7 reasons we don't have anything to wear to work!

Imagine this, its 2019 - and you’re Cher from iconic 90’s movie Clueless. Your wardrobe has AI smart enough to sense your moods, the weather, the exact time your darling baby will drop sauce on your expensive shirt, the vagaries of the maid’s schedule -

Except that despite all the great depths of automation in today’s world, there’s no solution for magically figuring out your wardrobe. While we’re waiting on Hermione Granger to make up that spell, we all have experienced the overwhelming decision of what to wear - right from the Manic Mondays to Saturday Night Fever. (Sexy heels that murder your feet for the fancy clubs, or happy sparkly flats that won’t get you into said clubs?)

So Breathe in, Breathe out, relax - we have all the reasons for this, and better yet, we’ve got the solutions sorted. Read on, and tell us which one is you?

1.Material Girl

There are some of us wonderful fashionistas, who believe in an explosion of colours in their wardrobe, or have 7 black pants (they’re all different textures and fits okay?). We live with an overflowing wardrobe, despite all the Marie Kondo-ing we have resorted to.

We buy too many things because we fall in love with that perfect dress easily, or there’s the little sale devil cooing to your wallet. And we forget to return those dresses in the short return time, because we bask in our honeymoon period with them. Don’t judge us okay, fashion sparks joy!  

So come Monday morning, and you don’t know what to wear - I mean which shade of white - ivory or cream should you put on? You’re frustrated and overwhelmed, because you really can’t tell, and 5 minutes beyond 9 AM - and you’ll be caught in nasty traffic!

Stylenook Says: 3 words.Try.Buy.Pay. Try before that nagging deduction on your credit card, and then commit to a dress and pay for it. Easy - peasy yes?

A Stylenook stylist carefully understands your style, however eclectic, to bring you streamlined options, especially for workwear - so your Mondays can be bright instead of blue.

2. What’s My Age Again?

If you’re a child of the 90’s, this Blink-182 classic would resonate with you. But maybe you’re a child of the 80’s or god forbid, the 2000’s. And your age tends to colour what you should and what you shouldn’t wear - at least that’s what the world says. We say - You do you lady!

However, there’s always a fine balance to be achieved in a professional environment, because power dressing is where it’s at. Clean lines, great fits, a mix of bold and neutrals, and a dash of your own unique style make you a sartorial standout at work.

But many often confuse power dressing with being frumpy and overly conservative - and at the other end, you have some miniskirts and low back blouses that should have been consigned to the hippie bonfires of the 70’s. Dressing with confidence & oomph at work is an art cultivated over time. So how do you resolve this, especially without guidance?

Stylenook Says: Styling expertise. Stylenook stylists have experienced and dressed everyone from celebs to schoolgirls. They will help you navigate the corridors of power with ease while seeming age appropriate, and enjoying your own style - no matter how young or old a soul you are!

3. Take me home, Country Ro- Local Trains

That lovely saree you want to wear today? Or those smart red heels perfect for that corporate strut? Or maybe the first designer dress you bought with your own hard-earned money that you want to wear tomorrow?

The Indian Meteorological department has declared a perfect day, sunny and bright. Which usually means that you’re going to wade through knee deep water, and get suffocated on trains and metros packed to the brim because of the weather.

And once you overcome that hill of humidity, you land up in a freezing office and every bit of you feels shocked and numb. Welcome to the jungle of the Indian Professional life, you hear across all your alumni groups. A collective wail on the weather arises throughout (and the rates of cabs inversely proportional to the amount of rain).

How do you dress for bad weather days? Humidity, rainfall, middling traffic are all part of the Indian ecosystem, and it’s tough to make it in (a) one-piece. You feel like you have nothing appropriate to battle the storms, and constantly feel on edge. We know we do.

Stylenook Says: We take care of the materials! Our stylists help understand your deep needs for the seasons, and curate outfits that help you battle the elements. Quick dry fabrics for Mumbai, warm winter dresses for Delhi, or breezy kurtas for summers in Chennai - we counsel you on the comfiest workwear solutions. 

4. Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get out of

It’s that dreaded time of your professional life, the mid-life clothing crisis. You’ve beautifully curated a great wardrobe, but it doesn’t inspire or excite you anymore. All the lovely pencil skirts or the elegant salwars in your closet fail to energise you in the morning.

