{OOTD} | French Fried

 Sleeveless Coat – MrP Project | T-shirt – Soda Bloc | Leggings – Woolworths | Boots – ZARA | Quilted Bag – Chinatown | Necklace – 32 Clothing | Sunglasses – ZARA

Hi lovelies! As you can see, today I took my Furfrou out for a walk ;) Furfrou is a Pokemon based on a huge French poodle. If you manage to catch one, you can take it and have it styled in many different ways. They’re usually quite large in size, sometimes bigger than the trainer!

The transitioning of seasons is my favourite dress up time of the year. Unfortunately this year we went straight from icy Winter to scorching Summer. That didn’t stop me from wearing the clothes though and this is one of pre-summer looks.

As you probably already know, I love monochrome. It’s really chic and it works for any season but it is especially perfect for the in between.

Because of this adorable t-shirt I decided to go a little bit French with the outfit. The tee is from Soda Bloc which is new store by the Foschini Group. They actually cater for teens but they have the cutest pieces and the size 30 or 32 fits me perfectly. Statement tees are fun and quirky and you can work them on their own or under cardigans and jackets too.

Leggings and boots are also key pieces for the seasonal transition. These boots have really gotten some great wear over Winter and I think they’re going to be on my feet until the very last cool day.

Sleeveless coats like this one are really in right now and they’re perfect if you just aren’t ready to bare your shoulders yet. It’s also a really chic piece to finish off an outfit.

Add some statement sunnies, a pretty quilted bag and your straight out of the grooming parlour Furfrou and you are good to go! ;)

Until next time

“Bad days are best forgotten over French fries” - Unknown

Love and sparkles

Zaakira xox

{OOTD} | Pink Pashmina

Pashmina – Dubai | Denims – Salsa | Shoes – Sissy Boy | Glasses – Versace | Bracelets – Swarovski

Hi my lovelies! I’m back from my Ramadan hiatus ;) If you observed the month I hope it was spiritually fulfilling and that you had a fabulous Eid.

It’s still full on Winter here in Johannesburg and so all the warm clothing still has some time in the spotlight. I’ve mentioned before that pashminas are one of my favourite pieces for the cold weather. They look so chic and are so versatile. I wear them with jeans, dresses, skirts and even to cover my hair when I need to.

Nothing beats an accessorized jeans and tee combo. It’s the perfect blank canvas and you can accessorize it with unique pieces. This pashmina is pure wool with a bit of hand embroidery and the deep pink colour makes it the perfect statement accessory. With something like this you don’t have to go too glitzy with the rest of your outfit but you still look glam.

I originally wanted to wear my black ankle boots with this outfit but when I opened my shoe closet these heels just screamed, “WE MATCH!” and I had to wear them. I love the oddly shaped heel even though I struggle a bit to walk in it.

I love how this quick outfit came together and it’s the perfect post to get me back into blogging. I hope you missed me because there is so much more to come!

Until next time

“Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, but talent instantly recognizes genius.” – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Love and sparkles

Zaakira xox

{OOTD} | Brunching

Jeans – Salsa Denim | Coat – Forever New | Silk and Wool Pashmina – Kashmir (Mom’s) | Shoes – Bershka @ 32 Clothing | Snakeskin Clutch – Vintage | Sunglasses – DKNY @ Sunglass Hut

Hi lovelies. Winter is here! Today I am sharing a full on winter outfit with you. I took these photos at my new favourite brunch spot, Industry Bakery in Greenside. Not only are they halal but they also have the most scrumptious food and baked goods. I recommend the stuffed croissants or flapjacks for breakfast and the almond croissants and cupcakes if you’re just looking for a sweet pick me up.  

I really love dressing up and layering in winter because there is so much you can play around with. I recently raided my Mom’s closet and “borrowed” a few of her pashminas. She has so many different ones, made with diverse fabrics and embellished with so many different types of embroidery. She’s gotten them from so many parts of the world including Kashmir, Dubai, Argentina, China and Pakistan to name a few. I love how a statement pashmina can bring an outfit together and it keeps you warm too!

The pashmina I’m wearing here is from Kashmir and it’s a blend of silk and wool. I wore it with my favourite Salsa Colette denims and a cream coat. Denims and a coat make the perfect canvas for pops of colour and accessories. I love these ridiculously high Bershka heels which I scored at a bargain price at 32 Clothing. They also go perfectly with the pashmina. The orange accents in this outfit are enough to brighten up the dreariest of winter days.

The clutch also belonged to my Mom and its genuine snakeskin. The feel creeped me out a bit at first but it’s really a statement piece that I always get complimented on. Sunglasses are also a must in winter because the sun gets pretty harsh. Keep warm and don’t forget the sunblock!

