When push comes to shove and you're left to choose between A and B, it isn't as easy as soul-searching a bit and making a choice. If it was that simple, we'd all be living our lives like Pinterest-esque motivational quotes. But no, it isn't—decision-making is tough stuff. It's driven by situations we live in, folks surrounding us and the point we are at that moment. It can take a whole lot of blood, sweat, tears and fill us with apprehension, regret and finally, freedom. It needs the strategy of your mind, the strength of your body and yes, the satisfaction of your heart. But don't give your heart a free-hand at the wheel. He's a tricky guy who makes emotionally-pleasing choices that can turn out wrong. Getting your heart and mind on the same page is half the job in itself. Because once you do, making the right decision will be so simple. It'll make your soul sing, lend you peace of mind and give your heart exactly what it wanted.

River Island stripe bandeau dress {London} | Street stall bought denim shirt {Colaba causeway} | Accessorize crossbody bag [Previously seen here] | Nike Roshe sneakers | Barry M gelly nail paint in 'pink punch' | Rimmel by Kate Moss lipstick #20 [Reviewed here]

 

Photography: Leo Alemao / Style File

When it came to this outfit however, I gave my heart free rein and it came up with this spunky athleisure look. I know, I overuse the word athleisure but I can't get enough of it! This time around, I've embraced classic breton stripes in a figure hugging silhouette with bardot sleeves. Over it, I've thrown together a worn-in denim shirt and crossbody mini bag. However, it's my newest possession, the stunning Nike roshe all black sneakers that stole the look and my heart too. I paired it with a loose curly bob, large lashes, a hot pink lip and matching fuchsia nails. With its sporty touch and feminine flair, this look is whole lot more than my heart can handle.

xo

Dayle

The last time I came home after a voracious shopping spree with a handful of bags was years ago. It all started during sale season when I couldn't take my eyes off a tulle skirt. At the second store, it was a printed dress. At the third, it was a denim jacket. I then sat down to dinner with a victory pizza to celebrate my tiring evening of pointless spending. Since then, I've come a long way. I resist impulse purchases, I don't throw money at sales and most importantly, I care much more about quality. I know, I know; the girl with the handful of bags had an epiphany and changed her approach to fashion completely—it sounds like something Rebecca Bloomwood would do. But it didn't happen overnight and it definitely wasn't easy.

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Like many others, the constant cycle of sale season, fashion month and 'I-need-new-clothes-for-this-meeting' meant buying a new bodycon skirt or dress without any reason, thought or need. Regardless if the stitches came loose or the print faded in a couple of washes, I kept going back for more (and I wasn't even a shopaholic!). Being part of the fashion and beauty sphere didn't make it any easier. Constantly scrolling through Instagram, experimenting with new trends on Style File or following what's in vogue made me want to be a part of it too. When millennial pink hit the headlines, I wanted a pair of culottes in that shade. When Gigi Hadid made the news, I wanted the varsity jacket she was spotted in. Consumerism hit me from every side—the internet, the papers and the streets. That's when I knew I needed an overhaul, stat.


The change began with a quote—'Buy things you see yourself wearing forever.' It switched on a light in my head. I retraced all the clothes, shoes and junk jewellery I had bought in the past couple of years. Would I really wear the asymmetrical skirt and neon clutch after they faded from the trend spotlight? Probably not. Was it sensible to buy a cardigan half off to find its colour fade by itself in my closet? Not really. It struck me that all my purchases meant nothing if they didn't last. If you thought regret was bad when you didn't buy what you wanted, it's infinitely worse when you do buy it and realise it's a hasty decision made in the fear of losing out.

That's when I realised how important quality was. Quality in fashion meant my clothing, accessories and jewellery would be of higher quality materials and sit gently on my skin. They wouldn't fade, crinkle or pill in a wash or two. They wouldn't lose shape, have their handles break or their fabric peel when the weather got humid. Yes, quality products tend to be more expensive, difficult to find and care for but in the long run, they are smarter, more economical purchases. Especially during sale season, I still get pangs to pick up a trendy top or a frivolous skirt. Like a balanced diet, I do occasionally allow myself a taste of the cheat clothing. But when I think about the quality I strive for, the smart choices I've made so far and that striking quote, most items always go back on the rack.

