Category: Frugal Finds

October 4, 2017 SanaSakinah No comments exist
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
September 27, 2017 SanaSakinah 4 comments

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

September 21, 2017 SanaSakinah No comments exist

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

August 25, 2017 SanaSakinah No comments exist

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