September on Film | Zafira
Hey!
After an abundance of requests asking for my monthly film blog posts, I’ve decided to bring back what seems like everybody’s favourite series over on here. The roll I shot on this month has actually been in my camera since the end of July/beginning of August and it might just be the longest I’ve ever had a film roll in my camera.
This summer was a little chaotic to say the least and shooting on film felt like a massive inconvenience. I was shooting frequently on digital so to carry around my DSLR, the lenses for that and then my film camera with all it’s accessories would have been quite the struggle. It’s a shame because there were so many moments this summer that could have been beautifully captured on film. I’m hoping to get a little film camera soon, something like Contax T3 (maybe something a little cheaper jesus i had no idea that these were that expensive) so I can take it everywhere hassle free.
I don’t know how this month is already over, I don’t remember feeling like it ever began. It’s been just as busy as this summer with me starting my second year of uni. I actually love September, it’s so lovely seeing everything transition into autumn and there’s just something about Manchester during this time of year that I completely adore.
Here a few snaps from late July, August and of course, September.
I think I took this in August when I was walking through Piccadilly Gardens to probably go shop or something but I ended up bumping into this huge marching band. It was pretty cool and very random but I love their hats.
This roll has more photographs of me than I’m used to but here’s a shot of me in the COW changing rooms because they’re so cute. I can’t remember if I bought anything from there but this is a very rare shot of me in a printed white t-shirt.
My mum hates all animals, especially this little daredevil of a cat. This is our neighbour’s cat that might as well belong to us. If you’ve followed these monthly film posts for a while, she’s made quite a few appearances and loves her time in-front the camera. What a pretty girl.
Moose Coffee looking pretty in the sunlight.
I picked up this amazing jumper this month at Thrift Shop Manchester for £7 and I can’t stop wearing it. It’s super 80/90s style and it’s one of my favourite things in my wardrobe at the minute. I also got these lovely Chanel button looking earrings from my friend Vicky as a late birthday present which was very sweet of her and my clip is from Primark!
Also how insane is it that this time last year, I had a bob and now my hair is sooo long? I think this the longest I’ve had it in a while, I usually get it cut into a bob every summer but this year I thought I’d let it grow out and go wild.
I finally updated my photo walls in my room with some newer shots. I also upgraded to 5x7 prints too and I loove how they look. I love being surrounded with photographs of my family and friends and most importantly, shots of me.
When I say I’ve lived in my boiler suit this summer, I’m not even exaggerating. It was my go to outfit and was so easy to wear and style. Anytime I’d leave the house to run some errands or even to come into the city, I’d throw this on with a pair of boots or my Vans. This is the best £35 I’ve ever spent. Here I am in TK Maxx in my 5 hour quest to find some jeans that actually fit me (no luck unfortunately but I got a cute pair from Topshop).
I remember when I first started shooting on film, I’d always take these mirror pictures cos I thought they were so cool. I still love them so they’re slowly making a comeback.
I had lunch at Mackie Mayor a week or so ago and it’s one of the coolest places to eat in Manchester. Maybe one day I’ll have to do a post about my favourite places to eat in Manchester because there’s sooo many. Mackie Mayor is filled with different food stalls so there’s so much to pick from. From pizza to tacos to all sorts. It’s the perfect place to eat if you’re with a lot of people because they have such a good range of food to pick from so there’s something for everyone.
Here are a few of my favourite things this month:
Pearl Clips - Primark
Burt’s Bees Lip Balm in Pomegranate (hands down best lip balm ever made by anyone)
Hugo Boss Watch
The Ordinary - Alpha Arbutin Serum (so so so good for dark spots)
All necklaces are from Lovisa
Bangle - from some little cheap stall on Green Street in London
NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Rome (i’ve been wearing this everyday since i was 16 it’s my favourite lipstick of all time)
Gold Hoops - & Other Stories (i also wear these almost everyday)
Her'e’s me and my friend Divine in our matching outfits for our first day back at uni! (you don’t even need to ask both of these shirts are obviously from Zara)
When I was around 8/9 years old, I had a dress so similar to this. Me and my cousin Zahrah would wear matching outfits and we both had this dress so when I saw this in Oliver Bonas the other day it immediately took me back to our childhood. Over this dress, I’m wearing a puffy sleeved shirt from Zara that I’ve tied at the front and my new Converse.
Can you believe this dress was on sale for £20 down from £68? I love a good bargain.
That’s all I have for this month! I’ll try and make this into a regular thing since it’s in high demand. To see more of my film pics and photographs in general, follow me over on my Instagram and other social medias (everything is linked at the bottom of each post!)
Thanks for reading!
Lots of love,
The Cowboy Boot Edit | Zafira
Hi!
I’ve been trying to stop myself from buying cowboy boots for months now but the more we delve into autumn, the more brands are releasing more and more varieties of the beloved cowboy boot. It’s pretty hard to stay away.
A cowboy boot is a great way to add a little unique touch to your outfits and can turn any basic outfit into something a little more interesting.
In this post, I’ve rounded up some of my favourite cowboy boots on the market place at the moment. They range from very expensive (they were too beautiful to leave out) to some very affordable cowboy boots to have in your collection this autumn.
1.INCH 2 - HIGH WESTERN BOOTS
We’re starting off with an amazing brand called Inch 2. These boots are £512 which honestly make me feel a little dizzy but they’re so wonderfully crafted. Inch 2 is a brand that I found recently on Instagram and I’m so smitten with them. They create the most stunning shoes, boots and bags and if I wasn’t broke student, I’d buy everything from them.
This type of boot is great if you’ve got long legs because it’s quite a high boot. The heel adds a little feminine touch and the colour is perfect for not only autumn, but for so many outfits. They’ve styled the model in the pictures with a cute floral dress and I’d probably do the same. I love a good pair of cowboy boots with a pretty floral dress, maybe even an oversized v neck jumper or an oversized wool cardigan on top too.
2. BROTHER VELLIES
I think Brother Vellies are who really started me on this insane obsession with cowboy boots. They do the whole ‘I’m a modern day cowgirl’ so so so well and in such a different way. I couldn’t pick just one pair from their brand so here’s a couple of the best things you could ever put on your feet. I love the mix between the animal print and doodles, it’s very cute. If one pair of these boots didn’t cost around £900, you’d be seeing me in a different pair of these everyday.
