Feeling 22!

Birthdays always tend to provoke a time of reflection for me. It seriously feels like yesterday that I blew the candles for my 21st and was on my way to one of the biggest ‘turn-ups’ of my life. While growing up all this while, birthdays were eagerly anticipated by me because they meant change. Another year older, another grade higher. A year closer to some idealized fantasy birthdays with all its imagined privileges: closer to 13: "Hey I am a teenager" to16 :"Well! I go to college" to 18 : "Oh, Yes! I can drive" to 21: "Legal & Free" Now, when I am turning 22 it seems like birthdays are more about how much time has passed rather than how much time is ahead.

Dress: Forever New; Shoes: Aldo; On My Lips: L'oreals La Vie En Rose in the shade Katrina

Picture Courtesy: Sanjana Das

Life changes day by day and you don't even come to know what's happening until you sit down one fine day and browse through those memories or that impromptu reminiscence strikes your head out of no where. Sometimes we control the change, sometimes it totally blindsides us, but either way, we are always in control of our *attitude* towards change. I have been thoroughly lucky with the major changes which took over me over this passed one year. I never wanted to do a 9 AM -5 PM desk job ever since I was in college. I stayed adamant on that fact, letting not the peer- pressure take over me and here I am today; being the #GirlBoss which I always wanted to be. A happy free lancer, a full-time work-a-holic constantly juggling between brands and projects. Ah!! what a journey its been and still a milestone to achieve!

To be honest, what you wear on your birthday really depends on what you’re doing. If it is something casual, obviously dress accordingly. However, if you’re going to be the belle of the ball at a party, I think a chic short dress with some unusual but interesting details is the way to go. Just like the one I am wearing in this blog post. Its such a simple yet versatile short dress but I love the lace work and the turtle neck details. And I also believe that dressing up does make you feel special so make sure you do it right on your most special day!

Also sneak into what I am upto today by adding me on snap chat, username: neha.vora ;)

Pastels & Polka

We’ve all been told that before you can find a healthy, happy & a loving relationship, it is essential to love yourself. But how does one cultivate such a love? Finding love, peace and happiness in life does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, no challenges, and no hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things while remaining calm in your heart. It’s about letting go of the pictures in your head about how things were “supposed to be.”

And in today’s always-connected world it’s even harder to keep things in perspective. Our lives are literally unfolding on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat. We use these social technologies, to showcase the best parts of our lives: the beautiful weddings and enviable vacations, the finished projects, and the best smiles. But we forget that we’re only seeing everyone else’s highlight reel too – not the sleepless nights, the failed attempts, the moments of grief and self-doubt, isn't that true? Well! Think about it :)

Top: Asos; Nude Camisole: Zara; Skirt: Forever21; Earrings: Platinum Mall, Bangkok; Shoes: Zara

Picture Courtesy: Sanjna Urval

One of my favourite recurring Spring/Summer trends is pastels. Pretty pinks, pale blues and soft lemon shades are feminine and flattering on almost all skin tones. I wanted to create a simple but chic look using my wardrobe basics. Adding a neutral colour to pastels is always a good idea so I paired this gorgeous pastel skirt with a polka crop and a nude camisole followed by these gold block heel sandals. I am a sucker for good co‑ord and hence matched my accessories on point. Now that you know, flounce out those pastel outfits and swipe off your favourite lipstick across your face, some sunglasses and get off to that stylish brunch this weekend!

Candy Coloured!

 Pink Blazer: H&M; Yellow Top: Only; Denim Shorts: GAP; Sunglasses: Fancy Pants; Kors; Shoes: Zara; Bag: Michael Kora

Picture Courtesy: Sanjna Urval

Fashion has taken a minimalistic approach. With a lot of colour palettes steering away from intricate patterns or fabrics, majority of women are using basic colours to make their outfits visually interesting. Inspired by the more vibrant and warm weathered seasons that are approaching us, I feel that now is an appropriate time to talk about one of the most basic principles of fashion design and styling: colour. Spring and summer garments hold a great deal of colour possibilities. A new colour combination can add innovation to a seemingly dull wardrobe and can completely transform a look from winter to spring, spring to summer, and so on. Colour theory is relevant to several aspects of style besides clothing as well. For example, hair colour, makeup choices, interior design, and more are all types of style and design that revolve around colour choice. To get that colour block on point, you have to know which colours complement each other best. As fun as it sounds, you can't just pile on every colour you find in your wardrobe, you will end up looking like the human rainbow. While it may seem intimidating at first, it really is easy for piecing together flattering and unlikely colour combinations. To be great at anything, you first have to know the rules so you may test them and break them, if you so choose to. Here are a few points you should keep in mind while Colour Blocking:

• Stick to 2 – 3 colours
• Pair it with plain neutrals
• Don’t wear the bright pieces on your trouble areas, it will make pooches, poofs and padding look 10x worse.
• Use separates to build an outfit, not just a single garment with 3 stacked colours built in
• Play with it!

If you're still a little colour shy, you can start off with a bright handbag, necklace, head band or belt. This is such a fun and exciting way to experiment with different colour combinations. It's up to you to interpret it according to your personal style.