Blighty & Braderie A/W Lookbook

Hi everyone! Two Sundays back, I got to experience a photoshoot with Warwick Vintage & Up-cycling Society. Warwick Vintage & Up-cycling  was founded recently by a lovely group of individuals who's passionate about vintage style, history, shopping ethically and living sustainably! What's not to love? Last month, Warwick Vintage & Up-cycling held their very own Autumn Photoshoot featuring pre loved goods from Leamington Spa's very own vintage shops Blighty and Braderie. I got to wear this lovely red blouse - which looked as good as new I tell you! We paired it up with a midi skirt which had these gorgeous flower pattern all over. Angela, our stylist and photographer, had my hair on a braided up-do. This is a classic look, that is really perfect for anything. Be it a first date, going out with friends, I would even wear this to uni - just because! It is effortless and bold because of the strong red that contrasts perfectly with the whites and streaks of blues in the skirt. I wore this with my Vagabonds.

Here are some photos by the every so lovely Angela Gui.

Photography and Styled by Angela Gui // Top - Braderie // Skirt - Blighty Bazaar

hotography and Styled by Angela Gui // Top - Braderie // Skirt - Blighty Bazaar

hotography and Styled by Angela Gui // Top - Braderie // Skirt - Blighty Bazaar

hotography and Styled by Angela Gui // Top - Braderie // Skirt - Blighty Bazaar

hotography and Styled by Angela Gui // Top - Braderie // Skirt - Blighty Bazaar

I met our photographer, Angela at the set of LINE's October B&W Photoshoot. The first thing that caught my eye was her amazing leather camera bag. She is also breathtakingly beautiful herself really! I've always loved the vintage look. She was and is always on point from her hair to her shoes. She's definitely my vintage style inspiration. We got to chat about blogging and her photography. You can catch up with her on her instagram @anieg_.

I've still got two major deadlines to catch up with. This Friday is my Envi lab report and next week I have a poster presentation to deliver! I can't wait to get some free time to firstly get on revision for my finals and secondly, I've been dying to do more blogging! Hoping to venture into vintage and thrift shopping one day! Very excited! I have so much I would love to do!

With Love,

Ainul xx

LINE October: B&W Photoshoot

Hi everyone! Last month, I had the privilege of getting involved with LINE's October Photoshoot! For those of you who do not know, let me introduce you to LINE! 

LINE is a fashion collective society in Warwick University. It is an independent community that is in collaboration with Warwick University's Fashion And Arts Society. This year's theme B&W Photoshoot is in collaboration with Warwick Uni's U.N.I.C.E.F to spread awareness for U.N.I.C.E.F. on campus! It was a street style shoot and we had the talented Linda Nagy as our photographer. 

This is my first ever photoshoot in the UK and it was a great first experience. Everybody was so fabulous and friendly. The photographer, Linda Nagy was full of energy, I felt very comfortable working with her. The rest of the models look fantastic and were also superb! The shoot took place in Leamington. 

Here are some of the photos from the shoot! 

LINE October Photoshoot: B&W // Photo by Linda Nagy

LINE October Photoshoot: B&W // Photo by Linda Nagy

LINE October Photoshoot: B&W // Photo by Linda Nagy

LINE October Photoshoot: B&W // Photo by Linda Nagy

LINE October Photoshoot: B&W // Photo by Linda Nagy

LINE October Photoshoot: B&W // Photo by Linda Nagy

Click here for more photos from the shoot!

Please check out the talented Linda Nagy on her website and Facebook Page! 

She's also raising money for U.N.I.C.E.F click here for her fundraising page! 

Sorry I can't stay very long! I have tons of deadlines to meet up since Day 1! Third year ain't no joke ya'll! I'll update as soon as I get this week over and done with! 

Love,

Ainul xx

September Favorites

Hi everyone! Welcome to my first ever Monthly Favourites post!

Just like any Monthly favourites, I will post up my random favourite things for the previous month! I have a few items that I purchased in September that I would like to share with you!