One thing that’s always stood out with Brother Vellies is their photography. If you check out their Instagram, you can see more cool photographs of their products. It looks very effortless and casual which is so different than other brands where they try and go very over the top. Also can we talk about how insanely good every model is styled on there?
3. MANGO
Delving into our usual high street and into the more affordable (kinda) stuff, Mango have been playing the cowboy boot game better than anyone else. Their range of cowboy boots for a high street store is beyond words. I can see these boots lasting a life time and being a classic piece in so many people’s wardrobes.
Let’s start off with these two boots on top which are so beautifully made. The first is a similar design to the Brother Vellies Doodle boot but way way cheaper. It’s a really good dupe and also great if you’re not ready to put a £900 dent in your bank account. The second pair are a pair that will never go out of a trend. It’s a very classic cut and style of boot.
Cowboy Leather Boots with Doodles: https://shop.mango.com/gb/women/shoes-boots-and-ankle-boots/cowboy-leather-boots
Goodyear Welted Leather Black Boots: https://shop.mango.com/gb/women/shoes-boots-and-ankle-boots/goodyear-welted-leather-boots
It was so difficult trying to narrow down 4 pairs of boots from Mango because there are so many styles, colours and cuts. These two are a little different from the previous two because they’re definitely a lot more casual and suitable for everyday attire.
The first black pair are a perfect autumn boot and are a more subtle take on a cowboy boot. You could pull these off with a dress or even a pair of jeans. They’re super versatile and are a great staple boot, The second pair are a little more daring. I love the contrast of black and white because they remind me of cows which is indeed, very cowboy. The prettiest aspect of this boot is 1000% the the square toe. It’s unique and makes the boot, in my opinion, look so much cooler.
Leather Cowboy Ankle Boots: https://shop.mango.com/gb/women/shoes-boots-and-ankle-boots/leather-cowboy-ankle-boots
Leather White and Black Cowboy Boots: https://shop.mango.com/gb/women/shoes-boots-and-ankle-boots/leather-cowboy-ankle-boots
4. ZARA
What would a fashion based post be on here without including Zara?
Zara has a pretty versatile mix of cowboy boots in this season ranging from a classic black booty to something quite dazzling and funky.
Let’s start off with the lady in red. I actually tried these on in store and had a little epiphany about how happy my life would be if I bought a pair (i didn’t buy a pair and now i’m sad and miserable) and they’re also the reason why this post exists! I think these are such a pretty shade of red, a very daring shade but so wonderful. I also love the steel toe cap, it’s such a nice touch to the boot.
The second pair are insanely good. They’re on the verge of being very tacky but I think the classic black with white stitching on the toe of the boot really help to balance it out. These are also probably the hardest style, I’m not even sure how I would style them. I think I’d probably just put them on display because they’re pretty beautiful.
P.S they also have these in black and white!
This last black pair are again, another classic cut. This is a very safe but amazing option if you want to try out the whole cowboy boot thing but not go over the top. I love how plain these are and I can see these being a staple and basic item in many wardrobes this autumn.
Red Leather Cowboy Boots: https://www.zara.com/uk/en/leather-cowboy-heel-ankle-boots-with-metal-trim
Green and Metallic Leather Cowboy Ankle Boots: https://www.zara.com/uk/en/multi-piece-leather-ankle-boots-with-cowboy-heel
Black Cowboy Heel Boots: https://www.zara.com/uk/en/cowboy-heel-boots
5. & OTHER STORIES
When it comes to classic, timeless pieces, & Other Stories is always a good choice. This black cowboy boot is such a sophisticated, smart cut and would be perfect for work. I like that this cut is in between ankle and knee and especially love how pointed the toe is. I think this will make a wonderful addition to anyone’s wardrobe.
My second choice of boot however reminds me a lot of cheese. I can’t tell if I really hate it or really like them but I think they’re kind of stunning. I wish I was brave enough to wear bright colours like orange because these boots are actually really cool. I think it’d be interesting to pair these with either with an all white outfit or even maybe with some blue denim.
Black Cowboy Boots: https://www.stories.com/en_gbp/shoes/boots/ankleboots/product.square-toe-leather-cowboy-boots-black
Orange and White Cowboy Boots: https://www.stories.com/en_gbp/shoes/boots/product.duo-toned-leather-cowboy-boots-orange-white
Thanks for reading! If you want to see more posts like this then let me know :)
Lots of love,
My Current Favourite Outfits | Lookbook | Zafira
Hey!
I love clothes a lot. Maybe a little too much. Considering all of this, I don’t talk about fashion and style on here enough which is wild because it’s such a massive part of my life. So I’ve decided to make a lot more fashion related posts starting with this one!
I feel like this is such a weird time of year because it’s kind of summer but it’s also kind of autumn. It’s so hard finding and putting together good transitional outfits for this time of year that are a good balance of keeping you warm but also keeping you cool but also fit into both seasons really well. It’s a tiny bit of struggle.
However, after a lot of trial and error, I’ve concocted some pretty outfits that I love wearing at the minute!
OUTFIT NO.1
There’s a little bit of cowboy craze going on in the fashion world at the minute and these jeans from River Island that I found for £10 in TK Maxx fit into the whole cowboy thing so well! They’re amazing. I love the button detailing up the leg so much. They’re such a unique find and my favourite thing to do is pair them with this white organza plumetis shirt from Zara. I have to admit, at first this shirt was a little too fashion blogger-y, even for me, but I love pairing this shirt with some blue jeans to make it a little more casual. When it gets a little more chillier I’m so excited to pair this shirt with a black turtleneck underneath. It’s such an amazing piece that adds a little dressier tone to whatever you’re wearing.
Also a massive plus, these pants make me look like I’m 6ft tall (I’m like 5ft tall irl).
I’ve accessorised this outfit with my usual go to Zara boots that are featured in every lookbook as well as a chunky pearl clip from Primark! I love that clips have become a trend because as a kid, my mum used to never let me leave the house without a couple of clips finishing off whatever brightly coloured ensemble she had picked out for me that day. This pearly clip is definitely a lot more grown up and looks a lot more expensive than it was. I’m also wearing my forever favourite gold hoop earrings from & Other Stories.
