Danielle Bernstein of We Wore What is one my favourite fashion bloggers. At 23, she has taken over the fashion world along with other influential bloggers who earn craploads of money per Instagram post. Her style is edgy. She rocks a lot of black and a lot of leather but what I love most about her is her ability to make eccentric look charming and cool. She’ll wear a pair of light wash skinnies and a grey sweater then BAM! — she layers it with a beautiful emerald green furry coat with metallic loafers. I adore her style. It’s so inspo. (HAH, first time using that word and I don’t even know if I’m using it right, or whether it’s still acceptable to use it. I cannot keep up with these jargons.)

Danielle also rocks pretty awesome shoes. There were these specific pair of shoes that managed to haunt me for a good couple of weeks. They were the Celine V Neck Pumps. When I saw them on Danielle, I just knew I needed to come up with a plan to sort out my cashflow i.e. starve myself for a few months. Luckily, fast fashion caught up (like they always do) and Zara started to churn out dupes (click here). Bless you, Inditex.







Okay, they're not perfect dupes but they'll have to do for now. I love food. The Zara ones are slightly bigger and the leather is not as soft as the Celine (I did get blisters on the first use but nothing that a good blister plaster can't fix). So far, I'm pretty satisfied with this purchase. It may even be my favourite purchase in the whole of March, and I bought a Kylie Lip Kit this month so that says a lot!


Wearing a black headscarf from @hijabelle_bn, Tweed top and Slingback Leather shoes from Zara, my favourite skinny jeans from 7 For All Mankind and a Mansur Gavriel Bucket Bag in Flamma.
Source: We Wore What
Source: We Wore What




On to the next fashion find, bunnies!

Love,

Fashion on a budget: Celine V Neck Pumps

Monday 28 March 2016

Danielle Bernstein of We Wore What is one my favourite fashion bloggers. At 23, she has taken over the fashion world along with other influential bloggers who earn craploads of money per Instagram post. Her style is edgy. She rocks a lot of black and a lot of leather but what I love most about her is her ability to make eccentric look charming and cool. She’ll wear a pair of light wash skinnies and a grey sweater then BAM! — she layers it with a beautiful emerald green furry coat with metallic loafers. I adore her style. It’s so inspo. (HAH, first time using that word and I don’t even know if I’m using it right, or whether it’s still acceptable to use it. I cannot keep up with these jargons.)

Danielle also rocks pretty awesome shoes. There were these specific pair of shoes that managed to haunt me for a good couple of weeks. They were the Celine V Neck Pumps. When I saw them on Danielle, I just knew I needed to come up with a plan to sort out my cashflow i.e. starve myself for a few months. Luckily, fast fashion caught up (like they always do) and Zara started to churn out dupes (click here). Bless you, Inditex.







Okay, they're not perfect dupes but they'll have to do for now. I love food. The Zara ones are slightly bigger and the leather is not as soft as the Celine (I did get blisters on the first use but nothing that a good blister plaster can't fix). So far, I'm pretty satisfied with this purchase. It may even be my favourite purchase in the whole of March, and I bought a Kylie Lip Kit this month so that says a lot!


Wearing a black headscarf from @hijabelle_bn, Tweed top and Slingback Leather shoes from Zara, my favourite skinny jeans from 7 For All Mankind and a Mansur Gavriel Bucket Bag in Flamma.
Source: We Wore What
Source: We Wore What




On to the next fashion find, bunnies!

Love,
I am a hopeless romantic. The kind with sentimental dreams that were built from scripts of cheesy and cliche romantic comedies. I wear my heart on my sleeve for everyone to see. I am in love with love and everything about it--the chase, the poetry and the feels. I feel a rush every time Meg Ryan says 'I wanted it to be you' on You've Got Mail or whenever the radio starts playing any old R&B song. My feels are pretty spot on. (Last week, I sang along to Tori Kelly on the highway like nobody's business and realised my eyes were closed at one point. Feels. Don't do that on the road though. But point is, FEELS.) 