My #1 favourite for September would be these two lovely hair products from Lush which have made showering one of the things I look forward to everyday! I Love Juicy is packed with freshly juiced fruits which include pineapples, kiwi, mango and papaya that are full of enzymes that help break down excess oil in the scalp. It smells amazing, and when I say amazing; I mean AMAZING! You only need a coin sized amount for fairly short hair (like mine). It lathers up really nicely and once you massage it into your hair you can smell the beautiful fruity scent! I've been using this for weeks and I still find this product very suitable for my hair. It leaves my hair shiny and non greasy! A little fact about my hair; I have to shampoo everyday because it gets greasy very quickly. My hair is wavy and thin and this shampoo is very gentle on both my hair and scalp. As a conditioner American Cream is superb! It leaves my hair surprisingly soft and smelling like strawberries and cream! American Cream is a milkshake-thick conditioner with fresh strawberries rich in vitamin C, orange juice to add gloss, soothing clary sage and calming lavender. I usually apply a coin size amount onto the ends of my hair after washing with I Love Juicy. These two combined, my hair is manageable and falls nicely except for the occasional weird fringe waves which is to be expected from the nature of my hair.

#2 Favourites goes to the SK-II facial products. I've been using the Facial Treatment Cleanser for almost 2 months. I can say that I can see some improvements in my skin. The main one would be that my skin dryness has reduced so much. Some cleansers I used before would give a dry feeling after use but this kept my skin smooth even before applying moisturiser. It isn't a definite must have, but definitely falls into my September Favourites. The Facial Treatment Essence is my must have. I have been using this for more than 3 months. Another fact about my skin, I have dry and sensitive skin. I also have acne. My acne comes and goes as they please but especially attacks my face during my period. After using the Facial Treatment Essence, I have much controlled acne. I find that the essence helps to dry up existing acne. The SK-II products are very gentle on my skin and last for a while. I used up a 30 ml Facial Treatment Essence in a span of 3 months. The cost is expensive and would only recommend this for those who have the extra money to spare. Everyone has different skin types as well. If you would like to give this a try, make sure to try out the testers before completely going for the full volume. I'm very happy with these two and hopefully they will continue to keep my skin happy!

#3 goes to the ACQUA di GIOIA by Giorgio Armani. I'm not a perfume kind of girl but this is my favourite scent for September! It's fresh, subtle and keeps me feeling confident! My nose is a bit sensitive to perfumes and I can't handle strong scents. If you're like me, you can give this one a try! Hopefully you'll enjoy it as much as me!

That wraps up my September Favs! Hope you find something useful in this post!

The past 2 weeks of uni have been very busy since Day 1. I'm off to finish off some reading and continue my lab report work. All the best for everyone! See you on my next post!

*Keep an eye out for my update on the John Legend concert I went to last night! 

With Love,

Ainul xx.

The Body Chain by Heartbead Jewellery

Heartbead is a hand made jewellery designer from Brunei. One of my favourite places to find pieces to complete my outfits! What's great about Heartbead is obvious; their unique and gorgeous designs. They are also affordable and versatile! I was lucky enough to get my hands on the first ever body chain by Hearbead! They've been getting requests for a body chain design and Heart bead always delivers!

This piece is a basic and classic body chain design. This body chain is a beautiful piece which is what I would use to give a hint of something extra to my outfit. Being a subtle piece, it adds elegance to a simple outfit.

I chose to wear a white crop top from Runway Bandits and a high waisted jeans from Topshop. To add a bit of colour, I went for a gorgeous flowing kimono jacket from Boohoo. I am normally not a very accessories kind of girl. I either would go for a single bracelet, a necklace or just a ring alone if I feel like wearing something extra. If you're like me, a body chain is a perfect piece to wear! It is subtle and not too loud, it is also elegant and graceful. You can wear anything under a body chain. I prefer white, black or one toned colours because I prefer the body chain to pop out. You can also wear something body hugging under, or something flowy like I did in this outfit! It is also good for both casual and formal looks.

For more info on Hearbead Jewellries:

E-mail - heartbeadxx@gmail.com

Instagram - Heartbead

Phone - +673 866 7554

Website - http://heartbead.bigcartel.com

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/heartbeadxx

Thank you again to Heartbead for this! Hope you guys like this look! I've just got back to the UK for my final year of undergrad degree! Wish me all the best! Will update more soon!

Have a lovely day everyone!

With Love,

Ainul.