BUY WHAT I’M WEARING:
Shirt - https://www.zara.com/uk/en/organza-puff-sleeve-blouse
Jeans - I had the hardest time finding a dupe for these jeans because they’re a little (very) out of season at the minute but if I find a decent pair I’ll come back and add a link in the future. My best bet is to check some thrift stores or even TK Maxx but like I said, they’re a very unique pair of jeans.
Gold Hoops -https://www.stories.com/en_gbp/jewellery/earrings/hoops/product.glossy-trumpet-mini-hoops-gold
OUTFIT NO.2
This outfit is a little more casual than I’m used to but I’ve had a very calm and chill end to my summer and my outfits reflect that a lot.
This is something I’d wear if I was just out in town, running errands or maybe even meeting up with some friends. This shirt is actually thrifted and it’s an amazing slouchy shirt that’s so easy to throw on. I’ve never really been a fan of very tight fitting clothes so this shirt is great. A red stripy shirt is definitely a must in everyone’s wardrobe. So so so easy to style and it looks good on everybody.
I’ve paired the shirt with the same jeans I always wear from H&M. These are a pair of straight leg jeans that I got in a size too big and they are the comfiest. I’ve been madly in love with denim this summer and have been finding literally any excuse to incorporate it into every outfit.
I don’t think I’ve featured my Kanken over on here yet but it’s the best bag ever. I use it for uni pretty much everyday but also when I’m out and about. It fits everything I need such as my laptop and cameras and matches my outfits which is a massive plus.
BUY WHAT I’M WEARING:
Shirt - I had no idea how difficult it was to find a decent red striped button up shirt for women online, I only found one result like the one I’m wearing which you can get here: https://www.hawesandcurtis.co.uk/womens-red-and-white-bengal-stripe-fitted-shirt but thrift shops are usually filled with the best red striped shirts!
Jeans - I don’t think this exact style is available anymore but these are pretty much the same https://www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.0400285006.html
Bag - https://www.fjallraven.co.uk/fjallraven-unisex-kanken-black
OUTFIT NO.3
I have no idea why this outfit was so difficult to photograph but it really was. Anyway, this skirt is beautiful. I usually avoid wearing browns and beige tones because I always feel like they wash me out a little but this is the perfect balance between orange and brown. I found this suede skirt in We Are Cow earlier this summer and immediately imagined myself wearing this on a autumn day with a black turtleneck and like leaves falling from trees behind me. It is such an amazing transitional piece too because of the colour and material. Amazing. This might be one of my favourite purchases this year.
I’ve paired this skirt with a basic button up top from Monki which has done me dirty in these pictures and not sat well on me at all lol but it’s fine. These tops are such a staple in my wardrobe at the minute because they’re the most exemplary basic tops ever. I’m also wearing another clip from Primark, this time it’s a plain brown vintage-y looking one and of course, my gold hoops.
BUY WHAT I’M WEARING:
Top - https://www.monki.com/en_gbp/clothing/tops/product.cropped-button-up-top-white
Skirt - like I said this skirt is from We Are Cow so unfortunately they don’t have loads of these skirts lying around but here’s a two great dupes: https://www.marksandspencer.com/suede-a-line-midi-skirt/ & https://www.stories.com/en_gbp/clothing/skirts/midi-skirts/product.pleated-suede-midi-skirt
OUTFIT NO.4
Nothing screams summer more than a white cotton dress. I wore the crap out of this dress this summer. Any time I’d be going anywhere, I used to throw it on because it is the easiest thing to wear. This dress is from Zara and I think I’ll be wearing this in every season because I love it so much.
I love pairing this dress with this very fancy shmancy looking cardigan which is also from Zara. It reminds me a lot of this Gucci cardigan and I adore it. I love the pearl buttons and the contrast between the black and white pipe lining on the edges. It’s also pretty thick so it will definitely keep you warm when it starts to get a little chillier.
I’ve accessorised this dress with the most popular headband on Instagram ever which is from Topshop and once again, my beloved gold hoops.
BUY WHAT I’M WEARING:
Dress - I bought this quite a while ago but here’s a cute alternative to it: https://www.prettylittlething.com/white-broderie-analgise-smock-dress
Cardigan - This is no longer available at Zara and I can’t find any dupes (minus the Gucci one) but if I do find one, I’ll come back and link it here.
Thanks for reading! I’ll be posting looooooads of outfit pictures over on my Instagram since I’m back at uni and have a reason to get dressed everyday. Also, if you want to see more fashion/style based posts like this then let me know!
Lots of love,
The Ultimate Guide to Clearing Out Your Wardrobe | Zafira
I will admit, I have a lot of clothes and finding the perfect system to organise them has taken me a while but I think I’ve finally got the hang of it. I get a looooooot of questions anytime I post that I’m organising my wardrobe over on my Instagram stories so I thought I’d answer them all on here and add a few tips on how I keep my wardrobe organised and tidy.
1. HOW TO WORK WITH YOUR WARDROBE SPACE
waiting for everyone to get triggered by my mismatching hangers hehe
I have a wardrobe that’s definitely on the smaller side and I always get questions on how I fit everything in it since I have a pretty hefty amount of clothes. A few years ago, I found that the best method to fitting everything into my wardrobe was by organising my wardrobe seasonally. Now, yes, I am very aware of the extremely bipolar weather in the UK so a good 70% of the time, the weather isn’t what it should be during a certain time of year but I like to keep a basic gist of what I would wear during the current season. For example:
Autumn: Light knit jumpers, shirts, thinner coats & jackets, midi skirts, turtle necks etc.
Winter: Heavy knit jumpers, bigger coats, thicker pants etc.
Summer: Cardigans, light weight jackets, culottes, jumpsuits, thinner material dresses etc.
Spring: Lighter coats & jackets, usually more thicker material dresses & light knit etc.
So you’re probably like, “where do you put your out of season clothes?” and the answer is pretty simple. In storage.
