MUST BE DREAMING

- LOOKBOOK -

Featuring

ACCESSORIZE INDIA

Necklace – Accessorize India| Black Shirt- Thrift | Black Skirt- Ebay | Shoes- Truffle | Bag- Gifted

Eyes-  Maybelline Colossal Liner | L'oreal Paris Kajal Magique |  L'oreal Paris Volume Million Lash Mascara | Lips- Maybelline Bold Matte | Nails- Maybelline Color Show Black Out

Sometimes I wonder if looks are more important than the other aspects of one’s personality. Probably not more, but equally important. A lot of times, judgments and decisions are made on the basis of how one carries oneself. (And herein I’m not referring only to the fashion industry.) Not wrong to do so according to me. Your style is an expression of your personality and how you dress shows what you are all about. Not everyone is born beautiful, but what is important is how one strives towards being the best version of oneself. Not because you’re trying to impress someone but for yourself. Because you like to look good. The dress, the make-up, the shoes and the accessories show your sense of style. Branded or thrifted, it's a matter of choice of preference. Talking of accessories, I always look for statement pieces that are timeless and can instantly add a touch of glam to a monochrome outfit. Accessorize has been one such brand that never failed to impress me. They have the most amazing collection of backpacks, hats, scarves, sunglasses, necklaces and much more.

When the brand sent me this beautiful necklace to style with an all black wintry outfit, I was more than excited to find another reason to wear my favorite hue again. What I loved about the necklace is the two sides it has which are very exquisite and can be worn both ways. One side has white and turquoise toned stones studded on it while the other has a gold tone which perfectly complements the turquoise hue. I quite liked the gold side since it went well with my skin tone and looked lovely on this outfit. So if I’m packing for a trip, this is a great piece to carry since it can really save the space and trouble of carrying two different pieces. They have a lot of such lovely pieces at their store located at The Inorbit Mall, Hyderabad. Do drop into their store to explore their collection for you’ll fall in love with it.

Xx
Naznin

P.S: You can also follow Accessorize on Instagram (here) and Facebook (here) to check out their collection.

FAVORITE TRENDS-2015

- STYLE 101-

While I’m not someone who strictly follows trends and does a wardrobe edit according to fashion seasons, I love to keep myself updated with the current trends. I do incorporate them in my wardrobe according to what goes with my personal style and invest in pieces that I’m going to wear for as long as the clothes will last. I do ask a lot of questions to myself before buying something- how many pieces can I pair this with? Do the weather conditions in my city allow me to wear this? Can I wear it throughout the year? Can I get this for a better price elsewhere? Makes shopping decisions easier.

I really like the fact that we have to come to a stage where fashion and trends are getting finer day by day. So much that they are becoming a part of our basic wardrobe which lessens the risk of the amount of money we invest in them. For instance, the crop tops. Various fashion magazines and trend setters forecasted they would be out. But they are still in the running. Why do we even want them to go? What looks pretty and fits the bill doesn’t need to go. But again, we love creativity and definitely like welcoming the new trends without having to blindly throw out the old. Mixing old pieces with new ones leads to the rise of another new trend.

Here I have listed all of my favorite trends (Spring and Fall) of the year 2015 that were spotted this year on the runway, fellow bloggers and fashion editors. 

1.UTILITARIAN(Khaki/Army green/Olive)

Parka jackets, cargo pants, trench coats or just plain tops look great in this color. Seen on Kylie Jenner, Gigi Hadid and many other models, this color is a must have in a wardrobe.

2.MESH

This trend is super hot! I really love the peek-a-boo it plays. Black and whites are the best colors to pick.

3.OFF THE SHOULDER

This trend always keeps coming back. Very romantic and feminine, a nice off –the- should top is a good investment. Seriously trending  at the moment.

4.DUNGAREES/ONESIES/OVERALLS

A good pair of overalls in the wardrobe can really up the style quotient. You can style them in hundred thousand ways. 

5. SKINNY SCARF

Loving this trend. Black, red , orange and blues are the best colors to have.

 

6.FRINGE 

I wouldn’t say this trend can be worn frequently. But it’s quite in these days and looks beautiful. Fringed Bags, skirts and boots are what you can try if you like the boho vibe.

7.TRENCH COATS

A classic trench coat can make a super boring outfit trendy. It can never be out of fashion. Should shop one real soon especially because winter is around the corner.

8.LACE

Another trend I love is lace. Shirts and dresses with lace details look very beautiful. Hope you liked this post. Do not forget to follow me on Facebook and Instagram to stay updated with all the new happenings on I Dress for the Applause.

Xx

Naznin

CHANCED UPON

- LOOKBOOK -

WEARING 

Grey Cardigan- Thrifted (Old) | Skirt- Jabong.com | Sandals- Truffle | Necklace- Goa | Bag - Toniq

Eyes-  Maybelline Colossal Liner | L'oreal Paris Kajal Magique |  L'oreal Paris Volume Million Lash Mascara | Blush- Very Me Cherry My Cheeks - Pretty Pink | Lips- Colorbar Take Me As I Am Lipcolor | Nails- Maybelline New York Color Show Black Out

I’ve been pretty guilt-stricken for not being able to give time of late to this space that I call my fashion diary.  A space which lets me be me. Something that connects me with all of you. Sometimes situations can get pretty tough and do not allow you to do what you love the most. But hey! I’m back! Like they say better late than never. 
Here I’m wearing my favorite comfy cardigan that I've worn a gazillion times but still can't get bored of it. Grey is another favorite color that rules my wardrobe. I paired it with a black mini skirt and a blingy necklace (which I so love) to beat the monsoon blues.  Hope you liked the look.

