Sustainability

This is a word that’s used so often nowadays but actually living it is not always that easy. I’ve always wanted to live more sustainably but it just seems like the movement often preaches absolutes (shopping bans, zero waste, plastic-free) which don’t always seem attainable.

But it’s something I’m working on in my own way – trying to switch to less wasteful alternatives, cooking more, reusing what I have & repurposing as much as possible. I also try to be a conscious consumer, & keep myself educated on brands I purchase from to make sure our values align. I’m much more selective with fashion & beauty purchases (mainly because I use less of both!) but I recently bought some stunning sustainable jewelry that’s so perfect for everyday wear.

Being Open to Change

Sometime in my mid-twenties, without realising it I got set in my ways & consequently resistant to any real change. It started with me putting myself, my likes & dislikes in boxes – there were things I was good at, & other things I wasn’t, and I figured there wasn’t any use pushing myself to do things I didn’t know or wasn’t already good at. However, I’ve spent the better part of the last two years intentionally unlearning that & trying new things.

2020 got me into growing things – it started with houseplants but since then I’ve even tried growing produce & it’s definitely something I want to experiment with more.

In 2021 I took a ceramics class (‘for fun!’) but got into it & launched a small brand too, all the while pushing myself to get better & try more complex forms.

I feel like 2022 will have a thing too, I don’t know what but I have the better part of twelve months to find out.

Embracing Detachment

It’s often said that ‘the best-laid plans of mice and men go awry’ & nothing has hammered that lesson harder than living through a global pandemic. And this is a lesson I’ve hard to internalise a lot with ceramics practice too. There’s just so much we have no control over – it is absolutely impossible to control every variable. The best thing we can do is try & then leave it to the universe.

I’m wearing a Marks & Spencer shirt, Zara jeans, Uniqlo shoes & a Murano Glass snack necklace with a Studio Bahia custom planter.

Photos by Sheila Vaz.

If you have any intentions / resolutions / whatever you’d like to call them, I’d love to hear about it in the comments. x

The post Intentions for 2022 | on detachment & living sustainable 🌿 appeared first on Magali Vaz | Fashion, Lifestyle & Travel Blog.

ajio top // zara shorts // puma bag + shoes // ray-ban sunglasses // daniel wellington watch

Photos by Sheila Vaz at SaffronStays Beyond

It feels like forever since I just shared a good old OOTD here on the blog. Do people even read blogs anymore? Digital media is bigger than ever, but seems to be dominated by a few social platforms. I’m currently tying to use instagram less, so it feels natural to share this here.

Politically & socially; we’re living through some pretty terrible times right now. And I’m not going to lie, things feel bleak. In times like this, I used to think that talking about beauty & fashion was frivolous, but right now it feels like self care.

These photos were taken back in Jan on a quick little getaway to Alibag, which is just a few hours away from Mumbai. We stayed at the perfect villa, worked, relaxed, ate amazing home cooked food + played with some doggos. It was pretty blissful, & just thinking about it is bringing me some inner peace. Oh & there was sun! I’m really missing the sun right about now. x

If you’d like to see more of the trip, check out this vlog.

The post Summer Dreams ☀️ appeared first on Magali Vaz | Fashion, Lifestyle & Travel Blog.

I feel like it’s been forever since I checked in with you all. Sure, there have been posts… but we haven’t just chatted in a while. 2019 has been exciting so far – I’ve been on a few trips! Saw a new country. Created a bunch of videos that I’m quite proud of (one of them went sorta viral recently!)

Oh & I turned 27. That was a big one, or at least it felt big? Every birthday after 25 feels big, I guess. But I spent it in Goa with family & cake, so that was nice. A quick little two paragraph update on the last few months. I’ll be spending the rest of April playing catch up. And now, back to the noodles.

There’s something you may or may not know about me – I love noodles; I’m bordering obsessive about them. I take cheesy photos eating noodles, I follow the #noodleworship hashtag on instagram & no matter where in the world we are, if there are noodles on the menu, I will try them.

A couple of weeks ago, we were invited to Hello Guppy in Mumbai to for the noodle fest. I’d been there once before, but we only tried the sushi & edamame. Needless to say, I was excited.

