We are celebrating International Women’s Day on Crave Cook Click by interviewing the women who inspire me the most and follow their passions in life. So today I am interviewing Neha Joshi who is the super fashionista chic behind the blog Chicpudding.com. I love her sense of style and the way she guides her readers to dress chic without splurging. Apart from fashion blogging she also blogs about travel, food and is a full time IT professional.

Thank you for inviting me to the Women’s Day CCC celebration! I feel humbled to be part of this interview. Being interviewed by you Anita means a lot. I am a huge fan of your photography & travel posts!

So Neha, I love the unique name of your blog “Chic Pudding” ☺ How did you come up with this name?

I have always been very passionate about putting things together and creating something different. And fashion and food are both such mediums that cater to my creative side. The term Chic means stylish and Pudding stands for my love for eating and cooking. Chic Pudding is my happy place filled with clothes and food 🙂

Can you tell us about your blog, and what inspired you to start it?

I have been obsessed with fashion ever since I was a kid. My dad owns a small clothing business in India. I would accompany him and see the factory workers stitch and knit all kinds of garments. My fascination and admiration for threads, colors, cuts, fabrics and prints started at that young age. But I never gave it a serious thought until after grad school when I started earning my own money. I started investing more time into unwinding my love for fashion.

Even before I started the blog, I use to get asked by friends to help them with picking clothes, create ensembles, pair accessories etc. I use to get a lot of comments on my Facebook photos with friends asking me about the clothes I was wearing and generally appreciating my fashion sense. I was beginning to realize that I must be doing something right to have that happen to me. I had been toying with the idea of blogging for a while but didn’t have the guts to do it. I was really scared of putting myself out there… talking about fashion even without having a formal degree in it. But something inside was telling me that I would be good at it. And my husband was key in driving me to take a chance. Thanks to him, I just took the plunge and made that first post!

I know you are from Mumbai & just like every Mumbaikar love street shopping. Do you miss doing that here?

Oh you have no idea how much! There is something about the whole experience which can’t be matched by these outlet malls and high-end boutique shops.

How would you describe your own personal style?

I describe my style to be wearable, high-street, budget, innovative, minimalist and frugal.

What do you prefer being called “fashionista” or “stylish” and why?

I am no fashionista. I have had my fashion faux pass moments. Fashion is not just about wearing expensive brands and following trends blindly. Its about analyzing and understanding what suits you, what makes you feel comfortable. Its about wearing something that will make you feel beautiful. Of course one should take chances and keep experimenting to find what makes them feel stylish.

Where do you tend to buy your clothes, and why?

I like to buy clothes that don’t put a hole in my wallet. I like clothes that are fashionable, good quality and at the same time affordable. I do a lot of H&M, Forever21, Agaci and online shops.

Do you have any fashion rules when putting an outfit together?

Know your body shape! Once you know your shape, you can follow guides to see what cuts, patterns, textures, colors may suit you. Don’t just wear a piece of fabric because is trending.

Who is the inspiration behind this passion of yours?

I think there are several people. But the most important one is my husband. He himself is quite stylish… He use to be a model back home. He really inspires me to go achieve my dreams. Without his support, there would be no photos of me and no posts! Besides, we are all by products of our environment. My family and friends inspire me in many intangible ways.

Mention some of your favorite fashion bloggers.

I like to follow J’s everyday fashion, Love Lace Loubotins, Kav’s Arena, The curvy blogger.

Any women who inspire you in general about life? Why?

There are so many. I dont want this to sound cliche…but my mum inspires me the most. She is just so strong and balanced in any situation. She is full of kindness, love, forgiveness & compassion not just for her children but everyone around her. She is a great wife, mother, daughter, sister and fulfills all the roles with such great diligence and dedication. Also, women like Priyanka Chopra, Ellen, Indra Nooyi, Michelle Obama are the ladies who I look upto.

Can you tell me some of your strengths that really helped you in blogging?

