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Fashion

Birds Of A Feather Flock Together or In This Case Dance Together

In the famous words of P Diddy & Co. “Shake Ya Tail feather!” The ladies of Chicks And Salsa certainty did just that this past weekend.  We not only shook it, but also rocked the scene in downtown Raleigh during the Style Collective conference!  I can’t tell you how many times we were stopped about our feathered look while exploring Raleigh’s culinary scene.

The Look

A little about our look…when I first saw this feathered shirt, I was SOLD!  I wanted to make a statement while exploring on my off time from the conference…I did this by adding a few simple touches to tie my look together.

I dressed my top with a pop of color thanks to my high-waisted rust mini skirt.  Though the skirt is currently unavailable, I linked a few other options that would work just as well.  Rina simply added a sexy sheer bodysuit to her skirt and a Gucci belt bag to the ensemble.  The results on both looks were feminine yet bold!

Shop The Feathers:

Why Feathers?

For years feather pieces have always had a touch of retro glamour and sophistication to them. I’ve found that feathers are a cross between fab costume & sexy fashion forward style….the way they just dance and move with a hint of wind is just SEXY. It’s like wearing a trend with its own personality…Like us Chicks!

Right now my feather top is a steal for just $30 and Rina’s feather skirt is an affordable $24 (she is wearing a size large). If wearing feathers doesn’t fit your fancy, then just throw on a pair of earrings or heels (or both…also listed in our link) and that will complete your look!

So choose your flock and tail feathers and fly!

(Left to Right: Rina, Coutrney of Fab, Fierce, and Fabulous, Me (Avani), Stephanie of TheBorrowedBabes, and Sonia)

With ?

Your chick,

Avani

Collaborations, Fashion

Ziva: Chicago’s New Favorite Indian Bridal Boutique

The world of shopping has completely changed! People are shopping online and looking for a more personal experience when it comes to custom clothing. As South Asian women we spend a great deal of money on Indian clothing.   Most pieces are handmade with some of the finest quality fabrics and with gorgeous embroidery!  With wedding season upon us, I can’t wait to share with you a fun boutique we discovered in right here in Chicago!

Ziva Boutique

Boutique Owners Vrati Doshi and her Mother, Nita Bagia
Boutique Owners Vrati Doshi (Right) and her Mother, Nita Bagia (Left)
Ziva Bridal OwnersThe Owners

Ziva boutique is situated on the north side of Chicago in West Town/ Ukrainian village at 1604 W. Augusta Street.  It’s owned by Nita Bagia and Vrati Doshi, a knowledgeable and sweet mother daughter duo!  Without the distraction of Devon Street (India Town in Chicago), it was nice to walk into a minimalist store front with absolutely gorgeous clothing lining the walls!  Nita and Vrati greeted me with a smile and immediately made me feel welcome. After perusing the store I sat down with the Nita and Vrati who took the time to get to know me and my wants.  They were hardly there to sell me anything (which is was a nice change from other aggressive Indian stores I’ve been to in the past), but more to figure out what I was looking for and how to make me feel gorgeous in my own style!

After selecting a few ready-made pieces I tried on some outfits in their gorgeous dressing room.  They gave me some fun ideas on how to mix and match.  What I loved was that I wasn’t bound to buying an outfit just the way I saw it!  They informed me that they offer custom options which was nice to know. They said if I had a designer style in mind, they had multiple contacts throughout India who could help create my masterpiece. Of course, the timeline would be anywhere from 3 to 4 months for anything custom…so that would be important to keep in mind for planning!

Nita, Vrati’s mother, has lots of experience in fashion having previously owned a boutique and also having run a business out of her home.  Nita was then able to loop in her daughter, Vrati to create a stress-free way to shop for any occasion!  They specialize in Indian bridal clothing, but also have outfits that you can dress up or dress down!  The chicks of ChicksAndSalsa love mom-preneurs and supporting other women working hard in their businesses!

The Clothing

In the attached photos I played around with some of their ready-made pieces. These outfits can be mixed and matched!  I paired one of their bottoms with a fun crop top I had in my closet! Also, their boutique offers fun accessories, take a peek at this gorgeous necklace!

I can tell you firsthand, you won’t be disappointed with your experience at Ziva!  They are offering 25% off to anyone that mentions Chicks And Salsa on their next visit.

Love, Your Chick,

Sonia

Fashion

What A Girl Wants, What A Girl Needs – HAUTELOOK!

What every girl wants may vary, but what every girl needs is Hautelook!  What is Hautelook you ask?  Hautelook is a Nordstrom owned online store.  They offer limited-time sales events that introduce new brands from up and coming companies at an affordable price- this means that if you like it, scoop it up right away because items sell out quickly.

