Month: November 2017

November 29, 2017 SanaSakinah 2 comments

So we’ve been going strong in fall for the last two months, it’s literally weeks away from winter, and it’s been close to 70 degrees for the last week or so. Insert Home Alone face here (lol). Now I’m not complaining about the warmer temps but I’m still getting used to all of this wacky Georgia weather. If I was back home in Maryland or even NYC I’d definitely be totally bundled up and wearing my coat by now for sure. But I guess they don’t call it “Hotlanta” for nothing (lol)!! Anywho, I chose something simple and chic for my warm Fall look today. I think I’ve mentioned this before but I often find inspiration for my outfits in small things like bags, accessories and such. Today my look was specifically inspired by my bag. 

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So I spotted this Fossil bag at a Goodwill and was instantly drawn to it by all of its interesting patchwork. I loved the mix of all the different prints, patterns and textures from the fur-like cheetah and multi colored prints to the simple one toned suede and leather patches throughout the bag. I love a piece that is both eye catching and inspiring. This bag totally reminded me of fall with all the shades of grays, tans, burgundies, browns and different layers. I love when a piece is so intricate and complex that it gives you a multitude of styling options to draw from. Pieces like these are great staples to have in your wardrobe. I also took off the removable shoulder strap and wore it more like a clutch bag instead. Bags that are interchangeable are always a plus in my book!!

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I decided to start piecing my outfit together beginning with this simple burgundy jersey dress I purchased on eBay some time ago. I loved how this dress picked up the burgundy colored leather patches in my bag. This dress is  empire waisted and just slightly A-lined making it a more slimmer fit rather than fit and flare shape. I usually prefer dresses with fuller skirts because they are more flattering and accommodating for all body types, but I think the slimmer fit of this dress makes it a good candidate for layering and pairing.

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Therefore, I chose to pair my dress with this high low waterfall cardigan. I like this particular cardigan with my dress because it adds a slight volume and drama to an already simple slimmer dress.  I love wearing a hi-low cardigan with a dress because it doesn’t take away from the fluidity of the skirt by chopping it off but rather embraces and enhances it instead. I thought this grayish beige color worked wonderfully.

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I chose these Nine West peep toe heels I purchased at a Goodwill in Maryland over the summer to pair with my outfit. I loved the natural and nude toned leopard printed heels. I thought these heels worked perfectly and played well off the gray and tan prints in my bag.

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Last but not least I chose my cappuccino colored jersey hijab along with my brown refashioned fringe earrings. I have been wearing this hijab a lot lately this fall. It really works well with a lot of other earth toned colors and it went nicely with my entire outfit. 

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Welp, that’s it for today you guys. The next time you need fashion inspiration for an outfit don’t hesitate to pull out an interesting accessory for a blueprint and let it guide you along the way. Until next time, don’t forget to stay and slay on a budget!! *Waves*

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What I Wore:

Burgundy dress: $24 @eBay
Christina Love cardigan: $3 @PAT
Nine West Heels: $4 @Goodwill
Fossil: $5 @Goodwill 

November 24, 2017 SanaSakinah 6 comments

If you’ve been tuning into my blog for some time now, there’s no question about me being an avid thrifter. Thrifting for me is totally therapeutic and I love the thrill of the hunt. It’s a total rush finding awesome things you love for great prices. Taking someone’s old belongings, putting a spin on them and reviving it back to life could easily be considered an art form (lol). I take great pride and joy in resurrecting old tossed out things that no longer serve a purpose for someone else and giving them new meaning and purpose for myself. Some people ask me about where to start thrifting. My advice would be to just START. Visit a few thrift stores here and there and I’m sure you’re bound to find one you like. Earlier this year I discovered a thrift store outlet with 25 and 50 cent days. So excitingly I thought, well this a first!! And it was a first for me to find a thrift store with such low prices, but I have to be honest about it not being the easiest place to find things. If you’re not a real thrifter it will definitely feel like a waste and too time consuming so I wouldn’t recommend it starting out if you’re a novice. However in the middle of what can seem like thrift store armageddon there can be light and a glimmer of promise (lol). Today is all about an outfit I built around my first pieces ever purchased at the outlet.

