I Heart Fashion

With one day off from all things Economics, I thought it necessary to have some fashion therapy. So I finally caught up with all the designer collections predominantly the spring-summer collections. My main sources being fashion shows, Vogue and Marie Claire. Dior, I am in love with your shoes. Pointed with strappy sides in an array of different colours, yummy!

Think of quality streets, and now picture a dress. From Dolce and Gabbana to Gucci its all about the metallic cocktail dresses. Dior has this beautiful metallic jacket maintaining its signature light pink colour in its collection of silhouettes that is necessary in every girl’s closet.

Another big trend is the daring tweeds especially by Chanel, my favourite being the bright pink sleeveless coat, its so over the top yet toned down by the fact that it is tweed. For spring, another obvious standard print is florals, but this time, its florals in massive prints. From Versace to Christopher Kanes it’s all about the big roses and bold tulips and daisies. Wearing floral isn’t girly anymore; it’s for the independent daring woman.

Another fashion trend is monochrome. This screams chic and classy, a definite win win for the modern woman with a touch of femininity. Perfect for the workplace. We learnt this all from Victoria Beckham with taking block dark colours and using that to the advantage of your figure.

Looks like the 90’s are back in fashion. Remember when it was about the illusion strap slip dresses? Well, get them out of the loft, dust them off and throw on a pair on converses and you will look like you’ve walked off the runway, believe it or not. DKNY and Mui Mui are guilty of bringing what Alicia Silverstone wore in Clueless back in fashion.

With accessories, the bolder the better, from massive statement necklaces to outrageous sunglasses, it’s all about being noticed. As Marie Claire puts it “rule of the season: avoid anything subtle”. For shoes, the new trend is the bent heel. From Dior to Alexander McQueen, the curved stiletto heels defy gravity and all rules of geometry, but still look so damn good!

The one fashion trend I absolutely hate is the tassels, especially on bags, it didn’t look good in the 90’s on the jackets, and it doesn’t look good on the bags now, Valentino, we are not impressed!

Keeping up with fashion doesn’t mean you have to spend hundreds and thousands of pounds on clothes and shoes. Retail stores like top-shop, Zara, River Island, Primark and many more are there to help you look fabulous and still have enough money for rent! And the best thing to do is mix it up, old is always coming back in, so some of those outdated sweaters or dresses paired with a bold accessory could go a long way. Don’t forget, vintage shops hold the best gems sometimes.

Till next time, keep strutting them heels dreamers.

Breakaway

Hey all you dreamers. It's that time again, time to leave home, my family, my friends and my Kenya. I do it almost three times a year and you'd think it would get easier, but I think it just gets harder. What hits me the most is that this is the longest I'm going to be away from home for. No matter how much you love your life and how much of the London dream you are living, home will always be home, especially when it comes to your parents. But there's one song that always make me optimistic. Optimistic that I'm breaking away to make a change. So anytime you feel scared of breaking away from everything that's comfort for you, just remember that life starts outside your comfort zone.. Here's the song by Kelly Clarkson;

Till next time, keep living those dreams :)

Madiba Our Friend

Nelson Mandela.

When I hear this name I think of freedom, courage, faith, integrity and humility. These are all some of the characteristics of this great man. He inspired not only a nation or a generation; he is an inspiration for humanity. Everyday we hear of so much evil all around us. Without doing anything are we not in that cycle of evil ourselves?

Every time I am faced with any form of obstacle or hardship I think of my Messengers and Mr Madiba. He was not a prophet or an angel or a saint. He was a mere human and he sacrificed TWENTY SEVEN years for his nation, yet we remember him not as a prisoner but as a freedom fighter, a hero.

You are not as insignificant as you may have been made to believe. If you are Muslim or Christian, you will agree that the angels and the devil himself were made to bow down to us. Does this not show how incredible you are in this universe?

Overcome the fear of failure, or any fear you have built. In the words of Madiba himself;

“courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers fear”

I believe that there are many Nelson Mandelas, Malcom Xs, Jomo Kenyattas, Waiyaki Hingas, Muhammad Jinnahs, Mahatma Gandhis and Mehdi Hasans out there. Let’s have more faith in humanity, and more importantly in ourselves.

