H&M dress // Ray Ban round red mirror gradient sunglasses // Lulu & Sky bomber jacket // Native Apollo Moc sneakers

Photos by Sheila Vaz

I’ve always maintained that hot & cold are very relative terms, at least with respect to the weather. Mumbai (home, for most of the time) & Goa (the ‘native place’ are both on the west coast of India & both have insanely tropical weather – which means lots of humidity, scorching summers, intense monsoons and not much of a winter.

Just because it doesn’t get seriously cold doesn’t mean it isn’t nice. In fact, ‘winters’ in Mumbai & Goa (think early November to mid February, if we’re being generous) are characterised by exceedingly pleasant weather & it’s hands down the best time to explore both places on foot & just generally do stuff outdoors.

Anyway this is just a casual winter daytime outfit I wore last month in Goa. A casual black tshirt dress, sunglasses, comfy sneakers & a bomber jacket in case in gets chilly. Somehow my bare legs can take cold much better than my arms!

I also filmed a Get Ready With Me video taking you all through my winter skincare & makeup routine… you can watch the video below & visit the video page for a full list of the products used.

At the start of 2017, I decided to do a beauty detox which was basically a makeup shopping ban. Part of me was skeptical about doing it because beauty shopping has always been a huge weakness (even if I don’t wear that much) but I’m happy to say I’ve made it through with just one mascara purchase in 2017!

I’m pretty pleased with myself for making it though & I’m looking forward to placing an order for a few things. The whole point of the detox was to break myself out of destructive shopping habits & really think before every purchase.

I am thinking of writing a post about what I learnt so let me know if that’s something you’d like to see! x

The post Tropical Winter 🍃📹 appeared first on Magali Vaz | Fashion, Lifestyle & Travel Blog.

November in a Nutshell

The first few weeks of November were spent working & catching up. We had just gotten back from our previous Goa trip (where I was largely without internet connectivity!) so work got kind of piled up. It was quite a productive month for videos though. I sat & edited the vlogs from my Goa trip. I was really excited about these because I vlogged around my ancestral home & village, it was a side of Goa that most tourists don’t get to see. Part 1 & Part 2 of the vlogs are now live. I honestly do think that these might be the best vlogs I’ve ever made & the response I’ve received from you all has been overwhelming – in the best possible way!

More Goa Travels

The last part of November was spent on another Goa trip with the fam! Since I’ve started blogging (& then vlogging) over the years, all trips, even though they may appear glamorous usually include a lot of work. This time however, I wanted more of a vacation & kept work to the minimum. For nine days stayed at an amazing villa, spent afternoons soaking in the jacuzzi, walked to & spent time at the beach, ate delicious Goan food & sipped on shandy – pretty perfect if you ask me!

Of course I did get some work done, & you’ll probably see it on the blog & YouTube channel throughout December!

November Favorites

I filmed a monthly favorites video on vacation, sharing my favorite new acne treatment product, a new skincare brand discovery & a great new multi purpose body balm that I’ve been loving for tattoo maintenance / aftercare. You can watch it above or head to the video page for all product details.

Etc.

watching… The usual TV shows & a lot of Impractical Jokers on vacation. Somehow those idiots never fail to crack me up. In movies, I finally saw Easy A a few days ago & I absolutely loved it! I’m still confused as to why it didn’t achieve Mean Girls-like cult status… maybe not as many quotable lines? It’s on Amazon Prime in India if you’re interested in watching!

listening to… Little of this, little of that. I’ve been listening to this groovy early 70’s instrumental album (I think it’s jazz?) called Accadde a… (it’s Italian & seems to loosely translate to It happened in… or Made In…) Accadde a Bali is my favorite song but they’re all quite interesting (the song about Belfast has a lot of bagpipes!)

In current (pop?) music I’ve really enjoyed Portugal. The Man’s Woodstock album. Of course I discovered it through the hit song Feel It Still but the rest of the album is also really great & my two favorite songs are Easy Tiger & So Young.

Finally, I also made a mixtape featuring some chill instrumental hiphop for the second month running, you can listen to my November Mixtape for free on computers or the soundcloud smartphone app, do check it out!

cooking… I actually did a little bit of cooking this month. There were some experiments with making a popular Indian dessert (you might know what I’m talking about if you watched my Vlune this year. I filmed it so it’ll be on my vlog channel soon. Also did a little bit of deep frying (I’ve never tried it before, it’s always been mom’s domain) & it wasn’t as intimidating as I thought, in fact it was surprisingly fun.

