For The Price of a Jersey (Part Two)

Could you purchase a whole outfit for the equivalent of a football jersey? was the question I set out to answer in this series. (Quick update: The footie jersey is from Adidas and costs Rs 4999. It's the German one. Which, if purchased by your significant other was a complete waste of money seeing as how Germany crashed out of the World Cup! Your clothes on the other hand, will be able to be used whatever the footie outcome.)

As I laid out in the previous post, you certainly can if you shop at cheaper stores like H&M. But what about Zara or the refurbished (and pricier) Mango? It does take a bit of poking around, but you can certainly manage it.

Total: Rs 4780

If you want an outfit for that price from Mango, you have to be ready to compromise a bit. A two piece is out of the question - half of their blouses cross the 2k mark! But this dress is a great choice. I do believe it comes in black as well (which is important to me when it comes to this weather!) but you can't see the details on the black one as well as you can on this. I'm a fan of the cute buttons down the front as well as the belt. I'd probably wear this with some kind of tee or top underneath, simply because I think it would fall too low for me. This costs Rs 2390. Not the cheapest, but usually Mango's quality is slightly better than Zara.

Because I was thinking of the black version of the dress, I chose these slides. I love the buckle detail. It's something that's very trendy right now. And a good pair of slides is really a lifesaver. From the gym to running errands to stashing in your bag when you go clubbing, flats come in handy in a lot of situations. These aren't cheap, they're Rs 2390 as well. But compared to stores like Charles & Keith and Aldo, they're affordable. I've never bought a pair of shoes from Mango (and why I don't know. I need to remedy that immediately!) so I can't tell you whether or not they're comfortable. But they do look good, and all the stuff I've heard about Mango's shoe range suggests that they are comfy.

If you're not a shoe person, or if you want to blow the budget, you can opt for these gold danglers instead. Statement earrings are such a summer thing, and these are delicate and pretty and will go perfectly with the dress. They're not cheap at all for junk jewellery - cost, Rs 1390 - but if you want your ears to be noticed, they're just the thing.

Total: Rs 5570.

My first outfit from Zara completely blows the budget. Well, if you didn't buy the earrings, it wouldn't. But I like the earrings! I've got a choice of two shirtdresses that both cost Rs 2590. I love the asymmetrical buttons of this chambray one. It's a lovely light, loose, summer fit as well.

However I also love this dress. It looks horrendous in a flat-lay I'll admit. But it looks great on. It's another one of the loose, airy, summer dresses that are so great in this weather.

I'd wear both dresses with these brown sandals. They have just the sort of minimalist vibe that the dresses need. These cost Rs 1990.

Earrings are not really needed. But I think these gold and brown hoops are such a lovely thing for this weather. You could also wear them with the other outfit I've chosen. These cost Rs 990.

I didn't count on this post being so incredibly long! I'll put the final Zara outfit in a third post, as that has a choice of tops as well. Look out for that on Monday.

Till next time,

MumbaiGirl.

IG: @maryannecp

Photo Credits: All pictures are taken from the brands' websites. Most are from the New In sections. 

The main photograph belongs to me.

For The Price of a Jersey (Part One)

For anyone living under a rock, the World Cup aka the footie has begun. While your father/brother/sister/boyfriend/girlfriend or whoever hogs the telly at all sorts of odd hours to watch matches, and expounds like some kind of pundit on all things football, what's a fashionista to do? Well, we can scan the 'net and find whole outfits for the price of a single footie jersey.

Or at least, that was the challenge I set myself. The football jersey in question - the one I'm wearing in the pic - is the German one. (Quick footie lesson: Germany are the current reigning champions. However their form has been miserable and they're going to have to depend on luck to make it into the Round of 16. Yes, I'm a fashionista who keeps up with football. I even know the offside rule!) The jersey costs a whopping Rs 4999 from Adidas. With inflation and taxes being what they are today, is it possible to get an outfit, and I mean a cute, season appropriate outfit, for that price without resorting to the sales? It is.

Let's begin with H&M since I didn't include them in my Changing Room series. I flipped through their website and found the perfect rainy season skirt.

How adorable is this?? And it's not a leaf on white print, it's actually beige. So great for the weather, because mud and muck stains usually wash out beige. The skirt costs Rs 1499. I found three options when it came to teaming it up.

The first look comes in slightly over budget at Rs 5046.

