We have a new home! (and a new name) | Zafira
Hey!
I’m happy to say after a months off, I’m back and better than ever.
a new space for us
I started my blog over on Blogger around 2014/15 and for the longest time, it felt like the perfect place to host my site. It was what all the bloggers where using back in the blogger days so I didn’t question or fault it. However, in the past year or so, it felt like a really outdated platform to be hosting my blog. I tried lots of different templates but they never looked like anything I wanted my little space on the internet to look like.
I tried a few other sites too such as Wix, Wordpress and so many more but Squarespace was the only site I felt like was a flexible and easy to manage platform for someone who has no idea how computers or anything within that topic works.
So this is where you’ll find me and all my stuff!
A new name (well not really but you get the point)
I’ve lost count of the amount of times I’ve changed my blog name at this point. I thought I’d keep The Zafira Edit for a while but after a few months it felt too ‘bloggery’. It felt like I had to sit and write about what makeup I was loving that month when I’ve literally been using the same stuff for about 2 years now.
What I’m trying to say is, I was looking for a name that suited me and who I am at this moment in time and what better name than my own? Something simple and something that will always be constant no matter how much me and content changes.
My content will change a bit too over the next couple of months. I don’t want to only write about what clothes I’m wearing or what products I’m using but about current topics, more cultural and opinionated pieces too.
Thanks for being patient and I hope you enjoy all the new content I’ll be posting!
Lots of love,
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Music of the Month: March | Zafira
Hey!
I'm back with one of my favourite blog posts to do on here which is music of the month! I love music. I'm always listening to something. It's actually pretty difficult for me to do anything or be productive in anyway without something pretty playing in the background.
I don't want to make this a super long intro since my March playlist is a quite a hefty one so without further ado here are some of my favourite songs this month.
As always, here's a link to my full playlist for this month if you're interested:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4Gyr17xCBOh1I67tL7xBKw?si=9qnnnI5vQ1qUPawKkHBflw
THINGS I IMAGINED - SOLANGE
Before I say anything I'd like to start with this beauty:
https://twitter.com/taibernacle/status/1101967739600674822?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
As much as this sounds like broken record, I still listen to it at least once a day. I love Solange. I think she's one of the most amazing women out there. Her entire new album was truly a blessing and made the month of March just a little bit cuter. Every single song on her new album was just wow.
2. MARCH - KEATON HENSON
I have no idea why but I always forget this song off my March playlists. It. Happens. Every. Year. It drives me absolutely insane. Keaton Henson has had a very soft and warm place in my heart ever since I heard 'Sweetheart What Have You Done to Us' like 5 years ago and had my heart broken for the very first time.
This makes me feel like I'm looking back on something, it's nostalgic in a weird way. I've had a few deadlines this month which means I've been stressed and this has just soothed me so well. It's calming and the most beautiful thing ever.
3. PRETTY DARK - GRIMES
Grimes has been floating in and out of my music library for quite some time now. She's insanely talented and unique and weird and I love it. She recently released a demo which I can't seem to get out of my head. It's so catchy.
4. TIERRA WHACK
A few weeks ago, a friend of mine introduced me to Tierra Whack and ever since then I've been obsessed. I spent a few days just listening to her because she's incredibly creative and just different. I don't think I have anyone in my library who sounds anything like her.
Here are a few of my favourite songs by her:
(watch the video it's really cool!)
5. CELESTE
I can't believe I'm telling everyone on the internet about this but I found Celeste through the Spotify & Chill playlist. I was just curious to see if there were any gems on there and my goodness were there. I found so many new artists but finding Celeste was a very celestial moment for me (lol). The song I found on Spotify & Chill was 'Father's Son' which is a bit of strange one to put on a playlist like that but after hearing it once I had it on repeat for days on days. It really had me in my feels.
Here are a few more of my favourite songs by her:
6. CAGE THE ELEPHANT - HOUSE OF GLASS
It's been a hot minute since I last listened to Cage the Elephant. I wasn't like their no.1 fan but I think they've had some great songs like 'Too Late To Say Goodbye'. 'House of Glass' was very angsty and a bit angry and I loved it. I think I'll definitely have to give them a listen properly soon.
