Website review : HandsOfIndia

February 12, 2015February 12, 2015 Shilpa13 Comments

Instead of cribbing about lack of content I decided to do something constructive and useful. I have decided to start a website review segment reviewing the Made in India websites which I have tried in the past, showcasing their positives and highlighting their negative aspects. This is not a sponsored post and every opinion is my own.

My first site review is a treasure I found roughly a year back called Hands Of India. Interestingly I spoke about it in one of my first posts way back in June of last year.

This website was started by two sisters from Uttar Pradesh who are providing this platform for artisans from rural areas to showcase their handicrafts. This is what their website has to say about their efforts.

“HandsOfIndia” showcases the timeless creations made by the humble artisans of our country who are largely unaware of the real worth of their products, especially in a marketplace cluttered with mass produced replicas. This name signifies the skill and painstaking handwork of the craftspeople and the fact that these products are created using simple, natural techniques relying solely on the accumulated knowledge of generations of artisans and the skill of the human hand. It reaffirms our love for all things handmade.

I have ordered their products once online and I have been to their exhibition once and I was so thrilled with the outfits, the quality and the fit and comfort. They have a wide variety. I have tried to capture the essence of their collection here below.

Reversible Jackets (my personal favorite 😍)

Incidentally this was one of my buys from their website too!!

The comfort is unmatched guys 😀

Sarees: They have a wide variety of sarees in cotton and silk. I’m definitely thinking about buying one of these for my mum. What do you think 🙂

Majorly eyeing this one! I’m a sucker for anything yellow and pink! And about that, Saree I’m not sorry! Lel!

Dresses: They have different types of dresses you can choose from:

This dress felt like made to order on me. While they don’t a wide range of sizes (S-M-L) the ones available are very standard and feel comfortable.

Kurtas and Salwars: Their kurta range is one segment I’m yet to try! A picture of some kurtas I’m eyeing 😝

When it comes to salwar sets they frankly outdid themselves. Let me explain. I purchased a salwar off one of their exhibitions. It was pretty loose for me so they happily agreed to alter it for me for free. When I went back to collect my altered salwar set the kind lady told me she had mentioned in detailed the alterations done on the cover which she asked me to safekeep. She also asked me to mention the same alterations every time I bought salwars off their website online! How thoughtful is such customization 🙂 I was so impressed!

This was the alteration written on the cover. Haha! So simple and efficient!

The salwar I bought is such a beautiful pastel green. I wear it for any formal event at work, for meetings and interviews and it has never failed to get me a compliment or two 🙂

Apart from they also have a lovely collection of culottes, skirts, palazzo pants in pure khadi cotton.

The only minus point I have to point about this website is that more than once I’ve really loved a piece but have been unable to buy it because of they don’t have all clothes in all sizes.

Overall I have had an awesome experience with this clothes line and I am surely going back to buy from them real soon and I would strongly recommend this site to all my Indian friends 😀 Do check out their website (click here) and their facebook page (click here)

How did you guys find this new website review segment? Did you find it useful? Would you like me to review any particular website? Do tell me! I’m all ears. 👂👂!!

Plaid and Simple!

February 5, 2015 Shilpa9 Comments

In an attempt to address the elephant in the room I set about gathering and laying out all the varieties of checks, plaids and ginghams I own. To ads to the drama i added my sister’s shirts too! And guess what? We had emptied half our wardrobes O.o

What’s it about plaids and gingham? Why do they dominate most girls’ and EVERY boy’s wardrobe?

Then I realized! They are comfy, frumpy, cozy and easy all at once and that works wonders for most of us, most of the days 😛

Though I never consciously took pictures of my plaids, (they weren’t post worthy I thought!) I do have some random pictures of me in them! And this post is dedicated to all that randomness!

(Please ignore them antics by my friend and me. 😋)

Plaids are so versatile that you can wear them upon a pair of colored shorts and head to the beach and change to a pair of chinos or trousers and strut to work in them too!

By the time I finished sifting through my humongous pile of pictures for these ones I’m tired and sleepy. Perils of the forever-sleepy! So off I go! Stock up on your plaids because they are here to stay!! Wait was that rhyming? Oh never mind…!!! 🌜🌆😴!

Mulberries on my Mind

January 28, 2015February 2, 2015 Shilpa28 Comments

Its well past 9 in the morning and if I don’t run helter skelter starting NOW I’ll most definitely be late to work. Yet here I am lounging and lazing around and talking to you about things as random as ~~blackberries~~ mulberries without a care in the world. The things a sore throat and a heavy head can do to you! Sigh! 📃💉😭

Anyways I’ve been MIA for a bit though there has been quite a lot of things happening and I thought I would tell you all about it in this random post, quite as random as its title. LeL!

1.Mint mishmash
I bought mint pants a while ago and try as I might, I am just not able to pair it with the right top and I end up with too many colors on me. See for yourself.

Shilpa the living breathing candy floss!

Such creative! Much wow!

