June & July on Film | Zafira
Hey everyone!
I’m back with one of my favourite types of posts to do one here … A monthly film dump!
It’s summer, and I couldn’t be happier. The sun’s out, I’m finally turning a nice golden shade of brown and most of all, I’ve reunited with my friends and family again for a summer of fun after nearly 2 years apart.
There was a lot going on these past 2 months but it’s been a joy getting back to some sort of normality.
Here’s my June & July on film!
REDOING MY BEDROOM
I graduated and turned 21 in June and July and my room needed a well overdue makeover. The last time it had been painted was when I was around 13 and being the avid clothes collector/hoarder I am, I just needed more practical clothing storage solutions.
As you can see, I decided to paint my room white. I’ll try and post a room tour or some pictures of my new room soon if that’s something you’d like to see?
I turned 21 in June which was more of a shock than excitement. I feel like I’m still 13 sometimes, I can’t believe how old I’m getting. Thank you to my favourite cousin Zahrah for my lovely birthday balloon! It’s surprisingly still floating a little over a month later.
Also how cute is my new rug from Wayfair?! I will definitely be taking more shoe pics on it very soon.
I posted a blue eyeshadow look over on my IG a few weeks ago because it’s been my go to look recently. Blue eyeshadow and brown eyes are the perfect combo and I feel so 60s anytime I put it on.
In the middle is a very blurry picture of a polaroid of me and my cousins when I saw them for the first time since the lockdown in March 2020 which was so crazy, I’ve missed my family so much and it’s the biggest blessing to be seeing everyone again.
A SHOOT WITH MARIA
I’ve started shooting again!
I did a shoot with my friend Maria in June with the cutest baby blue backdrop. I’m not as comfortable using backdrops as I used to be so it was more of a little experimental, play around kind of shoot which are my favourite kinds. Look how amazing she looks!
You can check out all the pictures from the shoot here:
Alpaca Farm
On the hottest day of the summer, me and my cousins ended up at Adventurous Alpacas in Rossendale Valley. It was one of the coolest things I’ve ever done even though I’m not the biggest animal fan and I was quite scared but these alpacas were adorable and not scary at all.
You get these little bags of food and you get to feed and stroke them (if they let you lol) and take some cute pics.
This is Alfonzo with the pretty blue eyes.
NJ looking like she belongs in the countryside.
It’s such a lovely family activity to do during the summer! We all had so much fun hanging out the alpacas.
That’s my film dump over! Let me know what your favourite pictures were and follow my socials for updates for some very very cool things happening in the next 2 weeks.
Thanks for reading,
Music of the Month: September | Zafira
Hi!
September lasted a total of 5 minutes and just like that, we’re 3 months away until the end of the year (thank god). It’s been quite the hectic month. I started uni again which has been a whole disaster in it’s own. In Manchester, it feels like it’s already winter. There is a very distinct chill in the air. The coats and boots are out, it’s all so exciting. I think this is my favourite time of year.
Anyway, here’s a bunch of my favourite songs and albums that I’ve been listening to this September:
nectar
-
joji
It’s crazy because this was only released a week ago and it’s become the most listened to album in my library this month.
I love anything Joji releases, but Nectar definitely feels a lot softer and love-ier than anything he’s done before. His songs have this upbeat-moodiness about them. Something that can’t really be put into words but when you listen to one of his songs you can hear it straight away. They’re almost in this monotone manner but still the most catchiest songs.
There’s so many amazing collaborations on this album too which caught my eye straight away. It features Diplo, Lil Yachty, Omar Apollo & Yves Tumor (i’m a massive fan of these two), BENEE and lastly, Rei Brown.
My favourites are Ew, Tick Tock and Pretty Boy (feat Lil Yachty). But I could easily sit and listen to the entire album on repeat for days on days.
borderline - blood orange remix
Blood Orange is someone who peacefully lives in my mind rent free. Dev Hynes ,in my opinion, is a musical genius. Every song he makes and album he releases is masterpiece. So when I saw he released this Borderline remix, I knew straight away that this would be love at first sight.
It vastly contrasts the original which I adore. Tame Impala is classed by some as a modern type of psychedelic rock and this version by Blood Orange has this psychedelic feel but in a completely different way. It’s dreamier and so much softer.
run away with me - sufjan stevens
On the topic of dreaminess, Sufjan Stevens’ song Run Away With Me from his latest album is now my favourite song to sit and daydream to.
I haven’t listened to the entire of the Ascension but after hearing this one song from it, I think I should probably get around to it.
It’s incredibly synth-y which has recently become something I quite like in songs these days and has some powerful lyrics.
It will make you fall in love instantly. In fact, if Sufjan Stevens ever sang this to me or just anyone I would 1000% run away with them without thinking twice about it.
chip chrome & the mono-tones - the neighbourhood
I don’t think I’ve been this fond of a Neighbourhood album since they released I Love You in 2013. I love all the aesthetics they’ve done for this album too with Jesse Rutherford completely painted silver from head to toe. I’m here for it, it’s all very Ziggy Stardust.
Although this album is a little all over the place, I like that the songs all have different vibes. Whether they’re more electronic pop to hip hop, they’re all so great.
Some of my favourites have to be Cherry Flavoured, Lost in Translation and Devil’s Advocate.
whole new mess - angel olsen
Angel Olsen is someone who I’ve very recently become incredibly infatuated with. I think I’ve seen every single live session she’s done because there’s something just so mesmerising about her voice and presence.
Her voice is very old school and retro and so full. I haven’t heard the entire album yet because I’ve been so stuck on Whole New Mess for days now.
You can really hear the tenderness and vulnerability in her voice in this song. It’s amazing.
feel away - slowthai (featuring james blake & mount kimbie)
I love this song.
The way these three artists combine their skills so perfectly in this song is so beautiful.
I haven’t listened to a lot of Slowthai’s songs but I think I might have to after this. This was a pretty personal song dedicated to the memory of Slowthai’s younger brother which is so touching and sweet. You can hear the sadness in his lyrics and the addition of James Blake really adds to the melancholic tone of the song.
call me (freestyle) - blood orange & park hye jin
Whoops is this another Blood Orange song?
Dev Hynes vocals in this are truly the most stunning thing ever and with the piano in the background, it’s almost like he’s trying to serenade us.
I’m not too sure who Park Hye Jin is but I thoroughly enjoyed her addition to this.
It’s just so great.
HIT DIFFERENT - SZA, TY DOLLA
$
IGN, THE NEPTUNES & PHARREL WILLIAMS
The return of SZA is something not only I needed this year, but the rest of the world needed it too.
I’ve really missed her voice and hearing it on this slow ballad R&B type song has made my dreams come true.
Here are a few other songs I’m also loving at the minute:
As always, you can check out my entire September playlist here.
Thanks for reading!
The Last of Summer on Film | Zafira
Hey guys!