Looking Forward

December is hands down my favorite time of the year & I’m definitely looking forward to festive vibes & playing my favorite Christmas album. I was also feeling really inspired at the end of November so I decided to work a little extra on content this month. If you missed yesterday’s announcement vlog, I’ll be doing at least 10 vlogs, 10 blog posts (right here!) & 5 main channel videos. I chose these particular figures so I could have an extra creative output & still enjoy the month without getting stressed or crazy. I hope you guys will check out the blog regular & share your comments, they make me so happy. Thank you taking the time to read this – I’d love if you could share some things you’re looking forward to in the comments below. Happy Holidays! x

The post Looking Back | November 2017 🌴 appeared first on Magali Vaz | Fashion, Lifestyle & Travel Blog.

October was eventful & fun. I finally travelled a bit after few months & achieved some personal goals. Things were quieter in the work front (I didn’t get many blog posts or videos done) but I’ve learnt that it’s ok sometimes.

Both trips this month were really unique. The first one was a little road trip through the Western Ghats with the Google Maps. We stayed at the beautiful Hilton Shillim Retreat & Spa near the Pavana Lake & it was one of the most luxurious & lush resorts I’ve experienced in India! Of course I did vlog the entire experience, you can watch it here.

I then spent little over a week in Goa with mom. We went back & stayed in the ancestral home after maybe 6 or 7 years (I spent a lot of school holidays there!) So it was nice to get that experience again. Life there can be rather slow; but I got to eat a lot of delicious food & fly the drone quite a bit. I already posted a short dronie (shortened for of drone selfie) video on YouTube which shows the house I stayed at. It so interesting to see places I’m so familiar with from a different perspective. I’ll be publishing a couple of vlogs from the trip really soon.

Etc.

watching… October was the month that Stranger Things 2 finally dropped. I had been looking forward to it for an entire year (I spent around 10 hours playing the Stranger Things iOS game in anticipation). I devoured it over two days in Goa. Now that it’s been over a week since I’ve seen it (twice!) I can definitely say that it didn’t live up to the expectations after season 1, but at least it was kind satisfying to see the characters we fell in love with again, I guess.

I’ve been binge-watching Brooklyn 99 (it’s on Netflix!) again with mom, who’s watching it for the first time. I really do love everything about it, the jokes are hilarious and the characters are diverse, unique & likeable, it sort of makes me miss Parks & Rec though.

listening to… I made my first monthly mixtape! The October Mixtape has just under 30 minutes of chill, ambient, mostly instrumental music that you can relax to or even play in the background while working.

I listened to two albums on repeat this month. Gaia by Axian & Corals by Fujitsu. Both of them are similar in the sense that they’re relaxed, downtempo ambient hip hop with lots of nature sounds. Really can’t recommend them enough.

buying... The Amazon Echo was my biggest October purchase. Preordered it at the start of October & got it towards the end of the month. I did a casual unboxing + first impressions video on it. I’m thinking of filming a full review soon, let me know if you’d like to see that!

October Favorites

As always I also created a monthly favorites video for October. Since the weather has already turned cool (hello, brief Mumbai autumn!), I focussed on some skincare & makeup I’ve been enjoying in the cooler, dryer weather. You can watch it below or on YouTube.

Looking Forward To

Making the most of the delightful November weather, getting back to a regular video schedule, & a relaxing vacation with my family later in the month.

Did you discover something new in October? What are you looking forward to in November? I’d love to chat with you all in the comments! x

The post Looking Back | October 2017 🌴 appeared first on Magali Vaz | Fashion, Lifestyle & Travel Blog.

September kind of felt like a nothing month, you know? It rained a lot. I fell ill for a bit & things were just kind of slow & frustrating, so not a whole lot to report on. It’s gotten really hot again, so it’s been fun to wear sunglasses & my favorite fire emoji tshirt.

October is poised to pretty eventful month so it was good to have a slow one to just rest & get my bearings.

September Favorites

I have another monthly favorites video out, as per usual. I was so excited to be filming in the garden again! I discussed some of the skincare, makeup, hair & fashion – you can watch it below or on the video page.

