May 31, 2018 SanaSakinah No comments exist
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“Thrift stores stink”. ” I’m afraid I might get bed bugs.” “I can’t wear other people’s used stuff.”  These are just some of the negative sentiments I’ve heard especially over this past year from various folks once I started sharing my love for thrifting. Surely I can understand where they are coming from. I mean, who doesn’t love the smell of brand new shoes and fresh clothes from the mall or department stores?? I remember growing up and having to get stuff bought from thrift stores at times and not being so thrilled about it. My white uniform school blouses were always bought from there. I still can remember the little frilly ruffles and lace details that sometimes donned the fancier collars and sleeves. Thrift stores and sewing machines were my mom’s “go to” as a child. Hearing the needle weaving in and out of the Joann’s fabric in the middle of the day and night from the dining room table was one of my fondest childhood memories. The excitement of wearing something brand new and designed completely from scratch exclusively for me was the highlight of my fashion era as a child. Now ask me if you’d catch me wearing them now, and that would totally be a different story (lol). 

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No matter what, my mom made it work. I don’t recall feeling left out of not always having the newest most expensive clothes and shoes. And Girrrrl those Umm (Mom) originals were hittin back in the day. You couldn’t tell me “NUFFIN” back on Eid Days (lol)!! Fast forwarding to today, I rediscovered thrift stores in my late twenties while living in NYC and simply fell in love. Now a mom myself, and a frugal fashionista, I discovered what seemed like a secret underground shopping society in these resale shops. I loved the thrill in finding all sorts of clothing that were once loved by someone else and now passed on to another. And often times, these items were barely worn to even brand new. I don’t think people even realize the magnitude in which  people toss out perfectly good stuff. I thought how can you not love this?!? And why had it taken me so long to discover them again?? Once I started, I was simply hooked!! Now years later, I’m tackling running my own thrift store, trying to change the perception of thrift stores, and help people realize the value in these often overlooked hidden treasure chests…one piece at a time. Today I chose a dress from my online store, Perfectly Picked Thrift, I had to pull because it was flawsome (lol). Yes it was flawed so I had to pull it, but still totally awesome of a piece to keep for myself and share on the blog today.

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Let me just say when I first bought this dress to sell, I totally had my eyes on it for myself so it was actually a pleasant surprise to have to pull it from my inventory (lol). As I’m writing this I can’t even recall what was the issue, but it didn’t meet quality control inspection…WINNING (lol)!!! This dress which I believe is vintage totally screams  60s/ 70s bohemian chic. And that is one of my favorite fashion eras by far!! I love the mix of prints and patterns along with the natural earth tone colors. I loved the A line shape coupled with the full feminine skirt which had an amazingly awesome swing and movement to it. The skirt ended in a slight slant which I thought just added a tad more character and flair to this beautiful piece.

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I chose this army green crop jacket to pair with my dress because it’s a halter top underneath. I thought a cropped jacket did an excellent job of not taking away or cutting off the shape of the dress while also working as my much needed cover up. 

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I chose my sand colored suede peep toe booties with fringe down the back by Naughty Monkey. I thought the natural sand color worked well with the mix of my other earth tones, and I loved the play of fringe just peeking out from underneath the bottom of my dress. So cute!!!

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Of course, I chose my handy dandy vintage leather handbag by Architect for AMC. If you’re familiar with me or my blog then you already know how much of a staple this thing is for me. I always have a “Go To” bag and this is indeed just that currently. I love this bag because of it’s natural rich earth toned chestnut color and how simple and classy it is. I love the sense of old school charm this bag evokes every time I where it.

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Last but not least, I chose my mocha colored jersey hijab and white leather refashioned earrings I made out of an old leather boot to pair with this outfit. I thought my hijab blended beautifully with the color in my dress, and I loved how the earrings picked up the hints of white flowers throughout it.

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Welp, that’s it for today you guys. There are no Ifs, Ands, or Buts about it…Thrift stores win in my book…hands down!! According to EPA “the average American throws away as much as 81 pounds of clothing every year”. Just imagine if we could all benefit from that instead of aggravating the problem of so much ending up in land fills. Reduce Reuse Recycle goes for clothing too. Thrifting is not only cost effective but it’s also most importantly Eco friendly!! Ok…ok I had to get just a little deep for a sec (lol). Until next time, don’t forget to stay and slay on a budget!! *Waves*

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What I Wore:

Dress: $4 @PAT
Crop Jacket: $3 @Goodwill
Naughty Monkey booties: $25 @Burlington
Vintage leather handbag: 50 cents @PATO

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May 16, 2018 SanaSakinah 2 comments
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If you love shopping for cute clothing and accessories as much as I, the chances of having pieces that have just been sitting around waiting to make their official debut out of your closet are pretty high. I’m definitely not a special occasion shopper. Nothing irks me more than having an event to attend and needing to shop for an entire outfit. I believe if you stay ready you won’t ever have to get ready!!! Besides I don’t need any event planned to Ok me grabbing those cute shoes, dress or handbag I happen to run into out while thrifting and shopping. Being an avid thrifter has truly cut down on my need to plan and scramble for outfits at the last minute because I am always finding cute pieces that come in handy when I officially need them. Here’s a little advice…always keep your eyes open for new exciting pieces that grab your attention and don’t worry about when or where you’re going to wear it. Just know that when you need it, you’ll be prepared!! Today’s look on the blog is all about when your sacred closeted and newer pieces all come together.

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So I chose this cute and comfy faux sand washed denim romper for this look. What can I say about this piece other than I absolutely love how simple and easy this piece feels!! The basic light blue denim color makes it great for being able to style and accessorize in a number of ways. I love the relaxed casual style of this romper with the basic buttoned down front, sleeves and collared neckline much like that of a regular jean shirt. I love a roomier romper or jumper that has a slighter masculine edge that I can always infuse with some feminine touches. The material in this jumper is absolutely lightweight and airy so it moves and feels extremely soft on the skin despite it looking like denim. The adjustable drawstring waist is a great detail for defining the waistline just a bit so it adds a touch of shape and form. And who can forget the added convenience of side pockets which is always a welcomed bonus in my book!!

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I knew I wanted to accentuate the romper with vibrant colors. Therefore making it’s official debut in this outfit are these Bertinni wedges which I bought over a year ago out while thrifting. I bought these shoes solely because they were completely interesting and eye catching.  They weren’t totally ME but I knew they could make an outfit pop so I purchased them anyway. I loved the various bold purple, green, pink and orange color blocking on these shoes along with the gold piping as well as the bedazzled studded wedge heels. They definitely make a memorable statement (lol)!!

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So I chose this gorgeous handbag from BeadArt by FoCasions. I absolutely loved the design of this bag as soon as I saw it. The long tote like structure makes  it so convenient for carrying more things if needed. I love the combination of the circular wooden handles  for easy gripping along with the longer shoulder strap. And not to mention, this shoulder strap is everrrrrrythang!!! I love the simplistic basic camel color of this bag accompanied by the striking colorful shoulder strap. It just makes this piece totally Pop!! As soon as I saw this bag I knew my shoes were finally coming out to play soon (lol).

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Last but not least I chose my emerald green milk silk jersey hijab along with these orange wooden earrings for a little more color blocking action. I just loved bringing out the different pops of color from both my shoes and bag. 

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Welp, I hope you guys enjoyed this look of mine today. Stop overthinking what you’re going to wear that special piece you see out while shopping with or to. Grab it and work out all those subtle details later!! There’s nothing worse than non-buyer’s remorse. Until next time, don’t forget to stay and slay on a budget!!! *Waves*

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What I Wore:

Blue faux denim romper:  $6 @Value Village
Bertini wedges: $4 @PAT
Colorful strap tote bag: (gifted)  BeadArt by Focasions 

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April 22, 2018 SanaSakinah 8 comments
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If someone asked me if I loved to shop I would always tell them No. The truth is I’ve always hated shopping for the most part…excluding shoe shopping. I mean, what girl doesn’t love trying on new shoes!? I couldn’t walk past a pair of cute shoes without trying them on if my life depended on it (lol)!! But the thought of having to walk around a store and trying on different things never appealed to me really. It always seemed like such a never ending labor intensive job that yielded mediocre results at best. And Oh those dreaded dressing rooms with the horrible mirrors and bad lighting. I can never forget about how many body image complexes they used to give me growing up as a teenager. 

The truth is I’ve never felt completely satisfied shopping in regular stores especially as a Muslimah.  So many times you’d go shopping and it would be either a hit or a miss. There was never a guarantee of finding exactly what you were looking for so often times you would just settle for whatever kinda/sorta worked. Fast forwarding to my adult years and rediscovering thrift stores was like a total wake up call for me.  And I say rediscovering because I grew up wearing thrifted clothing as a child at times so it wasn’t totally new for me. But Thrifting was different than shopping and although probably just as if not more labor intensive it was fun, exciting and surprisingly very therapeutic. I loved the thrill in the hunt for hidden gems hiding between heaps of clothing waiting for someone to rediscover and bring back to life. Therefore, for this blog I wanted to highlight a buried hidden treasure I found out while thrifting recently. And it is this beautiful full length dress…..

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So of course, this beautiful navy blue dress is the highlight of this outfit. Let me just say when I saw her kind of sticking out between all the other pieces on the rack it took me awhile to process how it was not snatched up already (lol). I mean, it was just simply gorgeous, and I was too thrilled to try her on finding out she fit perfectly!! I just loved the simplicity in this dress from the basic navy blue color to the floor length and the much needed long sleeves. I love the fact that it’s empired waisted with a fit and flare shape which is flattering on so many different shapes and sizes. The fluidity and movement of the fabric is just absolutely gorgeous. It is very rare to find dresses like this in regular stores let alone a thrift store, so I  was so appreciative for this discovery. And at only a whopping 3 bucks, I felt like I had hit the jackpot….Cha Ching (lol)!!!....

I decided to stick with more neutral and earth tones to accent my dress so I went with my leather camel Guess Platform heels. With this dress being so long I definitely needed the height of a higher heel along with some comfort, and these did just the trick.

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I decided to throw a little green into my outfit with my vintage leather hunter green and chestnut Liz Claiborne handbag. I simply adore this bag and it is definitely one of my favorite recent finds. I just love the colors navy blue and green together so I thought it went nicely with my dress. ...

Last but not least, I chose a basic navy blue cotton jersey hijab to pair along with my outfit. I wanted to stick with Navy blue as the stand alone color. Instead of wearing earrings  with this outfit,  I repurposed a couple of clutch bag chains along with a beaded necklace I had taken apart and threw altogether to create this neck piece. I just loved how the necklace matched my bag and shoes picking up the hints of green and browns as well as complemented my overall outfit.....

Welp that’s it for today you guys. I hope you enjoyed this look of mine. Don’t forget to stay and slay on a budget!!  Happy Treasure Hunting!! *Waves*..

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What I Wore:

KOH KOH Jersey Dress: $3 @Value Village

Guess Heels: $6 @Goodwill

Liz Claiborne Handbag: $1 @PATO

 

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April 5, 2018 SanaSakinah No comments exist
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Hellooooo and welcome back!!! Sorry I have been on a little hiatus trying to get ready for an exciting spring launch I think you guys will be very pleased to finally see, and I can’t wait to reveal it all!!! How’s everybody doing so far this spring season?? Seems like winter totally doesn’t want to move along just yet and is holding us all hostage (lol). Well, despite this crazy indecisive weather I’ve managed to pull out a few springy things on the warmer and more beautiful days trying to soak up a lil spring fever and put a lil pep back into my step. It’s nothing that welcomes the onset of spring quite like beautifully bright, striking colors and flowy fabrics.

