Winter Overalls

As much as I enjoy traveling and being with my loved ones, I do get homesick rather quickly. The key is to keep yourself busy and stay distracted so that you’re making the most of your trip. Once I’m home however, I’m motivated to get back on track. I used to be lazy regarding unpacking, but the sooner you unpack the easier it is to be back in routine. What I look forward to the most is the cleanse. Hitting up the gym to rid as much of the vacation diet, cleaning the house, cooking for the next week or so, and even a haircut trim from all the sun damage and dehydration! Once I’ve accomplished all of this, I’m clean and back in my A game ready to plot my next move.  

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Top: I love layering with the classic black and white, it’s super easy. Like I said in my earlier posts, I can’t just leave it at black and white because it reminds me of a waitress at a restaurant way too much, so of course I added my pop color: the winter red. The collared white blouse is from Lord & Taylor that I found on sale almost a decade ago. The simplest way to layer is with a collared blouse— let that be your go-to. 

Bottoms: The corduroy overalls I bought this past summer front Aritzia and I’m so happy to be able to rock them again in the winter! I love the fact that it carries a cinched waist, which flatters my figure even more. If you’re outfit is too baggy, you need something to keep it all together and your best bet is a waist belt. 

Shoes: I’m wearing the pointy toe suede heels by Aquazurra.  

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Rejuvenate the Winter Wardrobe

So— here’s an awesome time to rejuvenate your winter wardrobe and get ahead of the fashion industry with my favorite picks! Don’t forget to tag me (if you’re public) once you rock it so I can share with everyone how you beautifully styled it — or if you’re private on Instagram then DM me with your picture! Wear it before any of the bloggers do by seeing this guide!

I know we just surpassed Black Friday and there will be probably upcoming Christmas sales, but I honestly think Nordstrom’s 60% off mark-down is one of the best sales you can find! Plus, the upcoming Christmas sales remain pricey just because they know you’re doing your last minute shopping and you have to buy something regardless.

I hope you enjoy it—XX Mariam Shibly. PS. I’m not receiving commission on any of the sales (in fact I rarely do), just trying to keep you guys ahead of the game with me!

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These pants look so comfortable and can be worn easily for casual and trendy wear. Dress it up with an all black look with a fitted black blouse (turtleneck or a lace blouse) and pair it with these pants along with a nice pair of heels—or dress it down with a pair of sneakers and or a loose fitted top.

I can’t express my love for comfortable basic tees enough. They’re completely understated and you can pair them with pretty much anything. I love this color and it’ll curate the cutest casual look with a pair of denim jeans, jogger pants, booties/sneakers. You can even dress it up by tucking it into chino pants/or any pants with a nice cut and booties.

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Most people aren’t fan of turtlenecks, so if this is you then an oversized turtleneck you’ll love! It’s not super fitted and is very comfortable so you’ll be able to rock the fit and look very chic! Pair it with a pair of cute pants and heels for a sophisticated trendy look or pair it with jogger pants and sneakers/booties for a casual look!

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Bring back color to your winter wardrobe with the perfect layering cardigan. This color works in all seasons, but will definitely be the perfect pop to your winter wardrobe! Pair it with white to keep it bright or a dull red to create a festive fall look. Denim will always look great along with a pair of black pants with a flattering cut!

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I love a flattering flare. These pants are perfect for your corporate or trendy wear. Dress these pants up with cute blouse and a nice pair of heels and/or booties — or dress this casual with a loose top and booties.

I love oversized sweaters with a beautiful neck, which flatters your collar bones and hides your gut. I love this color as well as in olive green. The fact that this oversized sweater hugs your wrists, brings out a flattering silhouette. This sweater is the perfect for the casual trendy look pair it with any pants, sneakers/booties and you’ll look trendier than ever. Minimalism is my favorite style.

Velvet tops automatically showcase a dressy look. What I love about this top is the butterfly cut, which is flattering and so comfortable to wear. I love this velvet top in the color blue and brown, it’s subtle and remains sophisticated. Pair it with jeans to bring a casual trendy look or over a high waisted pencil skirt and sneakers.

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I’m a sucker for sleek winter coats and will honestly curate a sophisticated look to your outfit whenever you step out. The color is soft and beautiful and will go with anything (especially with Asian skintones)! This coat is made of wool too so it’ll keep you pretty warm unlike many other fashionable coats.

This is a beautiful statement piece for winter. It can be dressed up casually with denim and sneakers/booties or it can be dressed up with a light colored shirt underneath (white, blush pink, camel, grey) and black pants with lace-up heeled boots!

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I love casual and loose fitting flattering necks. I own 5 tops similar to these in navy blue, black, and white. It’s almost obsessive. You can easily dress this down with a pair of cute denim jeans and sneakers/booties. Dress it up with colorful pants and tuck in the shirt. I love how it’s loose fitting, it’ll hide all your rolls and guts and make you look so chic!