7. YOU TAKE MY BREATH AWAY - THE KNIFE
I honestly thought this was some obnoxious song from the '80s or something when I heard this which made me love this 100 times more. I have no clue how it came into my music library but this is a very good 'I think I'm in love' mixed with a 'wake me up' song. Weird but so so so so great.
8. ROSALIA
When James Blake released 'Barefoot in the Park' with Rosalia in it I had no idea who she was but when I heard her voice I knew I'd probs love her for the rest of my life.
I've been listening to a lot of her music over recent weeks and I can't get over her voice. It's incredibly alluring and I could listen to her sing forever.
Here are a few of my favourite songs by her:
Thanks for reading! If you want more blog posts like this let me know :)
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Parisian Inspired Lookbook | Zafira
Hi everyone!
So, if you know me well then you'd know that I adore clothes. I don't really have a set style or look but one style/look I find myself coming back to time and time again is the Parisian look.
Maybe it's because I have this overwhelming love and obsession for pretty much anything French like every time I imagine myself in my 40/50s, I can vividly see myself sat in the French countryside with a thick French accent sat in my head to toe designer outfit.
Anyway lol, I guess the only way I could describe Parisian style is elegant, chic and effortless. You don't want to look like you're trying too hard (but secretly you are). I think it's a pretty universal style and is a style you can definitely personalise into whatever you want.
I had so much fun shooting these photographs with my friends and putting the outfits together. I haven't included a lot of accessories such as bags and stuff just because I pretty much carry my Kanken backpack everywhere. I haven't quite advanced in the accesories world yet.
The boots I'm wearing in literally every pic are my everyday Zara boots. I think they go well with every look and I actually do wear them every day. They're unfortunately not available anymore but here's a pair that are very similar.
LOOK NO.1: RED SUEDE
When I think of suede, I think of camel browns and creamy whites but when I saw this beauty in Zara, I fell in love. Something about this shade of red reminds me of Parisian fashion. This is an amazing everyday dress that you can easily dress up. Here I'm wearing it with a pair of leggings, ankle boots and a pair of small hoops (that you can barely see soz) and I think that this made a perfect, easy day outfit. If you wanted to change it up for a more dressier and evening/night time sort of look then you could switch out the ankle boots for a pair of over the knee boots and wear a pair of statement earrings. Dresses like this are such a staple for any wardrobe because they are super easy to style.
Dress:
https://www.zara.com/uk/en/buttoned-faux-suede-dress-p07901157.html?v1=8086578&v2=1180558
Knee high boots that would go great with this dress:
https://www.zara.com/uk/en/flat-over-the-knee-boots-p16060301.html?v1=8267676&v2=1180430
Maybe a bag like this?:
LOOK NO. 2: PRINTED BLOUSE & MIDI SKIRT
I don't want to go too much into detail with this outfit because I've mentioned it a lot over on my Instagram and previous posts but I think a midi skirt is such an essential in anybody's wardrobe. Whether you're a Parisian wannabe like myself or not, a midi skirt will definitely change your life for the good. In this look, I've paired it with this velvet printed blouse for some texture and it's created this beautiful chic look. I can already imagine myself posing near the Eiffel tower in this outfit.
This skirt is from Zara and is sadly not available anymore but here's some similar ones:
https://www.asos.com/bershka/bershka-pleat-check-midi-skirt/
https://www.asos.com/max-co/max-co-gingham-pleated-midi-skirt/
This shirt is also from Zara but the men's section, it is also sadly not available either. I can't find any similar ones either but if I do, I'll update this area or post about it on my Instragram.
LOOK NO. 3: THE ONLY BLACK DRESS YOU'LL EVER NEED
One day I was in Zara (i'm at Zara everyday) and I was having a little browse through the sale sections and I gazed upon what eventually turned out to be one of many great purchases of 2019. A dress like this could possibly replace your best friend, in fact, it could probably replace anything in your life that needs replacing. It's just such a good dress. I'd say this is more of an evening/night/event type of dress but I also wear this to uni a lot so it's quite versatile. You might look like you're trying to be the next Morticia Adams or even look like you're ready for a funeral but it's a look. A look that needs to embraced.