Bright and Orange OOTD

Salam Eid Mubarak everyone!

Today my fam bam is taking a break from Eid and we girls had quality shopping time with Mom. Here's my outfit of the day!

Today is Friday and I decided to go for a more modest look.

I'm wearing a silky bright yellow hijab from Tudung People. Tudung People is easily becoming my favourite brand for hijabs. I have bought a few from them and they provide a range of types and designs that are of great quality!

They are fantastic to style with and are affordable as well! You can also find them on their @TudungPeople and as for Brunei, you can purchase Tudug People easily just check out this instagram @TudungPeopleBrunei.

What I love about this hijab is its silky texture! It is not slippery either which makes it super easy to style. It falls nicely and gives a smooth finishing touch onto my outfit.

I wore an earthy orange top with embellishments which gives my look an Arabian feel to it.

I also paired my top up with blue patterned trousers which I got from H&M in Malaysia.

I grabbed my vintage look sling and I was all ready for a relaxing shopping date with my sister and my Mom.

I wore an earthy orange top with embellishments which gives my look an Arabian feel to it.

I also paired my top up with blue patterned trousers which I got from H&M in Malaysia.

I grabbed my vintage look sling and I was all ready for a relaxing shopping date with my sister and my Mom.















I think you guys have definitely noticed I've been covering up more often than before and this is because I've entered the 30 day Ramadan Hijab Challenge hosted by @WorldHijabDay. A very inspirational life style blogger, Mara Sahara has recently written an article on the 30 day challenge and it is finally published! I had the amazing opportunity to be featured in her article! You can check the article here http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20140725212621.

Please check out her beautiful self in her blog at www.thepeppygirl.com !

I hope you like this OOTD and I hope everyone's been having a fantastic Eid celebration! Selamat Hari Raya Mohon Maaf Zahir & Batin everyone!

With Love,

Ainul

Street Stripes

Hi everyone!

The other day, I went to meet up with the beautiful beauty blogger Amal Saima RM. She is leaving for Pakistan tomorrow to reunite with her family, so we all had some desserts before she flies off. We met up at this place in Gadong called the Flapjack House. Flapjack House is a small cafe situated right behind The Arch at Gadong and is on the same building as the lovely Indian restaurant, Tandoor.com. I got to meet up with the other beautiful girls from Uni of Leicester; Amal Kasmirhan and Lee. I also got to finally meet my dearest friends Fahmii, Mu'izz, Arif and Mah. Not to forget Amal's longtime lover, Azeem. I stayed for an hour and we had our obligatory photo sessions!

Here's my OOTD!

1. Street Stripes

I went all casual starting with a striped maxi dress from ASOS which was very easy to slip on to. The only issue was that it was slightly see through and I had to wear an inner top and inner skirt. Otherwise a comfy dress. Maxis can be flattering and not depending on your body shape. I think the stripes  added a bit more shape to my body but also makes my 'after eating' belly more obvious! So beware of the shape of your maxis!

I wore a denim shirt over my dress which my sister got from River Island  for an effortless casual look and completed my outfit with my favourite Inayah Black Modal Hijab !








The next OOTD features the lovely and beautiful Amal K from http://bohemianbrighties.blogspot.com!

2. The Bohemian Brightie

If you haven't checked out The Bohemian Brighties, you must this instant! The Bohemian Brighties consists of two gorgeous sisters, documenting their beautiful adventures. It's a lifestyle, fashion and  travel blog that will leave you in awe.

Amal K is wearing a gorgeous blouse with a matching flowy hijab. She paired this with dark blue palazzo pants and added a hint of orange as an inner. She is fantastic with playing with colours and silhouettes and this OOTD deserves so much love!

I hope you loved today's OOTD and I hope you're having a fantastic Ramadan! 

With Love,

Ainul

Greek Meets Urban

Ramadan Kareem everyone!