Earlier this month, Mr. Lipstickmyname took me out to a surprise dinner for our 10-year anniversary. I tried to get it out of him for the entire week because I wanted to know where he was taking me so I could plan what to wear. I did NOT want to end up forced to walk on sand in suede heels (in case he planned for the beach)! That boy is full of surprises, I'm not even sure how I got this lucky! It was surprise after surprise after surprise. 

I thought we were eating at Zen--cause that's where we normally have our fancy dinners--but this time he directed me to the Pool Deck. And when I saw a beautifully decorated table with balloons, I'm pretty sure my smile was so wide my teeth could have made an escape. The food was amazing and the service was so lovely--it was perfect.

Our ten years have been nothing short of magical. There were ups and downs, but there is absolutely nothing that we can not handle. Here's to many more years, babe.

Took a photo before our bellies popped out of our clothing.
The warning card for the amount of food they were about to serve us.
Appetiser (I was full already after this btw).

Crispy Lemon Curd Millefeuille

I was pretty excited to wear my Self Portrait dress I have been eyeing on since forever. It was a perfect gift. Husband knows me well.

Don't you just love love?


Love,


Forever and ever, babe.

Monday 21 March 2016

I am a hopeless romantic. The kind with sentimental dreams that were built from scripts of cheesy and cliche romantic comedies. I wear my heart on my sleeve for everyone to see. I am in love with love and everything about it--the chase, the poetry and the feels. I feel a rush every time Meg Ryan says 'I wanted it to be you' on You've Got Mail or whenever the radio starts playing any old R&B song. My feels are pretty spot on. (Last week, I sang along to Tori Kelly on the highway like nobody's business and realised my eyes were closed at one point. Feels. Don't do that on the road though. But point is, FEELS.) 

Earlier this month, Mr. Lipstickmyname took me out to a surprise dinner for our 10-year anniversary. I tried to get it out of him for the entire week because I wanted to know where he was taking me so I could plan what to wear. I did NOT want to end up forced to walk on sand in suede heels (in case he planned for the beach)! That boy is full of surprises, I'm not even sure how I got this lucky! It was surprise after surprise after surprise. 

I thought we were eating at Zen--cause that's where we normally have our fancy dinners--but this time he directed me to the Pool Deck. And when I saw a beautifully decorated table with balloons, I'm pretty sure my smile was so wide my teeth could have made an escape. The food was amazing and the service was so lovely--it was perfect.

Our ten years have been nothing short of magical. There were ups and downs, but there is absolutely nothing that we can not handle. Here's to many more years, babe.

Took a photo before our bellies popped out of our clothing.
The warning card for the amount of food they were about to serve us.
Appetiser (I was full already after this btw).

Crispy Lemon Curd Millefeuille

I was pretty excited to wear my Self Portrait dress I have been eyeing on since forever. It was a perfect gift. Husband knows me well.

Don't you just love love?


Love,


This month has been pretty amazing, Alhamdulillah. I have been blessed with so many wonderful things--the launch of my blog and the response that came with it, my best friend's wedding, my 10-year anniversary with Mr. Lipstickmyname, and there are still a lot more to come before April, InshaAllah. (I am very excited for my Kuala Lumpur trip!)

One of the most humbling opportunities that knocked on my door was when I saw Naida Harun, the Head of Marketing and Sales from Love to Dress, in my inbox. The lovely people at LtD (THANK YOU!!!) were kind enough to send me a piece and I promise, my heart did all kinds of weird gymnastics and somersaults, because I could not believe what was happening. And then, this morning, my heart did the same thing again when the post office told me my package had arrived!

Love to Dress Spring/Summer 2016
I love LtD. Their abayas are so chic and flattering. I mean, come on, whatever Asma' Nasaruddin (@a.nasaruddin) is wearing, we want to wear it too. She, like her instagram grid, gives off this understated cool kinda vibe. Her style so minimal and clean yet effortless and sophisticated. It's no wonder that Love to Dress launched their Spring/Summer 2016 collection with classic pieces that range from tunics, trousers, long cardigans and blouses. The colour palette is very LtD--you got nudes, blacks, whites, but you also have your navy blues and dusty pinks in there. 