I chose this ruffled off-white blouse for anyone who's super girly. It is very pretty and will look lovely tucked in or left out. The blouse is Rs 1999.

Not wanting it to be too twee, I chose these raffia-effect loafers. Again the beige-y colour means that stains will look like part of the pattern. These cost Rs 1299.

These days can be quite humid and muggy, so why not twist your hair up in style with a rose gold hair claw? This one costs Rs 249.

My next option comes in quite under budget at Rs 4695.

Despite the weather, I chose a white tee. I thought this would be nice on those really sunny, humid days that pop up in between bouts of rainfall. It's only Rs 399, so in case it does get spoiled, you won't be crying.

I chose these slip-on mules. I'm really obsessed with them. I'm now considering investing in a pair myself for later on in the year. They're quite economical as far as High Street shoes go. They cost Rs 1299.

To add a bit of interest to the outfit, I chose these rose gold sunglasses that cost Rs 699. A very good price, might I say. Another thing I'm looking into purchasing.

And accessory-wise, I thought these tasseled earrings would be eye-catching enough. They cost Rs 799.

The final option, and my choice from these three comes in at Rs 4895.

I love this beige tee. I think it's exactly what you need from a light-coloured tee in this weather. It is expensive for a t-shirt. It costs Rs 1299. But I just love the colour and the cut.

My shoe choice is the cheapest of the lot. These ballet flats are Rs 799. I have had H&M ballet flats before, and they were really comfy. I wore them to death - literally. So I have high hopes for these. Again, the beige-y colour allows for staining which is so necessary in the monsoon.

I chose these copper-y aviators. I feel this colour will match the overall beige tones of the outfit much better than the rose gold ones. These are the same price (Rs 699). So if you wanted, you could switch the sunnies around.

Beige tones can make an outfit feel dull, so I decided that this gold necklace would make it a bit more girly and delicate. This costs Rs 599. I like the gold disks. They have a very Misoma feel to them.

I also did chose some outfits from Zara and Mango, which I'll be posting on Thursday. Look out for that!

Till next time,

MumbaiGirl.

IG: @maryannecp

Photo Credits: All pictures except the header are taken from the H&M website. Most are from their New-In section.

The header aka the Germany jersey pic is my own.

Changing Room Tales - Mango

As promised, I hopped on over to Mango this week to check out whether or not the new styles and new prices were worth it. This is what I tried on, and this is what I thought...

Before Mango shut down for their refurbishment, I was a huge fan. You could regularly spot the Mango pieces in my wardrobe. In fact, I have some Mango pieces that date back four or five years and still wear them very often. I liked Mango's quality - for a fast fashion chain, most of their pieces were well made and lasted a long time. But, what of the 'new' (so to speak) version of Mango. The prices listed on their website had me opening my eyes. I certainly would not pay that much for a High Street brand. So I popped into their store in the Kurla mall for a look-see.

I was pleased to note that not everything has reached ridiculous prices. This dress is about Rs 1800. It's well-cut and the fabric feels nice and thick. Although I wasn't the biggest fan of the drop-sleeves, they can always be cut off. The black means it's a great dress to wear in this weather. Did I snap it up? You bet!

This wrap dress on the other hand, didn't impress me at all. As you can see, it's really too big for me around the waist. What you can't see is that the top is actually a little bit too small. Minus my phone, I would have been flashing my bra. Apparently - or at least as far as Mango (and Zara, they're notorious for this too) is concerned - women who are slim also aren't bigger than an A cup. If you are one of those lucky few, this might be a nice dress to pick up. For the rest of us, head over to Project Eve. Their wrap dresses are amazing!

Since I still haven't found the perfect denim shorts, I thought why not try these. Well, they were the only ones in the store anyway. But at practically Rs 3000, (Rs 2990 to be specific) they weren't what I was looking for. Denim shorts are never permanent members of my wardrobe and I flatly refuse to spend more than Rs 1500 on something that is likely to be chucked out by next year. They were comfy, and the denim felt both sturdy and soft and worn in. But I still think it's too much money.

I liked the tee a lot more. It was Rs 690, and well worth the price. Both Mango and Zara make their tees to last. I have worn T-shirts from both brands to the gym on a regular basis and they have survived years of washing and wear and tear. Their tees usually last me around three to four years. And I feel that this one will follow in the footsteps of its predecessors.

