under a veil

Let's study the Shopping Science!

noreply@blogger.com (zaynab zemmouri) — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 17:09:00 +0000

Red is a color that motivates me and invites me to take action, no wonder why it's chosen to represent the SALE seasons, it's always a good sign when the price tag is red, it doesn't matter if the reduction was 30% 50% or a ridiculous one Euro I only feel an itchiness in my hands that incites me to spend it all. This is just one of the tricks brands do to attract more consumers, other methods consist in controlling our senses. Music for example is an excellent way to make you stay more longer inside the stores, the more you enjoy the melody the more you want to buy up (They should ban Ellie Goulding's song Burn).

A few months ago, I read a revealing article titled 'The Science of Shopping' in COMPANY magazine (December 2013), where the writer Sophie Cullinane explained very well the phenomenon of scent-sensational shopping. She wrote "Out of all the senses, it's our sense of smell that the fashion industry is targeting -with good reason. Studies show that as humans we remember 5% of what we see, 2% of what we hear, and 1% of what we touch, compared to a massive 35% of what we smell."

This should clearly demonstrate why Jane (Ashley Judd) in the movie "Someone like you" wanted to voluntarily make herself anosmatic. She tried to convince her doctor that every time she smells fresh laundry and vanilla she remembers how happy she was with her ex, so she decided to get rid of the most powerful sense hoping that she 'might actually have a chance of living a semi-normal life someday'. It may seem nuts to a lot of people, but I have to say I respect her choice because no matter how old our memories are, an insignificant smell can sweep out our emotions and turn our world upside down.

Which brings me to my last visit to Malaga (Spain) two months ago, the only thing I remember very clearly is the beautiful smell from Lush. The air had a sweet and fruity fragrance coming from all kinds of handmade products, I didn't care about their shapes nor their colors not even the display, It was like walking into an enchanted forest, where the trees were made from chocolate, the clouds were from marshmallow and the flowers were from candies. Obviously, I couldn't just keep staring I had to do something, buying was the most logical action to make at that time, therefore I chose a solid shampoo that promised to give my hair a new look, which -btw- I confirm after several applications. If my twin sister didn't take pictures of our stop by Lush I wouldn't remember a bit about this visit, except from the captivating flavors.

Which of your senses influences more your shopping list?

Street Style Inspiration: Mix Match Prints

noreply@blogger.com (zaynab zemmouri) — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 12:23:00 +0000

' Go ahead and mix your prints, we'll still love you!' -Isaac Mizrahi

Sources: Streetpeeper, Harper's Bazaar, Stockholm Street Style, Vogue.es, ??

The perks of being a wallflower

noreply@blogger.com (zaynab zemmouri) — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 07:33:00 +0000

I keep hearing people referring to me as a wallflower individual, it seems that I tend to be distant in social events and in school. I can't stand being in the middle of a large mixer therefore I prefer to stay home with a stack of magazines watching movies (which I don't consider at all as unproductive activities). Introverts are always judged mistakenly, they never participate enough in public and are constantly told to come out of their shell. My shell is so comfortable and I'm not planning on trading it as long as I'm living a quite life and enjoying peaceful moments far from a demanding society, it is the perfect lifestyle for me to grow as a human being and discover myself. Now my room has another wallflower within it (literally speaking this time), which I put together with my twin sister, from the rest of an engagement bouquet.

Reduce the consumption and wear a camo-print jacket!

noreply@blogger.com (zaynab zemmouri) — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 08:18:00 +0000

If you head to your closet right now and dig a little deeper inside your wardrobe you will actually discover you own plenty of items you don't wear anymore, the same can be said of the tons of stuff you bought or received in a particular occasion and you no longer use, but manage to accumulate anyway in boxes in the storage room or in the garage. We can't get rid of material things so easily, our belongings perhaps made us happy once, they probably still remind us of someone special or maybe because we're too lazy to organize all the obsolete objects piled for ages.

One month ago I decided to restore order in my closet to welcome the new year, the process was so liberating! I had to throw/donate many objects, I'm sure I won't need. I got shocked when I found dozens of fabrics, I bought out of a sudden desire rather than careful thoughts, each meter was a reminder for me to stop listening to my consumerist demon who keeps convincing me that one day I will sew them myself, but after a year I realized it is extremely hard to fulfill this promise so I settled on giving each month a fabric to a tailor with a design in mind, this way I will win new custom-made pieces in my wardrobe.