Etc.

watching… A few entertaining movies (like Jack Reacher), a few crappy shows – like Hawaii Five O & NCIS. I just finished the second season of People of Earth which was just lovely but I’m sad that I’m going to have to wait a year to see the next season (it’s on Amazon Prime Video here in India, if you’d like to catch up). I’ve also just begun watching This Is Us, which is a little different than the shows I watch (so much sappier) but still sweet.

listening to… I’ve been listening to more indie artists through soundcloud & bandcamp. There’s such a wealth of incredibly talented unsigned musicians that I’m ashamed that I’ve only just discovered them. I’ve been listening to A Groovy Thing by Flamingosis on repeat, it’s mostly instrumental but great music to work (or work out!) to. You can follow me on soundcloud @magali_c – I already repost my favorite songs & make themed playlists, I’m planning to do monthly mixtapes too.

cooking… I’m having so many sweet potatoes that I had to consciously cut back! But the good news is, I think I’m getting better at identifying sweet potatoes that are actually good. I prefer baking them & this recipe (featuring one unexpected ingredient for extra crispiness) happens to be my favorite.

Looking Forward

We’re really getting to my favorite time of the year! The Festival Season in India has started, which generally should be good (think sales, decorations & general cheer). However, the fact that most of Indian chooses to ‘celebrate’ with noisy fire crackers makes it one of my least favorite times of the year. Crackers aren’t just bad for the environment (we’re already living in one of the most polluted cities of the world) they are disastrous for animals. Every time I see my three cats cowering, my heart weeps for the stray dogs & cats that have nobody to comfort them & often injure themselves (or die) thanks to the panic. But, people are idiots.

I am genuinely looking forward to the cooler months (think November – Feb), the Christmas season & everything else that comes with it.

Did you discover anything interesting in September? What are you looking forward to? I’m also planning to film a lot of videos too so drop any requests you have in the comments below. x

The post Looking Back | September 2017 🔥 appeared first on Magali Vaz | Fashion, Lifestyle & Travel Blog.

So early one Friday morning, a bunch of us bloggers + vloggers got on a bus to start the (approximately) 6 hour journey by road. We started on the Mumbai-Pune expressway & then got on the road to Panchgani-Mahabaleswar. The last set of ghats can be kind of brutal, but I’m a heavy sleeper & blissfully slept through it all (missing some amazing views in the process, unfortunately).

Where We Stayed | Saj on the Mountain

When we arrived at the resort, we were greeted with refreshing welcome drinks & then got to see our rooms. Saj on the Mountain has 78 rooms on the property, divided into three categories. We stayed in a cottage, which is the largest & most luxurious of the three. The room is really large, (one double bed & two single beds) it’s especially designed to comfortably accommodate a whole family. I remember being forced to stay in a separate room when travelling with my parents because hotel rooms usually only accomodate two, so I think family rooms are a really nice option. They also come with a private back garden, which is enclosed for privacy – my mom loved relaxing on the swing during our time there. I did make a video (which you can watch below), which also includes a bit of our journey, a room tour & some other highlights from the trip, doing my best to showcase over two days in less than two minutes.

The resort is on the side of a hill, with the reception being on a lower level & the rest of the rooms higher up. It also has two restaurants, a couple of different kids play areas, a game room, Vyom spa, a pool & more.

Plus, there’s so much of pretty landscaping & flowers, that is was fun to get mom to pose by these purple ones.

What We Ate | Dining at the Resort ️

All food served at Saj on the Mountain is vegetarian, & they have two restaurants & one bar / gastropub.
Fasal is where we enjoyed our first meal, this delicious thali with some chilled buttermilk.

And here are some of the evening snacks they arranged for us all in the outdoor area we started our treasure hunt & zorbing.

I don’t have photographs from Wilson’s Cafe, but I loved the ambience there. I didn’t really enjoy the pastas too much but breakfasts were superb!

Finally, there’s Darwin pub, where we had a little sundowner on our first night. The chefs at Saj customise the menu according to the season & since we were there in peak strawberry season, strawberries were incorporated in interesting ways, like these delicious strawberry cosmopolitans.

The staff at the resort are also happy to arrange open air snacks / dinner for groups & we even had this great open air dinner on our last night there, complete with a bonfire & a fantastic telescope through which we got to see close super close ups of the moon! 

What We Did | Activities

Most of our downtime was spent within the resort itself, there was so much to do that I could stay within the premises without being bored!

Along with the standard pool & play area mentioned above & a game room with table tennis & more there were even some great activities like zorbing (where you basically roll around in this giant plastic bubble). There were also multiple trained people around us while we tried our hands at it, to demonstrate & see that we were doing everything safely, which is much needed when trying any adventure sports!

Where We Went | Places to See ️

Mahabaleshwar is an established tourist destination & does have a set of places you can visit. We did visit a couple of very historic temples (which I’d only recommend if you’re religious or interested in history).

We also went to see Lodwick point – it did offer nice views but was crowded & slightly underwhelming. You can also walk to Wilson Point from there.