And the solution? We all probably tend buy more - of the same stuff! As someone whose wardrobe has every colour of floral under the sun, and every shade of beige, we get you, we totally get you. There’s a warmth in familiarity, but after a point it breeds contempt.

There’s a box, a pretty cage we all bind ourselves into some point of our lives and become complacent - whether it be professional or personal. Sometimes we need a little experimentation to break free of the shackles!

Stylenook Says: We will help you push your boundaries, but skirting the edge of your comfort zone. I mean we won’t load Boho kitschy on you if you’re a solid neutrals kind of lady, but maybe a lovely red houndstooth pattern to slowly draw you out? Paired with an elegant neckpiece instead of regular gold studs, take it from 9 am to 9 pm - and feel inspired!

5. Shape of You

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a woman  in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of the perfect body. Jane Austen didn’t say this, but a lot of the so-called modern Goopy gurus shill the quickest solution to the coveted 36-24-36 body.

Well, our definition of the perfect body is a little different - it’s the body you feel most comfortable in. Burdened by societal expectations, women often change their innate sense of style, or wear unflattering clothes to cover any perceived problem areas.

And in the Indian context as of yet, most clothing is still made for standard US and UK sizes, while the diversity of body shapes in India is as varied as the number of languages. Some women have often felt judged by friends and strangers alike, for choosing fashion that they love - but my friends, that’s all about to change!

We want to tell every woman, that there’s a great dress for you, no matter the body shape, because you’re beautiful, no matter what they say, and words can’t bring you down. And we help you stick to your true-blue style, in flattering fits, that scream ‘You’ve got the Power!’

Stylenook Says: Our analytics driven platform has discovered great sizing models for Indian women, and our stylists apply this fit information to get you your true fit. In fact, one of our stylists and former editor at top fashion magazines, Ananda Keswani has now launched her own label WKWR, with amazing fits in great materials. Welcome to the next frontier of fashion, where we’re in love with the Shape of you!

6. These Boots are not Made for Walkin’ at the Office!

Are you....gasp - too trendy for your staid lawyer’s office? Or is your true love a soft saree in a consulting environment with knife sharp heels?

Sometimes the official style required of us is high waaaaay into our danger zone. Style and Fashion is such a beautiful, personal, powerful statement - but then we get confused where to draw the line!

Worked in a startup where you wore neon orange lippie and now you’re thrust into B-school or you’re just a simple soul expected to convert overnight into a South Delhi Socialite? We totally, totally understand your pain - and we’re here to help you develop your work persona while keeping hints of the real you. After all, when you mean business, you have to look the part as well.

Stylenook Says: We’ll work with you to define how you can incorporate your personality into your workwear in subtle ways! Our stylists will help you walk that fine line with grace while not losing it.

7. We’re Paranoid about the Iron Man

A very first world, very millenial problem one would gather to say. Maybe you’ve just binge watched Netflix till 2AM, and ye olde Iron man is on the dot at your door at 7:30 AM, familiar with your befuddled face as you unload two weeks worth of crushed clothes on him, two with nasty burn marks from your own attempt at ironing synthetics.

Has this happened to you? Because this has been us, perennially. And some burns on our hands and thighs to prove it! Some may scoff, but hey, come on we have all been there, done that.

We literally have nothing to wear because it needs delicate handling or perfect ironing, both of which we don’t have time for in between chasing kids, projects or that Stranger Things finale.

Machine washability is the most important, moans a dear friend in New York, who has given up hope on ever wearing starched stuff again.If the relationship with your daily clothes becomes high-maintenance, it’s time to break up!It’s at these times we always wish we had great clothes which would maybe - last more than a one time wear, look and feel great, and not make you lose sleep over the Iron Man.

Stylenook Says: Tell our stylists what’s driving you nuts, and they’ll help fix it for you! Can’t deal with Cotton? Look at some flowy fabrics that don’t break the bank or your brain. Machine washable, breathable - we’ll try and fit your palate as much as possible, while getting rid of your daily maintenance hassle.

So let Stylenook be your AI from Clueless - and be your on-trend friend! #Stylenooksays