The first fabric I chose was a camo-print one, which I already used for a DIY clutch five months ago. A jacket was made especially for me with an oversized shape and a classical cut. Once I took possession of it I hanged it in my wardrobe because I never wore this kind of jacket before, so I went straight away to investigate first how it is worn in the street. After trying many styles I perceived that it goes well with absolutely everything, but I had a soft spot for mixing it with feminine details like floral tops, lace dresses and pleated maxi skirts, for the sake of breaking down the severe connotation of a garment worn originally in wars.

Are you a collector/hoarder person?
Do you find it difficult to let go of unnecessary possessions?

Victoria Beckham: The most pinned celebrity in 2013 and why?

noreply@blogger.com (fatima zahra zemmouri) — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 10:00:00 +0000

Among the chick flick of the Spice Girls, I always preferred Mel C, and her cheerful personality, maybe because I was kind of a tomboy in the teenage phase of my life, so a girl wearing sneakers and picking fight with every single soul was so ME. However, Victoria was so mysterious to me, not smiling, not even grinning, always wearing dark colors, with the same hair cut for years, speaking of her famous straight bob that fits her personality as chocolate bars fit my hand perfectly, and her unfriendly state of mind which entitled her to be part of the Addams's family portrait.

However, being in the fashion industry, for a period more than enough for a fashionably immortal like her, made her style evolve so noticeably, from a wardrobe full of tight clothes, questionable short skirts, revealing corsets, prints not favoring her inner beauty, and shapes that compromises her petite silhouette, toward a more calm and gentle Victoria.

Thus, the factors that empowered the most female celebrity pinned this last 2013's fashion style are, according to me, (not that I consider myself an expert in fashion analysis, it's just a mere and personal venture in breaking down her fashion choices) very easy to adapt and adopt to our daily life, so let's dive into her secret of the Posh syndrome.

The array of clothes she settled on these latest years were the climax of her metamorphose, she matured into a woman knowing exactly what suits her and her peculiar personality. Opting for more masculine shapes, she asserted in bringing weight to her persona, diverging from her so known side of Miss Posh to a sophisticated Miss Becks/Designer/Businesswoman/mother, donning a sartorial elegance, proving to us that changing our style is a good thing after all. The most successful fashion makeover yet!

Her style is slightly plain, very accessible, and easy to digest. Nevertheless, her looks are still fashionable and something with substance, to aspire toward for years to come, I predict. I am always into looks that can endure the flow of time, and still keep the same elegance whether you are in 2013 or 2025. Her essentials, from Sleeveless maxi vest, Tailored pant, White shirt, Black blazer, Maxi coat, are very mainstream, and shoppable at every high street brand, which makes her style very popular.

Being the successful business woman she is, she has to carry herself with a unequaled appearance, so according to her the special ingredient to her spiced up style is NOT to smile. Researchers found that pride was often considered a leadership quality in women, and in contrary smiling or cheerfulness was not (source). So to be considered a high status individual, that everybody keeps an eye on them and expect more from them. Now you know exactly what to do, Don’t Smile Too Much!! (source)

So let's see what 2014 will hold for our Ms.V, and which of her looks will be pinned in our Pinterest fashion boards, hoping to be more inspired by her fashionable intelligence.

DIY Project: Marble print clutch

noreply@blogger.com (zaynab zemmouri) — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 08:13:00 +0000

Receiving gifts could be tricky sometimes. I remember once I received a carpet for my 18th birthday, as much as I appreciated the gesture I didn't convince my benefactor how happy I was, though I'm pretty sure my room was. I confess that I'm guilty too in matters of giving wrong gifts, the most lame example was a PRIMARK gift card, for I didn't have much time to concoct a personalized one. Giving gifts is an ART. We often find ourselves facing a rather difficult Choice between a useful and a creative gift, the first one might come in hand someday, but the latter has an inspirational purpose, like handmade presents from etsy.

Last week I celebrated my birthday and unfortunately I didn't get an IPad, but I happen to find the box which was destined to be thrown away. The empty box inspired me so I recycled it into a clutch because 'when life gives you lemons make lemonade', right now my lemonade is this tutorial that explains the steps I went through to obtain a marble clutch, cloned from fall 2013 collection of ACNE Studios bags.

Principal Tools:
- Cardboard box
- Plastic adhesive
- Lining
- Magnetic clasp
- Ribbon leather (features)
- Cutter + Scissors
- Glue gun

Final result:

Image sources: style.com, google,??