 

After being in numerous winter pieces, heavier knits, and wrapped in thicker fabrics spring is the optimum season to shed all the those stuffier winter layers and ease into more relaxed spring time fine clothing.  Let’s just keep it real, the sight of spring is like the rainbow at the end of the longest hurricane we’ve all been trying to ride out, the calm after the storm we’ve all been praying for and the season we’ve already got of all our outfits planned for in advance (lol). Yes, we’ve already pulled out about a half dozen to a dozen or so of outfits amidst our spring cleaning we just can’t wait to wear. So in the spirit of kicking off this season of renewing and rejuvenation, I thought it was only right to wear a couple pieces I hadn’t yet worn.

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For this outfit I chose this magenta colored jersey dress I bought off ebay awhile ago. One thing I want to mention specifically about this dress is that it is soooo not forgiving and probably one of the reasons I had yet to wear it (lol). It’s not your standard milk silk/ jersey dress with an elastic empire waist and totally accommodating to all sizes. This dress will show a multitude of flaws especially in the waistline and a girl wasn’t totally springtime fine ready so I did what I could with what I had!!  I found myself disliking some pics because of the way it gathers and pleats at the waist and underneath the bust. However, I thought the pleating detail at the hip itself was really pretty just not the most flattering to be quite honest. I usually prefer a roomier and more flared hip span myself. Besides that particular detail, I thought the color of the dress was gorgeous and moved so gracefully.

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I chose to pair my dress with one of my favorite staples which is this orange high low cardigan by BCBG MAXAZRIA. I love a high low cardigan especially when I need it to give me a tad more coverage with dresses that aren’t the most flattering. I thought the orange color complemented the magenta perfectly, and I loved how they both flowed so effortlessly together.

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I chose these color blocking platform heels by GUESS to pair with my outfit. I loved the 3 tone colored heels and the way they integrated the 3 different colors on a completely different section of the shoe. The mix of magenta, bright orange and fuchsia totally went beautifully with my overall outfit.

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I went with a pop of mustard yellow for my bag with this simple envelope clutch. I loved adding this color into my outfit to continue the color blocking theme. Never forget your accessories are crucial in telling your outfit’s story. Clutches and handbags are a great way to add a lil something extra into an outfit.

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Last but not least, I chose my mustard yellow jersey hijab for that additional pop of color and turned a couple of bright orange beaded bracelets into a pair of earrings.

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Welp, that’s it for today you guys!! I hope you enjoyed this spring time fine color blocking look of mine. Until next time, don’t forget to stay and slay on a budget!! *Waves*

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What I Wore:

Magenta jersey dress: $18 @ebay

BCBG MAXAZRIA cardigan:  $5 @Goodwill

GUESS heels; $6 @Goodwill

Envelope clutch: $1 @PATO

 

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March 15, 2018 SanaSakinah No comments exist
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So, this blog will be slightly different today.

I have a song and things on my mind I have to say.

Oh Winter, Oh Winter…you have got to go.

You’ve stayed for too long bringing cold air, rain, and snow.

Although sometimes I welcome the sight of your presence.

Your welcome has worn out and I need to say, “good riddance”!!

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Yes, I love a good warm cozy winter outfit or two.

But really, truly, it’s time we all must bid adieu!!

But since you’re so relentless and insist on holding us captive,

I have no other choice than to submit and be adaptive.

I will not let you dampen my mood, spirit or throw a fit.

The show must go on and it shall with this here outfit

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So, I had a few pieces I bought in the recent past.

Cozy winter friendly pieces that were cute, comfy, and colorfast.

I’ll start with the Purple sweater dress I’ve had for quite some time.

I love the beautiful rich vibrant grape color that is so divine.

It’s soft and easy with the short sleeves being great for adding a layer.

And the cowl neck just gives me that extra drama and bold winter flair.

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I decided to pair my sweater dress with a comfy oversized draped cardigan.

I just love how comfortable and toasty this piece suddenly wraps you in.  

The black and white mix of prints all over was such a welcoming sight to behold

I just love the pattern being contrasted with a solid black trim that was bold.

Of course, I wanted to wrap myself within this whole piece by merging the two.

So, I opted for this thick hunter green leather belt I thought added color and value.

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So, I chose these dope black and white velour printed pants by Etcetera to wear.

I just adore the soft touch of these along with the funky paisley prints and boot cut flair.

I just knew along with the printed cardigan these would absolutely be a great match.

Because, Of course, this girl is fond of mixing prints and mixed prints by the batch.

I just love how these flowed so awesomely together with my outfit at the top.

No playing the background in this look, this time I wanted the bottom to pop.

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For my shoes, I went with these gorgeous rust colored peep toe booties from DSW.

I love the cute stich designs, fringe laces and thick block heel that won’t hassle you.

I thought these worked so nicely against my pants with grace and style.

I wanted to infuse a natural earth tone shade into my color pallet I compiled.

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I chose this beautiful leather vintage Liz Claiborne for my handbag. 

I instantly fell in love with this piece and you won’t believe the price tag!!

The gorgeous hunter green leather with the rust colored trim and straps

Had me falling in love at first sight or even second glance, perhaps.

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Last but not least, you won’t believe what I went and did.

I put away my jersey hijab and pulled out one of my old gigs!!

Yes, I pulled out a good ol’ slip and slide hijab…or better yet a georgette.

But it just matched my purple oh so perfectly and styled quite nicely onset.

I paired my refashioned fringe earrings alongside my hijab as well.

You guys already know how much I love these…it isn’t hard to tell!!

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I hope you guys enjoyed this look and ode to the last outfit for the winter season

Hopefully when spring arrives winter will gracefully leave and we all won’t be freezin.

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Until next time, don’t forget to stay and slay on a budget….Always!! *Waves*

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What I Wore:

Takeout purple sweater dress: $5-$10  @(can’t remember where so long ago lol)

Old Navy knitted cardigan: $6 @Goodwill

Talbots leather belt: $1-$3 @Goodwill

Etcetera paisley pants: $3 @PAT

Suede booties: $30 @DSW

Vintage Liz Claiborne handbag: $1 @PATO

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February 21, 2018 SanaSakinah No comments exist
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I often cringe when people attempt to box themselves in or insist on coloring inside of the lines as to not offend or break any “fashion rules”. If we were all to abide by the same rules we would certainly be wearing nothing short of a standard uniform. And I’m absolutely not going back to the times of wearing a stuffy uniform akin to my private school days (lol)!! Fashion should be fun, exciting, and most importantly revolutionary. Time doesn’t stand still for anyone and neither does fashion. Constantly we are living in a world where it is constantly changing and evolving into something else. Trying to keep up with the changes will leave you out of breath but learning to adapt and sustain your own sense of style will never leave you out of date.

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While we’ve been having a crazy long stretch of cloudy and rainy weather here in Georgia it has also been steadily warming up so I’ve been digging a little deeper in my closet and pulling out some forgotten things I’ve thrifted in the past months. For this look I wanted to mix up a couple of my vintage finds with some of my more modern pieces for an updated and refreshed take on a retro/ vintage inspired look.

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So, my oversized vintage AKF New York jacket was the inspiration for this look today. I found this jacket some time ago and it instantly caught my eyes due to the lovely mix of exquisite prints and colors. I love how easy and light weight it was reminding me of a simple yet elegant robe. And I absolutely loved the mix of gold, burnt orange and turquoise colors on a solid black background.  Anything that can stand out amongst a crowded thrift store rack always gets my stamp of approval and this piece did just that.

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I decided to pair my jacket with a solid burnt orange tunic underneath. I loved how the rich color of this tunic brought out the sprinkles of color in my jacket as well. I wore a cute wide black lace belt to cinch at the waist and pull the jacket and top together. I thought the touch of lace was really feminine and added a slight shape to a boxy jacket. Belts are great staples to have for creating waistlines in oversized clothing with a lack of shape and structure.

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I went with a basic pair of simple light blue jeans for the bottom. I really wanted the other pieces to do all the talking while keeping my look casual as well. I just love how jeans have that ability to make an outfit look like you’re not trying the do thee most also while absolutely trying (lol).

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I chose these absolutely adorable black and leopard print stacked flats by Naturalizer. They were extremely comfortable and gave off such an old school feel with the two-toned shape and vintage inspired structure. As soon as I saw the jacket I knew I wanted to wear these two together!!

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For my bag, I went with this vintage leather Rosemary Classic handbag. You all probably know by now that I am a sucker for a good vintage bag, and this one surely didn’t disappoint!! I love the solid black leather and sturdy briefcase like structure of this handbag with the hint of gold hardware and single handle. This piece just screamed sophistication and girl boss chic as soon as I saw it (lol). I love vintage pieces like this that carry and orate history along with style so eloquently.

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Last but not least, I chose my black jersey hijab along with these earrings I bought from a street vendor some time ago. I just loved how my earrings matched some elements of my jacket perfectly picking up some of the colors as well as patterns precisely. They were like a match made in heaven (lol).

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Welp, that’s it for today you guys. I hope you enjoyed this updated retro/vintage inspired look of mine. Until next time, don’t forget to stay and slay on a budget!! *Waves*.

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What I Wore:

AKF New York jacket: $5

Tunic Top: $5 @Goodwill

Lee jeans: .25 PAT Outlet

Naturalizer shoes: $4 @Value Village

Rosemary Classic handbag: $4 PAT

Belt: $1 @Goodwill

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February 8, 2018 SanaSakinah No comments exist
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You ever look back laughing at old photos of yourself and question, “What was I thinking wearing this?”. It’s so hilarious looking back at old photos and reminiscing that at that particular point in time you thought you were the baddest thing walking lol. Honestly, I just knew some of my old Holiday outfits my mother made from her Butterick and McCall patterns were the bomb dot com (lol). Now I just shake my head thinking, “WoW, I wouldn’t be caught dead in that again” (lol)!! But what can I say (sigh)…I was born and raised in the 80s/ 90s and those weren’t my favorite fashion eras to be honest, Sorry millennials!! I know how much you love their clothing (lol).

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Now looking through my mom’s old pics would truly have me in awe. What I consider the golden era of fashion and style has always been the previous decades before my time, the 60s and 70s. Everybody looked so fly, polished and well put together. I love the clothing from those particular eras and the amount of pride in one’s appearance those photos would always evoke. Every look in the pictures would capture a sort of cool, easy and timeless glamour. For this blog I wanted to recreate that sense of old school charm and effortless style in this vintage inspired look.

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For this look I chose this vintage tweed houndstooth blazer by ILGWU. As soon as I saw this blazer I simply fell in love. I loved the exquisite construction of this blazer from the salmon satin lining to the corduroy collar and elbow patches to the multi-colored teal, tan, brown and burnt orange houndstooth pattern of the jacket. I loved every detail of this blazer including the cute wooden-like buttons on the sleeves and along the front. The sophisticated and casual combination in this blazer was a perfect fit for me.

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Next, I chose a simple cowl neck shift sweater dress to pair underneath the blazer. I thought the dark teal color was a great contrast against the lighter tan and picked up the teal in my blazer quite nicely

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I chose a pair of camel Coldwater Creek pants to wear with this outfit. I loved these particular pants because they are so comfortable and reminded me of crushed velvet. They were so light and easy also enhancing that old school relaxed sort of glamour I was aiming for.

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I chose my dark teal patent leather Steve Madden pumps. I thought these worked well with my outfit and matched my teal sweater nicely. These heels also paired well with my longer pants, giving me  just the extra height I needed in the legs (lol).

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I chose this vintage handbag by Naturalizer I picked up in Baltimore on my last visit. You all know how much I adore a cute vintage handbag, and this one didn’t disappoint. I love the beautiful rich camel color which paired nicely with my outfit. The briefcase-like handle and front metal closure are always favorites of mine in handbags. I thought this one was totally classy and chic.