Your two new best friends after this post will be these big plastic storage bins and vacuum storage bags. You can get them in so many different sizes so they’re perfect for sliding under your bed, or or in drawers or if it’s something you’re not going to wear for a while then even the attic. It’s the best way for me to still have a range of clothes but not clutter and overfill my wardrobe. I get mine either from Ikea or Amazon, check some out here:
2. EMPTY YOUR ENTIRE WARDROBE
The first thing to do when organising your wardrobe is to begin by emptying everything in it. I think it really helps when you can visually see how much you own and makes it easier to decide what you want to keep or get rid of. A key tip to remember when doing this is to clear your wardrobe on a day when half your wardrobe isn’t in the wash. There’s nothing more devastating than thinking you’ve cleared your wardrobe and it looking all pretty and tidy just to realise you have a billion more pieces to fit in somehow.
3. create piles to organise what you want to keep or sell
When all my clothes are out of my wardrobe, I like to sort them into 3 piles different piles: keep, sell/donate & throw away. I have a rule where if I haven’t worn something in over 2 months, I have to get rid of it. This helps with filtering out clothes I don’t want and also makes more space for new purchases. If you’re someone like me and like to shop frequently, this is such a good rule to have because it allows you to add new pieces to your wardrobe without completely over filling it.
A few months ago, my cousin told me that she was keeping track of what she was wearing by keeping note of her outfits on her calendar app. Ever since she told me this it’s honestly changed by life. I can easily see what I have been wearing and it 100% has helped with clearing out my wardrobe too because I can see what isn’t being worn.
When it comes getting rid of clothes I no longer want, I will either donate them to closest charity shop or sell over on Depop.(follow me!) I’ve been using Depop for yeeaaaars now and I adore it. I sell everything on there and it’s played a massive role in helping keeping my wardrobe clear.
4. ASK FOR HELP/OPINIONS FROM OTHERS
I think a lot of people forget about asking others for help but there’s nothing more fun clearing out your wardrobe with your friends. It’s very very useful to get a second or third opinion especially if you’re on the border about keeping something or not.
5. ORGANISE PRACTICALLY NOT FOR AESTHETIC PURPOSES
When you organise your wardrobe, of course you want it to look pretty in the end and want it to look like all those Pinterest pictures when the clothes are in rainbow order and all your clothes fade into the next piece and look very cute. However, when it comes to practicality, this method kinda sucks. Unless you’re a super duper organised person and always put everything back in it’s place straight after you’ve used it then I can promise you that this isn’t the method for you.
I’ve tried so many different methods over the years but the best one that’s worked for me is organising my clothes into what article of clothing they are. So I usually go from jackets/coats to Asian dresses to cardigans to jumpers to dresses to shirts and then to tops. Kind of a random order but this is what works for me at the minute. I also keep items I wear frequently towards the front of my wardrobe so they’re easier to get such as the jacket I’m wearing currently. Play around with different methods until you find one that fits in perfectly with you and your lifestyle.
6. STOP SHOPPING SO MUCH IN GENERAL
Ultimately, the ideal way to keep your wardrobe clear is by shopping less which is much easier said than done. However with everything that’s going on now with fast fashion, I think it’s really important to try and make somewhat of an effort to stop impulsively shopping and buying things we don’t need just to then throw away when we no longer want it.
I try to remind myself that empty hangers don’t equal more reasons to shop and that I already have plenty of clothes to fit my everyday needs. I’m also trying to up-cycle a bunch of older pieces into things I would wear today. (blog post coming soon!)
Thanks for reading and good luck with clearing out your wardrobe!
Lots of love,
The Best Rainy Day Movies | Zafira
So as summer is slowly coming to end and we face nothing but endless days of torrential rain, there’s nothing better to do than cosy up inside and watch a great movie.
Not to brag, but I’d say I’ve slowly become quite the movie connoisseur (mainly because I’ve spent my entire summer watching movies) and I’d love nothing more but to share some of my faves that I love to watch on a rainy day.
Ever After: A Cinderella Story
Two words. Drew. Barrymore.
In Ever After, she plays the role of the one and only Cinderella who is forced to become the servant of her evil stepmother. We all know the story. What I adore about this version the period it’s set in. It’s in the 16th century and the outfits and settings are so good. Drew Barrymore is a little different from the Cinderella we all know so well. I’m not going to completely bash on the OG Cinderella but she wasn’t an independent woman, she was ditsy and had the typical ‘I need a Prince to save me’ thing going on. Barrymore is sucha strong character which makes me love this movie even more.
This is a great family movie, it’s a movie I think everyone will like in someway or other.
2. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
I think I first watched this when I was around 11/12 and I remember being like completely wtf but also absolutely smitten with this movie even at that age.
It’s the best comfort movie, I love watching this when I’m having a bit of poopey day.
The movie is all about the life of Benjamin Button. A man who is born old and starts ageing backwards as time goes on. Benjamin Button is played by Brad Pitt (drools) and he’s plays Benjamin beautifully. It’s a mix of romance, drama and it’s also kinda sad. This is almost 3 hours long but there’s never a moment in the movie where you feel like it drags. I’m not a massive romance drama kind of girl but this is my favourite romantic movie that I’ve ever watched.
3. Lost in Translation
I was debating whether to throw this in or not because it’s a very popular indie movie but it really is a wonderful movie.
There’s no way to really describe the tone of this movie other than quiet and calm. It’s my favourite thing to watch if I’ve had a busy week or when it rains purely because it makes me feel relaxed. The visuals are beautiful, you’ve most likely seen screen grabs from moments in the movie if you’ve ever owned a tumblr account. And it’s directed by Sofia Coppola who is one of my favourite directors of all time.
It’s all about a movie star and a woman neglected by her husband who become who get to know each other whilst both being in Tokyo. The scenery and settings are stunning. It’s amazing rainy day watch.
4. HERCULES
In my opinion, this is the best Disney movie ever made. The songs, the characters, the plot, it’s all just so good. I love it.
Hercules, the son of Zeus and Athena is stolen from Olympus as a baby by Hades, God of the Underworld. He is raised on Earth by mortal parents but one day discovers the truth about his heritage and the only way he can get back to Olympus is by coming a true hero.
Out of all the movies on here, I think this is the most heart warming one. Best. Movie, Ever.
