I have been feeling uninspired lately. I suppose everyone feels that way once in a while. But I just have always dreamt of having my own clothing line. I've been working on it for two years now and I have to admit, progress has been slow. Sometimes I wonder what's holding me back--is it quality control (me not being happy with the quality and not wanting to launch something half-heartedly) or is it just fear (being afraid that people won't like it). I've heard unpleasant whispers of "oh is she really coming out with a line?" and "where is her clothing line that she says she's working on?"--which is totally fine. People are entitled to their own opinions. What's important is that I find my source of inspiration and keep myself motivated. That's all I'll say about that, but insyaAllah, we'll see what happens with that dream.

For the time being I have been soaking myself with the joy (and equally energy-consuming) of blogging life. Jakarta Fashion Week 2017 was something that inspired me so much. It was such a wonderful experience just sitting there in the audience inside the fashion tent being surrounded by so many passionate people. Lights go down, the runway mix starts to play (and this already gives you the vibe that the designer wants you to feel) and the first model steps out. Lights slowly turn on with each step the model takes down the runway... and you just know you're in for a show. 

I was so excited to watch Anniesa Hasibuan's show. She had made history for being the first designer to present a completely hijab-filled show at the recent New York Fashion Week. I was so honored to be able to attend the show to support the hijab fashion community that has started to break barriers. Her show was like an explosion of a textile factory BUT it was done in a way so elegant and perfect. Her designs were a beautiful mess. I was truly blown away by the looks on the runway. To add to the cuteness, models had such an Audrey Hepburn vibe with their vintage sunnies and their scarf-do.









Those are just some of my favourites! Follow her journey via Instagram: @anniesahasibuanofficial and @anniesahasibuan.

Okay toodles, one more JFW2017 post. This one will be about another amazing show that sent chills down my spine!!! 



Love,





JFW2017: The Magical World of Anniesa Hasibuan

Thursday 1 December 2016

I have been feeling uninspired lately. I suppose everyone feels that way once in a while. But I just have always dreamt of having my own clothing line. I've been working on it for two years now and I have to admit, progress has been slow. Sometimes I wonder what's holding me back--is it quality control (me not being happy with the quality and not wanting to launch something half-heartedly) or is it just fear (being afraid that people won't like it). I've heard unpleasant whispers of "oh is she really coming out with a line?" and "where is her clothing line that she says she's working on?"--which is totally fine. People are entitled to their own opinions. What's important is that I find my source of inspiration and keep myself motivated. That's all I'll say about that, but insyaAllah, we'll see what happens with that dream.

For the time being I have been soaking myself with the joy (and equally energy-consuming) of blogging life. Jakarta Fashion Week 2017 was something that inspired me so much. It was such a wonderful experience just sitting there in the audience inside the fashion tent being surrounded by so many passionate people. Lights go down, the runway mix starts to play (and this already gives you the vibe that the designer wants you to feel) and the first model steps out. Lights slowly turn on with each step the model takes down the runway... and you just know you're in for a show. 

I was so excited to watch Anniesa Hasibuan's show. She had made history for being the first designer to present a completely hijab-filled show at the recent New York Fashion Week. I was so honored to be able to attend the show to support the hijab fashion community that has started to break barriers. Her show was like an explosion of a textile factory BUT it was done in a way so elegant and perfect. Her designs were a beautiful mess. I was truly blown away by the looks on the runway. To add to the cuteness, models had such an Audrey Hepburn vibe with their vintage sunnies and their scarf-do.









Those are just some of my favourites! Follow her journey via Instagram: @anniesahasibuanofficial and @anniesahasibuan.

Okay toodles, one more JFW2017 post. This one will be about another amazing show that sent chills down my spine!!! 



Love,





Can you believe we're already in November? I know I say it every year but seriously, where did the time go? I feel like years go by in a blink of an eye and each time faster than the previous one. We work hard every day to achieve our goals one day at a time, and then one day you look back and it's your whole life. I hope when that day comes, I will feel proud, satisfied and happy with how I lived my life. And I hope you will too.