Since there is a sale going on - buy three pieces and the cheapest one is free - I decided to go whole hog and buy another tee. I really liked this one with the guitar print. Plus it's black, so fitting in with my colour scheme for this weather. I bought this in a size M as I wanted to wear it with leggings and so required a looser fit.

I did not like the skirt I tried on with it though. It was again oddly proportioned. The thigh area while not being tight, pulled very awkwardly when I tried to move. However the waist was a tad loose. I'm not quite sure how Spanish women are proportioned, but here in India where women tend towards a more hourglass kind of figure, I don't think this would fit many women well. If you're straight up and down, this would probably work. If not, this is not the skirt for you!

The last thing I tried on was this top. Now, there's nothing wrong with it. It fits well. The straps are ties and so adjustable. The material was nice. And it's a great style for this weather. However, it was priced at Rs 1790. Yup, the same as the dress. There's no way on earth that this is worth that amount. Rs 1000, sure. Even Rs 1200, I would say fine for the quality is good. But more than that? No flipping way! So, no, I did not buy it. Should you be the kind of person to spend a bomb on a basic top, it is a very nice one. But it is nothing more than a basic summer top. 

All in all, I quite liked the new Mango. The quality still seems to be good. Their fitting rooms are great. The selection is wide. It's not really a store for teens and young adults anymore. It's really transformed into something for working women. For proper adults who have jobs to go to, families to spend time with, and who want to look grown up while being comfy. There are the odd pieces here and there that will go down well on a college or uni campus. But for the most part, this is office and ladies who lunch wear territory. I'm very happy with the items I bought. Now let's see how well they wear!

Till next time,

MumbaiGirl.

IG: @maryannecp

New In: My Mini Monsoon Haul

The monsoons don't really inspire me to shop. Yes, I know, that doesn't seem quite right. But with the prospect of getting your clothes flecked with muck and sodden with water, I never really feel like showing off new clothes. Which means when I hit the stores, something has to be beyond amazing for me to purchase it. However, there are a few things that I do wind up buying during the rainy season. (You knew this was coming, admit it!) Leggings, cropped leggings, cropped trousers, cropped joggers - anything that ends at knee level really are all handy to have during this time of year. Given that they usually wind up wrecked by monsoon end, I always need a piece or two in my closet. Black or darker coloured tees are a staple too. I own a lot of white and lighter coloured tees. But aside from a few basic ones, black tees are only bought during the rains.

I pointed this daisy one out a few weeks ago in a Changing Room series. I loved the fit and the colour and bought it. I absolutely love it. One of the best parts for me was how lightweight the material is. I know that could prove problematic over the course of several weeks of washes, but it is perfect for this weather. The tee dries within a couple of hours on an outside line and in under five indoors. With wet, humid weather and the problem of drying clothes - because let's face it, driers don't usually do all the work - this kind of material is what you need. I can quite see this being my go-to during June, July and August.

Another tee I picked up was this one from Lifestyle. This is a slightly thicker material, but I love the slouchiness. It makes it perfect for leggings and cropped items. (Also, incidentally, how good are Instagram's filters? Apply one and all your photo lighting issues fade away!)

I picked up this cropped, dark tee from Pantaloons. The red is actually sparkly, which has a brightening effect on the general dullness. Do note that most of my purchases during this time tend to be from the cheaper stores. I do know that dark colours are no guarantee of mud and muck not showing - and don't want to have to chuck an expensive tee in case the worst happens.

I'm most looking forward to wearing this tee from Westside. It's bright enough for the dullest day and it's got long sleeves. It could practically be a cropped sweater, only the material's much thinner. A great thing, since only the most insane  - or ill - amongst us would wear things like sweaters during a humid, sticky monsoon. (I have never pleaded guilty of sanity though. So don't be too shocked if you bump into me wearing a cropped sweater.)

The button detail down the sleeves is super cute. Although they're fake buttons, not real ones. I see myself wearing this with skirts, shorts and cropped leggings.

Kind of like these, which I got from Vero Moda. (They were on sale for approx Rs 850.) They are a stretchy, lightweight denim material. It's a great alternative to jeans in this weather. I never wear jeans during the monsoon. Should they get wet, they'll never dry! Not for days, at the very least. I prefer to play it safe with other, quick-drying materials. These leggings are extremely comfy and the stretch is excellent. I had eaten a burger, a taco, garlic bread, pancakes and drank a flavoured soda and another glass of juice by the time this pic was taken, and I never felt the waistband closing in on me!

