How much attention do you pay to a man's wardrobe? Well I definitely feel so. The apparel market is overflowing with women's and kids' outfits. When was the last time you bought something formal/expensive for your husband/ brother/ father or any man in your life? With working from home the new norm, they have even stopped dressing up in office wear.

Do you shop every time you plan for a vacation? Well I don't need to for myself as I am always stocked. But someone else does. My husband really does not have any interest in buying clothes. Mostly because I am in charge of the fashion department of the family and partly because he's at the hospital for more than 15 hours a day wearing his scrub or Operation theatre costume (as people would say). So when we just booked a trip to the beach after 2 years, we both really knew that he had to replenish his dwindling wardrobe.

I am getting few sweaters for him as we are travelling in the month of December. Though it's a tropical paradise, it can get really chilly at night. I want few for travelling from the freezing winters of Delhi and to beat the evening chill in style.

Whenever you go to a place with unpredictable weather, you should dress up in layers. This holds true not only for dressing up children but for men and women alike. While piling up, make sure each layer is 'presentable' so that when you peel of the top layer, you are not left embarrassed. I love the spunk that is emitted by young men's outerwear. Few jackets (denim, corduroy, canvas) and coats (from blazers to shearling jackets) all these are essentials in a man's wardrobe.

So gals and guys, which is your favourite form of men's wear? Let me know!

1. Always choose fitted jeans: No matter what the hip, young TikTokers say and rave about super baggy jeans, but they are not flattering at all. At least not for everyone right? Not for any one who is short or plump or pear shaped or blah blah. Looks good only on tall and skinny people.

3. Don't forget your sunnies: Sunglasses serve multiple purposes: they make you look stylish, protect you from the sun's glare, hide your prying eyes and in these Covid times, protect your eyes from the virus too!

4. Tie your hair in a sleek ponytail or a bun. Letting you hair loose is the unsafest thing you can do in these Covid times. Tied hair looks smart and of course reduces the chances of the virus sticking to your head.

5. Last but not the least, mask up! I advice nothing less than the N95 mask but they can look quite boring, so you can apply a printed/ fancy one above your N95 mask. You are double protected with a stylish quotient!

So gals, head over to Holapick.com right now and get out of that style rut!

 I bet the title must have intrigued you. And I am not joking. There ARE ways to look fitter and slimmer temporarily (which of course can become permanent if maintained) which does not involve working out or crash dieting. Believe me, these are tried and tested formulae which I apply on myself from time to time and also advice for free to my friends and family!

If you are anyone like me, a mom of two kids overburdened with household work, who does not have time for washing her hair; leave alone taking care of herself by working out, then these are the tips you should be swearing by. Not that I am promoting anything unhealthy or duping you, these small steps when incorporated religiously, can really help become fitter.

These lockdown has made pyjamas the national costume; which means that whenever I try to slip into 'normal clothes' for a campaign shoot, I am unable to fit! I have not worked out in ages and am forever hungry (partly stress eating, partly boredom and partly excessive exhaustion). So what I do is that when I know that I need to get dressed, I start my cheat code before a day or two. So here I am sharing my secrets with you all.

1. Quit salt and all things that contain sodium. Almost every female suffers from water retention. Some have perceptible signs while others are lucky. Puffy face in the morning anyone?

So basically quitting salt for two days can help you shed that water retention weight. You would feel less bloated and tighter. Avoid all salty snacks and frozen food. The Sodium in them is the culprit.

2. Early dinner The secret to  fitter body is to eat, but in moderation. Have a nice , elaborate dinner (no one is stopping you )but before 7 PM and don't do any late night snacking. I used to be a chronic snacker throughout the night in my teens and college days and never gained a single gram! But now I don't have that metabolism and I immediately gain weight/ look and feel bloated whenever I binge at midnight. So an early dinner is the secret.

3. Make shapewear your best friend : I know the pain (emotional and physical) of being unable to zip up your favourite dress. I have destroyed so many of them (broke the zip while trying to squeeze in). This was before I knew about shapewear. These work like miracle. A full body shapewear helps you squeeze into your skinny jeans or fitted jumpsuit or a clingy dress without having to break an arm or a leg!

These are breathable, cling free fabric with adjustable straps and are seamless to give that flawless finish. Also these have an open crotch for the nature's calls! How thoughtful right?

These are some of the tips that can really have permanent positive impact when incorporated for a longer period. For those instant fixes, I highly rely on body shaper for women anytime. I love they have a comfortable fit and yet firms tummy, thighs and buttocks. The soft cups are compression free and these have adjustable straps; to name a few.

So girls, what are your tips and tricks to look fitter instantly? Share right away!