That's when I knew it wasn't just my personal style that needed quality, it was the rest of my life too. That meant 8 blissful hours of sleep every night, a daily workout that got my heart pumping and a nutritious meals that kept me full through the day. For a more happy, productive and fulfilling life, all I needed was quality. Imagine that—being completely happy and wearing high quality threads, now that's a good life.

xo
Dayle

For ages, I never understood where I fit on the scale of hourly appreciation. I had attempted to become a night owl many times but failed spectacularly when; by 4am, all I could feel was a mix of numbness and sleep deprivation. Neither was I a morning bird because even all the coffee in the world couldn't shake off the 3pm sluggishness. After feeling like a misfit for far too long, I decided to write myself off as an afternoon person. Yes, it is a thing. We, midday lovers, enjoy the sunshine, warm breeze and tea breaks. You know, the best things about the afternoon.

Since then, I've altered my stance a bit. Some days, I do rise with the sun and enjoy the incredible quietness that only the early morning can bring. Other days late nights even turn into early mornings; like this one time, when a rooster began crowing just as I was hitting the hay. Through it all, I still found my peace in the middle of the day. I loved everything about it—grabbing post lunch ice-cream, finding thoughts flow out of my fingers instead of an afternoon lull and going on sunny drives. Even if I ever lean towards being a morning person or a night time lover, I know that the middle of the day is where the magic happens.

Melange bell sleeve blouse | Warehouse short dungarees | Forever 21 clogs | Topshop hand cuff | Silver earrings | DIY head scarf | Miss Bennett backpack | Look beauty 'Rose Riot' lip gloss | Essie 'We're all in this together' nail varnish

Photography: Leo Alemao / Style File

One such sultry afternoon, I decided to embrace everything I loved about midday and run with it. I'm talking flowing yet defined silhouettes, tousled waves and sunshine aplenty—an overall gypsy-esque aesthetic. Headlining the outfit is, the season's hottest trend i.e dramatic sleeves. Balancing the billowy top are fitted dungarees and clunky clogs. Giving it that final touch is a knotted head scarf, hand chain, rosy eye makeup and poppy lips. Set on a backdrop that's right out of the garden of Eden, it's the visual embodiment of my midday adoration. Safe to say it's only getting deeper.

xo
Dayle

As I write this, the first showers of rain are pitter-pattering against my window. Although it's just like a scene out of a novel, it also means one thing—the end of summer is nigh. While we've still got a couple of weeks until it's officially the monsoon and our rain boots are out in full form, it's probably time to bid the scorching summer goodbye. I definitely won't miss dealing with summer skin and getting drenched in sweat but there are a few things that I will, for certain. Mangoes as a dessert staple and summer beach days are just a few of them. To know what the rest of them are, take a look at what I've been doing, where I've been going and what I've been eating this season.

A surprise set of pretty pink blooms made an appearance in the garden this season. They took their time but were certainly worth it!

Indulging in a delectable bowl of pork belly ramen with (my favourite!) a runny egg. Don't miss my gin cocktail which had a chili in it!

If there was ever a picture to depict my mental happy place, this would be it—sandy, full of sunshine and besides the sea!

This little lady gave a whole new meaning to the words 'curious cat'. Besides having lovely eyes, she definitely wasn't shy!

Ripened mango flesh that's glistening with juice and beaming with vibrance. Need I say more?

A scene from my secluded cycling route back home. Every time I now see it, I wish I could have another of those sunny morning bike rides.

The antidote to every ferocious summer day is a classic iced coffee. One of my favourite beverages for summer and every other season!

 

A beautiful Sunday afternoon spent barbecuing in the backyard. Smokey air and delicious food is exactly what summer days are made of!

Followed quite a few tv shows over the summer. Somehow murder and deceit were a running theme through them all with 'Big Little Lies' being one of my top recommendations.

In a gluten-free, organic world, I'm the kind of girl who enjoys a juicy chicken burger with a side of French fries

 

I'm a complete beach baby at heart so just the sight of ripples, shells and sand is enough to pull my heartstrings

Photography: Raynor Pereira & Dayle Pereira

With a bunch of amazing memories made during my favourite season, it's safe to say that it was a summer well spent.

xo
Dayle

At the start of 2017, I vowed that it would be my year for wonderful skin. While that worked marvellously during the nippy winter and cool spring, it wasn't quite the same during summer. As the owner of oily skin which has the temperament of a moody teenager, summer can bring its own set of challenges. Namely dullness, ruddiness and greasiness to rival an oil spill.