I am back in Brunei and I have been suffering from the infamous jet lag. Yes it is really THAT bad. I have not had enough rest since I landed and I am having a hard time staying awake in the day time. Despite my crazy sleep cycle, our favourite Mu'izz Khalid and his very talented stylist Shahdon invited me to the opening of 'The Revelation of Muslim Clothing Event', a modest fashion function at The Centrepoint Hotel. This event features big labels and designers both local and from our lovely neighbour, Malaysia. We met Malaysia's very own Megat Alfie, who was super innovative and approachable! We learnt so much about the inspirations and details behind establishing a successful fashion line. Mu'izz, Mah and I had the first look at the vendors which caters for Muslim women and men. The event opens to public from 4th July to 6th July, 9:30 AM to PM. Go and have a look for some modest fashion inspiration or if you're feeling generous, take the opportunity to shop!


For this event, I felt like going for a sophisticated and elegant look. Modesty is the main priority and I came up with a colour palette made up of the shades baby pink, cream and white. Hope you enjoy this look!

1. Pink Metallic Grecian Maxi Dress.

Maxi dresses are one of the best things that could happen to the modest muslim women fashion world. They're easy to wear, very airy and super comfortable. This grecian-inspired dress has a chiffon overlay with metallic detailing, tassel details and an elastic waist. I wore an inner skirt to cover the shape of my legs and added a tasselled rope belt to incorporate that Grecian look. I got this at a good price from your one and only TK Maxx.
























2. White Blazer from ASOS.

I can't find the item on ASOS anymore but this is what I would suggest if I were to recreate this look (click away over here). A simplistic white blazer can go a long way. This one is by Hearts & Bows. It is loose fitting and the sharp shoulders give off sophistication while the length of the blazer exceeds the bottom of your bottom ;) and happily offers a complete cover up. My favourite thing about this is the collar which falls elegantly creating a slender look. Super flattering for all shapes and sizes.

3. Off-White Hijab.

I finished off my look with a cream hijab. I needed something to fit the sleek texture of the blazer and to neutralise the crease effects from the dress. A white hijab offers simplicity and a hint of sweetness since white stands for purity and cleanliness.

I hope you like today's OOTD! My eyes are burning and I need to head off now. Have a lovely Ramadhan everyone!

With Love,

Ainul x.

Stepping into Summer

The past few months have been the busiest and the most challenging. Finals were tough and finally over and done with. I'm here with a brand new post with some of my new favourite things to share!

1. Crochet Crop Top from Runway Bandits. 

The long sleeves could seem intimidating for the hot sunny weather but this piece is super light weight and airy. For my hijabi ladies, wearing a tank top underneath is definitely enough to cover up the revealing bits. Major plus points about this top; the lovely crochet design, the sweet scallop hem and the thick collar. A sweet and yet minimal way to dress up your look.

2. Vagabond sandals

My #1 must have for summer! A pair of rocking sandals. These are comfortable and the best part they give me the bit of height I always love. I've been eyeing Vagabond shoes for ages. Boots have been my go to shoes for months, and that's totally fine in the UK. Fine that is, until the days get longer and the temperature gets higher. I do love my flats and my flip flops but boy do sandals make a statement. They go with probably almost anything (except raya clothes)! Perfect with skinnies, skirts and definitely maxi dresses! Expect these to be featured in more of my looks in the near future! These are coming to South East Asia with me.

3. ASOS Vintage look cross body leather bag.

Something I can't resist - a sleek leather bag. The thin long strap gives a feminine and vintage touch. The only thing I was so-so about was the lock and also when the bag arrived to me by post, the leather was a bit dried out. I had to polish the bag and give it a little moisture boost before I felt comfortable bringing it out. A couple of buffs and wipes here and there helped a lot!

This bag allows me to fit in exactly my wallet and my phone. I've always needed to learn to pack lightly and it's perfect to take out!

Most of all, it is a fantastic pop of colour to my summer style outfit.








I'm still waiting for my results to come out by the end of next week and I am definitely in the midst of summer cleaning and packing up my things. I hope you're having a fantastic summer and I wish you all the best in your exam and the end of your academic year. Hope everyone does well and hope to see you in my 3rd year of uni InsyaAllah.

Hope you like this look!

With love,

Ainul xx

Of Red & Stripes

Hi everyone! I apologise for abandoning my blog for ages. I have been planning this OOTD for weeks but I was caught up with revision. Today felt like a good day to have a break and finally follow through with my plan.