One of my goals is to have my own brand, but I am learning it the hard way that it isn't all that easy. It takes a lot of time, money, effort.... and failed experiments. So kudos to those brands, especially local brands, who are able to launch. One of our local brands, Hanastilla, reached out to me for a review on their Wady'ah Semi-Instant hijab, and when I received the box... I can say I was impressed! They did absolutely well with their packaging! You know what they say about first impressions. And as a bonus, each hijab is packed with a little note to remind us what true beauty really means. LOVE!


Crushing on the packaging!


<3

Swarovski elements.

I am not an instant hijab wearer to be honest. I love being able to control how tight my hijab is under my chin, how it flows, where to pin--basically I love being in control of things and my husband can agree. Hence, I can't comment much on the instant aspect, but I decided to wear it out today and it wasn't bad at all (I did tighten it with a pin though). Btw, hijabs that do not sit curved on my forehead are the bane of my existence. Ya'll agree. Don't lie. But the Hanastilla instant hijab curved alright, so phewf, it passed that test!

What I love about the brand is that it donates 10% of its profits to charity! Way to go, girls! (Did I tell you that the women behind the brand are long time friends from Maktab Duli?) Each instant hijab is priced at BND50--probably because of the Swarovski elements--and comes in a few colours. I'm wearing the Refreshing Aqua and it matches my shoes quite perfectly! 

If you're into semi-instant hijabs, don't forget to check them out on their instagram (@hanastilla)!



Also wearing my Ally Pants that were kindly gifted to me from Juwita KL (thank you!!)




Okay. Back to compiling photos from Jakarta Fashion Week for the blog. I went to two other shows and they. blew. my. mind! Can't wait to share them with you!

Disclaimer: This is a paid review.


Love,




Semi-Instant on a Saturday

Saturday 12 November 2016

Can you believe we're already in November? I know I say it every year but seriously, where did the time go? I feel like years go by in a blink of an eye and each time faster than the previous one. We work hard every day to achieve our goals one day at a time, and then one day you look back and it's your whole life. I hope when that day comes, I will feel proud, satisfied and happy with how I lived my life. And I hope you will too.

One of my goals is to have my own brand, but I am learning it the hard way that it isn't all that easy. It takes a lot of time, money, effort.... and failed experiments. So kudos to those brands, especially local brands, who are able to launch. One of our local brands, Hanastilla, reached out to me for a review on their Wady'ah Semi-Instant hijab, and when I received the box... I can say I was impressed! They did absolutely well with their packaging! You know what they say about first impressions. And as a bonus, each hijab is packed with a little note to remind us what true beauty really means. LOVE!


Crushing on the packaging!


<3

Swarovski elements.

I am not an instant hijab wearer to be honest. I love being able to control how tight my hijab is under my chin, how it flows, where to pin--basically I love being in control of things and my husband can agree. Hence, I can't comment much on the instant aspect, but I decided to wear it out today and it wasn't bad at all (I did tighten it with a pin though). Btw, hijabs that do not sit curved on my forehead are the bane of my existence. Ya'll agree. Don't lie. But the Hanastilla instant hijab curved alright, so phewf, it passed that test!

What I love about the brand is that it donates 10% of its profits to charity! Way to go, girls! (Did I tell you that the women behind the brand are long time friends from Maktab Duli?) Each instant hijab is priced at BND50--probably because of the Swarovski elements--and comes in a few colours. I'm wearing the Refreshing Aqua and it matches my shoes quite perfectly! 

If you're into semi-instant hijabs, don't forget to check them out on their instagram (@hanastilla)!



Also wearing my Ally Pants that were kindly gifted to me from Juwita KL (thank you!!)




Okay. Back to compiling photos from Jakarta Fashion Week for the blog. I went to two other shows and they. blew. my. mind! Can't wait to share them with you!

Disclaimer: This is a paid review.