5.The Darjeeling Limited
I don’t think it’s possible to truly enjoy a rainy day without throwing on a Wes Anderson movie. One of my favourites to watch when the weather is a little gloomy is the Darjeeling Limited.
The story focuses on 3 brothers come together a year after their father’s funeral to travel to India to try and reconnect with each other. I love the train that they travel in. It has to be one of the prettiest trains I’ve ever seen. Every scene is like a painting and the colour themes used throughout are just perfect.
This is such a good family movie, filled with humour and most importantly, a lot of love. Owen Wilson, Adrien Borody and Jason Scwartzman play the role of brothers so well. If you have any siblings, you know what it’s like. You argue, you fight but at the end of the day, you love them.
6. MULAN
Pretty much every time it rains really heavily, I think of the scene in Mulan when she decides to go fight in the war and rides off on her horse in the lashing rain.
If you haven’t seen Mulan, then you should be embarrassed because she is the best Disney princess. Mulan disguises herself as a man to go fight in the war instead of her father due to him being very ill and old and ends up becoming one of China’s greatest heroines.
My favourite character has always been Mushu, he’s hilarious and will instantly cheer you up on a gloomy day.
6. High School Musical
Before you laugh at me, you have to understand that this is a classic in my generation. Not a single day passes where I don’t think about High School Musical.
Since it’s a 2000’s movie, it is indeed very cringey but it’s like good cringey. Its’s about Troy and Gabriella, two teens from very different social backgrounds who end karokeing together one New Year’s eve. Gabriella later transfers to Troy’s school and they’re both like wow omg we go to the same school let’s join the school musical. And they do so, secretly. It’s cute and very corny but an amazing thing to waste your time on a rainy day.
7. AMELIE
This is another pretty popular movie but I love it nonetheless. I looooove watching this when it gets a little chillier or when the weather is looking a bit miserable.
Amelie is a very quirky movie, it’s about about a shy waitress in Paris who takes comfort in helping others find happiness in the most unexpected ways as well Amelie’s own journey to finding happiness. I think it might be the most whimsical movie I’ve ever watched. It also has one of the best soundtracks ever. Beautiful movie.
8. HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE
In my opinion, this is easily one of the top 3 Studio Ghibli movies ever made. Me and my brother have loved watching this for years now, it’s definitely a family favourite in our household.
A young woman is cursed by a witch into an old woman and the only way she can break the spell is by finding a young wizard by the name of Howl. It really is a perfect family movie. The animations are stunning, especially inside Howl’s walking castle.
Did I mention Christian Bale voices Howl??
9. Good Will Hunting
I can’t believe I put off watching this until this year. I’m completely disappointed at myself because this is one of the best movies I’ve ever seen.
It’s about a guy called Will who is really clever, he particularly has gift for mathematics (can’t relate) but is struggling to find direction in his life which where he gets some help from a psychologist who is played by everyone’s fave, Robin Williams.
I feel like this is the perfect thing to watch when you’re having an existential crisis or something, it really inspires you to get a move on with your life.
10. CLOSER
A movie that not only stars Julia Roberts but Natalie Portman and Jude Law? Yes please.
I don’t think I picked my jaw up from the floor once when watching this. Everything runs smooth for a bit, then something happens and this cycle repeats for 1 hour and 44 minutes. It’s great.
It’s focuses on the complicated relationship of two intertwined couples and is basically a massive tale of deceit. A man from one couple meets the woman from the other and thus starts literally the most dramatic thing I’ve ever sat through.
Thanks for reading! If you want to see more movie/ TV series based posts then let me know!
Lots of love,
Music of the Month : Summer Edition! | Zafira
Hi!
It’s been so so so so so so long since I’ve done a music of the month I miss doing them! But I’m back and they’ll definitely be a monthly thing from September onwards so keep an eye out for them. I’ve decided to change this one up a little bit where I talk about everything that’s getting me in the summer mood. Prepare yourself, this about to be a bit of a hefty post.
OMAR APOLLO - friends
Ever since I heard Amor Malo a few months ago I don’t think I’ve gone a single day without listening to Omar Apollo. His voice is exactly what you need after a long day. It feels like a nice, long , warm hug and I’m not even a hug type of person but I love him.
He recently released a new album earlier this summer called ‘Friends’ and it’s amazing. It’s a perfect balance between uplifting and sad love songs. My current faves on the album are ‘Hearing Your Voice’, ‘Friends’ and ‘Kickback’ but honestly, I love them all. I like that each song has a different vibe, this isn’t one of those albums where everything sounds the same. Each song has a different mood to it, they all make you feel a different way.
2. Mac demarco -here comes the cowboy
Along with 99% of the human population, I’ve started this weird fascination for all things cowboy. I don’t know whether it’s because of Old Town Road or what but cowboys are totally in for this summer.
If I’m completely honest with you, I can’t say this is my favourite Mac album, it’s nothing like 2 or Salad Days but there’s a few gems that I’ve had on repeat ever since it came out. ‘All of Yesterdays’ is probs one of all time faves. It’s very mellow and nostalgic. I think we all feel a little extra nostalgic during the summer so this is nice for when you’re having one of those days.
I’m also a big fan of ‘K’, ‘Nobody’ and obviously ‘Hey Cowgirl’ which is currently my favourite thing to sing very loudly in the shower.
3. STICKY FINGERS
I’ve been listening to Sticky Fingers for forever. I feel like they’re a band I’ll listen to when I’m 40 and married and have about 15 kids. They’re super chill and their music instantly puts a smile of my face. They’re just really warm and so good and I’d be more than happy to listen to them for many lifetimes.
There’s one song that screams summer to me which is ‘Liquorlip Loaded Gun’. I think it might be because the first time I listened to it a few years ago, I distinctly remember it being the middle of summer. It’s also because of the lyrics and pretty much everything about it. I remember listening to this on repeat for an entire month last year. I’m probably going to do the same this summer. It puts me in the greatest of moods.
ALSO, I adore the album cover it’s the best thing ever.
4. JADEN SMITH -ERYS
I haven’t really listened to Jaden ever since SYRE because a lot of his music sounds very very similar which gets a little boring and repetitive after a while. But, I gave ERYS a chance and I'm a big fan.
