Sophie's Choice

A few days back, Ashwini Narayan, a very cute reader wrote to us about a shopping query. Like all women, she was facing a common problem -- choosing the right pair of shoes. She wanted to buy 2 pairs of shoes from a choice 8 pairs. A complete shoe buff, Ashwini was looking for a long-term buy "that I can get a lot of mileage from." She describes herself as an "eclectic and a bit bohemian, but definitely not clean classic."

First pair: This pair is a beautiful blend of comfort and funky. It’s comfortable and the quality seems good too. But at the same time reminded us of the black shoes Ashwini already has. (See Image 2)

Second Pair: We aren't a big fan of this one. The quality of seems low; the transparent heel doesn’t do much. Overall we wouldn’t pick this one.

Third Pair: Black & white brogue pumps stole our heart till we saw the buckle. But we can still ignore the buckle, because we both love brogues. Nothing is hotter than brogues with heels.

Fourth pair: Gold brogues are beautiful. In fact, Sonu has similar ones in the pink from Aldo. Love the tan gold colour and they are super comfortable (speaking with experience).

Fifth pair: Snakeskin pumps are an absolute necessity in a woman's wardrobe. Versatile and timeless, they are a must-have.

Sixth Pair: The white heels are pretty, but avoidable with the Bombay roads and potholes. Our funda is jazz up your attire with bright accessories.

Seventh Pair: Red pumps are a classic. Wear them to a disc or to a dinner. They will take you to all these places adding that spunk to your attire.

Eighth Pair: Depending on your shoe size, one should pick up these peeptoed shoes. A small-sized foot will not do justice to a peeptoed shoes.

 We chose:

Choice 1: Go Nude

The golden brogues or the snakeskin nude pumps. Ashwini had no flats from what we saw (the three pairs). The golden brougues can be worn with a skirt or shorts. They’ll look young and eclectic at the same time. Let’s not forget how comfortable they are. You can go shopping in them or go for brunch with your girls.

Whereas, the nude snakeskin nude pumps are extremely versatile piece in your wardrobe. It's the ultimate leg-lengthening weapon and will match everything in your closet, more than white and black. Shop for a style that matches your skin tone.

Choice 2: Go Red

Since Ashwini didn’t have much colour in her shoe wardrobe, we suggested her to pick either of the two red-coloured shoes. Red shoes are bold, passionate, strong, intense and sexy. Womens red shoes come in all styles to accommodate your mood and fashion statement.

We'd love to answer your questions as well! If any of you have any styling queriers or shopping questions, do email us jsostyle@gmail.com

Final Day at the Mall

We dressed up for a shoot at the Palladium, but due to some unforeseen circumstances, the shoot got postponed. We shot our outfits for the day, anyway. Dressed in slightly formal but comfortable attires, this is what we wore.

Jasleen wore denim shorts with a boyfriend blazer

 Tee & boyfriend blazer, Zara| shorts, self-designed| shoes, Aldo| necklace, courtesy Curio Cottage

• Your boyfriend blazer is one of the most versatile pieces of clothing in your wardrobe. Wear it with jeans, pants, shorts, a long skirt or a nice dress to create a whole new look. 
• Although, I'm not a t-shirt person, this one was such a heart-warmer with its black and white sketch. 
• If you want to dress down this same look, you can wear flats gladiators, like me, instead of heels.
• If on the contrary, you want to dress up the same look, wear a sexy satin blouse in a nude or a rich emerald and wear big stone earrings and heels to accessorise.
  

Sonu wore her favourite LBD with coral ballerinas

 Dress, FCUK| shrug, borrowed from sister's closet| ballerinas, Only| bucket bag, KL 

• If you have found your perfect black dress then don't let it go and wear it in as many ways as you can. Sonu has worn this dress several times sometimes as a blouse, the other times as a slip and of course, as a dress.
• You can dress up this LBD with a statement neckpiece or statement earrings.
• To dress it down you can wear gladiators, a sling purse and a crochet necklace.
• Add a layer with a shrug, a jacket, an open shirt accentuated with a waistbelt.

Day II in the mall

Dressed in our Zara pants, we were at The Palladium Mall for the second day in a row.

    Sonu wore a vintage inspired ensemble completed with nerdy glasses

Top, Colaba Causeway| pants, Zara| shoes, Marks & Spencer| bag, Dharavi (worn here)

•  The powder pink flap pants combined with the crochet sleeves (also worn here) looked really old-school. The Mary  Janes added to the look.
• High-waisted pants are still doing the rounds. While it looks best on tall people, almost anyone can wear them, if you just add some heels. It's great for people who want to add curves. If you are too much of a pear shape then be wary of wearing too many pleats.
• You can also wear these pants with an OTT graphic tee and a cropped blazer in faux leather or denim. A nautical-style vest will also look great with the look.

