Birthday

This post was scheduled to be published last week - before my birthday however, my sister gave birth to my sweet, little nephew so all my plans went out the window! I'm a bit reserved when it comes to kids but when I saw my nephew for the first time, I actually felt like tearing out of pure joy and love. It's so surreal how such a tiny being can captivate the hearts of so many. Within a minute of his existence we were all beside ourselves with excitement! Writing about him makes me want to hold him and shower him with tender kisses. 

This year I turned 25. A quarter of a century! I never thought I'd even make it to 25. Alas! Here i am! This birthday brought on bittersweet feelings. On the one hand I'm grateful for my life and my experiences but on the other hand, I feel like I haven't achieved enough. I'm proud of myself however, for all that I have achieved yet I know I still have a long road of experiences ahead of me.

We tried to do something a little different with this post. It really was such a blast shooting this segment with Pagiel. It's a lot more playful than my usual work and a lot more relaxed... And the cupcake was really tasty too!

Pink Suede T-Shirt - River Island // Black Fringe Waistcoat - Cotton On // Denim Jeans - Cotton On //  Purple Heels - Sue Ellen by Dora at Castello // Black Chocker - Miss Selfridge // Chain - Fashion World // Watch - Casio.

Photography - Pagiel Chetty www.pagielchetty.co.za // Instagram: @pagielchetty

No Grey Zone

It was rather fortuitous that I selected these images  for this week's post for the reason that it best describes my current mood. Maybe it's the universe or perhaps it's close to 'that time of the month' but everyone and everything seems to be annoying me. It doesn't help that the end of the year is nearing and I still have so much I wish to achieve! I'm torn between focusing on work or spending the day at the beach - Durban's weather has been all sorts of lovely this week. 

I'm an all or nothing person, whether it's work or play, therefore I'm always on either end of the spectrum; never in between. Right now I am so lazy to even get off my couch. All my tasks (which on a regular day would take up to one hour max) are taking me forever to complete. I'm pretty certain that there has to be some sort of astronomical explanation for my inertia.

What I'm Wearing:

I mentioned in my last post that I purchased a few items from Charles and Keith, the boots being one of them. I wasn't certain about getting them because you know, the hot weather... But they're my new favourite shoes. They're soft and comfortable enough to go a whole day in them and surprisingly, I don't feel hot in them. The white cross-over top is from River Island. I bought it on sale in Johannesburg when I visited my sister a few months back. The black denims are from Woolworths which I purchased for work but since donning them, I could wear them every day. They provide just the right amount of stretch to make them comfortable enough to wear through the day. The black Jacket with silver chord detail was purchased from H&M in Kuala Lampur. I needed to get away from everyone and be alone for a bit so I went shopping... Needless to say, my alone-time was fruitful.

The sunglasses were a real bargain! I bought them from Sunglass Hut in Cape Town. It was my last day in the Cape and I thought I'd spend whatever money I had left. I spotted a sale sign in the window and went in. Little did I know they were having a sale to bring feet into the store. The entire store got flooded so naturally there was a strong damp smell in the air. Once I saw the price of these Tom Ford  glasses the store smelled like fresh daisies to me. I really like the way these sunnies shape my face as well as the dark lens for when I'm not in the mood to interact with anyone. The Swarovski bangle was a gift to myself after a very long time. I had eyed this bangle for some time before I finally made the purchase! 

White Blouse - River Island // Black Denims - Woolworths // Black Jacket - H&M // Necklace - Lovisa // Sunglasses - Tom Ford at Sunglass Hut // Boots - Charles and Keith // Bangle - Swarovski

Photography - Pagiel Chetty.  www.pagielchetty.com

Henna by Zakiyya. Follow her on Instagram @zakiyya_hennaart

Spring Clean

I've been lazy lately, maybe even a little distracted. Every so often, unwavering feelings of discontentment fill the air... As hard as I try to ignore it or focus on what's on my plate at the moment, it doesn't leave...

As of recent I have been feeling like I need a change. I'm not entirely sure which aspect of my life needs a good spring clean but something has got to go! Or maybe I need to focus more on the projects I'm currently working on. I don't really know at the moment. Maybe I should begin with making some adjustments to the blog and it's content. I'd like to know what you would like to see more of on the blog. Maybe a little reader insight is just what I need to make the change I'm longing for. Kindly comment below or tweet me @zaida_omar about what you want to see on the blog.

What I'm Wearing:

Dress - River Island // Leather Biker Jacket - Purchased Overseas // Cobalt Heels - Zara

Hair - Sawleha Hansa // Photography - Pagiel Chetty

  

Hats Off

Hello :) Apologies for my absence, I have been so busy with work and not a moment to spare to put together a post for you. I'm sure most of you have seen my Instagram account- lately I have been doing a lot of work with my good friend, makeup artist Neil Ramautar of Drama Queen Studios. Makeup has always been an interest of mine and I've wanted to study it for quite some time but I never got around to doing it. So when the opportunity to shadow my friend Neil presented itself I leaped for it. This provided me with the chance to learn the tricks of the trade as well as gain first-hand experience. If I'm going to learn about makeup I might as well learn from the best, right? 

The past couple weeks have been hectic to say the least but I'm really enjoying not having a lot of time at my disposal. I feel I perform better under pressure. Furthermore, my social life has taken a nose dive but I actually enjoy spending my Saturday nights on the couch (mo' money = no life). I know I will need a holiday soon enough but for now I'm enjoying juggling work and life. 