This collection is for you, the ones who appreciate comfort, versatility and the classics. - Asma' Nasaruddin
Wearing: Wrap Trousers in Navy 
Closer look at the Wrap Trousers
So my pick from the collection was the Wrap Trousers because you know I love it when my basics have a little bit of pizzazz. I initially wanted the ones in Nude (they look so pretty btw) but in the end I opted to go for the Navy for something different. I quickly grabbed it from the post office and wore it straight to lunch. Overall, I was quite happy with these babies. I absolutely love the fabric--the flow and the fact that my legs felt very comfortable in them. I think I can go a size smaller though (I was wearing a size S and I'm a UK 8). I could also possibly even go for the petite range but my heels are usually sky-high so I didn't really have a problem with the length.


Right now, I have my eyes on the relaxed-fit trousers. Hmm.

Check them out on Fashionvalet if you haven't already!


Love,




Love to Dress Spring/Summer 2016

Saturday 19 March 2016

This month has been pretty amazing, Alhamdulillah. I have been blessed with so many wonderful things--the launch of my blog and the response that came with it, my best friend's wedding, my 10-year anniversary with Mr. Lipstickmyname, and there are still a lot more to come before April, InshaAllah. (I am very excited for my Kuala Lumpur trip!)

One of the most humbling opportunities that knocked on my door was when I saw Naida Harun, the Head of Marketing and Sales from Love to Dress, in my inbox. The lovely people at LtD (THANK YOU!!!) were kind enough to send me a piece and I promise, my heart did all kinds of weird gymnastics and somersaults, because I could not believe what was happening. And then, this morning, my heart did the same thing again when the post office told me my package had arrived!

Love to Dress Spring/Summer 2016
I love LtD. Their abayas are so chic and flattering. I mean, come on, whatever Asma' Nasaruddin (@a.nasaruddin) is wearing, we want to wear it too. She, like her instagram grid, gives off this understated cool kinda vibe. Her style so minimal and clean yet effortless and sophisticated. It's no wonder that Love to Dress launched their Spring/Summer 2016 collection with classic pieces that range from tunics, trousers, long cardigans and blouses. The colour palette is very LtD--you got nudes, blacks, whites, but you also have your navy blues and dusty pinks in there. 


This collection is for you, the ones who appreciate comfort, versatility and the classics. - Asma' Nasaruddin
Wearing: Wrap Trousers in Navy 
Closer look at the Wrap Trousers
So my pick from the collection was the Wrap Trousers because you know I love it when my basics have a little bit of pizzazz. I initially wanted the ones in Nude (they look so pretty btw) but in the end I opted to go for the Navy for something different. I quickly grabbed it from the post office and wore it straight to lunch. Overall, I was quite happy with these babies. I absolutely love the fabric--the flow and the fact that my legs felt very comfortable in them. I think I can go a size smaller though (I was wearing a size S and I'm a UK 8). I could also possibly even go for the petite range but my heels are usually sky-high so I didn't really have a problem with the length.


Right now, I have my eyes on the relaxed-fit trousers. Hmm.

Check them out on Fashionvalet if you haven't already!


Love,




I received a care package from the beauties behind Hayaa Musfirah this week like they knew I needed some TLC. Hayaa Musfirah is the leading syarie business in Brunei providing network and encouragement for Muslimah who are in need of support on their Hijrah journey. When they contacted me, I was more than thrilled to be part of their movement to empower hijabistas.

The first thing I saw as I opened the beautifully wrapped box was a letter addressed to me. I squealed because who doesn't love a little bit of personalisation? These beauties really knew how to brighten up my day! On top of that, they picked out one of the happiest colours for me! I quickly tried it on and instantly loved the feel and the flow of the fabric. 


