I truly missed blogging here so I'm glad to be back on my love-hate baby, The Rebirth of Fashion.
As Christmas and NYE is approaching, it's time to get the bodycons out!
Femme Luxe has been a lifesaver for me for the last few years and it's fair to say there's much nostalgia associated with the satin, ruching and Instagrammable OOTD's that they've provided me. As I've moved for the 600th time, there's no fancy lobby to shoot in so I decided to take these shots in the comfort of my own space.
What I'll say is the jumpsuit really surprised me - it fits a size 16 figure to a tee and the belt is highly flattering to cinch you in. The wide leg is not often my go-to but I enjoyed the uncomplicated flare.
As the UK is facing a cost-of-living crisis, disposable income has fallen by 7.1% over the last two years (Financial Times, 2022). Hence, most women are facing an issue... "how do I look fabulous on a budget?" Femme Luxe is the go-to solution for all your party needs this season, with on-trend dresses under £20. The site is also offering 20% off everything with code CYBER20 so get your Black Friday vibe on and shop away!
A versatile, sophisticated one-shoulder jumpsuit with a tie-belt detail. The fit is relaxed, giving you ample room to breathe. I paired the jumpsuit with block heels but this would work equally well with a pair of chunky trainers.
Hope you're all keeping well & taking some time to reflect during this period of mourning.
Like many other Londoners, I've felt the media landscape has had a sombre tone and it's been difficult to comprehend all the tragic events over the last couple of years.
Despite this, there are some fantastic communities within the Ldn creative scene that are working tirelessly with a "keep calm and carry on" attitude, delivering seamless & timeless shows.
I was privileged enough to attend Fashion Scout, all thanks to my amazing friend @accidentalstatement <3
The venue was in Shoreditch - a buzzing East-London area packed with street art, unique food & pop-ups. The highlights for me: ducking from the paparazzi, enjoying some exquisite Indian food & spotting some amazingly talented outfits (both on the stage & in the frow).
Timmy Chou: a vibrant collection with a colour palette of deep reds, inspired by Taiwanese culture.
Chi-an Yu: a 3-D-forward collection inspired by human-centred cultures. This look particularly stood out to me with the shirt/dress hybrid & the fit-flare silhouette is oh-so elegant.
Chi-An Yu: A collection that was giving S&M vibes all the way - loving this beautiful oversized yet dainty white shirt, alongside a mesh trouser & classic black boot.
Show Me Your Shoes!
Absolutely obsessed with these black & neon contrast Prada loafers <3
Sophisticated & neutral flats with a buckle detail.
Timeless black loafers with a chunky sole & sheen finish.
Colours, colours, colours!
Chia-Lin Hsu - a simple, flowy piece amidst an otherwise show-stompingly bold collection.
Hope you're having a wonderful weekend, wherever you are & whatever you're up to.
As (luck) would have it, I've been recovering from COVID-19 (just had it for the first time) & essentially, pondering my existence over the last decade. In fact, today I renewed my Google domain & it's always a proud feeling of mine every year. To some, this may not mean anything as I don't have some 7,000 members but when I was 16, I created my blog as a creative outlet following trauma.
I feel strongly that the realm of media has shifted over the last couple years and that platforms, such as Instagram, have upped their algorithm game to a point that it even surprises me, sometimes.
I'm often left wondering - is anyone truly appreciating real content anymore?
As we scroll and scroll mindlessly, are we truly retaining the information? For all my media peeps: A 5% increase in your Customer Retention Rate (CRR) can boost profits by 25% (TripleWhale).
When I started blogging, I took inspo from BryanBoy and I would get giddy every time a new post would pop up on his site, staring in awe at those "beyond" outfits. I loved that he explained his heritage (Philippines) & never lost sight of this along the way. I loved watching the likes of Shahs of Sunset (please Andy, bring the series back & scrap Mike. The incident is way beyond acceptable but that doesn't mean the rest of the cast have to suffer) & KUWTK as it felt refreshing to see people of colour on my TV screen. Of course, Bend it like Beckham (2002) was the pinnacle of Indian Diaspora British film, though (iconic).
I often find that as an independent South Asian (Sindhi) woman at 27 years of age, born and bred in London and estranged from much of my family, I struggle to relate to the content creators that I follow. Sure, it's amazing to see strong powerful brown women killing it but I'm often left wondering... where is anyone like me? Maybe I'm not looking in the right place & maybe I'll never find that. The sheer fact that I studied English with Film at a prestigious Arts & Humanities campus is pretty groundbreaking to many Asian communities. Traditionally, we go down the Medicine/Pharma/Finance routes but that never truly interested me.
KCL - my bae... I'll come back for that Global Security MSC some day :D
I will, however, give a huge shout out to the following powerful women I've seen doing amazing things on IG & killing it with their businesses: Bishamber Das, Lailli & Alizé Mirza (I will be at Biolite some day & the mere fact that this renowned aesthetic clinic replied to me, made my day with COVID) Diipna Anand, Tanvi, Nafia Khan,Anncy.
I literally died at this video as Anncy is HILARIOUS but it's actually accurate & very sad that skin lightening products are so widely promoted in India. I remember being there & so many of these ads would appear. In the trash, F&L goes....
Whilst I appreciate the fast-paced nature of Insta reels, I never got into TikTok as I felt it was a little bit too childish for my taste (please don't kill me!) However, I have been on there recently as I feel it's a good way to tap into Gen Z's fun & sassy tastes.
I recently downloaded Christine Quinn's Audible book & listened to it via Alexa --> epic (plus I could do some chores in the background).
