What I Wore This Week | Zafira
Hey!
So it’s been a while, like a real while. I think my last blog post was in November which is shocking because I’m usually semi-consistent with posting on here.
But sometimes, life gets a little too much, I’m in my final year of uni plus just the general effects of living through a p-word in your early 20s when you’re supposed to be out living your best life kinda hits you sometimes.
However, I’ve finally found my motivation and a good balance between everything going on in my life and I’m back with some exciting stuff.
Today I want to start off a new series called ‘What I Wore This Week’. Over on my Instagram, a lot of you were into my OOTD posts on my stories so I thought I’d make it into an official thing by compiling them on here into a blog post with some better quality pictures.
There’s nothing I love more than getting overdressed for a day of doing nothing but wearing my mask, washing my hands, and staying inside.
Here are 5 of my outfits from last week!
(also i’ve edited these like i’m in a catalog from the 90s/00s, enjoy)
MONDAY
I’m the biggest advocate of wearing skirts at home purely because of how flowy and freeing they feel. It’s way too cold to be wearing skirts out in this weather for me so wearing them around the house makes me feel like I’m putting them to use.
This shockingly is actually a midi skirt, but on my 5ft 2 (maybe 3) body, it’s become a full-length skirt. I’ve paired it with a simple black velvet top and my favourite cardigan from Zara. It’s very Chanel-esque which is probably why I adore it so much.
If I were to be leaving the house, I’d most certainly be wearing these heeled boots from ASOS that I would normally be wearing on the daily. They’re extremely comfy for heeled boots, I feel like I could walk miles in these.
TUESDAY
I feel like Tuesdays are always such a meh day. I can’t remember the last time I had a fun Tuesday. Because of this, I kept my outfit pretty casual and cosy since it's either raining, windy or snowing outside pretty much every day recently.
Zara has completely wowed me in the cardigan and jumper region as of lately. They have such an incredible range featuring so many House of Sunny inspired pieces.
This cropped blue fluffy cardigan is worn at least once a week. Considering it’s cropped, it’s super warm. The fur is detachable which I love and it’s just so pretty. It’s a complete embodiment of early 00s fashion.
I’ve paired this with a simple black turtleneck and to further achieve that early 00s look, my Juicy Couture velour bottoms. These bottoms are one of the best investments I made in 2020. They’re so warm, I can’t seem to leave my house without them on. And the best part is that the pockets have zippers. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so much security and practicality in a pair of women’s trousers before.
WEDNESDAY
Something about Wednesday’s just absolutely drains the life out of me. It’s hump day, I feel extra lazy so I usually gravitate to a simpler outfit like this.
These are all my time favourite corduroy trousers I picked up at Monki a while ago and they’re one of the best pair of pants I think I’ve ever bought due to how soft they are and how well they’ve worn over time.
I love this shade of red too, I don’t wear a lot of red often because I feel too bold but this is definitely more of a burgundy and with a black turtleneck, I feel like the Parisian Instagram influencer we’re all secretly dying to be.
THURSDAY
To pick myself up after Wednesday’s slump of a day, on Thursday I wore a dress I had made a few months ago.
There’s something so incredibly pretty about this vintage toile de jouy material. I want everything in my house upholstered in this material and I think eventually, I would love to make some more pieces with this material.
I love a puffy sleeve on a simple dress, it’s so easy to style and always looks effortlessly put together.
I’ve paired this with some jeans from the Gap because I’m on a mission to bring back jeans with dresses like it’s 2006 again.
(P.S I’ve made an Instagram for stuff I’ve made and will maybe sell soon! You can follow me here.)
FRIDAY
Yay it’s Friday! (the days are meaningless this means nothing) Obviously, I have to be a little extra and funky to prepare for the oh so very wild weekend ahead.
This jacket from Sava London is so stunning. It’s beautifully crafted and I adore wearing it. It’s part of their Kantha collection where the pieces have this traditional stitching all over them.
I love this method because my grandma would stitch blankets with so many different designs with the Kantha stitch so wearing this jacket feels so special and nostalgic.
I’ve paired it with my favourtie favourite brown leather trousers from Zara. They are admittedly a little too big for me but I love them nonetheless.
That’s all I have for this week! Thanks for reading and if you like these kinds of posts them let me know.
The White Shirt Edit | Zafira
Hey!
So it’s been a little bit of a while since I’ve posted anything but I really wanted to take this whole isolation situation as an opportunity to sort out my site and so I did and here I am on this lovely new layout!