This sunshine of a number is the Hilda outerwear--one of their first successful designs. It's like an abaya with a twist! It zips up in the middle leaving just a perfect peekaboo from the waist down. I paired it up with a pair of jeans and the Blooming Peonies in Yellow which I got as a birthday gift from a very good friend, Chloe. (Thank you again, bubz! Love you!)






Check out Hayaa Musfirah (@hayaamusfirah) if you haven't already and they'll get your modest fashion needs sorted!

Love,

Hayaa Musfirah

Saturday 12 March 2016

I received a care package from the beauties behind Hayaa Musfirah this week like they knew I needed some TLC. Hayaa Musfirah is the leading syarie business in Brunei providing network and encouragement for Muslimah who are in need of support on their Hijrah journey. When they contacted me, I was more than thrilled to be part of their movement to empower hijabistas.

The first thing I saw as I opened the beautifully wrapped box was a letter addressed to me. I squealed because who doesn't love a little bit of personalisation? These beauties really knew how to brighten up my day! On top of that, they picked out one of the happiest colours for me! I quickly tried it on and instantly loved the feel and the flow of the fabric. 


This sunshine of a number is the Hilda outerwear--one of their first successful designs. It's like an abaya with a twist! It zips up in the middle leaving just a perfect peekaboo from the waist down. I paired it up with a pair of jeans and the Blooming Peonies in Yellow which I got as a birthday gift from a very good friend, Chloe. (Thank you again, bubz! Love you!)






Check out Hayaa Musfirah (@hayaamusfirah) if you haven't already and they'll get your modest fashion needs sorted!

Love,
Hi Weekend, you're late.

I thought this week would have left me unscathed but sadly, I have a very embarrassing story to tell with two scabbed knees to remind me of it. 

I was walking across the lobby of my office at the end of the day Thursday, literally radiating exuberance and joy because one of my best friends, Kayla, was about to get married and I couldn't handle the thought of seeing her in her wedding dress (and finally getting to put on my beautiful hot pink Adila Long number). Almost made it to the end, until my shoe decided to fail on me, and I slipped and landed on my poor knees (now scabbed and sore) whilst letting out a scream so loud as if I needed more attention from the hundreds (I exaggerate--I don't want to know the real number) of people who wanted to go home! My other bestie, Farhi, just stood there laughing at me--didn't even give me a hand. Thanks girl. I sat there for a good two seconds before I got on my feet and embarked on my longest walk of shame. Farhi eventually tried calming me down by saying that years from now it'll just be a hilarious memory, then an hour later she accidentally slammed a door on a poor old lady, and I stopped feeling bad for myself because I wasn't the one with the worst day anymore. (Poor old lady is fine if you were wondering).

The day ended perfectly though, because Kayla became a Mrs and she was incredibly beautiful.



Hijab and the City (We're all Carrie Bradshaw).
Wearing a custom-made dress from Adila Long (@adilalong) and a headscarf from Hijabelle (@hijabelle_bn).
Tulip and Lace
Super Farhi also picked Adila Long to dress her up. She looked ultra chic.

Alright then. Back to bridesmaid duties, folks. Be right back!


Love,



Army in Pink.

Hi Weekend, you're late.

I thought this week would have left me unscathed but sadly, I have a very embarrassing story to tell with two scabbed knees to remind me of it. 

I was walking across the lobby of my office at the end of the day Thursday, literally radiating exuberance and joy because one of my best friends, Kayla, was about to get married and I couldn't handle the thought of seeing her in her wedding dress (and finally getting to put on my beautiful hot pink Adila Long number). Almost made it to the end, until my shoe decided to fail on me, and I slipped and landed on my poor knees (now scabbed and sore) whilst letting out a scream so loud as if I needed more attention from the hundreds (I exaggerate--I don't want to know the real number) of people who wanted to go home! My other bestie, Farhi, just stood there laughing at me--didn't even give me a hand. Thanks girl. I sat there for a good two seconds before I got on my feet and embarked on my longest walk of shame. Farhi eventually tried calming me down by saying that years from now it'll just be a hilarious memory, then an hour later she accidentally slammed a door on a poor old lady, and I stopped feeling bad for myself because I wasn't the one with the worst day anymore. (Poor old lady is fine if you were wondering).