I like what he did with ‘P I N K’ where each letter of the word is a different song, it’s the same as what he did in SYRE with ‘B L U E’ and I loved it. Some other favourites of mine are ‘Fire Dept’, ‘Summertime in Paris’ with Willow which is the cutest and ‘Blackout’ which is the calmest song ever. Super super chill.
5. APHEX TWIN
Someone I’ve recently been listening to a lot is Aphex Twin. I remember when I first watched Marie Antoinette and they played what sounded like Runaway by Kanye West. Turns out Runaway used a sample of Avril 14th which I will love forever.
The two songs I’ve been loving for this summer by Aphex Twin however are ‘aisatsana [102]’ and ‘Aleberto Balsalm’ (which has the creepiest cover ever). ‘aisatsana [102]’ is the most perfect thing you could ever listen to on quiet summer’s day. This is my favourite ‘I’m wide awake at 5am’ song. It’s beautiful and always makes me feel at peace. ‘Alberto Balsalm’ is pretty different, it’s upbeat but still quite melancholic at the same time. It’s hard to explain without listening to it. Apparently Alberto Balsalm is a shampoo? I hope it’s as good as a shampoo as it is as a song.
6.CLAIRO
If you can’t already tell, I’m listening to a lot of ‘soft’ songs cos I’m feeling a bit sensitive this summer lol. I'm so in love Clairo. I think I tried listening to her a bit a few months ago when she released a song with Rejjie Snow called ‘Hello?’ but I just couldn’t get into her. But, I tried her again when her songs popped up on my Spotify Discover playlist and now I can’t get enough of her
I put ‘Bags’ and ‘Softly’ on my summer of smlove playlist because they’re amazing. So catchy and sweet. I love her voice a lot.
7. BEIRUT - ELEPHANT GUN
Every time there’s even a slither of the sunshine, the first band that comes to my head is Beirut. I don’t really know why but they are my band of the summer every year. The song that particularly comes into my head is ‘Elephant Gun’. It’s very nostalgic feeling, it reminds me of every great summer I’ve ever had. I love that. Whenever I listen to it I fall in love with it over and over again.
8. MARIBOU STATE
I have no idea how Maribou State ended up in my library but I’m so glad they did.
‘Kingdom’ and ‘Beginnner’s Luck’ are both such good songs. Whilst ‘Kingdom’ is a little more uplifting and makes you feel like dancing, 'Beginner’s Luck’ is a lot more relaxed. It’s more of a late night drive car song. Both very very very pretty songs.
Here’s a few more songs I’m loving…
There’s a lot of songs over on my playlist, this post has barely covered them all. There’s just too many to share but you can go check out my playlist here.
I’d love to see what you’re listening to this summer, you can leave a comment down below or share over on Instagram. Thanks for reading!
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The Best Accounts on Instagram This Week | #1 | Zafira
Hi!
I guess this is my first actual content worthy post on my new site which is so exciting (for me anyway). Today I thought I’d do something I used to do a lot over on my Instagram Stories a lot a few months ago which was a weekly round up of my favourite accounts on Instagram that week. I love doing it because I think it’s great sharing accounts with people that deserve their work to be shared and it’s nice to support your fellow artists out there.
If you want me to make this a weekly thing then let me know, I’d be more than happy to!
These are my favourite accounts on Instagram this week:
Mahoor Jamal (@mahoorjamal &@mahoor_jamal)
One thing I’ve being loving seeing recently on Instagram is the way that artists incorporate culture into their work and Mahoor Jamal captures this perfectly. Coming from a South Asian background, you can see so vividly how this plays a massive part in her work but also how modern culture and trends also play a part.
There’s something so dreamy about the tones she uses in her photographs. Especially her recent work for Generation PK, they look like the South Asian equivalent of a Renaissance painting. So beautiful.
She also has a graphics/illustration account which is equally as good as her photography one!
2. @305ibes
I can’t believe it took me so long to come across this account especially considering that they’re Manchester based (just like me!) 305ibes is a curation kinda account but completely different than any other curation style account I’ve seen on Instagram or anything before. They merge two of my favourite things in the world, music and film photography. They post little slideshow type of videos featuring work by film photographers with amazing music playing in the background.
It’s so mellow and relaxing to watch. They pick the best work from film photographers all around and play the best music too. This has easily become one of my favourite Instagram accounts of all time. It’s also ran by one of my favourite photographers Matthew Tou! I’ve followed him for forever and his work is amazing, you can check out his account here.
I’m super excited to see this account grow and find more talented photographers through it!
3. Nicolas “Yuthanan” Chalmeau (@yuthanan__)
It’s so hard to find unique OOTD style pictures on Instagram in this overfilled wannabe fashion blogger world but when I found Nicolas’ account, I fell in love with every aspect of his outfit pictures. The colours, the tones, the clothes itself and most importantly, the sense of coolness he released. He may just be the most coolest person I follow.
Not only is his feed filled with aesthetically pleasing outfit pictures, but aesthetic pictures of everything and anything. There’s some pretty street shots and some pictures of items from Sillage which is a men’s clothing brand where Nicolas is a designer and director.
If you’re all about the visuals, aesthetics & fashion then this account is made for you! I know I a d o r e it.
4. Marc Hibbert (@marc_hibbert)
A few weeks ago, one of my favourite people on Instagram (@znali) posted this picture on his account that was featured on Document Journal’s Instagram and I loved everything about it. It was taken by Marc Hibbert who did a entire series in India documenting people’s relationship with the Ganges. There’s more about it over on Document Journal if you’re interested, it’s a very good read.
I’ve always loved documentary style photography and this entire set is so beautiful than anything I’ve seen on Instagram recently. They’re captured so well and have the most stunning tones.
Marc also has some cool fashion/portrait shots as well some other interesting stuff on his feed, you should definitely go check him out.
If you have any accounts you wanna share or think I should feature in my next post like this then let me know!
Thanks for reading!
Lots of love,
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We have a new home! (and a new name) | Zafira
Hey!
I’m happy to say after a months off, I’m back and better than ever.
a new space for us
I started my blog over on Blogger around 2014/15 and for the longest time, it felt like the perfect place to host my site. It was what all the bloggers where using back in the blogger days so I didn’t question or fault it. However, in the past year or so, it felt like a really outdated platform to be hosting my blog. I tried lots of different templates but they never looked like anything I wanted my little space on the internet to look like.