Finally we finished our tour with a visit to Panchgani market, which is always bustling & a great place to pick up local snacks, chocolate or shop for Mapro goodies – I’d highly recommend their syrups & I did enjoy their Mazaana brand of chocolates.

Strawberry Picking 

People flock to Hill Stations in India mainly for the increased foliage & cooler climes – but Mahabaleshwar also has another (famous!) specialty – strawberries. Indeed, it’s said that 85% of strawberries in India are produced there, & there’s a strawberry field / garden at every corner.

Needless to say, if you are you’re heading to Mahabaleshwar during strawberry season, this is one activity you shouldn’t miss – which is primarily why I classified this as a separate activity!

We went strawberry picking just after breakfast, the fields were actually within walking distance of the resort.

Spotting some pretty sunflowers before we got to the picking.

Mom showing me how it’s done. Aren’t those the juiciest, most luscious looking strawberries you’ve seen?

If you’re in a hurry you can just buy some from many vendors like this, who set up beside major roads.

I also put together another small video of our strawberry picking, & now Strawberry Fields Forever will play in my head… forever.

I really enjoyed my stay at Saj on the Mountain, I’d love to thanks the folks at Saj Resort & DeTales Communication for being really gracious hosts.

Saj on the Mountain is a very versatile space – great for couple, families, groups of friends etc. I think they have enough facilities to keep every kind of traveller comfortable & happy. It’s also a great place to have a party or even an intimate destination wedding!

Mom & I just spent most of our downtime sleeping, the wonderful air & cool climate just makes you want to wind down & relax. We did have trouble getting cell phone reception & got almost no mobile internet, also the resort doesn’t have wifi. It’s a great place to shut off from the outside world, but if those are necessities, this might not be the place for you.

You can find out more about Saj Resort Mahabaleshwar (Saj on the Mountain) & book on their website, they also have a second property, Saj on the Lake at Malshej Ghat, near Pune.

Mahabaleshwar is a fairly convenient weekend getaway option from Mumbai, you can drive or even take a bus from Mumbai (& it’s even closer to visit if you’re in Pune!) If you’re planning a trip to Mahabaleshwar anytime soon, I hope this post gave you some ideas! Fell free to share your own experience or tips in the comments below. x

The post Weekend Trip to Mahabaleshwar 🍓 appeared first on Magali Vaz | Fashion, Lifestyle & Travel Blog.

Meow dress & pink bag – Bangkok street shopping // Ray-Ban round copper flash sunglasses // Jord Cora Koa wood watch // Good After Nine tuxedo cat ring // Lavie sandals

lips – Lakmé Lip and Cheek Matte Mousse – Blush Velvet | nails (fingers) Lakmé Absolute Gel Stylist – Gold Dust (toes) Nykaa Nails Matte – Strawberry Shortcake 

Photos by Anushree Gavas at The House, Versova

Anyone who knows me even a little (either online or IRL) will know that I’m a crazy cat lady. I’ve been one my entire life but all those feelings have multiplied manifold since I adopted my first, second & then third cat!

I recently got together with my talented friend Anushree to shoot this feline appreciation outfit – can you imagine how excited I was when I reached our shoot location & saw playful cat silhouettes on the wall?!

Ever since I was a kid I’ve also flip flopped on my feelings for pink. But right now I’m really liking dusty, pale blush pink (millenial pink!) & I feel like I could wear this colour for a month straight.

When it comes to accessories, I’m an extreme minimalists but I’ll almost never leave home without a wrist watch. I’ve been wearing my new Jord Wood Watch absolutely everywhere since I got it & they’ve kindly given one of you lucky folks to opportunity to win one of your own!

Just go here to participate in my Jord Watch giveaway. It’s open internationally & will take less than five minutes to enter (last date: 9th June 2017).

I also made a little Jord Watching Unboxing / OOTD Video to go with this post, you watch it below or on YouTube! x

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

You can watch all five looks in the below or on YouTube. I thought I’d give you guys a little background on each look like locations filmed, what we did that day etc.

Look One – Chinatown

Koovs stretch denim dress // Lulu & Sky Bowie bomber jacket // Ray-Ban round sunglasses – red mirror gradient flash // Daniel Wellington classy sheffield lady watch // Lavie yellow mini satchel // Vans sk8-hi 50th anniversary high top sneakers

Makeup |   The Body Shop Matte Lip Liquid in Mauritius Dahlia

Filmed at Yaowarat Street (Chinatown Bangkok).

Chinatown in Bangkok (better known to locals as Yaowarat street) was one of my favorite places during our last trip. However, we went on Lunar New Year which meant the place was at it’s most crowded, ever.

