Hi everyone! We're already one month into the new year. Indeed, January just flew by! This January look book is a mixed bag of casual weekend and dressy outfits. Here's a look at the 4 styles I sported:

You could say that animal print never went out of style. But somehow, it's all over the racks this season. I was too attracted to this animal print sweatshirt not to get it when I saw it SheIn.com. It served me well during my trip to Mumbai last December when the weather was cooler. And I'm happy to say that I've had occasions to wear it in Singapore during the cooler, breezy month of January as well. Here I paired with denim shorts which I got from Cotton On. By the way, Cotton On is a great store for cheap closet essentials and casual wear. (Side note: I also like their swimwear and activewear, which is more affordable than other stores).

SheIn Leopard Panel Drop Shoulder Sweatshirt | CottonOn shorts | RUBI tennis shoes

You guys know I love bright colored outfits, right? Then you can imagine that this dress was something I totally fell for during my Mumbai shopping. The dress is from Westside and comes with a matching belt. I quite liked Westside for its offering of different size ranges and also ethnic and Indowestern wear.

Westside (brand is Bombay Paisely) | Charles & Keith shoes | Espirit bag |
Tassle earrings from street shopping in Singapore 

When I visited Mumbai, I was amazed by the varieties of pants you can buy. Harem pants, dhoti pants, skinny pants, baggy pants, wide legged pants, churidars, etc...So many options! I got these flowy black pants from a store called Rangriti which was having a sale. These light, breathable culottes cost me INR 450 (essentially SGD $8.5!). I paired it here with a cropped animal-print top purchased from Cotton On. Also, did you guys notice my handbag? I had ordered the Staud clear bag online from Shopbop. I love the unique look of this handbag and also amazed at how roomy it is inside (it can hold a whole lotta stuff so yay for practicality!).

CottonOn Carla Button Front Tank | Rangriti pants | Staud Shirley bag
| Gladiator sandals from Mumbai street shopping 

Lastly, this outfit is my attempt to style a (faux) leather skirt. I had previously worn it several months ago and had forgotten I had it. When I rediscovered it, I decided to revive it out of my closet. I paired the black pleated leather skirt with a bright, mustard-colored blouse. Shoes and a belt of similar brown/mustard color group helped to pull the look together. As for the camera bag, I fell for it the instant I set my eyes on it. It's $30 from street shopping in a boutique in Haji Lane in Singapore. Isn't it fun?

Faux leather skirt from Lalu | Mango blouse | Charles & Keith shoes |
Camera bag from Haji Lane street shopping

Hi everyone! This is my first post for 2019 but it's more of a retrospective one. I'm so excited and amazed that I managed to complete a whole year of monthly look books - all 12 months! When I first started off, I hadn't thought about how long I'd last. But in totality, I presented 59 different outfit posts over the course of 2018 via the monthly look book series. Here's a look back at the 3 different outfits I sported during the festive month of December. Do let me know if you enjoyed the monthly look book series and whether you want to keep seeing them in 2019.

Let's start with this Zara dress. It's actually a dress I bought when I was 3 months pregnant with Arjun in 2017 so it's a dress I've had for some time. I purchased this dress one size bigger than my usual one with the intent to keep room for my tummy to grow over the course of the pregnancy. Sure enough, I managed to wear this dress almost into my third trimester at which point, it began to look quite unsightly on me. After I delivered Arjun, this dress served as a great postpartum dress with its roomy, billowy feel. I'm quite certain Zara did not intend for this chainlink design dress to serve as a maternity/post-partum dress but hey, it worked really well for me and I continue to wear it now! I love the chainlink design (such a classic one!).

Zara chainlink dress | Shoes from Charles & Keith | Michael Kors bag (similar design here)

I had previously raved about this Aijek dress on my Instagram. Aijek is a Singapore-based fashion label and the designer's creations are beautiful. What made me love this dress was its ability to create an optical illusion! With its vertical stripes and ruched features around the midsection, the dress is a winner because it magically covers up my problem areas. I look tall, skinny, and could fool you into believing I have flat abs! Haha...I chose to pair it with a bright pop of yellow with my purse and flats.