Love,




I am back from my accidental two-week hiatus! I didn't think that I wouldn't have time to blog. I had a plan sorted out on what to blog in the two weeks that I was on leave but instead I spent the first week in the country with my husband just going on dates, watching movies, eating out and continuing our long-overdue riding lessons. It was a much needed break and I got to spend my days just wasting time with the love of my life. No regrets!

In the first week, I received an invitation from FashionValet to attend their show at Jakarta Fashion Week 2017, which features Aere, Schmiley Mo by Diana Rikasari and Kami Idea. I was beyond excited because Jakarta seemed like a perfect place to go as we've never been! I was pretty torn that I had to let go Rico Rinaldi's show at Singapore Fashion Week (I saw photos and his show was impeccable and so avantgarde, and I'm so thrilled to see so many Bruneian representatives there!) but my bank account just wouldn't let me pick both so Jakarta it was!

So back to the FV show, here are my favourites!

Schmiley Mo by Diana Rikasari (@schmileymo)

I have watched two of her shows and both times I was touched with an infectious positive force that's so out of this world. The songs she picks have become permanent residents in my playlist and are constantly on repeat. Go listen to Haim's Don't Save Me and tell me it doesn't want to make you skip through the streets of New York City with a wide smile plastered across your face?! (Also listen to Regina Spektor's Dance Anthem of the 80s--her runway mix at KLFW2016 that never fails to lift my mood.) Other than her amazing line (which is coming out on 7 November on FV I hear), thank you Diana for the gift of music. 

Schmiley Mo, being true to its DNA, kept it fun and whimsical. The Daisy Pills collection was filled with pompoms, unfinished denim and really cool outerwear. It's just something that's been missing from my wardrobe and I cannot wait for it to launch. I'mma pounce. Here are my faves:

1. These metallic skirts need to come home to mama. No words. I need them. 





2. This pair of un-finished denim jeans. Styled with these slip-on loafers? Yes please!



Aere (@aere) - LOVE Collection

This was inspired by the emotion that resonated inside her when she was invited to present a collection at JFW2017. It still carried the very core of what Aere is--elegance, feminine and romantic. However, the collection had a vibrant colour that stood out for me and I fell in love. Overall, I think Sabrina did an amazing job and I'm truly inspired. Diana and Sabrina are both renowned bloggers who inspire people through their words and style, today they're inspiring people through design, and I can only hope to be half as good and established as they are!

3. Brighter than the sun

Ya'll know I prefer pants over skirts! But in this case... I really can't pick! It's such a happy pill!





4. This wrap top. A girl can never have enough wrap tops (or jeans or bell sleeves and the list goes on).





Kami Idea (@kamiidea)

Kami Idea created comfortable yet stylish options for Muslim women. The clothes were so laidback and chill. It was like a nude lipstick--you just have to slip it on and you don't have to worry about it.










5. What I loved about the collection was the outerwear. I'll be heading to a cold place this December and I want to be able to still look chic while being modest at the same time. Kami Idea gave me a few ideas on how to do that, so hats off to them!








Congratulations FV, Sabrina, Diana and the Kami Idea trio for the amazing show! Until next time, folks! I need to shower.


Love,




JFW2017: FaVourites from the FashionValet show

Monday 31 October 2016

I am back from my accidental two-week hiatus! I didn't think that I wouldn't have time to blog. I had a plan sorted out on what to blog in the two weeks that I was on leave but instead I spent the first week in the country with my husband just going on dates, watching movies, eating out and continuing our long-overdue riding lessons. It was a much needed break and I got to spend my days just wasting time with the love of my life. No regrets!

In the first week, I received an invitation from FashionValet to attend their show at Jakarta Fashion Week 2017, which features Aere, Schmiley Mo by Diana Rikasari and Kami Idea. I was beyond excited because Jakarta seemed like a perfect place to go as we've never been! I was pretty torn that I had to let go Rico Rinaldi's show at Singapore Fashion Week (I saw photos and his show was impeccable and so avantgarde, and I'm so thrilled to see so many Bruneian representatives there!) but my bank account just wouldn't let me pick both so Jakarta it was!

So back to the FV show, here are my favourites!

