The Misread Theory Of Professionalism

Its quite rhetorical when I ask myself or a group of like minded individuals as to whether 'Professionalism' in today's time is a disregarded virtue or simply an illusion. From what I can say for myself, I am a propagator of professionalism. I may have an occasional slip or two, but then my morality takes the better of me and the whole situation and perhaps the lack of "call of action" from my end, makes me feel guilty to the stomach. I do also believe that there are a few gospels that constitute the very fundamentals of professionalism and are independent of the industry you operate in. 

The sheer idea of TIME is nothing but a myth and punctuality an unknown virtue. We all have been late to a meeting or an event and have also been on the other side of the table. But why does being late become a characteristic symbolic of your stature and being right-on-time fetches you an  "Ohhh! You're here", topped with sufficient quantities of dismay.

Another aspect of our everyday functioning, which we all might have resorted to ourselves at some point of time, and have largely become okay with is NON-REVERT. One of the very basics of virtual communication is acknowledgement. But since when and why, a simple acknowledgement to an email, a text or a call become a damper to the position you hold or a reflector to how busy you really are. Why are we in a race to supersede the other on grounds as trivial as these. Has talent and hard work indeed lost their value that we cannot bank on them.

We battle it out on the OUTCOMES, results and deliverables. Yet it is easy for people to renege on their commitments and what was apparently agreed upon, easily compromising on the time and efforts put into the initial discussion and decision making. In some cases, your efforts might be deemed as obligatory. While in others, it might seem fair and just to put off a task for reasons more personal than professional, sometimes to an extent where it becomes an arduous exploitation of your professional dependence. 

I am sure each of us can add in more to this rant, coming from a tank of experiences we gain in and during our professional tenure. Likewise, each of us would have evolved a mechanism that works best for us. However, much like my thoughts on MODESTY, it sometimes saddens me to find myself swimming in a pool as shallow as this. But I'm glad to have my virtues as my lifeboats and retain them with pride. I would love to know your share of professional inexperience(s) and how you dealt with them. In the end, all I say is that - Let's bring the ship home!

Wearing - 

Top - ZARA

Skirt - Forever 21

Earrings - H&M

Shoes - Woolworths

Thank you for stopping by...

Love

Agam

And We're Married

Having rested in the drafts for close to six months, call it instinct or procrastination, I never felt it was the right time to publish this post. This video was shot within the pages of a test-run, the concept I wanted to structure it around came in much later. But somehow it couldn’t see the light of the day. Until, having lived that concept now, the eve of my anniversary (six months) seemed just the right moment to share this. This video and the following words are my attempt at sharing the structural and platonic shift that accompanied me after getting married and moving to a new place (Typing the post's title took me back to my first post and was enough to give me goosebumps). Maybe, I do a good job at it! 

Dwelling back in time, my husband and I were batch-mates in school, started dating while we were in college, dated for about nine years and finally got married. I feel, my words about getting married and the hum drum that accompanies an Indian wedding will be mere drops in an ocean of all that wed talk, so I’ll safely jump to the life that starts post-marriage, which, contrary to popular belief isn’t all about lots of sex or snuggling up for movies. 

Getting married introduces a couple to many challenges, which in a subtle way can be life altering and also pushing enough for you to explore and dive into all those innate, subconscious life lessons your parents and your story-so-far gave you. I am lucky to have married someone I knew so closely, which is why sharing an emotional or physical space came easy. There wasn’t any (as it might be called) adjustments involved. We know and understand each other’s professional demands, schedules, habits – eating and living alike, so yes it did come in easy. In the present world, the moment we begin to speak about managing a house, conversations are quick to boil over the whole idea of working women empowerment, independence, the equality in partnership theory and the like, and yes bearing that onus and responsibility can be overwhelming at first. I did have a feeling or rather the belief (which girls these days consider as cool) that I don’t know anything. But once again, thanks to my mum who managed both her professional life and her home so perfectly and thanks to a lifetime of lessons absorbed observing her and yes thanks to our helpers (they deserve so much credit), looking after our house, cooking, and doing its interiors (if you follow me on Snapchat, you know it’s my new found love) is something I fell in love with immediately. So, like I mentioned at the start…the challenges are of a happy kind! 

However, if I can be completely honest, coping with the professional arena has been the hardest for me. I have been truly blessed to have my husband and my family, provide a support system that encourages me to go out, chase my dreams and be the sport when it comes to achieving them. However, moving to a new city and putting together and getting oneself accustomed to the resources has been a challenge for me. The people are new and so is their approach and method towards work. Shoot locations don’t come easily and it’s been difficult to churn quality content for brands. On the other side, this straight line curve has been a boon in helping me strategize and work on newer avenues, concepts and business models. 