Since everyone, especially myself, would like to skip past that to the part where they look like glowing goddesses, this bunch of beauty products can do just that. Post a bit of research and usage, I narrowed down on 3 makeup and skin care picks to give me sun-kissed, healthy skin this season. Withstanding immense humidity and scorching temperatures are all in a day's work for these products as they've now made their way to my dresser as summer skin staples.

When I want to customise my makeup

When my recent search for a BB cream came to a grinding halt, I blamed it on high expectations. Maybe wanting medium coverage with a light texture was too much to ask. That's when I realised, it wasn't a BB cream I was looking for, it was a customisable skin cover. Lo and behold, I found that in the Cover FX Custom Cover Drops. With its pipette dropper and ability to blend with facial oils, moisturisers and primers, it's been a complete game changer for my beauty routine. Winning the praises of beauty gurus from across the internet didn't hurt its case either! Don't let its runny, feather-light texture fool you—a little of these pigmented cover drops go a long way. Its easy customisation also meant that it was the one stop solution for tinted moisturiser, barely there makeup or a full coverage foundation.

When I want a clean face

There's something so satisfying about feeling spanking clean skin between your fingers after you've just washed your face. If you have oily skin, you know how quickly that feeling can slip away. Thankfully, the St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub brings that right back to me. The genius of this scrub lies in its granules which exfoliate away dirt without being abrasive. Its citrus fragrance and paraben-free formula is an added bonus. After working tirelessly to remove gunk and grime, this face scrub is now a permanent fixture in my weekly regime all through the year. If there's just one of life's simple pleasures that I enjoy, it's touchably smooth skin after a long week.

 Photography: Raynor Pereira // Design: Leo Alemao

When I want my cheekbones to pop

Whether you're a beauty lover or not, you're probably aware of ColourPop's cult-like following. While I didn't understand what made it so popular in the beginning, using their products changed that for me. Apart from their iconic liquid lipsticks, the ColourPop Super Shock Highlighter is proof in itself. 'Avalon' is an incredibly pigmented, glitzy copper shade—perfect for warm, bronzy Indian skin. Its velvety smooth formula melts into the skin like butter on warm toast. As the shade also doubles up as a blush and an eyeshadow, it doesn't really get more versatile than this one.


xo
Dayle

Perspective is a funny thing. Not 'ha-ha' funny but the thought provoking kind. From the time I was 14, driven by sketch-filled scrapbooks and fashion movies, I knew what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I envisioned the hallowed halls of a fashion magazine replete with glistening marble floors and whimsical paintings on the walls. Women would be striding through the corridors in stilettos, designer spectacles and fitted blazers—and I'd be one of them.
Of course when I did actually join one, that changed drastically. While many of them did resemble my vision of the modern working woman, I just wouldn't have it. Blazers, stilettos, spectacles—I wanted none of them and yet, I couldn't seem to put my finger on what exactly I wanted to wear. Even back then, I knew that clothes were a lot more than just garments to me. Years later, with a little more perspective and redefined personal style, the mark of a modern woman became as clear as day to me. She was refined, confident in her own skin and never afraid to stand out.

1 Like No Other printed shirt | Marks & Spencer culottes | Steve Madden floral stilettos | Kazo dangler earrings c/o | Aldo bracelets | Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker 'Punch Bowl' lip gloss | 

NYX 'Lady First' nail varnish

 Photography: Leo Alemao

The idea of boardroom chic dressing, with its pencil skirts and starched shirts always appealed to me. However, once I was in the throes of it, there was nothing I wanted less. With a change in scenery and the wisdom of my early twenties in hand, I learned that it wasn't the style of dressing that dissuaded me, it was my state of mind. So with the scorching sun as my backdrop, I decided to do a bit of physical and mental spring cleaning to give my version of the modern career woman one last shot. With new perspective in the right direction, this was my complete look.

Summer meant I couldn't stay away from pastels and so, I literally strutted in from top to toe. While culottes weren't always my cup of tea, this linen beauty in powder blue changed that for me. I even went all out with a glossy pink lip, a purple eye makeup look and on-point printed sandals to bring it all together. In a breeze, boardroom dressing went from stuffy and bland to sophisticated and chic. Now who would have thought it could look this phenomenal!


xo
Dayle