Jasleen was inspired by the pantomime look and wore stripes and baggy pants

Top, Mango| pants, Zara| shoes, Bata| bag, Crawford Market| quilted bow, Forever New

• The Zara pants are really comfortable at versatile, rolled up in this look, they can be worn with high heels and a sexy blouse for a formal look.
• The white quilted bow and gold Mary Jane ballerinas were added for some feminine fun.
• These pants can be paired with a chunky belt or even worn with a long, knee-length wrap--A perfect look when you travel, it's chic yet comfortable.

Palladium Day One

We had to prepare for a shoot at the Palladium Mall (second home to us now) so we  took some quick pictures of Day I, two more to go.

Jasleen wore a tunic with shorts

Tunic, MNG| shorts, Bandra| bag, Crawford Market| belt, Forever New| hairband (worn in the last picture) c/o Blend Fashion Accessories

• Jasleen had to travel far and wide so she decided to wear a very monsoon-appropriate attire. She wore a tunic as a dress and combined it with shorts for comfort.
• Flip flops completed the look.
• You can also wear this tunic with leggings for a more formal look.

Flip flops worn by Jasleen are from Bali. Silver ballerinas worn Sonu are from Bandra

Sonu paired a bright tunic with jeggings

Tunic, Fashion Street| jeggings, Only| bucket bag, Oberoi Shopping Mall| owl brooch, Silver Mart

• Luckily for Sonu, travel wasn't an issue so she dressed girlie yet comfortable enough to walk around in the Mall. 
• She added an owl brooch for some more character.
• You can also tuck-in this tunic in high-waisted pants or a flared short skirt for a chic look.She also wears this tunic as a dress for evening parties.

After our work, we went to binge to this quaint cafe in The Palladium called Bespoke Cafe. It's hidden in The Collective Store. We totally recommend this cafe for a quick bite after all your shopping.

We had an omlette with freshly sauteed spinach and mushrooms and a chicken sandwich (eaten before clicked). Of course, we couldn't ignore the blueberry cheesecake.

Blend Fashion Accessories

 You know how we keep ranting about accessories and how important they are for an outfit? Well, it's true and that's why when we came across Blend Fashion Accessories by Sannam Chopra, we were very excited to bring it to you! Located in Juhu, this store is great for multiple reasons. It's not of those stores that simply showcases stuff from Bangkok and China and the Founder Sannam actually designs and manufactures the line herself. And creativity deserves credit. Along with originality, the designs are very wearable, affordable and gel well with different age groups.

With a Masters degree from Australia in Accounting and Finance, Sannam had a keen business acumen, but it was her degree in Jewellery Designing and Manufacturing from SNDT that really got her started in her accessories career. "Abroad I saw a lot of demand for accessories so I thought I will start something like this in India. We started off dealing with departmental stores and our own brand is something we got into only last year. We are also in talks with AND and Global Desi for retailing our brand." Sannam will soon be getting into designing other accessory ranges like shoes, bags and flip flops.

All of 27, Sannam has a long way ahead and huge plans for her brand. We personally love her hair accessories and can't wait to shoot with them. For now here are some product pictures, do leave your honest comments and visit her store if you like her work.

A Sunday sometime back

Jasleen's sabbatical and my withdrawal symptoms of not blogging enough has forced me to post pictures of me a few Sundays ago.

Sonu paired a denim dress with shorts

Dress, Bandra| shorts, Colaba Causeway| shoes, Habit| bag, Hues| glares, Mango

• Sunday dressing is usually comfortable and fun. A cotton or denim day dress will never let you down.
• Then there are days when you just want to be cozy and snugged and a dress wouldn't just do it, so I added a pair of shorts. Jasleen has similar shorts and wore it like this.
• Wore ballerina flats and no accessories to celebrate a perfect Sunday brunch.

(Pics: Yash Virkud)

Layering tips

This post was an obvious and an appropriate one since we have often been complimented on our 'skills' for layering. Sonu styled this quick shoot for iDiva where she revamps one dress in three ways simply by adding layers.

Look 1: Layer with accessories

• Pile on necklaces, belts and scarves to make your outfit interesting. Accessories can completely revamp your attire.
• But make sure not to add too many accessories at the same time. Start off with a belt and earrings or some beads and a tote.

White lace necklace, Curio Cottage, Rs 2,800; bangles and cuffs, Curio Cottage, approx. Rs 4,500; duffle bag, Sisley, Rs 5,499; wedges, Sisley, Rs 3,999

Look 2: Layer with a blazer:

• One of the simplest yet most rewarding forms of layering is by adding a blazer, vest or even a jacket.
• If you have a loose tunic or one that doesn't flatter you, add a blazer to give structure.
• To add an extra something, throw in a scarf to look formal yet chic.

