Merino joggers and Ajrakh

I don't do winter without merino wool, like hands down it's my favourite cold weather staple, I mean I love duck/ goose down for the warmth but merino wool I love for everything AND I like pyjama-esque pants. So these Icebreaker merino joggers had to show up here at some point. As much as I like the look of fleece (only sometimes), I really don't like wearing it often.

I have some fleece trackies but they are strictly my "all my wool is in the wash" time wear. These joggers though, I wear them to sleep, to travel, to work, basically everywhere, my only problem with them is that they are not available in any other colours. Another thing that I cannot get enough of is Ajrakh, scarves, kurtas, dresses, pyjamas, what have you. This scarf was bought in Kutch and this hand embroidered bag is years old, basically comfort clothing at it's best. What are your cold weather must haves?

The colours of winter

People like minimalistic outfits, tend to go the tried and tested route in the winter, I am NOT one of those people. Bright bags bought during various travels and market expeditions, traditional scarves, colourful beanies and floor length woollens with comfy jeans help me get excited to leave the house and explore during winters. I refuse to become a grey, black or dark blue blob for the colder months and colour plus jewellery helps me brighten dull and chilly days.

There is something great about travelling in winter, the fresh cold air lends a touch of magic to the entire experience. Like I said I am not one for sticking to neutrals instead reaching for the brightest sacks, wraps, beanies and oversize blankets masquerading as cardigans to wrap myself in. Massive totes handmade in far off corners of the planet in eye searing brights, block print or bandhani dupattas in saturated hues, statement necklaces, heaps of silver jewellery and embellishments galore; all this is a bit more like me. I like clothes and accessories that are functional but have character, don't stop me from running down a mountain side but definitely don't blend in. And I like to wear things again and again and then some, this beanie has featured on my blog for years as have the boots and I am not ashamed to say I don't go out and buy the latest winter must haves every season. Although it doesn't look like it to people who know me and my house is being taken over by shoes and bags; I do want to buy less and less. How do you battle the winter blues?

Autumn roadtrips: In the woods, around mountains and by the sea

One of my most favourite things to do is to go through instagram feeds of National Geographic, various travel photographers and mountain climbers. For weeks now this urge to go away and be closer to nature has been hard to control and finally this long weekend we've rented a campervan with a tent and are going away camping into this wonderful continent that I have come to love so much.

I wish things work out as planned and we are able to travel a bit more in the coming years, so far having our families on two different continents and us living in the third has ensured a lot of moving and I can't wait to add more destinations to our "already visited" list.

As the temperature drops and the leaves start to change colour it is the best time to run around trees, up the hills and walk by the water. Here are a few things clotheswise that I am packing for my roadtrip, do you have any suggestions?

I can't be bothered wearing jackets on top (unless I have to) and hide my flowy tops so I generally do my layering under my clothes; which is when my collection of merino baselayers come very handy.

As the glorious Vix says "None of this running off to the shops for a new wardrobe when the season changes. Its lurid Hawaiian prints and gauzy cotton maxi dresses all year round for me. After all, isn't that why thermal underwear was invented?"

Outfit 1: Silk blouse, denim cutoffs, tall fringe boots with a merino baselayer under and a pair or merino leggings if needed with a Morroccan backpack from the Glebe markets.

Outfit 2: For those days in the mountains when its too cold to wear shorts; Icebreaker merino singlet with a Kathmandu merino pull-over on top, colourful pants to not look too wintry, a gifted suede bum bag from Pondicherry,my trusty Palladiums with thick woollen socks.

Outfit 3: Torn jeans with a merino singlet, an old tee, a block print scarf, Vintage chunky sweater and my broken in Converse with thick socks.

What are your road-trip must-wears?

Sunset meanderings

Change of seasons mean allergies plus flu, I may be really excited for spring but cant for the life of me take the blocked nose and perennial exhaustion anymore.

On to better topics, sick days call for warm and comfy clothing and it can't get comfier than soft merino sweaters and oversize cardigans, the turquoise fabric bag is just to keep things cheerful. Nothing is better to cheer oneself up than to sit by crashing waves and drink beer

Hope everyone's had a great weekend.

Fun with Ferns

Spend this afternoon in a beautiful fern covered magical hideaway and I couldn't be happier. Wore my maxi skirt as a hi-low dress with multiple merino wool sweaters plus wool socks and boots and was good to go. Add a colourful hand knotted bag and silk scraf to any outfit and to me its complete. Honestly I don't get why people feel badly dressed or not cool if they're not wearing the latest trending items.

What is the point of wearing something that is being worn by everyone and their neighbour? Don't get me wrong sometimes I see someone who is wearing a currently trending item in a way that is completely different from everyone else. I mean trending or not when someone wears something that they truly like, I believe it shows.

I have been attracted to colour and interesting prints forever and that hasn't changed inspite of the amount of fashion magazines I've read or editorials I've admired or even blogs I've browsed through.

This skirt for example was bought in the dusty streets of Delhi's Paharganj with one of the kindest people I know (Hey Carola) and I don't think I am ever going to part with it. I have too many good memories attached to it and sometimes wear it as a maxi skirt, dress or scraf. It cost less than $5 and I walked past it multiple times before Carola said just buy it and get it over with. I would like to think that the things I buy today will be enjoyed for a long time.

The earliest memories of my love for fabrics are touching beautiful silk sarees in my Grandmother's closet and watch her get dressed. I could watch her for hours...

I remember I used to wait for my Mother to leave me alone at home presumably to do my homework but as soon as a door shut I would run to her dressing table play dress up with her silk sarees, scarves and lipsticks. As soon as she walked in she'd know I'd been up to my usual mischief but I would shake my head from side to side maniacally, make my best puppy face and insist I had been studying.

Okay enough rambling all I wanted to say was, I love fabrics, colours and don't give two hoots about what is in and what is not. Happy Saturday world!

What I wore and the news that saddened me this week

Camouflage shorts: DIYed old pants, Flannel & Sweater: Thrifted, Sandals: Whittner, Jewelery: Gifted/ India, Bag: Oxfam

After the heat in Asia I think I love this un-decidedness of the weather here, its sometimes warm enough for the beach, then the weather decides to cool down enough to wear sweaters and denim jackets. PERFECT. I can layer all the plaid and denim and wool I want but still get to wear my shorts without tights and we spotted a mini-snow leopard kitty enroute to my usual picture taking spot! Somedays I tell ya make me happy :D

I know that I mostly put up photos of my outfits here but I want this little space on the www to my little corner where I can talk about anything affecting me. Right now I cannot get Malala Yousufzai out of my mind, a fourteen year old girl who has been shot in the head and neck because she dared to claim her right to an education and speak up against girls not being allowed to go to school by the Taliban. Seriously how bad can the world get, this girl is FOURTEEN! Aargh! One shouldn't have to fight for one's basic fundamental rights at this age, one shouldn't have to be this brave, one sure as as hell shouldn't be gunned down by this barbaric mindset. I have no words to describe how strongly I feel against such atrocities and how much distaste I have for people who claim that western cultural influences are ruining eastern women. I hope and pray that she comes out of this terrible ordeal with her health and spirit intact and the Taliban never have another chance to do this to her or anyone else again.

I was debating whether to put the pictures of my outfit with this post, because you know it touches on something so tragic but then I thought isn't this what feminism is about? Exercising our right to choose who we want to be? How we want to portray ourselves? I choose to be whoever I feel like being and I thank my lucky stars that I was born to the parents I was and then feel tremendous sadness. Because in this day and age it is just the circumstances of my birth which I had no control over, that determine that I am sitting at home and writing this post and this brave little girl is fighting for her life.