Stay tuned for I have a lot more coming up.

 XX 

Naznin

RAIN FOREST

- STYLE 101 -

Model- Charlene | Photographed by Suresh Natarajan

These pictures have been a monsoon inspiration for me ever since the issue of Vogue India April 2011 was published. And what better time can it be to write this post while it’s raining at 2:00 in the morning. These pictures are the first that come to my mind during the monsoons, the reason being the color palette. The marriage of colors in this story and the tropical mood of this editorial inspire me in every way to try these color combinations. Not just in terms of make-up but also gives me ideas of how these tints can be blended with each other to create a beautiful monsoon look. I feel that inspiration can come to you in any form. One can draw inspiration from a runway model or a village girl who knows nothing about fashion but wears a green kurta with a blue flared skirt which if one wears on the runway sets a huge trend for the next one or two years. Inspiration lies even in the non-living things like a green door of an old rundown building, the algae on the grey rocky walls or even a red-blue combination of a fire extinguisher. Here I loved how yellow has been used with pink, red with green and different shades of blue with pink. Each picture has details written on it to give an idea of how you can get the look along with the color of the outfit you can wear it with to make the makeup standout. 

 Such pictures take me into an imaginary world where everything is colorful, placid and serene with so much flora and fauna around, where butterflies talk to flowers, where mulberry insects sit on the leaves as if they are aware of how incredibly beautiful they look standing out as red polka dotted lovelies against a green background. Isn’t the nature so beautiful! One only needs to look around, appreciate and get inspired.

I DRESS FOR THE APPLAUSE

BLUE FLOWER

- LOOKBOOK -

Featuring

INDIACIRCUS

                  Floral Fantastic Jhola Bag | The Mysterious Flower Spectacle Case

Shirt- Faballey | Saree – Local Store | Trousers- Old | Collar Necklace- Thrift (Old) | Shoes- Koovs.com 

 Eyes-  Maybelline Colossal Liner | L'oreal Paris Kajal Magique |  L'oreal Paris Volume Million Lash Mascara | Lips- Colorbar Take Me As I Am Lipstick | Nails- Maybelline Color Show Orange Fix

 Over the years I have realized that my style has never been constant and it changes very frequently, usually unknowingly. I've been wearing bright tints and bling as much as I've worn certain specific colors I love, taking inspiration from the vintage and punk era. Yet, I like to tone down everything I wear in my own way.  From bohemian to classic, tomboy to traditional, everything excites me. This fashion story portrays a woman who is a fusion-wear lover and likes to experiment with her looks. Someone who’s confident enough to walk the streets wearing a sari draped over formal pants and a nautical shirt as a blouse. Someone who doesn’t feel the necessity of wearing heels with a sari. Someone who dresses only for herself and expresses her personality through her clothes.

Recently India Circus had sent me some of their products to be featured on I Dress for the Applause. The moment I unwrapped the parcel to see this Blue Floral Jhola bag, a picture of a woman wearing something like this flashed in my mind and it barely took time to put this look together to go well with this blue beauty. The unique color contrast on it with coral rosettes and an old-world window against a midnight blue background brings about a feel of carrying a beautiful li'l garden on your shoulder. Bright color on the nails and a gold neckpiece completed the look. Also came with the bag a vibrant hued spectacle pouch which has an imperial print on it and is a good option if you want to replace your old boring spectacle case with something fun and interesting. India Circus (like the name suggests) is a contemporary take on Indian designs made to suit today’s urban lifestyle. Bright colors and quirky prints with wide range of products ranging from home décor to fashion apparel, wall art to accessories, the label has something for everyone. Do check out their website here to explore an eclectic mix of Indian designs and modernity. It is sure to leave you intrigued. 

Naznin

LAVENDER DREAMS

- REVIEW -

Featuring

CHHAPA

Model- Halina Khan | Photography- Vinit Bhatt

Few days ago I was approached by the sweet people at Chhapa to review their collection. In today’s fast paced world where textiles are printed using high-end machines, this team’s ideology is to rejuvenate and encourage the art of block printing which looks endangered in the present-day fashion scenario. This step towards being socially responsible by producing eco-friendly clothing and reviving an old art form is commendable. I was surprised to know that the creative team at Chhapa does not come from a designing background as such, yet they have such great finesse in what they do. While their designs are modern, casual and contemporary, the block print adds an organic feel to their products bringing about the quirkiness.This editorial portrays a young successful fashionista and an art lover who likes to own quirky clothes but is conscious about the eco-friendly factor. I personally loved the maxi dresses and jumpsuits in this editorial (You know I'm a sucker for maxi dresses). This is something I would love to wear on a hot busy day or even to a fashion week, layering it with a summer jacket or a vest and a pair of cool sunglasses. Styling ideas are already popping up you see!

If you liked the collection, do visit their Facebook and Instagram here and here to get in touch with them. And if you are in Hyderabad, you might want to check out Chhapa at Anonym (Road No.92, Jubilee Hills.) 

P.S: I’m loving their new shoe collection. Do inbox them to lay your hands on their shoes before they run out of stock.

And yes! Don't forget to like I Dress for the Applause on Facebook and Instagram. Exciting stuff coming up here! Stay tuned!

XX

Naznin