I really wanted to visit on a less maddening day, so we made it a point to visit one evening in April. We went at dusk, when the sun was beginning to set & the vertical neon lights were being turned on. It was chaotic in the most exhilarating way – I even experienced my first Chinese Tea Ceremony (glimpses of it are in the vlog). The light denim dress coupled with my favorite new high tops were just perfect for the evening. The jacket wasn’t necessary in the heat, I just really wanted to photograph it under all those lights!

Look Two – Tropical Smoothie

AJIO geometric print off shoulder peplum top + shorts // ASOS boater hat // Ray-Ban round sunglasses – red mirror gradient flash lenses // Timex weekender watch // Lavie yellow mini satchel // Vans sk8-hi 50th anniversary high top sneakers

Makeup |   MAC Lady Danger

Filmed on the sidewalk at Pan Road, near our hostel.

In the last year I’ve moved from someone with a mostly black, blue & solid color wardrobe to buying clothing in every colour of the rainbow. The co-ord set was the first proper vacation purchase this year. I was instantly attracted to the geometric print & bright colours but it was even cuter when I tried it – who doesn’t love a top that has on trend off shoulder detailing plus a peplum to hide your food baby? Not to mention, the shorts have deep, functional pockets & make my  look cute, I really couldn’t ask for a better summer vacation outfit.

This would have been super cute to wear to something outdoors but I just ended up wearing it to the mall for the most delicious Asian meal (every meal in Thailand was delicious though!)

Look Three – Botanical

Warehouse botanical maxi dress // Forever New embroidered basket bag // Koovs leather lattice loafers

Makeup |   The Body Shop Matte Lip Liquid in Goa Magnolia

Filmed at Luka Bangkok, a cute little brunch place near our hostel.

This beautiful Warehouse maxi is a summer purchase from a couple of years ago that I never got around to wearing. It has an interesting botanical print, side slit & an open back detail – the perfect laidback brunch outfit. I wore it for a second visit to Luka Bangkok, this wonderfully designed café & interiors store at Pan road. We first went there for my birthday brunch & I knew I had to revisit it. That place is so chic, with it’s industrial decor & tons of plants that I would probably pay to eat cardboard (& yes, I’ve just come to the realization that aesthetics mean more to me than food when I’m eating out). But you needn’t worry, they have an amazing menu. I finally sipped on pretty soda, munched on a shakshuka & later did my best to pose for this lookbook while concealing my food baby, hehe. Always love when I can walk back to my residence in ten minutes. 🙂

Look Four – The Tourist

H&M cat tshirt // Marks & Spencer relaxed denim shorts // Firmoo metal round glasses // Accessorize backpack // Timex weekender watch // Vans sk8-hi 50th anniversary high top sneakers

Makeup |   Colourpop Ultra Satin Lip – Frick n Frack

Filmed at Cooper Bangkok, our super chic hostel.

There’s nothing much to talk about this look – it’s just your standard vacation casual outfit. Not particularly inventive or special, just comfy & functional. The perfect outfit to just roam around for hours in & eat the most delicious street food.

Look Five – Sunday Sundowner

Koovs off shoulder black dress // Ray-Ban round sunglasses – red mirror gradient flash lenses // Daniel Wellington classy sheffield lady // Lavie yellow mini satchel // Steve Madden darcie sandals

Makeup |   MAC Lady Danger

Filmed at Ratchada Train Market, my favorite night market in Bangkok.

My final look is technically my birthday dress, I had plans for the evening but got lazy & decided to postpone it by a few days. I ended up wearing it to Ratchada Train Market, my favorite night market in Bangkok. Live music, great food & cool beer – it was just the perfect evening towards the end of our trip.

And those were my five looks! I feel like I’m getting a lot better at vacation outfit planning. If you’ll notice, my red Ray-Ban’s, yellow satchel & multi coloured high tops are each repeated three times in these five looks. I’ve always read that you should carry more solids & neutrals while travelling, because they’re easier to mix & match but I think you can mix & match colourful outfits too, provided you stick to a similar colour palette. Most of my outfits had bright, primary colours & that’s why I could get away with using the same yellow bag & high top sneakers in three of these looks. Despite being ‘loud’ colours, they just went with almost everything I had carried.

I hope this lookbook gives you some dress up or travel inspiration (maybe even a little of both!) Let me know which look is your favorite in the comments below! 🙂 x

The post Summer in Bangkok | A Travel Lookbook appeared first on Magali Vaz | Fashion, Lifestyle & Travel Blog.