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Last but not least, I chose my tan jersey hijab along with my refashioned fringe earrings. I wanted a plain neutral hijab to pair along with my jacket, and I loved how my earrings went nicely with my overall outfit.

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Welp, that’s it for today you guys. I hope you enjoyed this vintage inspired look of mine. Until next time, don’t forget to stay and slay on a budget!! *Waves*

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What I Wore:

Vintage ILGWU Tag Blazer: $4 @PAT

Sweater Dress: I can’t remember the price (Purchased on ebay I believe)

Coldwater Creek pants: $2 @Value Village

Steve Madden pumps; $15 @Goodwill

Vintage Naturalizer handbag: $5 @ Collins Ave Thrift Store

 

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February 1, 2018 SanaSakinah No comments exist
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Gone are the days for me when I buy some extravagant Eid (Holiday) outfit I wear for only one occasion and then sits in the back of my closet collecting the dust of Eid’s past. After finding myself wearing an outfit one time and simply not wearing it again, I decided I had to reconfigure my idea of special occasion outfits. Now don’t get me wrong, I love a good bedazzled/ bejeweled gown like any other girl, but my heart often longs for sweet simplicity. There’s nothing like a simple piece that is both buildable yet still stands alone quite nicely.

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I love an amazing dress in all it’s shimmering glory but I honestly have to ask myself, “How many times am I really going to wear this?”. And you know I like more bang for my buck, so if it’s not likely I will wear it again, I will simply pass. That’s why I’ve opted for more pieces that are easily both interchangeable as well as buildable giving me the versatility to change up a look and give a fresh new feel. The ability to accessorize is so important when it comes to building an awesome wardrobe or any outfit. This essentially can take your closet from a few options to a plethora of never ending possibilities. That’s why I chose a previous Eid dress to remix and restyle as my feature on the blog today.

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I chose this emerald green milk silk maxi dress I bought from Kabayare Fashion back in 2016. When I first bought this dress I absolutely loved the striking radiant green color. It is truly what caught my eye. This dress is simple in shape consisting of a basic bodice, a slightly gathered skirt and an empire waist. Yet, the fabric being so fluid and draping so beautifully combined with the gorgeous color makes it such a great candidate for simply building upon, which is why I initially chose it for an Eid outfit. This particular dress seems to be a pretty popular muslimah favorite, and I can totally understand why (lol)!!

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I chose to wear my brown faux fur vest along with my dress in light of the cooler winter weather. I must say I’m not the biggest fan of fur vests you guys, I’m Sorry. And I swear everyone else looks sooo good in them, but it’s really hard for me to find one that is flattering and doesn’t make me look like a grizzly bear (lol). And I absolutely abhor anything that makes me look bigger or broader than I am. This particular fur vest is the only one I’ve come across thus far that works well for me. I love the mixture of both dark and light brown fur along with the fact that it is also a stretchy sweater with a zippered front.

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I decided to pair my outfit with these cute brown boots by Miss Bisou I happened to get free of charge the day before. Yes, I said FREE!!! It totally pays to be one of the last people in the thrift store at the end of a looong day when the employees are tired and ready to go home. I love the comfort and ease of these boots, and adore the buckled straps up the sides and around the ankles. These felt and looked like classic riding boots and had an elevated edgy feel. I thought they worked well with my outfit.

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I chose my brown leather Dockers handbag to wear with this look. I happened to be wearing this bag when I found the boots and they matched perfectly so I was sold!!  Also, I loved the simplicity of the bag along with the distressed leather look.

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Last but not least I chose my matching emerald green milk silk jersey hijab that I also purchased along with my dress. Again I just loved the color and the way it draped in such elegance. I chose my refashioned brown spiked earrings and bracelet to accessorize this outfit. I loved how well they played into my overall look giving it more of that slight edge I was going for.

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Welp, that’s it for today you guys. I hope you enjoyed this remixed throwback look of mine. Until next time, don’t forget to stay and slay on a budget!!

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What I Wore:

Milk Silk Dress: $26 @Kabayare Fashion

Faux Fur Vest: $4 @PAT

Brown Boots: FREE!!!

Dockers Handbag: $5 @Goodwill

 

 

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January 25, 2018 SanaSakinah 8 comments
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So the weather finally broke over the weekend following a week full of bone chilling temps, a whopping couple of inches in snow on the ground and a house full of kids if you have any who were home from school driving you crazy due to a “state of emergency” and another week of “snow days” (side eye). Despite it all we made it through that week alive and intact (wipes sweat from brow) to welcome in one of the warmest weekends that I’ve experienced in a minute. Thank Goodness!! And I must say I surely appreciated a little break from the coldest winter ever lol.

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Therefore I left my heavier coats hanging in the winds and sought out something a little lighter and brighter in light of the beautiful weather we were blessed to have. The weather was so perfect to break out a few things I had picked up in the past months but had yet to wear. You know I love mixing and matching different elements of style so my outfit on the blog today is an ode to my personality and eclectic taste featuring a little funky mixed with a scoop of edgy and a side of chic.

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I decided to pull out my black trumpet skirt for this look. I knew I wanted my skirt to totally scream chic for this outfit. I love a good trumpet skirt with that classic fit and flair shape that complements just about any body type. This is probably one of my favorite skirts I own. The simple solid black color makes it a great staple for any wardrobe that can be styled in various ways.

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Next, I chose this mustard yellow blouse mixed with black and a hint of red plaid to pair with my skirt. I totally digged the mix of colors and absolutely loved it when I first saw it. It wasn’t the most flattering shape but I knew the print was completely eye catching, and with a little nip tuck layering could definitely come in handy which it did for this particular look.

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Next, I chose my recently thrifted vegan leather motorcycle jacket to accompany this outfit. I love how it just put a little edge and danger into my outfit. I loved this jacket when I first saw it while thrifting. From the subtle details like the red satin lining on the inside to the gold zippers adorning it, I was sold on these details making it not only edgy but both feminine and chic as well.

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I chose these funky cherry red patent leather puma sneakers I found in Burlington over the summer. As someone who is not a real sneaker head and hasn’t worn them on a regular basis in almost twenty years I must I say absolutely love these!! First off, the red hot color mixed with the shiny patent leather just spoke to my soul and pulled at my heart strings. There was no way I was walking away from them that day lol!! And when I thought of the bag I had recently purchased that matched to perfection I was completely smitten.

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Of course I paired my outfit with the Estee Lauder bag I had already that inspired me to purchase the sneakers. I snatched this bag up so fast when I first saw it. It was sitting in the back of the store looking  like an afterthought tossed amongst the miscellaneous things and priced at only $2.50. We locked eyes and the rest was history…she was mine for the keeping!! I didn’t care if it was originally a bag that was apart of a makeup set…Tuh!! It was gorgeous and was going to be worn as a handbag for me. It’s such a great statement piece and exclamation point to an outfit..

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Last but not least, I chose this mustard yellow jersey hijab with black and gold chain link earrings to complete my look. I just loved how my hijab matched the yellow of my blouse and my earrings matched my jacket.

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Welp that’s it for today you guys. I hope you enjoyed this look. Until next time…don’t forget to stay and slay on a budget!! *Waves*

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What I Wore:

Trumpet Skirt: $6 @Goodwill

Plaid Blouse: $3 @PAT

Motorcycle Jacket: $7 @PAT

Puma Sneakers: $25 @Burlington

Estee Lauder Bag: $2.50 @Goodwill

 

 

 

 

 

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January 21, 2018 SanaSakinah No comments exist
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Turning Your Old Leather Boots Into Fly Leather Earrings 

Hey you guys!! *Waves* I’ve been struggling to get more refashioning projects up on my blog when I realized it was because I hated taking pics every step of the way so I was always putting it off. That’s when I realized videos were the way to go!! So I thought, “why didn’t I start this Youtube Channel sooner” lol , where I can record and share all of my awesome refashions/ DIY?? Welp, I’m excited to say that it’s finally here and here is my first video on a really cool refashion/ DIY…Enjoy!!

 

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January 19, 2018 SanaSakinah No comments exist
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Hey yous guys…it’s been awhile but I’m finally baaaack!!! *Waves* I hope you all missed me lol. I really needed a quick end of the year breather so I took a little break, went for a nice trip back home and got some much needed r&r to recharge myself for this new year. Nothing like taking a little time to catch up on some real shut eye and clear your head. I hope your 2018 is off to a great start!! How are you all enjoying this winter so far?? I knew we were in for a doozey when it snowed down here in Georgia in November. The temps in Baltimore were in the teens and it felt like single digits while I was there…I mean it was suuuper freezing!!! I came back home to Georgia and although it wasn’t as cold it was still a bit chilly. I have to say I am totally over this weather though!! I am soooo not a cold weather/winter person and am looking forward to the warmer spring air, along with the birds chirping, all the pretty blossoming flowers and all that cliche stuff lol. But in the meantime, I guess we just have to suck it up and make the most of it….Right?? And a true fashionista can slay all season long, so making the most of this weather is zipping up those fly leather boots, throwing on that cozy chunky sweater, and throwing that fancy cashmere shawl around your shoulders like a BOSS and moving like this weather doesn’t even faze you!!! But it does lol….But we’re not gonna show it. We’re just going to march right along, move in silence and let our outfits do all the talking. Therefore for this winter look I chose this colorfully cozy, bold and casual look.

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So I chose this vibrant chunky knit sweater for this particular look. I just loved how comfortable, warm and relaxing it felt on. I love a nice cozy sweater that hugs you like your favorite security blanket that rocks you quietly to sleep but still exudes a sense of style and poise. The long cowl neck collar is also one of my favorite elements in winter clothing. I just love a dramatic collar that can be manipulated and styled in so many ways. I really wanted some bold color for this outfit so I loved the striking royal blue along with the grey and white intertwined. I thought the colors were so pretty and chic and I loved how everything just meshed so well together...

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I chose a plain pair of light blue jeans for this outfit to play the background. I thought a simple pair of plain streamlined jeans with a slight boot cut worked perfectly with my bold sweater and all the pops of colors which did all the talking.

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I really wanted this outfit to pop so I chose to infuse it with another strikingly bold color like fuschia. I thought these fuschia pumps by Charles David were a great match and I loved how all the colors paired alongside each other. The nice sleek and clean shape of a simple pump peeking from below my jeans both enhanced the look and feel of this casual yet still very comfortably classy outfit.

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I also chose a fuschia colored clutch as my bag again pulling that pop of color into my outfit. I loved the brightness of the bag along with just the simplicity in style and shape. Clutches are always a great and easy way to heighten an overall look and add pops of color to an outfit.

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Last but not least I chose this bright royal blue hijab that went perfectly with the blue in my sweater and these refashioned white leather earrings. I actually have a YouTube hijab tutorial video on the different ways I wrap and style my hijab as well as a tutorial on these leather earrings I refashioned out of an old boot. Yes you read that right….I am now officially a YouTuber!! Yaaaaaay!!! I am so happy to have a more interactive medium to share with you all and use in conjunction with my blog. I hope you all will be joining me on my Youtube journey. .

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Welp, that’s it for today you guys. I hope you enjoyed this bold and classy yet casual winter look of mine. We might be a little cold right now but atleast we’re going to be cold and comfy in style for sure lol!! Again It feels so good to be back…looking forward to this year and all it has to offer!! Praying we all have a blessed positive and productive year. Until next time…don’t forget to stay and slay on a budget!!! *Waves*

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(I laugh everytime I see this pic. Soooo serious…that’s my fierce face!!! lolololol I promise I’m nicer than I look in some of my pics)

What I Wore:

Yoki NY Sweater: $3 @Goodwill

Blue Jeans: $.25 @PAT Outlet

Charles David Pumps: $20 @BCF

jenniffer Moore Clutch: $1.50  @Value Village

Leather Earrings: Refashioned from old leather boot

 

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January 19, 2018 SanaSakinah No comments exist
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Easy Everyday Elegant Hijab Tutorial, 4 Styles!!