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So it should be no surprise that the headliner of my outfit are these cool harem pants I purchased for only 25 cents. Now I must say I’ve passed by a lot of these pants in the past because I’ve never been a big fan of droopy crotches (lol) but there was something about these that I instantly loved. First off they reminded me of the pants my mom always wore growing up. We kids used to jokingly call them hammer pants back in the 80s and 90s when Mc Hammer was really popular (lol). I liked these in particular because of the flattering panel at the waist and more methodically gathered pleats along the front. I love the easy and relaxed laid back vibes these pants exude. 

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I also picked up this vintage printed blouse/ shirt from the outlet for 25 cents. I really didn’t put this outfit together until I got home and realized how nicely the shirt picked up the celery color in my pants. I thought the beautifully printed shirt with mixes of browns, golds and greens went nicely with my plain harem pants.

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Now I had originally planned to wear a belt of some sort around my waist to cinch the shirt in slightly since it was so boxy. However, after purchasing this bomber jacket recently, I realized it both went perfectly with this outfit, and cinched the waistline just right at the same time totally eliminating a need for a belt. I thought the camel color of this jacket went beautifully with my outfit. It was the last essential piece I needed to really pull this look altogether!! 

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I chose my strappy Guess platform heels to wear with this outfit to complement my jacket. However,  I think I may have chosen a different pair of shoes with this outfit if I had digged into my closet a little deeper…Hmmmm. Don’t you just hate when that happens (lol)!?! Anyways, I still liked the way they paired with the rest of the outfit. .

I chose this simple chocolate satin and patent leather Roberto Coin jewelry holder I also purchased at the outlet for 25 cents as my clutch bag. It had all the the essential pockets and zippers like a wallet so I thought it worked just fine as a clutch.

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Last but not least I chose this chocolate jersey hijab and these brass colored leaf earrings I’ve owned for quite some time. I loved bringing out the brown in my shirt with my hijab and bag. I don’t know what it is about chocolate brown but it is one of my absolute go-tos in the cooler fall weather.

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Welp, that’s it for today you guys. Until next time, don’t forget to stay and slay on a budget!! *Waves*

Now Stop!! Ummi Time!!! Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh (lol)!!!!

 

What I Wore:

Harem pants: 25 cents @PAT Outlet
Vintage Blouse: 25 cents @PAT Outlet
Bomber jacket: $6 @PAT
Guess Heels: $6 @Goodwill
Roberto Coin bag: 25 cents @PAT Outlet

November 15, 2017 SanaSakinah 2 comments
If you were to ask a number of people what their favorite color is you would probably get a ton of different answers. But why do we sometimes gravitate towards certain colors moreso than others anyway…Hmmm?? Well, usually our favorite colors have to do with the way we think they make us look and feel. It’s also possible to be attracted to certain colors during certain circumstances depending on the occasion. You may be attracted to simplicity and the ethereal look of white on some days to brighten up your mood making you feel fresh, free and rejuvenated. And at other times you may be attracted to the mysterious and sleek look of black making you look slim, sophisticated and chic. I personally have no favorite color in particular. However, red gets mistaken as my favorite color a lot understandably because I tend to wear it quite often (lol). And while it is not my ultimate favorite it is indeed a color I gravitate towards at times. Red screams passion, love, energy, vitality, strength and excitement. I never feel more alive than when I have on the same color that pumps and flows through my veins (lol). Whatever colors you gravitate towards make sure they always make you both look and feel good too. Our clothes should be a reflection of what we both seek and wish to exude. That’s why I chose this outfit on the blog today.
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Of course my headliner for this look is this beautiful red maxi lattice dress by Urban Modesty. When I first found this dress online over a year ago I bought it on sale in the only 2 colors they had at the time. I love the deep cranberry red color of this dress. The pictures don’t do the color enough justice…Sorry. The shape of this dress is so sophisticated and elegant. I love the empire waistline with the A-line shape and full circle skirt. These 3 combinations are totally flattering on everyone…Trust me!!  I love how this dress just falls and moves with such grace and subtle charm. It is a tad bit long for my 5’3 frame but that doesn’t bother me much because I love a little drama in my garments anyway (lol). I love the silky soft material along with the slightest pleats down the front and the big side pockets. Side pockets on dresses are such a huge bonus in my book…love them!!
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For this cooler fall weather I chose to pair my dress with this faux leather bomber jacket I thrifted just days before. Let me just say this is one of my favorite fall finds so far!! I love the distressed look of the deep camel color along with all the pockets, buckles and zippers. I absolutely adore how edgy and cute this jacket is. It can be dressed up or down and paired in so many ways. I thought this jacket looked great with my dress mixing both style elements like sophisticated and edgy.
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I decided to wear my strappy Guess platform slingbacks with this outfit. I loved sticking with the neutral camel color and I thought these paired well with my jacket.
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I went with this oversized Jessica Simpson embossed handbag to pair with my outfit. I loved how all the colors in this bag played well into my outfit picking up the red and camel along with a beautiful chocolate brown pulling the outfit completely together.
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Last but not least I chose this chocolate brown jersey hijab and a pair of earrings I made that morning out of an old shoe strap. Notice I’m also wearing my chillier weather hijab style in this outfit with the built in scarf around my neck (lol). I just realized that’s my go to hijab style when it starts getting colder. Gotta love a twofer!!
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Welp, that’s it for today. I hope whatever colors you choose to wear they make you look and feel wonderful!! Until next time…don’t forget to stay and slay on a budget!! *Waves*

