{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} | Chasing Pink

Dress – Topshop | Leggings – Woolworths | Boots – ZARA | Frames – Prada

Today I am (finally) sharing the photos I shot with Zeenat from Pursuing Pictorialism when I was in Cape Town. I had literally just gotten off the plane (a 7am flight!) and I was feeling like the walking dead.  Zeenat, however, was so good and patient with me and managed to make me look so calm and refreshed!

I felt that since I was going for a MAC event I had to go with a black outfit.  It was one of the last warm days and I got to wear this lovely jewelled collar dress from Topshop. I love wearing my dresses with leggings and if you get it right with colours and textures you can end up with a really chic look. Also your legs are warm and cosy! I’m wearing my favourite Zara boots again. As I’ve mentioned before, they are so versatile and can be worn in many different ways!

I really wanted the pink lipstick to pop because it was the only colour in my outfit. I wore a mixture of Candy Yum Yum and Viva Glam Miley (obvs) and Zeenat really managed to capture the vibrant pink. You can still get your hands on Miley’s hot pink Viva Glam lipstick (ZAR210) and lipglass (ZAR200) at your nearest MAC counter. Remember that 100% of the selling price goes to the MAC AIDS Fund to help adults and children living with HIV and AIDS.

I really loved working with Zeenat on these photos and I hope to work with her again in the future. She even managed to get my thick glasses (#BadEyesightProblems) in with no glare! You can find her on Instagram @PursuingPictorialism. If you’d like her contact details for a booking please pop me an email or tweet and I will forward them to you.

Until next time

“Pink isn't just a color, it's an attitude!” – Miley Cyrus

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} | 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! ;)