Last night for the Golden Globes ✨ I haven’t worn a dress in 4 years, but I felt called to start the new year with one.
I’m happy to report that I somehow managed while wearing heels, having a long train and having no pockets. I was super proud of myself… until it was time to leave and I fell flat on my face while walking to my car. Welp. She is beauty, she is grace… 💁🏽♀️
Photo: @manelaylopez
Dress: @jovanifashions
Jewelry: @hanut101
Styling: @desireemorales
Makeup: @aaronpaulbeauty
Hair: @kattthompson
Hair care: @AAVRANI
New year, same love for charcuterie 🧀 but I’ll be honest, this board is the only put-together thing about my 2024 so far…
I’ve seen so many posts about goal-setting, crushing this new year, reflecting on lessons, and new projects being announced. And usually, I would be right there with them, perfecting my new vision board and hungry to make this year mine.
But I’m not. I’m actually having a really hard time. I don’t feel motivated and I’m struggling not to compare myself to everyone who does. This is the first year I can remember that I haven’t completed my yearly vision board. This is the first time I’m not eager to go back to work. And even though it’s completely irrational, I feel like I’m already behind this year. My mental health is less than ideal and I’ve eaten a lot of ice cream everyday…
I’m sharing this because maybe someone out there feels the same. And maybe we’ll both feel a little less crappy if we know we aren’t alone. This is the reason I share most things. Because I believe feeling alone is one of the worst feelings and if a little vulnerability can remedy that, then I’m happy to wear my emotions on my sleeve.
So in case you entered 2024 feeling like 💩, I’m sending you love. And letting you know, you’re not alone and this too shall pass. Everything is temporary. And I’m holding space for you and cheering you on.
The truth is, any and everyday can be new years. So rest up, get your mind, body and spirit right, and crush this year… even if you start on Feb 1. 💜
Note to self: if all else fails, quit everything and just make charcuterie boards because damn look at that board.
New year, same love for charcuterie 🧀 but I’ll be honest, this board is the only put-together thing about my 2024 so far…
I’ve seen so many posts about goal-setting, crushing this new year, reflecting on lessons, and new projects being announced. And usually, I would be right there with them, perfecting my new vision board and hungry to make this year mine.
But I’m not. I’m actually having a really hard time. I don’t feel motivated and I’m struggling not to compare myself to everyone who does. This is the first year I can remember that I haven’t completed my yearly vision board. This is the first time I’m not eager to go back to work. And even though it’s completely irrational, I feel like I’m already behind this year. My mental health is less than ideal and I’ve eaten a lot of ice cream everyday…
I’m sharing this because maybe someone out there feels the same. And maybe we’ll both feel a little less crappy if we know we aren’t alone. This is the reason I share most things. Because I believe feeling alone is one of the worst feelings and if a little vulnerability can remedy that, then I’m happy to wear my emotions on my sleeve.
So in case you entered 2024 feeling like 💩, I’m sending you love. And letting you know, you’re not alone and this too shall pass. Everything is temporary. And I’m holding space for you and cheering you on.
The truth is, any and everyday can be new years. So rest up, get your mind, body and spirit right, and crush this year… even if you start on Feb 1. 💜
Note to self: if all else fails, quit everything and just make charcuterie boards because damn look at that board.
Chic Oscar the Grouch for @washingtonpost
📸: @raulromo
Chic Oscar the Grouch for @washingtonpost
📸: @raulromo
Chic Oscar the Grouch for @washingtonpost
📸: @raulromo
Should we do one with sunglasses? @kesha @ddlovato
Should we do one with sunglasses? @kesha @ddlovato
Should we do one with sunglasses? @kesha @ddlovato
Thank you @hollywoodreporter for hosting Women in Entertainment. I laughed. I cried. I ate avocado toast. And I developed a major crush on @adele. 10/10 worth the 6am glam session 🤌🏽😅
I’ve really been loving all the in-person connection and interactions in my life lately. Double taps are cool, but being in a room full of inspirational women and soaking in their energy just hits different ✨
Women. Women. Women.
