Welcome to The Blueprint, where we break down the celebrity looks we want to wear right now and build them back up, piece by piece.
On top of being an accomplished cook and poised television host, Padma Lakshmi also excels in the fashion department. Most recently, she showed off her style prowess while shopping for fresh produce at Union Square Market in New York City during a paid partnership appearance with the mobile game Hay Day.
In the Instagram post, Lakshmi is seen wearing a pair of medium-wash, patch-pocket jeans, a striped, off-shoulder top, and oversized aviator sunglasses. Although we adore the entire ensemble, what specifically attracted us was her unique choice of denim. Unlike ultra-wide, frumpy, or super skinny styles, Lakshmi’s jeans are comfortable enough for daytime explorations yet polished enough to wear to dinner and cocktails. These are the kind of versatile jeans that complete a wardrobe — not to mention, save you closet space.
And she’s not the first celebrity we’ve seen step out in the style: Martha Stewart went coastal cute in her patch-pocket denim thanks to the addition of a cable knit, and Sienna Miller created a Canadian tuxedo with her jeans.
Follow in Lakshmi’s footsteps with similar jeans, tops, and sunglasses from top retailers like Gap, Nordstrom, and Amazon. Our favorites start at $11.
Padma Lakshmi’s Outfit Blueprint
Patch-Pocket Jeans: Wit & Wisdom Emma Patch-Pocket Wide-Leg Jeans, $60 (orig. $88); nordstrom.com
Astylish High-Waisted Straight Leg Jeans, $30 (orig. $40); amazon.com
Quince Bella Stretch Patch Pocket Wide Leg Jeans, $50; quince.com
Gap High Stride Wide-Leg Ankle Jeans, $4763 (orig. $80); gap.com
Striped Off-Shoulder Tops: Fuinloth Off-Shoulder Top, $18 with coupon (orig. $19); amazon.com
J.Crew Classic Mariner Cloth Boatneck T-Shirt, $17 with code (orig. $50); jcrew.com
Banana Republic Factory Off-Shoulder Sweater, $43 at checkout (orig. $90); bananarepublicfactory.com
A.L.C. Anya Top, $198 (orig. $395); revolve.com
Aviator Sunglasses: Aire Corvus 57mm Aviator Sunglasses, $30 (orig. $50); nordstrom.com
Sojos Retro Square Aviator Sunglasses, $15; amazon.com
Padma Lakshmi/Instagram
Fuinloth Off-Shoulder Top, $18 with coupon
Amazon
In our opinion, off-the-shoulder tops don’t get enough love. Thankfully, Lakshmi reminded us how effortlessly stylish they can be. We found a similar top to hers that also has long sleeves, fits close to the body, and displays nautical navy and white stripes. For ultimate comfort, we suggest wearing a wireless, strapless bra underneath.
Wit & Wisdom Emma Patch-Pocket Wide-Leg Jeans
Nordstrom
With a high waist and front patch pockets, these Wit & Wisdom jeans mimic all the major selling points of Lakshmi’s. This pair has a dark wash, which allows for transition into nighttime wear even more easily, and it utilizes a two-button closure for extra appeal and security. One five-foot-two-inch Nordstrom shopper wrote that “the length is perfect as I prefer longer jeans because I am short.”
Aire Corvus 57mm Aviator Sunglasses
Nordstrom
Just like sunscreen, it’s important to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays. This oversized pair of aviator sunglasses has a gold frame and pinky brown lenses similar to Lakshmi’s. Plus, the adjustable, non-slip nose pads allow you to customize the glasses to your exact nose width.
Keep scrolling to shop more tops, jeans, and sunglasses inspired by Padma Lakshmi. Our finds include a J.Crew boatneck for 66 percent off and a pair of Sojos aviators at Amazon for $15.
Astylish High-Waisted Straight Leg Jeans
Amazon
Quince Bella Stretch Patch Pocket Wide Leg Jeans
Quince
Gap High Stride Wide-Leg Ankle Jeans
GAP
J.Crew Classic Mariner Cloth Boatneck T-Shirt, $17 with code SHOPSALE
J.Crew
Banana Republic Factory Off-Shoulder Sweater, $43 at checkout
Banana Republic Factory
A.L.C. Anya Top
Revolve
Sojos Retro Square Aviator Sunglasses
Amazon