I think I am good at multi-taking. I am also good with planning and scheduling. I like to think ahead and plan my activities for the week/month. This helps me stay focused at both – my office work and my blog.

How do you plan your fashion blog posts? Any tips for readers who want to get started into fashion blogging?

My husband takes all my pictures on weekend and then I schedule all my posts for upcoming weeks all together. This really helps me plan & keep up the momentum.

What is the biggest challenge about fashion blogging?

Time management and keeping up with social commitments is the biggest challenge. Also, collaborating with multiple fashion brands, investing in taking and editing pictures, making sure you are creating interesting ensembles and bringing something new to the table with every post takes a lot of effort. Dedicating equal time and energy to multiple things remains a challenge.

What do you love most about blogging?

The ability to connect, inspire and get inspired by thousands of amazing women out there.

Where do you see your blog in the next five years?

I see being able to get in touch with more women and help & guide them to look and feel beautiful.

You are a full time IT professional, a wife and a fashion blogger. How do you manage your time?

Its really hard to manage work, house and blog together. Your energy and enthusiasm are out to be tested constantly. But setting rules and following them helps. I dedicate most of my weekends to my blog work. It interferes with my social commitments sometimes, but when you love doing something and want to make it successful, you should learn to make sacrifices in other departments of your life.

What are the 5 must haves in every woman’s closet?

White cotton top/tshirt

Pair of denims that fit well

One little black dress

One comfortable pair of black shoes

One black clutch

Which is your favorite attire?

Tank top, comfortable denims, kimono & slip ons – my goto and favorite attire!

Who is your style icon?

Kate Middleton – she is just so simple, elegant and regal.

What is one thing your readers would be surprised to hear?

I own only 3 pair of jeans! 😛

What item of clothing (if any) do you wish that more of us wore?

Hmmm… thats an interesting question. I can’t generalize for everyone but I really like long kurta dresses… I wish I could wear more of those.

In a nutshell, your philosophy is?

Don’t fake it! Be yourself!

I know blogging takes lot of time and efforts. What would you say that is the greatest satisfaction of being a fashion blogger? (Invitations to fashion events, interaction with people, gifts, etc.)

Tell me about your proudest achievement?

The greatest satisfaction is that my blog offers me opportunity to help other women. I get so many messages from women thanking me for what I am doing. My followers ask for help and seek fashion advice from me. Its very satisfying to give back in whatever small way I can. Also, collaborating with other creative people out there is a very enriching experience for me.

What is the biggest difference in your life post fashion blogging?

I have started paying more attention to my health. To be able to look good in photos, I need to eat well, sleep well and exercise well.

All your blog posts are beautiful. Which is your favorite one?

Thats such a tough question… all my posts are like my babies, I really cant pick one. But the best ones are the ones clicked by my husband Amey.

Know more about Neha by following her on the below mentioned social handles

Bloglink: https://chicpudding.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chicpudding/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chicpudding

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/chicpudding/

Crave Cook Click is an online networking platform and organises meetups for women in bay area who share similar passion for food, professional networking, fashion, travel, home decor, photography and fitness, You can join the below mentioned Crave Cook Click Facebook Groups to be part of our CCC family and meetups.

For Food Lovers: Crave Cook Click

https://www.facebook.com/groups/photographytipsandtricks/

For Travel Lovers: Travel @ Crave Cook Click

https://www.facebook.com/groups/travelatcravecookclick/

For Fashion Lovers: Divas @ Crave Cook Click

https://www.facebook.com/groups/divasatcravecookclick/

For Saree Lovers: Saree Love @ Crave Cook Click

https://www.facebook.com/groups/sareeloveatcravecookclick/

For Professional Networking: Lean In @ CCC

https://www.facebook.com/groups/leaninatccc/

Photography Lovers: Clicks

https://www.facebook.com/groups/clicksatcravecookclick/

Fitness Lovers: Be Fit

https://www.facebook.com/groups/befitatccc/

Gardening & Decor Lovers: Home and Garden Art @ CCC

https://www.facebook.com/groups/gardenartatccc/