Embrace Grace in Sarees This Festive Season

Savouring delicious sweets, dancing to the beats of dhol and dressing up right for the occasion- this is what makes any festival a memorable day of the year. I really love to wear ethnic outfits on such special occasions that depict rich culture of our country. While most women are fascinated by the magnificence of the ethnic outfits like me, it's a task to find a dress which is a perfect blend of grace, trendiness, craftsmanship, comfort, and affordability.
In the present times, most people prefer ordering Indian ethnic wear from online stores and I'm undoubtedly one of them. It's been years that I shopped from physical, offline stores and over the years I've developed a good understanding of examining various factors that should have been taken care of before placing an online order. Many of my friends, colleagues and relatives seek my suggestions all the time for buying ethnic outfits especially sarees. When a colleague of mine asked me today for helping her find a festive saree for herself, I recommended her to explore Triveni Ethnics and that's when came along the thought of formally sharing with all my readers what all types of sarees you may find at this portal.

One of the online stores that has satisfied me with its diverse clothing collection, product quality and pricing most of the times is Triveni Ethnics. You may begin by finding sarees by Ocassion, by Fabric or by Style. Once done, your search process may further be extended to filter items based on Pricing, Color, Type of Work etc. Being pressed on time mostly, I do not spend time viewing everything listed on the site when I have certain specific pattern in my mind that I want to shop for. For the first visitors, I suggest to explore complete collection as there are chances to get lured by something that you didn't expect to see ;) My recent purchase from Triveni Ethnics was this gray saree with heavy patchwork that I'm planning to wear on Diwali.

You may find here different kinds of sarees from different regions across the country. I'm sharing a few major options that you may ponder over -

For this ongoing festive season, you may go for resplendent Pure Silk Sarees that look quite superior. The aesthetically dyed and woven silk sarees are believed to be the most loved among women for a traditional appeal. There is certainly a feel of grandeur when a woman adorns such royal fabric. Pure Silk sarees require extra care to keep them stain-free and are on higher side of budget. So it's advised to pay attention for it's proper upkeep.

Art Silk Sarees that are relatively less expensive substitute for pure silk sarees, but has rich look as silk fabric. Most art silk sarees are lightweight, breathable and don't compromise in trendiness. These are ideal pick for women who love variety and wanna keep a check on their budget too.

If comfort is your priority over everything else, Cotton Sarees is something that exudes a lot of elegance and is sure to earn you a lot of compliments. You may play around soothing pastel colours or bold hues depending on your liking. The airy cotton fabric keeps the body temperature low and lets you enjoy the festivities without feeling uncomfortable the whole day.

The sheer feel of grainy texture of Georgette Sarees perfectly goes with the Indian climate and the lifestyle of an Indian homemaker. A stylishly draped georgette saree takes your glamour quotient a notch higher while you perform your social duties with easy movement. Mostly available in pretty prints, these sarees redfine femininity and lend a sassy appeal to the wearer.

The wardrobe of an Indian woman is incomplete without a sheer Chiffon Saree. The elegance of chiffon sarees is almost distinctive. The versatality of the fabric makes it apt for draping on any social gatherings. You may find plain, printed, embellished sarres in this flowy fabric to accentuate your body type beautifully.

Net Sarees are all the rage among young women. The transparent weave of these sarees are making waves among women who love flaunting their curves with dignity and look stylish at the same time. The cost of these sarees depends on the material as there is lot of variation in the fabric and type of work done on these. Being light-weight, net and super net sarees are ideal choice for women who love wearing heavily-embellished ethnics during celebration without feeling tired due to weight of the fabric.

With all the major types of sarees listed on Triveni Ethnics being shown here, I must mention that the website caters to beautiful kurtis, salwaar kameez, lehanga cholis, party gowns as well. So the women who find it difficult to wear and manage sarees also have got a reason to consider Triveni Ethnics' collection while buying a classy outfit for themselves for upcoming Karwa Chauth, Diwali or Chhath Puja.

Remember not to follow the trends blindly, but to make a perfect choice that compliments your personality, because 

"Clothes mean nothing until someone lives in them."

Denim Midi Dress for Valentine Outfit Inspo + Contest ft. Triveni Ethnics

Are you one of those women who advocate a no-fuss look over everything in hot pinks and ravishing reds even on the day of love and romance?? Are you the one who wonder why to paint the town red and not any other colour? Are you the one who would please herself more by looking 'uniquely dressed' in a crowd of rosy reds?

Well! As long as you feel this matter requires resolution, we've got you covered. Go for a denim midi dress for something a little bit more unique this season.

Practically, I'm obsessed with denim and my obsession is not only confined to denim jeans, skirts and jackets; the one-piece denim dresses are my absolute favourite. My closet probably have a few already, still I couldn't resist owning one more from Triveni's Blue Trunk Collection:)

How about checking out how I portaryed my classic favourite in an approachable, easy-to-carry way!!

Wearability is certainly the factor that attracts me the most in a comfy denim dress. And this cotton dress is all about the chic button-front details that beautifully pops against the light wash tone of the fabric. I usually tend to wear tones of true blue when it comes to denim in my outfits and even in shoes. Other shades somehow don't dictate denim culture to me (may not be true for you though).