The day ended perfectly though, because Kayla became a Mrs and she was incredibly beautiful.



Hijab and the City (We're all Carrie Bradshaw).
Wearing a custom-made dress from Adila Long (@adilalong) and a headscarf from Hijabelle (@hijabelle_bn).
Tulip and Lace
Super Farhi also picked Adila Long to dress her up. She looked ultra chic.

Alright then. Back to bridesmaid duties, folks. Be right back!


Love,



Drove home from work as fast as I could to get ready to go to the opening of Melur. After a good shower and some make-up, I was out the door. When I arrived, I was pleasantly surprised by the vibe of the adorable store--it was like a warm hug from a Disney princess (what?). The air was fresh and smelled of sweet melons (I am not joking, I felt like I was in some kind of bubblegum factory! I really need to get that fragrance diffuser!). I walked around the room in awe--NOTHING beats the feeling of seeing new clothes on the rack. I was, and still am, blown away.


The yummy spread at the opening of Melur.


The beautiful owner, let's call her Charlotte, managed to answer a couple of questions I was dying to ask:

What inspired you to open up Melur?

I always knew that I wanted to have my own business.  But last year, I decided to venture into this industry. But the crazy thing is, I have no business or fashion background! My background is in Politics and International Relations, and I am a political animal! So I didn’t know how and where to start.

Today, at the height of the dot.com era, I noticed that online shopping was all evolving and we are more aware of upcoming designers, labels and all things that are beautiful.  At the same time, I realised that with an increasingly overwhelming choice of clothes, designers and stores, finding the clothes that suit you can be more stressful than joyful. This is where I think Brunei is lacking--a store that provides modern, good-quality pieces. I want M E L U R to be the preferred fashion brand retailer for modern, modest women who prefer fashionable and quality products. M E L U R was created to help women feel their best by providing modern and quality pieces with a high-end experience in-store. Women these days, especially us, want to live a modest but fashionable life, respecting our faith while still being able to express ourselves. We deserve to dress in a way that shows the world how unique we are. Everyone deserves the finest things in life and to have access to superb quality at every level.

Another factor that inspired me to start M E L U R was the never-ending support of my loved ones--my family, my friends and my colleagues. They’ve always been supportive of my crazy dreams! Sometimes I don’t know what I was thinking (when I started this)! I remember thinking to myself many times, 'Am I crazy for doing this? What am I doing?'. I could easily turn back and just let it be a dream. But they continued to support me. I am so lucky to have them!
What factors did you take into account when curating your pieces for the store? Eg. the designers, the clothes themselves, the colour, etc.

Azura Azwa Chloe Tops available in store.

I love all things that are beautiful! Who doesn’t, right? Hahah I look for designers that make beautiful pieces, and most importantly wearable pieces--something that you and me can wear effortlessly every day. I personally like to wear classic silhouettes with a modern twist or classic dress in fresh colours. I love colour--from pastels to bright colours. But most importantly, I also look for pieces and accessories that are desirable and are of high quality that can assist women in their own self-expression while still respecting their faith.
Describe the style of the clothes in your store or describe the style of the kind of women who will shop at your store. 

The style of clothing in the boutique--I would say a mix of everything! We have casual & chic but we also have formal wear. We have everything for everyone. In M E L U R, we believe in supporting women who respect their faith. We believe that they deserve to be loved and to feel great. We know she has many stories to tell and we want her to keep her adventurous spirit alive by reminding her of the travels she has been on. These are the kind of women.  M E L U R wants these women to feel that she is worthy of the finest things in life, which is why we offer superb pieces with superb customer experience.
I couldn't keep my hands off this Adila Long clutch.

Grab your Tulip Songket Skirt at Melur, girls!

Trying out Temujanji's Carnation Top.

Carnation Tops by Temujanji available in three colours.