Deja Vu: Embellished Maxi Dress

noreply@blogger.com (zaynab zemmouri) — Wed, 25 Dec 2013 09:30:00 +0000

Did you know: Oscar De la Renta is credited with creating the very first maxi – a trend that has since graced a billion fashionable ankles. In 1968 the New York Times praised a full length cotton lace dress that De la Renta had designed for the Elizabeth Arden salon and a fashion phenomenon was born. The 60's movie Dr Zhivago is also credited with some of the success of the maxi as fans craved the romance of Julie Christie’s flowing gowns.

Street Style Inspiration: Maxi Skirt

noreply@blogger.com (fatima zahra zemmouri) — Wed, 18 Dec 2013 09:55:00 +0000

Expecting me to grovel,
she carefully covers both feet
with the hem of her skirt.
            She pretends to hide
            a coming smile
            and won't look straight at me.
                        When I talk to her,
                        she chats with her friend
                  in cross tones.
                         Even this slim girl's rising anger
                         delights me,
                         let alone her deep love.
                                                                                                 Unknown

Source Images:Stockholm street style, vogue, street peeper, SwellMayde, Dans Vogue, ?

A color darker than black

noreply@blogger.com (zaynab zemmouri) — Thu, 12 Dec 2013 10:53:00 +0000

'Colors are two kinds: black and the rest' -Underaveil

I had such a tough time the last week of November, hopefully December came in bringing along a stillness that helped me restore my accustomed serene spirit. In fact, I always found this month to be delightful and that it has a singular effect, during which I reach the maximum level of optimism, even though it represents the end of a year, it symbolizes the beginning of a fresh one. The perfect occasion to start prescribing my resolution list for next year and promising myself that the upcoming year I would do better.

But once January is here, February comes rushing in and my enthusiasm vanishes away, and I begin conceiving dark thoughts (Idées Noires) about my future, I feel depressed and start belittling myself. It's on those exact moments that I develop a bizarre attachment to the color black, primarily because it is all about sadness and negativity, I find myself favoring black clothes and don't hesitate to wear it from head to toe.

After overcoming the post-winter depression I feel more comfortable, I even stop having pessimistic attitude against life. Nevertheless, I stay loyal to this shade, trying to take advantage of it other sides. Even though Black was always associated with bad things in our language; black day, blackout, black cat, black list, black market ... and the list goes on since it describes perfectly the negative objects and situations we go through, we shouldn't forget that it also grants a refined and sophisticated appearance (the little black dress, the little black jacket...) to any outfit, no wonder why the Parisian chic was eternally linked to the color black.

This fall/winter is the perfect season to take your favorite black item out. You can find inspiration in the runways, on how to do the head-to-toe-black look without looking like you have been adopted by The Addams Family.

Would you consider wearing a total black look?
What are your tricks to wear black and still transmit happiness?

Image source: Vogue.it, google, ??

How I became a Man Repeller

noreply@blogger.com (zaynab zemmouri) — Sun, 01 Dec 2013 19:19:00 +0000

If you're reading this article, then I might have gone crazy and hit the 'publish' button, but don't worry if you read until the end all this rambling will become more clear. Please continue.

As stated in man repeller's blog

It might sound strange, but I've never really enjoyed males company, and I absolutely don't feel comfortable around them; ouch! This clearly explains why my whole entourage is predominantly female. Unconsciously, I find myself casting away any guy's approach, and behaving differently when I sense any interest. My only remedy, to this awkward situation, is to create an invisible armor that evicts any sort of contact with men; this antidote is also known as 'Man Repelling'.

I firmly consider that I ought to be seen as an intellect not an appearance, so if this condition makes my dad the only man in my peripheral with whom I can get with and communicate with full ease, then I accept wholeheartedly this choice. And, I must admit that being a man repeller isn't bad at all, I feel more liberated from the recognition of the opposite gender, I totally don't care about what they like or don't about me.

Whenever I find myself facing a compromising situation, where I have to deal with boys, an inner voice tells me to do/avoid certain actions. In this article, I'm sharing with you my lifestyle as a man repeller.

Two Mucho Make Up by Jordan Clark
No make up
The facts say that 73% of men would prefer their partner to wear make-up at all times. It is extremely bothersome to have to wear make-up for someone, like it is a sort of necessity or duty, when de facto we should choose freely to wear it or not. I only apply make-up for special occasions only because it allows me to intensify my features which makes me more cheered up. In consequence, the day I strike against make-up I'm as invisible as the air we breath, my secret (not anymore, I guess!) weapon to withdraw masculine gazes.

