Stylespiration Series : Ananya from Two States

Indo-western fashion is one of my go-tos whenever I have to attend an Indian festivity which is not so very traditional. I even work this trend in college for some change in my regular western wardrobe. Ananya is the probably the best icon to follow if you want to get this look. Her style echoes her free spirit and her clothes have a bright colorfulness that can make a mundane outfit stand out.

Long skirts with Indian prints paired with western tops and T-shirts

This is my favorite look in the whole movie. Ananya pairs printed, flowy maxi skirts with solid colored tanks and tees. She wears chunky jewelry like big earrings and stacks of bangles to pull her outfit together. Look for ethnic skirts with a solid color with a large border or printed skirts with vibrant patterns. Pair these with contrasting tops, stacked bracelets or bangles and chunky wedges.

Short kurtis and shorts

I can hear you going "WHAT?", but it does really seem to work. In the movie, Ananya pairs a short blue kurti with denim cut-offs and totally owns that look. This look is not for the faint-hearted. If you're hesitant in incorporating this outfit into your daily wardrobe, save it for beach outings or places where the temperature is high. If you don’t want to show too much skin, pair the look with knee-high boots for a bohemian twist.

Ethnic kurtis

This is more on the Indian side, but her kurtis do have contemporary necklines and designs. Pair these with heavy earrings and you're all set! Look for different styles like short, medium and super long(which is the current trend). Wear these with leggings, patialas, salwars and jeans for a huge array of outfits. You can mix and match dupattas, stoles and short ethnic jackets for a trendy vibe.

Sarees

Super bright sarees with traditional designs are Ananya's thing. She wears the traditional Chennai silk sarees in bold, youthful colors like hot pink, blue, green and yellow. If you have an occasion to donne a saree, take inspiration from Ananya and don’t be afraid to wear a Kanjeevaram saree. Pleat the pallu and drape it across your shoulder in a single, thin patch rather than opening it up. 

Jewelry

Ananya wears a lot of chunky bracelets, necklaces and earrings. She wears jhumkis multiple times in the movie as well as a lot of statement pieces like hoops with colorful stones set into them and traditional gold earrings for her saree looks.

So the next time you have to wear ethnic, it doesn't have to be the same old outfit. 

Stylespiration Series : Bella Swan/Cullen from the Twilight Saga

I decided to start a series called 'Stylespiration' where I'll be sharing tips on how to dress like your favorite movie or book character without looking like you're wearing a costume.

Bella Swan/Cullen has been one of my most favorite characters for a very long time now. I thought it would be perfect to start this series off with her.

Bella's style is really simple and evolves as the story progresses, changing drastically when she becomes a vampire. If you love Bella and want to emulate her style, check out these tips…

Tops

As a human

Bella wears a lot of basic tees, long sleeved tops and plaid button-downs with plenty of layers since it's chilly in Forks.

Layer a long sleeved tee with a half sleeved plaid shirt for the look from the movie where she first meets Jacob.

For her casual outfits, Bella pairs different tops with skinny jeans. She sticks to simple styles, occasionally opting for delicate details at the neckline.

These are items you can pretty much expect to already have in your wardrobe, so this casual look should be easy to recreate.

As a vampire

Bella's style takes a drastic turn when she becomes a vampire. She now opts for edgier, tighter tops in dark shades.

Look for almost gothic pieces if you want this look. Darker shades like black, charcoal, burgundy and deep purple will work. Keep everything fitted and tailored.

Jackets

As a human

Bella wears short jackets which reach about mid-thigh. She wears these in neutral colors like tan and grey. Her raincoat was probably the only standout color- a bright fuchsia.

As a vampire

Bella's jackets become very structured and edgy after her transformation. Being a vampire, she doesn't really need to wear a jacket since she's pretty much immune to harsh weather. Nonetheless, I love her black leather jacket. She wears it with leggings and combat boots.

Dresses

As a human

For her senior prom, Bella is seen wearing a cute ruffled blue dress, with a cream cropped shrug and black tights.

Instead of the dress, wear a flowy, deep blue top with skinny jeans or tights for a more relaxed look.

For her birthday celebration at the Cullens', she wears an olive green dress with a black cropped shrug which she got as a gift from Alice.

After her wedding ceremony, she changes into a creamy golden knee length dress with a black belt at the waist.

As a vampire

Bella's first scene as a vampire shows her in a skin tight cobalt blue dress, which she later rips at the thigh so she can run at vampire speed.

She is later seen wearing a charcoal grey dress, also skintight. She pairs this with black tights and ankle boots.

While going to meet Mr. Jenks, she wears a black mini dress with a long grey coat. Any fitted LBD will work for this look.

Accessories

The accessories are pretty minimalistic. There aren't any statement necklaces or glitzy clutches in Bella's wardrobe. She keeps it limited to headbands, bracelets, rings and the occasional simple necklace.

I hope you got some stylespiration and can now pull off your own Bella look.