Credits: Blazer, Zara, Rs 3,590; heels, Sisley, Rs 3,999; scarf necklace, Curio Cottage, Rs 1,800; ring Curio Cottage, Rs 900; bag, Sisley, Rs 3,999 

Look 3: Add a skirt or shorts

• Dresses are versatile, wear them as a tunic over jeggings or wear as a top under a skirt. Just make sure that the skirt has a longer hem than the dress.
• Make your wardrobe flexible to make the most of what you have.

Skirt, Vero Moda, Rs 2,375; shoes, Sisley, Rs 3,999; beach bag; Zara, Rs 2,590

Photos- Jitu Savlani; stylist- Sonu Bohra; Model- Tina Desai (Elite Model Management); Makeup- Tania Britto, Lakme Studio; Hair- Noori Gazi, Lakme Studio; Floral dress- Zara, Rs. 2,590 

JSo Original at Besos

Remember Anushka and Swati from Besos, the cute store we recommended a few days ago? They were nice enough to retail our JSo Original scarves in their stores in Kemps Corner and Bandra. The store invites innovative ideas and new talent, and we couldn't be happier.
Exclusively available at Besos, we have Egypt and Mexico for you. Do visit their stores to pick your very own JSo Original infinity scarf.

Now visit Besos for more reasons than one:

South Bombay
Shop No. 5, Advani Chambers, Ground Floor, Kemps Corner Mumbai, Maharashtra 400036 - 022 23614533

Suburbs
 Shop No-5, Shantivanam, Next To Gloria Jeans Cafe, Manuel Gonsalves Road, Bandra West, Mumbai - 400050

Things are clearer in B&W

We have been eyeing this black & white wall for a long time now, so here it goes!

Jasleen wore a classic beige shirt with corduroys in olive green

Pants & shirt, Mango| wrap, self-designed| shoes, Forever 21| bib necklace, Aldo, box bag, Forever New, bracelets, Colaba Causeway

• Corduroys is a great item to have in your wardrobe. They are versatile, wear them to work, to a park or for dinner.Jasleen's wearing her corduroys after a long long time. We were out on lunch and some meetings, this relaxed outfit was perfect for some catching up cum business date.
• The shirt and the pants looked very plain, so she added a shimmery wrap for a feminine touch. 
• A bib necklace is a statement piece for your outfit. If you’re going to wear a bib necklace casually, it’s fun and fabulous to wear rhinestones during the day with skinny jeans and flats. See how Jasleen has worn her necklace before, here and here.
• Accessories revamp your attire. Brighten your monotone attire with colourful shoes, bags or jewellery. Jasleen chose plaid ballerinas to add some colour to her attire.
  
  
  
  Sonu wore her Oriental-influenced pants with a long wrap

Drawstring pants, Mango| wrap, Promod| kurta, Colabla Causeway| wedges, Bandra| bucket bag, Oberoi Shopping Mall| brooch & ring, Curio Cottage

• Drawstring pants are the next best thing to pajamas. They are comfortable for a day full of meetings. Sonu's outfit is chic and relaxed for such a day in town. See how she wore these pants with a kurta here.
• To add a formal touch wear a waistcoat or a jacket. Sonu tried something new and added a wrap to present a business-like look, while the loose pants added a casual touch to it.
• To pin-up the wrap add a brooch and complete your look. This cameo brooch is something we both own and absolutely love. Looks very vintage, doesn't it?

Bright pops

A regular work day can be hectic. We had a lot of legwork to do today, so we we decided to keep it cool and casual.

Sonu OD-ed on her studded belt with a white shirt with bishop sleeves

Bishop sleeves shirt, Colaba Causeway| jeans, Mango| belt, Forever New| bag, C/O Pop Goes The Art by Nidhi Karnavat Chopra, wedges, Bandra

• Add shape to your loose-fitted shirts, with a cinched waist effect with the help of a belt.
• The belt jazzed up Sonu's entire outfit. See how Sonu wears the same belt on three different looks here, here and here!
• The bag adds colour to an otherwise dull outfit. It's so retro and useful at the same time on a busy day, perfect to fit in your laptop and papers.
• Wedges were a comfy choice, ideal to walk around without any aches or bites.

Jasleen wore a dress with linen pants

Dress (worn as a tunic), Satva| linen pants, Mango| chappals, Delhi| bag, Oberoi Shopping Mall| neckalce, Forever 21 (modified)

• Tunics are versatile. For example, Jasleen wears this tunic as a dress for night-outs with her favourite pair of Charles & Keith gladiators.
• Here, she decided to wear it with pants and the overdose of colour was fun. See how she wore the dress during a press shoot, here.
• Although, the dress can be worn with leggings, but ends up looking to Robinhood-ish. Pants or white-washed denims are a good choice for your bright-coloured tops or tunics.
• Chappals added a kitschy contrast to the bright emsemble, don't you think?

