I'll start off by saying I haven't lived in India all that much. So, I go all out when I dress up in Indian attire for any occasion. Well, as all out as I can go within my comfort level. But, sometimes I just love mixing my Indian separates with my Western pieces. It's so much fun and very wearable when you're meeting people for a meal or a drink.
Most of my Indian separates are bottoms -- usually skirts. But a few years ago, during Diwali, I got a pair of Palazzo Trousers. I have usually stayed away from anything except fitted trousers. Mainly, because I haven't found any that fits right. More importantly, I feel that if you're a little top-heavy (like I am), wide-legged trousers just make you look like a big blob! But I did somehow try to make it work this time, for once.
I don't really remember where I got the Palazzos from. But, they're a very pretty blue with embossed motifs. They have a wide band at the waist and I usually wear them a little higher on the waist. I do this with a lot of my trousers and skirts to create the illusion of longer legs. You work with what you have, right? They are a little longer than necessary. But they work perfectly when I wear my heels with them. One tip I've always used while shopping for bottoms is to carry a pair of your most worn pair of heels. So, you'd be able to see how they look with heels and without. This way you'd know if you would like them altered in any way or not. For this particular pair, I let it be long. I usually pair this pair with a blouse from Express or Ann Taylor. They're my favourite places to pick up my workwear tops and blouses. I try to contrast the colours in my outfits instead of color blocking. This particular coral pinkish colored blouse is one of my favourites. The collarless shirt especially complements flowing skirts and this particular pair of palazzos.
All in all, I think this look worked extremely well. I've worn this whenever we did a family dinner but I didn't feel I had to go all out and haul out my sarees! I paired the outfit with very natural makeup with bright lips. For accessories, I wore big, dangling earrings, a bejeweled headband and a pair of wedges. Very simple indeed!
Let me know what are the amalgamation of your culture with your everyday that you use in outfits you pick for a special day or night event!
Cheers!
Madhu x
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