The video description has all the outfit details, but I thought I’d break it down further here on the blog – tell you more about each look, some of the items featured, where we shot them & where I wore them (just as I did with the Fort Cochin Lookbook).

Look One

Koovs longline bomber jacket // Koovs K Active mesh panelled tshirt // Topshop moto denim skirt // Ray-Ban round – red mirror gradient sunglasses // Daniel Wellington Classy Sheffield Lady watch // Fjallraven Totepack no 1 // Vans x Disney Toy Story collection classic slip on sneakers

Makeup |   Lakmé Matte Mousse Lip and Cheek in Crimson Silk

Filmed near the King Rama VI memorial outside Lumpini Park

Worn to the Thai Tourism Festival at Lumpini Park & Yaowarat Road (Chinatown)

This is what I wore for our first proper ‘out & about’ day in Bangkok. 28th of January was the start of the Chinese / Lunar New Year festivities. Since India doesn’t have a sizeable Chinese Population or Chinatown anywhere (except for Kolkata, & I haven’t been there) I was really excited to experience what the festival would be like, & of course I had to get in the spirit by wearing a lot of red! Also débuted my new Ray-Ban round sunnies, I’m obsessed with this shape, so of course I had to buy one in my favorite colour.

We started our day dropping by the Thailand Tourism Festival. I had heard about the festival but it didn’t really interest us at first, but May (the wonderful lady that runs Cooper Bangkok, the hostel we stayed at) strongly recommended it, so we decided to go. It was certainly nice to see the really large selection of food & wares from around the different regions of Thailand. Although it soon became apparent that it was a very hot day & wearing a heavy bomber jacket wasn’t the smartest move.

After that we proceeded directly to Yaowarat, Bangkok’s Chinatown. Said to be the largest chinatown in the world, it was teeming with people hawking food & curios, other tourists like us & Chinese folk buying gold. We ventured off the road & even chanced upon the Leng Buai ai Shrine (considered to be the oldest Chinese shrine in Bangkok!) All in all a very superlative day, the only major disappointment for me is that I was too tired to wait till the sun properly set so I could see all the neon signs in Chinatown light up!

I vlogged that day!

It’s definitely one of my favorites from the trip & I hope you enjoy it.

Look Two

Zaful rainbow patch cropped sweatshirt // Zaful accordion pleat velvet skirt // Cath Kidston x Disney Mickey Mouse tote bag // Casio vintage style digital watch // Vans x Disney Toy Story collection classic slip on sneakers

Makeup |   Lakmé Matte Mousse Lip and Cheek in Crimson Silk

Filmed at the roof garden of Cooper Bangkok hostel

Worn to the Mall / Moomin Café

For me, this look is comfort dressing at it’s best. I am enjoying jumping on the velvet trend bandwagon, there’s just something very luxurious about it. This piece from Zaful is fabulous. The weight, the fall, the colour & also the subtle sheen-y finish. I love the shine because it’s sort of metallic but still daytime appropriate, you know?

I paired it with a cropped sweatshirt that is just so easy to wear & some fun Disney themed accessories, because why not? 

I wore this to the Moomin café, you can see glimpses of it in the video. It was so good, we went twice – I’ll be doing a separate post sharing my experience there.

For now, can we just take a moment to appreciate Strawberry Fanta? Indian carbonated drink flavours seem so boring now.

Look Three

Zaful owl print swimsuit (worn as bodysuit) // Topshop mom jeans // Ray-Ban round silver mirrored sunglasses // Leo Mazzoti bracelet (nautical knot) // Wanderer bracelet // Fjallraven Totepack no 1 // Native shoes

Makeup |   Lakmé Matte Mousse Lip and Cheek in Blush Velvet

Filmed outside the entrance of Cooper Bangkok hostel

Worn to Chatuchak Weekend Market

I think that wearing a bodysuit (or in this case, a swimsuit) is the ultimate way to look bomb with minimal effort.  The bird motif on the suit is what attracted me to it. It has a V-Neck & a verrrrry deep back. Wearing this much blue always puts me in a good mood.

I first visited Chatuchak Market (or JJ Market) 7 years ago, on my first trip to Bangkok & I’ve been obsessed with going back ever since. I wanted to go on my short solo visit last year, but unfortunately I had a very small window of a few hours and it started pouring on the way, so I thought it would be wise to not go to an outdoor, open market on such a rainy day & headed to the mall instead.

Maybe thinking of this market the way I did was only setting myself up for disappointment, but it was a pleasant day nonetheless. It was devilishly hot, but then we had lots of iced drinks & this delicious coconut ice cream too!