Like I said, I’m a sucker for sophisticated coats. I actually ended up buying this because I LOVE a chic double breasted peacoat and I only own one in white. This color I’m hoping looks good on our skin tone, I’ll find out when it arrives— but it looks versatile and I love the neck!

I love this unique cut and the fact that it’s made of fleece—count me in! This uber chic cardigan is a one stop shop, you can wear it a tank, pair of jeans and booties for a casual look or dress it up with a turtleneck, dark denim and boots! I love this in the color burgundy or blush pink and yes I did purchase this one.

Oh my god yes, I love tops like these. You can wear it with any pants— jogger, pattern, wide leg, chino, dress pants, high waisted denim and skirts. The puff sleeves bring the chic and the scoop neck makes your silhouette more flattering than ever. Make it dressy depending on your shoes—heels or cute boots, and casual by sneakers and booties.

I already own this jacket in olive green and it’s always fun to pair with a basic tee underneath and denim jeans. You can dress it up or down depending on your shoes, cute booties/heels for a trendier look or sneakers for casual chic.

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Teddy coats are definitely a staple of this season. I’ve been reluctant on purchasing any just because it looks ‘too comfortable’ for my liking, but I came across this coat and the fact that it’s a midi coat, soft color and the cuts aren’t overbearing — this would be the teddy coat I’d rock. It looks sleek and very trendy!

I love the neck on this oversized sweater. There’s so many ways to wear it, you can wear it as a standard v-neck or bring it out on your shoulders as shown in the picture. I love how the sleeves are slightly puff, which makes it even trendier for an off the shoulder look! Dress it down with denim and booties or dress it up with black pants and heeled boots!

Are you interested in creating a cute street fit look, but not sure how? This is how I do it. I take casual tee’s, but with cuts that are very flattering so your street fit is still fitted. Pair this with black denim or jogger pants with a pair of sneakers (the more color on the sneakers the cooler the street fit) and you’re set!

French Connection is known for their beautiful cuts. Have you ever seen a sweater with such a flattering cut? It’s not bulky, has a funky, but sophisticated pattern and looks so comfortable! Dress it up with by creating a grayscale look with black denim and white sneakers.

I love this top. It’s so cute and chic. It’s obviously shorter than most, so I’d like to pair it with high waisted jeans (casual) or even better pattern, wide legged, colored or black chino pants to make it dressy.

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Emmett Crop Wide Leg Pants $70.40

I love wide leg pants especially when they have the right cut for waists, because that’s when it looks most flattering. These pants are perfect for the trendy casual look especially with sneakers and wear it a fitted top tucked in all the way or just in the front.

I love cropped hoodies. If I want it look super cropped, I won’t wear a tank underneath and pair it with a high wasted pants that have a flattering cut to really enhance the hour glass figure. If I want to bring a sporty look, I rock cropped hoodies with a long stretch tank over leggings or skinny jeans and a pair of sneakers as always.

The Festive Casual

It’s official, I love the holidays. Prior to motherhood, I used to view the holidays as merely time off. Holidays mean everything now, well almost. It’s taking a break from your mundane routine to finally get some time with your loved ones. Oh and top of that it’s not just some time, in our family it means non-stop chilling with each other until our bodies suffer from fatigue. We all realize we never have these moments anymore and to soak in every last moment. I even took 5 minute showers all weekend because I didn’t want to miss out on anything. Yes I suffer from major fomo especially when it comes to being with my loved ones. 

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Top: I bought this ribbed turtleneck 5 years ago from Zara. It’s super warm and comfortable and literally completes every chic look. I love the turtleneck so much I have one in black. Your winter wardrobe must include a turtle neck! Yes sometimes they can be uncomfortable, but they’re warm and make all your outfits look elegant. Go out and get some! Because turtle necks are already so bold, definitely purchase them in neutral colors— they’re much more versatile and easier to wear. 

Bottoms: I just purchased these beautiful red high waisted chino pants from Zara during the Black Friday sale. They literally came in the day I was about to leave my flight and I switched the jeans out for these babies. I’m so glad I did because they curate a festive look. This red is gorgeous in the fall and for casuals!  

Shoes: I’m wearing my beige Blondo booties. These are my FAVORITE booties ever! They’re comfortable, extremely easy to walk long distances in (if you ever need to), they’re water resistant AND they look good. If I didn’t own so many black booties already, I would’ve bought another pair in black as well.  

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Thanksgiving Fit

Each year as life gets busier, I look forward to family reunions and cherish occasions like Thanksgiving. It’s so hard to coordinate a weekend otherwise where everyone gets off, so then we have the holidays, and that’s why they are the best. Everyone busts out their soul food, plans to come down for at least a weekend and we all chill mad stop to compensate for the months time apart. As a mom, a wife, and friend, it’s so important to take the time to truly be with your loved ones. Take your food pics and outfit pics and then put your phone aside for the night. Enjoy because you never know when this can happen again. I’m so thankful for each day and for you guys! You have been my outlet to my life and I’ve gotten so many more new friends from this amazing social media community, so thank you and Happy Thanksgiving! 