Schmiley Mo by Diana Rikasari (@schmileymo)

I have watched two of her shows and both times I was touched with an infectious positive force that's so out of this world. The songs she picks have become permanent residents in my playlist and are constantly on repeat. Go listen to Haim's Don't Save Me and tell me it doesn't want to make you skip through the streets of New York City with a wide smile plastered across your face?! (Also listen to Regina Spektor's Dance Anthem of the 80s--her runway mix at KLFW2016 that never fails to lift my mood.) Other than her amazing line (which is coming out on 7 November on FV I hear), thank you Diana for the gift of music. 

Schmiley Mo, being true to its DNA, kept it fun and whimsical. The Daisy Pills collection was filled with pompoms, unfinished denim and really cool outerwear. It's just something that's been missing from my wardrobe and I cannot wait for it to launch. I'mma pounce. Here are my faves:

1. These metallic skirts need to come home to mama. No words. I need them. 





2. This pair of un-finished denim jeans. Styled with these slip-on loafers? Yes please!



Aere (@aere) - LOVE Collection

This was inspired by the emotion that resonated inside her when she was invited to present a collection at JFW2017. It still carried the very core of what Aere is--elegance, feminine and romantic. However, the collection had a vibrant colour that stood out for me and I fell in love. Overall, I think Sabrina did an amazing job and I'm truly inspired. Diana and Sabrina are both renowned bloggers who inspire people through their words and style, today they're inspiring people through design, and I can only hope to be half as good and established as they are!

3. Brighter than the sun

Ya'll know I prefer pants over skirts! But in this case... I really can't pick! It's such a happy pill!





4. This wrap top. A girl can never have enough wrap tops (or jeans or bell sleeves and the list goes on).





Kami Idea (@kamiidea)

Kami Idea created comfortable yet stylish options for Muslim women. The clothes were so laidback and chill. It was like a nude lipstick--you just have to slip it on and you don't have to worry about it.










5. What I loved about the collection was the outerwear. I'll be heading to a cold place this December and I want to be able to still look chic while being modest at the same time. Kami Idea gave me a few ideas on how to do that, so hats off to them!








Congratulations FV, Sabrina, Diana and the Kami Idea trio for the amazing show! Until next time, folks! I need to shower.


Love,





Being a loyal iPhone user, I never paid attention to the launches and releases of the latest android phones. I first heard about the Huawei P9 at KL Fashion Week; Huawei was the Official Smartphone at the event. They showcased Scarlett Johansson's ad pre-show and to top that off, Vivy Yusof, captured a few amazing shots using the camera, which is said to reinvent smartphone photography as its co-engineered with Leica.

Huawei reached out to a few bloggers to test out the Huawei P9 and having heard of its wonderful camera (I received many direct messages on Instagram telling me how amazing the camera is and how some of them never regretted the move from being an Apple user to an Android user! Thank you for letting me know!), I was super intrigued and I couldn't wait to test this bad boy out.

So I won't comment on the interface etc etc because I've been an Apple user since I was 16 and that wouldn't be fair! But I will talk about the camera. So the camera has many features as you can see below. What attracted me the most was the bokeh feature that my iPhone 6 lacks. According to Google, bokeh is "the visual quality of the out-of-focus areas of a photographic image, especially as rendered by a particular lens"--I just call it the blurry background. The feature works best when the subject is close to the camera, so it may be a little bit difficult when doing an OOTD.

Blurry Effect 

Blurry Effect ft. Afternoon Tea


Modes of the camera.


After trying it out on the first day, I found the photos came out a little too sharp but I suppose you can easily edit that away to your liking. But in terms of the quality of the photo, you can't deny its strengths. It takes better quality photos than my iPhone 6, both day and night (can't take a good photo at night with an iPhone to save my life!), can't say for iPhone 7 though, I would need to test that out for myself. 

The camera also has a professional mode where you can adjust the shutter speed, aperture, etc etc, which I found pretty cool. It captures motion well as you can see from my skirt flicks. Actually, looking back at it now, I'm even more impressed by how the photos turned out.




