Color-Block : Cobalt, Green and Rhinestones

                                                                           

                                                                         

                                                                          

                                                                           

                                                                            

To me, accessories and jewellery are as important an element of the outfit as are the clothes. A 9 am meeting or an impromptu movie plan...a quick coffee or a get-away dinner...I want my outfit to have that one element that makes it complete and wholesome. A scarf loosely around my neck, a cocktail ring, a simple belt or those classic solitaires I make sure that the accessories and jewellery pieces that define me are with/on me every time. I feel that's the case with all of you or well most of you!

This statement neck-piece gifted to me by the gorgeous Minnat from XOXO Accessories truly stands up to my idea of wholesome jewellery - (as stated in my rule-book here) it completes an outfit and fits well with the theme of any outfit. I have worn it with Indians and westerns alike and it works perfectly. That's pretty much the vision and ideology of Minnat - the owner of this beautiful online store. All pieces in her collection are a perfect blend of contemporary and classics, much like Indian-ness cast in western cuts, shapes and designs. Besides, the store makes sure that you have the best of the best because not only are its pieces exquisite they are extremely affordable. Like they say, I bet you won't stop at one! 

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Being an aficionado of cultures this surely has become my favorite. The current favorite couldn't have worked better with my all time favorite - Cobalt. Cobalt and bottle green are definitely my colors for fall. If you are wanting to make a strong color-block statement this season, I put my money on these blue-bloods. Plus against the monotone backdrops of fall these colors are sure to wipe off that dullness (and gloominess) and make your day cheery. Also, they work magic against any skin tone. 

However do remember, as rich and royal these colors are, make sure to wear them subtly to make the maximum impact. With the festival season in full swing, some brightness by way of your clothes, some bling by way of XOXO Accessories, some sparkle in your eye and that flutter on your lips - DIVA that's what its YOU are called!

Wearing - 

Dress - ASOS

Pumps - Charles & Keith

Neck-piece - XOXO Accessories

Bracelet worn as ring - ALDO

Bag - Gifted

Drop by XOXO Accessories - HERE.

Plus, four back-to-back events lined up on my Facebook and Twitter profile. I hope to see you there!

Thank you for stopping by...

Love

Agam

Do-It-Yourself : Embellished Heels

As much as I have been swooning over embellished heels, owning a pair have always felt like walking the edge. When it comes to following trends I am always on a lookout for control and control measurements. To say, if I am embracing a particular trend I will look for three things -

1. Yes, the 'trend' in question should stand justified. 

2. The 'trend' in question should be in doses that fits my taste. (Welcome The TrimmingsAndLace Collection...yes you heard it first!!) 

3. Return on Investment i.e. once I have invested in a particular trend, worn and blogged it...how much of it will suit my needs for the future and for how long...Now who said bloggers were mere compulsive shoppers?? 

So, if you are someone like me...this logic will definitely appeal to you!

You'll need:

1. A pair of heels - I picked up these small heeled pumps. Small heels helped me keep the embellishment subtle!

2. 20-25 small and medium multi-shaped rhinestones. Try choosing ones with a flat base.

3. Adhesive

4. Tweezers

5. Toothpick

                                                                               

                                                                                      

                                                                                   

                                                                              

 Steps:

1. Start by applying the adhesive on the toothpick. When using a strong adhesive it is always advisable to use something conducive. You wouldn't want your fingers glued for a day!

2. Use the tweezers to hold the rhinestone and smear the back with the adhesive.

3. Place it into position as per the pattern of your choice. Remember, there are no fixed rules for creating a pattern...just go ahead and have some fun!

4. You can use your fingers to secure the rhinestone in place.

5. Let them dry for about 15 to 30 minutes. And voila!

Time to slip into your bejeweled Cinderella shoes! 

Heels - Local Store, Kaftan Dress - Fashion&You, Accessories - Mom's and Gifted, Rhinestones, Adhesive (Feviquick), Tweezers, Toothpick - Local Craft and Department Stores

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On a side note, I have a very 'gorgeous' giveaway in progress on my Facebook page...Hop on and get winning :)

 

  Thank you for stopping by...

Love

Agam 

An Ode To That Metallic Shirt

                                                                              

                   

                                                                              

                                                                              

                                                                               

                                                                              

I personally am very fond of the bling and the metallic. Though a full-house of the same may qualify as a post in The Dressing Room series, I love to incorporate the same in significant doses in an outfit. Bling adds richness and playful elegance to an outfit while metallics' add the right amount of texture. Both are a great way to enhance the look and feel of an everyday outfit. Spring 2012 saw many designers introducing pieces dipped in a sea of gold, silver and sequins. And just when I thought I was late in posting this look, Burberry Prorsum threw in its cinematic Spring 2013 collection. I feel this post can safely pass as transitional!

The key to wearing metallic and polishing your look is to pick up one piece and build an outfit accentuating that. Since I wasn't doing the regular gold or silver, I played around with the colors and decided to dare a bit and add this clutch to complement the blouse. A basic skirt with (DIY-ed) vintage buttons and the cuff added to the festivity bringing in the bling. Conventional gold and silver is definitely on the cards, so stay tuned!