Any change in life is bound to cause a tectonic shift in our approach towards it. I do reckon that marriage is that “new phase” that’s often talked about and pondered upon by all of us. But this change is also that time in your life when you’ll mature as an individual, expand (or rather double) your capabilities, grow your horizons, multiply your ideas and have an undefined, subconscious desire to be better that what you were before. However, wherever this journey takes many of you and myself, let it most importantly be about love…because in the end that is and was all that really mattered!

Wearing - 

Maxi Dress (Worn as skirt) - TrimmingsAndLace (here)

Shirt  (Up for grabs on my Spoyl profile) - Thrifted 

Sandals - River Island

Thank you for stopping by...

Love

Agam

TrimmingsAndLace 2.0

Dressing chic and staying stylish during winters can often seem like a job in hand. As temperatures get more and more frigid, the layers start to bulk up and you often feel more like a person wearing a marshmallow than a woman in her best garb. Black pants, same old sweater and that go-to coat, well yes it is easy to get stuck in a rut during winters when the weather is miserable. However, a look curated with the right pieces – the coats, furs, scarves, hats and jewellery – dressing up becomes incredibly easy. Hence, as we stepped into the last run of the winter season, this pet project with team Vajor had to come through.

Street style has become one of the most popularly accepted and recognized fashion genre. Unlike the VIP accessed fashion shows, street style is your runway to showcase your style for the masses to see and eventually adopt. It’s that wheel that has set many a trends rolling and has also been a forecast into the future. Needless, to say this livewire genre was our inspiration for this month’s fashion stories. For the same, I chose to style pieces which are classics in terms of colour and silhouette but are very modish when put together as a whole.

The first look comprised of a black maxi skirt paired with a quilted top. The zipper details on the top render an edginess to the overall look but I chose to mellow down the same, keeping the overall appeal very feminine by adding this vintage broach. This look not only makes for a perfect work-wear but also if your profession demands you to strut the city streets like a boss.

I am sure for most of you winter-dressing shall now seem a little less difficult. Afterall, when fashion, love and coffee comes together, why ought anything to be difficult. 

Wearing - 

Top - c/o Vajor

Skirt - c/o Vajor (Shop)

Sandals - River Island

Sunglasses - c/o Vajor (Shop)

Broach - Mom's

Earrings - Ginger (here)

Thank you for stopping by...

Love

Agam

2016 : I Owe It To You

Shot By - Sahil Nanda

As each year comes to an end, it is inherently natural to reflect back on the journey so far and visualize what lies ahead. I am someone who has always had a mental to-do-this-year list but has never affirmed myself to any resolutions. That is largely because I feel much of the adventure called life is lost when you confine it to rules and game plans. I am also someone whose list this year isn't as fancy or decorative to write home about - to travel more, to build an empire, to look my best - you get the drill. And that's also because the year is commencing with a positively life altering phase and that's "getting married." I am in all honesty at a loss of words to describe my feelings but all I can say is that I am so ready and excited to witness and experience the many valuable moments, experiences, lessons and a holistic growth this phase will bring for me, both personally and professionally. 

Classic Pieces For Every Fall

Spending That Wedding Budget Wisely

Like each of us who blogs, TrimmingsAndLace has been a personal diary of mine, a memoir that has captured the mood behind every post, the story behind each shoot and the general stage of life I was in. It might have been concealed by the words published but the memories of it are stronger and shall always be. Like a faithful book, it has helped me explore fashion ideas, concepts and ideologies like never before. By way of connecting and following such brilliant other blogs, it has made me strive and share a passion with such creative forces and influencers. By being a participant in their journey, I have seen their city through their eyes and have been utterly inspired by their thoughts and ideas. It is through this channel, that I could dream of being someone and have received a conscience resonance of an identity. None of this, would have been possible without each one of you who has shared my journey, become my virtual well wishers, stopped by my posts, commented, shared or even told me if it wasn't good enough. Each of you has contributed in making me who I am as a person today - be that in a professional role, the role of a daughter, sister, friend and now the role of a soon-to-be wife. The journey is just getting started, so do stick around as we explore and make it grand. 

Wearing - 

Turtle-Neck - ZARA

Poncho - ZARA (old)

Skirt - Levis (here)

Stockings - Forever 21

Boots - ZARA

Thank you for stopping by...

Love

Agam

TrimmingsAndLace For Vajor : Once Upon A Princess

This remains my favourite look from the Vajor series because it gave me a chance to exhibit my inner Dolce and Gabbana girl. I absolutely love the gold tones in this outfit which so gracefully reflect the setting golden light of Fall. A textured skirt and a stylishly structured top calls for smidgen yet impactful styling. This look is perfect for all those card parties you'll be hosting and attending. Add on a pair of statement earrings or a neck-piece or a headband like me if you reckon, and you are bound to make many heads turn. I am sure you've experimented and explored multiple dressing options when it comes to festive dinners and parties - from completely Indian to completely western - a look like this stylishly sits in between and is a winner in all respects. We know that during this period, your routine gets happily hectic. With all the running about, it can be difficult saving those feet for the dance floor. Which is why, I finished the look with those gorgeous wedges that are extremely comfortable and give the outfit the proportions it demands without making it look bulky. 