When it comes to weddings, we tend to dress up our best. Do you agree? Well I do and make sure my family does too. When it comes to us females, it's pretty simple. But dressing up men can be a bit tricky. Whether it's your husband or brother, son or father, you may need newer, trendier outfits to get out of the style rut. Thankfully websites like allaboutsuit have a plethora of sophisticated yet trendy outfits for the special men in your life. 

For traditional Hindu weddings, girls, you can opt for a lehenga or a frill saree (the trending one). Men van done an embellished kurta Or sherwani. If it's a cocktail party or modern wedding, turn up in elegant gowns. For men, if it's a wedding of a dear friend, feel free to overdress him. Has your husband worn his wedding suit for the second time? I bet not. So coax him to take that out so that the fortune spent on it can be worth! 

For small girls, I love cute ethnic wear for traditional functions while for Christian weddings and other parties, tulle looks so pretty! 

For smart teenage boys, prom suit looks super cute. Don't they? I just love the younger Y chromosome turning up in cute tuxedos and suits. 

Now I have something for you all! Use code 'new' to get a discount of 20 USD for new visitors! How cool is that?

What kind of wedding dresser are you? Do you keep it simple or go over the top?

Whether it's to commemorate a special occasion like anniversary or birthday or that mandatory annual 'Christmas Card' photoshoot, it feels lovely to freeze family moments forever. Especially when you have small kids, it's enlightening to look back and cherish how small and cute they were. Time never comes back. And before your little daughter turns into a diva herself and starts considering you 'uncool', it's better you doll yourselves in mommy and me clothes and keep them for the future!

I came across Popopie which has the most adorable baby clothes, mom and me and matching family clothes at an attractive price point.

*Always opt to shoot outdoors in daylight: Nothing comes out more beautifully when shot in bright daylight. During summers, you can opt for the golden hour; the light just before dusk is so pleasant.

*Avoid prints in outfits: Prints clashing creates a chaos and hence you should always refrain from doing so. Particularly some stripes give an aura of illusion; which takes away the attention from the real theme of the picture.

*Props are always welcome: From balloons to flowers, food to kites, soft toys to pillows, you can choose the props according to the occasion.

*You can also use a tripod. 99.5 % of our pictures have been taken on a tripod. It may be quite a hassle, but it's the most ideal option for us. I am the stylist and the director of our shoots and the husband is in charge of the shutter button. We can be ourselves because no outsider is involved and hence no level of discomfort for our kids. I would highly suggest you to invest in a good quality tripod and a remote for the camera.

If you are anything like me (over cautious, law abiding, concerned and simply scared) then you might not have stepped out of your home. Yes, it's my 16th month of home isolation. Scary right? Well, when you have two small kids, elderly in laws and a medico husband who's out there amidst infections 24*7, one has to take a back seat to take care of the household. Anyways, I have lost my sanity multiple times and had hit the lowest nadir of my life at one point, but I have managed to emerge stronger nonetheless. Here are a few things that I have incorporated to make home isolation a bit more cheerful and seem less like a punishment. 

1. Elevate your home decor: The amount of money I have spent on buying trinkets in the past year is way more than permissible. However it has helped me unwind and relax. Thankfully websites like Aoin have a huge collection of home decor at pretty affordable prices. I have switched curtains, cushion covers and rugs multiple times to give my home a facelift. You can reaarrange furniture, throw a blanket on the couch, exchange lamp shades from the bedroom to the living room and vice versa and so many other things and you don't need to spend a single dime!

2. Serve food beautifully: If you can't go to the restaurant, that does not mean you can't dine well presented food. I had been cooking non stop and make it a point to serve it beautifully. Whether it's having a picnic style meal in the balcony or a theme tablescape, pretty plates or fancy cutlery, a little effort makes a meal more delicious and enjoyable.

3. Bring the nature inside: My plant babies have propagated like never before in this pandemic. I love nurturing them; it brings me calm. Even if you are not blessed with a green thumb, you can opt for faux plants and flowers. They look incredible and maintaining them is a breeze! Thankfully Aoin has got so many pretty and economical options!

4. Wear cute PJs: Just because we aren't going out does not mean we should be in rags! I mean I am a MAJOR advocate of tattered and old clothing for homewear. However I have realised that just by wearing pretty clothes, I can elevate my mood! For all the girls out there who are not staying with their in laws, you can check out some sexy pajamas for women!

5. Read more books: Once you become a mom, book reading requires major dedication and is a luxury. However carving that time is so worth! Books transport you to another world and drive all your worries away; even if it's momentary!

I hope these are some pretty useful tips for the home isolated. Let's just pray that this pandemic gets over soon. I am done!