And just like that it’s autumn. I haven’t done one of these ‘On Film’ posts in forever because my life midst this whole Corona business has just not been worth shooting on film so I took a little bit of a break. But I’m back at uni, back to doing things that require leaving my house so I’ve started shooting again.
Here are a few shots from the end of summer and this September that I hope you’ll like. This roll had a light leak so a few of my shots look a bit glitchy but I kind of love how that looks.
This is my very beautiful friend Britt who I used to shoot on film all the time when we were at college together. But we barely have time to see each other these days because we’re so busy. We had a very cute day out to Heaton Park towards of the end of summer and hung out and it was just like old times.
Some more shots at Heaton Park. I hadn’t been there for years I forgot how lovely it is to walk around.
I can’t entirely remember when I took this but the sunset was something else this day. I love the way the sunlight reflects on the white walls in my parents room in the prettiest shade of orange.
These bags were incredibly popular this year and it’s so wild to me because as kid, I used to get one of these bags every time someone in our family would go to Bangladesh. So when I see brands like Shrimps selling these for hundreds of pounds, it kind of makes me feel a bit weird because it feels almost extortionate.
As much as I love Shrimps, I do have a few issues with someone of the things they sell but that’s a story for another day.
This bag along with a few others like it were kindly made for me in Bangladesh and I think they’re so pretty.
As you can tell, here is the point in my roll where a light leak formed. I actually really love when this happens and you get the orange/red colours at the top of your photographs. I wear this outfit pretty much every summer and I adore it.
A few shots from the city.
I think this was my first day properly back in the city since March so I really enjoyed just walking around and taking a few snaps of places I walk by everyday.
This canal shot is my favourite shot on this entire roll because usually, this little nook hiding the canal on Oxford Road looks quite grimy and gross but on this particular day, the sunlight was hitting the water so perfectly. It was so serene.
What would a roll be without a shot of this cat that isn’t ours? We’re no longer friends because I was quite viciously scratched a few weeks ago whilst trying to stroke it.
This is my friend Tarek looking the coolest in Piccadilly Gardens. (sorry for being half an hour late, i hope this makes up for it)
I took these when I was shooting my uni lookbook which you can check out here if you haven’t already. Some very cute fits.
I’m starting to get back into the swing of shooting often again so there’ll be more of these soon.
Thanks for reading!
Music of the Month: August | Zafira
Hello!
I’m not even going to address my absence from here because it’s becoming a little bit of pattern recently but all you need to know is that I’m back with some cool blog post ideas that I hope you’ll enjoy reading as much as I’ll enjoy creating them.
But first I thought we should start with what seems to be everybody’s favourite post to read, an August edition of the much beloved Music of the Month.
It’s been a beautiful month in the music world, for me anyway. I feel like everything I have been listening to these past few months was very ‘listen a few times and then never again’ kind of music but this month, I’ve found a few songs and artists that I know will forever be in my head and my life.
As always, you can check out my entire August playlist here.
euphoria original score - labrinth
I feel like everyone who watched Euphoria is completely infatuated and entangled with the show. Whether that’s the with the oh so very cool editorial-esque makeup or the funky too hot for their own good outfits or in my case, this album.
I only got around to listening to the entire score this August, I had no idea it was even out and available on Spotify. I remember when the show first aired and the one thing (alongside the dreamy cinematography) that really stood out to me was the music and way it seamlessly blended into every scene of the show.
I have a lot of favourites but one I try to very badly sing or I guess hum since it doesn’t really have any proper words is Forever. It’s crazy how good Labrinth is on this album because the only memories I have of his music are from his Earthquake days and that is an entirely different world from this album. I adore We All Knew and WTF Are We Talking For too but this is one score worth listening to the entire way through.
Perdus -
AngÈle
Angèle’s voice is the dreamiest thing I think I’ve heard in a while. It’s so soft and gentle and comforting.
I think French pop music is so underrated in the world of mainly western pop because it’s so unique and not cheesy and every artist always has some sort of unique factor about them rather than all sounding exactly the same.
I guess you could say Angèle’s unique factor is not only the soft tones of her voice but the grace in the way she sings. She sounds so eloquent but still carries a certain coolness.
I heard Perdus on one of her COLORS sessions and I’m in love with it. Alongside her hauntingly beautiful voice, Perdus is still a very modern song with a catchy beat that makes this song so irresistible.
falling for you - jaden smith & justin bieber
Growing up I was never a Justin Bieber fan, I was more of a JLS gal, but there was one song by Justin Bieber that I loved and that was Never Say Never with Jaden Smith.
So you can only imagine how happy the resurface of this very cute duo in Jaden’s new album made me.
This song is the epitome of love, it’s cheesy, upbeat and so very sweet. I think this is probably the best song on CTV 3.
Listen here.
1999 - rich brian
I don’t know why but Rich Brian’s songs always remind of summer.
I’ll have to admit, I don’t think 1999 has anything on Amen and The Sailor but this in my eyes, is a pretty different album to them both.
1999 is what I’d consider more of a pop style album which isn’t what I’d expect from Rich Brian but I think it was interesting to listen to him play with a different genre of music and listen to something so personal.
Obviously Love in My Pocket is my absolute favourite. This song plays in my head 24/7. I love DOA and Sins too. It’s weirdly cool hearing him actually singing too, I don’t think he has the greatest vocals but I quite like his voice anyway.
dreamland -glass animals
I’ve loved Glass Animals since my early teens and I think they’ll forever be one of my all time favourite bands. They have this certain quirkiness about them that I just cannot get enough of.
Dreamland might just top How to Be a Human Being in my list of favourite Glass Animals albums. They took everything they did well in HTBAHB like the beats and the occasional rap verses and really threw it all into Dreamland, thus birthing probably one of my favourite albums to be released this year.
Also I’m the biggest fan of the whole Windows 98/glitch-y vibes on this album.
You have to listen to the album from start to finish to really enjoy it but a few of my favourites are of course Dreamland, Hot Sugar and Tangerine.
Burden - aminé
Other than REEL IT IN, I had never really listened to anything else by Aminé but listening to Limbo has me questioning why I took this long divulging into his music.
This is yet another album I can happily listen to all the way through but I of course have a few favourites that I have on repeat all the time.
Pressure in My Palms (featuring slowthai and Vince Staples), Easy (featuring Summer Walker) and Becky are my faves at the minute but the more I listen the more my favourites change.
Here’s a few other songs I’m also loving and that you should definitely check out:
If you ever want to send me some stuff you’re listening to at the minute then please go ahead, I love listening to new things.
Thanks for reading!
Music of the Month: June | Zafira
Hey!
I always start off these posts with how fast the months have flown by but I don’t think I’ve even had a chance to process June yet. It’s July, it’s well and truly summer, lock down is easing up which is a little bit daunting but we’re slowly getting back to somewhat of a normality.