Hey you guys…I’m finally entering into the Youtube world…Yaaaay!! Thought it was only right to make my very first video on the most requested thing I get asked about…my hijab!! So here is a tutorial on how I wear mine…Enjoy!!

 

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December 6, 2017 SanaSakinah 6 comments
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When it comes to fashion an essential part in styling is often in the colors we choose to wear.   Most of us have our own personal preferences in colors based on the way we think they complement our skin tones, hair colors, moods etc.  I personally love working with a multitude of colors when styling my outfits. However pairing multiple colors together can be a tricky thing for some. But don’t worry there are tons of helpful styling guides and tips on what colors complement each other well.  No matter your preference, skin tone, hair color or mood there is one color combination that will always remain classic yet still very modern and that is black and white. Black and white is a true blue example of opposites attracting and creating a perfectly contrasted combination. With both colors being on the opposite of the “color spectrum”  they are the original color blocking combo/ duo. No matter how casual or glamorous the outfit  these two colors work extremely well together creating such clean, chic  and polished looks. That’s why my outfit for today is this simple yet sophisticated black and white casual number.

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So my look today is all about simplicity and layering. I started off with this cute black and white H&M dress I wore as my top. The thicker knitted cotton fabric in this dress makes it a great option for cooler fall days.  I loved the eye catching graphic black and white pattern all over this piece. This is a great piece to style in various ways. The intricate designs along with the simplicity of black and white make it a perfect candidate for adding some nice pops of color as well.

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I layered my dress/ top with this long black and white Ruby Moon cardigan.  I absolutely love this piece!! Again I love the simplicity of the black and white along with all the multitude of prints along it. I loved the thick solid black along the lapel, around the edges and bottom of the sleeves as well as the deep pockets on the side. I thought this piece worked absolutely great when paired with my printed dress underneath. I love mixing and matching prints and I thought all the prints went strikingly well together.

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I decided to wear this chunky belt around my waist to pull everything together. I loved the figure eight like design in the front with the floating braided loops. I thought it worked great and added even more depth to my simple two-toned look.

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I paired my outfit with a plain  pair of light blue jeans. I wanted the maze of all the black and white patterns/ prints to do all the talking while keeping my bottom simple and casual.

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I chose to wear these leather ankle boots by Maripe’. I love the simplicity of this boot with the subtle stitched design and the pointed toe. I thought they went great with my look.

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Sticking to my two-tone theme I chose this simple black satin-like clutch as my handbag. I loved the sleek and basic design in this clutch which complemented my outfit perfectly.

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Last but not least, I chose a black jersey hijab along with a pair of clear and black beaded chandelier earrings to complete my overall look. 

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Well that’s it for today you guys!!  Colors are great and should be explored at all costs when creating your ensembles. However,  never underestimate the power in simplicity and impact of black and white!! 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
Ruby Moon Cardigan: $4 @PAT
Jeans: 25 cents @PAT Outlet
Belt: $2  @Value Village
Maripe’ leather boots: $4 @PAT
Clutch: $1 @PAT

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November 29, 2017 SanaSakinah 2 comments
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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 

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November 24, 2017 SanaSakinah 6 comments
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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

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November 15, 2017 SanaSakinah 2 comments
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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
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November 9, 2017 SanaSakinah No comments exist
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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. 
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
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November 1, 2017 SanaSakinah No comments exist
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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

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October 25, 2017 SanaSakinah No comments exist
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Just like the seasons change so do fashion trends that come and go right along with the seasons, years, and decades that birthed them. Every year “someone” deemed an expert in the fashion world tells us what’s hot or what’s not, what’s happening, what is so last year and what are absolute No Nos. If you’re a firm believer in following trends and fashion rules then you will always be chasing some false sense of fashion security wrapped in temporary moments that will always come to an abrupt end and leave you scrambling to grab ahold of the next happening thing. Here’s my advice…don’t let fashion trends define who and what you are. Fashion shouldn’t come with a manual where we are following orders or instructions in how we express ourselves through clothing. We all have our own stories and voices that should be told through our own sense of style. This is what takes, shakes, and wakes fashion up…each person bringing to the table their own unique sense of what it means to be fashionable.

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For this look I chose a very well known fashion faux paux…white after Labor Day. How and why this particular fashion No No was even created is beyond me. And since I could care less to research the silly reasoning behind  it (lol) I will just say it absolutely makes no sense to toss a particular color to the side because of the month or time of year it would be worn. Therefore  I chose this beautiful vintage white crinkle skirt for this look.

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First off, I love the textured sheer crinkle fabric of this skirt. You never have to worry about ironing this kind of fabric so it is always ready to go which is the very reason I ended up throwing it on at the last minute over this past weekend (lol). Besides the ease of it, I love how roomy and billowy the skirt is. It has such a nice soft and light air to it.

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I decided to pair my skirt with this mustard and white printed top. I loved the idea of throwing some nice bold pops of color and prints in along with the crisp white skirt. I thought this top worked nicely contrasted against the blank slate of my bottom.

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For my shoes I chose these mustard yellow corduroy flats. They were a perfect match with my shirt and I loved how casually they played along with the more dressier skirt I wore. I love mixing and matching elements of style together so I think pieces of clothing that can be worn in a multitude of ways for multiple occasions are always great staples to have..

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For my bag I chose my vintage Lady Pride tote bag. If you’ve been following along with my blog the  chances are this isn’t the first time you’ve actually seen it (lol). I love this bag!! It’s a really great statement bag and always seems to give my outfit that extra pop that I’m looking for. I love the emerald color along with the snake print and burnt orange handles. The funniest thing is I’ve had this bag for years and didn’t even start wearing it until this year.  Just goes to show what goodies lurk in the shadows of our closets at times!!

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Last but not least I chose my emerald green jersey hijab along with my African style earrings to finish off my look. This particular hijab is actually the very first jersey style hijab I’ve owned. I bought this one last year and, Well you know….the rest is history (lol)!!

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Well that’s it for today guys!! Don’t get caught up on trends that box you in and silences your own personal styling choices.  And whatever you choose don’t forget to always stay and slay on a budget!! *Waves*

What I Wore:

Pastille Skirt: $5 @Value Village
New Directions Shirt: $2 @PAT
Corduroy Flats: $3@Goodwill
Vintage Tote Bag: $5@Goodwill

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October 18, 2017 SanaSakinah 4 comments
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Have you ever worn something and in hindsight thought to yourself, “I wish I would’ve done something differently”?? Well, the chances are we have all had those moments a time or two in our wardrobe histories where we second guessed our styling choices. Maybe you would’ve worn a different type of shoe, handbag or an accent color. Maybe you would’ve changed the jewelry up just a bit or deleted it altogether. Maybe you would’ve made some simple changes or slight adjustments pulling your outfit together to make an even stronger statement and more polished look. Today I chose to talk about an outfit worn some time ago that I had planned to blog about. However, I changed my mind at that particular time due to just this scenario lol. It’s funny how looking at actual pictures can really give you more clarity and insight on your outfit. Matter of fact, I would suggest taking pics when trying to decide how to style an outfit altogether beforehand. It really can help with deciding how to edit!! Hmmmm…I wonder if you could guess what I would change here???

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For this particular look I chose this cute turquoise and white chevron printed shirt dress by Everly. This is a very simple and chic mod like shift dress so it’s absolutely comfortable and very accommodating. I think this style works well with all body types, shapes and sizes. I love simple shapes with bold prints and patterns so I think the more vibrant chevron stripes works perfectly with the modest structure.

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Shift dresses are great for pairing with a bottom so I chose to pair this one with some red bootleg  Editor Express pants. First off, I absolutely love these pants!! I love the fit and flare in a pair of dress pants and these have to be my one of my favorite pair I own right now. The bright cherry red color along with the ease and drama of a wider leg makes these a classic staple. I thought the red color was a great complement with my chevron striped shirt dress.

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I chose to wear a royal blue cardigan to pair alongside my shirt dress. I really wanted to stick to a colorful theme so I thought royal blue worked nicely with my other colors and gave my outfit that extra pop of color that shakes the entire outfit up.

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For my shoes I went with these simple and classy suede Jessica Simpson heelss in turquoise. 

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Now as far as my bag goes, what had happened was…lol. Ok so I really do love this bag. It’s actually a makeup bag by Estée Lauder that I bought to wear as a handbag. I love the whimsical lunch box look of this hand bag along with the little briefcase like handle. I thought the two toned red patent leather look of the bag alongside the gold zipper and hardware was really chic. With all that being said, this is the one part I would’ve edited. I thought my outfit already had enough red in it and the bag especially being so big took away from it just a bit. In hindsight I would’ve went with a different pop of color altogether or maybe even a nice print.

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Last but not least I went with a cherry red jersey knit hijab and my beaded turquoise earrings to finish off my look. 

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Despite my one objection I actually liked the way my outfit came together and that’s why I decided to post about it anyway (lol). But if there’s one vital thing I learned with this outfit it was, “Don’t forget to edit!”. And taking pics beforehand can help enormously…Note to self!! Welp, until next time you guys…don’t forget to stay and slay on a budget!! *Waves*.

What I Wore:

Chevron Shirt Dress: $6 @Goodwill
Express Pants: $6 @Goodwill
Blue Cardigan: $5 @Goodwill
Jessica Simpson Pumps: $20 @BCF
Estée Lauder Bag: $3 @Goodwill

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October 11, 2017 SanaSakinah No comments exist
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So Summer has come and gone ushering in the Fall season which normally welcomes all the extra layers, cozy sweaters, funky jackets, and ankle booties but somehow the weather hasn’t quite gotten the memo yet (lol). If you’re one of many experiencing unusually higher temps this autumn there’s a chance you are still experiencing some kind of summer vibes . I personally being one of those haven’t totally tossed all my sandals to the side just yet. My toes and I are still soaking up this beautiful warmer weather and sunshine while it lasts (wink). But in the spirit of getting ready for the weather shift I began to scan my closet for my fall attire and happened to discover a denim skirt thrifted some years ago that I had never worn. .
When I tried on this skirt I was actually shocked it had sat in my closet practically untouched. I love the mix of the trumpet style shape and patchwork denim along with the smallest ruffle at the very bottom. I know it’s corny but it’s the smallest of details in clothing that sometimes excite me the most(lol). I love that little extra something that wakes the entire piece up!! Besides that,  trumpet skirts are always pretty flattering and have a nice feminine flair so I loved the edginess of denim alongside it.  I really can’t believe I didn’t wear this sooner. It’s amazing what gets lost and overlooked  in our closet sometimes!!

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Keeping my outfit simple while adding splashes of color I chose this beautifully mix printed red, blue and creme Old Navy top I recently purchased.

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Choosing to keep the rest of the look neutral I wore a pair of adorable camel and gold embellished sandals along with my creme and camel handbag. I love the embellishment on these sandals…feels like wearing jewelry on your toes!!..
Last but not least I wore a navy blue jersey hijab along with my long tear drop faux ivory earrings. 