Until next time

“Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.” – Victor Hugo

Love and sparkles

Zaakira xox

P.S Congratulations to Quathar who won the Nicci Loves You giveaway!

{OOTD} | Stilwater, Michigan

Hooded Top – Mr Price | Leggings – Cotton On | Boots – ZARA | Necklace – Vintage | Sunglasses – Thrift Store | Spiral Ring – Swarovski

Hi lovelies! I hope you are all doing fantastic! I had a fairly crazy week and yesterday I flew to Cape Town for M·A·C’s SS15 trends class. I will be sharing those trends as well as some insider tips with you closer to SS15. I also got to shoot with Zeenat from Pursuing Pictorialism while I was in the Mother City and I am so ecstatic to share those photos with you. Today I am sharing a quick street look that I wore a few weeks back.

I have never played Saints Row despite the reference of the title in the post. I spotted this graffiti while driving around and thought it was a pretty good backdrop for what I was wearing. I love how video gaming culture bleeds into real life and I am always inspired by it (in an artistic way, don’t go thinking I’ll be stealing cars after playing Grand Theft Auto!). I really love this hooded top from Mr Price. Worn with leather look leggings and boots looks pretty kick-ass but you can also wear it with jeans, sneakers or up the glam with a pair of heels.

I’ve featured these boots in a previous look and I’m going to be featuring them over and over. Not only do they look killer but they are so surprisingly comfortable. I wore them through cobblestoned Cape Town sidewalks, down 7 flights of stairs and in 2 airports yesterday and my feet didn’t even take a beating. I hope that with the next few outfits I can show you how one key item can take you through many different looks.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Until next time

“[Video game] Players are artists who create their own reality within the game” – Shigeru Miyamoto

Love and sparkles

Zaakira xox

{OOTD} | The Force is Strong in my Family

T-shirt – Shuaib’s (old) | Jeans – Salsa Denim | Boots – ZARA | Necklaces – Old | Rings – Swarovski and Punk and Ivy x Legit |Sunglasses - Thrifted

Today my outfit is celebrating the release of the new teaser for Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens. It’s one of those ones where I get to have a little more fun than usual. As I mentioned in my previous Star Wars themed post, I am a fan of the franchise and I’m really intrigued by the culture it has produced.

I love my basic denim and t-shirt look dressed up with some killer heels and charming accessories. I’m wearing my Salsa Colette jeans here and they have become my weekend uniform. I love the ripped detail because it’s edgy but has a denim panel behind it so my thighs don’t end up looking like hams (ew.). These boots are a recent purchase and a gift from my Dad. Needless to say, I am obsessed.

Let’s talk about the trailer for a second. Who is Luke talking to?! Is Vader alive? Maybe he’s a clone?! An imposter? Or ghost??!! Who is running the Empire now? What about Chewie and Han… Best scene ever but context please!!! All these questions will be answered when the movie releases at Christmas but patience is really not my strong point!

Honestly I think if the force were a thing, it would be very strong in my family ;)

Until next time

“Chewie we’re home!” - Han Solo (Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens)

Love and sparkles

Zaakira xox

{OOTD} | Harajuku Lite

Crop Top – Mr Price | Skirt – Mr Price | Shoes – Clearance Sale (Very Old) | Rings – Swarovski, Claire’s, Sass Diva | Hair Clip – Fashion Market | Sunglasses – Mr Price

Hello from chilly Johannesburg! Tokyo is one of the cities on my travel bucket list. I have been intrigued by the city and its culture from a very young age and I am especially interested in the Harajuku district. This is the area around the Harajuku station in the Shibuya ward of Tokyo. Harajuku is often deemed the “fashion capital of the world” as it is known for its unique street fashion.

Harajuku is also a term for the distinctive way in which girls in the area dress. The girls wear everything from candy coloured wigs, huge baby doll skirts and pop culture inspired pieces to gothic makeup, pigtails and kimonos. Metallics, neons and plaids also feature quite prominently.  It is such a rich and expressive form of style that really celebrates the individual so naturally it really speaks to me.

 Today I am sharing my very diluted take on Harajuku style. I chose to wear this top that is currently in stores at Mr Price with a cute skirt and printed heels.  I added this cute handmade clip that I found at a market a few years back. I can’t even remember the name of the store but how I wish I did because the pieces were so cute! You can find a close- up of the clip on my Instagram. Some cute matching rings and red lipstick finished off the look. It isn’t full on Harajuku of course but it is my take.

I hope you’re all having a wonderful week! There’s just one day left to win tickets to One Direction in Johannesburg. Find the giveaway here.