Act like a woman, dress like a man!
A man's wardrobe is the most convenient and comfortable wardrobe EVER! Thanks to the brave women of 20th Century, wearing trousers isn't bizarre anymore. In fact, women borrow more frequently masculine pieces to achieve a commodious appearance, some of us will pick sneakers or oxfords over heels (including me). Layering oversized, mannish blazers over vests, billowy trousers, ties and boots: Are the most adopted items from guys closet; The 'Annie Hall' look is my inspiration.

compromising my fashion sense is out of question!
J'adore harem pants, uggs, maxi everything and even granny inspired looks, so before taking into account what men like and don't in a woman's armoire, I prioritize my own preferences. I never miss a chance to affirm my personal style by wearing the trends I crave for, even the ones the opposite gender don't understand. If I see a mix matching blazer I go for it and I will gladly try avant garde shapes without second considerations. Thumbs up for Leandra Medine who declared: "If I have to give up good fashion for a relationship, I don't want a relationship"

His Girl Friday - 1940
Less eye contact
Eye contact is a lethal weapon, with a single gaze one can change his destiny, some may fall in love and some manage to get their dream job by a confident gaze; In fact, Studies have demonstrated that when a musician employs eye contact with his public, he receives a great response, which is why I'm always careful with whom I meet eyes, In fact I try to omit it by staring around and making the conversation as short as possible. This is the only way I won't catch his attention, and he won't be able to decipher my true feelings or thoughts.

Key to promotion for women: don't smile
Joke = ~~smile~~
Smiling is always a good idea. But, what if this idea causes emotional attachments? Marylin Monroe said once:“If you can make a woman laugh, you can make her do anything”, a terrible truth indeed, so why take a risk and laugh at the first place? I just pretend to miss the meaning of the joke, or make him believe that I've already heard of it.

Dangerous activities
Every time I state that I practice Taekwondo, I receive shocked reactions, could it be because Practicing martial arts is kind of intimidating? Perhaps. I started this amazing sport last year considering that it is such an intense activity that helps in developing self-confidence, solidifying the body and enhancing one's health. It also makes girls even with boys since we practically do the same performances and excel in many techniques as much as they do.

I'm aware that this concept of 'man repeller' is going to cost me a lot, but I am such a feminist that I'm quite sure I can survive without the approval of a masculine judgement, and instead of focusing on what do men like about me, I aim to do my best to fulfill my own dreams and be as successful as them. I unquestionably don't want to be the woman behind a man's success.

Do you consider yourself a 'Man Repeller'?
Would you envision becoming one?

Links á la Mode November 7th

noreply@blogger.com (zaynab zemmouri) — Fri, 08 Nov 2013 21:59:00 +0000

C'est Chic

I'm writing this from a hotel room in New York today. Coming to New York always makes me think about style... since NYC is probably one of the most stylish places in the world. What makes an outfit "work?" Is it the actual pieces, or your je ne sais quoi? Not knowing, or trying to quantify is what keeps the fashion media in business. Which is why I always love browsing through the links. This week we have all kinds of tricks and tips on how to style your wardrobe, how to put it all together, so whether or no you have that je ne sai quoi you'll at least look damn good.

Links à la Mode: November 7th

Arash Mazinani: HoW to Create 'The French Wardrobe"
Attire Club: How to incorporate colorful socks in your wardrobe
Beauty and Sass: saving face: 5 DIY ways to revive old or broken makeup
Bomb Petite: Petite Clothes - The Bigger Picture
Carly Tati: Meet Ou Lin, Anthropologie Designer
Fashstach: Fide Fashion Week 2013 | Julien Fourni?
Geek Chic Zone: A Selfless Look on Taking a Selfie
J'Adore Couture: thoughts on: racial (and any other kind of) profiling.
Kate Like Me: How to Style--Leather Jackets
Kiri Yanchenko: Spring Summer 2014 Trends Part 3 - Quirky Prints
Lollie Shopping: Kerry Washington's SNL Fashion Looks
Mis Papelicos: HOW TO ADD A "SCROLL TO TOP" ARROW
Modly Chic: How to Wear the Camo Trend
Style Bizzare: How To Build an Outfit
The Sassy Girl: 5 ways Instagram can help you be a Better Blogger
TLV Birdie: Fashion hunt for perfect platform loafers - guide
Two Take on Style: Tattoos as a Fashion Statement
Under a Veil: DIY Project: Christopher Kane's tapped top
We Are Ready Made: Black is such a Happy Colour
What to Wear Where: Now At Bergdorfs: Design Your Own Custom Manolos!