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*Sidenote* Can we please have a moment of silence for one of my longest running and favorite pair of earrings though? I actually lost one this past weekend and it is just now hitting me (tears). I really have to find another replacement because I absolutely adored these earrings!! I love how simple and elegant these are. I believe I purchased these from a street vendor in Brooklyn awhile back so I can’t just repurchase them but I’ll definitely be on the lookout for another pair or something similar somewhere else soon. Ok…rant over (lol).
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Welp, I tried to keep this post short and simple along with my look. It looks like I semi accomplished that (lol). Anyways, I Hope you guys are enjoying your Fall so far, whether warm or cool.  Until next time…don’t forget to stay and slay on a budget!!! (Waves)

 

What I Wore:

Shirt: $2 @PAT

Denim Skirt: $5 @Goodwill

Sandals: $2 @Value Village

Handbag: 50. @PAT Outlet

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October 4, 2017 SanaSakinah No comments exist
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Clothing often imitates art in the search and need for self expression through fashion. Like an architect who designs and concocts the most intricate of structures or an artist who plays with both shading and white space on canvas to craft their masterpieces we all tell a story artistically. Through structure, fabric, colors and movement our garments speak for us without us ever truly saying a word. Therein lies the power of fashion. To be silent yet to still be heard and listened to is without question the ultimate strength in one’s command of their own personal style. For this particular look I chose pieces that shouted art with this beautiful wrap dress being my focal point.
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I spotted this beautiful June & Hudson wrap dress just recently on one of my last thrifting hauls and it immediately caught my attention because of the eye catching colors. It reminded me of a watercolor painting with the different shades of turquoise, teals, lilacs, pinks and fuchsia. I loved how all the colors blended and faded into one another like the perfect tie dye and created this gorgeous pattern of abstract flowers. It truly reminded me of a piece of artwork. Besides the striking color, I loved the fact that it was a wrap dress. Wrap dresses are so softly feminine they truly have a nice elegant grace about themselves. The movement and fluidity of this dress from the open front skirt to its flutter sleeves just creates that subtle romantic type of feel.
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I wore a pair of dark blue indigo straight legged GAP jeans to play the background along with the dress and as a nice contrast to the soft vibrant colors. I also wanted the dress to be the main focal point and do all the talking. My jeans were just there because the dress is open in the front (lol). However, I love the mix of soft and hard in a really pretty flowy feminine dress or top with jeans. This combo always works nicely in my book.
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I decided these hot pink linen pumps by Charles David worked nicely by picking up the hints of pink in my dress. I love these heels in particular because they are surprisingly comfortable and I just love the textured fabric of the shoe. I’ve had these for quite some time and they always come in handy when pink is in order.
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For my bag I went with this simple fuschia colored Jennifer Moore envelope clutch with a tad of gold trim. Honestly when in need of a handbag you can never go wrong with a simple envelope clutch. They come in so many different  colors, styles and sizes making them a great way to accessorize your outfit. Of course for this outfit I wanted to stick with a more solid color because my dress was already rather busy (lol).
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Last but not least I decided to layer up my hijab in two tones, white and turquoise. Therefore I used two jersey hijabs. For this style I actually wrapped the biggest white one first as the underpiece and used the two hanging sides to drape in the front and the back  alongside the smaller turquoise one. This worked out better for me since the turquoise wasn’t as long as I usually liked while adding a bit more color and drama. Not too much but just enough to make it a little different (lol). I also loved these fuschia and pink earrings alongside my hijab and outfit. I thought they complemented them perfectly!!
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Overall, I loved the way this look all came together. The colors were so artsy and cheerfully invigorating. Definitely one of my favorites!! 
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Welp, I hope you guys enjoyed this look of mine. Don’t forget to keep staying and slaying on a budget!!! *Waves*

What I Wore:

June & Hudson Wrap dress: $4 @Value Village
Gap jeans: $6 @Goodwill
Charles David pumps: $20 @BCF
Jennifer Moore clutch: $1.50 @Value Village
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September 27, 2017 SanaSakinah 4 comments
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Clothes come and go as seasons pass and fade away. Fashion trends evolve with the changing of times only to come back around in another decade or so.  Although there are some fashion trends we’d like to burn to complete utter ashes, lock away in a time capsule and sink into the darkest deepest abyss of the ocean where no one can rediscover (lol), there are some we absolutely adore no matter how much times goes by. These are the pieces of fashion that are absolutely timeless and will always be here to stay for eternity. They carry and preserve our history like old black and white photographs, evoke memories like old school songs and carry meaning like quotes from our favorite authors. These are the pieces that define us in some way, shape and especially fashion. 

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For this particular look I chose one of my oldest pieces of clothing I have in my closet to date which is a vintage Pomare Hawaiian dress. If you haven’t guessed by now after that entirely long monolgue that this dress is one of my most treasured and cherished pieces you have not been paying attention (lol). I bought this dress around 12 years ago on eBay and it has been a delight to wear throughout the years. 

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At first sight this dress isn’t very flattering being shaped very much like a Mu Mu and potato sack (lol). Nonetheless with a couple of simple adjustments I made it work  by tying the shoulder straps in the front around the neck like a halter top and then taking the two straps in the back and tying them around my waist. 

This simple fix totally transformed the dress making it more flattering by giving it more of an empire waistline. I love the simple cool cotton fabric of the dress along with the beautiful hibiscus flower pattern decorating it which screams caribbean vacation/ cruise ready. The long mermaid ruffle at the bottom is a nice little addition for that extra feminine flair and flow. The long floor length of this dress gives it that gliding on the ground as you walk sort of drama which I absolutely love lol.This dress has such a beautiful comfort and elegance about it and is always a summertime favorite of mine.

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For my cover up I chose this cropped khaki cargo jacket I thought complemented the brown dress with ivory flowers perfectly. I like that it is both simple and neutral in color with a little bit of an edge in it’s design. It’s also is a nice contrast alongside my more feminine dress.

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I chose these beautiful brown fringed sandals by Christian Siriano for my shoes. You guys won’t believe how much I paid for these!! (check down below) I absolutely love these sandals. They are surprisingly pretty comfortable and I love the fringe adorned on each of the three straps.  I think they paired very nicely with my look.

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I went with this simple woven tweed style handbag with braided/ woven leather round handles to stick with my natural/neutral color scheme. I thought the cool casual summertime feel of it worked well with my dress. 

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Last but not least I chose a beige jersey hijab and wore a pair of my refashioned earrings out of my old handbag. I thought they matched my outfit perfectly.

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Welp, that’s it for today! I hope you enjoyed this post on one of my favorite pieces. Hmmmm…I wonder what treasured goodies you all have in your closets that you think are timeless too?? Until next time you guys…don’t forget to stay and slay on a budget!!! *Waves*

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What I Wore:

Pomare Hawaiian Dress:  $15 @eBay   
Beige Crop Jacket: $5 @Goodwill
Christian Siriano Fringe Sandals: $2 @PAT
Tweed Handbag: .50 @PAT

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September 21, 2017 SanaSakinah No comments exist
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Why sacrifice fashion for comfort if you don’t have to? Being comfortable doesn’t always necessarily mean wearing sneakers, sweats, and t-shirts. And fashion isn’t always about wearing the snuggest/ stuffiest clothing with the highest of killer heels although we do love a good pair of killer heels at times lol. Comfort in clothing is especially all about how we relate to fabric and style in our everyday lives. For me being comfortable is essential when choosing my outfits for any occasion. This look is all about capturing that laid back business casual feel with that weekend flow appeal.

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For this look I chose this simple yet stylish navy blue and creme chevron striped shirt dress. I  love the shape of this dress with just a basic adjustable drawstring at the waist. This small element is totally great for accommodating various sizes and can be very forgiving in the waistline. And we all could use a little forgiveness in that area every now and again. I know I can lol !! I love the funky chevron stripes in this piece that jazz and play up the simple dress rather nicely. The soft and silky wrinkle resistant fabric makes this dress extremely comfortable and always photo ready.

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Of course, going along with my business casual weekend flow look, I decided to dress my shirt dress down with a pair of dark blue denim jeans by Zara Woman. I decided on darker wash blue for the bottom of this look to contrast against the lighter creme color within my top and throughout the rest of my outfit. I thought these particular jeans were a perfect fit.

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For my shoes I decided to go with these cute linen and leather espadrille lace up wedges by J. Crew. I absolutely love the look of these wedges!! I love the contrast of the navy  blue trim and lining against the creme linen. The ribbon ankle laces with the touch of leather tips are simply adorable. I thought these worked perfectly into my outfit!!

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I chose this Estée Lauder tote bag to complement my look as well. I love how simple this bag is with just a touch of the navy blue stitching up the sides along with the thin handle straps. Again I stuck with the basic navy blue and creme color scheme.  As someone who loves color I typically try to mix colors into my outfits to brighten them up. However, I felt the two tone color scheme worked well alone due to the how all my pieces intertwined the two colors in their own unique and separate ways.

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Last but not least, I chose a navy blue jersey hijab along with some cute creme pearl and gold accessories to finish off my entire look. I thought my jewelry worked really well in keeping the overall look of my outfit clean and simple.

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I really like the way my overall look came altogether. It has all the elements of business casual along with that weekend comfort and flair I so often try to capture. I  just wish I thought twice first before I sat on those friggin train tracks though…not my brightest moment!! *face palm* lol

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Welp…Until next time you guys!! Don’t forget to keep staying and slaying on a budget!! *Waves*

 

What I Wore:

Shirt Dress: $6 @Goodwill

Zara Woman Jeans: $6 @Goodwill

J. Crew Espadrilles: $6 @Goowill

Estee Lauder Tote bag: $2 @Value Village

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August 25, 2017 SanaSakinah No comments exist
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So I’m stretched out reclining back and relaxing on a beach somewhere off the coast of Africa, or maybe on the deck of a yacht in the middle of the ocean catching all the warmth of the sun’s rays as the sprinkles of water gently caress and cool my face. The mix of cool refreshing mists along with the sun’s warm embrace while listening to the sounds of the ocean cradles me into the deepest and most peaceful of slumbers. Of course this is just me wishfully thinking and picturing it all in my head…Duh lol. But a girl can dream and it’s only right I’m cute and comfortable for the special occasion…right??

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Well this outfit is all about capturing that carefree resort wear kind of vibe where you leave all your worries behind and just enjoy the moments of pure tranquility. Nothing says carefree like a free flowing jumper that captures and releases the winds, moves with the grace and beauty of a dress but exudes all the confidence and flexibility of a pant. For this look I chose this fiery burnt orange number that was thrifted new with tags, might I add lol. I love this bold earth tone color because it contains both the warmth of a brown as well as the energy and spirit of a red.

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The jumper is very comfortable and strapless donning the most darling double ruffles along the top of it adding just a touch of quaint femininity. I love how simply relaxed and easy the fit is with just a high elastic waist and wide leg pants. The cotton gauze material from which it is constructed makes it extremely lightweight, breathable and absorbent making it a great staple piece for any summer wardrobe. 

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The pockets are also a nice touch and a great added bonus on this piece. Don’t you just love the presence of pockets sometimes? I mean, you may not use them for anything else other than your hands or freeing your hands up at times but Hey, that’s what we need them for!! My hands and I are always apppreciative for a garment with pockets lol!!

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I decided to pair the jumper with this African printed long batwing style cardigan I bought on clearance last summer. I love the contrast of the basic black and white color with the intricate mixed pattern designs to pair alongside the brighter jumper. I thought the roomy and relaxed batwing style worked well with my overall easy and free flowing resort wear look.

 

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For my shoes I went with these African style printed peep toe heels I bought from Payless…Yes, I said Payless lol!!! I bought these a couple of summers back also on clearance and I just absolutely fell in love with them the moment I saw them!! I simply adore the printed fabric along with the wooden cork heel and how extremely comfortable these are. I thought these were a perfect addition to my outfit also giving off that nice contrast against my jumper as well.

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I decided to pair my outfit with my thrifted vintage Lady Pride tote handbag just to add another nice pop of color. I thought the emerald green was just a nice touch alongside the burnt orange and it didn’t hurt that there was a pop of the exact same orange on the handle of the bag as well. I love the snakeskin print on the bag with this outfit because it adds even more depth to the overall look.