Also, a closer picture of my Kobe (I say my Kobe because I know this is unlike the original by a mile! :|)

4. Made and manducated by me!

I have in recent times started learning some cooking. Thanks to some amazing blogs I’ve tried doing some easy south Indian dishes and you’d be happy to know, I nailed most of them I have also been completely disregarding this waistline issue and have been binge eating some amaze balls dishes from crazy eat outs around the city! 😍 A collage of all that lovely yummies in my tummy of course⬇

That would be all from me folks. I successfully completed this post with every title and subtitle having M-words.. Yes yes I’m pretty cracked up that way. Have a great rest of the week! Ciao! 💝

Sprightly Sunday Inspiration

January 18, 2015March 7, 2015 Shilpa24 Comments

How would you react when someone says we met each other, really liked each other, I asked her out and ever since, we have been dating. You would probably say aww..cute!

Next, what would your reaction be if the person continued the story saying, before we actually got really knowing each other, we separately had a huge crush on each other for ten years but never got the nerve to take it forward but finally we are now together. You would probably be shocked, your awwww might be louder and shriller and you would end it with a multiple U-ed cute.

Now, the person adds : after less than a year of dating, I moved abroad and ever since, (3.5 years to be precise) we are in the happiest long distance relationship. You’d properly gag off the cuteness overload yeah?

That readers is how my boyfriend dramatically explains our love story to everyone. It’s hilarious how he builds up the momentum by strategically telling the story.

But this post is not about that. This post is about him! This post is about what an amazing person he is. This post is about how quirkishly sportive he is (he can break into a random dance in the middle of a crowded as hell mall just to make me laugh). This post is about how genuinely concerned he is about his girlfriend’s watchman’s baby daughter after she underwent a major surgery. This post is about how mad he is about winning, Kobe Bryant, spicy food, Shilpa and rosemilk equally! (See how deftly I added names there? Mine to be specific! Smooth!). This post is about how he thinks respecting parents and all elders is the coolest thing to do. This post is about how he thinks it a personal victory when he didn’t bog down to peer pressure of any sort. This post is about how dedicated he is to his basketball and undergoing a surgery to pursue his sport was nothing but a minor glitch for him. This post is about what a good human being and a friend he is and how he can become best friends with anyone right from rickshaw drivers to his physiotherapists. This post is most importantly about how he is the most important reason why the herculean, dreaded by many long distance relationship has gone on so smoothly and about how he makes the whole wait so effing worth it.

Every time you leave, I give you a parting gift, a scrapbook, a picture, a surprise, something, anything and I know you love your surprises. This time I was wasn’t ready to let you go. So I had planned nothing. And I saw you were sad about that. This post is my little parting gift to you. Know that you are my true hero and an inspiration to me and many more.
Here’s to us, to our amazing vacation and to many more to come! I’ll adore you forever and perhaps a day more!

Of Blazers, Blacks and Blues

January 14, 2015January 14, 2015 Shilpa20 Comments

I bought a blazer! I bought a blazer! Naanananaanaa 💃🎤🎵🎼🎶
Hahaha! I bought a really cool red blazer recently from ONLY! I was pretty undecided between a yellow and a red blazer when I left home, but when I saw the way this red one fitted me, I bade farewell to the yellow idea. 😜

I wore it over an all black outfit. Also, for the first time in a long time, I had the guts to sport my blood red lipstick💋!!

That would be me, trying to give my edgy, deep look (note to self : deep looks right after stifling a giggle makes you look so not deep 😝)

I thought the black really brought out red of the blazer. I also wore my new and first aldo purchase! I bought this pair of blue-black aldo loafers around three weeks ago and I’ve been wearing only that for the past three weeks! Are slippers allowed to be this comfortable!?!😍

So how’d you like the look guys? Aren’t blazers the perfect way to dress up any outfit instantly.! So when are you buying your funky blazer? 🙂

P.S.: the lipstick I used is the color bar ‘sensuous red take me as I am’ lipstick! Though I’m a zero in make up, it’s my suggestion that no one buys this lipstick because it makes the lips really dry and instead of fading out evenly as the day progresses, the red in the middle fades out first, leaving you looking really creepy with just a red outline on the edges. 😐

Open this post and read it! – A heart wrenching story!

January 5, 2015January 5, 2015 Shilpa17 Comments

Yes that was just an attention seeking technique my post title. 😝 But I couldn’t afford you guys not reading my post because it’s a small, quick, easy and ridiculously helpful tip that I wanted to share.
So, have you guys had to put away entire outfits because they became lint-ridden? Here’s an easy as hell sure shot way to get rid of the lint.

Step 1: Lay the lint ridden outfit on a flat surface

Step 2: Take a wide width tape and stick it on the lint area and pull. (Pst..it’s eerily similar to something we do to ourself too… My skirt wants to tell you what it’s similar to.)

Step 3: Keep repeating step two till all the lint is ripped off. You can use the same strip of tape for as long as its adhesive. Once it becomes non sticky, cut out a new piece and repeat!

Simple and highly effective tip eh? You can thank me later guys. 😝 Hahaha have an amazing week. 💝

Paisley (S)Carving!