@andotherstories suit and belt
@mgemi shoes
@idyl jewelry
@aaronpaulbeauty makeup
@kattthompson hair
@desireemorales styling
Thank you @hollywoodreporter for hosting Women in Entertainment. I laughed. I cried. I ate avocado toast. And I developed a major crush on @adele. 10/10 worth the 6am glam session 🤌🏽😅
I’ve really been loving all the in-person connection and interactions in my life lately. Double taps are cool, but being in a room full of inspirational women and soaking in their energy just hits different ✨
Women. Women. Women.
@andotherstories suit and belt
@mgemi shoes
@idyl jewelry
@aaronpaulbeauty makeup
@kattthompson hair
@desireemorales styling
Thank you @hollywoodreporter for hosting Women in Entertainment. I laughed. I cried. I ate avocado toast. And I developed a major crush on @adele. 10/10 worth the 6am glam session 🤌🏽😅
I’ve really been loving all the in-person connection and interactions in my life lately. Double taps are cool, but being in a room full of inspirational women and soaking in their energy just hits different ✨
Women. Women. Women.
@andotherstories suit and belt
@mgemi shoes
@idyl jewelry
@aaronpaulbeauty makeup
@kattthompson hair
@desireemorales styling
Yes, I am VERY extra. 💅🏽As you can see from this BTS video from my Diwali party, Love & Light 2023.
I love event planning and hosting so incredibly much. It’s a passion that keeps me up at night. And the reason I’m so extra and dramatic about it is because it’s one of my only remaining safe spaces. In most instances, I’m often shamed for being “extra,” or “too much,” or “over-the-top.” And although I try my best to remain authentic (because that’s just who I am!) I do constantly negotiate parts of myself, depending on the situation.
But when I throw an event, I give myself permission to be every bit of extra I want. It is my arena. And this party is my annual expression of self, and a love letter to the Desi community. Not to mention, there is no measure of success other than it being super fun.
Thank you to my ride or dies @socaleventplanners, @2createdesigns and @3dsounds for holding it down for me 3 years in a row. Every year it not only gets bigger and better, but it gets more meaningful. This year, the day after the party, I woke up to countless texts from guests telling me how important this gathering was to them. And that’s because when planning, we really do prioritize love, light, community and fun. Every detail matters.
All this to say, we’re already planning next year. And I’m about to be so much more extra. Watch this space (glitter).
#LoveAndLight2023
Maybe if I just play with my necklace a little… okay good, yes. And then maybe look away into space as if I’m pondering. Nailed it. One hand in pocket. Good, good. Adjust the hat a bit perhaps? Is this good? Wait, let me lean in a tad too on the side that hides my pimple. Perfffff.
Boom. Candid. Natural.
Sorry, just love my fit too much today. Monochromatic cream? It’s giving, “I carry a Tide pen in my pocket.” Ufffff.
Grab yourself a “Books Over Bakwaas” t-shirt or sweater. For a limited time. Link in bio. 🔗
20% of proceeds go to @unicornisland Fund to help girls and women in India live life to their fullest potential (including literacy skills!) We love a full circle fashion-giveback moment.
#GivingTuesday #LillysLibrary #HoliChic
Maybe if I just play with my necklace a little… okay good, yes. And then maybe look away into space as if I’m pondering. Nailed it. One hand in pocket. Good, good. Adjust the hat a bit perhaps? Is this good? Wait, let me lean in a tad too on the side that hides my pimple. Perfffff.
Boom. Candid. Natural.
Sorry, just love my fit too much today. Monochromatic cream? It’s giving, “I carry a Tide pen in my pocket.” Ufffff.
Grab yourself a “Books Over Bakwaas” t-shirt or sweater. For a limited time. Link in bio. 🔗
20% of proceeds go to @unicornisland Fund to help girls and women in India live life to their fullest potential (including literacy skills!) We love a full circle fashion-giveback moment.
