2017…

I shot these quick images sometime last year (before I cut my hair obvs.) and I completely forgot to use them except for the 2 I posted on Instagram. I’m wearing a skirt from local brand Dear Makena Apparel which is run by the lovely Karen and houses the quaintest selection of handmade cotton skirts. Find them on Instagram here.

2016 had been a real challenge of a year. Not only was it one giant dumpster fire for the entire planet, but I also experienced some real challenges in my personal life. I generally don't really do resolutions because I believe I am always a work in progress and there is always room to learn and evolve at any point in time in the year. However, with everything that I went through; I don't think I've been taught as much as I have last year than in any other year. I thought it would be a nice way to begin my blogging year by sharing some of what I am taking with me into 2017 and beyond.

Don't be a hypocrite. This one is so important. If you don't like things being done to you (e.g. lying) then why would you do them to anyone else?

Self-care and self-love are tremendously important. No one is going to care for you as much as you should care for yourself. It's okay to be selfish sometimes and take care of your own needs. Try not to hurt anyone in the process but also don't over think especially if you are uncomfortable or hurting. Be unapologetic in your need to maintain your own sanity and contentment.

Don't let anyone make you feel like you are worthy of anything less than respect and don't let anyone make you feel inferior. We are all trying.

It is okay to ask for help but it's not okay to hold that help over someone if it is given. Remember that even the left hand should not know what the right hand gives.

Advise the ones you love but try to support them too if they don’t take your advice. You were obviously asked to weigh in because your opinion matters and that should be enough. They do know what they're doing most of the time and you will be so surprised at what they can achieve.

Leave old prejudices and thought processes behind. Be open to new things as long as they don't compromise your beliefs.

Spirituality is so significant. I know that some of you reading this perhaps do not follow any religion or maybe don’t believe in God but I just want to share what I personally experienced here. Waking up before dawn to pray has literally changed my life in ways I cannot even explain. Reflecting and unloading on the prayer mat has gotten me through the bad times and even helped to guide me through the good ones.

Do not allow people to get away with treating you badly because of their position in your life or relation to you. Relation is no excuse for garbage behaviour toward someone!

Respect people and their choices and their ability to make these choices. So simple but so important.

Don’t be afraid to love the things you love. It’s so difficult in the age of social media but try not to live for others. You only have to fit in with yourself.

Respect the things that people love and their beliefs too. For example, a celebrity death may mean nothing to you but it can mean something to someone and you will never know why. Your views and opinions aren't the only ones out there.

When people insult and disrespect you it says more about them than it does about you.

And finally, it begins with YOU! Don't become complacent because something does not affect you directly. (E.g. Donald Trump, I've seen so many just brush it off because they won't be the ones suffering through his ridiculous and dangerous ideas). Fact check that thing that you post first. Evaluate your ethics. Familiarize yourself with your preferences (we all have them) and asses them. THINK about racism, THINK about rape culture. Do not just brush it off or share that meme because likes. There is so much more I can say here but I’ll stop and just say once again, IT BEGINS WITH YOU!

I really hope that you all have a fantastic year. I want you to be happy, healthy and to never ever feel like you are alone.

I’d love to hear what you’ve learnt and what you will be taking with you into 2017. Pop a comment below or tweet me @LadyZaa

Until next time

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} | MUSE//MEWs

Hooded Top – Shop Brett Robson | Jeans – H&M | Boots – Timeless Shoes (Gift) | Sunglasses – Primark

The hysteria of Pokémon Go was at its peak when I was in the UK and I spent a great amount of time hunting and catching with my brothers. It was loads of fun, of course, and we also managed to see and identify loads more monuments and landmarks than we would have without the game. The downside was that we didn’t have power banks or portable chargers so our adventures were short lived.

Honestly when Pokémon Go was announced all that time ago I really didn’t think it would take on this well. I’ve always loved Pokémon, it is a warm and safe place for me and it’s something I can share with my brothers despite the mega age gap.

If you’re a regular reader you’ve probably seen my previous Pokémon themed posts. If not you can have a look here and here.

This is a very casual outfit and for running around (and catching Pokémon) I’d probably switch out the boots with sneakers. The hooded top is another winner designed by friend Brett. There’s tons of gorgeous stuff in her store right now so best you have a look. ;)

The lipstick is Urban Decay Vice in Violate. I am OBSESSED with these lipsticks. More on that soon though!

Now, best I’d get going. Jigglypuff is trying to alert me of the Mew (MEWS/MUSE haha!) that’s lurking about.

Until next time

“Even if you lose in battle, if you surpass what you've done before, you have bested yourself.” – Marshal, Unova Elite Four

Love and sparkles

Zaakira xox

P.s I’ll be sharing some travel photos, tips and hauls soon. Let me know if there’s anything specific you’d like to know. 

Denim // Velvet // Tulle

Dress – Thrift Store | Tulle Underskirt – Custom | Shoes – Call It Spring | Velvet Jacket – Custom | Glasses – Prada

Today I’m sharing an outfit I wore a while back to SA Fashion Week. I know, I know; that was ages ago but the truth is that I somehow lost these photos and I found them over the weekend. I was very determined not to spend money on anything new for Fashion Week this year so I “shopped” in my closet and this is what I came up with.

I got this lovely dress at a thrift store four years ago. The jewelled denim top and tulle bottom caught my eye and I had to have it. In my impulsiveness I didn’t realize that the skirt was high waisted and way too short. I really couldn’t part with it though and it took me four years to come up with the brilliant idea of layering it with another tulle underskirt.

The velvet jacket was sewn for me using the design of the jacket from a suit my Mom wore in her 20s. I have that suit too now and I’ll definitely wear the original soon. I love to wear different textures together and the soft velvet made the perfect outerwear for the denim and tulle dress.

Chic heels, my oversized Prada tortoiseshells and a coat of MAC’s Ruby Woo finished off the look.

I am becoming more inclined to make use of what I already have in my closet than to buy new things. It’s always great to come up with new, distinctive combinations.

Until next time

“I can't go back to yesterday - because I was a different person then.”  - Lewis Carroll

Love and sparkles

Zaakira xox

{OOTD} | Coming AT-AT You!

Last week was Star Wars Day (May the 4^th) so I thought I’d share a few snaps of what I wore. It’s not a day I’ve actually celebrated by doing anything special but I am so thankful for the Star Wars universe and everything it has given me. It is also something that I share with my younger brothers and over the years we have used it to learn bravery and more recently celebrate equality, family and diversity.

The trailer for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story dropped some time back and I am so excited for the movie later this year.

From Leia, Padmé to most recently Rey in The Force Awakens; the Galaxy Far Far Away is definitely not short of kick ass, inspiring females. The main character in Rogue One is Rebel Alliance Jyn Erso played by Felicity Jones. She is described in trailer as "aggressive" and "reckless" and we are told that she has been on her own since the age of fifteen. I haven’t quite “met” Jyn yet but I think she is already my favourite. I love that the universe is exploring and celebrating someone who perhaps isn’t likeable, maybe not so pleasant and definitely a little flawed. Whatever the outcome of the story; I’m sure that Jyn is going to be a hero and very instrumental in attaining the plans to the Death Star.

As the sister of two young boys (12 and 13 years old), it is very important to me that the stuff they like promote strong and diverse female characters. The Star Wars universe provides plenty of that as well as lots of lessons on honesty, honour and; of course, love.

T-shirt – Koton (Turkey) | Leggings – Cotton On | Boots – ZARA | Wrap – Gift

Until next time

“If you continue to fight, what will you become?” – Rogue (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story)

Love and sparkles
Zaakira xox