adhere better so there were no poking scales. Finally I finished it off with another coat of the glitter grip and let it dry for about 15 minutes.

Pros: If drama is what you are going for then this product totally delivers. Easy to do and the results are dramatic, the nail look saturated in sequins, you can never get this look with just a glitter nail polish. Also you can play around by just doing this on the tips or a half moon at the base of the nail.

Cons: the small sequins/glitter can get messy and will stick to everything including other nails and smudge the polish if you are going for the ring finger look like me, so don’t do the two simultaneously. Also choose an area to do this that you don’t mind getting glitter on or can clean off easily.Removing this polish may need you to put cotton pads soaked in acetone for awhile on your nails and may be also wrap in foil so you can get it off in one sweep.

Overall: I felt the pros outweighed the cons on this one and I am pretty impressed with the results.

Would you try this look? Or have you tried other Ciaté manicure products, how was your experience? Discuss…

Hope you are having a good Monday!

P.S. Its a good idea to start this manicure with a coat of silver or mettalic nail polish so even if a sequin falls the background is still pretty and blends right in

Happy Sunday!

There's nothing like kicking back your shoes and soaking up some Sunday sun... Hope you're having a great weekend as well!

When Faux is good

While "faux" and “faking it” may be good or not so gooddepending on the situation, here’s an example of a situation when it’s totallysafe – meet my Faux Leather Shorts or as I lovingly call them - fleather! This photois from a month back so let me put it out there that bare legs are like squarepegs and out of question given the 40’s weather in San Francisco right now, soadd opaque tights as you see fit. I am also rocking all grey and black with apunch of yellow one of my standard go to color combos and carrying my Chanelbag which you may have seen sporadically through this blog. The shorts are fromUrban Outfitters, pumps are Kate Spade , Blazer is J.Crew (2seasons back) and the T-shirt is Zara, not seen here it has fleather sleevestoo.  And there, I have used up my dailylimit to use this word so I will zip now.

What your take on “Faux” or to make the conversation lesscontroversial “Faux Leather” – Loving it or Loathing it? Do dish my lovelies…

The Dilemma - either, or, or both

Are you trying desperately to beat the winter blues and grey skies - enter lipstick toned shoes; I just realized I had 6 pairs of shoes in tones that matched my berry, orange and fuchsia lipsticks. Not bad, at least I am showing consistency in taste. These pink and orange tones look sublime with a grey or a camel coat and are a great way to punch up any all neutral look. Matching your lipstick and shoes is also a classic retro look. If you want to take a tip from a stylist’s book, wear these shoes with a contrasting hue like cobalt blue or lime green or move a few tones right down the color wheel and do a tone on tone like peach with neon orange, flamingo pink with fuchsia pink etc.

These shoes are Kurt Geiger and J.Crew.

What are your tips to bring in the delightful when the weather outside is frightful? Discuss...

Hope you are having a great day and thanks for stopping by!