SPONSOR: EastDane Veilance, Shay, Tsovet, 1883, Chuck Taylors, Quoddy, Sperry's, Men's 7s, Brooks England, Latest Jackets Styles

DIY Project: Christopher Kane's tapped top with lace Appliqué

noreply@blogger.com (zaynab zemmouri) — Fri, 01 Nov 2013 07:41:00 +0000

Inspiration and copying, is it the same thing? Maybe in the dictionary there is a distinction between the two words, but according to fashion, they are the two faces of the same coin. Most of the collective of designers and retailers, when getting inspired, they usually reproduce the duplicate of the same stuff, over and over again. But still, we do find their (re)creations innovative and appealing, moreover we do our best to possess them instantly (with the minimum price definitely!). But you know what? Everything is fair, for the sake of a Democratic Fashion, one that reaches the mass in the streets no matter what the consequences are, even if it costs the life to 1,132 garments workers. This vicious cycle is said to bring benefits to the industry. But, is it?

Well, I must admit that copying is a human sin. We can't avoid but getting influenced by the experiences, people and objects that occupies our lifes. That's why we should be forgiven if we copy from now and then. This time, I'm the one to blame, I tried to imitate Christopher Kane's Top, one of my favourite young designers btw, displayed in the Spring/Summer 2013. It wasn't a difficult task, all I needed was to sew a transparent top and paste several add-ons afterward.

Lace is one of my favourite fabrics, despite the vintage look of it, it can eventually be associated with plenty of styles, from grunge to sporty. I used carved lace appliqués, which I sewed with thread. Over them, I glued pieces of leather ribbons, then added polymer-clay flowers and beads, to give a tweak to the original version. The last step was to pin the brooch.

Goodreads
To undestand more about the circumstances of copying in the fashion industry:
Fashion industry grapples with designer knockoffs
Fashion’s Democratic Disease
Why Knockoffs Are Good For The Fashion Industry

Note: I usually don't share the detaild process of my DIY projects, because I don't think I'm a good explainer. So, I'd rather write about my inspirations and provide you the final result.

Do you think there is a difference between copying and getting inspired?
Do you allow yourself to copy other's style?

Street Style Inspiration: Sneakers for Fun, not for Run

noreply@blogger.com (zaynab zemmouri) — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 10:09:00 +0000

' I believe in dressing for the occasion. There's a time for sweater, sneakers and Levis and a time for the full-dress jazz. ' Ginger Rogers

Image Sources: Stockholmstreet style, Grazia, Vogue, StreetPeeper, wheredidugetthat, Thelocals, kingdomofstyle

REVIEW: Fancy Bracelet from SALTY KISSES HAWAII

noreply@blogger.com (fatima zahra zemmouri) — Wed, 23 Oct 2013 08:28:00 +0000

Blogging was always a form of verbalising the restlessness of my ideas and reflections when referring to fashion in particular and art in general. Also, like I already mentioned in this article, about why I started blogging alongside my twin sister, this blog was and still is an engaging therapy that helps me focus more on what I really look forward to achieving in the future IA.

Besides those spiritually/psychologically rewards, I didn't expect anything else to bring me gratification and joy. However, Life always surprises us with sweet gestures and remind us that there is hope for everyone to cling to.

When the IFB, independent fashion blogger, called for all the bloggers to enter a competition by writing a post about how cats influenced our style, my sister and I were excited to participate.

Crafting three DIY projects, one of them was a camo clutch embroidered by me, we did get the chance to be among the winners, our prize was a Fancy bracelet courtesy of Salty Kisses Hawaii, which I adored it simplicity and it minimalism.

Salty Kisses Hawaii is an etsy shop that sells contemporary pacific jewels and personalized wire jewelry, made with Aloha! So go pay them a visit and be sure to order a unique bracelet, your name will never be cooler than resting on your wrists!
And if you want to experience something different and exotic, you can order a personalized bracelet with your name in Arabic alphabets right here.

