A chilly kind of day

It's really strange but these days I am very much compelled to start every post with a greeting. Thanks to all your lovely comments and kind emails I finally don't feel like I am babbling to myself anymore. Really ladies and gentlemen who read my ramblings every now and then here as well as on Chictopia, Mode Republic and Weardrobe, THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH!!! Also you can show your love for my adorable pup Rishi  in Chictopia's Chic & The Fuzzy Contest.

Anyway, the weather in Toronto has started playing hooky again. Today the wind is blustering out and although the sun is out, you could hardly feel anything. So I got all covered up before we went to take a stroll on Toronto's harbor-front.

This dress is my first ever dress, I bought it from Guess almost four years ago for a wedding and have only worn it two or three times ever since. But today I felt it would be perfect for layering over a turtleneck. Although people on the streets seemed to disagree, because I was getting quite a few stares. You know the kind which start at eye level, go all the way to your toes and then comes back up!! I know that maybe I was a bit too dressed up for a lot of people, but sometimes I like to do just that.

Have you ever gotten all dressed up just because you felt like it and then gone out to do something very silly, like grocery shopping???

Wearing: Guess Dress, Sirens Turtleneck, Ardene Tights and Necklace, American Eagle Sandals, Bangladeshi Street Vendor Bangles & Random Clutch

Love

Trishna

April Showers

Sometimes out of the blue, life decides to bring a smile to my face. Such a day was today. I was picking up a temp stint at my previous workplace and as I was leaving for the day I came across a co-op student who worked for another division in our company. I've never really had a chance to talk to her before but I dunno how today we got talking and I was surprised to know that she is a very talented photographer who is also studying to become a Social Service Worker. We were talking about common interests when she suddenly told me she really loves photographing in natural lights and for her photoshoots tries to use natural looking models. It was then that I had my Eureka moment.

I was planning to share this with you a bit later but I am too excited and I know you are more than well wishers, so ...yeah ....the reason I was excited to hear that Kaidee was a photographer is because I was looking for one in my area who I know, can easily convey my ideas to and share a vision with. I need this because I have seriously started dabbling in paint and plan to have a collection of exquisite silk and organic cotton hand painted dresses up for sale by the end of the summer. Presentation is everything, so I was desperately looking for a photographer and when I took a look at Kaidee's work, I knew she was the answer to my silent prayers.

So that is my secret dear ladies and gentleman. At present I am feverishly working away on my designs, but there is so much left to do, I have to get a website up and promote, promote and promote some more if I want to be any success. Hopefully in the next month you will see me wearing some of my simpler pieces. You can be my first judge of how my art is then!!!!

Please pray for me everyone. Being a designer was my dream since I was 10 and it is the only key to my freedom. I want this more than anything in life. So please wish me luck. :)

On a lighter note, I recently got some super amazing pieces from Forever 21. I was so impressed by their shipping too. I ordered one day and the items were on my doorstep the next evening, now that's what I call customer service. :) I am preferring shopping online more and more as of late. It just takes the pressure away when you can try things out in the comfort of your home and just return them later if you really do not like. Plus instead of walking around the stores for hours you simply browse pages after pages on your laptop in your pajamas and ........oh I can go on forever. Now if only I could do grocery this way too that would be a dream come true!

Wearing: Forever 21 Jacket and Sweater, Guess Skirt, Ardene Tights, Aldo Shoes, Citizen Watch, Bangladeshi Street Vendor Bangles and Costa Blanca Pin

Love

Trishna

P.S: The Chictopia contest is still on. Please vote for Rishi and me. :) And if you want me to vote for you in any other contest, just let me know in the comments below. :)

Besame mucho. :)

Once upon a time I was a stubborn, skeptic girl, who had a few select friends and loved them to death. It's not that I was antisocial, hell no, but I was just very very scared to let people into my life. Especially boys........thanks to my share of jerks. Plus who has time for boys when you are planning to fly across several oceans to realize your dream??? But in the middle of all this one balmy November (Yes November in Bangladesh is balmy according to Canadian standard) evening in 2005, I received a text, from a stranger. Maybe, the stars do have some power over us after all, because I replied. And now four years, millions of texts, thousands of international phone calls, video chats, sleepless nights and one immigration later, we are still going strong.

I am so happy I answered that text Shabab. I would not have done it any other way. Thanks for supporting my craziness round the clock every day, I would not be who I am and this blog child of mine would not be born if it was not for you. Love you.

P.S: My boy and I just celebrated our fourth anniversary, how we met, evolved and are still together in a relationship can make a thousand page novel. But I won't bore you to death with the details. And believe me after countless hours spent trying to analyze why, when and how, I could only come to the conclusion that, it just.....happened. Maybe because it was meant to, who knows!!!