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Last but not least I paired the look with this mustard yellow jersey hijab. Why? Because it just worked OH soooo perfectly lol!!! No but really, can you think of another hijab color that would’ve pulled this outfit together any better?? I thought the mustard yellow looked amazing beside the burnt orange and further heightened the overall look. I added some touches of African jewelry like a cuff and earrings as well as some bangles I made out of kente fabric last year. I loved how everything came together in this outfit with the play on of prints and mix of colors. I would totally pack this look away for an exotic vacation or a caribbean cruise!!

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Welp, I hope you all enjoyed this fantasy resort/ vacation look of mine and I pray I can turn that fantasy into a reality soon lol. Until next time you guys…don’t forget to stay and slay on a budget!!! *waves*

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What I Wore:

Jumper: $6 @Park  Avenue Thrift
Cardigan: $3 @Shoppers World
Peep Toe heels: $12 @Payless
Vintage Tote Bag: $5 @Goodwill

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August 12, 2017 SanaSakinah No comments exist
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What’s a better outfit to spend time in by the water on a beautiful breezy summer day other than an easy free flowing maxi sundress? While visiting back home in Baltimore this summer I’ve spent many of days down by the Inner Harbor enjoying the scenery by the water. On this particular day I chose to wear one of my recently thrifted purchases and she is most definitely one of my favorite maxi dress purchases to date!!

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I can not explain enough how girlish and delightful this dress makes me feel. The shape and movement of this dress exudes such finesse and feminine mystique!! The breathable cotton fabric makes it flow so organically and effortlessly with the breeze. It’s something so beautiful about a full floor length dress that just falls and moves so gracefully telling it’s own story as you walk that even the clumsiest person with the wobbliest of walks would appear as if they were gliding across the floor lol. The A-line shape and full circle skirt are of course so flattering that it will compliment just about any body type. The two wide panels along the skirt with the quaintest little ruffle at the very hem make this dress simply adorable.  I love the simple yet elegant details in this dress coupled with the rich and colorful red, grey, white and lavender mix of prints.

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Because the pattern of the dress is already bold I decided to pair it with a simple light blue jean jacket as a cover up. I’ve had a number of jean jackets in the past but this one has truly withstood the tests of time earning its spot as a true blue staple in my wardrobe. Jean jackets make great casual coverups for sundresses. I love this one in particular because it is slightly distressed, cropped with blazer-like lapels and has a really feminine shape. I love this style of mixing both elements of a jean jacket along with a blazer. The mix of both edgy and sophisticated is always a great combination in my book and makes for a more eclectic style.

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I chose neutral chestnut colored accessories to play the background for this look and let my dress do the majority of the talking. For my shoes I went with these thrifted leather ankle lace-up wooden sandals by Steve Madden along with my thrifted chestnut leather vintage handbag by Architect for AMC. 

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And of course I threw on my trusty macthing refashioned fringe earrings lol. I love neutral accessories because you can pair them with almost anything without taking away from your central color scheme. Quite Surprisingly, my handbag and earrings have both seen many days of wear, and are two of the cheapest things if not actually thee cheapest things I own. Wait…I take that back. They are most definitely two of the cheapest things I’ve bought to date lol!!! 

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Last but not least I went with a basic white cotton jersey hijab to pick up the hints of white in my dress and to brighten up the overall look. Of course I couldn’t leave out an extra hint of red somewhere else in my outfit *wink* lol.  Therefore, I wore a cherry red matte lip for that extra  pop of color. It’s something I absolutely love about a nice red lip that just totally polishes and completes a total look!!

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Welp until until next time you guys…don’t forget to stay and slay on a budget!!! *Waves*

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What I Wore:

Cotton Maxi Dress: $6 @Goodwill
Jean Jacket: $5 @Goodwill
Steve Madden Sandals: $6 @Goodwill
Vintage Leather Handbag: 25 cents @Park Avenue Thrift
Fringe Earrings:  Refashioned from old thrifted handbag

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July 25, 2017 SanaSakinah 7 comments
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When it comes to clothes shopping and thrifting there are some clothes that capture your eyes and there are some clothes that totally captivate your heart. Ok it’s a little dramatic and cheesy I know lol but there are truly some pieces of clothing that speak to you moreso than others for sure. When shopping I often come across clothing I like but have one or two things that could’ve used some slight editing. So, I just love when I find the opposite in clothing when every little detail looks as if it was carefully thought out and perfectly executed without doing thee absolute most. This skirt, being my headliner, was of course a perfect example of that.

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You probably have already realized by now that I have a thing for mixed patterns and vibrant colors. Well, this skirt completely embodies both so its no surprise it spoke to me instantly. First off, I love the shape of this bohemian styled full on flared tiered skirt.  The shape of it is very flattering and forgiving in those areas we often need a little more give at times lol.  I simply love the soft and sheer feminine graceful swing of this full skirt. .

The colors and patterns add even further dimension to an already beautifully constructed design. The tiers in the skirt consists of different patterns of florals, stripes and polk-a-dots which I all adore. Mixing patterns can add so much personality to an otherwise boring and mundane piece of clothing. But in this case it added even more fabulousness to an already beautifully made design. The colors were absolutely gorgeous too!! I love the turquoise, corals and pinks along with that one subtle contrast of chocolate brown in one tier. I honestly don’t think I would like the skirt as much without the one tier that stood alone. It adds just the right element of surprise..

Ok enough about the skirt already lol. Because the skirt is so busy and colorful alone I decided to go with this simple cotton gauze top that picked up the hint of corals in the skirt. I like this shirt because it is very lightweight and thin making it perfect for warmer weather..
For my shoes I went with these wide strapped camel block platform heels by Guess. I love a block heel because they give you both the look and height of a heel without all the discomfort nor all the feeling of balancing on stilts lol.  And the fact that they were round toe didn’t hurt either as these were extremely comfortable.

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I decided to go with this two-tone envelope clutch bag. I love the material of this bag because it isn’t your standard leather or fabric clutch. The pink rubber-like material makes it stand out even further alongside the leather. I thought it was really darling and a perfect addition to my entire outfit picking up both the hints of pinks in my skirt as well as the camel in my shoes.

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Last but not least I chose a chocolate brown cotton jersey hijab to offset that one chocolate tier in my skirt. The pair of turquoise and coral beaded chandelier earrings I wore were also purchased thrifting and were the perfect match for my skirt. I just love it when that happens!!!

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 Welp,  Until next time you guys!!  Don’t Pay…Stay and Slay on a Budget!!  *waves*

What I Wore

Good Clothes Skirt: $6 @Value Village
Old Navy Shirt:$2 @Park Avenue Thrift
Guess platform heels: $6 @Goodwill
Daniel Nicole Clutch: $3 @Goodwill
Beaded Chandelier Earrings: $3 (forgot where I purchased)

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July 17, 2017 SanaSakinah 2 comments
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So if you follow my page on FB you probably already know that I celebrated  Eid Al-Fitr, the holiday following Ramadan, just a few weeks ago and told you all how thrifting played a big role in pulling my outfit altogether. Well…I didn’t want to leave you all hanging and not talk about the actual accessories I wore. So here are all the deets!!

 

So first off, let me just say that this was thankfully by far the easiest Eid outfit I was able to piece together due to already having purchased a dress on sale from the previous year. Therefore, I was already winning in that department. Then in recent months through thrifting I had also already purchased a cute little silver iridescent glitter envelope clutch bag for only a couple of bucks. So when I ran into a cute pair of silver iridescent glitter Enzo Angiolini peep toe pumps that matched the bag perfectly and were only fifty cents it was a wrap!! lol 

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I knew I wanted to make accessories that matched my shoes and bag. So, of course, in true thrifty hijabi fashion lol I looked into my closet first for things that could possibly be refashioned and luckily I found another old thrifted bag I hadn’t used in ages. The color and material were perfect for the neck piece I wanted to make.

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As beautiful as the material from my bag stood alone, I still wanted to match the bling and sparkle of my shoes and clutch. So first I thought maybe I could find some glitter fabric that matched. So I looked online and searched a few stores, but I had no luck finding a suitable fabric that had the same type of consistency quite like my other thrifted items. So I ended up buying a silver iridescent glitter sheet on vinyl backing which matched perfecly.  I didn’t quite know how I was going to make it work with it not being actual fabric, but I was determined to come up with something, and I think I managed to pull it off…


If you have read my last DIY refashioning post then you know I made one neck piece already. So after cutting out a sizeable piece of material from the gold handbag I used the same neck piece previously made as a pattern to trace and cut out the very same shape. That was pretty simple…right??

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Now what isn’t pictured is how I stripped the vinyl backing away from the glitter side. It was way too stiff and I needed the material to be more pliable for the piece I was making. So stripping it away was extremely essential in making it more moldable.

 

Ok….here comes the hard part lol. Now I had to decide how I would actually utilize the glitter sheet in my actual neck piece. So I played with it a little, and then decided to take the same previously made neck piece and cut out the same shape on the glitter sheet. 

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From there I traced and cut out shapes from the glitter piece using my gold piece as my guide. These are the shapes I came up with. I placed and stuck the individual glitter pieces on the one gold piece using rolled clear tape. I used tape beforehand so I would be able to structure the pieces first before actually gluing them in place with fabric glue..
Once everything was adhered I used my safety pin to poke holes on each side and place my o-rings, chains, and clasps. .
My earrings were a last minute decision…the easiest 5-10 minutes for sure!! So taking a piece of the glitter sheet I folded two corners over into triangles. I then glued each side down and cut them both out. 

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So to further decorate and give the earrings more support at the top, where I would be placing the hooks, I used a little of the gold material from the bag and glued it down on each side of the tip. Once adhered I placed on the o-rings and fish hooks.

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And there you have it…a completed jewelry set ready to sparkle, shine,and slay!!!

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What I Used:

Old Thrifted Handbag 
Glitter sheet
Fabric glue
Fish hooks
O-rings, Chains and Clasps

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July 7, 2017 SanaSakinah 6 comments
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Hey you guys it’s been awhile…Sorry for the mini break but I’m baaaack!!! *waves cheerfully*  I’ve missed you all so much!! *big hugs*. I hope you all are enjoying your summer and scoring lots of cool and thrifty things!! I’ve been doing a lot of thrifting myself for my house trying to decorate and spruce up the place. I’ll be sharing some of those projects in my future posts. In the spirit of summer it’s only right my first post back is on this totally vibrant and colorful Indian inspired outfit that just screams bold and super fun!!

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If you don’t know by now I must reiterate again how obsessed I am with long caftan tunic tops!! They are a great go-to for me especially in the warmer summer months. You can find many of them in the lightest and coolest of fabrics so they are absolutely breathable and comfortable during the summer time. I have purchased many of these throughout the years and they are always some of my greatest staples in my closet!!

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I loved this particular one for obvious reasons as you can see. It caught my eye as soon as I noticed it. When thrifting especially I always step back and notice the colors and prints in clothes hanging amongst the other pieces of clothing and look for what stands out and catches my attention first. And Yes this top absolutely stuck out like a big beautiful ball of fun!! lol I just loved the different patterns and colors on this top. I mean from every different angle there’s a little surprise and party in store!!

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The pattern mixing of the Indian print together with the stripes alongside the polka dots and mixed in with a some zebra print sounds all so crazy when you think of it but it just totally worked and came out so beautifully. It’s kind of like the circus meets the jungle meets Bollywood and I’m totally all here for it!!! lol

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With the top being so busy and extra I paired it with a simple pair of light blue jeans and let the top do all the yapping lol.

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Of course I had to pair this top with these beautiful handmade indian slippers I purchased recently. These are one of my favorite thrifting finds for sure!! I absolutely love everything about these shoes from the satin fabric, the intricate beading to the hand stitching and the overall shape and design of this quaint little shoe. I simply adore them and they are so comfortable. They are the cutest and very best thing I own close to being barefoot!!!