I tried a few other sites too such as Wix, Wordpress and so many more but Squarespace was the only site I felt like was a flexible and easy to manage platform for someone who has no idea how computers or anything within that topic works.
So this is where you’ll find me and all my stuff!
A new name (well not really but you get the point)
I’ve lost count of the amount of times I’ve changed my blog name at this point. I thought I’d keep The Zafira Edit for a while but after a few months it felt too ‘bloggery’. It felt like I had to sit and write about what makeup I was loving that month when I’ve literally been using the same stuff for about 2 years now.
What I’m trying to say is, I was looking for a name that suited me and who I am at this moment in time and what better name than my own? Something simple and something that will always be constant no matter how much me and content changes.
My content will change a bit too over the next couple of months. I don’t want to only write about what clothes I’m wearing or what products I’m using but about current topics, more cultural and opinionated pieces too.
Thanks for being patient and I hope you enjoy all the new content I’ll be posting!
Lots of love,
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Music of the Month: March | Zafira
Hey!
I'm back with one of my favourite blog posts to do on here which is music of the month! I love music. I'm always listening to something. It's actually pretty difficult for me to do anything or be productive in anyway without something pretty playing in the background.
I don't want to make this a super long intro since my March playlist is a quite a hefty one so without further ado here are some of my favourite songs this month.
As always, here's a link to my full playlist for this month if you're interested:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4Gyr17xCBOh1I67tL7xBKw?si=9qnnnI5vQ1qUPawKkHBflw
THINGS I IMAGINED - SOLANGE
Before I say anything I'd like to start with this beauty:
https://twitter.com/taibernacle/status/1101967739600674822?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
As much as this sounds like broken record, I still listen to it at least once a day. I love Solange. I think she's one of the most amazing women out there. Her entire new album was truly a blessing and made the month of March just a little bit cuter. Every single song on her new album was just wow.
2. MARCH - KEATON HENSON
I have no idea why but I always forget this song off my March playlists. It. Happens. Every. Year. It drives me absolutely insane. Keaton Henson has had a very soft and warm place in my heart ever since I heard 'Sweetheart What Have You Done to Us' like 5 years ago and had my heart broken for the very first time.
This makes me feel like I'm looking back on something, it's nostalgic in a weird way. I've had a few deadlines this month which means I've been stressed and this has just soothed me so well. It's calming and the most beautiful thing ever.
3. PRETTY DARK - GRIMES
Grimes has been floating in and out of my music library for quite some time now. She's insanely talented and unique and weird and I love it. She recently released a demo which I can't seem to get out of my head. It's so catchy.
4. TIERRA WHACK
A few weeks ago, a friend of mine introduced me to Tierra Whack and ever since then I've been obsessed. I spent a few days just listening to her because she's incredibly creative and just different. I don't think I have anyone in my library who sounds anything like her.
Here are a few of my favourite songs by her:
(watch the video it's really cool!)
5. CELESTE
I can't believe I'm telling everyone on the internet about this but I found Celeste through the Spotify & Chill playlist. I was just curious to see if there were any gems on there and my goodness were there. I found so many new artists but finding Celeste was a very celestial moment for me (lol). The song I found on Spotify & Chill was 'Father's Son' which is a bit of strange one to put on a playlist like that but after hearing it once I had it on repeat for days on days. It really had me in my feels.
Here are a few more of my favourite songs by her:
6. CAGE THE ELEPHANT - HOUSE OF GLASS
It's been a hot minute since I last listened to Cage the Elephant. I wasn't like their no.1 fan but I think they've had some great songs like 'Too Late To Say Goodbye'. 'House of Glass' was very angsty and a bit angry and I loved it. I think I'll definitely have to give them a listen properly soon.
7. YOU TAKE MY BREATH AWAY - THE KNIFE
I honestly thought this was some obnoxious song from the '80s or something when I heard this which made me love this 100 times more. I have no clue how it came into my music library but this is a very good 'I think I'm in love' mixed with a 'wake me up' song. Weird but so so so so great.
8. ROSALIA
When James Blake released 'Barefoot in the Park' with Rosalia in it I had no idea who she was but when I heard her voice I knew I'd probs love her for the rest of my life.
I've been listening to a lot of her music over recent weeks and I can't get over her voice. It's incredibly alluring and I could listen to her sing forever.
Here are a few of my favourite songs by her:
Thanks for reading! If you want more blog posts like this let me know :)
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The Earring Edit | Zafira
Hi!
The other day I was thinking a lot about Pat Butcher. There's no reasoning to my thinking, it just sorta popped into my head and somehow I ended up playing that awful but also equally beautiful Eastenders dress up game and had completely forgotten the level of Pat Butcher's earring game. It was quite eye-opening for me actually, I had a mini-epiphany and came to question myself. If I can wear cute outfits, why can't my earring game be just as cute?
Earrings and accessories make a massive difference to an outfit (as I've learned from playing Stardoll). They can easily make your entire look from a 7 to an 11. It's amazing.
Here are a few of not only my favourite but recent additions to my earring collection. I am completely smitten with every single pair.
NO.1: i like to pretend these are versace but they're not
These are from Primark and they're honestly the best thing I've ever bought from there. For £2 too. I think I saw these in one of Hannah Gale's Instagram stories, waaay before they were even launched in stores last autumn. They look like vintage Versace and who doesn't love vintage Versace? These are such a good pair of statement earrings, I've dressed these up with dresses but sometimes they're just fun to wear with jeans and a black turtleneck. Best thing I've ever spent £2 on.
These are unfortunately not available anymore and I can't really find anything online like them which is so sad but if I do find anything like them I'll update this post!
NO.2: i'm basically lana del rey and ready for coachella
I'd like to clarify that first I'm nowhere near being Lana Del Rey and also secondly, Coachella isn't somewhere I'd like to ever go lol. These are from a little jewelry shop called Lovisa which has recently found a cosy little spot in my heart. Such a wonderful shop with literally anything you could possibly want/need (mostly want).