The Skinny

With two young children and a work-a-holic hubby, it is simply too hard to run to the store and take the time to find and try on clothes!  Thanks to the internet, online stores like Hautelook sell the latest trends (not to mention unique pieces) at a steal price…and what can be better…they deliver them straight to your doorstep!  With an app and the convenience of being able to return the items to your nearest Nordstrom Rack, Hautelook has been my savior for gala dresses, vacation outfits...AND they even sell kids clothing and shoes…I’m in heaven!

Haute Looks Is My Secret To a Good Deal

If you still don’t have time, let the Chicks shop for you for FREE!  Chicks and Salsa offers free styling for you, check out the program details here.

The Look

My latest favorite purchase is a high waisted, asymmetrical zippered leather skirt….’cause let’s face it, every girl needs one in her closet…am I right?  I personally love the brand Romeo & Juliet Couture, they create unique pieces which are more of my style.  Needless to say, when that vegan leather skirt popped up, it was in my cart within minutes! I scooped this up on Hautelook for $30, but because they use a flash sale model, the same skirt is now for sale for $62 (it is on sale right now for 30% off), this skirt is budget friendly, and with it’s high waist line, it is mom-friendly for women who are conscious of their love handles.

I have styled this skirt casually and formally! For a sexier look, I have pulled up the zipper a little to show some leg, but for a more casual look, the ‘midi’ length has paired well with this t-shirt.  It also layers well with a loose fitting sweater. I tend to have an edgier style and love to wear things that are less main stream, I’d love to help piece together some outfits for you if my style speaks to you!

In this look I have created for a girls night, I am wearing a black bodysuit, blazer, my new favorite skirt, and platform booties (I am 5’3’’! I need the heels).

I hope you love this look as much as I do, see what else is in my bag here!

Your Chick,

Avani Patel

Currently Craving:
Fashion

4 Ways to Tell your Wardrobe that Spring is Coming!

I recently attended the Atlanta Apparel trade show in Atlanta.  A world class experience where boutique and business owners go to shop. It happens five times a year in order to showcase different seasons of fashion! This year on display were a few notable trends that you’ll start seeing as the season turns.  With a few helpful tips by blogger and influencer Kathleen Barnes, I have compiled what I think are 4 things that you can easily add to your wardrobe to stay on trend, fun, and fashionable this Spring.

(Ashlee Nicole Tiller from Ashlee Nicole MD, Kathleen Barnes from Carrie Bradshaw Lied, Madeleine Raiford-Holland from Moderately High Maintenance and Me, Rina Puri from Chicks and Salsa.)

Lavender

Pastel colors, particularly the pinks and purples, are the IT colors this Spring.  It is  a feminine tone that makes an outfit instantly feel elegant.  This Free People top I am wearing has a lace covered cold shoulder that mixes a little bit of edge with lady-like detailing. I am wearing a size medium. This top is one of those versatile pieces… dress it up with some capri pants and stilettos or dress it down with jeans and sneakers.

Lavender is HOT this Spring!
Lavender is HOT this Spring!
Loving On Lavender
Loving On Lavender
Floral and Prints in General

There was clearly a pattern across all of the vendor booths: prints, prints, prints!  In particular, florals were VERY popular on skirts, tops, blazers, dresses and pants.  There is no doubt that Spring will bloom inside and outside of boutiques.  This skirt I am wearing is MSGM is a size 6. The fit to flare look of this outfit is flattering for mom’s who are conscious of waistlines (I am also wearing my Spanx under this look). Throwing in a floral print can not only brighten an outfit but also your own mood. 

Feeling Extra Pretty With these Florals
Feeling Extra Pretty With these Florals
Going Hands Free With a Belt Bag
Going Hands Free With a Belt Bag
Feathers

So this one is a little trickier for me. As a mom, I just could not find a practical way to incorporate a feather vest or skirt into my wardrobe – I just don’t see myself having the opportunity to rock those. BUT there are other ways to incorporate this trend through the use of accessories, from scarves to jewelry. I did find some cute accessories that would allow me to be ‘trendy’ without overspending. Check out some beautiful feather earrings that add just enough sass to a spice up a daytime or nighttime look.

Feather Frenzy
Feather Frenzy
Blazers

Casually or formally, there is clearly no right or wrong way to rock a blazer this Spring.   This trend is one of my favorites – there are so many ways to wear them.  The weather in the Spring can be unpredictable but a jacket may be too much.  A blazer is the best way to layer and prepare you for some of the unexpected weather that comes with spring.  My cami pictured below is reversible (cool, right? Two pieces for the price of one). Paired with my Hudson white bell bottoms, this look has Spring written all over it!

Pop Of Color Blazer
Pop Of Color Blazer

The only thing I had before I went to the tradeshow were blazers so adding some trendy pieces to my closet was fun.  It helped to focus on bring new energy to my closet through the use of certain  colors, prints, and textures.  Follow us on Instagram to see how we mix and match these pieces into our daily looks and check out what is on our Nordstom Winter Clearance wish list.

Xoxo,

Rina