Photography by Kiki Khan

Photography by Kiki Khan

Top: I love the fall colors and together they make a great pair. I’m wearing the black dotted tweed blazer and a yellow crinkled peplum top underneath both from Anthropologie. Since winter hit us hard, feel free to bring fall colors to your layers— it’s the best way to wear the season. 

Bottoms: I’m wearing my stretch black denim jeans by Zara. I enjoy these because they’re high waisted and keep your fat contained well. The only thing I don’t like are where the knee rips are, these jeans are catered for taller girls so the rips can be a little too low for me. I make it work, but it would be nice if I didn’t have to constantly adjust it.  

Shoes: Introducing my new babies to the family, maroon Malone Souliers. I love the fit of their shoes and they are unbelievably so comfortable! I’m obsessed with the funk in their style and I look forward to adding some more to my collection!  

Photography by Kiki Khan

Photography by Kiki Khan

The Pink Kimono

As soon as winter hits, we realize we need to get some sun to survive the season. Luckily our little pumpkin pie was turning one and we had to go see her down in Tampa! Florida is such an interesting state— the weather is perfect and it’s a whole another lifestyle. What touched me the most was that my relatives already had shoot locations around their place down and even told me when golden hour was. How sweet right? Now that’s what you call support.  

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Top: I’m wearing this cute pink kimono from Muslima Chic. I paired it with a white sleeveless crinkled top from Anthropologie to keep the bright and bubbly look. I love this cute pink kimono, it’s so soft and fitted perfectly. The bubble puffy sleeves are the reason why I purchased this kimono. So unique and cute! 

Bottoms: I’m wearing my beige jeggings from Uniqlo that I purchased a while back. They last a while and they’re super tight. I actually haven’t worn these since I delivered so the tightness was very new to me haha. I love my comfort! 

Shoes: I’m wearing my new babies by Gianvito Rossi. They’re brown suede with silver studs, perfect for the fall and spring.  

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The Chic White and Black Abaya

In a creative career, staying creative is the hardest part. It takes a lot of time, hard work and passion to create an original idea. I love it when I finally have something so unique to share with you all. The only thing that bothers me is that the creative industry is competitive. Of course the moment you think of an original idea, someone is going to thrive off of it and make it of their own. It’s flattering to be imitated no doubt, but it’s insulting when they try to take full credit. I encourage support and 100% credibility, but please know when you are actually credible to speak on a subject whether it’s mental health or fitness, if you’re not suited to speak about this— then don’t. I know it’s “new content” for you, but you’re actually doing more damage then good. Get some experience and gain credibility so that your followers aren’t suffering. That’s all for my rant today.

Photography by Rari Filmz

Photography by Rari Filmz

Abaya: This chic abaya is from Anna Hariri. I love white abayas, they look so beautifully chic I can’t resist owning one. This abaya was a little looser when I received it, so I got it tailored to fit better. It keeps you pretty warm, so this abaya works perfectly in the chilly seasons. It also has a pretty long slit in the front, so for my modest girls you can wear jeans or leggings underneath! White and black is the classic piece, and it’s done so elegantly with the black outline.  This abaya can work for any dressy occasion. I wore it to a baby shower, but I can see myself wearing it a professional work event as well and that’s something I can’t do too often with an abaya. 

Jewelry: I’m wearing my signature name necklace from Nominal. I believe they no longer make the signature necklace, but they even have cuter fonts to write your name in. Use MARIAM15 for $ off your purchase. 

Purse: I took out my single flap caviar leather Chanel purse to complete the elegant and classy look.  

Shoes: I’m wearing the pointy toe black suede heels by Aquazarra. They’re comfortable and cute especially if you’re exposing your ankles.  

Photography by Rari Filmz

Photography by Rari Filmz

The Classy Holiday Dress

I love using instagram as a platform to share my ideas, promote the good and to empower one another. In the beginning it felt like I could only stick with fashion and travel, because there wasn’t much interest in any other topic. However, as I’ve been growing in this field of an influencer, I think it’s more vital to share our lifestyle choices and to discuss our struggles. It’s important to remind ourselves no one is perfect, especially at at time when life can be so difficult and it’s not getting any easier in this world. I’m proud that you guys are engaging with this content, it makes me feel a lot better about the kind of people that follow me and I would love to continue doing so, thank you!

Photography by Kiki Khan

Photography by Kiki Khan

Dress: Isn’t this the cutest plaid dress? I got it from Anthropologie recently. Plaid can easily get pretty boring, but I loved the fact that this plaid dress had hints of color in it to keep it pretty and trendy. I channeled my inner Blair Waldorf and brought out the chunky pearls, honestly I’m just missing the headband, but that’s a little too much for today’s fashion. I love the wide neck on this dress, it makes you look so elegant and delicate.

Bottoms: I paired this beautiful dress as I would with any short dresses with my black warm tights. In the winter wearing tights with dresses, looks so professional and chic! I love it. Being modest in the winter, definitely has its fashion perks.

