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?

Loose winter layers

Loose traditional kurtas and pyjamas with block print dupattas combined with wool base layers, long cardigans and boots make great winter wear in my opinion. They make me feel less suffocated than I would be in tighter layers, evoke the feeling of floating in soft layers and let me prance about in the bush north of Sydney to spot a wonderful troop of kangaroos. All in all a win win situation, don't you think?

Kurta (tunic) and Flared pyjama : Tailor made in India, Dupatta (scarf): Block-printed in Jaipur, Rajasthan, Bag: Colombia

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?

Twilight twirls

Sometimes one can't be bothered wearing actual clothes, I just pull out silky somethings in colours I love and decide that will my outfit. And nothing goes better with apology for clothing like a bright embroidered Kutchi bag and loads of jewels.

Oversize silk top worn as dress, Boots: Nine-West, Jewellery: India+Markets

Yellows and greens, purples and pink

What would I do without bright accessories in winter? When all I can think of is layer on top of layer a little bright belt, a hint of purple in my shoes, fun beanies and bags make me feel like me.

Another thing that I absolutely cannot do without are my relaxed jeans, summer or winter. Happy midweek everyone.














Beanie: Nepal, Jeans: Op-shopped, Silver Jewellery: India and Nepal, Block-print Scarf: India, Suede flats: Wittner

The abominable non snow woman

I had been hibernating for weeks, by hibernating I am mean just eating, sleeping, going to work and then to my delight it started to get warm. The sun was shining, my plants were coming back to life, I was planning spring outfits and even spend two whole days without leggings and then BAM! back to freezing my toes off.

It was cold today, so cold that I had a post dinner ice-cream craving so bad that we braved the chilly winds to make a supermarket run. Cold weather means on come the wool leggings and docs and in go my bright silk shorts. Ah well! eventually the spring is going to arrive and till then I have my cookies n cream. Have a wonderful week all.

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!

Winter outfit details

Lately I haven't been doing much apart from working and trying to stay warm, most of my time outside of work is spent dreaming about warmer weather and what I would do when the cold finally dissipates.

I've also been thinking about people and their unkindnesses, what boggles my mind is that some people will be unkind and mean just because they can and then will go every week to temple or church as if God cares whether or not one attends prayers with a face full of make-up and a heart full of nastiness. It really bothered me for a bit, then I thought why even let them occupy a tiny breath of my existence and decided that I would never be like that, I will try in every way that I can to be a better person and that is all that matters.

Since there hasn't been any time or the right kind of light to take outfit photos I will leave you with these random recent and not so recent photos of outfit details that really make me happy. Hope you have a great weekend!