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I also paired my outfit with this woven straw vintage styled handbag I’ve had for awhile now. I just love how this bag screams summer fun and yet still has a subtle sophistication to it with the leather like red trim and the cutest wooden handles. It is definitely different and exceptionally unique. I haven’t come across another one like it yet and I’ve had it for a good five years or so now.

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And last but not least I paired my entire outfit with this mustard colored hijab to bring out the small hints of yellow in my top which I loved. And yes this hijab is the cotton jersey stretch knit fabric which I am totally loving right now….totally hassle and carefree!! Never mind my few wrinkles *sigh*…sitting in a car will do that to you lol.

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Oh and did you notice *Vanna White hands* my zebra striped earrings that matched my top oh so perfectly?!? lol I believe I bought these from a street vendor awhile back living in Brooklyn. My step daughter asked if my earrings came with my top lol. I said, “Nope!!”, I just so happened to have them all along. I just love it when pieces in my closet all come together so effortlessly!! 

Welp…Until next time you guys *Waves*.  And I promise it won’t be too long!!

What I Wore:

$6 Caftan tunic top @ Goodwill 
25cents jeans @ Park Avenue Thrift
$1.50 Indian slippers @Park Avenue Thrift
$5 woven straw handbag @Goodwill
Total Outfit Thrifted for only $13 Bucks!!!

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June 15, 2017 SanaSakinah 2 comments
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Hey you guys!! *Waves* So I’m back with another awesome refashioning /upcycle DIY from another thrifted handbag. If you read and loved my first blog about the loads of jewelry I made out of a few of my old and thrifted handbags then I have another goodie in store for you!! I’m telling you I will never look at handbags the same way again lol. For this project I used only one handbag. It totally caught my eye while out thrifting recently due to all the beautiful embellishment and at a whopping 50 cents I Could Not pass up on this amazing little find. I knew I could put it to great use and that’s exactly what I did!!

 

So I loved the idea of using this gorgeous material from the handbag and putting it to use in some home decor. So I thought, “Why not make some decorative vases using glass bottles and the fabric?”.  For this project I used two different glass bottles and three old seltzer water bottles in all. The first bottle I used was a tall slender one. I first cut pieces of fabric for each of the bottles. I then simply used some E-6000 (industrial adhesive) and applied that directly to the glass and wrapped the material around the bottom of it. Pretty simple enough…Right?

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For the second type of bottle I used two altogether. These were shorter and more shapely so I didn’t use the same simple technique as the first bottle. For this particular one I once again applied the adhesive to the glass and then wrapped at a slight angle starting from the top. This one was definitely a little tricky because I could not simply wrap it down smoothly and evenly onto the actual form of the shapelier bottle. Therefore I did a little overlapping, draping and molding. As you can see I molded the bottom by pinching it into a  particular seashell-like shape and design.

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And there you have it…Voila!! A brand new  set of vases to decorate as you wish!! I chose to put flowers in the tall long slender one and keep the other two as complementary accompanying pieces. Check out the video below for an even closer look!!

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And of course I could not use this handbag for home decor alone when it just screams “Bling Bling”!! lol So it was only right to make a few jewelry pieces as well. The first thing I noticed on the bag was the side panels. The side panels had this Perfect soft V-shape and I immediately thought, “Statement Necklace Bib!!” So I simply cut out the shape from the bag and glued down all of the edges with fabric glue. After that I simply made holes on each side where I would connect the chain with the o-rings and clasp. And again…Voila!!

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Lastly I made a pair of earrings. Again very simple. I just cut out long pieces of the material and I begin to cut the ends into step-like blocks just to give them more of a design. After that I simply made my holes where I would connect my o-rings and fish hooks. And again…Easy Peasy!! I loved how these turned out looking like skyscrapers in the night. I call them my “upside down skyscrapers” earrings lol.

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Overall I really loved creating these pieces!!! They are so gorgeous and the material from the handbag did exactly what I thought it would do. Now I probably wouldn’t  normally wear both of the jewelry pieces together but for demonstration purposes I couldn’t resist being extra lol.

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I have one more piece of jewelry I may create with this last piece of material and I will probably post that one on my Instagram. What do you think it will be or what would you make…Hmmmm??

 

And to think I did all of this with a 50 cents bag?!? *Gasp* Never underestimate the value in something!! Welp…until next time folks!!! *Waves*

 

What I Used

Thrifted Handbag

Glass bottles

Fabric Glue

Industrial Strength Adhesive

Fish hooks

O-rings

Chain & Clasp

 

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June 1, 2017 SanaSakinah 2 comments
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So it’s sundress season, you love the look and feel of these lovely revealing dresses but you don’t want to necessarily show skin. So what’s a girl to do…Hmmmm??? Whether it’s because you want to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays, prevent the heat from beaming directly onto your skin or you just don’t want to uncover those portions of your body there’s a quick and easy fix for that. I love maxi sundresses but as a muslimah and hijabi covering takes precedence so stylish and cute coverups are always a must for me in these warmer months. 

For this look I decided to go with this blue spaghetti strapped maxi dress by Spense made out of a soft viscose fabric. I love the airiness and organic flow of this particular fabric. The A-line shape gives it that beautiful and subtle flare that works great with everyone’s shape and moves so elegantly. I adored the large paneled ruffle at the hem adding just an extra touch of femininity and movement in the overall dress. Sometimes the simple details in a dress is what actually makes it eye catching. The shape, fabric and minor details in the hem are what especially grabbed my attention to this dress. Furthermore, I love simple pieces in solid colors because they are the easiest to mix and match in various outfits. This dress is definitely one of those pieces.

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I went with this cropped khaki jacket as a coverup. It was suited towards the casual look I was aiming towards. The neutral shade of tan in the jacket worked really well playing the background while ensuring the colors in my dress and hijab would truly stand out and pop. If you wear a jacket in the warmer months it’s important that it’s breathable, lightweight and unlined. Also the pieces you wear it over being armless or backless don’t hurt either…makes for great air ventilation lol!!

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My hijab was an essential ingredient to this entire outfit…the color is everything!!! I’m loving everything about this emerald green this season. This is by far the best fabric in my honest opinion for a hijab. It’s made out of a stretchy non cotton jersey fabric and the drape of it is outstanding. You really can’t go wrong with this fabric because it’s really gorgeous and feels absolutely luxurious. Can’t you just tell this is my favorite hijab right now!? lol Anyways, I wanted another standout and stand alone color in my outfit and I thought this color alongside my royal blue dress worked just perfectly!!.

I tied my bag, shoes and earrings altogether with the same cognac color scheme. I love this color as a more dramatic yet still neutral accent because it has those rich and earthy hints/ mixtures of browns, reds and oranges which can complement almost anything beautifully. This vintage leather handbag I recently purchased with the one strap briefcase-like handle is one of my favorite style of handbags and will definitely be a staple piece in my wardrobe for many moons to come. I love the simplicity and old school charm in this bag.

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I also paired the outfit with a pair of cork platform strapped heels by Gomax. I love the look of these heels but I found that the heel and back of my foot being enclosed along with the front strap being wide caused my toes to constantly slide forward. Cute shoes overall just a little annoying at times lol.

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And of course I can’t forget my new refashioned earrings…yet again lol. These are probably my favorite pair of earrings right now. I love the drama and lightness of them without the weight of wearing a substantially larger pair of earrings. You barely even notice they are on and were the perfect complement to my simple easy breezy look.

 

What I Wore:

$3 Royal Blue Maxi Dress @Park Avenue Thrift

$3 Khaki cropped jacket @Goodwill

$6 Platform sandals @Goodwill

50 cent Vintage leather handbag @Park Avenue Thrift!!! (sorry I had bag turned to back the whole entire time :-/ ) 

Fringe Earrings Refashioned by Muah!!

Total Outfit Thrifted For Less Than 13 Bucks!!

 

 

 

 

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May 26, 2017 SanaSakinah No comments exist
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Stepping a little outside of my comfort zone I decided to purchase a leopard printed blazer/ jacket some months ago. Now, I must confess I am no avid leopard, cheetah or any other animal print fan for that matter so this was a real reach for me lol. Sure, I’ve worn small accessories and such with these wild and feisty prints but that’s typically as far as it goes for me personally. Honestly, the thought of looking like a proud poacher who dragged her game back to her closet and skinned it’s entire hide for her latest “killer” outfit always mortified me lol. But fashion isn’t always about repeating what we’re comfortable with. Comfort creates complacency and fear leads us to stagnation and total boredom. And fashion should be annnything but boring. So I decided to muster up enough courage to walk out on a limb on a tree in the jungle somewhere lol and take a walk on the wild side!!! *Eartha Kitt Purr*

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In light of the  weather warming up I didn’t think I’d be able to wear this jacket till the fall so I immediately jumped at the chance to wear it when the temps suddenly took a dip a couple of days ago. The texture of the jacket being extremely soft and supple has a really luxurious feel to it. Aside from that it had the most elegant black leather- like trim/piping up and down the lapel and hem. The overall impeccable quality of the blazer is what actually set aside my doubts and sold me on purchasing it. 

 

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Now the  biggest part was figuring out what pop of color to wear with the blazer. I find that animal prints can be rather overpowering and while it is a statement piece I don’t want it to do all the talking. I think pairing this type of print with an equally bold yet beautiful color is what gives it an even nicer and more subtle strength. The emerald green blouse was a perfect color choice to go with this jacket. I thought they complemented each other extremely well without one totally overshadowing the other piece. 

 

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I  balanced the top of my outfit by toning it down with a pair of black wide leg Express pants. These are a really great staple item to have in your wardrobe and are absolutely classic and timeless. They work well with all shapes and can be styled in numerous ways. These pants may actually be the oldest living thing in my closet right now. I think I’ve owned these for almost 20 years. Thank goodness the waist is elastic!! lol 

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Again I infused the emerald green into my outfit with this vintage tote bag by Lady Bride. I loved the retro look and the versatility of how it can be worn long or folded in half. I thought it worked perfectly with my total ensemble.The orange on the handles was a really nice touch to add more pops of color into my overall look. And if you hadn’t noticed yet, there’s a snakeskin pattern on it as well which surprisingly just totally worked for me. Me, wearing two animal prints in one outfit, “Who would’ve thunk it!?”lol.

 

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I loved these camel colored Levity block heels which also brought out that same pop of orange color in my handbag with just a hint of it around the toe of the shoe. The thicker heels are great if you like the look and feel of heels without the balancing act that follows for some lol.

 

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Last but not least a simple black hijab seemed most befitting along with a pair of my new refashioned fringe earrings from of an old thrifted handbag. Check out my last post for more details on that particular DIY and more.

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Overall, I was very pleased with how this outfit came altogether. Sometimes in order to appreciate new things we have to step outside of our comfort zones and give them a try first. Fear and Fashion can not coexist!! Fear of trying something different will have you in a fashion rut quickly. It devours all sense of establishing our own creative voices and self. The goal should always be to challenge and not completely change who we essentially are.

What I Wore:

Leopard blazer: $12 bought NWT @Value Village
Wide leg Express pants: No clue…realy old?? 
Green Blouse: $2 @Park Avenue Thrift
 Levity heels: $6 @Goodwill
Lady’s Pride vintage tote handbag: $5 Goodwill
#thethriftyhijabi

 

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May 23, 2017 SanaSakinah 9 comments
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May 16, 2017 SanaSakinah 8 comments
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Cheers to the weekend and pulling back the stuffy and unyielding layers of that 9-5 attire that consume many of our daily lives!! For many the weekend is all about kicking back, leaving that stack of papers you left on your desk completely behind, unwinding your thoughts and finding your happy place of zen. This look is all about capturing that sense of casual comfort and peace with just a tad of sophisticated flair.