We wanted to keep it low key, just the two of us, so from work we went to eat at Lahore Tikka, our favorite Indian restaurant in the city and then promptly got lost in a previously unseen neighborhood enjoying Pistachio flavored Kulfi. Maybe sometime in the next few months I'll be able to sneak in a photo of him for you guys. :)

P.P.S: I wanted to thank all you wonderful people who have been visiting my blog and letting me know your thoughts. It means so much to me to see what you liked about my posts. Plus currently I am participating in the "Chic & Fuzzy" contest on Chictopia along with my miniature poodle baby Rishi. We are both awestruck by the sheer amount of love you have shown us. Please keep voting for us, it will be the perfect gift to mark the beginning for Rishi's third year with us. Also could you please tell me what color tights I should wear with this dress?? I was running late for work that morning and just grabbed the first one my eyes fell on. But for next time I am thinking turquoise, golden yellow, sage green or coral but don't have any of them and I can currently buy just one. :( Help please!!!!!

P.P.P.S: The bag I am carrying is from a fashion house/ NGO named "ARONG" in my country. I absolutely loved the bright hues, the fact that it's 100% fair trade and the proceeds from it's sales went towards building prosperous communities for leather crafters in my country.

Wearing: H&M Dress, Vintage Belt, Soda Flats, Arong Bag, Ricki's Blazer, Hue Tights, Ardene Calf, Bangladeshi Street Vendor Necklace and Bracelets and Sora Designs "Venice Encounter" Ring

Thank for the photos Love :)

Love

Trishna

An act of kindness a day, keeps the bitter universe away

I really really wanted to share with you, something wonderful that happened all day today. Maybe you can or can not understand from my photos and writing but I am a very sarcastic individual by nature. I absolutely adore dry, subtle humor and can sustain on intelligent conversation alone for hours on end. Growing up, due to circumstances beyond my control I have grown to possess a rather cynic view of the world around me and although I love people's ability to enjoy things as they come without looking for the motive behind them, I have been devoid of that kind of emotion until today.

I do not know exactly what caused this but as I was getting out of the house bright and early this morning, I decided to take it slow. I decided I will choose not to run for the bus, let everyone else get on it and take their seats before I embark even if it's a particularly long ride, will go out of my way to help each and every individual I meet and just make a very conscious effort to be a good human being.

I don't know what caused this but it was like as soon as I made these mere intentions, something in the universe shifted and decided to make my day. I swear I can never catch a bus, usually never get a seat when I need it, but today not one but two drivers waited for me in the middle of the road even after the signal turned green, just so I could get on. I managed to sit every time, even after I volunteered to leave my seat for those more in need. I left my rather costly monthly pass on the subway as I was getting off, but a gentleman ran out after me, handed me my card and rushed back into the train before I could even register what just happened. I could go on and on about all the other little details that made this day very special for me. And I believe it was because I had started the day with good intentions.

I was reading my fellow blogger and a wonderful person Tieka's entry about how one day she, tired of losing control and always complaining, made a conscious choice of turning her life around. It really moved me, her entry. We all face so many struggles in our lives, maybe in comparison to many others in the world our's are really small. But everyone's struggle is unique and is a hardship to them, no matter how insignificant it might seem to others. It might seem vain to many, this whole fashion blogging thing. But really when I see girls like Tieka it just becomes crystal clear that we are all real human beings, with real problems and real emotions. And that is why overcoming all that when we look stylish, it really counts. But maybe it was her words on the back of my mind that made me do this today, and you know what?? Sarcasm is nice as a form of expression and it will always be a part of me, but I am ready to shed the cynic view of this world and see life just as it comes.

Wearing: Mandee Dress, Gifted Pashmina, Forever 21 Faux fur Shrug, Bangladeshi Handmade Bag, Ardene Necklaces, (THE MOST PAINFUL) Dexter Pumps and Hue Tights

Love
Trishna

The beauty within

Have I ever told you why I blog?? No, I am not talking about reasons like, I want to bring out variety from my wardrobe, I want to record the development of my personal style or I want to push myself to new boundaries..etc. I agree those reasons are very important in their own rights. However the main reason for my blogging is that I want to belong.

Ever since I was a little girl, I never fit in. No, I was not particularly targeted by the mean kids in school, I kept my head low enough for that. I think the fault lies within me. I don't think I ever really wanted to fit into the general mold of social conformity. Be it in the way I dressed (weird according to general consensus), or how I kept my hair(super curly and messy like a crows nest), to how I solved my math problems to even what I had for lunch. Being the fiercely independent soul that I was even as a kid I thrived in being different, in having my own identity. That actually was not a very pleasant experience, since like most educational institutions in the world, all the students in our school were expected to be similar, by the teachers as well as other students. So anything deviant was just termed weird and shunned aside.