#GivingTuesday #LillysLibrary #HoliChic
Maybe if I just play with my necklace a little… okay good, yes. And then maybe look away into space as if I’m pondering. Nailed it. One hand in pocket. Good, good. Adjust the hat a bit perhaps? Is this good? Wait, let me lean in a tad too on the side that hides my pimple. Perfffff.
Boom. Candid. Natural.
Sorry, just love my fit too much today. Monochromatic cream? It’s giving, “I carry a Tide pen in my pocket.” Ufffff.
Grab yourself a “Books Over Bakwaas” t-shirt or sweater. For a limited time. Link in bio. 🔗
20% of proceeds go to @unicornisland Fund to help girls and women in India live life to their fullest potential (including literacy skills!) We love a full circle fashion-giveback moment.
#GivingTuesday #LillysLibrary #HoliChic
Maybe if I just play with my necklace a little… okay good, yes. And then maybe look away into space as if I’m pondering. Nailed it. One hand in pocket. Good, good. Adjust the hat a bit perhaps? Is this good? Wait, let me lean in a tad too on the side that hides my pimple. Perfffff.
Boom. Candid. Natural.
Sorry, just love my fit too much today. Monochromatic cream? It’s giving, “I carry a Tide pen in my pocket.” Ufffff.
Grab yourself a “Books Over Bakwaas” t-shirt or sweater. For a limited time. Link in bio. 🔗
20% of proceeds go to @unicornisland Fund to help girls and women in India live life to their fullest potential (including literacy skills!) We love a full circle fashion-giveback moment.
#GivingTuesday #LillysLibrary #HoliChic
Maybe if I just play with my necklace a little… okay good, yes. And then maybe look away into space as if I’m pondering. Nailed it. One hand in pocket. Good, good. Adjust the hat a bit perhaps? Is this good? Wait, let me lean in a tad too on the side that hides my pimple. Perfffff.
Boom. Candid. Natural.
Sorry, just love my fit too much today. Monochromatic cream? It’s giving, “I carry a Tide pen in my pocket.” Ufffff.
Grab yourself a “Books Over Bakwaas” t-shirt or sweater. For a limited time. Link in bio. 🔗
20% of proceeds go to @unicornisland Fund to help girls and women in India live life to their fullest potential (including literacy skills!) We love a full circle fashion-giveback moment.
#GivingTuesday #LillysLibrary #HoliChic
Three piece suit 🤝🏾 Lungi
Still glowing from this custom @falgunishanepeacockindia Diwali fit for my Dreamscape themed party.. And feeling extremely grateful that I get to collaborate with brilliant people and put pieces like this together. Because for most of my life, getting dressed up for Desi functions was STRESSFUL, not fun.
There were just so many rules to abide by and as a result, in my experience it was harder to be creative with Desi clothing. Girls had to wear X. And boys had to wear Z. And it was hard to fuse the two and blur the lines because Desi clothes are generally quite costly.
And then of course, shoes and jewelry had to match the work on the outfit. And your chunni/dupatta wasn’t just an accessory but a statement about your modesty. Growing up, the edgiest thing I did was wear bangles on just one arm.
But as I’ve grown, I’ve gotten more comfortable throwing the rule book out the window.
This year, I wanted to fuse my North American style with my South Asian style and so we created a three-piece suit with a lungi (two styles that I’ve historically seen on men). And then because I’m extra, we added a cape with feather details (a little ode to Superwoman).
My genius friends at @saripalace suggested I rock contrasting light blue stones in my earrings, bangles and layered necklaces. And I’m obsessed with how it turned out.
My glam team @sonia_singh_89 and @prernaco tripled the length of my hair, added gems throughout and gave me the dreamiest eyeshadow of all time.
A small but important detail are my nails by @beautydollperla which feature clouds and crystals because when there’s a theme, we commit.