Can I take a second to talk about the décor? An authentic Japanese restaurant brings to mind a certain kind of aesthetic. But Hello Guppy is less minimal & staid, more playful kawaii speakeasy!

We started off with a cocktail, sake of course. The Nippon Cooler is perfect for summer day drinking.

i’m wearing –oval sunglasses // cherry earrings // velvet top // mom shorts // wrist watch // suede platform sneakers

For lunch – I knew I wanted ramen. It can be a hearty meal, so we skipped starters (a wise decision imo).

I got the miso chashu ramen with pork, mom got dry ramen with chicken (all of the trappings that come in a ramen bowl, minus broth). We also got some udon noodles.

They were good noodles. Now I’m not going to pretend to be some kind of expert, my experience with Japanese cuisine is still limited. But the portion was hearty, the broth was creamy & the pork + eggs were both the perfect texture. I vlogged that day too, if you’d like to see video of that perfect bowl.

The Hello Guppy Noodle Fest is on till the end of April. If you can’t make it this month, most of the dishes are on the permanent menu, but if you’re a true noodle aficionado, you won’t want to miss the special dishes that are available for a limited time only.

Hello Guppy, Jet Airways – Godrej Building, Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai (google maps /website)

The post Ramen at Hello Guppy 🍜 appeared first on Magali Vaz | Fashion, Lifestyle & Travel Blog.

Polago Clothing blouse // Zara mom jeans & basket bag // SheIn cateye sunglasses // Accessorize bamboo gold hoops // vintage gold necklace & pendant // Daniel Wellington classic petite ashfield watch // Vero Moda oxford shoes

Photos by Sheila Vaz

Fashion is cyclical – how many times have you heard that by now? And here I am talking about it again because it’s a good lesson to internalise. Everything that’s cool today, may not be as cool tomorrow but it’ll sure as hell come back sooner or later.

I’ve always been someone who considers my style to be somewhat classic & unmoved by whatever’s in vogue at that given moment. But you know what? This look is all about what’s trendy right now.

I received the sunglasses & top as part of this month’s Mauvelush box, so I sort of built this look on the whole retro theme, with items I already had in my wardrobe. I’ve always adored extreme cateye sunglasses, so seeing them all over my favorite fashion websites & instagram has me very excited. This very 70’s polka dotted wrap top makes me feel sexy as hell (v-necks & wrap designs in dresses & tops tend to have that effect, even if you belong to the #ittybittytittycommittee). Mom jeans have been one of my favorite silhouette for years now, & I was excited to see Zara carrying them this season. The hoops are from Accessorize (I had forgotten about them but they’re carrying some gorgeous jewellery right now) & the necklace is all real gold, both of them are ‘heritage’ pieces that have been in the family for generations (gold jewellery collection video coming soon!)

Some days I feel like I take my personal style way too seriously for my own good. While building a classic wardrobe is nice, there’s nothing wrong with indulging in trends once in a while. In the end, all I’m doing is playing dress up – might as well have fun with it! x

The post The Return of Retro ⚪️ appeared first on Magali Vaz | Fashion, Lifestyle & Travel Blog.

AJIO tshirt // Zara shorts // Hunter tall gloss wellington boots // Daniel Wellington Dapper Sheffield watch // Good After Nine cat ring // ONLY clutch

Lakmé Matte Melt Liquid Lipstick – Mild Mauve  | Maybelline Superstay Nail Polish – Rose Poudre

Photos by Sheila Vaz

I bought these hunter rain boots back in 2012 & since then, an outfit post styling them every monsoon has become something of an annual tradition (see posts from 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017; still sad about skipping 2014!)

It’s been a fun exercise to see my style evolve through just these monsoon posts – I started out styling these with just jeans, because I pretty much lived in jeans then (& also felt like my legs were too skinny for boots to be honest). As my body changed, I found it easier to experiment with dresses & shorts more often. I do wish that I was more confident in the start. I do also wish, by extension that we didn’t live in a world that demonise both skinny or plus sized people. I try to do my bit but sometimes the effort just feels a bit hopeless? People tend to cling to their biases tightly, so I guess all we can do is work on ourselves.