Aijek dress (unable to locate a link to share) | Flats from Urban Revivo
 | Purse from Nine West (old)

This dress is quite an eye-popping shade of red. I wore it for our "Be Body Positive" campaign with fellow Singapore bloggers in December (do check out my Instagram for those posts and to see the awesome lady bloggers I collaborated with!). The dress is from a local store called BYSI which carries casual and dressy clothes at a mid-level price range. I don't normally love their designs but this dress attracted me because I fell for the poufy sleeves and the ruched design over the midsection (similar to the Aijek dress). The dress looked glam and dramatic and I loved that! What do you think?

BYSI dress | Shoes from Charles & Keith | Purse from Mumbai 

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November was an eventful month for me, including visits from friends and an amazing travel adventure in Myanmar (more to come on that soon!).  Here's to sharing some of the looks I sported during this month.

“Gingham style”

 Gingham doesn’t have to be seen only on men shirts. I’m actually quite fond of that pattern and own the gingham print in various different colors. This gingham skirt itself is from your trusty, fast-fashion store H&M while the top is from Mango. The belt is from Charles & Keith, which I find to have a great collection of belts, not just shoes! When I paired the top and skirt together, something was missing. The addition of the belt was a last minute thing which seems to pull the outfit together and adds an extra dose of color. You could just as well go without the belt. What do you think – would you wear it with or without the belt?

Mango top | H&M skirt | Charles & Keith belt | Zara shoes | Gucci cross body bag

Linen appeal

This linen dress has an Indowestern quality to it with its color and floral “ambi” design. It’s from Linen n’ More, a store in Singapore which I’ve talked about before. I love the color of this dress and because it’s linen, it’s super comfortable for wearing in the warm weather here. I dressed up the dress with heels and this funky ethnic clutch (gift from a friend).

Dress from Linen n' More | Charles & Keith nude heels | Ethnic clutch from India |
Earrings from Lovisa

All a-blaze!

When I had posted this picture on Instagram, I had also shared a mini-tutorial about how to style blazers on my Instastories (which you can catch on my Highlights reel now). I liked the combination of white, gray and orange. The orange color of this blazer makes the white and grey tones on this outfit pop. This is an old blazer I had bought a few years ago in New York and it’s still such a closet staple for me!

H& M blazer (old) | Plain white blouse from Forever 21 (old) | Waist tie plaid pants from SheIn | Furla mini-bag | Charles & Keith nude heels

Feroza Designs

I fell in love with this Feroza Designs soft cotton dress the moment I wore it. You can literally live in this all day long – which is precisely what I did when I wore this on my trip to Myanmar recently. It was a hot day of sight-seeing and visiting temples but the dress kept me cool and put-together. I chose to add a white belt to this cap-sleeve dress in blue print. 

A bit about this brand - Feroza Designs is a Singapore brand started by Kavita Dasgupta with a collection of adult and kids bedding products such as throws, fitted sheets, dohars, etc. The material is 100% cotton and is made by artisans in India skilled in block printing. I've seen the designs myself and they're lovely! Recently, the brand has launched a collection of dresses and I was lucky to get a chance to collaborate with them and try these dresses. I love their simplistic elegance and they are so perfectly wearable for Singapore weather! Keep a lookout for their collection launching soon. 

Feroza Designs cap sleeve blue dress | Lifestyle Edit straw bag | Belt from Charles & Keith

So I know I skipped a month for my "Look Book" series (the last one being from August 2018). But here is a combined September-October look book which I wanted to share with you. As I consider back to what I wore, I realize I was gravitating towards simple yet classic cuts and silhouettes. No crazy, funky patterns or bold looks here – just your regular polka dots, stripes, and solids. A touch boring? I beg to differ! But I’d love to hear from you - what is your style mantra is and which of these looks below did you like best? 