Also from Vero Moda, are this pair of wellies. You might remember I showed some red ones in my blog post from a week ago. These are one of the other colours they come in. They were on sale as well for approximately a thousand bucks, and I felt it was money worth investing. I like them a lot. I wouldn't necessarily say that they will be amazing in torrential rain. I just feel that the lower the body of the boot, the easier it is for water to sneak in, but they will keep your feet dry on regular rainy days. And you'll definitely be protected from muck and mulch no matter what the weather might be! I bought them in my regular size, but if you have smallish feet, either keep a pair of insoles handy, or size down. I do feel I could have gotten away with one size smaller than I normally wear.

Okay, I'm never gonna wear these outside, but they were Rs 799 at Westside, so I thought, what the heck. I missed the furry and fluffy slipper trend mostly because I was unable to find a pair of slippers that were comfy. Aldo's never had my size. Zara's weren't the exact kind I wanted. And Forever 21's were so horrid to wear, I took them off after six seconds. For those like me who've been dying to get in on this, they come in blush pink too. Size up, they'll be comfier.

Last, but definitely not least, is this studded belt I got from Forever New. I am such a fan of these pearl studs. I think this will match perfectly with my Zara slides. 

It's got three snap buttons to do it up. And this is what the pearl studs look like up close. I got it at a bit of discount. It cost me around Rs 990. I don't know how much I'll use it during the rains, as I don't wear much that requires a belt. But this is the kind of thing that you can wear year round. Plus it will look good no matter what the style or trend of the moment is, which is why I snapped it up.

I do want to get a peek inside Mango to round of my Changing Room series. I used to love Mango a ton. Then they went downhill. Now they're back from refurbishment, and I'm dying to see whether or not the stuff is worth the extremely high prices they're currently charging. Look out for that post soon.

Till next time,

MumbaiGirl.

IG: @maryannecp

Umbrellas Vs Raincoats

Never open an umbrella indoors, we're told, it's bad luck. I personally think it's because you'll get a rotten picture. The umbrella cuts off pretty much all the light!!

When it comes to the monsoon, your choice of raingear says plenty about you - and not always what you think! So what should you choose? And what's better in this unpredictable weather?

The folding umbrella that fits into even the tiniest bag is a very practical choice. For anyone who is outside everyday - aka the school-going and working crowd - this makes perfect sense. You don't want to be caught out in a shower, but equally you don't want to be lugging a huge umbrella around with you all day. Also, you don't want to have to find an awning to duck under to have to take out a raincoat or rain jacket and then have all the faff of putting the darn thing on! Be warned though, folding umbrellas do not do well in torrential downpours. They won't keep your bottom half dry. Plus they're likely to turn inside out in heavy winds. If you live near the sea you'll know exactly what I mean. 

A large umbrella is useful for sounding the depths of puddles in a downpour. It will also protect you far, far better than a folding one will. But they are an absolute pain to carry around. Unless you happen to be a doorman or a chauffeur, I frankly think large umbrellas are only worth it during a rainstorm.

I've always been a fan of parkas and anoraks. For the uninitiated, they are fancy words for raincoats. When you're travelling, they fold up small and fit into a suitcase. You don't have the faff of carrying them, you just wear them - and you usually get a few extra pockets into the bargain. I especially love those raincoats that fold into tiny pouches you can chuck into your bag. This one from Primark is a perfect example of that. On this wet day in Normandy (we were on the beaches where the Allies landed in WW2) it kept me and my camera dry. Like with the foldable umbrellas, these type of raincoats aren't going to cut it in a full-on downpour.

On those type of days, you're better off choosing something like this one from Zara. This even has covered zips on the pockets to make sure that not the tiniest drop of rain goes through. The hood has a brim which keeps the rain off your face very well. The only problem is, of course, the fact that it's made of a thickish plastic-y material. Unless it's pouring, you will wind up perspiring in this jacket. Raincoats are for those who do a lot of travelling or use public transport during the monsoon. You can't always guarantee that the seats in the train or the cab will be dry. A jacket means you can sit down without the fear of soaking your outfit through and through. If you travel via motorbike, no umbrella is going to keep you dry! You'd better look into raincoats and rain jackets.

