Bag Review - Gucci Padlock Shoulder Bag

 

 

For a while now I had been off Gucci handbags because I just couldn't find anything I was head over heels in love with. To me, when it comes to handbags, I have to either love it at first sight or nothing at all. There are no grey areas. And then suddenly there's Alessandro Michele and everything changes. Apart from the insanely covetable ready to wear, there are all these new bags popping out. And just like that, you're spoilt for choice. Should I buy the GG Marmont with the tiger head on top or the Dionysus with bead embroidery and it's signature tiger spur closure, or this box like padlock shoulder bag from the Gucci Tian collection? It's like bag heaven!!

However, for now, let's discuss the Tian padlock. First up, in case you haven't noticed, box bags have become quite the rage off late. And the best part is that they are no longer reserved for evening wear. Now, you can pair a structured box bag with virtually everything. Sneakers and jeans, day dresses, leather pants and so on.

The padlock shoulder bag series come with the signature Gucci key lock closure as seen on the brand's trunks which makes it a lovely combination of the past and the present The chunky chain strap can be worn in multiple ways making it very versatile. I like that the lock and chain strap are bulky and slightly blingy. There's something about a little bit of bling that gets me all excited. But what I really adore about this specific model is the cheerful floral prints inspired by Chinese landscapes seen on 18th century tapestries. The colourful prints on a neutral base mean you can pair the bag with any colour. The bag also comes in various other colour options and some with embroidery too, so check it out at the nearest Gucci boutique.

P.S. if you're planning on waiting for a sale to buy this bag, you can forget it. None of the Alessandro Michele stuff is going on sale for a while. Dammit, that means I need to start saving up to pay full retail for the cross over sandals from their cruise collection! #heartbreak

 

Diorissimo Revamped

Well, this isn't really a bag review, as I'm talking about one of the house's classic bags that has been given a bit of an update. But because the Diorrisimo has always been my favourite of all Dior bags, and truth be told, this one is absolutely to die for, I felt I must share the updated version on my blog.
The Diorrisimo has always been a very curvy and slightly slouchy bag. The new shape however, comes with a bit of a structure and has more straight/pointy edges. When the gussets are closed (with the magnetic closure) the side of bag forms a very pointed triangle. The one I shot with was absolutely delicious with a rich blue suede body, chocolate brown top handles and suede coated charms. And as you can see from the photo below, the bag can easily hold itself up even without putting anything inside it. Which shape do you prefer.. Curvy or straight? I think from this post you know exactly where my heart is. J'adore.

 

For The Love Of White & Blue

Whoever knows me, knows that I like fuss free dressing on a daily basis. I don't like being uncomfortable in what I wear, but at the same time, I try and put looks together that still look fabulous. My focus on most times is on accessorising. I feel that the right accessories can make even the simplest outfits look stylish. For my next few looks, I will be shooting very streamlined and casual chic looks that are very easy to put together.

My friends have brought up the question as to why I don't get my hair done at the salon for my shoots. Honestly, I prefer keeping it as real as possible during shoots. How many people end up having the time to get a blow dry on a daily basis?? Even if you notice, my make up is always minimal. Just some blush and lipstick. No foundation or anything. Finally, since I don't know how to use photoshop, most my photos are as raw as possible. Because you can't photoshop real life can you?!

For this look, I chose a dark green, low cut body suit over black skinny pants. I like wearing body suits inside jackets or vests because the fabric sticks to your skin and doesn't bunch up. The only sad part is that if you don't have a flat tummy (which I DON'T), you kind of have to suck your tummy in. On the bright side, your abdominal muscles get a good workout. I wore my favourite white coat with my sleeves rolled up to complete my outfit. That brings me to jackets. I always feel it's important to have one or two beautifully cut, statement coats in my closet. I end up buying most of mine from Zara because their cuts for jackets almost always work well for my body. This white one is almost five years old and what I love about it is that I can still use it for a few more years because it's such a classic piece.

Now, as I mentioned before, my focus was on accessories, which for this look were all Dior (cruise collection). A blue Diorrisimo (revamped and breathtakingly beautiful) with chocolate brown top handles and suede coated Dior charms worked so well against the white coat. I couldn't have chosen a more perfect bag for this look! I added a little blue Lady Dior bag charm on the bag because it was so cute. White oversized sunglasses, a thin chain with a big pendant, a pair of delicate earrings and my bright orange sneakers fine tuned my look.

Jacket & Pants - Zara
Bodysuit - Forever 21
Bag, Bag Charm, Earrings, Sunglasses & Necklace - Dior
Shoes - Raf Simons X Adidas
Location - Sainik Farms

Feeling Fabulous In Dior

I never shot looks on my blog until my trip to Morocco and didn't realise how much fun it is to play dress up and take photos. Now, I just love it!