1.       Maisha Concept is a new label based in Singapore that I have discovered. I absolutely fell in love with their “Jaipur Chic” collection with its airy summery vibes. The brand works with small, independent artisans to support the traditions and knowledge of local communities (e.g., block printing in Rajasthan). Here are two outfits I wore recently from Maisha Concept – the first is the Pichola jumpsuit which I love for its pattern mixing. The other is the Amber Blue maxi skirt with a side leather strap which ties to a button so you can wear the skirt in two different ways. LOVE! Be sure to use code URBANMAISHA to get 10% off your order with free worldwide shipping.

Pichola jumpsuit from Maisha Concept | Tassel earrings from Just Gaya's |
Sandals from Ammos Accessories

Blouse from Zara (old) | Amber Blue Skirt from Maisha Concept | Rebecca Minkoff crossbody bag

2.       Linen n’ More is another local Singapore brand which carries Indian clothes as well as fusion and Western resort wear. With the fabrics sourced directly from India, this store has a lovely collection of cotton and linen outfits. Don't go by just what's listed on their website - the actual store houses a much bigger collection of clothes. I loved this cream-colored kurta with sharara pants. The “gota patti” details (the gold border along the outfit) adds a touch of fancy for the outfit. It’s perfect for a daytime event and that’s exactly what I had worn it for. Doesn’t the outfit just flow beautifully?

Cream Indian suit from Linen n' More 

I also wore this white eyelet dress and it was just perfect for a recent trip to Bali. I threw on a Maisha Concept scarf around my waist just to add a dash of color and flair. What do you think? (you can see an old post of mine about the different ways to style a scarf!)

Eyelet dress from Linen n' More | Scarf from Maisha Concept | Sandals from Ammos Accessories | Earrings from Stella and Dot

3.      Jodi Life is my recent fashion find in India. I love this site for its Indian fusion and ethnic-inspired designs. So totally unique and eye-catching with its prints. I had ordered a couple items from their site and will be sharing those looks soon. Their pricing is quite reasonable for Singapore standards but be prepared for shipping to take a while. Here is a cotton polka dot top which I paired with a pink skirt. You can easily dress it up as I did here or wear it more casually with shorts (try denim shorts with gladiator shoes!).

Jodi Life Polka Dot Peplum Top | Skirt from The Limited (old) |
Shoes from Charles & Keith | Earrings from MegaFash | Kate Spade Purse

4.       Mango is a known brand which offers all the latest on-trend apparel. I’m not the biggest fan of their fits (somehow the dresses don’t always fit right, which is why I always try them on and choose very selectively). However, you can get all the trendy designs here at a decent price.I had picked this simple white striped dress a couple months ago. Very wearable for a weekend! I can imagine throwing on a denim jacket and turning it into an appropriate “Friday casual” work look. What do you think?

Bucket bag and dress from Mango | Sandals from Zara | Tassel earrings from Just Gaya's |
Hat from Bangkok street shopping | Wooden bangles from Amrita Singh Jewelry

5.      eShakti is another recent e-shopping site I wanted to share with you guys. I was blown away by the fact that this site customizes clothes just for you and the prices are still damn reasonable! You can pick an outfit and choose the type of dress length, sleeve length, neckline cut, and other details that you want. Even down to deciding whether you want pockets to be included in a dress. Now that is something unique with an online store! I definitely would recommend you to try it. I had ordered this animal print, wrap dress here and I was quite happy with the fit. I felt that the pictures on the website were reflective of what the actual dress looks like. I have a referral code to share: urbanmantra_es1 for 10% off your next order (valid only until December 2, 2018).

eShakti dress (similar here) | Shoes and sunglasses from Charles & Keith | Mango purse 

6.      All Would Envy is a Singapore fashion brand with a sweet and simple style aesthetic. It is evident in the two dresses I have worn here.  One is a solid color lavender A-line dress and the other is a floral dress. Both are cute and comfy for daytime wear. The price point is around $28-35 for dresses by this brand.

