{OUTFIT} | Oui C’Est Moi + Frayed Denim DIY

Hi dolls! Frayed bottom denims have been very much on trend lately. I’ve seen them in countless different shades and shapes in street style at the various fashion weeks and I think they’re just so chic.

Fortunately this is a trend that won’t scare your bank account. You can revive an old pair of jeans with a simple DIY that I am sharing today.

What You Need

- A really sharp pair of scissors. Fabric scissors are ideal but you can use any pair you are comfortable with as long as they’re extra sharp.

- Ruler

- Chalk

- Clean Tweezers

- An old pair of denims, still in wearable condition. Any pair will do here, but for the specific look in this outfit you will want to go with a skinny fit or slim fit.

Step 1

Make sure the denims are clean and ironed. Put them on and decide where you’d like them to sit once they’re cut. Be 100% sure because you are going to cut the jeans. Make a small mark with the chalk.

Step 2

Remove the jeans, measure (for accuracy) and mark off where you’d like the new length with the chalk. Make sure that it’s fairly even on both sides of the leg.

Step 3

Cut straight across the line you just drew. Try to cut in one motion so that the cut is straight and even. It doesn’t have to be perfect but you also don’t want it to be completely uneven or unmatched. Repeat this on the other leg.

Step 4

You will see lots of loose threads at the point where you cut the denims. Using the tweezers, pull at the threads horizontally. Do this until you’re happy with the level of fraying. It does help to see the frays better if you fold up the bottom of the denim.

Step 5

Remove all the stray threads and dust off the denims. Try the jeans on again to make sure you’ve got the look you’ve desired.

Step 6

Wear your new frayed denims and join the chic club ;)

About the Outfit:

Denims – Koton (Customised as above) | Shirt – ZARA | Shoes – ZARA | Sunglasses – Guess

I bought these denims at Koton when I was in Istanbul last year and even though they are incredibly comfortable I hadn’t worn them that often. It is a very classic blue skinny cut and I thought that they could do with a little trendy update. Now I can’t stop wearing them!

In this look I wore my newly customised denims with this chic high-low cotton shirt from Zara. I love the shape and the cute embroidery! I complimented the shirt with these exquisite red heels and a swipe of red lipstick. Naturally, a pair of sunnies finished the look!

Have you done any DIY and customising with your denims? Let me know in the comments or tweet me @LadyZaa

Until next time

"We must never confuse elegance with snobbery." —Yves Saint Laurent

Love and sparkles

Zaakira xox

{OOTD} | POW!

On Saturday, after my brothers and the husband got home from rAge, we were having a chat about the revolting culture of misogyny in gaming. This went on to the general culture of misogyny. They were all pretty appalled and disgusted at how a presidential candidate could brag about sexual assault. They were very much insulted by the fact that he chalked it up to “locker room talk” because that is not a normal way for men or boys to talk. What is even worse is that the only defence in last night’s debate was basically just like, “Well, at least I’m not as bad as ISIS.”  (!!!!!!!!!!)

The fact that I feel  ”happy” and “lucky” to be married to someone who is so vocal about the rights of women says a lot about the choices we have. The fact that a 12 and 13 year old think that they have a thing or 2 to teach grown men about how to respect and treat women should tell you everything you need to know about the world we live in.

It has never really been “easy” or “comfortable” to be a girl or woman on this planet. Despite this, women and girls have gone through life displaying great amounts of bad-assery and awesomeness in absolutely everything they do! Pow! You go girl!

About the Outfit:

Tulle Skirt – ZARA | T-Shirt – ZARA | Boots – ZARA | Sunglasses – Thrift Store | Choker – Custom | Ring – Pandora

I absolutely love tulle skirts; they are just so extra and filled with drama! ;) Needless to say, I couldn’t resist getting my hands on this one from ZARA. It’s a little more casual than a full-on tulle tutu but the glitter gives it a nice finish. Be warned though, this skirt sheds and the glitter goes EVERYWHERE. I’ve been sweeping up glitter since I got it!

In this look I wore it with a sequinned t-shirt and boots for a cute but edgier look. Of course, the theme is monochrome! I saw a similar choker on Gigi Hadid (let's also not forget about how yet another man who thought he could grab a woman without her consent. You go Gigi!) during Fashion Week and I really wanted to replicate it so I tied some net fabric around my neck. If you'd like some ready-made options, you can find some really exquisite chokers on www.shopbrettrobson.com 

I finished the look with a swipe of MAC’s Viva Glam Ariana II which is a lovely, vibrant matte mauve colour. You can still pick one up at MAC and remember that EVERY CENT of the selling price is donated to the MAC AIDS Fund which assists children and adults living with HIV and AIDS.

