I cannot open my wardrobe without bags of new clothes cascading out. The shoe cabinets too are protesting like children who don’t want another forcefully-fed spoonful of porridge. So now, the boot of my car is full of just acquired shoes and bags I shopped for online. The office desk too hasn’t been spared. (As you have guessed, minimalism and I can never be friends. Frenemies, maybe.)
You cannot blame me… around this time of the year, I am like a horse with blinkers, and all I can see are boards that have SALE written in big bold letters. ‘Up to 70 per cent off’ or even better ‘Flat 50 per cent off’ — now how does anyone resist that?
But while maniacally piling on the many LBDs, fragrances and nude pumps, we tend to forget some fashion must-haves that can make a world of difference to your choice of ensemble. These are what made it to my shopping bag…
Bow ties
Stop frantically hunting for a suit and trousers. You don’t need them. Bow ties are versatile; they can be teamed with almost anything from formal shirts and cocktail dresses to knitted tops worn with a pair of shorts. I like wearing mine with an off-shoulder top — preferably a solid top with a vibrant bow tie that works like a choker and adds a pop of colour. It looks just as swell over a sweater.
Another fun option is to get two identical bow ties and wear them around your ankles with stilettos. For example, if you’re wearing a plain black pair, get printed bows or those in contrasting shades of orange, hot pink or yellow (depending on your outfit).
Flirty and fun, bow ties are of three types: pre-tied, clip-on and self-tie. For klutzes, the pre-tied ones work well.
There’s a variety available online starting at Rs.150, or if you wish to burn a hole in your pocket, feel free to bag one by Hermes (USD 155) or Yves Saint Laurent (USD 625).
Nail decals
Not once have I had a manicure or painted my nails without chipping off the paint within half an hour. Also, my polish-applying skills are far from exemplary. Often, they end up looking like the moon’s surface, with craters, mounds and all. So, when I first got introduced to nail decals, it made me feel like Archimedes when he discovered the law of buoyancy. I giggled in delight and hopped around the store shrieking ‘Eureka!’ Decals are basically stickers in the shape of nails. There are myriad patterns to choose from — animal and food prints, Aztec, Hello Kitty, 3D, florals… I recommend oil spill (these are a psychedelic mix of metallics), watermelons, decals with letters (you can spell out whatever you want) and bejewelled ones.
Here’s how it works: Just paint your nail with a base coat, paste the decals on your nails and file out the extras sticking out. Once that’s done, apply a few layers of top coat, so the decals stay longer.
Quirky-shaped minaudière
Minaudière is not a French dessert. Though, these days, they do come in the shapes and colours of sinful desserts. It is quite simply a small, embellished evening bag. Its origin dates back to the 1930s — they were considered to be a piece of jewellery, as they were made of gold, silver, crystals and semi-precious stones. Over the years, they’ve acquired new shapes. Judith Leiber has some delicious crystal-encrusted palm candies. There’s a glittering golden pyramid, a shiny red rose, a majestic jaguar… my pick is the strawberry ice-cream cone resplendent with Austrian crystals. So, what keeps me from owning it? The price tag — it’s USD 4,995. Luckily, there are other alternatives. Like the delightful collection by Skinnydip (available on Koovs and ASOS) that comes in shapes of red lips, white rockets, purple planets, silver fuel cans, peach videogames… all at a fraction of a price, around Rs. 1,750!
Block heels
You’re in the middle of a party and you suddenly realise there’s a Pokemon lurking around and you just have to catch it. What do you do? Unglamorously remove your stilettos and go chasing after it? Sneakers are the best for such scenarios, but do you really want to wear those with that girly lace dress? Invest in a pair of block heels. Take it from someone who trips more than the electricity during summer – block heels are comfortable enough to wear during Pokémon hunting or for a long walk with a date.
A style staple of the 70s, it spent decades in oblivion after the sleek stilettos rose to fame. But now, they are back and have found a place in almost every fashion haven — from Salvatore Ferragamo and Giuseppe Zanotti, to high street brands like Topshop, ZARA and River Island. The length of the heels varies — from barely there to five inches and more. They even have their own patterns, independent of what the rest of the shoe looks like. Clearly, these are the showstoppers.