“be the change you wish to see in the world”

                                                                                ~Mahatma Gandhi

Ideal Christmas Gifts for Her

It's that time of year again where its all about gift shopping. Buying gifts for people is sometimes the most tiresome chore and that's why i've come up with a bunch of gift ideas for her that could help you alittle. (hint hint to whoever has me for secret Santa :p)

1) The number one thing I would LOVE to have is the benefit advent calendar. It comes with all of their most popular products and can just brighten up each day.

2) A Zara bag that comes in different shapes, sizes and colours; classy yet so affordable!

3) For the girl that could never have too much gold in her life, spoil her with the glitzy glam iPhone case; Marc by Marc Jacobs

4) I was given a Kate Spade wallet on my birthday and i love it, highly recommend them. Especially this one in fushia pink that I have.

5) Probably my favorite perfume ever, flowerbomb by victor rolf

6) Ofcourse Christmas isn't complete without a pair of cheesy festive pyjamas

7) Bring the hotel bathroom home with these super-luxe bath oils that smell amazing by Aromatherapy Associates

8)This is a sneaky gift that can be used to hang on the Christmas tree or can be used as one gift or four seperate ones. Absolutely adore these Lancome In Love Cubes

9)Something trending recently are the Jo Malone candles that smell really good

10Lastly, go on and spoil her with her some Micheal Kors bling, Loving this!

 Hope you enjoy all the shopping and festivities! Till next time, keep living those dreams dreamers. xx

Finding God

My parents have been people that always left everything to God. They taught us as children that no matter what God will always come through for you. Our bond with God is stronger than any relationship even that of a mother and child, why would God not save you then? I always saw this as something ‘other’ people would need, in my mind I was inevitable as a follower of God. But then I grew up and moved to a world where life revolves around the follies of vanity and materialistic means of life. In this world the relationship with God you once had becomes a mere presence in your life rather than a way of life.

My biggest enemy and my biggest test of life is hypochondria as you may already know. I have been beaten to the ground by this spiral in my mind of sickness and google, yes you google, you have done this to me. And I know I am not the only one who is tormented by their own mind. I think ‘how is the rest of the world fine?’ ‘How are people so content with their lives?’ ‘How is that man living the life he is without the fear of cancer?’ And I think I may have found the answer. God.

‘Man a’rafa Nafsah, faqad arafa Rabbah’, who knows his soul knows his God. Religion is God realization, but spirituality is that relationship you build with the Devine Deity. Islam is a religion, follow it to the best of your human ability, but find that relationship with God where your every move is reliant upon Him. The thought that He has everything planned and He is looking after you should make everything seem wonderful and gives every today meaning. A famous Islamic scholar states that pains and illnesses of the body are pains and illnesses of the heart. One way of abandoning God and His book is by not calling onto him for healing. Maybe everything that happens to us is based on what we make our hearts and soul become.

My very good friend Kiran once said to me ‘Aniqah, how can you fear anything at all when God is there, you have nothing at all to worry about’. She is a Sikh. And it made me so proud of her. No matter what name you call God, he will always always listen. She has so much love and passion for God that her life has changed. That is what I want; To find a cure to all of life’s idiocies and tribulations through the mercy of God. Remember the first words of the Quran; In the name of Allah the most merciful and Beneficial. That is your lifeline right there.

We must all build love and trust in God FULLY in order to lead that life we want to live. It is liberating because our love is directed at the source of all our blessings, not merely the means.

Love Liberates

Dr Maya Angelou; a woman whose words can hit you deep into the core of your soul. I try to lead my life through her teachings and would like to share this particular video of her wise words.

Love and be liberated, but find people worthy of that love. Sometimes love is too overwhelming for some people to accept, they are the people who you are not meant to have in your life, and others will find liberation in your love, and liberate you too. The journey of finding those people and finding that liberation is what the journey of life is.

The Best Things!

The Best things in life are sometimes hidden in the most secret of places, and sometimes they are the little whims of everyday. Here are a few of my favourite things;

The first layer of snow that falls

Anything Disney

Singing, and singing loud!

The smell of mum, Bvulgari to be exact

Lychees

That feeling of accomplishment and completeness after prayers

Laughing so hard that it hurts

A purring kitten on your laps

A steaming cup of tea

Old classic songs, English and Indian

Youtube

Seeing my dad through the JKIA window when I land

That hug you get when you’ve been away from someone

The feel and smell of a new book

Ramadan and Eid (and Christmas)

Sitting and talking to family or friends for hours

Safaris

That unexpected message from an old friend

Shopping
Discovering new places in London