A Socially Distanced Summer Lookbook | Zafira
Hey!
Before I get into today’s post, I wanted to share a list of links of petitions and charities you can sign and donate to. It feels very selfish of me to write and post normally without addressing what’s going on in the world so at the end of this post you’ll find some links and ways to help what’s currently going on :)
And just like that, it’s summer once again. I had no idea it was even June until we were like a whole week in that’s how out of sorts I am. One thing I completely adore not only about everyday but especially summer is getting dressed. I love being able to wear dresses without having to layer seven different things to keep warm, I love being able to wear my Mary Janes without socks and I also love but will probably eventually start to miss not having to wear a coat on top on every single outfit. It’s the prettiest time of year.
So, I love doing lookbooks and my friends and family are amazing at helping me get the pictures I need but with social distancing and the whole '“we’re in the middle of mass pandemic and you can’t go near anyone” thing going on, doing this lookbook tested all levels of patience and creativity. I decided the only reasonable and exciting way I could do this lookbook and make it somewhat cool was by photoshopping myself into everywhere I would want to be this summer and that’s exactly what I did.
I’ve been working on this for a few weeks now and I hope you enjoy it because it was actually a lot of fun to do.
Here’s a few summer looks I will most likely be wearing around the house I don’t have a social life anymore:
a cute co-ord
I think co-ords have taken over this summer and I will gladly let them.
There is no easier outfit to put together than a co-ord. They’re so easy to style and come in such an arraignment of patterns, materials and prints. I’ve been seeing so many floating around on Instagram and the high street but this particular set from Zara caught my eye and of course, my debit card’s.
It honestly looked a little too pyjama-esque on the model but the Zara sale hit the internet and I gave in and bought the shirt and trousers and hoped for the best and I’m so glad I did because I love how this looks. It feels very classy almost, very chic and looks like something you’d wear to a picnic in the middle of the countryside in France which is certainly the vibes I’m going for this summer.
The set has this almost quilted feel to it and I think it’s probably one of the most well made things I’ve ever bought from Zara. The trousers especially, I love the tab detail on the back. I think these pieces will also look great on their own too, I can imagine wearing the shirt with plain blue jeans and the trousers with a white shirt.
In this look I’ve styled the set with my favourite Mary Janes from Asos.
Buy the shirt.
Buy the trousers.
Buy the shoes.
something causal to make it seem like i can dress casual
I think by now, everyone around me thinks I’m incapable of dressing casual. You will never see me in sweats, I never do a pair of jeans and t-shirt but this look has been a staple in my wardrobe since I was probably around 15/16 and will always be an exception.
I have so many of these short sleeved sweater/knitted tops. I think they’re perfect for summer days where it’s a bit chillier because they’ll still keep you warm but not too warm. This retro looking one is from Pop Boutique and I think I probably own every short sleeved sweater top they sell now because they’re so good and versatile. I wear them with jeans, with cullotes and I love using them for layering when it gets colder with sleeveless dresses and pinafores.
I’ve styled this top with my lovely jeans from the Gap which I am aware isn’t called the Gap but I’ve become too comfortable calling it the Gap. These are my perfect summer jeans. I hate skinny jeans now with a passion, they look good but the effort and stress of putting them on is not an enjoyable experience, especially in summer. These slightly cropped flared jeans however are the comfiest pair of jeans I’ve ever owned. I had no idea jeans from the Gap were so pricey either but I got these for 70% off from a Gap store that was closing down so I’m quite happy with them.
I’m also wearing my classic black Converse that I wear all year round.
The top sadly isn’t available, but here’s a cute alternative.
Buy the jeans.
the black dress
So I know a black dress isn’t very summer appropriate but I think this is such a pretty summer evening/date dress.
I think originally something that threw me off this dress was the material because it looked like it would crease a lot and very easily which it does but because the overall style of the dress consists of pleats and creases such as in the sleeves and in the top and mid area it isn’t as big of an issue as I thought it would be. I think this sort of material is so ideal for the summer because it’s so thin and lightweight and overall a very cooling material.
This dress originally had a very high rounded neck but I decided to do a little DIY job and change it to a square one since I think it looks a lot more flattering on me and it gives me a chance to wear some cute necklaces like the pearl one I’m wearing in the photographs.