Purse: For any corporate or chic look, I always complete the style with my single flap caviar leather purse by Chanel. It's one of my best investments.

Shoes: With tights, it’s hard to pair any open toed shoes with dresses. I usually wear booties with tights and I love these BCBG pointy toed suede boots, because they are the classiest booties I own. They’re not super comfortable, but I love their style, which is hard to come by in most booties.

Photography by Kiki Khan

Photography by Kiki Khan

Suede Jackets

I was getting comfortable being a caretaker and stay at home mom. I almost forgot how stressful these cold months can be. Work ramping up for everyone, schools starting, sicknesses spreading, barely seeing my friends and this weather just taking a toll on us. I know it’s good to take one hour of time to yourself for your wellness. These last few weeks that one hour has been hard to come by. I’m going to try all your recommendations for relaxing, my stress levels have been above and beyond. So thank you for sharing, I’m so excited for a whole new therapeutic experience!

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Top:  Suede jackets are amazing for the fall. Unfortunately Chicago has skipped straight to winter, but there have been a few nice days where you can pull off a suede jacket. They keep you warm and still light enough to wear with an outfit indoors. I bought this forest green jacket from Zara last year. Forest green is a great color to have  in your cardigans for layering. I decided to pair it with a black top just to make it pop more for the winter. White is really cute too! 

Bottoms: I’m wearing my favorite pair of high waisted jeans by Forever 21. They’re super comfortable and stretch when you need them to. They shrink once you wash them so you’re back to the super tight fit once they’re out of the dryer. As a mom, high waisted jeans are our savior. They’re perfect to pair with any fitted tops to keep your tummy looking slender! 

Shoes: I love these grey suede Blondos from Nordstrom. They’re uber comfortable so I’ve been able to walk around in the city with these babies on. They’re cute to dress up with or trendy casual. Best part is that they’re one of the very few that are water repellent, which is so important for the Chicago climate.

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The Casual All Black

When you see your loved ones struggling, it honestly hurts and you do the best you can to help them, but with every step of success you’re thrilled for them and that’s how it should be. See your friends as your loved ones, with your happiness together both you and your friends will excel! Love your boos and for the fake friends out there, you’ll only ever get as much as you give— it’s the universal truth.  

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Top:  I bought this sheer black button down from Forever21 a while ago. I have many long sleeve black tops for this season and they always come in handy. If you see a top like this, buy it! It’ll come through on your all black outfits or pairing it with any bottom. I love it.

Bottoms: I’m wearing the pleated waist black bottoms from Zara. They’re high waisted so it’s easy to tuck in any top and then you can see the pleats right at the waist. I love wearing these bottoms with any color. They’re comfortable and they shape your figure nicely.

Shoes: I’m wearing my slip on Converses. Even though they get dirty, the white still remains to pretty white and they’re comfortable for short walks.

Purse:  I bought this leather purse on sale from HomeGoods. It was only $30 and has the best compartment space. This is my travel purse and HomeGoods has it all ladies.

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The Season’s Gingham

There’s that stale moment in your life, where you may feel like life is stagnant and your efforts seem meaningless. Believe it or not, it’s a good moment to encounter once in a while. It helps you reevaluate your efforts and redirect your focus. When you’re too busy working hard, you don’t have to worry about the success.

Photography by Kiki Khan

Photography by Kiki Khan

Top: I bought this black gingham top from the Zara sale last year. Gingham always makes an appearance during the Fall season, but you’ll be seeing it around more often this season since this print is THE trend. Grab yourself some gingham if you haven’t already, I’m pretty sure I’ve seen this print on every piece possible whether it’s pants, tops, blazers, even coats. Also, I’m a huge fan of the puff peasant sleeves, they’ll always bring back historic elegance to your outfit and will always be in fashion.

Bottoms: I am wearing the comfiest denim by Express. I got it on sale when it was buy one get one free and it was totally worth it. They’re high waisted so they hide the mama fat and they’re super soft. I like the faded wash on black denim to make it more casual. 

Jewelry: I love these beautiful druzy drop earrings by Rida Chhotani. They’re gorgeous and pair perfectly with trendy chic casuals, formals and especially for Pakistani couture. 

Purse: You bet one of my favorite investments make a ton of appearances this season. A classic Chanel bag will always go far in the darker seasons. This is the single flap caviar leather piece. 

Shoes: I bought these beautiful black plexi glass Pigalles from Louboutins a couple years ago. I love how the transparency makes your feet look so delicate. They aren’t the most comfortable pair of shoes, but they’re tolerable for a dinner or a little social outing. 