It’s also been a chance for me to figure out what sort of things I want to actually post on here and one of my favourite things to do is talk about clothes. I think the best place to start with all of that is with the basics and nothing is more basic and simple than a white shirt. A staple in not only a man’s life but a woman’s too.
I think a white shirt will always come across with some level of formality. It’s something you’d consider wearing to interviews or to work but for me, it’s become a such a necessity in my everyday wardrobe.
Here are 3 of my absolute favourite white shirts that I’ve been wearing religiously or were before we were all put in isolation (sometimes i still wear them around the house sometimes to make myself feel alive):
a good old tailored, well fitted white shirt
We have to start with one of the most versatile items in not only my wardrobe but everybody else’s too. A simple, well fitted, tailored, body hugging crisp white shirt. My shirts never look crisp mainly because I like the whole slouchy look or at least that’s what I tell people when in actual fact I just hate ironing shirts.
This is just a plain white Vivienne Westwood shirt that I was incredibly lucky to find sitting in TK Maxx one day and was one of the best purchases I could have made and was honestly quite the steal.
When it comes to styling this shirt, your options are truly endless. Here I’m wearing them with my flared jeans from the Gap for a more casual look but you could wear this shirt with any bottom combination. Whether that’s a pair of flowy culottes, a midi skirt or even a mini skirt. But my favourite thing to do with this shirt has to be pairing it with dresses or jumpsuits as an undershirt. Anything with a spaghetti strap is your best friend because you can easily throw on a shirt under it for a more put together look.
One thing I’ve figured out whilst owning this beauty is that the key with making a shirt look more casual or formal has to do with how many buttons you do up. The more buttons you do up, the more formal you’ll look and vice versa. So for a smarter look I’ll usually stick with one button undone like I’ve done in the photographs, but for a more casual look I’ll undo a few more and throw on a black vest underneath.
You buy this here but I definitely recommend having a wander around TK Maxx when the world’s back to normal to save yourself like a £150.
2. a white organza puffy shirt
When I bought this I had no intention of wearing as much as I do. This shirt is more of on over-shirt/jacket sort of situation which I feel like is such an important addition to one’s wardrobe.
A shirt like this is the perfect way to dress up literally anything. In these photographs I have it over a basic velvet green jumpsuit and it’s instantly turned something plain and casual into an outfit that looks like I’ve put a lot of effort into. I love doing a little tie knot with this shirt because I got in a size bigger than my usual so I could get extra puffiness in my sleeves and have a looser fit too.
I love wearing this dress over plain white cotton dresses in the spring/summer and then over a turtleneck or sleeveless sweater in the winter. It’s definitely something in my wardrobe I can make work all year around.
You can buy this here.
3. a shirt with bigger sleeves than the last and just generally oversized
I don’t know how anyone can claim they have a semi decent wardrobe without at least one or two oversized white shirts you’ve most likely stolen from your dad’s wardrobe. This shirt kind of has that vibe which is what drew me to it but with a touch of femininity making it probably one of the best things you could ever buy.
I think this just might be the most worn thing in my entire wardrobe. The versatility of this shirt is insane. Insanely good.
It’s got that whole big sleeve situation going on which I am smitten with and on top of all that, it’s cropped which I’ve slowly become to love in not only shirts but in tops in general. One thing I hate when it comes to loose or oversized shirts is when you tuck them into your pants and they bunch up weirdly. It frustrates me in ways in cannot put into words but a with a cropped shirt like this, I will never have to suffer with that ever again.
I wear this in so many different ways. I wear it a lot with jeans because it’s just so so so easy to style. It’s become my go to ‘I’m late because I spent too long thinking about what I wanna wear’ outfit because of this.
I’m also a big fan of wearing it as overshirt/jacket like my organza shirt over dresses and jumpsuits and it always looks so effortlessly chic.
This sadly is pretty old and not available anymore but here’s a similar alternative.
Thanks for reading,
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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Christmas Gift Guide 2017 | Zafira
Hi and welcome to my blog!
It's insane how fast this year has gone, it's already November and I can feel the Christmas spirit starting to kick in. The atmosphere around this time of year is so lovely and I spend all year just waiting for it. I don't really celebrate Christmas but me and my family do love to do a game of Secret Santa and I love receiving and giving gifts to my friends. Sometimes I really struggle on what to get to get people, it can be quite hard trying to find the perfect git but don't fret! I'm here to help with my ultimate Christmas Gift Guide!