The dress has a lot of texture to it which I love. It has a velvet collar, a velvet button strap and lots of velvet polka dots all over. I like the see-through-ness of it and how lightweight the material is because it makes it so flowy. It's an all-around beautiful dress and makes me feel like a pretty woman. You could pair this with a pair of black heels if you're trying to be fancy or a pair of ankle boots like me. Maybe even a couple of gold hair barrettes?
The dress is from Zara and isn't available anymore but here's a very similar one that they're selling at the minute:
LOOK NO. 4: GREEN VELVET
I've never been a green wearer but this jumpsuit from UO makes me want to be a green wearer. This velvet jumpsuit was kind of an impulse buy but it's such an easy to wear piece of clothing so in my eyes, my purchase has been justified. Here I've paired it with a white t-shirt because it's -6 degrees everyday and my oversized suede, shearling lined coat from Headlock Vintage. I also put in a couple hair barrettes from Blue Rinse Vintage because I think green and gold go together so so so well. This is such an effortless outfit, perfect for when you're about and about. It's especially perfect for colder days. You could also wear this for formal events if you pair it with some heels and maybe even a blazer.
I know a lot of stuff isn't available that I've posted about but it's because I bought everything during the sales, here's a good alternative the UO green jumpsuit:
https://www.asos.com/monki/monki-dungaree-jumpsuit-in-dark-green-velvet/
The gold hair barrettes are also not available online and I can't find anything similar to them but any gold hair barrette would work great with this look.
LOOK NO. 5: CORDUROY
I said I was well and truly over corduroy last year but then I saw a picture on Instagram of my French Parisian queen Jeanne Damas in corduroy so naturally, I went out and bought myself a pair of corduroy trousers.
In terms of practicality, corduroy trousers are amazing for the cold, they block out all cold wind and they're super comfy. I found it quite difficult however finding a pair that were flattering enough and fit well. This pair from Monki fit so well that I don't have to even wear a belt which for me is so shocking. I wear belts with all my trousers. I am wearing one in the pictures though but just to look pretty. This has slowly but surely become my go to look for winter days. A black turtle neck, corduroy pants and a pair of ankle boots. I also threw my coat from Headlock Vintage on top too because like I mentioned earlier, it's about -6 degrees everyday in Manchester.
Corduroy trousers:
I hope you liked this post! If you want to see more stuff like this then let me know.
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Underrated Movies #1 | Zafira
Hello!
I'm a big movie person. Especially recently since I've had a lot of work to do and it seems like my favorite procrastinating activity is watching a good movie (or 2).
January is gloomy and literally, the most boring month I have ever come into contact with. I wish I felt overwhelmingly motivated but there's just something about the atmosphere of this month that makes me want to melt into my Ikea rug.
So, this month, me and procrastination have become extremely good friends. Better than we need to be but it's given me a chance to really explore the movie world. I'm not someone who loves a generic movie. I like the weird stuff, the stuff that really makes you rethink your life and everything you've ever done. That's when you know it's a pretty amazing movie.
This led to the birth of this post. I've been binge watching movies left, right and center and I'm so surprised that some of the stuff I've watched isn't more widely talked about.
Here's a list of some the best-underrated movies:
I want this music box more than I want a degree from uni.
Maybe one day I'll have to do an entire list of neglected children's movies because they are so so so many of them. I remember one day my dad bought me one of those double-sided CDs that had a movie on either side. I put it into our portable movie players (I'm sure this was actually from the 90s it had the tiniest screen) and discovered Anastasia. One of the best Disney princess (but not really) movies to date.
It's very loosely based on the story and legend of the Grand Duchess Anastasia of Russia. There was a big theory about how she escaped the tragic execution of her family and thus began this incredible movie. The animation is beautiful, the songs are beautiful and so is the character of Anastasia. I always wanted to be her, there was just something very relatable and quirky about the character that made her so much better than your typical Disney princess.