Now back to those boots – I’m still so pleased with them, although I feel a little sad now because they don’t get as much wear from me as they used to. Hunter boots may be expensive, but they’re made to be worn & they were far more practical during college, or when I took public transport more. Nowadays, I don’t really venture out just for fun in the monsoons, I can also afford the luxury of cabs, which makes these more ornamental. Nevertheless I’ve thrown so much money at ridiculously impractical thing over the years, like fancy branded bags that don’t really outlast the year I buy them (I’m looking at you, Fossil) so this was a good buy. Mumbai’s weather’s getting to it slowly, but I think it has another couple of years in it.

Oh and by the way, how many cats do you count in this look? I’m pretty sure that my extensive cat themed wardrobe has become one of my signatures. I even did a fashion haul video that was so full of cats. I love the tshirt from this look – even though it’s an absurd premise. As anyone who has cats could tell you, cats & large plants do not get along, much less a cactus! Take it from me, I have three. I had to give up on that plant lady dream a while ago.

It’s mid-August now, officially that time of the year when I’m utterly sick & tired of rains, I can’t even muster up any fake enthusiasm. Wherever in the world you are today, I just hope you’re warm & safe. x

The post Rain in the City ☔️ appeared first on Magali Vaz | Fashion, Lifestyle & Travel Blog.

Topshop dress // Ray-Ban oval flat sunglasses // Daniel Wellington classic petite ashfield watch // Viola cherry pendant // Rosato bracelet // Zara basket bag //  Vero Moda oxford shoes

Photos by Sheila Vaz

If there’s one thing that exploring the world of fashion & beauty has taught me, it’s never say never. It’s been almost eight years since I posted my first look here on this blog & so much has changed since then (not just my dress size!) For example, if you asked me back then to name two trends I would never sport, I’d tell you I hated gold tone jewellery & animal prints & now here I am, wearing both those things in the same look & loving them.

I just got my hair done in a red balayage (& vlogged the whole thing, of course) & I really wanted to wear something monochromatic so the red really pops. It’s also my first time wearing the Ray-Ban oval sunglasses, & I really like how they look. They’re very similar to the Ray-ban round shape that I like, but slightly slimmer – so this is my take on the current skinny sunglasses style that’s really in right now, although I see myself wearing these for years to come.

And finally, let’s talk jewellery. I’m actually wearing all real gold in this look. When I want to try out a new trend, I usually have to shop for things that fit the trend, but when I wanted to wear gold, all I had to do is ask mom – she was very happy & proud that her daughter’s finally wearing gold, I think she saw it as some kind of coming of age thing. I’ve had the Rosato bracelet for around ten years now (pretty sure I threw a tantrum for it) & the rings are ‘borrowed’ from her. Yeah let’s go with borrowed (she’s not getting them back, sshhhh….) x

The post Gilded Sparkle ✨ appeared first on Magali Vaz | Fashion, Lifestyle & Travel Blog.

AJIO dress // Zara wooden minaudiere // Daniel Wellington classic petite ashfield wrist watch // BCBGeneration sandals

Photos by Sheila Vaz in Coonoor

Exactly one month & ten days ago, I turned 26! Summers in Mumbai are no fun, so since 25th birthday in Bangkok last year, I decided that I would bring in every birthday at a new destination. This year’s destination wasn’t really new – we’ve stayed at Coonoor once, three years ago & I’ve also visited on two other occasions. It’s a charming hill station in the Nilgiri region of Tamil Nadu, kind of a hidden gem – the ‘town’ area is really populous, but the region around Sim’s Park is lovely & quaint.

I found an amazing little homestay on airbnb, a room in a century old colonial era bungalow. We had arrived the previous day from Ooty. I actually sat & filmed a chatty video in the late morning & it ran a lot longer than expected. After I was finally done, we started out for lunch, but not before seeing a gorgeous ginger cat sitting in front of a little bush of flowers; he was very loving & receptive to pets & scritches – I truly believe meeting him was my birthday gift from the universe.

As luck would have it, we didn’t manage to get a rickshaw to take us to lunch & ended up having to take a bus & walk. Luckily, I picked a truly gorgeous spot with a panoramic view (the name 180° McIver is very apt!) & we were also blessed with amazing weather. We crashed almost immediately after, because I left very early next morning for a quickie trip to Delhi with Google – but that’s a story for another day.