I think music wise, it’s been a pretty slow month. I haven’t heard an awful lot of new music but there are few gems I couldn’t help but share with you.
You can check out my entire June playlist here.
andy - raleigh ritchie
I don’t think I’ll get over how Grey Worm from Game of Thrones, who says 5 words all 8 seasons, is this amazing alternative R&B artist in the real world.
Andy is like a glass of lemonade on a summer’s day during this weird period of time we’re all in. It feels refreshing and is a mix of what everyone’s feeling right now.
I love Time in Tree. This was actually released two years ago as a single but I think it fits in perfectly with the rest of the songs on this album. I like the retro vibes it carries through the song and how the overall melancholic tone of the song is a familiar factor in most of the songs in the album.
Party Fear is another favourite of mine. I think it represents social anxiety perfectly. It is the party anthem for all introverts out there.
tkn - rosalia (feat travis scott)
If I could switch bodies with any woman in this entire world one of them would be Rosalia. Imagine being beautiful and singing like an angel? That’s talent I can’t even begin to comprehend.
Have you ever wondered what Travis Scott would sound like if he spoke Spanish? Well TKN is exactly what you’re looking for.
But in all seriousness, TKN is a little different to Rosalia’s usual flamenco style songs. This has a really strong and captivating beat and I have to listen to it at least 5 times in a row anytime it comes up on my playlist.
uk2uk - babyfather
I don’t think I really listen to one set genre of music, it’s usually quite varied and mixed but this Babyfather’s album is definitely a lot more different than anything I’m used to listening to.
It’s hard to describe something that doesn’t really fit into one category or ‘style’ of music.
Some of my favourites from the album are Pagans (featuring Arca), Bright and Cookies. Arca has this almost eerieness to her music whereas Babyfathers are more urban and hip-hop esque so I was a little surprised to hear that Pagans featured Arca because I would never think the two go together but surprisingly, they’re a perfect match.
I think I loved Bright so much because I liked listening to the dialogue in the song and Cookies just has one of those beats that will forever stay in your head.
Scoo Scoo - Abo el anwar
I finally got around to watching the second season of Ramy earlier this June and was a massive fan of so many of the songs featured in the show.
I have no idea what this song is about but it has such a catchy beat and I listen to it on a repeat nearly everyday.
kick i - arca
Arca is weird. There’s no other way to put it but she’s that good weird, the weird that makes you want to listen to this album on repeat 24 hours a day.
KiCk i is technically a pop album but to me it’s so much more than that. The whole thing feels like a glitch, like one of those out of nowhere migraines almost.
The only song I had really heard by Arca before this was Piel which was what I can only describe as the creepiest yet most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard so my expectations for this album were really open.
The album features my personal favourite Rosalia but also Björk and Sophie which is such a strange yet very much iconic mix of people to have on an album.
I love KLK. It puts me in the most amazing of moods, it’s upbeat, it has Rosalia being Rosalia and Arca providing all the glitchiness I could ever want.
Calor is the love song I didn’t know I needed. It’s soft and gentle with a hint of that glitchiness portrayed throughout and most importantly, the lyrics translate into some of the most beautiful things I think I’ll ever hear.
I’m sorry this was shorter than usual I’m sure July will have a lot more to offer. I’ve also had a few people share their monthly playlist with me over on Instagram which has been very cute so please keep sharing them with me!
Thanks for reading,
Summer Makeup & Skincare | Zafira
Hi!
I had a lot of aspirations of glowing up this quarantine in preparation for summer, however it just wasn’t in the books for me this year. My skin and I have gone through a roller coaster of events. From breakouts every week or so to scaring like no other, it’s made me simplify my skincare and change a few things in my makeup routine which has led me to find some amazing products I want to share with you this week.
I’ve also filmed a little get ready with me because I haven’t done one in forever and I know a lot of you like when I film videos.
Here’s the products I used in this video as well as some other skincare and beauty bits I’ve been in love with recently:
Hyaluronic Acid
If you aren’t already on this Hyaluronic Acid kick then you are well and truly missing out on your skin absorbing all the moisture it needs.
I actually stopped using this for a bit because I was using a different serum that already had the hyaluronic acid within it but I’ve stopped using that and simplified the entirety of my skincare routine.
I had a really bad breakout on both cheeks over the past few weeks ago and with acne medication that dries your skin out like no other, moisture and hydration was something my skin definitely needed. I go in with a facial mist after cleansing and then I’ll apply this just before my moisturiser. It has brought back so much life into my skin.
You can buy this here.
GLOSSIER - INVISIBLE SHEILD
This was the only reason I was excited to go start going outside a lot more now that restrictions have eased up is this.
This might be the best thing I’ve ever put on my skin.
Since I do have a lot of acne scarring, one thing step in my daily routine that I’ve learnt is vital, is sunscreen. Exposure to your skin without suncreen can actually cause your scars to darken so it is incredibly important to add this into your routine.
I love this one from Glossier because not only does it smell amazing but it has more a gel texture and no white cast like your generic sunsreens. As a darker skinned girl, putting on sunscreen has always been a nightmare but this blends into your skin like a regular moisturiser or serum and leaves no residue whatsoever.
I was a little shocked by how small this was at first but you’d surprised how far one pump of this can go.
You can buy this here.
kiehls - ultra facial cream
As I said earlier, my skin has been suffering so simplicity in my routine has just been incredibly vital. This cream is the best because it just does what you want a moisturiser to do which is moisturise.
This is ideal if you have oily/combination skin because it isn’t greasy or really thick but still hydrates you skin.
I will never put another moisturiser on my skin ever again because this is perfect.
You can buy this here.
clinique - even better glow foundation in cream caramel
I’ve never been a full coverage foundation girl so when I tried this and realised it was basically a tinted moisturiser, obviously I fell in love.
It applies so smoothly and is pretty light so it doesn’t feel like you’re actually wearing anything but the glow and dewiness this foundation has is beautiful and has pretty decent coverage for a foundation that is so light.
Even after powdering, my skin has this subtle dew to it that makes it look healthy and makes me look awake and fresh.
You can buy this here.
estee lauder - double wear concealer in
6N Extra Deep
This is supposed to be an excellent concealer however, this shade is too dark for me to use as a concealer. So I’ve been using it to cream contour instead.
I know for contour, you’re supposed to use a very cool toned brown but I personally prefer something that is a little on the warmer side and this shade is spot on.
I apply this under my cheekbones, my nose, sides of my forehead and a tiniest bit on my jaw and blend it in with a beauty blender.
I also adore using this as a base before my everyday eye shadow. It’s a great primer and base and intensifies whatever shade of brown I decide to put on my eyelids that day.
You can buy this here.
mac - studio finish concealer in NW40
On the topic of concealer, this Mac Studio Finish concealer has been my best friend when it comes to covering scars and blemishes as well as my under eyes.
It’s a little more heavy duty than any concealer I’ve used before but I think that’s what makes it so good.