Photography by Kiki Khan

Photography by Kiki Khan

Photography by Kiki Khan

Photography by Kiki Khan

The White Wedding Dress Dream - Macy's Sponsored

I was blessed with the opportunity to finally wear a white wedding gown. Living in America and being a hybrid of many cultures, that’s one thing I had yet to experience until now. Although I am completely aware and familiar of what it takes to get a South Asian bride ready, I had no idea what happens for American brides. I was pleasantly surprised to find such a seamless process at Macy’s when it comes to finding the most perfect dress for your special day! They took me to their bridal salon, which had many beautifully decorated fitting rooms (that matched perfectly to what you see in movies). I slipped on the dress and they had it fitted on me perfectly. To make it more fun, the bridal salon manager asked if I wanted to pair it with a tiara. I was in shock, I’ve never worn a tiara or a white dress and INSTANTLY I felt like a princess that a little girl dreams of. I was so glad my husband (and my son haha) was there to witness this unique moment in my life.

Dress by Demetrios.

Dress by Demetrios.

Macy’s has a huge variety of the most gorgeous bridal samples and the best part is that they’re on sale! I always assumed bridal couture was very expensive, but in comparison to our bridal wear — the price is very reasonable! You can find some of these gorgeous samples for as little as $300 and the most being $500. Can you believe that? It’s so exciting to see. Honestly, even though I am not having another wedding — I’d love to buy one just for shoots or a future anniversary event. Wouldn’t that be so much fun? It costs the same as our formal wear, so why not! Here are the details to the sale:

Location:

Macy’s on State Street, Chicago IL

7th Floor - Narcissus Room

Bridal Sample Sale Dates:

Friday, October 13th @ 10 am - 6 pm

&

Saturday, October 14th @ 11 am - 5 pm

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My Powersuit

What I love about fashion is that anything goes. Sure if it’s a higher end brand, you might have a better chance of it looking amazing, but it’s all up to you. If you love fashion, you probably have all the essentials in your closet already and that’s perfect! Make the most of your closet as fashion clearly repeats itself, so dig through and pair the old with the new — it’ll be trendier than ever and that’s what I love about fashion. 

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Top: I bought this light grey plaid blazer from Banana Republic. I actually got it a couple years back, but I can vouch that Banana Republic jackets and blazers are timeless. I’ve been easily able to pair this beautiful blazer to a look at least once a year. I decided to wear it with my vanilla crew neck crop top from Zara to keep it simple. I wanted to focus on the powersuit aspect, which means matching my blazer with my bottoms.

Bottoms: I love Express jeans and got these high waisted Mom jeans on sale. They’re super comfortable and honestly the perfect jeans to wear with crop tops. Mom jeans do make your hips look wider and sometimes I’m not feeling the curvy look, so that’s why I paired it with my matching blazer and turned it into a power suit. Fashion assembly at its finest!

Purse: You’ll be seeing one of my favorite investments this season quite often, it’s the Chanel cavier leather single flap. Perfect to complete your chic look and so worth the investment. I personally believe every girl should own a Chanel purse when she gets the opportunity to!

Shoes: I love my BCBG Maxazria black suede booties. They’re pointy at the top, which makes them perfect for elegant fall and winter looks. Stay tuned for more looks with these gems.

Jewelry:  I’m wearing a statement necklace that I purchased from Urban Outfitters a couple years ago. Statement necklaces are perfect to wear with blazers and the perfect way to add a pop of color.

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Photography by Abdullah Syed

Photography by Abdullah Syed

In Between Weather

There’s always going to be comments here and there from people who will try to bring you down. It’s disheaftening, but don’t let it get to you! You know you’re doing well when the haters gotta hate. Cheers!

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Top: I got this beautiful pink lace crop top from Zara. It’s such a gorgeous top, with a beautiful crop knotted. I’ve actually been wanting to wear this top all summer, but couldn’t find the perfect occasion. You can easily dress up this crop top bt pairing it with a skirt or keep it casual like I did and pairing it palazzo pants. 

Bottoms: I bought these navy blue palazzo pants ages ago from Zara. They’ve come in handy especially when it’s hot weather and you still want to wear dark tones. I highly recommend investing in a dark pair of palazzo pants, especially since wide legged pants are now trending.  

Jewelry: I’m wearing the Pakistan necklace and gold bangle with Arabic scripture by NominalDon’t forget to use my promo code, MARIAM15 for 15% off your purchase. Then I’m also wearing my favorite and only rose gold watch by Cluse

Shoes: I’m wearing these coral red sandals by Report. I snagged them at Nordstrom Rack a while ago, but it’s always great to have a pop of color on your shoes. It’s easier to pair with than you think!  

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The Comfiest Mom Jeans

LA is the most picturesque city I’ve seen, in terms of man made beauty, otherwise it’s pretty grungy and dirty. Still, I love the simplicity and rustic decor that this city abides by. Every corner is perfect for a picture and our air b&b had the cutest courtyard ever. How long do you think the rustic modern trend will last?

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Top: I’m wearing this black boat neck top from Zara. I got it on sale from the $10 rack and it’s my favorite sleeveless top. It’s also a crop top, so it works perfectly with high waisted outfits. I bought this sheer white kimono from Urban Outfitters, almost a decade ago. It’s my favorite kimono and definitely most expensive, but so worth it. I use it every spring and summer. If you see anything similar to this, buy one—it’s perfect for pairing it with sleeveless tops and dresses in warm weather. Check out the sales going on especially on spring and summer wear because it’ll help you so much when it comes to layering, even in the winter!