I’ve styled this look with a beaded bag that are very trendy these days, this one is actually handmade from Bangladesh.
Here’s a similar alternative to the dress.
the ‘i wish i was florence welch’ look?
I feel maxi skirts aren’t as cool as they used to be when I was like 12 but I’m still a big fan of them.
This skirt is from Zara but I got it at brand new at Oxfam for £4.99 and it’s probably the best £4.99 I’ve ever spent. It’s made from such a light weight material and is extra flowy when you get hit with a gust of wind which is what I personally look for when buying long skirts.
I’ve paired this skirt with a simple black top and a cropped cardigan from Urban Outfitters. I love cropped cardigans. I think that if I didn’t have any self restraint I would buy them in every colour possible.
I’m also wearing my pink Mary Jane style shoes which I adore wearing all the time.
Buy the cardigan.
the red jumpsuit i dream about every night
I’m a massive jumpsuit/boilersuit girl. I think they’re easily one of the best inventions of all time and I would wear one everyday for the rest of life if I didn’t have a vast wardrobe of other clothes.
Every time I would go onto Instagram these past three months, I would see an ad for this jumpsuit and obviously, I fell in love with it straight away. It’s such a beautiful piece of clothing which is why for my birthday present to myself this year, I decided I would splurge and treat myself.
When I say I’m in love with this jumpsuit, I genuinely mean I’m in love.
I think it’s such an incredibly flattering item. Boilersuit/jumpsuits tend to stereotypically have quite a loose and masculine fit to them but this is definitely a more body hugging piece that hugs you in all the right places. The bottoms are flared too which is so great and this colour is so different than anything I’d usually wear and super bold. I love love love it.
Buy the jumpsuit.
the checkered dress from my childhood
This dress is what inspired me to do this lookbook because I’ve been spending my days at home in this thing. It’s the most idyllic summer dress to me.
It reminds me a lot of so many tops and dresses I used to wear growing up in a similar print and colour scheme to this. It always felt very classic and retro and most importantly, very country chic which till this day is what I aspire to exude.
I’m always looking for pieces that I can wear all year round and surprisingly, this is one of them. I bought this from an Oliver Bonas sale at the end of last summer and honestly wore this dress through the autumn and winter and even on Christmas day. Sleeveless dress are a gem when it comes to layering because you can layer anything under them. A shirt, a jumper, a turtleneck, your options are endless. I would love wearing this with a white jumper or turtleneck underneath in the winter but now that it’s warmer, I can just throw on a cardigan and run out the door in this.
Even though I wore this dress during the colder months, I definitely think it’s made for the summer. Just look how perfect it fits into my fake picnic. Once again, I’ve paired this look with my cropped cardigan from Urban Outfitters and my pink Mary Janes as well as another beaded bag handmade from Bangladesh.
Buy the cardigan.
Please try to donate to some of these charities or sign the links on my Linktree!: https://linktr.ee/zafiraahmed
Thanks for reading!
September on Film | Zafira
Hey!
After an abundance of requests asking for my monthly film blog posts, I’ve decided to bring back what seems like everybody’s favourite series over on here. The roll I shot on this month has actually been in my camera since the end of July/beginning of August and it might just be the longest I’ve ever had a film roll in my camera.
This summer was a little chaotic to say the least and shooting on film felt like a massive inconvenience. I was shooting frequently on digital so to carry around my DSLR, the lenses for that and then my film camera with all it’s accessories would have been quite the struggle. It’s a shame because there were so many moments this summer that could have been beautifully captured on film. I’m hoping to get a little film camera soon, something like Contax T3 (maybe something a little cheaper jesus i had no idea that these were that expensive) so I can take it everywhere hassle free.
I don’t know how this month is already over, I don’t remember feeling like it ever began. It’s been just as busy as this summer with me starting my second year of uni. I actually love September, it’s so lovely seeing everything transition into autumn and there’s just something about Manchester during this time of year that I completely adore.
Here a few snaps from late July, August and of course, September.
I think I took this in August when I was walking through Piccadilly Gardens to probably go shop or something but I ended up bumping into this huge marching band. It was pretty cool and very random but I love their hats.
This roll has more photographs of me than I’m used to but here’s a shot of me in the COW changing rooms because they’re so cute. I can’t remember if I bought anything from there but this is a very rare shot of me in a printed white t-shirt.
