"I've spent a lot of time looking for the perfect shirt. Even when I've managed to find one, it's been difficult to find another one next season," says Narain, who worked in advertising and e-commerce in New York before relocating to Hong Kong three years ago.
So it's no surprise to see some examples of her favourite style staple when she opens her wardrobe in her apartment in Happy Valley. "I stock up on sleek shirts, and also the preppy-looking Brooks Brothers kind," she says. "I like them a bit oversized, so they can give me some room to move."
Shirts, she says, are a great choice for both day and night wear: "For a professional look, I wear a silk shirt with a pencil skirt and pumps. For a night out, my uniform consists of pairing a shirt with skinny jeans, statement heels, and a little sneak peek of a flirty brassiere, as I wear it buttoned down," she says.
Narain also has a thing about colourful prints and patterns. There are Philip Lim 3.1 printed silk pants, items from "Queen of Prints" Diane von Furstenberg and a hand-embroidered ethnic jacket she bought during a trip to India.
Narain is daring about her colour choices. Her collection includes a royal blue lace one-piece, a tangerine jersey dress and a neon yellow skirt. Her go-to brands include Alexander McQueen, Germain and Alice + Olivia. A "separates girl", she's not one to go for a matchy-matchy style.
"If I'm going to wear a pair of crazy printed pants, I'll match them with a black or white top and add jewellery and accessories to give it an extra pop of colour," she says.