Bottoms:  I got the best mom jeans ever from Express. I got actually this pair and another pair on their BUY ONE GET ONE FREE offer. Subscribe to their list to be on the lookout for future promotions— it’s so helpful. These jeans flare at the bottom with of course a little bit of distress work on the denim. Denims are my favorite investments, whether it’s expensive or not, jeans last me forever (unless my size changes hehe). I’ve been finding any excuse to wear these babies and finally got a chance in LA’s beautiful weather. You’ll be seeing more of these jeans throughout this season. Get yourself a pair of Mom jeans they’ll always be trending. 

 Shoes: I’m wearing my buckle slides that I got from the Zara sale. They’re cute for casual outfits, but so uncomfortable. I wouldn’t recommend walking for a long time in these shoes at all.

Purse: I apologize for not adding this, so many of you guys have been asking me where I got this bag from and here’s the drum roll... HOME GOODS! Yes, I was in a rush shopping for a functional travel bag and found this! It was only $30 too. It has straps that you can wear as a backpack, which I use 100% especially during travel. A large zip pocket to contain everything, and 3 sections within that large zip pocket. These purse sections in the department stores are underrated and Homegoods definitely sells the better quality of products.  Unfortunately this isn’t an online store, so it’s what you can find there—but definitely check out their leather goods section!

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Simply Elegant

Every girl, every woman and especially every mom needs to take a trip with her girls. Being able to sit back and relax, to vent and laugh with your favorites is necessity especially when you don’t have to go back home and take care of everyone else. You have to take care of yourself too! Give yourself a weekend a trip with your girls, or even a day trip— you’ll come back happier than ever and best part of all, rejuvenated! Do it.

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Dress: I bought this navy blue dress from the H&M sale recently with the intention of layering for the fall. The dress is obviously so cute alone so it came in handy for a girl’s night in LA. Now is a good time to hit up those sale racks to grab the best attire for layering and timeless pieces. The more simple the better, don’t miss out!

Shoes: I’m wearing the plexi glass navy toe by Gianvito Rossi. If you haven’t been able to tell these are my favorite shoes of the season. They’re comfortable and always make your outfit look so elegant!

Jewelry: Delicate jewelry is the best for elegant outfits so I decided to wear my m initial necklace by Wistic Jewelry. Use the promo code WKARW2CW for 10% off your purchase. I’m wearing my rosegold Cluse watch to match.

Purse: I apologize for not adding this, so many of you guys have been asking me where I got this bag from and here’s the drum roll... HOME GOODS! Yes, I was in a rush shopping for a functional travel bag and found this! It was only $30 too. It has straps that you can wear as a backpack, which I use 100% especially during travel. A large zip pocket to contain everything, and 3 sections within that large zip pocket. These purse sections in the department stores are underrated and Homegoods definitely sells the better quality of products.  Unfortunately this isn’t an online store, so it’s what you can find there—but definitely check out their leather goods section!

The Floral Cardigan is Back!

These days everyone’s pretty transparent, if you talk up a whole storm, but fail to perform most of it—you’re fake. Just accept the fact that relationship probably won’t last long. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a difference between acquaintances and friendships. If you want to be a friend, it’s a lot of work. You have to keep in touch and initiate hangs out in person every so often. So accept the label, are you either acquaintances or friends? No need to try to hustle more for a friendship and end up looking fake. Am I speaking from experience? I’m just saying how I feel these days. There’s a lot of friendships to re-evaluate if you’d like to stay invested or not, just be honest about it! Speaking of, all my best friends will be officially out of the country by next month, thank god for social media and airplanes. 

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Top: I love these sleeveless v neck tops from the Zara sale, and yes I found them on the $10 rack. Don’t say goodbye to yellow yet, because fall is welcoming it’s new shade, a deep mustard yellow. You’ll be seeing this shade amongst forest green, burgundy and maroons. I paired this beautiful yellow with my favorite sheer floral cardigan! It’s such an elegant cardigan from Zara as well. I love the class it brings to your outfits, invest in a sheer kimono if you can.  Here’s another look on how I wore the cardigan.

Bottoms: I’m wearing my high waisted distressed skinnies by Forever 21. I try to avoid Forever jeans because of the fit sometimes can be awkward, but I can’t help that they have such awesome taste in denim. The moment these babies are out of the dryer all tight and snug, is the best time to put them on.  

Shoes: I’m wearing these buckle slide on sandals by Zara. They were from the sale this past summer (almost as everything else was).  

Jewelry: I’m wearing a delicate initial pendent by Wistic Jewelry, use the promo code WKARW2CW for 10% off. I love layering necklaces so I decided to pair it with my Pakistan necklace by Nominal. I’m also wearing the beautiful gold bangle with Arabic scripture by Nominal. Use MARIAM15 for 15% off your Nominal purchase. Last, but not least I’m wearing my favorite rose gold Cluse watch. 