I'm styling the dress with on-trend heels for Valentine party season, but of many ways that denim dresses let you be more flexible with your style, you may pair it up with high-top canvas sneakers, pointed pumps, ankle boots or quirky flats for more of masterful dressing.

I'm probably sold on the fact that pocketed dresses are my best picks ever. And the denim dresses with pockets are big this season and look so extra trendy. While I liked a few more options from the Blue Trunk collection, the adorable waistline pockets pulled my heart <3

A front slit on this dress shakes up the modest style that particularly brings in that missing sex appeal to the complete look specially when you aim to be someone's cupid ;) 

To conclude the curation, minimal makeup and luxe accessories helped me keeping this denim outfit actually on the casual side of things. So I ditched gold toned accessories without having people thinking I'm overdone rather opted for a pendant and a swipe of lipstick to keep the understated dress effortlessly chic. 

Click for an exciting Valentine Contest happening on our Facebook page for a chance to win a saree.

Indian Signature Style - Saree OOTD ft. Triveni Ethnics

The origin of 'Saree', one of the most sensual Indian wear, dates back to ancient times. For Indian females, a saree is firmly ingrained in our culture since ages. You must have seen the statues of Indian Goddesses showing them draped in decoartive sarees. Initially the saree used to be a three-piece-ensemble consisting of unstitched stretches of cloth draped as a lower garment, a chest band and a longer piece of cloth covering ones shoulder or head. The presence of saree has come a long way from streets of rural India, to our conservative grandmoms to bollywood movies to runways of fashion shows in terms of wider acceptance.

Not only the parties, functions, weddings and festivals are the time to grace a saree, but picking a right kind of saree makes you to stand out ditching your usual everyday wear to office, college, travel, outing or everywhere else. Make sure you choose the type of saree acoording to the ocassion, time of the day and your body type.

Another element that makes a saree quite a functional ensemble is the regionally-specific draping styles. You go to any part of the country and you will fall in love with the elegant, tasteful, more or less sophisticated style of donning a saree. Isn't that so fascinating!!

Infact, in today's fashion-forward world, you can always add a modern twist to your traditional saree and lend it your own style. Take your saree game up a notch by using a narrow belt around your waist to secure the drape in place or play with a trendy cape to strike a feminine touch to your personality. An easy-peasy transition that can turn you into a fashionista is by swapping your basic blouse with a button-down shirt, crop top, short kurti or a bold corset belt. I bet you may come up with numerous innovative ideas on how to kill boredom of dressing same everyday.

I personally am a great admirer of sarees and have got really a good collection of sarees in different fabrics bought from different parts of country. I don't even mind demanding my friends and relatives visiting me to get me one from their native places because there is a uniqe aesthetic appeal and hint of tradition to every number ;)

All thanks to hi-tech era that we may now be on shopping spree right at the comfort of our home from online stores. My all-time favourite destination for buying ravishing ethnic wear is Triveni Ethnics. Precisely a few clicks will present you with an array of Bridal, Festive, PartyWear, OfficeWear and DailyWear clothing. I've been shopping from them since many months because every piece they design is a marvel in itself.

This Time I ordered an embroidered festive saree in faux georgette fabric with border work. Many people insist me to go for heavy textured silk, cotton, tussar, orgenza or brocade sarees; but I somehow find it comfortable to carry off a look in lighter fabrics and feel trapped in stiff drapes.

Broad, elaborate borders always make a place on my outfits as they work like a charm for me. Embroidered butis in pink n golden thread all over the garment is another eye-catching element that has introduced a richness to the saree.

Once a saree is selected with care, I stress upon complimenting the look by styling beautifully crafted, high-quality jewellery pieces. Too much of loud and colourful jewellery can ruin the look of the saree, so be selective and smart to accessorize. I've got a matching statement necklace and danglers to complete my look with glass bangles around my wrists for a feminine touch.  

Here I would like to mention about Triveni's onsite facility of getting your garment stitched while placing an order. You may fill in the stiching guidelines form on the site and the professional tailors will get your outfit prepared in a ready-to-wear form. There are a number of sassy, cutesy neckline cuts, sleeves patterns that you may select. Just make sure to be very specific with measurements. Because a perfectly stitched blouse actually brings the good amount of attention, but certainly in a right way. ;) 

Look at the pretty dangling embellishments added to the back of my blouse with golden strings!!

I feel urban women of today are turning into practical wardrobe selection than just being hoarders of unusable stuff. That's all for today in appreciation for this figure-flattering outfit! Will bring more variety of OOTD soon (but selfies first) :)

Waiting to hear your views on this post and look :)

Rakshabandhan Selfie Contest - Win A Saree (Closed)

Happy to announce that we, at Alive n Kicking, are giving you a chance to celebrate the festival of Raksha Bandhan as a paragon of love between brothers and sisters in collaboration with our beloved sponsor Triveni Ethnics.