Spring is finally here in Coventry and the sun has finally come out. Temperature has also risen but of course, what is UK without rain pouring in every other day? This OOTD is definitely suited for spring weathers and also when the cold wind blows, you'll have enough coverage to keep you from the chills!

Here I'm wearing a striped top from Zara, a midi skirt from ASOS and wedges from ALDO.

Stripes are a closet staple. They can be paired with the simplest of pieces and following the cut, can be super flattering. Stripes are also timeless and not to mention is a pattern that can be worn all year round.

I paired my stripes with a midi scuba skirt in red. I had a choice between peach, yellow and red, which are all superbly beautiful colours. Although somehow my heart just screamed red.

Red is a strong colour and given that a midi skirt almost takes up the whole length of your legs, the red could be overwhelming. The striped top dims down the overpowering red and the contrast spreads out the attention to the simplicity of the whole outfit. I tied up the whole outfit with a pair of black leather wedges.

You all know how much I love my crystal bullets. I'm wearing the 'Gold dipped quartz' by Brunei's very own Heartbead. Heartbead offers a whole range of beautiful hand made jewellery. The one I'm wearing is one of my favourite pieces! It is super super handy because it can go with almost everything. You can find out more about Heartbead by following their Facebook page or follow their instagram at @heartbead. Show them some love and check them out!

One of the things I'd like to achieve this year is of course to ace my 2nd year of uni, but also to work with outfits that would accommodate hijabis!

The whole outfit can be worn with a hijab just by adding opaque leggings and a beautiful black scarf! You can also see that a midi skirt is enough coverage for your lower body and the necklace by Heartbead is perfect length for the hijab!

The hijab I'm wearing is the Black Maxi Modal Hijab by Inayah. This hijab is light weight, soft and is non-slip! This could be one of the  best buys of all time! It is a beautiful piece and is perfect for draping! Best part is, they are also perfect all year round. A black hijab is a must in your closet. I can't stress on how great black is for everything but I bet you already know that ;)

I hope you all like this look and wish me luck for my exams! 2 weeks left! Bismillah!

Assalamualaikum everyone and also, best of luck and best wishes to those going through their exams as well!

Smile and love always,

Ainul xx

Easter Break in Portugal OOTD!

HI guys! It's been a while! How's everyone doing? I'm finally into my third week of Easter holidays and have so much work to catch up on, but first! Let's talk OOTDs!

I just got back from a 4 nights stay in the lovely town of Olhao, Portugal. The weather change became drastic each day, although I've packed for sunshine and cool winds. I did have my winter coat everywhere with me just in case the weather became unfriendly.

My key items on the trip were 1. Skirt, 2. Black tube pants, 3. A plain white tee, 4. A blouse and lastly, 5. A denim jacket.


Here are my OOTDs during the trip! These OOTDs were perfect for cool yet sunny weathers.

I went for all whites! Channelling a soft and feminine side, I wore a lace skirt which came with white shorts.

I got the skirt off Aliexpress.com (an online store much like eBay). I first laid my eyes on it on a Lookbook post and luckily I managed to snatch one for myself! (All the hard work of web searching...)

Although the skirt did not arrive to me in the correct length, I'm very happy with they way the whole outfit turned out to be.

I matched the skirt with a Cream V Neck Woven Tee which was from River Island but I got it off ASOS, which gave me 10% off (yippee!).

I also wore a lace tube which I got off eBay! (these are great for those annoyingly low necklines! Super cheap too!)

This next OOTD, I find more sophisticated and grown up. The striped blouse I also got from River Island is a perfect top for the black tube pants I'm wearing, also from River Island! (They're spring/summer line is just to die for!)

I topped it all off with a denim jacket (Top Shop) to loosen up the look and fitted my favourite Timberland booties. 

There was a weekend market nearby our hotel and I got the best steals for jewellery ! In this OOTD, I wore one of the grabs I got off the market. Just a simple gold coloured necklace to complete the look.

The River Island striped top was bold and is a statement piece I don't have in my closet. You can wear it simply by matching it with black pants and you're good to go!

The tube pants were also something I needed in my closet. They were comfortable and they gave me the impression of longer legs! (OK maybe you can't see it here but they really do!)

One of the hardest parts about going for a holiday, personally for me, is the limited baggage allowance. Being able to mix and match would save you so much space! Even enough to carry a few souvenirs back home! All fitted in a regular cabin bag!

