Clarks Uncovered- A week in my shoes

Shoes- Clarks, Shot by- Smaran Sahu

I am so ecstatic to finally introduce you to one of the most exciting projects I have worked on, Clarks Uncovered- A week in my Shoes which is a part of their Style Guide SS '14! I was contacted by their UK based agency back in August to represent India in this fun project where 10 bloggers from all over the world, styled 10 different pairs of shoes from Clarks's brand new Spring/Summer '14 collection! I was generously sent a pair of shoes and an Ipad mini to kick start the project. The theme for this project, was for each blogger to style 5 looks that they would wear through a week, incorporating their daily routine along with showcasing some components of the city they reside in through a film and pictures.

When I was sent over the shoes, I frankly was a little flustered because I never wear wedges or anything close to it. So this was really a challenge for me, to style 5 different looks, that not only compliment the shoes but also depict my sense of style. But as I continued shooting for this project, I realized how comfortable these shoes actually were and that maybe it wasn't such a crazy idea to venture into wedges after all! I will be putting up all the 5 looks throughout this month, one at a time! Until next time, bisous. 

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Rejuvenate this Valentine's Day

 Swing dress- Asos, Trench- Romwe, Earrings- Curio Cottage, Shoes- Clarks

Even though most of us seem to care lesser for Valentine's day as we grow older, I think it's in fact a good excuse to take some time off and spend it with some one you profoundly love! While dinner & movies seem to be the common choice, I actually prefer spending it at a spa. And so I was more than delighted when the people over at The Palladium Hotel, invited us to try out some of their Valentine's Day special packages at The Spa.

Walking into this spanking hotel, the very first thought was how tastefully it has been put together. Located in the heart of the city, the accessibility, the fact that they have over 5 versatile restaurants, an amazing spa, gymnasium and pool area & not to forget a direct entry into the Palladium mall, it's a haven of tranquility amidst the hustle bustle. We were escorted to the 10th floor, where The Spa is located and the environment was extremely soothing from the minute we stepped outside the elevator. 

We were greeted by a welcoming staff at the spa and were requested to fill up a general information pamphlet while sipping on a chilled welcome drink. They have over 9 individual spa rooms & it features a selection of treatments that showcase natural botanical products with therapeutic properties with separate sections for male & female Steam, Sauna and Jacuzzi with relaxing lounges. They also have one couples room which is bursting with fresh, tropical flowers and aromatic candles to set the mood. The room has an attached changing room, along with a steam section, the massaging areas as well as a bath area with a fancy Jacuzzi. It's nothing short of a royal treatment. 

They are offering three special packages for Valentines Day which includes the Valentine's Dream for One, Romance for Two and the Enchanted Romantic Getaway. We chose the Romance for Two package which includes an Aroma Nodal massage for 60 minutes with an aromatic oil of your choice & an ILA Essentials Rose Petal bath for 30 minutes. I chose the Peace of Mind oil for a rejuvenating experience while he chose the Warming oil for a relaxing experience. After a quick foot scrub & changing into our robes, we were directed to the private Steam room which as suggested is  rather essential so that the oils from the massage could seep deeper into the skin. After the Steam we headed to the massaging area where they began the massage on beds which have an inbuilt bed warmer. I really appreciate that because I tend to get rather cold during couples massages as my other half prefers to keep the room temperature to nothing more than 23 degrees. An hour later, we emerged rather revitalized with a synergized mind, body & soul. We were then left alone to soak in the bath which was bursting with rose petals and induced with essential oils. Not to mention the area was engulfed in aromatic scents. They even served us their lemon & ginger tea to sip during the bath. 

Having visited some of the other reputed spa's in the last one year, I can confidently say that this is one of the best available in the city at the moment. With spacious spa rooms, skilled therapist, luxurious products, friendly staff and easy accessibility, this has got to be my personal favourite. So this year, if you are looking at gifting your loved one a rather different experience, surrender to the intuitive touch of their skilled therapists to revitalize the body & soothe the senses. To add to this, almost all the restaurants at The Palladium Hotel are offering some amazing Valentine's special Food & Drinks menu so it would the perfect way to spend a progressive day at the hotel. A suggestion, make your appointments as soon as possible to avoid a last minute scuffle. 

The Palladium Hotel- Facebook| Twitter| Instagram 

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Walking into Spring

Dress & Sunglasses- Moschino via Crisp, Clutch- Marc Jacobs via Crisp, Blazer- Styldrv, Belt- Colaba(similar), Shoes- Zara, Earrings- Gift

Since little over a year, I have been determined to create a multi-functional wardrobe. Now what that aims at is, accumulating pieces that can be worn in multiple ways and can be paired with multiple pieces. Blazers were the first thing I hit up on. In that process I ended up with what my mom refers to as a tiny store in my room. But I'm not complaining because they are as versatile as a piece of clothing could get! You can pair them with something as basic as a pair of blue jeans or even with fancier dresses. Buy the one's that fit you well and you'll have them in your closet for years to come!