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Coming over to why today's post is a little ode to a metallic shirt. As kids, my sister and I had a really bright (something between sky blue and royal blue) blue colored shirt. So bright is to mean super-metallic and fearing.to.say latex. Ever since we were gifted that, it became a joke as to who would wear it and a scary stick as to who would mom make it wear in case she got into the "you have so many clothes...but hardly wear them" mode. Thankfully (really??), after dressing me once in it (to a birthday party...birthday parties as kids were meant to be costume-y) my mother too realized its horrific presence our inability to style it appropriately and gave it away. Wonder what would I have done if I had it today?? Ummmm...look up...back to the outfit!

Wearing - 

Blouse - Gifted

Skirt - TrimmingsAndLace

Ring and Cuff - Forever 21

Clutch - ASOS

Kitten Heels - Local Store

On My Nails - China Glaze Re-Fresh Mint

Thank you for stopping by...

Love

Agam

TrimmingsAndLace For ShopInOnIt

Much like the last time, TrimmingsAndLace provided me with an incredible opportunity to indulge in an educative, interesting and an extremely live-wire discussion with Suezelle D'Costa - Merchandising Manager at ShopInOnIt. Online retailing is a prominent and thriving part of our lives today. For someone like me, this domain is strongly plugged into my system. I do not regard it as a mere platform to shop and blog about what I shopped. For me, what I see as a buyer is as important as to learn what goes behind the curtains. Its more like research for my own work. Thus when I was presented with this opportunity I knew I had no reason to refuse. I knew I had to jump on!

Sharing with you all some excerpts from our discussion. Hope you enjoy reading them...

1. What does your day to day job entail?

• Researching latest trends and styles. 
• Scouting for brands that provide products that are of:

a. Fine quality, and

b. Fit with our website

• Presenting the brand to our merchandising team
• Contacting brands approved by the team to get them on board ShopInOnIt.   

2. What is the most exciting thing about your job?

The most exciting thing is staying on top of all the latest trends and being aware of and having access to new and interesting labels and really getting a vibe for what’s going on with these designers. Finding products that will get our consumers excited is challenging but thoroughly enjoyable.

3. How critical is merchandising for an online brand like ShopInOnIt?   

We aim to be a platform for emerging, unique designers and brands across the country. We provide everything from fashion apparel, to home décor products and pet accessories, so a merchandising team is critical to ensure that customers get the best variety of products that are available in the market. The merchandising team scouts for brands that will appeal to all tastes so there is something for everyone who visits the website.

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4. What are the key considerations while selecting a brand and/or product to be retailed through ShopInOnIt?

  

The main criteria we look for while selecting a brand for ShopInOnIt are:   

• Aesthetic products that adhere to current trends and will appeal to customers.
• Products should be of fine quality. 
• Product images should not be misleading, the product should look exactly how it does in the image so the customers know exactly what to expect. 
• The pricing should be right.
• The brand is able to provide orders on time, as we follow a policy that orders must be shipped to customers within 7 working days. 

5. How do you stay updated on the latest trends and customer preferences?

ShopInOnIt has a style blog http://blog.inonit.in/ which is maintained by our in-house fashion expert that helps us stay updated on all the latest trends, how to wear them, what celebs are wearing and how to put together different looks. It’s the best way to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and styles. We are always aware of our best selling products based on orders and interest from customers, and we also get feedback from customers once they receive a product. Additionally, we are constantly interacting with customers through our social media channels like Twitter and Facebook, so we are quite up-to-date about customer preferences. ShopInOnIt has also participated in various shopping exhibitions across Mumbai where we have had the opportunity to gauge people’s likes and dislikes. 

6. What is the most difficult aspect of your job?

The most difficult aspect would be zeroing in on labels and brands that have products we like and know our customers would appreciate and have the capacity to do organized retail. There are a lot of labels that make amazing stuff but retail only through exhibitions or make products only once in a while, so such brands are unable to provide products for orders all year round. 

7. How is ShopInOnIt handling competition from other online brands?

ShopInOnIt is constantly evolving; we are adding new brands by the day and expanding our product range. We recently reached the milestone of bringing over 100 brands to our customers and counting. Our motive is to spoil you for choice. We strive to ensure the best customer service and take into consideration customer feedback as your satisfaction is what helps in beating the competition.

8. As a brand, what do you regard as your USP?

A plethora of hand-picked products of fine quality under every category. Be it fashion, home, pets or gifting and bulk orders, we are a one-stop shop for any kind of shopaholic.

9. According to you, how important is the role of bloggers for the online retail industry?

Bloggers have become extremely important in today’s online retail industry. The blogging community has grown and how! They spread awareness about the latest happenings and trends as well as provide advice to readers. Bloggers have given everyone a voice as they are so interactive compared to magazines and allow people to share their thoughts and opinions. They are definitely a breath of fresh air in the online world.

10. What advice would you like to give to the bloggers who wish to establish their work as a recognized brand?

I think the bloggers should most importantly focus on originality. Providing new and unique information to readers is important as well as interacting with them and taking into consideration what your readers would like to read about. Also, frequent and consistent updates on your blog will go a long way in generating popularity.  

Some of my favorite pieces from their store:

SHOP - here, here, here, here, here and here

For all ShopInOnIt updates you can tune into their Facebook page - Facebook/ShopInOnIt, follow them on Twitter - Twitter/ShopInOnIt or sign up for their newsletter to stay updated on what's new!

Thank you stopping by...

Love

Agam