This is my little sister's hand

We owe to thank the esty shop Salty Kisses Hawaii for the bracelet and Jennine jacob for the cute kitty card.

Deja vu: Plastic bag

noreply@blogger.com (zaynab zemmouri) — Mon, 21 Oct 2013 05:59:00 +0000

Did you know that: About 1 million plastic bags are used every minute, and that a single one can take up to 1,000 years to degrade? the problem resides in that ten percent of the plastic produced every year worldwide winds up in the ocean. Those Scary facts instill us to reuse our grocery bags. Statistics

Image source: Style.com

Review: Future Eyes Kaleidoscope Glasses

noreply@blogger.com (fatima zahra zemmouri) — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 13:29:00 +0000

I always wanted to see the world around me with a different perspective because I believe that not everything we see, with our bare eyes, portrays usually the beauty that surrounds us.

Finally, the opportunity of seeing the world differently was handed to me by Brent Paul Pearson the owner of Future Eyes. He contacted our blog to know if we are interested in experimenting with his Kaleidoscope glasses that are handmade in LA, which allows the person wearing them to see multidimensional sceneries. My sister and I welcomed the idea and now we own a pair of them.

Kaleidoscope comes from the Ancient Greek words Kalos, Eidos, and Skopeo –Beauty, Shape, and to Look, in other words it means to see the beauty of life. So, you can imagine what would be its effect. When wearing them you enter a tunnel of magical landscapes, and it's like whimsical poetry for your eyes.

However, these kinds of glasses are not just for fun and eccentric visions/illusions, there is another merit we can add to the list. The creator of the incredible Kaleidoscope Glasses, claims that Future Eyes has the ability to 'increase your optical abilities, enhancing focus power and sharpen awareness. It also reminds you that the world responds to your imagination, which is the essence of change '.

The first thing we did when our package arrived, was to stroll our city Tangier and take some photos trying to see it through our new eyes, we even filmed a short video that you can watch in our youtube channel clicking the link below.

We hope that you will enjoy the photos and the video like we did.

Click on the Image to see the video

Have you ever had the experience before with these kinds of glasses? Would you buy a product/accessory, not to wear it, but just to play with it?

ART/C - ONE OF A KIND : Artsi Ifrach creations

noreply@blogger.com (fatima zahra zemmouri) — Thu, 03 Oct 2013 18:20:00 +0000

The day/time/location: 2 October of 2013 at 7pm in Tangier
The event: ART/C - ONE OF A KIND
The designer: ART/C Paris by Artsi Ifrach
The host: the Concept Store La tribu des Ziri

Yesterday was our first time to attend a fashion showroom. And as they say there is a first time for everything in this beautiful life. When we arrived there, one hour earlier due to a misunderstanding, there were a lot of "hipsters" mingling while chatting, waiting for the show to begin, and to the designer to reveal his work.

The atmosphere was utterly welcoming, allowing us to embrace the melancholy of the Moroccan products they're retailing, made with ethnic touch sourced from Moroccan traditional fabrics.

Artsi Ifrach showcased a recompilation of seven beautiful métis previous collections, naming some of them with funny slogans, as 'look again' and 'coming soon'.

I tried to portray the event by shooting some picturesque snapshots. I am just a rookie at shooting with a DSLR camera so please bear with me.

Enjoy the pictures!

In the company of our dear friend Aida of 114 and TSL

Ps:The links are mostly in french, because in morocco it's our second official language.

Links á la Mode September 26th

noreply@blogger.com (fatima zahra zemmouri) — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 07:52:00 +0000

Cozy Up

For all the talk about when "Fall" is officially here, there are two real things that christen the season for me, 1) turning the heater on and 2) getting a cold. Since both those things happened this week, it's super official. What does that mean? Time to cozy on up! Cozy up with what you ask? A good book? Your blogs? That snuggly sweater you invested in for the season? Why not all of the above? This week we've got the perfect round of links for an autumn afternoon, one blogger shares her experience braving the crowds for the 3.1 Philip Lim for Target collab (did I say BRAVE?) another shares what she learned from NYFW, and we finally get the answers to whether it's "plaid" or "tartan"... Lord knows we wouldn't want a clash of the tartans!