All Would Envy floral dress | Shoes from Charles & Keith | Gorjana bracelet

All Would Envy lavendar A-line dress | Bag from Michael Kors | Shoes from Charles & Keith

We're half-way through the middle of the year and I just can't believe where the time has flown by. For those of you who follow me on Instagram, you will know that I mentioned that I've had a hectic last few months with several work and personal things all going on at the same time - an upcoming apartment move, a school change for Krishnav, work travels, personal vacations, work on pending tasks which had been put off for too long, etc. I tell myself to take each day as it comes. And to look good while doing it! So here goes my June 2018 look book!

Look 1: This boho top with the flared sleeves adds a dramatic effect to what would otherwise be a boring black outfit. I paired it with a black pencil skirt and tied a bright belt and added a colorful clutch to add that needed pop of color. Voila! I can imagine wearing this top in a more casual setting with a pair of blue jeans and sandals too.

Boho blouse from ShopBop | Pencil skirt from H&M (old) | Juicy Couture belt | Shoes from VNC in Bangkok (old) | Georgio Armani sunglasses | Clutch from Mumbai

Look 2: I've always seen white on white look good on others but couldn't figure out how to make it work for me. Then I realized it's about combining different textures and shades of white. This gold polka dot, ruffled top paired with white jeans works and is complimented with the brown tones seen with the shoes and bag. Clean and simple look but still with a style factor to it.

SheIn Gold Dot Print Top | Espirit white stretch jeans | Charles & Keith shoes | Burberry purse

Look 3: I love this checked skirt from H&M. I bought it when I was on maternity leave last year but it wasn't fitting me then. Now that I've lost a bit of the postpartum weight (still a long way to go!), I'm able to fit into the skirt. I opted to keep things simple with a solid black top. What might also look good is print-mixing the checked skirt with another printed top. Something to try for next time! Throw in the tassel earrings for a fun addition to the look and you're good to go. This is an outfit I wore to work earlier this month. 

H&M checked skirt (no longer available) | Forever 21 black top (old) |
Staccato flats | Just Gaya's white tassel earrings | Miu Miu purse (similar here)

Look 4: It's okay to be matchy-matchy but sometimes I just like to throw in an unexpected element to a look. This floral dress is pretty and sweet. But the green bag, although it doesn't match at all, still adds something interesting and unexpected to the look. Some might say it works, some wouldn't. But hey, it's just a bag. So let's not overthink it, right?

Pink Floral Print Dress from Lulu's (no longer available) | Marc Jacobs cross body bag | Charles & Keith shoes | Ralph Lauren sunglasses (old)

Look 5: Living in a tropical place like Singapore means you're able to get away with wearing clothes which have a summery, beachy vibe to them. This smock dress with the watermelon-shaped straw clutch and pom-pom sandals looks like I could be vacationing somewhere in a tropical beach destination. But nope, it's just a regular chill day in Singapore. This dress is simple but the pop of bubblegum pink stands out. I threw in some accent accessories for fun. I love this look!

Vero Moda Tiered Off-Shoulder Midi Dress | Ammos Accessories Atalanta sandals |
Clutch from Zhai Eco Collection

Look 5: June was also the month that my little baby-boo turned ONE! Yes, what a milestone! I can't believe it's been a year since this little butterball entered our lives and enriched it with his dimpled smiles and mischievous laughter. We celebrated with our family in Bangkok with a party! I chose to wear this light yellow Indowestern outfit purchased from a boutique in Bangkok. Additional tailoring touches were thrown in for a better fit and look. I love the embroidered design on the dupatta stole and on the dress itself. 

Mallika's Boutique in Bangkok

Now your turn to talk: Which of these 6 looks did you like best? I'd love to know!