Until next time

“Because even the smallest of words can be the ones to hurt you, or save you” - Natsuki Takaya

Love and sparkles

Zaakira xox

{OOTD} | Red Coat and African Prints

Skirt – Custom | Trench Coat – Studio W @ Woolworths | Shoes – Aldo | Clutch – Aldo | Necklace – Zuri | Sunglasses – Gift Bag

Hi my lovelies. Today I am sharing the outfit I wore to Mercedes Benz Fashion Week SA with you. I wear lots of black and monochrome so I decided to go a little bright with this one.

I chose this African print skirt and used my accessories to compliment the colours in the fabric. Most of the pieces I wore are old. These yellow shoes have been in my closet for a while now and just brighten up any outfit.

The coat was a last minute thought because it began to pour with rain just before I left home. The rain (thankfully) stopped just ten minutes later. I really do love how it all looks together though. I finished the look with some Ruby Woo lipstick and a pair of quirky sunnies. After all what is Fashion Week without sunglasses?!

I hope you all have a fantastic week! Don’t forget that there’s a One Direction giveaway you can enter here. You can win 2 tickets to the Johannesburg show!

Until next time

”You can tell more about a person by what he says about others than you can by what others say about him” – Audrey Hepburn

Love and sparkles

Zaakira xox

P.S Hope you got my Pretty Little Liars reference in the title! ;)

{OOTD} | PokéYo

Dress – MrP | Boots – ZARA | Bag – Stylemology | Spiral Ring – Swarovski | Hat – Topshop | Bracelet – Sanrio | Necklace – MSC Boutique

It’s 2015! Even though I’m not back in Johannesburg just yet I am totally amped to start blogging again!

Pikachu loves to play but don't touch his cheeks unless you'd like a nasty shock!

At the end of last year I did a fun Star Wars post which got such a great response so I decided to start the year off with something similar. You guys might recognize the outfit from my Style Diary for the SA Fashion Handbook. I thought it could do with the addition of some of my cute friends because I did not much else except relax and play lots of Pokémon over the holidays.  

Sylveon is my best friend. She loves to eat pink PokePuffs but beware of her Dazzling Gleam!

My Inkay is a little shy but his Psywave is mean!

I personally think that fashion is a tool we can use to express who we are rather than an embellishment to make us look ‘pretty’ or ‘stylish’ I think it’s really important that elements of one’s personality shine through in what they wear. I do not see the sense in wearing exactly what the mannequin in a store is wearing. It was after all, the late great Gianni Versace who said, “Don’t be into trends. Don’t make fashion own you, but you decide what you are, what you want to express by the way you dress and the way you live.”

Here’s to a fabulous, fashion filled 2015!

Until next time!

“I see now that the circumstances of one's birth are irrelevant; it is what you do with the gift of life that determines who you are.” – Mewtwo

Love and sparkles

Zaakira xox

P.S my Sylveon and I would love to battle you! My 3DS Friendcode is 0387-9825-9172 xx

{OOTD} | There Has Been an Awakening

T-shirt – Shuaib’s(MrP I think)| Jeans – Lucky Brand | Shoes – ZARA | Necklace – Lovisa | Spiral Ring and Bracelet – Swarovski | Sunglasses - MrP

In wouldn’t call myself a full on Star Wars nerd but I do really enjoy the franchise and the culture that it has produced. I of course would love to own a light saber (black? Could I get a black one?) and my favourite character is Han Solo (obvs!). My dilemma however, is that I don’t actually know which side I’d be on. Rebellion sounds so me but the Dark Side really intrigues me.

The recently released teaser trailer has got me pretty excited for Episode VII (that light saber though!) and so I thought I would have some fun with this outfit and the photos. It was a pretty last minute idea since I was wearing the t-shirt and we found this awesome empty plot to shoot in while driving around. This is why my jeans are so annoyingly creased! I must mention that these Lucky Brand (Charlie Super Skinnys) jeans are the most comfortable pair of skinnys I own. The fabric is extremely soft and breathable so it’s a perfect pair for those hot days and balmy nights in summer.  I had these recently purchased heels in the car which really brought the outfit together. What really got me though was that I am wearing M.A.C Rebel lipstick! Maybe I do belong in the Rebellion after all! ;)

Oh yes! I also got my hair cut today! Its quite a plunge because its way shorter and pretty asymmetrical. Perfect for the summer although I hope I can manage to maintain it as time passes.

Are you a fan of Star Wars? How do you feel about the new teaser?

Until next time

“Sorry about the mess” – Han Solo (Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope)

Love and sparkles

Zaakira xox

{OOTD} | Tempered Bollywood

T-shirt – Edgars | Sari Pants – Sewn (vintage fabric) | Shoes - Lalla Hirayama x Legit | Ring – Mauritius (Gift from Mom) | Midi Rings – It’s a Bling Thing | Necklace – ZARA | Earrings and Cuff – Zuri | Bag – Forever New (Old) | Nails by Midori Eco Salon

I wore this outfit for the first day I went to SA Fashion Week last month. Unfortunately Johannesburg experienced a crazy sandstorm and none of the shows went ahead so the outfit was wasted. Luckily I snapped a few photos so I can still share it with you.