Links a la Mode: The IFB Weekly Roundup

Al-Balsam Life: The Ultimate Guide To Getting Rid of Dark Under-Eye Circles
Buy Any Means Necessary: 2013 Emmy Best & Worst Dressed.
Clothes Medley: Three Ways to Avoid Buyer's Remorse
Confessions of a Style Cookie: Burberry's Macaron Garden
Corals and Cognacs: 11 Lessons I Learned About Life at NYFW
Fleur d'Elise: Out & About: Seattle Fashion Designers at the SAM
Le Paper Doll: HAIR 101: To Perm or Not To Perm?
I Can Style U: Cat Scratch Fever
Nicole Kelly: How to… Buy Pumps!
Nothing to Wear: Phillip Lim For Target: A Review
Quirky Lifestyle: Autumn Bucket List
Real Girl Glam: Hair How-To: Perfectly Messy BedHead Hair
Simply Frabulous: "face it, the lady is a genius": Prada SS14
Style Vanity: 11 Boot Trends This Fall 2013
The Dainty Dollhouse: Is it Plaid or is it Tartan, this is the question!
The Glambition: PANTONE Fashion color report SS 2014
The Neon Blonde: Skype Style: How to Look Your Best on Video Chat
TLV Birdie: Tips for vintage shopping
Under a Veil: A bag, a fashion personality type: Which one are you?
Undercover Dress-Up Lover: How to make tartan ribbon shoelaces

SPONSOR: Eastdane Francis Leon, Michi, Filson Bags, SaraDesigns, Maison Kitsune, drkshdw, Micah Cohen, d.Ra, Lipault Paris, MCM, & Creatures of the Wind

How to wear: the pajama pants

noreply@blogger.com (zaynab zemmouri) — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 06:21:00 +0000

Cloudy sky, rainy days, chilly wind, consistent flu, Yep! It's officially Autumn! I have a strong post-vacation depression making me feel low during the day, if I didn't have responsibilities I would have stayed in pajamas in my bed, reading books and magazines, but I'm an adult now. Therefore, I need to get on my feet and fight the sensation of indolence.

The great thing about fashion is that it grants you with the freedom of experiencing with unusual styles, making the uncomfortable wearable and the odd completely normal. When you feel like going out with your pajama pants don't think twice just do it! You only need to know how to combine it with everyday pieces.

The pajama pants are a versatile attire, in consequence don't hesitate to mix it up with formal looks. If you're going to work put on a blazer and a white shirt and you're ready. You're having a free day and you're just hanging around? Add on a sweater and maybe a cardigan if it's cold outside. Just remember! To give the entire attention to your pajama pants wear staple clothes with them, t-shirts, bikers, denim shirts ... This way you will absolutely rock this trend.

This is how I wore mines, which by the way, I sewed myself.

The formal look

The casual appearance

How would you wear your pajama pants?
Do you think this piece will stay in the ever-changing fashion scene and become a staple?

A bag, a fashion personality type: Which one are you?

noreply@blogger.com (fatima zahra zemmouri) — Wed, 25 Sep 2013 05:48:00 +0000

I always wanted to know more about myself, so I did go through a lot of personality tests, from Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, to Left Brain/Right Brain creativity test. Nevertheless, I still don't have a clear image of which kind of personality I am. I guess I just have to live with the fact that my personality will always be versatile, depending on which stage of life I am.

But, how about deciphering which kind of FAHION persoanlity, each one of us, is? It will be a fun test to take, and you will definitely be 99% (I hope) sure that it is the real YOU.
The easiest and engaging test ever is brought to you by FARFETCH's cool tool: The big Five.

Design your own bag and find out which fashion personality type you are!

Start by designing your ideal type of bag, which genuinely represent your preferences.
And then scroll down to get to know which fashionista you are!!!

You designed your own bag, Bravo!!! so let's know which fashion camp you relate to the most.

Do you choose your bags according to your style?
What's your favourite type of bags?

This is a fictitious test with fictitious results, It may not reflect your true personality.
The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the reality.

Deja Vu: Cardigan under dress

noreply@blogger.com (zaynab zemmouri) — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 09:47:00 +0000

Did you know that: Alfred Hitchcock, the famous English director, created fashion icons in all his films, which is considered a source of inspiration for many designers, like Prada, Carven, Louis Vuitton ... This season (AW 2014) is influenced by Rebecca-the movie (1940), where the heroine wears an open jacket with buttons, also known as 'Cardigan'.

Image Source: Vogue.it

Street Style: Farewell Summer

noreply@blogger.com (zaynab zemmouri) — Tue, 17 Sep 2013 08:45:00 +0000

'See you soon Summer!'- Underaveil

Sources: Vogue(UK, Spain, France), Stockholm Street Style, DansVogue, CollageVintage, Harper's Bazaar.

