With florals literally EVERYWHERE this season, I stepped out of my comfort zone and scooped up this fun outfit! Come on ladies, Hillary Clinton can’t be the only one to rock a pant suit! What I love most about this outfit was that I was able to wear it more than one way. I’ve rocked it three ways so you can see how to maximize on one outfit!
If I must say so myself, this set from Akira is AH-mazing. For those of you who don’t know, Akira is a Chicago based boutique that has several locations all over the city and suburbs! This store truly has something for everyone – you just have to dig it out 🙂
Getting More Out of the Outfit
The set I am wearing is a size small jacket paired with a medium pant. You can wear the set with both the blazer and pants, or the pants with bodysuit, or just the blazer with jeans….it’s truly up to your imagination! Additionally, you can dress it up with stilettos or down with sneakers. Wearing something you feel good in makes it easy to find creative ways to wear something multiple ways! When I picked this up, I realized the entire outfit cost me around $140, but was worth every penny given that I could be worn 3 ways.
Hope you love this floral piece as much as I did! To shop this look or others, check us out on @liketoknow.it and see what other outfits might fit your fancy!
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!
Boutique Owners Vrati Doshi (Right) and her Mother, Nita Bagia (Left)
The 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!
Statement Pieces
Bollywood Perfection
Mix and Match Pieces
My Two Favorite Colors in One Outfit
Ziva Vest
The Way this skirt moves is perfection!
This Emerald Color!
Elegance and Comfort!
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.
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!
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!
I look forward to “spring cleaning” every year! It’s my chance to be “out with the old and in with the new!” A fun place for me to start is always my closet. Every year I’m reminded of how I’ve been in rotation of the same clothes throughout the winter… especially since us Chicago folks have the ability to hide behind our parka jackets. With nice weather creeping up on us (hopefully ??) I wanted to think about how to re-surface out of my hibernation and back into the balance of life, fitness and just being ME and I have come up with 5 ways to do it!
Put away your leggings!
I have finally come to terms with the fact that summer is around the corner. My recent harsh reminder to put my leggings away was when I tried to squeeze into my jeans from last summer – not gonna lie, my fly kept falling down! Come on chicks, I can’t be the only one who has leggings as their go to piece in the fall and winter. Leggings can be a dangerous “go to” item because it’s easy to expand and not notice. Also, it doesn’t help that the temptation to grab for Spanx leggings is real since they help squeeze in the extra pounds! With March finally here, it’s time to kick back into gear and work towards getting back into shape…bye bye leggings….hello jeans, dresses, and skirts!
(For the Pink Top – Size Down- I exchanged my Medium for a Small)
Consider a Change of Hair Style or Color
The winters in Chicago can be brutal! The wind chill in the city will make you feel like you never want to leave the house. I don’t know about you, but going for a cut and color has fallen by the wayside over the last couple of months. My split ends need to be gone…pronto! I am so looking forward to a fresh change. Perhaps cutting off a few inches and going a little lighter in my highlights would be fun. Change it up and be bold! It’s amazing how the way we look can influence the way we feel about ourselves.
My biolage was done by Anna George Salon at the Illinois Center – Ivana is amazing!
Add a Pop of Color to Your Spring Wardrobe
My husband always tells me that he’s tired of seeing me in grays, whites and blacks. When I look at my wardrobe I definitely fall into a sea of similar colors, cuts and styles. There is something about spring….the flowers, the sun, and getting out of the house that gives me an extra pep in my step. When Spring shopping, I am usually looking for something with a pop of color that makes me feel like I want to smile and spread the positivity. I recently bought this really fun white blazer that is making me feel springy! A couple bright pieces is all you need. Don’t try to buy a new wardrobe — otherwise you’ll end up with several items that you don’t even wear.
Grab a Buddy and Join a Fitness Program
Over the years I have yo-yoed in my dieting and exercise routine. To be honest, I used to avoid having a workout buddy when going to the gym for fear of letting them down when falling off the bandwagon. What I’ve learned is that the accountability helps when committing to a fitness program. I recently joined ClassPass which had helped me work out with an array of different people who enjoy different styles of exercise. I’m not only getting in shape, but I am also able to socialize and hopefully work towards fitting into those jeans from last summer!
Start Planning Your Next Chick Trip with Your Tribe
I can’t believe it’s already been 8 months since my last chick trip with my chicks! If you haven’t seen it, check out our vlog to Miami on YouTube. When I take the time to focus on myself with the people I love most, coming back to home-life feels so much more refreshing. With the weather warming up, I’m really looking forward to coming together with my chicks and seeing where we are headed next (hint hint: DC and Charleston are on the horizon)!
The Owners