Here (casually posing next to a statue), is a mix and match of the tube pants, woven tee and the denim jacket! 

My trip to Portugal was very relaxing. Although we didn't manage to do everything we planned to due to the unfortunate weather, it was still perfect.

Do keep an eye out for a video of my Portugal trip soon! 

Hope you like this post! Wish me luck for my revision. Exams are coming soon and I am very determined to do well :)

By the way, if you haven't check out http://modedemavie.blogspot.co.uk for amazing tips and tricks on how to handle uni life! They're a fantastic read and I feel you would definitely get so much out of their blog! Send them my love and have a click!

Smile always, and love always,

Ainul xx

Sunny days in Winter

Hi guys! Spring is coming soon. At least that's what it feels like (sometimes).

Yesterday was a perfect sunny day out. Temperature went up to above 10 degrees! I figured what better day to finally bring my Checked Coat out.

I paired it up with my grey ASOS crop top and my top shop white skinnies. Also, say hello to my Timberland booties! Their first ever feature on WanderWithMe! They were recent January buys and I never regretted spending a bit on them (although they were already on sale hehe ). They're super comfy to walk in and very versatile too! I can wear this out and wear them formally as well.

I finished my look with simple make up and my felt ear hat!

This is a super fun outfit to go out in. Wearable in chilly but sunny weather. Although the coat has "fake" pockets which is the biggest downside of this coat, I still have a soft spot for them. I bought them in a size M so I could wrap myself in it when the cold wind blows. And also preferred them to be a bit bigger and not too tight.

I've always wanted a long coat and this was on sale on Zara. The print is bold and colourful and I needed something fun in my closet! They were just the ones for me.

Long coats are great statement pieces and add a great classy finish to any look. You can wear simple sweaters, tees and crops and just plain jeans and still come out looking bold and chic.

By the way guys if you hadn't notice, I had a hair cut :D

Hope you like this OOTD!

Stay warm and smile always



With Love,

Ainul xx

Taylor Swift RED Tour

Hi guys! Earlier this week, I had the craziest Monday in the history of my life (so far). I woke up at 7am to pick up my train tickets, met Haziq to give him his and then straight to the Science department to prep for my labs at 11. Got in and did a frog dissection on an already dead frog. Experience it beating 5 hours after time of death. Z picked me up on his KTM and caught my train to London. From there on, it was a journey to Taylor Swift's RED tour. Taylor was amazing, beautiful and she was mesmerising. Here's a summarised video of the concert. 

Here's for you Santi, Lily & Rashah. Wished you were there with me.

What's my favourite part of the concert? Just like for every concert I go to, it'll always be the choir of crowds singing along! Hope you enjoyed the video everyone! Before I end this post I'd like to say thanks to some special friends of mine.

Mu'izz, Me & Tiffany

Thank you

Zhafir (for the amazing birthday gift to let me document my experience and always being my saviour and supporter), 

Becky (my dearest friend who helped me get to the concert on time), 

The lab guy (for helping with the last experiment so I'd get to Taylor Swift you are the MAN),

Zeer (for believing in me), 

Siti (for giving me supporting words), 

Zimah (for encouraging me before my labs), 

Zaty (for helping me plan my trip),

Kidah (for making me realise there is hope),

Mu'izz, Sakina and Arrin (for giving me the opportunity to experience RED) and

Haziq Ghafar (for being there with me).

You (for always being a lovely human being).

With love,
Ainul xx

#followmeto Paris

For my 20th Birthday on January 1st, 2014, I packed my bags and brought along with me three special people, Zhaf, Naf and Nurun. We caught a coach to Paris on December 30th and arrived in Paris the next day. Spent new years eve fine dining near the Eiffel tower and the rest of the night filled with hot chocolate and cold selfies! Me and Zhaf had our own take of the #followmeto series by Murad Osman and his girlfriend as well! Here's a short clip of the places we went to (we squeezed in as much as we can in a day) and I hope you like it!  

#followmeto Paris

Notre Dame Cathedral

The Eiffel Tower

The Louvre 

Notre Dame Cathedral Gardens

'Love Lock' bridge