Other than that, the phone also has this light painting feature, which made me even more excited. Under this mode, there are four things--tail lights, light graffiti, silky water and star track. I'm so going to try Silky Water and Star Track during my leave! Let's hope it turns out well, like the Light Graffiti and Tail Lights feature I enjoyed messing with.

Different modes under light painting.


Light Graffiti

Tail Lights (gone a little wonky because my hands aren't steady!)
I also wondered how it took pictures at night so we tried a bunch of night selfies using the back camera. Not bad! It came out pretty clear! But the flash is blinding, you guys. BLINDING! Hahaha probably because I took a billion photos to nail my angle, so by the 6th try I saw nothing but white.

Poor husband can't take the flash!

Just to add, for all you curious cats out there, the Huawei P9 is available at Progresif Cellular for about BND779 (!!!). So go ahead and check that out if you're wanting a new phone or if you want to hop out of the Apple train or you know... just a camera enthusiast! 

So what do you think?


Love,

Trying out the Huawei P9

Thursday 13 October 2016


Being a loyal iPhone user, I never paid attention to the launches and releases of the latest android phones. I first heard about the Huawei P9 at KL Fashion Week; Huawei was the Official Smartphone at the event. They showcased Scarlett Johansson's ad pre-show and to top that off, Vivy Yusof, captured a few amazing shots using the camera, which is said to reinvent smartphone photography as its co-engineered with Leica.

Huawei reached out to a few bloggers to test out the Huawei P9 and having heard of its wonderful camera (I received many direct messages on Instagram telling me how amazing the camera is and how some of them never regretted the move from being an Apple user to an Android user! Thank you for letting me know!), I was super intrigued and I couldn't wait to test this bad boy out.

So I won't comment on the interface etc etc because I've been an Apple user since I was 16 and that wouldn't be fair! But I will talk about the camera. So the camera has many features as you can see below. What attracted me the most was the bokeh feature that my iPhone 6 lacks. According to Google, bokeh is "the visual quality of the out-of-focus areas of a photographic image, especially as rendered by a particular lens"--I just call it the blurry background. The feature works best when the subject is close to the camera, so it may be a little bit difficult when doing an OOTD.

Blurry Effect 

Blurry Effect ft. Afternoon Tea


Modes of the camera.


After trying it out on the first day, I found the photos came out a little too sharp but I suppose you can easily edit that away to your liking. But in terms of the quality of the photo, you can't deny its strengths. It takes better quality photos than my iPhone 6, both day and night (can't take a good photo at night with an iPhone to save my life!), can't say for iPhone 7 though, I would need to test that out for myself. 

The camera also has a professional mode where you can adjust the shutter speed, aperture, etc etc, which I found pretty cool. It captures motion well as you can see from my skirt flicks. Actually, looking back at it now, I'm even more impressed by how the photos turned out.




Other than that, the phone also has this light painting feature, which made me even more excited. Under this mode, there are four things--tail lights, light graffiti, silky water and star track. I'm so going to try Silky Water and Star Track during my leave! Let's hope it turns out well, like the Light Graffiti and Tail Lights feature I enjoyed messing with.

Different modes under light painting.


Light Graffiti

Tail Lights (gone a little wonky because my hands aren't steady!)
I also wondered how it took pictures at night so we tried a bunch of night selfies using the back camera. Not bad! It came out pretty clear! But the flash is blinding, you guys. BLINDING! Hahaha probably because I took a billion photos to nail my angle, so by the 6th try I saw nothing but white.

Poor husband can't take the flash!

Just to add, for all you curious cats out there, the Huawei P9 is available at Progresif Cellular for about BND779 (!!!). So go ahead and check that out if you're wanting a new phone or if you want to hop out of the Apple train or you know... just a camera enthusiast! 

So what do you think?


Love,

Ilham Echenta (@ilhamechenta) was launched in November 2012 by fashion influencer and turban designer Echenta (@echenta). This lovely company sent me their latest hijab, the Aulia Hijab "Paisley", to review (they let me have the colour of my choice which is the sweetest thing a company could do, so 100pts to Ilham Echenta for that!)