The next item that I think is the most versatile is a tank maxi dress. Not only can you use it for various occasions as they are so easy to dress up or dress down, you can even play around with the silhouette to create different looks. For example, you can gather one end of the maxi dress and tie it into a knot to give that chic gathered hem look! Another way would be put on a slim or wide belt and starting pulling it up from above the belt and letting the loose fabric lay over the belt. This will create a 50's inspired midi dress look. The people over at Crisp were so kind to send this gorgeous printed Moschino maxi dress to me and I've been playing dress up with it since the day I received it. Crisp is an amazing multi-designer store based in Bangalore. So for all of you who have been wanting to get their hands on Stella Mccartney, Marc Jacobs, Moschino and much more, head over now! They have an amazing selection of clothing, shoes & not to forget stunning accessories.

For this look, I decided to go all out with the colours and used my white blazer to tone it down. These bright orange Zara heels that I snagged during the Sale, matched the dress perfectly! To exaggerate the colour palette, I added a bright yellow Marc Jacobs clutch & used a wide metallic belt to accentuate my waist. To finish off, I threw on some jewelled statement earrings and an over sized pair of Victoria Beckham-esque Moschino sunglasses!

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ELLE India

Cropped jacket- Veromoda, Shirt- Mesh, Bracelets- MissFlurrty, Watch- Marc Jacobs, On my lips- YSL rouge volupte no.9, On my nails- Lakme Absolute Gel Stylist in Scarlet Red

I seem to share a love-hate relationship with Mumbai. There are days when I can't envision myself living anywhere else but here and seem to admire virtually everything I see but then there are days when I can do nothing but detest it's mere existence. So taking some time off always seems like a worthy idea. Through the end of December I visited some parts of Rajasthan and had the most amazing experience. We road traveled through most of it and every part was nothing less than breathtaking. So much inspiration hidden in the tiniest parts. I documented some of it on my Instagram too! 

And then, I was back in Mumbai and jolted back to what people call reality. With a much clearer mind and positive outlook, the year started on a good note. This Elle feature was the last project I worked on before leaving & I loved every bit of it. It's always fascinating to work with a new team and I even ended up learning a novel technique to drape the timeless sari. And like everyone else I ended up making a few resolutions like working out regularly, shopping wisely, blogging more & working hard on a future project! What are your resolutions for this year?

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Fashion Mission with Allen Solly

Kartikeya works as a chef at one of the finest restaurants in Mumbai, The Zodiac Grill at The Taj Mahal Hotel. She is forced to spend most part of the week in white attire so when the weekend comes around or when she's travelling, she loves doing it in style! She discloses, "For someone who is not genetically designed to be a fashionista, this vibrant patterned dress makes a statement every time I step out and makes me feel effortlessly chic."


All of 21, Masoom started off with a fashion blog and is now the proud owner of a super chic e-store! Stylefiesta.com is a dream she worked hard to fulfill. Her personality is so vibrant, just like this sweater dress. She accessorized it with statement shoes, a box clutch and her favourite sunglasses. She says, "I love experimenting and this bright orange sweater dress from Allen Solly is not only striking but also perfect for this nippy weather."


Shuchi is the co-founder of a brand new concept in the form of Pipabella, where it's not just about buying fabulous jewellery but it also aims at empowering women, helping them start their own businesses! She spends her day juggling between meetings, checking emails, planning trunk shows but she loves to dress up to get through the hectic days! She gushes, "I've been loving floral prints and this dress is the perfect mix of classic and modern. I can't wait to wear this to a party!"


Niharika Mariwala works as a special educator at SPJ Sadhana School here in Mumbai. She strives to equip some profoundly mentally challenged, autistic kids with behavioural issues by teaching them skill based work so that they can live an independent life. Her daily attire includes comfortable cotton kurtas that let her float freely through the day. However, she's fond of presenting herself rather stylishly on the weekends, be it for a simple dinner with her family or a night out with her girls. She exclaims, "I have been looking for that perfect white dress for so long and here it is! I think The Little White Dress is so much more important that it's rather famous counterpart. I love wearing statement jewellery and this acts as the perfect canvas!" 



Sambhavi is a MBA student so sticking to a neutral palate is key for her interviews and presentations! But she loves her dresses and jumps on to every opportunity to don them. She states, "I love my plain colours but sometimes prints is all I'm craving. This printed dress is the perfect addition to my wardrobe! I love the colours & the fact that it flatters my body."