I also vlogged at Chatuchak market…

Because how could I not, really? It was a little too noisy There’s even footage of my first ever visit to a Cat Café in the very same vlog, so check it out, will you?

Look Four

Zara trafaluc tshirt dress // Ray-Ban round – red mirror gradient // Fjallraven Totepack no 1 // Wanderer bracelets // Vans x Disney Toy Story collection classic slip on sneakers

Makeup |   NYX Liquid Suede in Loud Mouth

Filmed at the Surasak BTS Station

Worn for another visit to the mall

Anti fit clothing forms such an integral part of my wardrobe & when I saw this Zara tshirt dress, it was love at first sight! It was the most hardworking dress in my luggage too. The perfect dress to just chill in, you can dress it up & down according to your preference. I accessorised with my new favorite sunglasses & a dark blue lip & this was the perfect look to just pop into the mall for some Korean food.

Look Five

Zaful Rosé all Day swimsuit (worn as bodysuit) // Vero Moda patch denim shirt // Marks and Spencer relaxed denim shorts // Liten earrings // Jeep Kongdechakul ceramic eye brooch // Lavie bag (also here) // Casio vintage style digital watch // Vans laser cut leather slip ons

Makeup |   Lakmé Matte Mousse Lip and Cheek in Blush Velvet

Filmed on Silom Road

Worn to Ratchada Train Market (rod fai 2 night market)

Another super easy, laidback look featuring a swimsuit. This suit actually says Rosé All Day but I’d much rather just prefer a cool beer. I wore this to Ratchada Train Market, this market wasn’t even on our agenda but May (from Cooper, our hostel) highly recommend it, so we had to check it out. It turned out to be one of the absolute highlights of our trip. I did vlog that day too, it’ll be up on my YouTube channel soon!

Look Six

Zaful velvet cami dress with rose appliqués // Daniel Wellington Classy Sheffield Lady watch // Steve Madden darcie sandals – red suede (also here)

Makeup |   Lakmé Matte Mousse Lip and Cheek in Crimson Silk

Filmed in the lobby of Cooper Bangkok hostel

Worn to… nowhere. I changed because this seemed too fancy for a regular dinner

The final look is perfect for evenings, especially a party or dinner date. I don’t usually wear fitted or bodycon dress but this one was just perfect from the first time I tried it on. The black velvet feels absolutely lovely & the rosé applique takes things to the next level. It’s so easy to accessorize too, I just went with a black wrist watch, a red lip & red shoes.

We shot this in the beautiful Cooper Bangkok hostel lobby which is just so chic. But I ended up changing before going out to dinner because it was just ‘too fancy’. Maybe I should have kept it on, nothing wrong with being overdressed once in a while.

I discussed in my previous travel lookbook blog post how I always try to reflect the place I’m travelling to in my wardrobe choices while there. One of the best things about Bangkok is how liberal & chilled out the place is. Coming from a country like India, it just so refreshing to be able to wear whatever I want without being leered at or harassed, even if I’m alone.

This post wouldn’t be complete without giving a big shout out to mom, who patiently helped me photograph / film all these looks & just generally put up with me on vacation.

Bangkok will always have my heart & I can’t wait to go back really soon!  x

The post What I Wore in Bangkok | A Lookbook 🚕 appeared first on Magali Vaz | Fashion, Lifestyle & Travel Blog.

Travel Lookbooks are a blend of two of my very favorite things & I love doing them whenever we’re travelling. I’m a very slow traveller & on personal trips planned with my mom / parents, we prefer to spend more time in just one place, exploring on our own. I also really love walking & prefer booking accommodation in central areas, so I have a lot of interesting areas in walking distance.

While you can watch the whole lookbook above, I thought I’d share a breakdown of the five looks below. That includes outfit details as well as where I shot & wore them.

Look One

Max Fashion velvet babydoll dress // Hidesign sunglasses // Leo Mazzotti braided nautical bracelet // Steve Madden sandals

Makeup |   Lakmé Absolut Shine Line – Sparkling Olive  |   NYX Liquid Suede – Soft Spoken

Filmed at Maritime Hostel (we stayed here for the first week)

Worn for the first day of exploring around the Chinese Fishing Nets + lunch at Cochin Club

I wore this look on our first proper day in Fort Cochin. We had seen the nets from afar & been to Cochin Club for dinner, but this is the first time we were seeing the coast in the daytime. Velvet is a huge trend this season & this babydoll marks my first ever velvet piece of clothing. It was a serious throwback moment for me because the last time velvet was on trend I was probably… eight? Yep I have distinct memories of three of my older friends turning up at one of my birthday parties all wearing new dark coloured velvet dresses! I probably still have those photos somewhere.