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The Cutest Polka Dot Dress

It’s hard to change bad habits, but if you are sincere about it— you’ll make that change. On average it takes two months to develop a habit, which means you can probably expect to see results at earliest, two months. It’s worth making the effort, because yeah old habits die hard — but new habits lead to change and growth. 

Photography by Kiki Khan

Photography by Kiki Khan

Dress: I love this cute polka dot dress by Belle Muse. I stray away from polka dots, but the smaller the dots and more neutral the colors, the cuter it looks! This beautiful white sheer creates the most chic and classy look. It’s the perfect dress to wear to a cute lunch party or a shower. 

Shoes: I decided to add a pop of color through my shoes, the colorful Manolo Blahniqs. To complete the pop of color, I was missing my matching navy blue clutch. Next time!  

Photography by Kiki Khan

Photography by Kiki Khan

Photography by Kiki Khan

Photography by Kiki Khan

Back To Fall - The Garment Creative

I always wondered if I had what it takes to be a designer just because I love clothes that much! The Garment Creative was able to fulfill the designing experience for me! In fact, I would’ve felt so overwhelmed without them. They help you choose the best fabrics and provide you the most beautiful templates for you to bounce ideas off of. I had such a wonderful experience, I’m dying to go back. Look how amazing my top turned out, it’s made of French cotton! I want to make some more blouses to see if I do have the eye and this experience is perfect for a girls night out!  

Top: I designed this beautiful white dress shirt at The Garment Creative with the help of their fashionable advisers. I love wearing basics, especially corporate basics and thought it would be even more fun to wear with a twist! Just because white gets boring, very rarely can you wear it alone without looking like staff at a restaurant you need to add color to it. I decided to add my unbuttoned sweater vest to bring in the fall colors and complete my look. 

Bottoms: I’m wearing my favorite distressed jeans that I bought from Forever 21 decades ago. Over time, as the tears get worse my jeans look better. It’s a win win situation for me. Now who walks around in corporate attire for fun? I definitely won’t. I love adding casual attire to make it more trendy as well as being able to wear it anytime outside the office!  

Purse: I used to rock Celine to work almost everyday. She could fit everything, but eventually she got too heavy and I was carrying around a lot of unnecessary junk. I will forever have a soft spot for her, she’s been a great investment and I absolutely love neutrals with blue.  

Shoes: I’m wearing my black lace up Aquazarra heels. I love the funk that Aquazarra brings, it’s a little bit of basics but with a little bit of fun and so entertaining.  

Brunch Statements

With the start of Fall, everyone’s already kicking back into the school or work grind. Summer was lit, but now it’s time to get down to business. I’m excited for the work that goes down these colder months. BTW, if you haven’t noticed I’ve been working on a little something and I cannot wait to officially announce this winter iA! 

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Top: I love this comfy statement tee by 1434. It says Chicago in Arabic. I love repping apparel that shows a little bit of who I am. The black and white makes it easy to pair with any color and you can bet basic tees in all different forms will definitely be making a come back this season. 

Bottoms: I’m wearing these nude pink trousers by Zara. I got them ages ago and they’ve been amazing for the spring and fall seasons. I love this neutral color, it blends in perfectly into fall. So grab this color if you don’t own it yet because it will definitely come in handy.  

Shoes: I’m wearing these grey suede heels by Sam Edelman. The chunky heels create the perfect casual look as well as the best heels to walk around in. Light grey is perfect for fall and spring, but best suited for fall.  

 

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The Daring Street Fit

I’m not ready to say goodbye to summer yet, but I am secretly anxious to bust out fall fashion. Fall has slowly become one of my favorite seasons especially being a mom it’s much easier to be out in chilly weather with layers on than the sun beating down on you as your chasing your kid. I can’t wait to show you guys what I’ve got in mind for fall! 

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Top: This beautiful fuschia top is from the Zara sale. Guess exactly which rack? Yup the $10 rack. I’m telling you those racks have serious hidden gems. Although it’s sleeveless, it was too beautiful to refuse. This sleeveless tank can go with absolutely anything. So pairing this top with these pants of course brings out a casual look and I had to complete this street fit with my denim jacket by Seek Refuge. It’s the perfect amount of grunge for street wear.

Bottoms: These wide legged khakis are from Aritzia that I purchased a month or two ago. For my fashion lovers, do you ever buy things and then keep them in mind until you find the perfect top to go with it? I absolutely adore these khaki pants from Aritzia and I wanted to bring the best out of them by pairing it with a beautiful top. I was so excited about this outfit and then my Seek Refuge denim jacket happened to come in the mail and fully completed the outfit.

Shoes: I just bought these beautiful denim plexi heels by Gianvito Rossi. There was a price reduction on these gems and I immediately snagged them. I love the elegant look this designer brings to your feet. I had to dress up my street fit since I was going to a dinner, but if I wanted to be more casual I could’ve rocked a pair of white kicks.   