If makeup is your thing, you can watch my birthday get ready with my video below.

Also here’s a rare picture of mom, she takes almost all of my pictures but has to be forced to let me take hers. I asked her to wear this top, so we could match.

It was a truly lovely day, & I know I’ll probably visiting that charming town again sometime. Now for something absolutely random – I’ve recently gotten a steam account & really delved into gaming again, after years! I’ve been obsessed with this sim called Stardew Valley, it’s really calming but it sort of sucks you in. Do you game? I’d love to hear about your all time faves! x

The post Turning 26 🌼 appeared first on Magali Vaz | Fashion, Lifestyle & Travel Blog.

Zara trafaluc flame emoji tee // Zara x Maui & Sons embroidered mom denim shorts // Ray-Ban round (RB3447) – red mirror gradient // Daniel Wellington classy sheffield lady watch // Good After Nine tuxedo cat ring // Lavie sandals

lips- MAC lady danger  | nails (fingers) Lakmé Absolute Gel Stylist – Gold Dust (toes) Nykaa Nails Matte – Strawberry Shortcake 

Photos by Anushree Gavas at The House, Versova

Summer in a tropical country is no breeze. We photographed this look a couple of weeks ago, when rain was still sporadic & the temperature was in the late thirties everyday. The look’s quite simple; you might have already seen a couple of these things in my recent fashion haul video – a light oversized tee with bleach denim shorts in my fave silhouette (#momjeansforlife). I think the sequins on the tee & the cute shark embroidery just adds something fun to the look. I gotta say, I’m loving this patches / embroidery on your tits trend – makes it that much easier to go braless if you so desire. 😉

It’s monsoon now & dressing up is a whole other challenge. Hopefully I’ll do a monsoon OOTD super soon.

June was a bit quiet on the blog, what with me doing VLUNE & all (I vlogged every single day!) But now that it’s July, we’re back to three posts a week here on the blog. I hope you have a great week, & month ahead… x

The post On Fire 🔥 appeared first on Magali Vaz | Fashion, Lifestyle & Travel Blog.

Forever 21 slouchy tee // Zara Trafaluc high waist denim shorts // Vitasta Rupiya clutch // Native shoes

lips: Sugar Matte as Hell crayon in Mary Poppins (review) // tips: Maybelline Super Stay Nail Polish in Uptown Blue

Photos by Sheila Vaz

It’s the end of April & we’re really & truly in the middle of summer here. Even though I’m a summer baby (I turned 24 this month, woohoo!) I do have mixed feelings about the season. The afternoons can be unbearable, but it’s also the perfect excuse to have a beachy getaway! I spent a week in Goa with my parents at lovely resort & had a wonderfully laidback week with lots of calamari, beer & of course breezers. It was just what I needed!

This outfit is pretty much like my vacation uniform, I’d just probably switch out the tee.

Lately I’ve been really into pink – bright pops of fuschia coupled with subtle blush tones. I already espoused on the virtues of these Zara denim shorts in my previous post, so I’m just going to say that this was one of my best purchases ever this season, I’ve worn it countless time & I see myself having it for a few years at least!

I’m also so in love with this Vitasta rupiya clutch – it’s handmade, buttery soft leather. I had a hard time choosing which color to go for because there were so many, but in the end I went with teal because it was both a beautiful color & wholly unique. I’m trying to scale down my wardrobe a bit & move towards a minimal wardrobe full of high quality, unique & classic pieces and this is a great first step in that direction. Plus, it feels very good to support talented Indian designers. What’s more, the rupiya clutch is two pieces (you can see the outside clutch here – it’s monogrammed!) so that makes it very versatile. I’m certainly getting this in one or two more colours soon

I finished the look with my newest pair of Native Shoes. Not only are they super cute, they’re perfect for messy roads, rains & puddles! No more worrying about where I step. Absolutely perfect for beach vacations.

I’m going to leave you with pictures of pretty yellow flowers & a baby pineapple. Hope you’re having a great week! x

The post Buttercups appeared first on Magali Vaz | Fashion, Lifestyle & Travel Blog.