I’ve always loved learning about other cultures— in India and abroad. Even the ones I haven’t visited yet. I’ve been a homebody most of my life, but now I want to travel. When I do, I want to live like a local for a few days, instead of carrying my own lifestyle there. Explore the local food, learn the language, even if it’s a few words.
Hypothetically, if I had to start my life over some day, and pick a place. I’d pick somewhere that’s mostly warm and pleasant, obviously. Like the South of France. The accent, the fashion, the makeup, the lifestyle in general. It just works. Even the thought of it alone transports me there, and I see myself as a completely different person. A chic, humble, rich, independent woman. She’s a fashion and lifestyle writer. She has coffee and croissant for breakfast, maybe wine and pasta for dinner. She loves the beach.
The twist? She looks healthy but is probably not the best influence. Her love for junk food often gets in the way. Food would be the only thing I wouldn’t compromise on, even hypothetically. I need my Litti chokha, Biryani, Dosa, Golgappe, Aloo paratha, everything.
I love my Indian roots but I believe, my personal style has always had some French influence. Let’s break it down.
The Makeup
For a while now, I’ve been feeling comfortable wearing makeup, and I’ve figured the look that feels like me. It’s a subtle base with a winged eyeliner, a lipstick, and a blush. I’ve spent time trying to perfect the winged eyeliner, and I still forget how I did the one that felt perfect on my eyes.
The Wardrobe
Being the youngest sibling, I had the privilege of sharing a closet with two girls. Naturally, most of my personal style was influenced by my sisters. As we grew up and apart, our shared closet began to shrink. That’s when I found the space to explore my style and build my own wardrobe. Turns out, I didn’t need to change a lot. High-waisted bottoms, bodycon silhouettes, solid color basics, printed statement pieces, have only added structure to my self confidence. It’s not how much you own, but the way you style them.
The Hair
We all know that girl who cuts or colours her hair in the name of change. I’m still that girl. The only one in my family who experiments with her hair every chance she gets. For the past year though, after fighting the urge to go back to a bob cut, I’ve noticed a stillness in mine. The length, the middle part, sometimes straight, mostly wavy, and I’m loving it.
The Footwear
I’ve always chosen comfort over trends or in this case, French style—and if mine happens to align with it, that’s just a happy coincidence. I have a thing for platform, pencil, block, anything heels. What started as a way to add a few inches to my height slowly became an essential. My look feels incomplete without them now.
The Accessories
I’ve never been big on accessories. I do love dainty jewellery, sunglasses, and a handbag sometimes.
Funnily enough, I started learning French last year. I had no trip planned, nothing. There’s just a girl I follow on YouTube. I love her weekly vlogs. She speaks fluent English, but sometimes, she lets a little French slip through. One day, I realised I wanted to understand her without subtitles. Talk about influence. That’s when I started learning the language.
I’d love to say I sound like Phoebe speaking French right now, but I’m pretty sure I sound like Joey. Bonjour, Ça va? Bonne année! Hey, look. Now we all sound like him.