This contest starts today on 3rd July and will end on 22 July. The lucky winner of this contest will take away a beautiful saree from Triveni and all the participants will receive discount coupons from Triveni valid for 20 days. So check out the rules mentioned below and be a part of this exciting contest :)

Compulsory Rules: 

1. Follow Alive n Kicking.
2. Follow Triveni Ethnics.
3. Post a selfie with your sibling(s) in comment section of contest post on Facebook and tag them. 
4. With your selfie, leave the link and name of one product you really like on Triveni's website (who knows Triveni can help you get that! 
5. BOTH siblings should like and share the contest post using hashtag #TriveniRakhiSelfie. 

The image above is only for reference purposes and it's a sponsored contest, so Alive n Kicking won't be held responsible for any delay or damage of prize hamper in transit.

WinnerUpdate:
Congratulations to Navdeep Inder Bamrah for winning a saree from Triveni Ethnics. Do share your postal details with contact number within 24 hours to claim your prize.

Office Wear Kurti- OOTD ft. Triveni Ethnics

Think 'Work Wear' and a wardrobe consisting mainly of western formals such as shirts, trousers and skirts n blazers will only come to your mind. Business Suits have been the common workwear for majority of working women in the past. But for the ones, who are not likely to change the way they dress in 'comfortable' ethnics, the good news is that Kurtis have been adapted at most workplaces to create smart professional look these days. The trend of stylish kurtis is fast catching up across the nation, all thanks to decently crafted designs which are high on trend as well as comfort.

The best thing about kurtis is that the wearer can experiment in endless ways to customize everyday look due to ample choices in cuts, patterns and fabrics. The beauty of styling a smart office wear kurti is that you can never go wrong! Just make sure to be mindful of the kind of workplace that you are working at. There is no exception to this rule and one can seek a great many choices to match the one’s personal fashion sensibilities.
Since there is no strict dress code at my workplace, I recently got myself a tail-cut kurti for workwear for the first time with a hesitant feeling of its acceptance due to its length, fit etc. I decided to go for minimal accessories but only a timepiece on my wrist. And I'm delighted to share that my attire got me many 'thumbs ups'.

 

Today, when I wore the same kurti again, I thought of sharing a quick cheat-sheet on how to choose and flaunt officewear kurtis gracefully-

Dos 

• Choose the fits that are comfortable. A body-shape friendly fit will facilitate easy stretching and won't interfere in free movement of your body during work.
• The embroidery or patterns should be very subtle. You should make the selection minutely so that the outfit gives you an elegant and sophisticated look. 
• Choosing the fabric of the kurti is as critical as other aspects like fit n stitch. The fabric should help to regulate body temperature, especially for the humid season when the days break with an atmosphere charged with sweltering heat. The flowy and breezy fabrics like Cotton, Georgette, Chiffon, Voile are more breathable & can be worn round the clock for long office hours.

Don'ts

• The designs should not be too revealing to distract colleagues and attract negative attention.  
• Avoid looking overdressed at work. Not wearing blingy accessories and ditching heavily embellished clothes is the key!
• Do not opt for an in-vogue attire that doesn't fit your body frame. 
• One can afford to be a clumsy dresser at office, so play with your look only when you're safest player at enhancing your inherent beauty. Don't wear jazzy or gaudy clothes that makes you look out of the place at a sophisticated corporate environment.

To leave a positive impact on everyone at work, always make smart choices....because -

"you are what you wear."

Do share your tips on office wear that may help everyone else.

#TriveniWeddingFest Contest on 3 Blog Anniversary (Closed)

Hey frnz

I won't mind saying that this day, when my blog was founded, is more important for me than my own bday. Alive n Kicking turns 3 today and it's a chance for me to express how sincerely grateful I feel to every single person who helped me along the way.

Grabbing this opportunity, I would go a little deeper and reciprocate the love to all the people who are responsible for giving me this pleasure.

One of my most loved ethnic clothing brand TriveniEthnics has gladly joined hands to associate with my blog and we've come up with an easy-peasy contest for everyone which won't be played on blog, but on social media channels of my blog.

Starting from today, we will post one trivia question everyday related to the brand Triveni and my blog on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram. All you have to do is answer all the questions on any of our social media channels using hashtag #TriveniWeddingFest. The contest will end on 10 Jan.

It's COMPULSORY for participants to: 

1. Subscribe to my blog via email and verify your subscription.
2. Create and account to register yourself on www.triveniethnics.com
3. Follow Alive n Kicking on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
4. Follow Triveni on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
5. Share, Retweet, Repost the contest post on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram using hashtag #TriveniWeddingFest and tag atleast 7 friends inviting them to participate (the more the merrier).
6. Make sure you leave your FB, twitter, Instagram and YT names in comment section including email address, 

Prizes:

2 lucky winners with all the correct answers and maximum engagement will take away clothing of their choice from Triveni (who fulfill the compulsory rules mentioned above). And this is not all! Based on responses, Triveni may have a special winner and something for everyone those who participate without a miss :) So here's your chance to win big! 

P.S. Brownie points to those who comment on blog posts regularly.

Its a sponsored giveaway, so I won't be held responsible for delay or damage of prize hamper in transit.

Update (13.01.17): 
Congratulations Vani AK and Seema Jain for winning the contest. Look for our mail in your inbox to know how to claim your prize.