As I've gotten older, this movie is more of tragedy, turns out Anastasia didn't escape the execution of her family. It just took a lot longer to find not only her body.
I had seen a few movie stills and quotes from this movie on Instagram and it was enough to compel me to watch this.
This has the basic gist of the classic novel Great Expectations by Charles Dickens but has a more modern twist. The movie is about the pursuit of a childhood love which sounds cute but this movie goes in so many different directions. It's not straightforward which I like but sometimes it was very frustrating. Estella (played by Gwenyth Paltrow) is probably a pretty good example of this.
She is the most annoying but amazing character in the entire thing (alongside her erratic aunt).
ALSO, a very big big big also, the settings of the movie are so outstanding. Every scene filmed in 'Paradiso Perduto' had my creative juices flowing like crazy. The most beautifully decorated home I've ever seen in my life. A sort of forgotten, hidden gem of a house. It's just somewhere I can totally imagine myself shooting some stunning pictures.
I can't tell if this is a happy or sad movie. I know that I learned a lot from it. It's a pretty good watch for a lazy Sunday.
This is one of those Amazon movies and I was not expecting it to be anywhere near as good as it was. If you loved Her starring Joaquin Phoenix then you will also adore this.
I'd say this is a good mix of I Robot (without the violence) mixed with Her (2013) and Lars and the Real Girl (2007) and maybe like a splash of I Origins (2014). It's about a company that makes synthetic humans and all about the way that a synthetic human interacts with humans and the way that they feel. It stars Ewan McGregor which was kind of a weird cast in my view because the only movies I've seen him in are Trainspotting 1&2. It's strange to watch him go from a crazy druggie to a somewhat crazy scientist falling in love with his creations.
It also stars Lea Seydoux who I haven't really heard of but she was really good at her role in this. This has really pushed me to watch more Amazon Studio movies.
I'm not going to lie. The only thing that drew me to watch this movie were all the movie stills I saw floating around Instagram where Meena has like crazy beautiful hair. The hair was enough for me to be sold into watching this tbh.
The movie is all about an Indian family that is forced to leave Uganda due to Idi Amin being in power (the entire history of the expulsion of Asians in Uganda in the 70s is actually really interesting to read about you should look it up). The family then move to Mississippi where the daughter, Meena, falls in love with a young black man named Demetrius.
It's heartbreaking to watch a cycle of racism and prejudice repeated over and over again especially when so many of us face it. You'd think that you'd try and better yourself than the people that hurt you.
One night, I was searching for something similar to the Virgin Suicides and fell upon this masterpiece. The Virgin Suicides (book & movie) had a massive impact on my life, it changed the way I looked at so many things.
Mustang is kind of like the Turkish equivalent to the Virgin Suicides. It has a lot more to do with a culture which I think personally resonated a lot with me since my family is very culture and tradition based. Unlike the girls in this movie, I am fortunate to say that my family is a lot more open and modern about things which is great.
It's all about 5 sisters that are caught innocently playing with boys on their way home from school. Everyone in their little village/town sees the event as immoral and takes it the wrong which eventually leads the family of the girls basically imprisoning them in their home. It's sad seeing them forced into such a shitty life. They're trained to be housewives and eventually married off one by one.
This is definitely more of an eye-opening watch. Sometimes, culture and tradition really do suck.
Out of all the movies I've mentioned in this post, I have to admit that this is more of a popular one but not popular enough.
I love period movies. It's my biggest guilty pleasures. Something about a fancy frock in the 1800s just really excites me so when I found Marie Antoinette, I was more than overjoyed. Marie Antoinette is more of quirky take on your usual period movie. A lot more vibrant and kind of more 'Wes Anderson-y'. It's filmed beautifully and all the scenes set in Versailles are just stunning. The outfits and shopping scenes are also just impeccable. A fashionista's dream come true.
It's the perfect watch for when you feel like watching a typical chick flick but with a bit more maturity.
Also, Kirsten Dunst is amazing in this.
If you want to see more posts like this please let me know, this was a really fun post to do!
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