You can buy this here.
nip + fab - contour palette in dark
I was contemplating whether even photographing this was a good idea because it’s the most beat up thing in my collection.
I use this for everything.
I’ve hit pan on pretty much every shade because I use them all. I’ll use the two middle brown shades for contour/bronzer as well as eye shadow. The darker brown on the right for a more intense contour or in the crease for my eye shadow. I’ll use the pink shade as a blush but also will blend a little into whatever lipstick I’m wearing that day.
This is literally the most efficient and useful palette I’ve ever bought.
You can buy this here.
Nyx - ultimate shadow palette
I’ve slowly started incorporating more and more colour into my routine these past few months and the easiest ways to do that is by getting an eye shadow palette like this.
It has so many colours but my favourite at this moment is the lilac. I did a little look with this a few weeks ago. You can check that out here.
You can be subtle and use these are liners for a tiny pop of colour or you can be bold and use these all over your eye lids. The options and colour combos are endless.
You can buy this here.
smashbox + vlada - petal metal shimmer drops
This is amazing for any of you who love glitter but want something a little more subtle and easy to wear everyday.
I use this as a highlight sometimes, on top of eye shadow and even on top of my lipsticks.
It’s basically a glitter top coat but for your face. It’s truly great because it doesn’t mess up your makeup when you apply it, it dries so fast and has the prettiest sparkle.
I like to squeeze a few drops onto my finger and pat wherever I want to put it.
You can buy this here.
barry m - lip liner in chocolate
I will never in my life buy another brown liner that isn’t this.
I think I first bought this when I was around 15/16 and nearly five years on, it’s become a staple in my everyday routine.
I usually love using this as just a lip liner to fill and line my lips but recently I’ve loved using this as an eyeliner too. I do a little flick on the outer corner of my eyes with this to elongate my eyes.
You can buy this here.
Nyx - Matte Lip Liner in Alabama
At some during the beginning of this year, I decided I needed to change my everyday lip colour and went out and bought this liner.
On the rare days I do decide to switch things up a little, I’m a big fan of using this lip liner with either a nude/mauve lipstick blended in.
It looks like a red lip liner but it’s got this orange-y brown tone to it which I love.
You can buy this here.
If you’re curious about the products I used in the video that I haven’t listed in my current favourites then here’s a list of everything I used!
everything I used in the video:
Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray
Clinique Even Better Glow Foundation in Cream Caramel
Mac Studio Finish Concealer in NW40
Revolution Conceal and Define Concealer in C10
Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer in 6N Extra Deep
Laura Mercier Translucent Powder
Nip + Fab Contour Palette in Dark
Zoeva Cocoa Blend Palette
Barry M Lip Liner in Chocolate
Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara
Nyx Soft Matte Lip Cream in Rome
Thanks for reading!
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!
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,
The Quarantine Film List: Week 2 | Zafira
Hey, I hope you’re all well!
So as promised, I’m back this week with another round of some amazing films to watch whilst in quarantine. I’ve tried to mix it up a bit more and put a wide range of films in here and I’ve quite badly attempted to illustrate my own version of the film posters so I hope you enjoy those (pls enjoy them i spent too long doing them).
1. American Beauty
I feel like a few people won’t be happy that I’ve put this here considering Kevin Spacey is quite the disgusting person however, his character meets a bit of an unfortunate but well deserved ending in this so in my eyes, I feel like it’s justified a little.
A timeless classic, that’s what American Beauty is. I know that one day I’ll be old and grey and still feel like watching this. It’s about Lester, a middle aged man who has a bit of mid life crisis. He hates his wife, has a daughter he barely knows and hates his job. He ends up becoming infatuated with his teenage daughter’s best friend which causes Lester to completely change his life.
I think you have to at least watch this film once in your life. It’s definitely an experience and will make you think plastic carrier bags are pretty.
2. the killing of a sacred deer
Starring the lovely Nicole Kidman and Collin Farrell, The Killing of Sacred Deer fits into that whole weird psychological horror/thriller genre like Midsommar and Hereditary. It’s one of those films that makes you feel not scared but incredibly uncomfortable afterwards.
Steven, a successful surgeon with a perfect life and family, takes a 16 year old boy named Martin under his wing after his father dies on his operating table. They form a bond and Martin is treated almost like Steven’s adopted son. However, as their bond grows, Martin’s malicious intent becomes clear as he seeks a very messed up sense of justice by punishing Steven and his family. He believes a ‘pure soul’ must be sacrificed in order to set some sort of balance.
Visually, this is stunning. Each frame feels so clean and well structured. It’s easy on the eyes.
3. penelope
I remember the first time I had watched this was during wet play in primary school and even then at like 8 years old, I knew this would be a film I’d think about for the rest of my life.
Christina Ricci stars as a aristocratic heiress named Penelope who was born affected by the Wilhern spell which was put on her family many years ago and gives her the misfortune of being born with the nose of a pig. The only way to break the spell is quite unique and unbelievable. It’s … true love.
Her family bring countless suitors to the house since she’s hidden away at her family’s estate at their attempt to try and break the spell. A tabloid reporter however is eager to get a photograph of the mysterious Penelope and enlists the help of Max (played by the dreamy James McAvoy) who poses as a prospective suitor and ends up slowly falling in love with her.
It’s a great early 00’s rom com. One of the best in my opinion.
4. Queen
After going to Asian wedding event to Asian wedding event, there’s one song that’s always playing at a Mehndi and that is London Thumakda. A few months ago, I saw that this was on Netflix so I ended up watching it and was quite thoroughly surprised at how much I liked it.
Rani, a girl from Dehli is about to marry who she thinks is the perfect man, Vijay. It’s beautiful watching the scenes leading up to her wedding day, seeing her family so happy, seeing all the traditional wedding stuff play out and it’s so colourful and pretty. This all changes when Vijay calls the wedding off the day before leaving her heart broken.
Rani decides to venture out and go on their honeymoon alone to Paris where she makes new friends, meets new people, tries out new experiences and most importantly, discovers herself.
This is so different than most Bollywood movies that I’ve seen, it’s really refreshing actually and I loved every moment of this film.
5. Perfect Blue
Now we’re all suffering from a bit of headache from being inside too long and Perfect Blue will extenuate that headache and leave you feeling quite confused. But in a good way of course. I don’t think even after watching this a handful of times, I’m still exactly sure what happened in this.
I haven’t ventured into the world of anime at all but from what I’ve heard, Satoshi Kon (director of Perfect Blue) is wonderful. So wonderful in fact that his films have inspired films such as Requiem for a Dream and Black Swan. These are both films that are so so so amazing.
Perfect Blue is about a retired pop singer who decides to pursue her dream of becoming an actress. Her sense of reality however becomes a little disturbing when a fan from her past begins stalking her and Mima finds it difficult to separate what is real and what isn’t.