From sketch to conception, this was an out-of-the-box idea, but who wants to live in a box anyway? Fashion should be fun.
I have an album of photos on my phone that capture a silly or heart-warming memory that I love to re-live again and again. Just me?
1. this is from my recent trip to India. I was visiting a girls school and this student just spent 5 whole minutes explaining her science project to me. I nodded and pretended I knew the scientific words she was saying. When she was done, I looked up and this was my genuine reaction, perfectly captured. Don’t sleep on the potential of Indian girls 💪🏽
2. Live coverage of my mom calling local bookstores to find @lillyslibrarys latest select 🥹 please don’t miss her little notepad.
3. A couple weeks ago, my friend and I cooked dinner for our group chat. We planned for a week, played Italian music while cooking and had the most zen time… until we didn’t, and there was 30 mins left and dinner was more than an hour late 👀
4. From the same dinner, I let my friends take leftovers home in my Tupperware. I do not play when it comes to my Tupperware. My friend left his watch at my house and I texted him this picture saying “I’m glad I have this. You’ll get it back when you return my Tupperware.” I was not joking.
5. A candid shot of my best friend aka my dog watching me during a recent photoshoot.
6. Another gem from India, where this group of girls and I just had an hour convo discussing all the challenges they face. And then we took this picture and I dunno, their smiles really make something in my heart flicker, especially the one next to me.
7. Me at a recent CGT taping with a friend from high school I haven’t seen over a decade. She DMed me saying her kids are fans and I invited her family to come. She was always so extremely nice to me in high school, even if it wasn’t the cool thing to do. 💜
The majority of pics on my phone, I never look at again. But there are some that are just 🤌🏽
I have an album of photos on my phone that capture a silly or heart-warming memory that I love to re-live again and again. Just me?
1. this is from my recent trip to India. I was visiting a girls school and this student just spent 5 whole minutes explaining her science project to me. I nodded and pretended I knew the scientific words she was saying. When she was done, I looked up and this was my genuine reaction, perfectly captured. Don’t sleep on the potential of Indian girls 💪🏽
2. Live coverage of my mom calling local bookstores to find @lillyslibrarys latest select 🥹 please don’t miss her little notepad.
3. A couple weeks ago, my friend and I cooked dinner for our group chat. We planned for a week, played Italian music while cooking and had the most zen time… until we didn’t, and there was 30 mins left and dinner was more than an hour late 👀
4. From the same dinner, I let my friends take leftovers home in my Tupperware. I do not play when it comes to my Tupperware. My friend left his watch at my house and I texted him this picture saying “I’m glad I have this. You’ll get it back when you return my Tupperware.” I was not joking.
5. A candid shot of my best friend aka my dog watching me during a recent photoshoot.
6. Another gem from India, where this group of girls and I just had an hour convo discussing all the challenges they face. And then we took this picture and I dunno, their smiles really make something in my heart flicker, especially the one next to me.
7. Me at a recent CGT taping with a friend from high school I haven’t seen over a decade. She DMed me saying her kids are fans and I invited her family to come. She was always so extremely nice to me in high school, even if it wasn’t the cool thing to do. 💜
The majority of pics on my phone, I never look at again. But there are some that are just 🤌🏽
I have an album of photos on my phone that capture a silly or heart-warming memory that I love to re-live again and again. Just me?
1. this is from my recent trip to India. I was visiting a girls school and this student just spent 5 whole minutes explaining her science project to me. I nodded and pretended I knew the scientific words she was saying. When she was done, I looked up and this was my genuine reaction, perfectly captured. Don’t sleep on the potential of Indian girls 💪🏽
2. Live coverage of my mom calling local bookstores to find @lillyslibrarys latest select 🥹 please don’t miss her little notepad.