Until next time

“There are still many causes worth sacrificing for, so much history yet to be made.” – Michelle Obama

Love and sparkles

Zaakira xox

{OOTD} | 1980

Jeans – Jet | Bodysuit – ZARA | Jacket – MrP | Choker – Shop Brett Robson | Necklace – Forever 21 | Tote Bag – Pigments SA | Boots – ZARA | Sunglasses – Thrift Store

Lipstick – Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in Heartless

Hi dolls! Today I’m sharing yet another black and white outfit with you. I LOVE monochrome and I wear it so much that the husband has starting calling me MSDOS. (Developer joke?)

We snapped this look really quickly before a launch I was attending. It was that time of the day when the sun was just disappearing between the buildings, hence that hazy look.

I was still recovering from a bad bout of the flu and I don’t even know how I managed to put a whole outfit together that didn’t involve a fluffy dressing gown and panda pyjama pants. Even more surprising was that I didn’t smell of Vicks for the first time in a week!

I’m really excited at how my style is changing and evolving into something less gimmicky and more classic and wearable. I still love those quirky and edgy elements though!

Until next time

Be kind!

“History is a relentless master. It has no present, only the past rushing into the future. To try to hold fast is to be swept aside.”  - John F. Kennedy

Love and sparkles

Zaakira xox                                                            

{OOTD} | Don’t War. Do Fashion

T-Shirt – ZARA | Coat – Second-Hand Store | Jeans – ZARA | Heels –Legit | Glasses – Dior

The world looks like a mess today. War is tearing through the Middle East, terrorism is a very real and frightening threat and presidential candidates are basing their entire campaigns on fear and hate.

Pop culture also seems to be telling us not to get along. Batman vs. Superman, Kanye vs. Taylor (and Deadmau5 and and and…), Tony Stark vs. Captain America.

In fashion though, I find creativity, diversity, art and love and it gives me hope.

About This Outfit:

This is my “lucky coat” because I found it at a second-hand store and it fitted me like a glove. I couldn’t wait for the very first slightly cold day so I could wear it!

In this outfit I wore it with bootleg jeans, a statement tee and black lace up heels. I think this is going to be a base for my signature look throughout fall.

Until next time

“Fashion should be a form of escapism, and not a form of imprisonment.” – Alexander McQueen

Love and sparkles

Zaakira x

{Instagram Catch-Up} | February 2015

I cannot believe that the second month of the year has already come to an end. Here are some highlights from my month.

1.       I am so obsessed with this t-shirt that Luxury Fashion SA sent me

2.       Caramel tea and cupcakes with the Miss Veet SA finalists. The winner will be announced on the 12^th of March and I will be sure to tell you who has won.

3.       Graham Moore who won for his writing on The Imitation Game gave one of the most beautiful, touching speeches at the Oscars this year. I really hope that it inspires people as much as it inspired me.

4.       Zakiyya from Loubi Lovers and I have developed a tradition of taking shoe photos at every event we attend together. This is from the Dune London event at the Four Seasons.

5.       This is the outfit that I wore for the Dune London event. It was on a Friday so I went with an abaya.

Valentine’s Day was very relaxed for me but still lots of fun

6.       The lovely people at Edgars sent me these divine cookies which (of course) did not last long.

7.       Some pretty Valentine’s Day inspired pieces.

8.       Picnicking in the gardens. The bread and mayonnaise were homemade (YUM!)

9.       A much needed Mocha Break at Vida E Caffe

10.   Nude pumps, vintage snakeskin and Burberry silk for a River Island event.

11.   River Island spoils and my vintage snakeskin (It was my Mom’s, she got it in the 90s)

12.   Star Trek actor Leonard Nimoy passed away on the 27^th. He was so wise and touched the lives of so many fans.’

13.   Celebrating the Lunar Chinese New Year with style.

I hope you all had a fantastic February and I wish you all the very best for March!

You can follow me on Instagram – ladyzaa

I am also on SnapChat where you can follow my story and get realtime updates – PrincessOfJozi

Until next time

Love and sparkles

Zaakira xox

{OOTD} | NY Hates You

Vest – The Lot | Shirt – Mr Price | Leggings – Cotton On | Shoes – Topshop | Necklace – Metropolis | Ring – Dansk Smykkenkunst Denmark

Hey there rockstars! Okay so don’t get me wrong, I LOVE New York even though I have never been. It’s a stunning city that I’ve always dreamed of visiting and is the home to my (And Shaheeda’s) favourite show ever… Gossip Girl. In fact Dr Ahmed Kathrada told me that it is his most favourite city in the world (apart from Johannesburg of course!) and that I should definitely visit it sometime. It’s just that I also love being a little cheeky and rebellious so I couldn’t resist this vest when I saw it in the window at The Lot.