This is animated beautifully, every little detail is done perfectly whether that’s little objects in Mima’s room or what she’s wearing.
6. Frank
I actually watched this a few days ago and shared this on my Instagram stories because I absolutely loved this.
Jon, a young man who is an aspiring musician with a bit of boring life, decides to take the plunge and join an eccentric pop band led by Frank. Frank is a very mysterious and strange man who always wears this freakish fake head that he never takes off (as illustrated above).
I think this film is a bit of everything. It explores mental illness but at the same time, it’s also a very bittersweet comedy about friendship and identity. It’s one of the most unpredictable films you could ever watch. Everything I anticipated didn’t happen, the film had a life of its own.
I also love all the songs they sing in this, as strange as they are, they’re pretty good.
7. the darjeeling limited
I had to try and restrain myself from filling these lists with Wes Anderson films because I adore them so much but the Darjeeling Limited is something I think everyone will truly like.
Three brothers come together after a year of not seeing or speaking to each other since their father’s funeral decide to set off on a train voyage across Indian to try and reconnect with each other.
All three of them of so different, one of them is obnoxiously wealthy, the other is heartbroken over a break up (watch Hotel Chevalier please this is who it’s about and most importantly Natalie Portman is in it!) and the last, who enjoys taking things from his family without asking and is about to become a father.
It’s a story about family and grief, it’s hilarious and obviously, aesthetically the most beautiful thing I’ll see. Even the train itself is set up in the most visually stunning way and hello? They’re in India. The most colourful and wonderful place you could possibly be.
8. i lost my body
This felt like what I can only describe as a fever dream. It was so weird and dark and just so incredibly sad but with hints of upliftingness?
The story focuses on the character Naoufel, or rather Naoufel’s hand who is roaming the streets of Paris trying to find the rest of it’s body and we through Naoufel’s memories slowly unravel how his hand became severed from it’s body. It’s about self exploration but it’s also about love and life and death. It’s a strange watch but a good watch.
I hope you enjoyed this second round of films! I’ll post my third series sometime next week so make sure you follow me on my socials to know when that’s up.
Thanks for reading,
The Quarantine Film List: Week 1 | Zafira
Hi,
So, a lot of things have changed since I last posted. It feels like the world has completely flipped and it’s been a roller coaster of a month trying to adjust to all these changes. I hope we’re all staying inside, keeping not only ourselves safe and healthy but others too.
On the brighter side, a lot of us have plenty of spare time on our hands now and I’ve spending mine finally getting through my big fat hefty film list. I thought what better way to stay occupied than with some great cinematic masterpieces so every week for the next month or so, I’ll be sharing a few of my personal fave films with you!
Her
I feel like I’ve already talked about this so much on here and you’re all probably bored of me talking about this but I literally could not care because this film is so embedded into my life, my DNA and a good 30% of my entire personality at this point.
This is the perfect film for this current state of everyone’s life because it screams loneliness. Like the entire 126 minutes will make you feel so alone but in the most aesthetically pleasing and well -written way.
Her focuses on the character of Theodore who’s in a not so distant weird future and as you can guess, is very lonely. He gets his hands on a new operating system that’s pretty similar to Siri but so much more lifelike and human and they fall in love. It’s very bittersweet and every frame in the film is done so beautifully.
Also Joaquin Phoenix is this is actually the prettiest human of all time.
2. A Death in the Gunj
I haven’t really ventured out in the South Asian world of films yet but I found this gem on Prime a few months back because my dad was actually watching it. He’ll watch anything on Prime but this is the first Indian movie I’ve watched that falls into the whole weird eerie indie thriller genre. It feels incredibly Western compared to a lot of Indian films that I’m used to.
A Death in the Gunj is about a young man called Shutu, a failing student who is on a family trip away. The entire film focuses mainly on him. He’s a really lonely and grief stricken character (i promise all the films in this list won’t make you feel like you’re going to die alone) and as the film progresses, Shutu learns what’s accepted in society, his family and questions his place in the world. I think it’s such a realistic and blunt take on the whole ‘coming of age’ genre of films.
I read in a review somewhere that this film echos “emotional violence” and the way “society inflicts it upon others and causes destruction” and the film illustrates this so well.
It’s set in 70s in a place called McCluskieganj, Bihar which is a small hilly town in India that was once known for it’s vast Anglo-Indian population. The scenery really brings out the overall theme of loneliness but it’s also just so incredibly stunning.
I also read this amazing review on IMDB that sounds like it’s excerpt of the greatest novel of all time that summarises this film the best way possible.
3. The Emperors New Groove
Amazing. Stunning. A classic piece of cinematic gloriousness honestly.
This is top tier Disney stuff. Like forget Frozen or Moana (ok this was actually pretty good), this is what we 90/00s kids thrived off back in the day and what essentially shaped us into the people that we are today.
If you haven’t already seen this then please get a move on and do so. The Emperors New Groove is about Kuzco, a self centred, bratty Emperor who is mean and cruel to everyone. His adviser Yzma, our long eye lashed evil wannabe queen, attempts to try and kill him off but in the process, her and her dummy but oh so hilarious side kick, Kronk, end up turning the Emperor into a llama.
I’m sorry but if that doesn’t immediately take you off my website and onto watching this then there’s something totally wrong with you.
This was easily one of the best things Disney has ever done.
4. Before Sunrise
When I think about love and what it is, I always think of this film.
Staring everyone’s heartthrob Ethan Hawke and Julie Deply, our 90s French crush, Before Sunrise is possibly the purest form of young love I think you’ll ever see. The shocking thing is that this is all set in the space of the day and accumulates more love than most of us will get in a lifetime.
Jesse, an American on his way to Vienna meets Celine who is a student returning to Paris. They end up talking and Jesse convinces Celine to get off the train in Vienna with him where they spend the rest of their day wandering the heavenly city of Vienna before Jesse has to fly back home to the US.
It’s probably one of the most romantic films you’ll ever watch. Everything from their subtle glances at each other to the way their conversations feel so effortless and authentic will make your heart skip a beat.
You’ll be very glad to know there’s trilogy of the whole ‘Before’ films. So when you’re done with this one you can watch Before Sunset and Before Midnight which should keep you occupied and all loved up for half a day.
5. The Silences of the Palace
I can’t exactly remember how I found this film but I do remember vividly seeing screen grabs somewhere of some scenes and was immediately sold.
Alia, a 25 year old singer, returns to her childhood home which is a palace where her mother Khedjia worked as not only a house servant but a mistress of Prince Sid’ Ali. Sid’ Ali’s death brings her back and as she goes to pay her respects, she roams through the palace remembering her childhood. Her childhood was riddled with sexism, exploitation and spent questioning her father’s identity as well as the French conquest of Tunisia going on in the background.
It’s definitely not an easy watch but it covers a lot of issues still relevant to this day.
6. The Lobster
This entire film was completely ???