3. A couple weeks ago, my friend and I cooked dinner for our group chat. We planned for a week, played Italian music while cooking and had the most zen time… until we didn’t, and there was 30 mins left and dinner was more than an hour late 👀
4. From the same dinner, I let my friends take leftovers home in my Tupperware. I do not play when it comes to my Tupperware. My friend left his watch at my house and I texted him this picture saying “I’m glad I have this. You’ll get it back when you return my Tupperware.” I was not joking.
5. A candid shot of my best friend aka my dog watching me during a recent photoshoot.
6. Another gem from India, where this group of girls and I just had an hour convo discussing all the challenges they face. And then we took this picture and I dunno, their smiles really make something in my heart flicker, especially the one next to me.
7. Me at a recent CGT taping with a friend from high school I haven’t seen over a decade. She DMed me saying her kids are fans and I invited her family to come. She was always so extremely nice to me in high school, even if it wasn’t the cool thing to do. 💜
The majority of pics on my phone, I never look at again. But there are some that are just 🤌🏽
I have an album of photos on my phone that capture a silly or heart-warming memory that I love to re-live again and again. Just me?
1. this is from my recent trip to India. I was visiting a girls school and this student just spent 5 whole minutes explaining her science project to me. I nodded and pretended I knew the scientific words she was saying. When she was done, I looked up and this was my genuine reaction, perfectly captured. Don’t sleep on the potential of Indian girls 💪🏽
2. Live coverage of my mom calling local bookstores to find @lillyslibrarys latest select 🥹 please don’t miss her little notepad.
3. A couple weeks ago, my friend and I cooked dinner for our group chat. We planned for a week, played Italian music while cooking and had the most zen time… until we didn’t, and there was 30 mins left and dinner was more than an hour late 👀
4. From the same dinner, I let my friends take leftovers home in my Tupperware. I do not play when it comes to my Tupperware. My friend left his watch at my house and I texted him this picture saying “I’m glad I have this. You’ll get it back when you return my Tupperware.” I was not joking.
5. A candid shot of my best friend aka my dog watching me during a recent photoshoot.
6. Another gem from India, where this group of girls and I just had an hour convo discussing all the challenges they face. And then we took this picture and I dunno, their smiles really make something in my heart flicker, especially the one next to me.
7. Me at a recent CGT taping with a friend from high school I haven’t seen over a decade. She DMed me saying her kids are fans and I invited her family to come. She was always so extremely nice to me in high school, even if it wasn’t the cool thing to do. 💜
The majority of pics on my phone, I never look at again. But there are some that are just 🤌🏽
I have an album of photos on my phone that capture a silly or heart-warming memory that I love to re-live again and again. Just me?
1. this is from my recent trip to India. I was visiting a girls school and this student just spent 5 whole minutes explaining her science project to me. I nodded and pretended I knew the scientific words she was saying. When she was done, I looked up and this was my genuine reaction, perfectly captured. Don’t sleep on the potential of Indian girls 💪🏽
2. Live coverage of my mom calling local bookstores to find @lillyslibrarys latest select 🥹 please don’t miss her little notepad.
3. A couple weeks ago, my friend and I cooked dinner for our group chat. We planned for a week, played Italian music while cooking and had the most zen time… until we didn’t, and there was 30 mins left and dinner was more than an hour late 👀
4. From the same dinner, I let my friends take leftovers home in my Tupperware. I do not play when it comes to my Tupperware. My friend left his watch at my house and I texted him this picture saying “I’m glad I have this. You’ll get it back when you return my Tupperware.” I was not joking.
5. A candid shot of my best friend aka my dog watching me during a recent photoshoot.
6. Another gem from India, where this group of girls and I just had an hour convo discussing all the challenges they face. And then we took this picture and I dunno, their smiles really make something in my heart flicker, especially the one next to me.
7. Me at a recent CGT taping with a friend from high school I haven’t seen over a decade. She DMed me saying her kids are fans and I invited her family to come. She was always so extremely nice to me in high school, even if it wasn’t the cool thing to do. 💜
The majority of pics on my phone, I never look at again. But there are some that are just 🤌🏽