It has not really changed as I grew up, I was never in the popular or trendy crew but slowly I had carved a distinctive identity for myself. I was at least known as unique, uncommon or any other polite term you might be able to think up for weird. It took me a move across the world and being away from everything I have known since birth to be admired, complimented and to be called beautiful. The day I first heard that I am beautiful from a coworker, I thought she was mocking me. Ah the look on my face when she said she was serious was apparently priceless.

Then I found you, dear fellow bloggers and readers who grace the blogosphere. I could barely contain my joy when I started discovering one blog after another. Oh the celebration of beauty! Girls, guys, various races, shapes, sizes, nationality, skin color, hair; but who dares to say that we are not beautiful in our own ways?? And oh did I forget to mentioned that I learned just because I am different than a lot of people does not mean I am weird. There is at least one person, or most likely many more out there who shares some of my characteristics. My uniqueness is what makes me who I am. And it is not only acceptable but absolutely recommended to be who I really am. Geez was I surprised by this discovery or what!!!

The blogosphere is a world where we all belong. To me THIS is utopia, a place where everybody is equal and we are all beautiful, exactly the way we are.

Thanks to Delightfully Tacky for inspiring this string of thoughts. If you've never visited her, I insist you do so before finishing this post.

Wearing: Custom-made Dress from Andes Boutique in Bangladesh, Suzy Shier Belt, American Eagle Flats, Hue Tights and Bangladeshi Street Vendor Bangles

Love

Trishna

Wait for sleep

Standing by the window
Eyes upon the moon
Hoping that the memory will leave her spirit soon

She shuts the doors and lights
And lays her body on the bed
Where images and words are running deep
She has too much pride to pull the sheets above her head
So quietly she lays and waits for sleep

She stares at the ceiling
And tries not to think
And pictures the chain
She's been trying to link again
But the feeling is gone

And water can't cover her memory
And ashes can't answer her pain
God give me the power to take breath from a breeze
And call life from a cold metal frame

In with the ashes
Or up with the smoke from the fire
With wings up in heaven
Or here, lying in bed
Palm of her hand to my head
Now and forever curled in my heart
And the heart of the world

-Dream Theater

It sometimes really surprises me how life has this strange capacity to consume us, we get so caught up in our daily drudgery that we lose the essence of our soul, things that used to make us think, dream and transform. Then one day when we suddenly stop and examine, it's like we are looking at a stranger in the mirror. When did we become who we are?? After accidentally stumbling across this song, I just remembered the entirely different person I used to be. It felt as if I woke up from a dream called reality and I don't think I want to go back to sleep anytime soon.

Wearing: Guess Denim Shorts, Yellow Top from Bangladesh, Self Made Silk Scarf, Aldo Cowboy Boots, Cynthia Rowley Tights & Bangladeshi Bangles

Love
Trishna

Toronto Fashion Week Fall Winter 2010

OK. I know I am a bit....umm late in this review and everyone has already seen the looks sent down by Canadian designers earlier this month but better late than never, right! This one post is by no means enough to represent the plethora of talents that who showcased their collections late last week, but it just encompasses my inspirational favorites.

This fashion week actually surprised me a bit, because it was the first Toronto fashion week that I consciously followed, analyzed and dissected. And I liked, loved what I saw.

I have known about Lucian Matis since his Project Runway Canada days and he was undoubtedly once again proven a master of his craft.Looking at his collection I almost felt like I was transported to an Edwardian era and was in a kind of Romanian folklore with gorgeously dressed Gypsy ladies. It was too much to take in but was very intricate, displayed extreme levels of craftsmanship and was very very beautiful. And the coats, oh my! Can I please have one of those come this winter??

I agree with Torontonians when it comes to Pat McDonagh. This is a lady we all love. Her collection while it might not cater to everyone's style palettes, definitely spoke to me. What's not to like?? Soothing but oh so gorgeous whites, military and circus trainer chic in red and black. I wish I could be there to take part in her standing ovation. Love you Pat.

Last but by no means the least is Gaudet. The designer duo Norm and Gio Gaudet mystifies with yet another collection of their mind blowing outerwear. Their collection was a kaleidoscope of colors and beautiful artistry. What I wouldn't do to own one of those wearable pieces of art!!! Please do check out their full collection here.

With that ends my review of the Toronto Fashion Week Fall Winter 2010. I am all revved up and ready to go for next fall. How about you??

Photo Courtesy: blogto.com and Gaudet

Love

Trishna