1. Makeup Gift Sets (for the wannabe beauty gurus in your life)
I don't want to stereotype most women and shove this in there but it genuinely is something that most women will love. When buying sets, try to stick to popular and well known brands with a range of various products.
Here's a few that are looking quite good this year:
Makeup Revolution Makeup Set - This is very nicely priced is quite good for younger teens who like experimenting with makeup. It has everything you'd need for a full face of makeup.
Yves Saint Laurent Lip Gift Set - This would be pretty cute for someone special like a wife or girlfriend. YSL is quite an expensive designer brand but the quality is amazing.
NYX Matte vs Metals Vault - I've seen so so so many of these around and these would be perfect for anyone who loves makeup, you get such a great selection of lip shades.
2. Perfume and Candles (for the people that smell in your life)
Everyone likes to smell nice, it's nice to be somewhere that smells nice too. Here's a range of perfumes and candles that are smelling nice this year:
Glossier You Perfume - This is great for those trendy girls out there that like to keep up with stuff going on in the social media world. Glossier is a pretty minimal brand but I smelt a tester of this and it's so so so good. It's a perfect stocking stuffer or a small gift for someone cute (like me)
Yankee Candles - You could buy a Yankee Candle for anyone really, they have a vast range of scents and everyone loves a good candle.
Snowella Fragrance Gift Set - When I was a lot younger, I loved Zoella and this gift set would be perfect for any teen.
3. Jewelry (for the blingy people in your life)
I know this again is quite a stereotypical gift but these are some great places to get some cool and unique pieces:
Piccolina Jewelry - I found this company because they sell a lot of their pieces at COW in Manchester and I've always thought that they'd make such pretty gifts.They're good for anyone that likes to dress indie or even a bit hippie. I think I might have to get myself a few pieces from here soon...
Accessorize Jewelry - I love the jewelry from Accesorize and it's a really good gift to give anyone. They have a vast range of pieces to chose from so there's bound to be something you can find as a gift. I quite like the Z collection as they have a lot of dainty, everyday pieces.
4. Wallets/Purses (for the people who's wallets and purses are hanging on for dear life)
This is such an easy but great gift idea. Everyone needs a place to put their cards and money and the best place I've found to get a range of different ones is at
. They have a bunch of designer ones too that cost no where near their actual retail price and they'll make a wonderful and practical gift.
5. Bags (for the people that have too much stuff to carry in your life)
I appreciate a handy bag much like many others. I think for the special people in your life it's worth getting something that you know will last a long time.
MAHI Leather have a range of bags to suit whoever you're buying the bag for. They're maid to order with full grain cow leather and are up to 50% cheaper than other high street prices. It'll make the perfect gift as you can get the bag with personalised embroidery and a cotton dust cover to protect the bag. Not only will it make a great gift but $1.50 from every bag is donated to the FRANK Water Charity so you'll be helping to fund clean water in India and Nepal.
TK Maxx have such a wide variety of designer bags at such an affordable price compared to the retail price and is one of the best places to buy a bag as a gift or simply for yourself. I buy bags from here all the time because they have any style you could possibly want and everyone loves a good designer bag at a discount price.
Accessorize are not just amazing at jewelry but they have the prettiest of bags. I really adore their clutch bags as they're perfect for so many occasions and would make a great gift for anyone who enjoys a good night out. They also have a range of travel, day, totes and much more to help you find something that fits the style of the person you want to gift it to!
6. Terrariums (for the plant loving millennials in your life)
I like a good terrarium. I think they're super cute and perfect for anywhere in the house. Whilst browsing for some gifts, I found this super cool
which would be a super cute gift for anyone.
7. Retro Games (for the gaming nerds in your life)
I was browsing around in Urban Outfitters the other day and I came across the most amazing thing ever. It was a little mini Tamagotchi style toy which made me have a little epiphany and realise that little gadgets like that could be such an amazing gift.
Here are some pretty cool ones that make me feel like the 90s kid I never was:
Pixapet - it's basically a Tamagotchi that comes in some cute colours.
8. Neon Lights (for the people that need you to
light up their world like nobody else
)
Ornaments are a quite a nice gift to give but sometimes, you just need something with a little more life. I have always felt like I've needed a neon flamingo light in my room and in my late night window shopping sesh, I found such a good Christmas gift along with a couple of other amazing gifts.
Neon Flamingo (you and I both need this)
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