This was so weird. Good weird. It’s set in the strangest dystopian future where by law, it’s compulsory to have a romantic partner. Singles are taken to this place literally called The Hotel where they have 45 days to either find themselves a partner or be turned into an animal and set off into the woods.
Despite making me feel a little uncomfortable, I loved every minute of this. It has Colin Farrell and Rachel Weisz who surprisingly work together better than butter on toast.
It’s got a lot of dark humour which personally I love accompanied by so much awkward silence and just general awkwardness. It’s great.
7. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
I had no choice but to throw a cringey Bollywood hit in here. The best thing about this is not only was it made in the 90s but it features everyone’s favourite duo, Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol.
Simran who by the way has a * chef’s kiss * sense of style all throughout this, persuades her father to let her go on a one month inter-rail holiday all over Europe where she ends up meeting the one and only Raj. Now Raj is a complete douche but as the days pass, their love blossoms and when Simran goes back to India for her arranged marriage, Raj decides to go after her and win her back.
It’s like your typical Bollywood film story line but it’s so good and is one of my all time favourites.
8. The Florida Project
I don’t think I’ll ever watch anything that will capture the true essence of being a carefree kid more than this film.
Set in a rundown garish pink motel filled with people who can’t afford proper homes, the Florida Project focuses on the life of a 6 year old called Moonee who is the most mischievous and wild kid you’ll ever see. The whole film is pretty much about her and her life with her mum Halley and her little group of friends who get up to no good in and around the motel.
It’s aesthetically one of the prettiest films I’ve watched. The entire thing was shot on 35mm film which as a fellow film lover, I obviously couldn’t help but adore.
Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed this first list! I’ll post another one around the same time next week so follow me on my socials to know when that’s up.
The Hair Accessory Edit | Zafira
Hey!
It’s 2003, my mum is getting me ready for my first day of nursery. She’s searching through my musical bright pink jewellery box and pulls out about 6 different bright coloured hair accessories to put into my fresh bowl cut trimmed by my Grandma. I look in the mirror before I leave and what do I see? Nothing but a style icon in front of me.
That’s the moment my hair accessory obsession stemmed.
Over a decade later (yikes) and my love for all things I can somehow put onto my head of thick black hair is ever growing and as big as ever. I cannot and will not leave the house with a good hair accessory.
A lot of what I’ve been wearing recently and a lot of what’s featured in this post is actually from Primark. They have a vast range of not only hair accessories but accessories in general for such an affordable price. It’s become my favourite place to shop for little bits and bobs.
Here are a handful of my favourite hair accessories:
TULLE SCRUNCHIES
A scrunchie is a timeless hair piece. They’ve been around longer than I have, probably longer than my parents have and after all this time, they’re still one of the most popular hair accessories.
On one of my many strolls through Primark, I came upon these beautiful tulle scrunchies. I love tulle so much, I think it’s quite feminine and delicate and these scrunchies are the perfect way to add those qualities to your look.
HAIR CLIPS
I have no idea how I cut down my vast collection of clips into only 2 pairs but these are probably my most worn hair accessories ever.
My first pair came in a pack of 4 from Primark and are such a simple yet necessary accessory in my day to day life. Ever since I got my hair cut a few months ago (this is still very much a sensitive topic) and got a slight fringe put in, I am always looking for ways to clip it back in a non 3 year old looking way and these are perfect. I like how subtle these are too.
My second pair I got a while ago from Monki. They’re a pair of crocodile clips with pretty diamonds on. The only reason I bought these was to actually match my earrings in the picture. They go together so well even though my earrings are from Lovisa. They add the perfect dash of bling to any look and match literally every item in my wardrobe.
HAIRBANDS
This might be my favourite section of this post…
I think a headband is one of the easiest hair accessories to style and pair with outfits and also is the best way to keep your hair out of your face without having to tie your hair up.
Headbands are very similar to scrunchies, in the sense that when you buy one, you just can’t stop.
The first blue floral headband I’ve had for nearly 10 years now. I can’t even tell you where it’s from but my favourite way to wear it is with some pretty blue eye shadow and this Ralph Lauren blouse from Topshop.
My second fave headband is from Primark and I got this in the sale for £1 and I think it might be the best £1 I’ve ever spent. I wear this at home all the time. When I’m doing a face mask, working, tidying, it’s one of those fabric ones without the actual hard band in the middle so it’s comfortable to wear. I also love using this headband to add a little something to plainer outfits too such as with a black turtleneck and jeans.
My last headband is also from Primark and I love wearing this to weddings because it goes with my Asian clothes so so so well. I wore it last summer for my uncle’s wedding and it matched my top and skirt like a dream. It’s such an easy way to glam up any look and Primark has so many headbands like this in at the moment for ridiculously cheap.
I hope this given you a bit of inspo on how to wear/style hair accessories or maybe a little push into wearing them.
Thanks for reading!
Music of the Month: January | Zafira
Hi!
Oh January, you’ve lasted an entire decade and I am very much over you.
As we venture in February, the month of lurve (and hopefully more new music), I’d like to look back on this month and share some of my favourites in the dreary month of January.
As always, you can check out my entire playlist here.
EVERYTHING ELSE HAS GONE WRONG - BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB
I think it’s only right to begin with BBC because of their comeback after over 5 years off has been absolutely refreshing. I knew at age 14 that ”So Long, See You Tomorrow” would be one of those albums you’d listen to for a lifetime and 5 years on, I can definitely say that’s true.
It’s hard to describe what Bombay Bicycle Club’s music style is actually like because every album they have released has had a completely different vibe and sound. Everything Else Has Gone Wrong is somewhat similar to SLSYT and you hear that a lot in ‘Eat, Sleep, Wake (Nothing But You)’. When they released this as a single a few months ago it got me so excited about this album because it epitomises everything that BBC are about.
Some other of my favourites on the album are ‘Racing Stripes’ and ‘People People’. Although this album is most definitely not on the same level of SLSYT, I’ve been enjoying replaying this album throughout the month of January.
Black pumas
Like many of the other amazing artists I listen to, I found Black Pumas after seeing one of their Take Away Shows on La Blogotheque’s YouTube channel.
The amount of natural talent they have is jaw droppingly good. I’ve been madly in love with their Color’s show too where they perform of one of my favourite songs by them, ‘Oct 33’. I think they sound captivating in all their live performances. ‘Fire’, ‘Black Moon Rising’ and ‘Colors’ are a few of the lovely songs I’ve been obsessed with this month.
LOVE MY WAY - PSYCHEDELIC FURS
This song will not leave my head and I’m kinda okay with it staying there forever.
A lot of you will recognise this song from the iconic dance scene in Call Me By Your Name but it is also featured in the Souvenir (pls watch). It’s so incredibly 80’s. The beat, the rhythm just everything I love it.