In this look I gave the vest a very grungy pairing with leather leggings, chunky shoes and a plaid shirt. Plaid is almost on its way out so I’m trying to get as much wear out of my plaid pieces as possible. I had to add some Ruby Woo to the mix and the red lips finished off the outfit really nicely.

It’s going to be a crazy and cold week! Stay warm… and sane! ;)

Until next time

“A lot of the time when I write about the person that I love, I feel like I'm writing about New York.” – Lana Del Rey

Love and sparkles

Zaakira xox

{OOTD} | Fierce Fuchsia

Leggings – Cotton On | Blazer – Mr Price | Snood – Gift from Mom | Shoes – Sissy Boy | Hello Kitty Ring – Sanrio | Leather and Crystal Ring – Dansk Smykkenkunst Denmark

I just realized how serious I look in all these photos! It was totally cold the other day and I went into my stored away collection of knits, scarves, shawls, pashminas and wraps and I found this beautiful snood my Mom had bought me a few years back. I love the vibrant fuchsia detail in it because I tend to wear a lot of blacks and greys in Winter and it’s always a good idea to brighten it up with a little colour.

A black blazer is a classic piece that every wardrobe should have. This one from Mr Price was a total bargain and the cut, shape and fit is incredible! Leigh from Pretty Mint Blog featured it on her Splurge vs Steal post recently.

The snood also matches perfectly with these stunning Sissy Boy shoes. I love the unique shape of the heel and it’s pretty comfy. As I like to say, the colour of the shoes are the colour of MAC’s Girl About Town lipstick which one of my go-to shades. I had the lipstick on my birthday wishlist last year and since I got it, I use it all the time and get tons of compliments. It’s an ‘Amplified’ finish which is one of my favourite finishes. If the amount of lipstick formulas and finishes from MAC confuses you, click here for a guide. I am wearing Girl About Town on my lips in these photos. And yes, I kind of planned the outfit to match my lipstick… I do that ;)

Have a fabulous weekend!

Until next time

Beauty is how you feel inside, and it reflects in your eyes. It is not something physical. – Sophia Loren

Love and sparkles

Zaakira xox

{OOTD} | Homecoming

Top – Moon by Maxine Tromp | Skirt – Sewn | Pearls – Gift from my Aunt | Shoes – Cotton On

Over the past weekend I went back to my hometown (Ladysmith, KZN) to attend the wedding of my two dear friends. It was a beautiful wedding and a lovely relaxing weekend. This is the outfit I wore to the wedding.

I simply adore this MOON Collection top. It’s so versatile and the sleeves are just so cute. This skirt was sewn for me at least 5 years ago when my cousin got married and I originally wore it with a velvet jacket. I am seriously obsessed with this colour. It’s really unusual. This pairing was actually quite last minute because I originally planned to wear a tulle skirt but when I opened my closet and saw this skirt I just had to wear it.

Being at my parents’ place and just in my hometown was extremely refreshing. I must admit though that seeing the people I went to school with after many years was quite weird. It was really exciting to hear that lots of them read my blog and it really helped put things into perspective for me. I have been struggling with lots of things over the past few months and it just reminded me how important roots are. I might claim to be the” Princess of Jozi” but at heart I’m still a small town girl!

I hope you enjoy this short week, but keep your eyes on the blog because I have a little giveaway coming up ;)

Until next time

“Deep roots are not reached by the frost” – JRR Tolkien

Love and sparkles

Zaakira xox

Valentine’s Day | A Flashback with Iron Fist

When I first moved to the City of Gold, I was lucky enough to collaborate with Iron Fist. I really love the brand and I own many many many pairs of Iron Fist shoes so it was a dream-come-true.

I once went into the Rosebank store wearing a necklace I created myself. Thanks to the keen eye of the manager Megan, I was approached by the owner of the store to design and handcraft a collection of necklaces that they would sell for Valentine’s Day. It was an amazing opportunity and I created a few pieces that were photographed with the Iron Fist shoes. I was terribly nervous but thankfully, they sold really well. The store is now closed unfortunately and Iron Fist stock is quite difficult to come by in South Africa but I always be grateful for it and cherish the memory. It was the first time that I actually felt I could do something in fashion.

I thought I’d share this special memory with you. Here are some of the photos shot by Anabela Lourenco.

Until next time

Love and Sparkles
Zaakira XOX