Photo by Adam Photography
Photo by Adam Photography

The Black High Low - Muslima Chic Sponsored

Now more than ever, I’ve been getting discouraged from Instagram BY Instagram. Can you believe that you put endless hours of work coming up with new ideas and working with other creative ideas only to be ignored by Instagram itself? Since when does Instagram need rules, why are they becoming notoriously difficult for trying to succeed on their platform? It’s unfair for work that we do to be hidden just because we use a broken hashtag. I’m so disappointed these days, but I still receive much love from you guys so I am not giving up. 

Photography by Rari Filmz

Photography by Rari Filmz

Top: I’m wearing the black high low top by Muslima Chic. I love high low tops, especially for modest wear. It creates a chic and elegant look. The high is where you can have fun with your pants and the back is where the elegance gracefully hides your one of your blessed features. Muslima Chic has done an amazing job infusing Eastern wear into our Western trendy wear. The top is so versatile you can pull off any look with it! 

Bottoms: I’ve decided to give full attention to the top by pairing it with a pair of your regular black leggings. It’s a great casual look for a hot summer and yet you still look very chic without exposing too much skin. If you want to dress it up a bit more, pair it with faux leather leggings, slightly distressed denim, or a pair of black skinnies and heels. If you want to turn this into a more Southasian look, combine it with black straight pants that have work on the bottom.  

Photography by Rari Filmz

Photography by Rari Filmz

Photography by Rari Filmz

Photography by Rari Filmz

The Pink Sari

So my second Hindu wedding happened this summer and hopefully not my last. Hindu weddings are so much fun! Yes they consist of a lot of events, but each event is so different. There's so much structure to each event and it's constantly all an entertaining show. It almost feels like I'm watching a Bollywood movie. What I admire the most is how happy everyone is for the bride and groom. The parents are dancing and rejoicing, everyone is celebrating and cracking jokes. It was an awesome vibe to be a part of. I wish this attribute was something more of our weddings had. Happiness, our weddings can be quite boring to be frank. It's very sad and serious, the guests are more interested in the food than the bride and groom, and the most dreadful characteristic of all, everyone is competing against each other. Who had better wedding decor? Who was the designer of the bride's outfit? Where is the food catered from? Seriously, these little details of weddings shouldn't be what majority is concerned about, it should be focused on celebrating the partnership of two people that you love.

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Top: I got this beautiful beige golden lace blouse made in Pakistan. I've got a few of these made in different colors so that they can match with any sari pretty well. I highly suggest you do the same on your next trip!

Sari: I love this peachy pink French chiffon. It was worth all the fabric and definitely getting it pleated before-hand to make it fairly easy to wear a sari. I still struggle with the sari quite often, but slowly I'm improving. Practice makes perfect. Peach colors are beautiful for spring and summer. I decided to wear this lovely color as one of my goodbyes to summer wear.

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The Soft Yellow - Muslima Chic

Prepping for fall is the only benefit to summer ending. We might not have summer dress weather, but we have the best color palette for wardrobe. This fall get a head start by purchasing soft, yet still bright colors. 

Photography by Rari Films

Photography by Rari Films

Top: I love this soft yellow peplum top by Muslima Chic. It’s the perfect fusion of Pakistani and Western fashion for the spring and summer! The pearls create a very cute and chic look, which I personally adore. Besides this beautiful cut, this top is amazing in harsh heat! Wearing long sleeves is difficult in the summer, but this fabric makes it easy. I love it and this is my favorite top from Muslima Chic’s new collection. 

Bottoms: I wore my distressed white skinnies from Forever21 with this top to bring out the most summery look. I love how versatile this top is because it will literally look good on any pair of pants! Denim jeans will make it more casual and you can transform into a complete Pakistani look by adding any trouser or pants. 

Photography by Rari Films

Photography by Rari Films

Photography by Rari Films

Photography by Rari Films

Silver Pink Tones

As life goes on, is it just me or is it harder to meet with your friends? Slowly everyone becomes SO busy and social media keeps us connected, which is great—but it also takes away from actually meeting up. Everyone’s less inclined too because we are well aware of each other’s lives, but hanging out is nothing in comparison. I really miss those days, I’ve been bothering my friends so we can make an effort. If you feel the same, don’t give in to time. Fight for it, you won’t regret it. 

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Top: I’m wearing this beautiful tunic by Kiran Faisal. I love the tones in this top, blush nudes with silver is the perfect elegant look. I’ve been waiting to wear this top since October 2017, basically since my fashion show because that’s when I was gifted this beauty. Can you see that almost a year and half later, this top is still trending and so chic? These are the kind of gems you hold onto in your closet.

Bottoms: I’m wearing these cropped white trousers from Daman in Dolmen Mall, Karachi. I love these cute cropped pants, they make any top look so chic and they’re so flattering.  

Purse: As you can tell blush pinks are one of my favorite colors so I invested in a little Prada handbag. So cute and this bag has been through a lot with me. 

Shoes: Same color, just a different form. I’m wearing the nude pink Pigalles by Louboutin. You need a pair of these in this color!  

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