I liked that the velvet isn’t too shiny on this dress so it’s a nice piece to get if you’re on the fence about the trend! I also liked the autumnal colour scheme & the vintage tapestry print. Overall a very easy dress that I just paired with subtle accessories in the same colour palette, since the print is already kinda busy.

Look Two

StalkBuyLove top // Topshop black mom jeans //  The Bombay Store Kashmir suede bag // Daniel Wellington Classy Sheffield Lady watch // Lavie flatform sandals

Makeup |   Lakmé Matte Mousse Lip and Cheek in Fuschia Suede

Filmed at a cute wall on TM Muhammad Road, outside the Kochi Biennale Foundation

Worn for a very long day of exploring the area on foot

I put this look together for a day of exploring new areas. We were headed to the museum that day but we took a super long route & ended up reaching just before their lunch break. We also dropped into a bracnh of my school & got lost more than once. It was a very exhausting but satisfying day!

Look Three

bhane. dress // KOOVS studded tote // Ray-Ban round (silver reflector) sunglasses // BCBGeneration sandals

Makeup |   Lakmé Matte Mousse Lip and Cheek in Blush Velvet

Filmed at Burgar street

Worn for a laidback day of visiting cafés & petting cats

I bought this bhane. dress quite early in the year, even took it with me on earlier trips but I never wore it out. It’s like I was saving it for the right occasion. I wore this on the day we finally visited Kashi Art Café – there was no better day to début it. Princess Street & Burgar Street (the latter being the road Kashi Art Café was on) were without a doubt my two favorite streets in Fort Cochin – they felt like they were from another place, in another time. Also, there were so many semi feral cats! They weren’t too up for being petted but they did accept little snacks from us.

Look Four

KOOVS sequinned shirt //  Topshop mom jeans // KOOVS studded tote // Ray-Ban round (silver reflector) sunglasses // Daniel Wellington Classy Sheffield Lady watch // Steve Madden sandals

Makeup |   NYX Lip Suede in Kitten Heels

Filmed on the cobblestone sidewalk by St Francis Church

Worn for some exploring & lunch at Cochin Club (again)

I wore this look for yet another very relaxed day. The oversized silhouette, sequins & raw hem really attracted me to this shirt. And what can I say about mom jeans, other than the fact that I haven’t worn my skinny jeans all year? That’s one fashion statement I’ll happily carry over to 2017 as well.

Look Five

StalkBuyLove errand dress // Dhora earrings // Fjallraven Totepack no 1 – red // Leo Mazzotti rope nautical bracelet // Lavie flatform sandals

Makeup |   NYX Lip Suede in Vintage

Filmed at Bishop’s House / Indo-Portuguese museum garden.

Worn for our first visit to Mattancherry

Fort Cochin has been occupied by many different colonial powers over the years. While there were a lot of crappy downsides to all that imperialism, one of the tiny positives are the beautiful architecture in many of the churches & other buildings, built by the Dutch & Portuguese. This was the most vintage inspired of the five looks, shot at the most beautiful location. I wore this during our first visit to Mattancherry – it’s technically not Fort Cochin, but adjacent. I loved the mix of cultures there & this outfit was perfect for visiting many places of worship there, such as the Jain temple & Paradesi synagogue.

When I’m visiting a new place, I try to carry clothes & accessories that match with the vibe of the place. I like to look well put together but don’t like to stand out too much or attract unwanted attention. I think shorter clothes like my first look are totally fine if you are roaming near the beach or Chinese Fishing Nets. For venturing more inwards towards Mattancherry, it’s best to cover up a bit more (especially if you plan to visit the synagogue, museums etc.)

Winter in a tropical destination is still pretty hot & I think all of these looks were perfectly suited to the weather. If I could change something, I probably would’ve carried at least one pair of sneakers – all I carried were (flat) sandals but it would’ve been nice to have better support & cushioning on days we walked 5-6 kms! Unseasonal rains aren’t uncommon, so carrying an umbrella would be wise. We were lucky that our hostel had one we could borrow.

Mom & I have shot travel lookbooks previously- we did one for Pondicherry, Ooty & a dress lookbook in Goa. I want to say a very big thank you to mom who patiently filmed this for me on our trip. This is definitely my favorite video that I’ve ever done. I cant wait to go on more trips & document more personal style ♥

I hope you enjoyed the video, do tell me which look was your favorite in the comments! x

The post What I Wore in Fort Cochin | A Lookbook appeared first on Magali Vaz | Fashion, Lifestyle & Travel Blog.