Debut Collection: Episode #6

noreply@blogger.com (zaynab zemmouri) — Sat, 14 Sep 2013 08:58:00 +0000

Although it's been a month now, it seems like it was yesterday. The last 17th of August we experienced many opposite feelings at the same time, fear, enthusiasm, headache, calmness, stress, satisfaction and even at one stage irritation. This was the first time we attended such a big event like 'La Poupée de Paris'. Many people were presents, some of them were familiar faces, but the rest were totally unidentified.

Even though we carried out every single advice about networking for introverts explained in this IFB's article, we had a tough time there; the extreme joy couldn't in any manner neutralise a continuous troubled mood. Imagine a situation where a claustrophobic person is trapped in an elevator, despite being with his best friend he can't feel relaxed, well this was the precise description of our condition.

With the blogger Salma, our sister and the blogger Sara

The music was a mix of Occident and Orient tunes, the same as our collection, an intended harmony between tradition and modernism. A pleasant summery breeze was flowing all around the garden, where this special evening took place, a certain 'back to nature' sensation invaded everybody. The organisers reserved a table to our family members near the catwalk, a nice touch that cheered us during our appearance.

In the backstage with Mariam Meftah-Omeya Couture and Nada ElKhoumssi (Young designer)

Most of the time we were in the backstage room, to make the final adjustments and give our notes to the models wearing our creations, so we couldn't see the whole show, just fragments of it. Indeed, we didn't take pictures of the entrances of any designer. There were some photographers, jumping from spot to another to obtain the best shot, unfortunately only few pictures were uploaded in some Facebook pages, so we have to be gratified to find some decent pictures to show you in this article.

The designs of Mariam Meftah for Omeya Couture

Nada ElKhoumssi walking the ramp with her creations

The label Wachma Couture targets masculine and feminine fashion.

Tadaaan! Our creations hitting the runway for good.

To see how was our entrance click above.

PS: Please excuse the quality of the video! It was filmed by a Samsung Galaxy SIII.

Pictures sources: Underaveil, Ayoub Chabli, Private Events, Tanger Pocket.

DIY Project: Grrrrrr meets Meow!

noreply@blogger.com (zaynab zemmouri) — Tue, 03 Sep 2013 22:39:00 +0000

Cats aren't always the sweet and cute animals we know, they're also misterious and stubborn. In Morocco, for example, some old sayings alert us to keep cautious when stumbling upon cats (especially black ones), some people even think that they're haunted. I always thought that cats are adorable, however I've never been into it at the extent of owning one.

The Spring 2010 Ready-to-Wear Miu Miu's collection was the trigger for fashionistas to exhibit their inner catlike. And then it was a tsunami of féline inspiration, from Charlotte Olympia's Kitty Flats to BL TEE's Féline sweaters, and further on the street style looks were replete with Kenzo's tigers and Givenchy's panthers.

In this post, we got inspired from an amazing project organized by IFB, and considering that we didn't start university yet, we had spare time to do some DIY projects, with 'CAT' as a leading character. We did a clutch with a hand-embroidered angry cat, polymer clay rings and finally a MEOW sweater.

Supplies and moodboards

Hand embroidered cat by my twin sister, she tried to use every single stitch she learned until now!

I used Vlieseline roll to past the letters, later I sewed them with colourful threads.

A close up shot before baking.
The final look

Hand made Polymer clay rings, It feels Grrrrrr-eat right Meow!

The clutch has two sides, this one is inspired from Valentino

Pictures taken by my twin sister with a Canon 1100D.

This post is a submission to the #111 IFB Project

How do cats inspire you?
What is your favourite animal when it comes to fashion?

Debut Collection: Episode #5 (The lookbook)

noreply@blogger.com (zaynab zemmouri) — Sun, 01 Sep 2013 10:25:00 +0000

" What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet " William Shakespeare

A bouquet of roses was the start of this photoshooting, the roof was the location and family was the protagonist. Because all of us are rookies in this subject (especially my twin-sister, the photographer) all the work was unplanned, most of the ideas were spontaneous and albeit the model did some great moves, we chose only the pictures where she can't be identified, to protect her privacy.

Enjoy the lookbook, and don't forget to share with us your feedback.

Download the lookbook.pdf

Note: Click on the images to see in HQ.