For my latest shoot, I chose this gorgeous Dior FW 15 runway dress and I cant even begin to describe how beautiful I felt in it. Crafted out of virgin wool (wool that has never been used before or taken from a lamb's first shearing) with a silk lining, the fabric itself felt so luxurious. The cut too, was a class apart and extremely flattering. I loved the high polo neck and the how the skirt of the dress had an uneven hemline. The fabric sort of folded over giving a layering effect in different colours and in different lengths. You'll see what I'm talking about in the photos below. Accessories included a pair of Mise En Dior earrings that had a delicate chain connecting the two pearls, a Diorama bag and my staple So Real sunglasses.

What did you think of my look?

Dress, Earrings, Bag & Sunglasses - Dior
Shoes - Nicholas Kirkwood
Location - Sainik Farms

Bag Review - Dior Bubble Bag

Ah, a new bag from Dior. What better way to start the year, don't you think? Their Cruise 2016 collection has some pretty awesome stuff but I have been eyeing this bucket bag from the second I got a preview of the collection.

The bubble bag boasts a gorgeous curvaceous shape in buttery soft calfskin. Featuring a chunky, albeit blingy gold chain strap, the purse is part fun, part flashy and totally fabulous. Dior icons are reinterpreted in street-art form and embossed on to the leather making the bag very fresh, very now. Moreover, because of it's playful design, I feel it can easily transition from day to night.

Since it's a bucket bag, it slouches when you put it down. Also, the chain strap is heavy, so to prevent it from toppling over, I suggest fill the bag up a little bit so it can hold itself up. Space wise, there's enough room to put a lot of your essentials. Ipad, wallet, sunglasses, a small make up pouch, etc. Three internal pockets (one with a zipper) make it easy to organise stuff you might need immediately like a cell phone or keys. It comes with a drawstring closure that has a small, cylindrical CD embossed hardware and the DIOR charms that can be taken off if you want. Protective metal feet prevent the bag from getting dirty.

Despite there being plenty of bucket bags out there, there's something about this one that makes it stand out amongst the rest. Maybe it's the colourful badges, or maybe it's the chain strap or maybe it's the whole package! Check it out for yourself at the nearest Dior boutique. P.S, it comes in two sizes so you can choose according to your need for space.

 

Ensemble's Winter Sale!!!

Don't you desi snobs just love January?? The cold weather, endless dinner gatherings, bonfires and...... WINTER SALES!!! I have been hunting online and in stores for some great winter bargains and today I bring to you the Ensemble winter sale. YAY! With up to 70% off, I can't wait to get my backside down to DLF Emporio and shop. I haven't bought any Indian outfits since I gave birth because I was waiting to shed all that baby weight. Now that I am back to my original size, I'm going to stock up my wardrobe with Indian wear and nothing is better than buying clothes on sale. I desperately need a new Anamika Khanna outfit for this year and maybe something from Pero by Aneeth Arora, or maybe even a Varun Bahl suit.... Sigh, the list is endless. I'm just hoping I don't max out my credit card. So, who's headed there today?

 

Ringing In The New Year In 431-88 and Dior

First and foremost, Happy New Year to all my desi snobs! I hope this year brings you good health, love, happiness and all things fabulous. How did you celebrate?

We decided to take some of our friends with us to our two hundred year old heritage haveli in a small town called Tonk in Rajasthan. None of us were really in the mood for the usual night club scene or even a farmhouse party. In fact, we wanted to stay as far away from Delhi as possible! Dancing around a bonfire in our courtyard wearing sweatshirt and jeans was more like it for us. And it was just perfect.

Of course, that doesn't mean I didn't pack anything fabulous to wear. I once took my Louis Vuitton Suhali leather bag on a trek at Wildflower Hall in Shimla so this was no different.

Winter is my most favourite time of the year to be in India. I can finally pull out those lovely jackets and knee high boots which look so sexy (and hide some of that damn holiday fat!). For my shoot in Tonk, I wanted to wear something wintery and nothing says that better than a gorgeous 431-88 by Shweta Kapur smudged faux fur jacket. Since it was quite an eye catching piece, I wanted the rest of me to be pretty simple. Hence I chose simple white skinny pants, a pale pink tank top and chocolate brown boots with a bit of equestrian detailing.

My accessories were Dior (my favourite) of course. The Dior cruise collection had pieces that were to die for. I chose the white bubble bag (review coming up in another post) because I felt the bucket bag would add a bit of playfulness to my look and I adored the colourful symbols and words embossed on the leather. Furthermore, The chunky gold shoulder strap infused just the right touch of bling. I completed my look with a single earring (Dior Shades) which I think is going to turn into the accessory of the season.

Jacket - 431-88 By Shweta Kapur
Pants & Tank Top - Zara
Boots - Ralph Lauren
Bag, Earrings & Sunglasses - Dior