What I'm Wearing:

I wore this to a photoshoot I styled recently, which was at the Waterfront Hotel at the point. I needed something I could be comfortable in and for me, comfort means a good pair of denim jeans. Comfort is of utmost importance especially at a photoshoot as I am always kneeling to fix a hemline or straighten out a crease so I have to be able to move in my clothes. However, comfort aside, as a stylist I obviously have to look the part as I am a representation of my work. I have to find a balance between comfort and trendy hence the denims and loose top with the fedora hat to add a bit of 'trendiness' to the look.

Hat: Gifted to me

Tank Top: Topshop

Floral waterfall Jacket: New Look

Denims: Forever 21

Jewelled Slippers: Steve Madden
Choker: River Island
Lipstick: Russian Red by Mac

The Mora Ammo New Store and Collection Launch

I recently attended the Mora Ammo launch owned by Mohammed Amod, who is not only a relative but also a close friend.  I’m so proud of him as this is the second anniversary of Mora Ammo. The launch featured his latest collection which is hand picked by Mohammed himself. It takes a lot to please women, and he has exceptional taste when it comes to selecting garments for a wide variety of customers. I myself have bought at least 5 evening dresses in the past two years from him and I can’t complain as I am the type of person who prefers to know what im getting. His dresses have a custom – made fit at an affordable price.

Guests were welcomed with cocktails, canapés and a death by chocolate fountain. The store is classy and fabulous, as every woman should be. It epitomizes glamour, especially with the statement Roberto Cavalli wallpaper. Live models showcased the collection, creating authentic visuals of the flow and fit of the garments. 

The dress code was Tres Chic so I chose to wear black because nothing says chic like a little black dress. I wore a River Island midi dress with orange and black Zara heels (because orange is the new black). My hair was done by another close friend of mine, Sawleha, we kept it simple with loose curls, perfect for Durban's humidity.

Apart from the fabulous frocks, We mingled, ate the morish treats and took a million selfies – all the ingredients for a successful launch and I walked away with my 6th dress which was an absolute hit!

  
Contact Mora Ammo on 082 078 8999

43 B Jan  Hofmeyr Road, Westville

Glam Hair Don’t Care by Sawleha – 082 508 8414

Volo Pop - Up Boutique

Last week I attended the launch for the hottest new pop-up boutique to hit our shores, Volo, which means to desire in Latin, is the brainchild of the fashion - forward duo Nabila Rajab and Aadilah Kathrada, whom I happen to know personally (can I just say that there couldn't be a better team behind the brand). The brand hopes to provide fashionistas with the latest looks from the trendiest fashion houses starting with an exclusive range from River Island. Us gals were treated to the latest in fashion trends at the Hotel On The Park. I had such fun tasting all the delectable treats whilst looking for the perfect something to purchase.

The range was perfect for all types of girls, whether you're looking for a little black dress or a chic leather jacket to cover up this winter, they had it all. I picked up a fabulous white on white beaded jacket which I loved so much, I wore it out the store. I'm quite chuffed about this new boutique as they bring individual pieces so I never have to worry about clashing. 

If you missed the launch of the boutique, don't despair, there will another new exquisite range gracing our shores soon. Follow @voloboutique on Instagram for more updates. 

White Top: Mr price

Denims: Forever 21

Shoes: Zara

Hat: Mr Price

Bag: H&M

Beaded Jacket: River Island

Weekend Getaway

Black and Gold Slippers - Charles and Keith/ Brown Boots - TopShop

This past weekend my sister and I went for a mini-vacation to Johannesburg, now and again we need a small break from the daily pressures of work and life. The trip started off on a not-so-good foot as our flight was delayed by an hour, we boarded only at 11 pm and by the time we reached out hotel we were exhausted, so much for a relaxed start! For my wardrobe, I packed warm. Every time I visit Jo'burg it's cold and miserable and this time was no different! Jo'burg to me is the New York of South Africa. Everything is much more serious and corporate and the same goes for the fashion. High-tops and hoodies aren't ideal choices when covering up, instead, fur coats and knee-length boots are a preferred option. Everyone's always dressed to the nines so I carried slim-fit jackets, my trusted Zara pointies, and my new favourite - my Topshop boots ( I had to bring a little piece of Durban with). Another trend I tried was the pyjama trend however I wasn't entirely happy with the way I styled it. I would have preferred to wear the shirt without a jacket and with barely-there heels instead of boots but there's always next time. I didn't get many snaps of what I wore and had to resort to selfies but here are the few I did manage to take.

Navy Top - River Island/Jacket - Zara

Top - Miss Selfridge/Jacket - Zara/Jeans - Guess/Pumps - Zara/Bag - Furla

T-Shirt - Aeropostale/ Denims - Forever 21/ Blazer - Zara/ Shoes - Steve Madden

#FBMChallenge

Another Birthday, this time it was a braai so I didn't dress up too much...

Top: River Island/ Jeans: Forever 21/Shoes: Zara/ Chain: Forever New/ Bangles: Forever 21

This was a workday look, I didn't have time to do my hair (cover my eyes) and it was SO hot I couldn't manage.

T-shirt: Mango/ Skirt: Unknown/ Bag: Charles and Keith/ Sandals: Accessorize