This hijab comes in 5 colours--Light Corn, Almond Brown, Pastel Green, Classical White and Breezy Blue. I picked Breezy Blue because I find it difficult to stray away from blue scarves (when it comes to prints) for the life of me. It's true! My closet is filled with either plain white hijabs or blue printed ones! So anyway, the hijab comes with an inner scarf attached to it. Initially I thought to myself, "Oh no...". I'm a control freak! And I want to be able to adjust the length of the scarves at all times! But as I was putting it on, I was pleasantly surprised at how comfortable the built-in inner was (they sell basic inners too btw and I'm so tempted to try one out to see if they're equally as comfortable and able to hold the massive amount of hair on my head! For more information on that, click here!)


Playing around with the hijab and hey! it turned out alright as a turban too!

Flipping through their IG inspired me to test whether this hijab could also be worn as a turban. I'm not a turban wearer (I do want to give it a go though but I'm not sure how it would fit my square face, and I'm not ready to look at the mirror not looking as cool as Yuna) but I think... I thiiiiink, it could also pass of as a turban. Thankfully for those who find wearing a turban a hassle, Ilham Echenta also sells Instant Turbans

Okay back to wearing it as a hijab... this is how it looks like!




Hello dehydrated skin!



You can choose to show the inner like how their models wear it.

But I always prefer covering my inner scarf because I have a twohead. Not a 'Fourhead' like everyone else.

Pin both sides down.

Check out their website (www.ilhamechenta.com) and their IG (@ilhamechenta) if you're interested. I think you can purchase the Aulia Hijab and everything else they're selling on their website, but there is a shipping fee. They also sell a few of their stuff on FV, so do check that out here.

That's all from me! Have a good Monday, ya'll!

Disclaimer: This is a paid review. 



Love,

Getting Inspired by Ilham Echenta

Monday 3 October 2016

Ilham Echenta (@ilhamechenta) was launched in November 2012 by fashion influencer and turban designer Echenta (@echenta). This lovely company sent me their latest hijab, the Aulia Hijab "Paisley", to review (they let me have the colour of my choice which is the sweetest thing a company could do, so 100pts to Ilham Echenta for that!)

This hijab comes in 5 colours--Light Corn, Almond Brown, Pastel Green, Classical White and Breezy Blue. I picked Breezy Blue because I find it difficult to stray away from blue scarves (when it comes to prints) for the life of me. It's true! My closet is filled with either plain white hijabs or blue printed ones! So anyway, the hijab comes with an inner scarf attached to it. Initially I thought to myself, "Oh no...". I'm a control freak! And I want to be able to adjust the length of the scarves at all times! But as I was putting it on, I was pleasantly surprised at how comfortable the built-in inner was (they sell basic inners too btw and I'm so tempted to try one out to see if they're equally as comfortable and able to hold the massive amount of hair on my head! For more information on that, click here!)


Playing around with the hijab and hey! it turned out alright as a turban too!

Flipping through their IG inspired me to test whether this hijab could also be worn as a turban. I'm not a turban wearer (I do want to give it a go though but I'm not sure how it would fit my square face, and I'm not ready to look at the mirror not looking as cool as Yuna) but I think... I thiiiiink, it could also pass of as a turban. Thankfully for those who find wearing a turban a hassle, Ilham Echenta also sells Instant Turbans

Okay back to wearing it as a hijab... this is how it looks like!




Hello dehydrated skin!



You can choose to show the inner like how their models wear it.

But I always prefer covering my inner scarf because I have a twohead. Not a 'Fourhead' like everyone else.

Pin both sides down.

Check out their website (www.ilhamechenta.com) and their IG (@ilhamechenta) if you're interested. I think you can purchase the Aulia Hijab and everything else they're selling on their website, but there is a shipping fee. They also sell a few of their stuff on FV, so do check that out here.

That's all from me! Have a good Monday, ya'll!

Disclaimer: This is a paid review. 



Love,

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