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Besos for you

We came across Besos a couple of years ago and thought of talking about them here because like us, this store is also run by a two girls. Swati Shah and Anushka Jagtiani are a young duo that recently opened their second garment store in Bandra after their first one, situated in the hip downtown Kemps Corner. Besos means KISSES in Spanish and as much as we love the name, we love that they stock some exclusive and interesting stuff. We especially dig their jewellery and are proud owners of two pieces ourselves, which we will showcase shortly :)

You have to check out their shirts that are custom-made and their signature pieces. A little steep at Rs. 1,600 you might think, but it's one of those classic pieces that fit like a dream and are a must in your closet. We recommend the one in fuchsia.

A welcome break from some mass produced brands, visit it if you get a chance and let us know what you think!

Visit their site: http://www.besos.in/

Address:
South Bombay
Shop No. 5, Advani Chambers, Ground Floor, Kemps Corner Mumbai, Maharashtra 400036 - 022 23614533

Suburbs
 Shop No-5, Shantivanam, Next To Gloria Jeans Cafe, Manuel Gonsalves Road, Bandra West, Mumbai - 400050

The Queen's Necklace

Marine Drive looks beautiful during the rains so we couldn't pass the opportunity to visit the sea. Every year, hoards of Bombayites and tourists flock to to the sea-side at Marine Drive and Worli Seaface to experience the Bombay rains. When the tide is high and waves overflow onto the promenade, it makes a breath-taking sight. Although we didn't wait around to be drenched, we enjoyed our time there.

Jasleen paired black jeggings with an embroidered shirt worn as a jacket

 Shirt, Fashion Street| jeggings, Aldo| mojris, Delhi| white t-shirt, Chemistry| bag, Oberoi Shopping Centre

Sonu paired a monochrome dress (worn as a blouse) and skirt with an ornate belt

Dress (worn as a blouse), FCUK| scalloped skirt, Fashion Street| belt, Forever New| elephant ring, Curio Cottage| pyramid studs bracelet, Claires| wantch, vintage| ballerinas, Peices

Fashion Bombay in Vogue.in

We were lucky enough to be part of Vogue.in and were featured in the Blog Section of Vogue.in for the second time. Here's a glimpse of how it looked and for those who haven't logged on to their website, this is where you click to reach their site.
Some of you may have seen this entry before, but we had to share the news with you guys anyways.

About JSo Style

JSo Style is a fashion venture started by two writers/ stylists, Jasleen Kaur Gupta and Sonu Bohra. Fashion Bombay is an initiative to further that venture.
As friends and partners, we are not only passionate about fashion but also believe that fashion be made into a sustainable and essential commodity. We noticed that in a place like India, people tend to dress up only for special occasions like weddings and parties; in the bargain they forget that fashion is actually an extension of who they are. At Fashion Bombay we believe that fashion is a way of celebrating life and we want to spread the word.
Recyclable, affordable and mix-and-match fashion is what we propagate. We love hand-me downs and heirloom pieces passed on by mums and family. This is the thought process we want to take forward in the various services and wardrobe solutions we offer to our clients.

Styling:

A professional service provided for editorials, advertisements and personal portfolios. JSo Style has 2 years of experience in styling models, celebrities and real people. The styling list includes celebrities like Amrita Rao, Gul Panag, Amrita Patki, Sarah Jane, Vipasha Agarwal, Anushka Manchanda among others.

From luxe looks, wedding ensembles to casual chic and affordable buys, JSo Style has styled all kinds of shoots and even consults with the hair and makeup person to determine a comprehensive look and feel for the entire shoot.

iDiva, The Times of India, Time & Style, Flamante, Oops!, and Salon International, are some of the publications they have worked with.

Personal Shopping:

As personal shoppers JSo Style can provide complete wardrobe solutions for specific wardrobe needs. The company can help you spend your shopping money wisely to suit to style, body type, personal tastes and educate you on basic fashion needs. We can also help you chalk out specific wardrobes like a casual wardrobe, an office wardrobe, evening clothes etc.

Wedding Shopping:

Your special day can be overwhelming. JSo Style can help you plan your wedding clothes, trousseau and even honeymoon suitcase. From what colours to wear for events to the most affordable styles, personal tailoring, embroideries to fitting it all in your budget, you will need to worry about nothing!

Content Building:

A service especially designed for fashion and lifestyle magazines and websites, the expertise at JSo Style and Fashion Bombay can be combined to provide exclusive and original content in the form of articles, story ideas, expert Q & A's, managing blogs and blog content.

 Consultancy:

A service designed to suit individuals and corporates, JSo Style can provide one to one consultancies as well as group sessions on fashion, etiquette and basic grooming. This will also include tips on makeup, hairstyles and customised wardrobe plans.

 CONTACT US

You can contact us on info@fashion-bombay.com.