LOVE MY WAY - PSYCHEDELIC FURS
ME IN 20 YEARS - MOSES SUMNEY
I think Moses Sumney is one of the most soothing singers I’ve ever heard. His voice is so soft and gentle and honestly feels like a hug.
‘Me in 20 Years’ is about the end of the relationship. It’s a pretty mellow song and very very nostalgic. ‘Polly’ has similar vibes, very reminiscent of someone and then you have the last song on the single, ‘Virile’ which is vastly different than them. A very strange mix of songs but so so so good.
BIG GIRLS DON’T CRY - FERGIE
I don’t think anyone talks about how life changing the Dutchess by Fergie was.
Fergie has and always be one of my favourite people of all time. She just has this certain je ne sais quoi about her you know? She was one of the people that made the early 2000s an iconic decade to grow up in.
I’d be lying if I said January wasn’t incredibly miserable but all it took was Big Girls Don’t Cry by Fergie to switch that Debby downer mood into something more hopeful and happy.
I actually have a massive Throwback playlist on Spotify that you can check out here.
C
IRCLES - MAC MILLER
I never really listened to Mac Miller when he was alive but one of his songs came up on my recommended song bit on Spotify and ever since then, I’ve been listening to Circles on repeat daily.
Circles is such a peaceful and calming album which is why I think I’ve been listening to it daily. I love starting my day with it when I’m getting ready and then ending my day when I’m getting ready to go to bed. I couldn’t imagine a better way to send Mac Miller off than a pretty album like this one.
Some of my absolute favourites are obviously ‘Circles’ itself, ‘Once a Day’ and ‘Complicated’.
Here’s a few more songs I’m loving…
Thanks for reading!
January on Film | Zafira
Hey!
January has lasted a good 3 years or that’s honestly what it’s felt like. It’s been a quiet month. I think like a lot of people, I’ve been trying to get my life back on track a little bit after almost a month off uni. I’m happy to be back into my usual schedule though and also happy to see what this year has to offer!
Here’s my January on film:
For the past few weeks, I’ve been adoring this little spot in my parents room. It’s on top of my mum’s dresser, a spot where she keeps a vintage jewellery box, her perfume, a mirror and a spinny bangle holder (not pictured). I think it might be the way it looks when the sun starts to set or the way an immense amount of light shines through no matter what the weather. It’s just very pretty.
Pictured here is an & Other Stories Perfume I got my mum for her birthday which I occasionally steal a spritz or two of and my favourite favourite & Other Stories lipstick that has most definitely been loved.
We spent Christmas and Boxing Day in London this year compared to our usual family shindig in Birmingham so we could visit some family. I took this somewhere in Whitechapel on Boxing Day. Honestly I think it’s kinda disgusting. There’s nothing I hate more than pigeons.
Here I am dressed like I’m cosplaying Shrek in this funky green silky dress from none other than Zara. I love this dress however, I hate wearing it because it creases instantly. I am also wearing some vibrant green eye shadow that you can barely see. I have my massive vintage coat from Headlock Vintage on too which everyone seems to hate but I am completely smitten with it. My personal tutor at university actually asked if I picked this coat of a skip which was very nice of him.
I was going to do this whole “only buy two things a month” thing but it’s now the end of January and once again, my wardrobe doors are incapable of closing without an aggressive shove.
These dreamy babies were a little bit of an impulsive buy from ASOS but my god are they beautiful. I love Mary Janes. They’re probably my all-time favourite style of shoe. These are plain black and velvet and pretty much match everything in my wardrobe.
As I said, this whole “only buy two things a month” thing did not go well whatsoever.
I’ve been quite in love with various shades of green for a while now which is strange because I used to hate the colour green. I think it’s incredibly flattering on brown-ier skin tones.
This blazer style corduroy jacket is from TK Maxx but is from a brand called Y.A.S that I know nothing about other than they are expensive are sold on ASOS. This jacket was originally £80 however because TK Maxx is a literal heaven on earth, this jacket only cost me £14.99. Bargain of the year.
Considering I’ve lived in Manchester my entire life, I don’t think I’ve ever been to the Whitworth Gallery.
It’s an incredibly pretty building, not only from the outside but the inside too. It’s so open and bright and I think this might be my new favourite place in Manchester. They’ve also got the most aesthetically pleasing cafe that’s lined with tall window after tall window (there’s a little snippet of it on the smaller pic).
I don’t even know where to begin with these cheeky babies. They both came over a few days ago and were causing chaos left, right and centre. They gave each other makeovers with some pretty pink lipstick, made me draw everyone and everything ever possible, ate of course (their fave activity) and both took turns drinking from my water bottle/cup in this picture.
Thanks for reading!
It’s been wild watching these two grow up the past 2 years.
Lots of love,
The Up-Cycle Project: The Perfect Errand Bag, the V Neck Dress of My Dreams and a Furry Surprise | Zafira
Hey!
So, it’s been a while. It’s so been so long in fact that we’ve rejoiced a new year and are already somehow halfway through January. I hope you all had the loveliest start to your new year and are slowly but surely getting out of that post-holiday slump.
Anyway, I made a few New Years resolutions and shared them on a post over on Instagram and one of them was to stop shopping and make more of my own clothes.
This is definitely one of those things that are easier said than done because making your own clothes requires many skills and a whole lot of practice. However, much like photography, I can 10000% say that clothes are a passion of mine and in order to understand the process a bit more, I have to start right from the very beginning.
My mum is the most talented tailor to have ever graced this Earth. She’s made me the curtains in my room, quilts and a bunch of clothes so I’m taking a few tips and tricks from her and obviously, some handy dandy YouTube tutorials to educate myself on my new found hobby.
What is up-cycling you may ask? Up-cycling is where you take products and turn them into something else. I know that a lot of vintage/thrift stores do this such as Cow and Blue Rinse so I wanted to see for myself what sorts of things I could make out of neglected clothes.
V Neck Black Dress
I think we should probably start with my absolute favourite thing in my wardrobe right now which is this black v neck dress.
You’re either 1, too focused on my amazing top underneath to care or 2, asking why this boring old thing is my favourite out of all the contents of my wardrobe. This is top stunning, I dream about it every night and I will be wearing this every day for the rest of my life but I’m planning to do a whole other post about this top and some more stuff very soon!
So back to the dress, I think something like this is fundamental in a person’s wardrobe. Especially if you’re trying to be a bit more conscious about stopping shopping. A dress like this can be worn and styled in so many different ways. I get incredibly excited thinking about the endless possibilities.
I thought this would be a lot more difficult to make but it really wasn’t. I began by sketching out my V neck on the front and back. I did make the V a lot deeper in the back so measuring all of that and making sure it was somewhat even was a little bit of a challenge since numbers and I do not get along. I made the dress slightly shorter by decreasing material from what is now the straps of the dress and then finally hemmed all the raw edges.