Who is your fashion icon?

I love Jessica Alba’s style--her style is timeless, with an edge, and also fun! And I also love the style of Vivy Yusof of Fashionvalet. She makes dressing up look fun – and she looks so effortlessly pretty!


Are you excited as I am, fashion bunnies?

Love,



Melur

Saturday 5 March 2016

Drove home from work as fast as I could to get ready to go to the opening of Melur. After a good shower and some make-up, I was out the door. When I arrived, I was pleasantly surprised by the vibe of the adorable store--it was like a warm hug from a Disney princess (what?). The air was fresh and smelled of sweet melons (I am not joking, I felt like I was in some kind of bubblegum factory! I really need to get that fragrance diffuser!). I walked around the room in awe--NOTHING beats the feeling of seeing new clothes on the rack. I was, and still am, blown away.


The yummy spread at the opening of Melur.


The beautiful owner, let's call her Charlotte, managed to answer a couple of questions I was dying to ask:

What inspired you to open up Melur?

I always knew that I wanted to have my own business.  But last year, I decided to venture into this industry. But the crazy thing is, I have no business or fashion background! My background is in Politics and International Relations, and I am a political animal! So I didn’t know how and where to start.

Today, at the height of the dot.com era, I noticed that online shopping was all evolving and we are more aware of upcoming designers, labels and all things that are beautiful.  At the same time, I realised that with an increasingly overwhelming choice of clothes, designers and stores, finding the clothes that suit you can be more stressful than joyful. This is where I think Brunei is lacking--a store that provides modern, good-quality pieces. I want M E L U R to be the preferred fashion brand retailer for modern, modest women who prefer fashionable and quality products. M E L U R was created to help women feel their best by providing modern and quality pieces with a high-end experience in-store. Women these days, especially us, want to live a modest but fashionable life, respecting our faith while still being able to express ourselves. We deserve to dress in a way that shows the world how unique we are. Everyone deserves the finest things in life and to have access to superb quality at every level.

Another factor that inspired me to start M E L U R was the never-ending support of my loved ones--my family, my friends and my colleagues. They’ve always been supportive of my crazy dreams! Sometimes I don’t know what I was thinking (when I started this)! I remember thinking to myself many times, 'Am I crazy for doing this? What am I doing?'. I could easily turn back and just let it be a dream. But they continued to support me. I am so lucky to have them!
What factors did you take into account when curating your pieces for the store? Eg. the designers, the clothes themselves, the colour, etc.

Azura Azwa Chloe Tops available in store.

I love all things that are beautiful! Who doesn’t, right? Hahah I look for designers that make beautiful pieces, and most importantly wearable pieces--something that you and me can wear effortlessly every day. I personally like to wear classic silhouettes with a modern twist or classic dress in fresh colours. I love colour--from pastels to bright colours. But most importantly, I also look for pieces and accessories that are desirable and are of high quality that can assist women in their own self-expression while still respecting their faith.
Describe the style of the clothes in your store or describe the style of the kind of women who will shop at your store. 

The style of clothing in the boutique--I would say a mix of everything! We have casual & chic but we also have formal wear. We have everything for everyone. In M E L U R, we believe in supporting women who respect their faith. We believe that they deserve to be loved and to feel great. We know she has many stories to tell and we want her to keep her adventurous spirit alive by reminding her of the travels she has been on. These are the kind of women.  M E L U R wants these women to feel that she is worthy of the finest things in life, which is why we offer superb pieces with superb customer experience.
I couldn't keep my hands off this Adila Long clutch.

Grab your Tulip Songket Skirt at Melur, girls!

Trying out Temujanji's Carnation Top.

Carnation Tops by Temujanji available in three colours.

Who is your fashion icon?

I love Jessica Alba’s style--her style is timeless, with an edge, and also fun! And I also love the style of Vivy Yusof of Fashionvalet. She makes dressing up look fun – and she looks so effortlessly pretty!


Are you excited as I am, fashion bunnies?

Love,



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