My mum hates all animals, especially this little daredevil of a cat. This is our neighbour’s cat that might as well belong to us. If you’ve followed these monthly film posts for a while, she’s made quite a few appearances and loves her time in-front the camera. What a pretty girl.
Moose Coffee looking pretty in the sunlight.
I picked up this amazing jumper this month at Thrift Shop Manchester for £7 and I can’t stop wearing it. It’s super 80/90s style and it’s one of my favourite things in my wardrobe at the minute. I also got these lovely Chanel button looking earrings from my friend Vicky as a late birthday present which was very sweet of her and my clip is from Primark!
Also how insane is it that this time last year, I had a bob and now my hair is sooo long? I think this the longest I’ve had it in a while, I usually get it cut into a bob every summer but this year I thought I’d let it grow out and go wild.
I finally updated my photo walls in my room with some newer shots. I also upgraded to 5x7 prints too and I loove how they look. I love being surrounded with photographs of my family and friends and most importantly, shots of me.
When I say I’ve lived in my boiler suit this summer, I’m not even exaggerating. It was my go to outfit and was so easy to wear and style. Anytime I’d leave the house to run some errands or even to come into the city, I’d throw this on with a pair of boots or my Vans. This is the best £35 I’ve ever spent. Here I am in TK Maxx in my 5 hour quest to find some jeans that actually fit me (no luck unfortunately but I got a cute pair from Topshop).
I remember when I first started shooting on film, I’d always take these mirror pictures cos I thought they were so cool. I still love them so they’re slowly making a comeback.
I had lunch at Mackie Mayor a week or so ago and it’s one of the coolest places to eat in Manchester. Maybe one day I’ll have to do a post about my favourite places to eat in Manchester because there’s sooo many. Mackie Mayor is filled with different food stalls so there’s so much to pick from. From pizza to tacos to all sorts. It’s the perfect place to eat if you’re with a lot of people because they have such a good range of food to pick from so there’s something for everyone.
Here are a few of my favourite things this month:
Pearl Clips - Primark
Burt’s Bees Lip Balm in Pomegranate (hands down best lip balm ever made by anyone)
Hugo Boss Watch
The Ordinary - Alpha Arbutin Serum (so so so good for dark spots)
All necklaces are from Lovisa
Bangle - from some little cheap stall on Green Street in London
NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Rome (i’ve been wearing this everyday since i was 16 it’s my favourite lipstick of all time)
Gold Hoops - & Other Stories (i also wear these almost everyday)
Her'e’s me and my friend Divine in our matching outfits for our first day back at uni! (you don’t even need to ask both of these shirts are obviously from Zara)
When I was around 8/9 years old, I had a dress so similar to this. Me and my cousin Zahrah would wear matching outfits and we both had this dress so when I saw this in Oliver Bonas the other day it immediately took me back to our childhood. Over this dress, I’m wearing a puffy sleeved shirt from Zara that I’ve tied at the front and my new Converse.
Can you believe this dress was on sale for £20 down from £68? I love a good bargain.
That’s all I have for this month! I’ll try and make this into a regular thing since it’s in high demand. To see more of my film pics and photographs in general, follow me over on my Instagram and other social medias (everything is linked at the bottom of each post!)
Thanks for reading!
Lots of love,
What's in My Bag? | Zafira
Hi!
I think that one of the very first YouTube beauty guru-esque videos I watched was a 'What's in My Bag' and I think I've been dying to do one ever since. A couple of months ago, I was kindly gifted the most beautiful satchel from MAHI Leather and ever since then, I've been using it pretty much everyday.
This has been my life saver since mid November. It fits everything I could possibly need for a busy day at college or even shooting. This is the Harvard Satchel in black. I decided on black because I knew that it would match my outfits a lot better than brown. It has a small compartment at the front where I dump stuff that I need easy access to so my bus pass, keys etc. It has a small zipped compartment at the back which I use occasionally but it's mainly full of receipts. Inside, there's so much space I'm sure I could fit a small child in there. It has two big compartments and then a little zipped compartment which I use for some back up film rolls, SD cards and anything else along those lines.
Here's a shot of it on film, I think it truly helps to fulfill the whole photographer aesthetic I'm aiming for. (and it matches my Doc Martens so well!)