You can see here that I’ve styled it with this top with big sleeves which is basically a piece of art (again, I’ll get into everything about this beauty in another post) but I would wear this with pretty much anything you can put on the top half of your body. A plain white tee, a turtleneck, a blouse, a white shirt, like I said, endless possibilities.
The perfect ‘i’m just heading out to run some errands’ bag.
Honestly, I’m not much of a bag person. I either carry my tote bag with my favourite painting of all time on which is ‘Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose’ by John Singer Sargent or my basic but ever so handy Kanken black backpack.
When it comes to bags, I’m more on the practical side versus it looking pretty on my shoulder. Two things I always carry around with me are my camera and a water bottle so I knew when making this bag, it would have to be a decent size and not miniature like a Jacquemus Le Chiquito Mini Bag.
This bag is definitely a little on the smaller side than what I’m used to but I can still fit all my essentials in here and I love coordinating this bag with my ever so famous and my all time favourite pink shoes.
I think you’ll be surprised to know that this bag was once a woven mini skirt. I picked up the skirt a while ago in TK Maxx for a solid £4.99. My goodness do I love TK Maxx.
the original skirt
I really do wish I took better before shots of the skirt but here’s a little shot from my story archives.
As you can see, it’s a fitted, woven mini skirt with fringe detailing at the bottom. I can’t really say I’m much of a mini skirt wearer but this was most definitely a very cute skirt.
I have a rule where I will get rid of anything I haven’t worn in over two months. Whether that’s donating it or selling it over on my Depop. However, I did not want to part ways with this gem and I am glad I kept it and made it into something I use all the time.
The making process was fairly simple. I didn’t have to sew as much since it was a skirt but I sewed the bottom where the fringe is, cut about an inch or so off the top to keep for the straps and added a zip.
A little something extra…
I wasn’t sure I wanted to put this in with this post since it isn’t an up cycle item but it’s just too cute to leave out.
the ‘i only made this so i would have something to nap on when i go out’ bag
I never thought true love was real until I made this.
I love anything soft, most people do but this, this is like next level soft. Imagine carrying around a chinchilla with you, this bag is exactly like that.
I got the material for this bag at my new favourite shop, Abakhan, and I knew after one slight stroke that this was the material I needed. It’s so so so nice.
I think the making process of this was great, I had a lot of fun making this one.
I used one of my totes as a guideline when cutting the material. I did decrease around half an inch to an inch because I didn’t want it the same size as tote but something a bit smaller. I also made it wider horizontally which is something I prefer in bags.
I wish I lived in a less wet city or else this would be my go to accessory every single day.
I’m so excited to be starting a new series and project, thanks for reading as always!
Lots of love,
Music of the Month: November | Zafira
Hey!
How is there only a month left of this year? I can’t even remember feeling like it ever began.
So, it’s December. It’s freezing, it’s pitch black when I wake up at awful times to go to uni and it’s also…deadline season. I’ve been a little preoccupied with my assignments for the past month or so which explains the lack of content over on here which is incredibly unfortunate because I was feeling like I was on a roll with these posts a few months ago. Anyway, I have to prioritise what’s important to me right now and that is uni sadly. But I have a few weeks off for Christmas to rejuvenate and get my life into order so expect some very cute things next year.
For now, let’s roll on with my favourite songs this November!
In the midst of political nightmare, numerous breakdowns, a bad haircut (might as well call me Noel Fielding at this point) and nothing but stress pilling on top of me as the days pass, this month has definitely been a highlight in terms of music.
You can check out my entire playlist for November here.
FKA TWIGS
FKA Twigs’ new album was the most beautiful thing to have ever happen to me this entire year. I remember hearing Cellophane for the first time a few months ago and knowing that whatever she had prepared after that would be insane. And it was. Magdalene has been angelic. Like you know when you see those ads of like honey or golden syrup being drizzled in slow motion? That’s Magdalene felt like.
In NME I read that Mirrored Heart ”vibrates with Twin Peaks-style synths” and as a Twin Peaks fan from the age of 12, it resonated with me so much. I love Twin Peaks and FKA Twigs so this was the best of both worlds. Mirrored Heart sounds like a deeper version of Angelo Badalamenti’s Twin Peaks theme song it’s so weird. I love the lyrics in this too.
I love all the songs on this album equally but Thousand Eyes definitely stood out the most and has probably been my most listened to song in November. It’s so sad. I think it’s about Robert Pattinson which is strange considering nearly a decade ago this boy, sorry this man, was a nation’s heart throb for sparkling in the sunlight. It’s so haunting but I could totally sit staring into space and listen to this song for hours upon hours on repeat.
2. HELENA DELAND
If you’ve read some of my other Music of the Months, you’ll know I’m a huge fan of this music based YouTube channel called La Blogotheque. I watched the most stunning performance by Helena Deland and have now officially become her no.1 fan. You can watch her La Blogotheque performance here.
My favourite two songs by her are Two Queries and There Are a Thousand. They are the dreamiest songs ever. Even in her live perfomance, I had never felt so zen. I love listening to these at night or even if I’ve had a little bit of stressful day (everyday).
3. SLO BIRD WHISTLE - APHEX TWIN (PEEL SESSION)
This song emanates chaotic energy and I love it. I have nothing else to say about this other than it’s so so so great.
4. JOY CROOKES
I’m ashamed and embarrassed to even admit that it took me this long to find Joy Crookes.
I’ve struggled finding artists that I like that having a similar background or ethnicity to me so for me to find Joy (like literal joy), who’s Bengali (and half irish) and who sings like a literal angel was truly like hitting the jackpot. Her voice reminds me a lot of Amy Winehouse which I honestly never expected.
Since I Left You has been on my mind ever since I listened to it a few weeks ago. It feels so raw and melancholic and she sings it so effortlessly. The music video is filmed beautifully too. Early, which is another fave of mine, has a totally different vibe. It’s so upbeat and catchy and I love Jafaris in this. I’ve recently started following her on Instagram too and her outfits and makeup looks are so cool.
5. SO HEAVY I FELL THROUGH THE EARTH - GRIMES
As weird as Grimes is, I completely adore her music.
So Heavy I Fell Through the Earth feels and sounds very futuristic. There two different versions of this, so there’s the algorithm mix which is the version I personally have been listening to and there’s also the art mix. They’re both pretty similar and both amazing and I can’t wait for her to release her new album next year.
6. JOSÉ GONZÁLEZ
I’ve been listening to José González for years now but there’s just something about this time of year that makes me go back to listening to him on repeat for weeks on end.
Heartbeats is in my opinion, is the perfect song for a winter’s morning. I don’t know whether it’s because the guitar strums in the beginning sound like the soundtrack to a snowy day or because I found this song during the winter a few years ago. I also really love Crosses. I think these are both very love-y songs and I love love love them.
HERE’S A FEW MORE SONGS I’M LOVING…
Thanks for reading! I can’t believe this will be my last Music of the Month this year, it’s flown by so fast.
Lots of love,