What's my rain gear of choice? I'm a bit paranoid during the monsoons, so I have everything on the list. I usually carry a small umbrella, but depending on the weather you might find me in wellies, with my Zara jacket and a huge umbrella! (Yes, I am that person.)

But what do you carry during the monsoon??

Till next time,

MumbaiGirl.

IG: @maryannecp 

Monsoon Shopping Mania - The Shoes

Running through the monsoon....So went a song by a German pop group called Tokio Hotel. (Google it, if you want to know more. The German version is called 'Durch Den Monsun'.) If you want to run, or indeed, walk through the rains, you need the right footwear.

Yes, you can stroll down Hill Road and buy the fake Crocs or the 'aunty-style' shoes they sell at this time of the year. But, should you want to dip your toe into uncharted waters, and get something a little more suited to your style and your wardrobe, read on. I've checked a bunch of websites for a collection of rainshoes that won't make you look like you're  one of the herd.

Like everything in life, your style of shoe depends on what your wardrobe and your lifestyle are like. These jelly flats from Nine West will work perfectly for most working women. The bejewelled T-strap is the right amount of bling for class and elegance. Black will go with most working wardrobes. Plus the simple, open sandal means that you can wash your feet easily, should the occasion arise. You don't necessarily need to remove your shoes.

Let's say you work from home, or spend much of your day in the house. All you really need when it comes to rainwear is a pair of shoes that you can slip on quickly to run errands or pick the kids up from the school bus. They must add a bit of pizzaz to your casual, daily wear. The answer is this pair from Forever 21. The Birkenstock style is exactly what you want from a pair of errand-running flip-flops. The colour is trendy and different. Stick these on and even your basic, cropped, black leggings and oversize tee will feel fresh and rain ready.

So you're the girliest, trendiest girl to ever hit a college. Daddy's expensive car and driver drop you off each morning, and pick you up at the end of the day. But there are still those puddles to negotiate in the open passageways and on the grounds. These clear plastic sandals from Forever 21 have been sent to answer your prayers. You're bang on trend - clear plastic is the footwear material right now. You don't have to submit to the indignities of some fugly Crocs. And best of all, the fact that you can brave your legs out right now speaks to your wealth. No poor girl, travelling by train or bus could afford to wear shoes as minimal as these. Their feet would be covered in muck in twenty seconds. Is there anything else you need, really??

What if you're a tomboy, or just that all the glitter that abounds on shoes in this season makes you ill? Well, Vero Moda have just what you need. This Chelsea boot style wellington! Think of how good this will look with your boyfriend jeans - rolled up a bit, natch, to avoid the puddles. With shorts or cargoes, this is a no-fail. And should you not fancy red, they come in two other colours!

You're the type of person who likes to be ahead of the pack. Your pet peeve is walking down a street and seeing someone in a similar style, or with a similar outfit. Also, you simply can't stand the rains. I mean, the muck and mulch on the ground. The filthy streets! The sickeningly icky public transportation! If you have to set foot outside, it's all you can do to keep from vomiting at the mess. Make like the Brits, I say, and choose a pair of wellies. These polka-dot ones are from Forever 21. But be warned, there are a lot of your kind out there. This pair are nearly sold out. The ones I'm wearing in the pic at the top of the page came from one of those (now defunct) Chinese goods stores that used to line Hill Road. If you have the cash, Saks sell Hunters and ship them to India. Plus Forever 21 does have a few pairs of Doc-style rainboots. Wellies mean that you will never be bothered by the muck, the deepness of puddles or any kind of flooding. If you have to walk, you have no fears of being randomly bitten by some rat or the suchlike and catching an infectious disease. (Mosquitoes are a whole other tale!) They work well with leggings, jeans, dresses and skirts. (Be warned, they can look a bit trashy with shorts and rompers.) They'll also come in handy if you choose to visit the UK in the autumn. This is the footwear you need while mucking around the countryside. (Trust me, been there, done that.)

Now that you've got the footwear sorted, let's talk about the rest of the stuff you'll need. Umbrellas vs raincoats. They'll tell us their pros and cons on Thursday.

Till next time,

MumbaiGirl.

IG: @maryannecp

Photo Credits: All pictures except the title one and the Nine West are taken from the brands' websites.

The Nine West shoes are from the Major Brands website.

The title picture is mine.