What I Wore:

Lattice dress: $30 @Urban Modesty
Better Be bomber jacket: $6 @PAT
Guess heels: $6 @Goodwill
Jessica Simpson hand bag: $5 @Goodwill
November 9, 2017 SanaSakinah No comments exist
Have you ever been to or seen an exotic remote place like a tropical rainforest in the middle of nowhere and been in total amazement of how absolutely stunning it is? Have you watched how beautifully created the landscape is from the giant unyielding trees with big green leaves that wave like welcoming hands in the winds?? How about the chiseled illustrious mountains that shoot up into the clouds standing erect unbothered by the world below? Notice how the rolling rivers and the cascading waterfalls meet and revel like two old friends crossing each other’s paths along the way. There’s just something so beautiful about a place on earth that’s been totally untouched and unchanged by the human hand. Everything is just left still and perfectly orchestrated to play the sweetest melody an ear could hear with the most breath taking scenic pictures an eye could behold. It would only make sense that places like these are home to some of the world’s most splendid creatures whom also are adorned in the most intriguing eye catching textures, patterns and colors. The sheer beauty in animals and their environments has an interesting way of influencing our clothing tastes and choices. And since I have been enjoying these warmer fall days I wanted to style a belt I had picked up earlier this year capturing just that. 
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I wanted to start by talking about my belt which totally inspired my entire outfit. I thrifted this belt earlier this year. It completely caught my eye immediately because of all the prints and patterns. I was drawn instantaneously to the emerald green and yellow colors of leaves mixed with red tropical flowers along with blue ocean like ripples and cheetah print. The entire print just totally screamed rain forest and I loved how this piece totally evoked that particular ambiance!! Small pieces that pack a big and powerful punch are great for building your outfit around. Often times this is an easy way to find fashion inspiration. Instead of building an entire outfit from scratch start with a simple yet powerful piece that tells a story. I assure you this is an easy way to began putting an outfit together. 
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Picking up the hints of red in my belt I chose this simple red sleeveless H&M dress as my top. If you are familiar with me by now then you know I often wear short dresses as tops. I love this as a top because it has an A-line shape and empire waist which are always good and accomodating for all shapes and sizes.
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For my coverup I chose this greenish yellow/ chartreuse cardigan by Ellen Tracy. I thought the color was a great fit picking up both hints of greens and yellows in my belt. I like this cardigan in particular because it is longer on the sides at the front so it drapes down nicely and works very well with a belt.
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For my bottom I went with a casual straight leg blue jean by Old Navy. I pretty much wanted everything else in my outfit to do the talking so I thought a simple blue jean worked well.
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For my shoes I went with these fur cheetah print booties by Vince Camuto. I actually bought these booties awhile back over 2 years ago and am just now getting around to wearing them. Don’t ask me why. I think I was just hesitant about wearing them living in NYC so I saved them for some better days with less walking involved (lol). Anyways, these shoes were perrrrrfect for my outfit. As a matter of fact when I first saw the belt I immediately thought of these booties that I had stored away for so long. I just love the textured soft fur along with the slit up the front and peep toe. I thought these were very chic!!
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I had originally planned to wear a red clutch with this outfit but I had been wearing this emerald green one so much I just grabbed it considering my outfit. I didnt even realize I had grabbed the wrong one until I was going through my pics *Sigh*. Although I was slightly annoyed with myself (lol) I thought the bag still worked well with the entire outfit. The emerald green color along with the burnt orange handle and snakeskin print played very well into my tropical rainforest theme. If you’ve been following my blog then you’ve seen this bag before and it’s definitely one of my favorites!!
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Last but not least I chose my emerald green jersey hijab along with these multi colored feather earrings. Again I thought these earrings went nicely along with my tropical rainforest theme. 
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Overall I loved how this outfit all came together!! Although I’ve never been to an actual rainforest before a girl can dream and wear one in the meantime instead (lol)!! Gotta love when fashion can take you anywhere in the world with a little inspiration, imagination and just simply getting dressed!!  Welp…until next time you guys, don’t forget to stay and slay on a budget!! *Waves*
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What I Wore:

H&M dress/top: $3@PAT
Ellen Tracy cardigan: $6 @Platos Closet
Old Navy jeans: $6 @Goodwill
Belt: $1@PAT
Lady Pride tote bag: $5 @Goodwill
Vince Camuto shoes: $40 @BCF
November 1, 2017 SanaSakinah No comments exist

Have you ever just looked around and been inspired by all the beauty naturally occurring in your surrounding environment?? Have you ever noticed the way seashells on a shoreline are formed into some of the most interesting and elegant pleated ruffles with intricate colors and patterns? Or maybe you’ve gazed at the way the sun begins to recede and sets yet still lights up the sky like the most striking of fireballs bursting and releasing the most extraordinary vision of pure energy and magnificence. I bet you’ve admired the leaves that start to turn from a radiant green in autumn into the most brilliant shades of reds, yellows, oranges, burgundies and golds falling down around a tree like sprinkles of confetti. Ahhhh nature surely has a way of outshining anything a man could ever make (lol). Everyday I am in awe by how beautifully and perfectly created our natural environment is and I am always inspired by it. If you need fashion inspiration the chances are it is already all around you…just open your eyes!! In honor of nature influencing fashion I chose this particular fall outfit..
I went with this H&M dress as my top for this outfit. I just love the colors and patterns on this dress!! The abstract prints of grey, rust and ivory sprinkled along it truly reminded me of a stone like a beautiful granite. I love the way all the colors cohesively translated into such a beautiful design. Besides the color I love the feminine and flirty shape of this dress with a full circle skirted bottom and slightly longer dips in the back and front. I just adore how the skirt of this dress blossoms with movement like a flower’s petals opening to face the sun.

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For my bottom I went with these hunter grey pants by Club Monaco. I love the easy and relaxed wide cropped leg on these pants. I’ve had these for quite some time now and I thought they paired well along with my top picking up the subtle hints of grey in my dress. I thought the stone color was a great complement to my granite inspired dress..

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I went with these rust colored peep toe booties for my shoes. These suede booties have the cutest stitch designs all over with a nice thick block heel and fringed laces that tie on the sides. I love how they looked along with my wide leg pants and picked up the rust in my dress as well.

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Of course I chose my beloved vintage handbag with this particular look (lol). This bag is obviously no stranger to me because I wear it pretty frequently. The color was a perfect fit with my outfit so it was only right that I wore it.

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Last but not least I chose this cappuccino colored jersey hijab along with my refashioned fringe earrings to complete my look. I wanted another neutral tone in my outfit so I thought this one worked well along with my other natural earth tone colors. Although it wasn’t intended I really felt like I blended in with all the natural stone around me (lol). 

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Welp, that’s it for today you guys. May nature continue to always be a great source of inspiration and fashionable light in all of our wardrobes!! Until next time, don’t forget to stay and slay on a budget!! *Waves* 

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What I Wore:

H&M Dress : $6 @Goodwill
Club Monaco Pants: $5 @Goodwill
Suede Booties : $30 @DSW
Vintage Handbag:  .25 @PAT