All dresses- Allen Solly, All accessories- Mine/Models own

I was recently put on a Fashion Mission to scout some of the most fashionable women strutting down the streets of Mumbai. Now, Mumbai being a fashion forward city, it's hardly a task to spot 5 well dressed women! But what made the task rather challenging was, identifying women who are obligated to dress down during the week because of their jobs or educational course restrictions but would gladly let their hair down on the weekends. What made it even easier, was their willingness to experiment with trends and styles! From a chef to a young entrepreneur to a teacher to management student, we've got it all covered!

When I visited the Allen Solly store at the beginning of the project, I was rather surprised by the overwhelming choices! Not only was the store beaming with colour but the new collection looked rather impressive. Dresses formed a major part of the their new collection and I was tempted to pick a couple for myself. Romantic floral prints, geometric patterns, shift dresses, sweater dresses in bright hues and embellishments were the focus of the designs. My favourite was a black chiffon shift dress with evenly spaced out embellishments; perfect for a dinner or night out. I could instantly imagine it styled together with a pair of black tights, an over sized coat and a bright red lip!

I had an amazing time putting together looks for these fabulous women! They strive hard to make a difference in the lives of many and this attempt to brighten their lives a little was the least we could do. Do visit your nearest Allen Solly store to experience the collection!

*This is a sponsored post.

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Bauble Mania

Earrings- Prerto, Dress- Asos

Exchanging gifts on Christmas is a ritual, so this year here's a present from me to one of you! I've always said that jewellery is something one can never have enough of. And sometimes certain things are more than just a piece of jewellery. Recently while visiting my grand mom, I was handed down a pair of earrings that she has had since her younger years. Not only were they in perfect condition but they suited me just perfectly! And now, they are one of the most precious piece I own. While going through the Prerto website recently, I came across a similar pair of earrings and decided to give a special something to one of you! So here's how you could win your favourite baubles from Prerto :

- Go on to www.prerto.com to browse through their gorgeous jewellery

- Link back one your favourite item that you'd like to win for yourself or a friend! Also comment below and tell me why it is your absolute favourite!

- Don't forget to 'Like' Prerto's Facebook page because the winner of the contest will be announced there!

- To gain some brownie points don't forget to tweet @aayushibangur with #prertolove & a link to the piece you'd like to win!

Now I know it's a task to pick just one favourite piece so here are some tips. If you're looking for a statement piece to go with all your party looks, Iris is the one to look at. I've been obsessed with adding a hint of red to all my outfits and so I love the Rose necklace! And if you're just looking to jazz up your basic cream dress, Claire is the one for you. You could even layer it with other necklaces to create a more impactful look. But if you're not a necklace person you might want to grab Las Vegas or Cres! Another easy trick? Just pick a piece that would compliment your New Year's Eve outfit and shine bright through the night! Goodluck! 

The contest ends on 25th December at 12 noon! It is only open to the residents of India. 

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Of Statement Necklaces & Lace

Necklace- Missflurrty(also love this & this), Skirt- Asos.com, Blouse- Forever21, Watch- Marc Jacobs, Shoes- Asos.com, Clutch- DVF, Bracelets- Missflurrty(also love this & this)

For as long as I can recall, I have always been a jewellery lover. It started at 15, with an obsession of collecting earrings and went on to become what now demands a chamber of it's own! And despite being very well aware of the fact that I don't need any more jewellery, maybe for a few decades even, I can never refuse a gleaming pair of earrings or that stunning cocktail ring or my favourite, a statement necklace! Usually my rationalization is that I don't own this exact colour and in that  twinkling moment that is reason enough. 

So when I came across Missflurrty.com, it was love all over again. If you happen to follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you probably already saw the gorgeous red, orange and navy necklace I recently wore. Next, my eyes were set on this deep blue mixed with coral stones necklace; it was a combination I had rarely seen! Promptly, I knew we had found a piece to compliment a recently purchased bright, neon blouse. I then stumbled upon this stack of bracelets which just had to be added to the cart .And because every bracelet ever made, must be mine, how could I leave this behind?

I was recently a part of a quick Twitter Interview and one of the things she asked me was, "What are your must haves for the party season?" and the first few things that I rapidly typed out, were, anything jewel toned, pencil skirts, statement necklaces and the trusty sequins! It's true, this season that's really what anyone needs. And if you're thinking pencil skirts aren't your thing, think again. If you're a little conscious of donning this classic 50's trend, try pairing it with a simple tank top along with a sleeveless waistcoat or a boyfriend blazer. Pick darker hues as they are most likely the safest way to venture in. If you're well versed with this trend already, then go ahead and splurge on a sequins or printed skirt and you're pretty much all set to get the party started!

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