The pants is really special because it’s made from a sari that my Gran gave to me. It was bought for her in India in 1974 so its 40 years old! She wore it for a wedding and I was to wear it for a wedding too but I felt a bit restricted wearing a sari and I told my Mom I wouldn’t be able to walk and I’ll fall and die (I was 16 and dramatic! Okay fine I am still dramatic…). She ingeniously suggested we get this pants made. We also got a matching top made from the sari matching top but it doesn't fit me too well now.

I really love this sari fabric. It is French chiffon and hand embellished. The colours remind me of a majestic peacock and the gold sequins are just enough to not look tacky. If you’re getting an outfit sewn and you’re looking for beaded fabric saris are a great option. They are so beautiful and come in such a variety from really bling to soft and pretty.  You get about 6 metres of fabric per sari so it almost always works out cheaper than buying beaded fabric per metre.

I chose a simple white tee to temper the look and so that I could accessorize like crazy. The outfit was calling for a lovely neckpiece so I chose these pearls from ZARA. I love that it’s quite big and dramatic but the pearls soften it and keep it from becoming too much. I added more drama with the gold cuff and ring which matches perfectly with the pants. I was struggling to find a shoe that would work with the outfit when I saw these white and gold Lalla x Legit shoes. Bright pink (Kelly Yum Yum) lips and nails finished off the look.

I hope you’re having a good month. Rainy Johannesburg is really throwing me off my OOTD game! :/

Until next time

“Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment, full effort is full victory.” – Mahatma Ghandi

Love and sparkles

Zaakira xox

{OOTD} | Pink Panda

Top – Mr Price | Silk Skirt – Sewn | Shoes – ZARA | Clutch – Religion | Spiral Ring, Bracelet, Earrings – Swarovski | Sunglasses – Thrift Shop | Pearls – Gift from Mom

I thought I’d share with you the outfit I wore when I attended SA Fashion Week. Because I attended the very last 2 shows I decided to go with a bit of drama and quirk. I had originally worn a different outfit on Thursday but there was an insane sandstorm in Johannesburg and the shows were moved. This was quite a last minute put together but I was really happy with the outfit.

I had this silk skirt made years go for a wedding. I originally had a velvet top with it but it is so versatile and has taken me through the years and through many different events. It’s definitely a wardrobe essential! I kept the rest of the outfit monochrome to let the skirt pop.

Attending Fashion Week is always sort of a mini rebirth for me. By October I am pretty much losing inspiration and seeing the designs on the catwalk and the people who are there for the love of fashion just injects me with inspiration. Yes, you can tell who is in it just for the attention, but there are those who truly love the fashion and can appreciate the little things like the fabric, stitching and the way the light catches the details in the knits (Clive Rundle anyone?!).

Until next time

“And we were dressed from head to toe in love... the only label that never goes out of style” – Carrie Bradshaw

Love and sparkles

Zaakira xox

{OOTD} | #BewareOfAngels

Cloak – Mom (Dubai) | Leggings – Gift From Shaheeda | Shoes – Trafaluc. @ ZARA | Spiral Ring and Bracelet – Swarovski | Crystal Necklace – Vintage | Choker – Topshop | Sunglasses – Thrift Shop

This is the outfit that I wore to the Beware of Angels event I attended 2 weeks and posted about below. I know it is waaaay overdue because I promised it ages ago but I have just been extremely busy over the past two weeks. I'm really sorry for the delay.

The theme for the event was “elegantly avant-garde” and with Angel and the house of Thierry Mugler being so unique and theatrical I decided to go with a bit of drama. This cloak/cape type thing was bought by Mom when we went to Dubai last year, on one of the occasions where I didn’t go shopping with her. It’s such a unique garment and really fit the event. I just wore a simple black silhouette of leggings and a t-shirt underneath and for a more modest occasion, I would wear it with a full length black dress. 

I tried to keep my jewels to a minimum but I couldn’t resist wearing my Gran’s vintage crystal necklace which complimented the beads on the gown quite pleasantly. Initially I wanted to wear jewelled Arabic headpiece but I decided to just keep the rest of the look simple and let the cloak be the showstopper. My usual Swaroski pieces and some pastel lipstick finished off the look. I added sunglasses here because allergy season is killing my eyes and it looks like I haven’t slept in 500 years!

This week is pretty busy and it is SA Fashion Week. I will be attending 2 shows and I am pretty excited. What will you be up to?

Until next time

“I am not trendy. I am not 'in fashion.' I am simply a positive human being who has a positive outlook on life.” – Thierry Mugler

Love and sparkles

Zaakira xox