I enjoyed the fact that Christine kept it all the way 100 & I could hear the pain in her tone of voice. I've heard countless stories of how brutal American high school life can be but I can resonate to some of her stories (including the glue in hair situation) & I can only imagine what it's like to not be able to pursue further education and force yourself into the spotlight. By distinguishing Christine's voice from her appearance, it became apparent that she is a strongwoman.
I feel audio books are the way forward...
My screen time is so ridiculous sometimes between all of my apps, emails and messages that I often lose sight of reality. Listening to audio or reading a book may seem old school but I feel it's important to balance tangible/physical forms of media vs. digital. Also, I remember to this day, some epic quotes from Christine's fabulously striking voice which truly says something about the audio form.
As I've delved into the Metaverse, I'm so grateful to be a part of some fantastic, innovative communities and there is now genuinely so much I want to look at and be a part of but I have to remember, I can't do it all (and that's okay).
Today's media world is so saturated with the rise of voice-assistants and media multi-tasking (who else watches TV & plays on their phone?)
It's a wild time but one which we can enjoy and utilise, so long as we remember our zen time, filter out negative content vibes & ensure we are promoting all demographics.
Hope you're having a fabulous Summer (I'm finding the weather quite muggy in London rn).
I recently travelled to Cyprus as my lovely colleague, Andrianna originates from here :) I was also curious to be a little more spontaneous on my travels. Usually, I am the gal who packs weeks before and has everything aligned to a tee. I will admit I had no idea where Cyprus was exactly until I recently looked on Google Maps, which was in fact, intriguing.
Unfortunately, I encountered a lot of hassle, delays and strange people, but as someone who practices gratitude, I will look past this to remember the positives of the trip.
Ultimately, the combination of flight cancellations, lack of clear instructions/info on next flights, missing events etc. led to a lot of stress & I wasn't able to get back home to LDN. Also, I felt quite intimidated by the loud voices but I realise this is just a part of their friendly culture (also, thanks so much to the cabbie who brought back my phone). Plus, George Taxis who made sure I got to the airport safe & sound in a beautiful Mercedes van. Also, cannot forgot Elena (Paphos) for the excellent massage. It was the only experience which made me fully relaxed and the hospitality I received in her salon was exceptional <3
I would shout out to EasyJet but all the chaos and nonsense that you put me through has meant I will likely never travel with you again (I'm awaiting my flight voucher).
Yummy Yummies - fab & fresh Village Salad
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Delicious Strawberry Daquiri
Amazing colourful art (whilst we were stuck bc our flight = cancelled)
This Chia Granola Yoghurt Pot & Mango Frappe from Costa >>>
No moo-moo's around here (thanks KYLE, RHOBH) --> leopard print dress (RI) with cycling shorts (SimplyBe)
Painting away my woes - I am stuck with Corona but it doesn't have me.
I'm back with a bang, bringing you the scoop on this exquisite Evil Eye necklace - it's absolutely sublime.
Firstly, I love the delicate chain paired with the statement gold pendant: it's bold but not overpowering.
Furthermore, the founder of Glitterati Jewels is a queen; not only is Shellni a South-Asian female working in healthcare, but she is also heavily involved in the fashion scene.
It's so empowering to have such wonderful women around me that manage to balance such tough environments with a smile & bubbly personality.
Disclaimer: This piece is currently sold out but if you'd like to purchase, please do contact me :)
Hope ya'll are staying at home and still slaying your skincare routines ;)
Just over a month ago, I received two wonderful products from Nakin Skincare - an award winning UK-based natural anti-ageing skincare brand.
First, I received the Natural Anti-ageing Lip Treatment Balm which blew me out the park from the get go. Not only does it have a luxuriously rich consistency, it also contains a gentle scrubbing effect which means you get to exfoliate your lips whilst retaining moisture. It also has peppermint for a refreshing experience. This is perfect to throw in your handbag before a date or a Netflix n Chill moment.
Would I normally spend £10 on lip balm, no. However, this gives you that luxe spa experience that justifies the price. You also get a lot of product.
Now, on to the Anti-ageing Performance Face Serum - this is one of Nakin's best sellers. It has a concoction of natural ingredients which stimulates the reversal of ageing signs. I used to be a big fan of serums back in the day, however nowadays I tend to just go for a standard moisturiser. After using this serum, I am definitely reverting back to serums as they give me that luxurious feel and a little goes a long way. Furthermore, after a month of use I noticed less blemishes, softer skin and a significant brightening/glow effect.
I may be 25 but I highly recommend starting preventative measures now as skincare is about prevention rather than reaction.
Please do try out these products and check out the rest of the Nakin range and let me know your thoughts.
I hope all of you are keeping well and didn't miss me too much ;)
This year has been challenging for many personal reasons but also a year filled with a lot of personal growth and self-development. As I've been taking a few trips to Switzerland to clear my mind and relax, I decided as I'm back in London it would be great to get back into the blogging scene. What better way than to start with a collaboration with the amazing Femme Luxe.
I feel like I've been out the blogging game for a little while so I wasn't sure how I'd feel but as soon as I tried these babies on, I just loved the concept of dressing up and it helped that I was genuinely impressed with the clothing I received. Not only do I feel the pieces are good quality but they also are very much on-trend with the neutrals theme this Winter.
Also, being completely honest, I am always a little bit anxious to venture out and try clothing from new brands due to my shape and wondering if the pieces would fit my size 16 frame in a good way. However, I was really surprised that everything fitted me amazingly as I went for both oversized/tight looks.
Ladies, do let me know what you think of the below looks and let me know if you try out any pieces from Femme Luxe yourselves as I would highly recommend if you're looking for affordable, stylish, Instagrammable looks <3
Lovely figure-hugging cream jumper, perfect for teaming with leggings or cycle shorts for a night out.
Gorgeous flowy black satin dress which I felt looked so expensive in person.