 

 

For this look I decided to go with an all time favorite of mine which is a long kaftan tunic top. I love this style because it is extremely comfortable and has that easy going and effortlessly relaxed appeal. These are usually an absolute favorite for me in the warmer months due to them being very lightweight and breathable. I liked this cotton tunic in particular due to it’s juxtaposition of the beautiful burnt orange and lemon colored floral prints against a subtle white plaid and solid black background. I thought the contrast was really different yet absolutely perfect for spring without being too cliche!!

 

I decided to pair the top with one of my favorite staple pieces…a pair of blue denim jeans. However you can choose so many other bottoms to style with this kind of top that would work out perfectly fine. I went with a lighter medium shade of blue denim for this look rather than darker to better complement the top and to brighten up the entire outfit.

For my shoes I went with these comfortable camel colored leather moccasin flats by Minnetonka. I’ve had a number of different shoes made by this brand and I can assure you they are a must have and feel amazing on your feet. Besides the comfort I love the craftsmanship of the shoe from the hand sewn stitching on the toes to the non slip rubber grip soles. Trust…you won’t be sliding anywhere in these flats for a looong time!! lol

 

I thought this beautiful black linen and camel colored leather handbag by The Limited was a great fit for my total ensemble. I loved the old school vintage briefcase style handle and the mix of fabric with  leather. It gave my slightly lazy lounging weekend look just enough of a slight sophistication and more polished finish. Sometimes it’s all in the accessories and handbags where our clothes actually start to really speak and tell a story. I try to keep in mind the story I’m conveying in my outfit when I choose my pieces. Comfortable, casual and  classy is what I was going for.  What story do you want to tell in yours???

 

 

Last but not least I paired the overall look with a long solid black (rectangular shaped ) hijab and yup it’s that slip and slide material  that I often dread lol. And Yes I readjusted all day *sigh* but the fabric does drape absolutely beautifully. It may only last a half hour before you have to readjust it lol but it gets the job done nonetheless!!

 

And oops!!! I almost forgot about my refashioned earrings. I made these from an old thrifted purse strap I was getting ready to throw away when suddenly a lightbulb went off!! Actually a million lightbulbs went off in perfect domino fashion lol but I will be covering that in another upcoming post along with my other refashioned jewelry out of old hand bags. You don’t want to miss that so Stay Tuned!!

 

 

 

What I Wore:

Floral printed Tunic Top: $6 Park Avenue Thrift

Lee blue jeans: 25 cents…Yup!!!

The Limited handbag: $6  Park Avenue Thrift Outlet

Minnetonka moccasin flats: 25 cents Park Avenue Thrfit Outlet…Score!!!

All for a grand total ooooof *drum roll please….* around 13 Bucks!!! #thethriftyhijabi

 

 

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May 11, 2017 SanaSakinah 8 comments
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So spring is finally here and it’s the perfect time to pull out those bold and vibrant colors to pair with some funky patterns and cute accessories. For this date night look I decided to go with this bright red high-low dress I bought recently on one of my latest thrifting sprees. As soon as I saw her I absolutely fell in love!! To not have an actual label for me to credit for the sheer beauty and grace in this piece is an absolute travesty. My guess is someone had it personally made and then passed along this awesome treasure for me to find. So Shout out to the fabulous unknown seamstress…Your work will not go unrecognized!! And she will be loved and cared for always until she is passed on again.

 

 The high-low dress would be a great addition to anyone’s wardrobe with the empire waist making it flattering for all body types. I just love the easy, breezy and effortless flow of the full circle skirt. The fit and color were a perfect match made in thrifting heaven for me.This color was an amazing shade of fiery red with just enough brightness to light up a room but not too bright that it would completely blind vulnerable eyes lol. 

 

I toned the dress down a bit with a pair of straight Gap blue jeans and jazzed it up with a pair of striped Gianni Bini ivory and gold pumps. I also decided to go with more muted shades of ivory and gold for my accessories including my earrings, my bracelets as well as my necklace. The necklace is actually a belt that just fit perfectly as my necklace for this ensemble. Gotta love a good twofer!! 

 

But what I love most about this outfit has got to be this beautifully textured Just Fab clutch bag that pulls the outfit completely together. The patterns and embroidery on it are simply gorgeous adding just the right mix and hints of color. Clutches are one of my favorite pieces to thrift. There are so many amazing styles to choose from which makes them a great way to add further dimension, color and style to your completed look.

 

 

 

And last but not least a blue denim colored hijab seemed to be the perfect fit to complete the total look. This particular hijab fabric is a jersey knit which I am starting to gravitate more towards due to them being non slip and no fuss. Don’t you just hate having to adjust a constantly sliding hijab or any piece of clothing for that matter all day long?!? I know I do…Ain’t nobody got time fuh dat!! lol

What I wore: Necklace/ Belt: Park Avenue Thrift $1.50

Dress: Plato’s Closet $10

Jeans: Goodwill $5

Shoes: Goodwill $6

Clutch: Goodwill $5

Total Look Thrifted for less than 30 Bucks!!! #thethriftyhijabi 

 

 

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March 9, 2018 SanaSakinah No comments exist
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So we’ve finally reached the month of March and spring is fast approaching. However, this weather has truly been much like an unruly 2 year old who just can’t sit still, throwing tantrums all over the place, and making sure to keep us all on our toes. While we’ve experienced summer-like weather in the last month or so, we’ve also plummeted back down to freezing temps, rain, and even snow/ blizzards in some parts of the country. If you’re like me then you’re probably totally over this wacky winter, and all the havoc it’s wreaked over the last few months.
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When seasons start to collide and winter refuses to tap out to give way for the warmth and pleasantries of spring fever, one must ask themselves,”what do I wear?”. The end of winter is always quite an amusing time for me to see people who are still all bundled up like they’re stuck in Antarctica to those who are totally ready for the beach, flip flops and all (lol) . It’s the funniest thing ever to see two people in the same vicinity totally dressed for completely different seasons not knowing when to let winter go or totally insisting on skipping spring altogether. However irrational this type of weather may be, it always allows me to get a little more funky and creative with layering which I absolutely love. That’s why I chose this outfit on the blog today.
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I knew I wanted to wear this beautiful coral textured and ruffled tank dress/ blouse for this outfit. I absolutely love this piece which I thrifted ages ago. The color is so rich and vibrant along with the textured chiffon like fabric that just falls in this beautiful layered tier of soft ruffles. I have worn this piece many times and it never disappoints any outfit I pair it with. I just adore how romantic and feminine it is!! .
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So I paired my long hunter green cardgian with this outfit. I just loved how the green and coral paired so nicely together. This is another piece I thrifted years ago, and has been with me for some time now. I just love the never ending waterfall of ruffles all along the collar and down the front of it. I thought the ruffles in this cardigan along with the ruffles of my blouse merged so beautifully together without being so gaudy and over the top.
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So because this look is all about playing around with layers and texture, I chose my faux leather bomber jacket. Y’all know this has become one of my staples for sure!! I love the contrast of the short tough leather jacket against the longer and softer feminine layers underneath.
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I went with a pair of simple light blue jeans for my bottom. Of course everything else is doing ALL the talking. I didn’t need anything too busy down bottom as well (lol).
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I chose this oversized floral printed handbag by Aldo. I just love how this bag merged with my outfit so perfectly picking up the beautiful hunter green in the straps and trim along with the beautiful orange flowers printed all over a mustard yellow/ goldish background.
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So, of course, I chose my mustard yellow corduroy flats which I thought went great with my handbag and my overall outfit. Now I love a nice pair of heels, but flats can be just as cute and these worked very nicely and were sooo comfy!!
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Last but not least, I chose this nude cappuccino colored jersey hijab along with these coral colored beaded bracelets I used for my earrings. Nude hijabs are a great staple to have in your wardrobe because they can compliment a number of different color combinations.
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Welp, that’s it for today you guys!! I hope you enjoyed this late winter/ early spring look of mine. Wherever you are, I hope you’re staying both warm and dry. It won’t be much longer before we all can revel in the coming of spring’s blessings and bounties. Until next time, don’t forget to stay and slay on a budget!!! *Waves* 
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What I Wore:

Ruffle Blouse/ tank dress: $6 @Goodwill
Blue Tassel cardigan: $8 @Goodwill
Better Be bomber jacket: $6 @PAT
St. John Bay jeans: 50 cents @PATO
Aldos handbag: $5 @Goodwill
Corduroy flats: $3@Goodwill
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February 23, 2018 SanaSakinah 2 comments
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So, if you haven’t seen or heard about the movie Black Panther yet, I don’t know where you have exactly been?!? It is probably one of the biggest and top grossing blockbusters in recent history, and I am totally here for all the Black excellence it exudes!! As a movie goer who went last weekend to see this film I was in such awe of all the beautiful African clothing and attire from the traditional garbs, natural hair, head dresses and beautiful face paint. I loved how so many of us in the event of watching this movie came dressed for the occasion in the spirit of being true citizens of Wakanda. Although a fictitious place, in our hearts we could feel it and it felt like home, warm and familiar…beautiful and safe. It was a great way to escape some of our current and past harsh realities especially since so much of our stories have been about hurt, pain and oppression. It was truly refreshing to feel and imagine a place that was unscathed, prosperous and where black people were the actual kings, queens, princesses, heroes/ heroines and saviors. These are the images we so often don’t get to see on the big screen, and the stories we obviously showed we are yearning for more of.

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In the spirit of the movie I, of course, dressed for the occasion as well. I actually had this look planned out for a minute before it was going to be my actual movie outfit, but I thought it went perfectly with the theme so I went with it. This was more of an impromptu photo session literally right in the parking lot before we went into the theater (lol). I really wish I had the time to get a better variety of shots, but time was not on our side that day.

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I chose to wear this black dress from Kabayare fashion. I purchased this dress over a year ago and am finally wearing it. What I love about this dress is how light and airy it is. The A-line shape and empire waist are always pluses because those are usually flattering for all body types. The bodice is simple and buttoned up with long billowy sleeves while the skirt was just so flowy with a sheer overlay. I love how gracefully eloquent the skirt moves as you walk. Anything that makes me appear as if I’m gliding always gets a thumbs up in my book (lol)!! 

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So y’all know I love to mix things up in my outfits and especially with dresses. So, this time being no different, I chose this totally cute jean and faux leather motorcycle jacket by Forever 21. Let me just tell you, I love this jacket!! I thought it was so tough yet adorable, and I loved the contrast against my soft and romantic kind of dress.

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I chose to pair my outfit with a pair of of Enzo Angiolini peep toe pumps. I simply adore these shoes. I loved the mix of sheer mesh on the sides and back along with the stunning sparkling glitter all around them!! Sorry I couldn’t truly capture them in any of these pics. Check pic at bottom for up close shot.

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I chose a sparkling glitter clutch by Merona that matched my shoes perfectly. I love when I find  matching thrifted pieces like bags and shoes. Total Score!.

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Now you know we had to do thee absolute most with a finishing touch of fur, so I wore this purple faux fur collar I purchased off of Amazon. I loved the beautiful rich color of this piece, and how it picked up the purple sparkles in my shoes and clutch!!

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Last but not least, I chose my black jersey hijab along with my beaded iridescent peacock colored chandelier earrings. These shimmering beauties also matched my clutch and bag perfectly as well, might I add.

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Welp, that’s it for today you guys. I hope you enjoyed this Black Panther look of mine. If you haven’t already seen the movie yet, what are you waiting for?!? Go see it today!! Until next time, don’t forget to stay and slay on a budget!! And Oh Yeah…Wakanda FOREVER!!! *Waves*

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What I Wore:

Black Maxi Dress: @Kabayare Fashion $45

Forever 21 motorcycle jacket: $3 @Value Village

Enzo Angiolini heels: $4 @PAT

Merona clutch: $5 @Goodwill

Purple Faux Fur stole: $15 @Amazon

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