Here's a few things I carry on a daily basis...
1. Lip balm
I don't think I ever leave the house without lip balm, even if I don't have a bag with me I'll usually slip one in my pocket. This is the watermelon flavoured lip balm from Oliver Bonas. It's smells so good, like if summer had a scent, this would totally be it. It's has such a good consistency and looks super adorable. It's my perfect lip balm.
I can only find the pomegranate one online so you can buy that here:
https://www.oliverbonas.com/gift/pomegranate-lip-balm-50676
2. Film Camera
I'm trying to get into the habit of carrying a camera around to capture memories, moments and anything cool and exciting really. I've been in love with this baby for so long now I can never seem to leave the house without it anymore. This is the Canon 300 and it most likely has a roll of the Fujifilm Superia 200 in it. I adore film. I finish college in a few weeks and I've just been trying to capture moments with my friends and they're just somewhat more special when I take them on film.
3. Lipsticks (usually about 20 shoved into the front pocket)
I don't really touch up on my makeup throughout the day but the one thing I will end up re-applying a couple of times a day is lipstick. I drink coffee a lot and my lipstick usually rubs off on the coffee cups so I'll always have a nice selection of lipsticks to re-apply. Here I have NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams in Rome and Budapest, Barry M Lip Paint in Genie which I don't even think I've worn yet and then an old Nina Ricci lipstick that is ancient but the colour is too pretty to throw away.
4. Mirror & Keys
This vintage mirror was actually given to me for free at a car boot sale. it's really pretty and I just love vintage items. I carry a mirror because I can't stop staring at myself and my keys are quite self explanatory. I need to them to get in and out of my house.
5. Purse
This bright mustard purse was a completely random purchase. I needed a purse so I went to TK Maxx and this Visconti purse caught my eye and I impulsively ended up buying it. I'm usually not a bright colour wearing person but something about this purse really captured my gaze.
6. Body Mist
I enjoy smelling nice so I'll have a couple of random body mists or sprays in my bag. I'm not a huge fan of carrying perfume bottles around just because they're so bulky and I'm always scared they're going to end up breaking and spilling all over my work. This So...? body mist in Fresh Floral is just a very cheap body mist I picked up in Superdrug to throw into my bag. Considering it cost under £2, it smells amazing and so clean and fresh which is something I'm always looking for in a scent.
7. Bobby Pins
The bottom of my bag consists of so many of these. No matter how hard I try to be organised and put them into little bags or pouches, they always end up escaping somehow.
8. SD Card & USB Stick
I think most students carry USB sticks with them, it's just very handy when saving work. Since I do photography as a subject at college, an SD card is a necessity but also great when I'm out and about shooting. Just like the bobby pins, there's usually so many just piling up at the bottom of my bag.
8. Pencil Case
As a photography, English Language and English Literature student, there is never not a moment where I don't need a pen or some sort of writing/drawing material. I got this pencil case a couple of years ago in Wilkos.
9. Hand Cream
I think I wash my hands more than anyone ever should. I wash my hands before and after everything I do and they always end up feeling pretty dry. This is the Zoella Wonder Hand Mosturising Hand Cream and it's okay. I was using one that I picked up at TK Maxx which was my absolute fave but that ran out a few days ago and this is just my back up for now.
10. A Book (sometimes several)
I used to be a huge book worm but these days, I can't seem to find the time or patience to read. However, there are moments when I feel like reading and it's just very handy to have a book in my bag just so I'm not completely bored. I wanted to start reading more of the cult classics and I thought 1984 was a pretty good place to start. Since I'm a literature student, I'm usually carrying books that we're studying alongside whatever I'm reading in my own time too.
11. Sunglasses
I'm aware that currently in the UK, the mini Beast from the East has hit us and it's covered in snow outside, but sunglasses are such a perfect accessory for any and every outfit. It's just handy to have them in case the sun decides to come out of hiding or to complete my look for that particular day. These are some very cheap sunnies from Primark that I've had for years.
12. Glasses
So I'm a bit blind. I've been wearing glasses on and off since I was 3 and they're a necessity because I'm short sighted and can usually never see anything. These have a very grandma vibe which is something I'm quite liking at the minute. These are from Specsavers.
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