January 2, 2015 Shilpa8 Comments

Question: What do you get when your fashion challenged boyfriend feels exceptionally generous and he knows he struck luck when he once bought me a scarf and I loved it?
Answer: Buy me another scarf of course silly! Haha

Yes! He felt very giving and hence splurged on a scarf and boy do I love it 😍
It’s a satin paisley patterned scarf and it’s beautiful.

I tried wearing it with one outfit today. I’m going to try and do more with it soon!!
I have tied this scarf three ways.

Type one: The simple loop and through

As simple as folding the scarf breadth wise into two, and draping it around the neck and pulling the loose ends side into the loop on the other side.

Type 2: The very simple muffler style

Get a square (I had to fold this scarf twice to get that, but many scarfs are naturally squarish). Now make a triangle by joining opposite ends and let the triangle face down and tie the loose ends at the nape of your neck.

Type 3: The slightly complicated loop-de-loop!
Yes I named that style myself because try as I might, I just couldn’t figure out what the normal world calls that type. 😜
So here’s a step by step for this type.

Easy eh? Just a case of loop once , around the neck, one end goes inside loop, loop again, other end goes in next! Ta-da!!

Its fancy too!!!! See??

Honestly, there are exactly two million, nine hundred and twenty seven thousand, six hundred and forty three (2,927,643) types of wearing a scarf. Duh! That was totally NOT a made up number! Look it up on pinterest and google you guys, you’ll be amazed how well a scarf can compliment your outfit.
So how do you scarf yourself up? 🙂

This new year I vow to push my ass and….

December 31, 2014 Shilpa14 Comments

1. Start being judicious about them finances (the problems they create towards the month end…deadly! O.o)

2. Start taking care of my skin. ( World War III : Shilpa vs Acne!)

3. Start shopping on a “oh that’s a versatile piece and I know I want it- go to store – find the blessed piece – scamper back home” basis rather than the “oh my salary is credited lemme aimlessly stroll into the mall – oh I like this oh I like that oh I like the ENTIRE SHOPPP – impulse binge buy every thing I lay eyes on” basis.

3. Read more. Actually let’s make it measurable! Read 12 good books – one a month! (Ya ya blab about it in your stupid blog if that’s what motivation means to you..!) If I might entertain you with a picture which “summarizes” my reading habit.

4. Take up that fondant class I’ve been dreaming of for ~~looong~~ sometime. Get over the obsession ASAP by 1.knowing I suck at it or 2. Knowing I can give peek-a-boo cakes a run for its money *insert maniacal laugh* (or a pitiful gosh-this-chic-needs-help kinda laugh if you please!)

Hahaha ohhhh I crack myself up! 😂

Honestly the resolution list could go on guys but let’s keep it simple shall we 🙂 I’ve had a lovely 2014 with many ups and very few downs and I hope that’s how things panned out at your end too. Have a happy new year. Stay happy , stay safe , party hardest. Love y’all for loving me so much. Goodnight! 😍😍

The Day my Illustration Came Alive!

December 26, 2014 Shilpa10 Comments

I gave you guys an update around two months ago about an illustration I tried when I bought a black and white stripes T-shirt. Guess what? I achieved that exact look.! Are you proud of me or what 😝

I bought this skirt from Oasap recently but had written it off as ill fitting … But I decided to fit into it and make it work all the same and I decided it did work out pretty fine after all (whether everyone around me thought the look worked is another issue all together 😜 )
“You look like a munchkin”
“You look uncoordinated”
“You look clownish” were some of the comments I got. But hey, I’m the fashion blogger, not you guys! And a fashion blogger is as a fashion blogger does. So I decided to sweep all that negativity under the carpet and walk tall in my envisioned look all the same! 😁
I wore my jeweled black heels and a black and white pair of earring to complete the look.

What do you guys think? Red-black-white combination for life eh!?! 👍😎👊

He’s here :D

December 22, 2014December 22, 2014 Shilpa23 Comments

Guyssssss!! Aaaaahhhh!! 💟💟💟 picture this : you have a 60 day countdown because you are seeing the love of your life after two frikkin long years, the days are in no hurry (wonder how they act so lazy during countdowns and are so hyperactive when the vacation after the countdown starts :?) and after a tiresome 58 days you are down to 2 days. The last ten days go exceptionally slowly with you checking the date and the time on your computer calendar every five minutes (no I’m not exaggerating guys!). Anyway, I was in the last but one but oneth day of my countdown 😝. It was Friday and after a longgggg day at work I’m walking towards my car in the rather empty parking lot when I suddenly sense a movement behind me and the persons gait is all too familiar but I’m not able to put a finger on who it was..so I do the turn look back, not realizing who it was, so look in front and get sooooo shocked and look back again routine we are all too familiar with! My boyfriend had me surprised shocked blown out of my wits all at the same time by arriving two days before schedule. Yaah yaah HiFi!!! He’s here 😍!!!!

BEST.SURPRISE.EVER. 😍 Happy holidays people. I know I’m going to have an amazing one 💝

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