Especially during Diwali, when the time comes for action, the last thing you want is to worry about the multiple elements in your look. Which is why an outfit that speaks for itself is ideal. It lets all the fashion trends do the talking while you head-out for the hustle, bustle and bang and to life in its complete glory.

Wearing - 

Royal Blooms Skirt and Top - c/o Vajor (Shop)

Victorian Tiara - c/o Vajor (Shop)

Metallic Gold Wedges - c/o Vajor (Shop)

Thank you for stopping by...

Love

Agam

The Working Girl Ideas To Wearing Lace

     Shot By - Daas Media Works

Dressing for work comes with a different yet defined set of rules - some that we make for ourselves and some laid down by our work environment. Thinking about what to wear for work can feel like a job in itself. Undebatably, LACE is a tricky fabric to adorn as it always transcends the fine lines of sophistication and provocation. Some may argue that lace shouldn't be included in the work wear, but I believe that wearing lace is all about finding the balance. So for all you working girls, wanting to tune-up your work-style-quotient in lace, here are a few of my styling tips -

1. If you've always been conservative when it comes to lace and are now fancying an experiment, start with delicate yet well structured lace tops/shirts in basic colours. You can pair them with your favourite pair of trousers, a pencil skirt or underneath a well fitted suit. 

2. If lace pencil skirts are your thing but you still want to remain in the "safe" territory, pair your skirt with a basic shirt or, if your work place allows, a T-Shirt. However, avoid printed or graphic T-Shirts in this regard. You can finish your look with a tailored blazer and a pair of pointy pumps. 

3. When it comes to jewellery/accessories, less is always more. Much like my look, try sticking to minimalistic and dainty pieces. Yet again, if your work environment permits, you may experiment with contrasts in terms of colour.

4. The same principle as above applies when we talk of make-up. We ofcourse want our skin to look fresh and awake, but remember less is always more. I added a strong red lip for the purposes of this outfit. You always have a choice to go in for a more natural or a lip stained look. 

5. If you choose to stray away from the basics and pick lace in shades of wine, aubergines, maroons or coloured pieces with a nude lining, anchor the rest of the look with muted accessories. 

6. If an all out lace top, shirt or a skirt is not an option you can follow due to work constraints, a little peek-a-boo always works and adds so much textural and visual impact to the overall look. A lace hem peeking from just underneath your blazer or a structured jacket is an interesting dimension to the overall look. 

7. Another interesting pairing can be to wear a lace blazer over your regular shirt, top or T-Shirt. It's safe and spot on chic. 

8. Coming back to pencil skirts. If you feel that your skirt in any way is overwhelming, pair it with a top/shirt of the same colour i.e. ditch contrasts in terms of colours and textures. This shall render a very sleek and minimalistic look to the overall outfit. My personal tip would be to stick to minimal jewellery as well.

9. Whenever in doubt, add your favourite blazer! 

10. Last but not the least, if your work place is a fancier version of what most of us would envy, go ahead and try this girl! 

Wearing - 

Skirt - Myntra.com

T-Shirt and Scarf - Old (Gifted probably)

Bag - ALDO

Jewellery and Watch - Mom's

Sandals - Jabong

On my lips - Neutrogena Merlot in shade 90 

Thank you for stopping by...

Love

Agam

 

TrimmingsAndLace For The Quirk Box : A Day In The Life Of The City

 

Shot By - KamKha PhotoArtist, @tejindersinghkhamkha

My love and appreciation for the wonderful team at The Quirk Box has been no secret. Like many of you pursuing professions you love, the adrenalin rush of being a stylist comes when clothes, outfit pieces and silhouettes challenge you. Much like other forms of art, pieces from The Quirk Box satisfy my pangs in this regard. From styling an everyday chic look by pairing this Stuck With Stupid Vest amidst contrasts to letting this Boyfriend Jacket be the statement while incorporating the latest trend, my endeavour with this post (much like the previous one) was to shift focus and lend an editorial appeal to these kitsch pieces. The framework within which I structured this look and the brief I provided to Tejinder was, that it's an outfit depicting the housewife of the early 90s. How weird or how apt is what we leave for you to decide. 

We shot this look in one of the busiest streets of Chandigarh and it was an experience to say the least. Much kudos to Tejinder for capturing the pulse of the street while keeping the dynamism of these pieces alive. Stay tuned for the second edition of these pictures! 

P.S. Don't forget to participate in the TrimmingsAndLace X The Quirk Box giveaway, currently live on our Instagram.

Wearing - 

Dolls Crop-Top - c/o The Quirk Box (Shop)

Maxi Skirt - Thrifted

Dupatta (draped) - Mom's 

Belt - ZARA

Clutch - ASOS

Sunglasses - c/o Vajor

Earrings - Gifted
Flats - Myntra.com

Thank you for stopping by...

Love

Agam