I saw these when I was having a browse around and restrained myself from buying them because realistically, where am I wearing these? But I couldn't stop thinking about myself wearing these in the summer when I have lovely beachy wavey hair in a cute dress so I went in the following week and bought them.
Yes, they're totally crazy and absolutely huge but so well crafted and made and not heavy whatsoever. The quality of them is beautiful and I'm ecstatic that they're part of my earring family.
I hate saying this but these aren't available either and I can't find anything similar to them online either, if they're available or find anything similar soon I will defo update this bit.
NO. 3: these are actually super cute little earring elephants that reflect not only my cute personality but looks too
These babies are also from Lovisa and they're just so cute. I went in with my friend Vicky and they always have really good deals on like 3 for £9 or something like that so we both ended up grabbing these and a few other pairs because we couldn't get over how cute they were. But they're just small little elephants that a little bit of 'aww' to your look for the day. Just super super super cute.
These are not on the Lovisa website but definitely available in store so if you have one near you go in and have a browse!
NO. 4: like the previous flower earrings but more casual but also not really they're crazy too
Florals? For spring? Groundbreaking. But seriously, these scream spring and just are so pretty. These are from Lovisa (told you it was a good shop). I bought these before the other big ones as a way to ease myself into them. I wore these with a nice summer dress a few days ago and I have to say, it was quite the look.
You can buy these here:
https://www.lovisa.com/products/rgld-rg-coated-flower-hoop-er
NO.5: the most basic but necessary thicc gold hoops you need to have in your life
I love a good hoop. They're great, they match everything and can change the entire vibe of your look so easily. I bought these originally for my mum as a birthday present from & Other Stories because it seems like my love for hoops is a genetic thing. Anyway, I ended up trying them on and realised that they were my perfect hoops so I went out and bought a pair for myself too.
The shade of gold is so nice and not obnoxiously gold which I have come despise. They compliment my skin tone really nicely. The size is modest and so lovely for day to day but then not too small to dress up either. They're also just really comfy to wear and don't bother me whatsoever. I think I've probably worn these almost everyday this month.
These have impressed me so much, I'm definitely going to have to have a browse around the & Other Stories jewellery section more often.
These aren't available anymore but here's pretty much an identical pair:
NO.6: the devil wears red. .... tassel earrings?
I'm not going to lie, I was kinda over tassel earrings but I saw these in Lovisa a few weeks back and decided I was most definitely not. A lot of my Asian clothes are red and I love pairing them with tassel earrings because of how vibrant they are.
I loooove this shade of red, I definitely want to start wearing it a lot more over the summer period. It makes me so happy. I think these earrings are so simple design wise but again, amazingly crafted and a very good staple 'dressy' earring.
These aren't available online but here's a cute alternative:
https://www.lovisa.com/products/mar19-sg-fabric-flower-drp-er-3
NO. 7: i think i've ran out of quirky titles are this point, but a vintage dangly coin earring? yes pls
These are probably my most worn out of every single pair I've mentioned so far. I picked these up from Blue Rinse Vintage in January I think and they've quickly become my favourite day-to-day earring. They're also super light which is something I always look for in a pair of earrings since I have such small ear lobes lol.
I think these are also a very good staple pair of earrings, very easy to style and just all in all, perfect.
These aren't available online but I know that Primark is selling a lot of coin style jewellery at the minute so it'd be worth having a look!
Thanks for reading this post! If you want to see more like this please let me know :)
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February Favourites 2019 | Zafira
Hi!
I have no idea how it's March but February has flown so so so much quicker than January. Now that Spring is finally coming our way (and climate change), I've had a chance to not only switch out my winter items and products but also purchase some new bits and pieces which have changed my life.
Here are my favourites for Feb!
1. REVOLUTION CONCEAL AND DEFINE CONCEALER
I feel like makeup is a very chronological place to start since February turned out to be my month of breakouts. Literally, the day the months changed I broke out like there was no tomorrow and it was extremely unfortunate especially because we had a big family wedding coming up mid-Feb. My breakouts did calm down by then but not enough to just wear foundation like I usually do.
I've never been into concealer because I hate the way it feels but this is so different and feels extremely light. I even started wearing concealer under my eyes too which is something I never do and it's been life-changing.
I usually use the darker shade (C12.5) kind of all over, on my scars and under my eyes. Then I go in with the lighter shade to highlight because I now think I'm an MUA, I'll use this on my forehead, a tiny bit under the eyes and on my chin. For £4, you definitely cannot go wrong with this.
Buy it here:
https://www.superdrug.com/Make-Up/Face/Concealer/Revolution-Conceal-and-Define-Concealer-C5/p/751538
2. NYX FOIL PLAY CREAM PIGMENT in POP QUIZ & GLITTER PRIMER
Glitter is something I like to keep my distance from because once you touch it never leaves you. However, I decided to go extreme for this family wedding and just spice up my go-to gold eyeshadow look with a dash of glitter and I'm so glad I did because my eyeshadow was dazzling in all the pics I took!
I swatched this NYX Foil Play in Boots and was a bit taken back because it was just super glittery. Not like chunky glitter, kind of like a gold eyeshadow but with millions of tiny flecks of gold glitter. I did use gold eyeshadow as a base for extra pigment and then used a thin layer of the glitter primer (worked absolute wonders) and then applied the glitter.
My eyeshadow was on until 3am I can 100% assure you that this glitter and primer combo are amazing.
Buy it here:
https://www.nyxcosmetics.co.uk/eyes/eyeshadow/foil-play-cream-pigment/NYX_639.html
3. & OTHER STORIES LIPSTICK in RUBYLITH REGAL
I ended up throwing away a lot of makeup at the beginning of the year either because it was old or just not worn enough. I'm really trying to minimalise my makeup collection because realistically, how much makeup can you possibly wear? I'm trying to purchase things that either have multi purposes or things I know I will defo wear on a day to day basis.
This lipstick from & Other Stories is 1. super pretty but also 2. so versatile. I will wear this either full on with a brown lip liner and use a little bit of loose powder to matte it down the slightest bit or I will apply it in a very thin layer to get that 'swollen lip' look and if I'm feeling a bit adventurous that day, I might even add a lipgloss on top.
I can't find the specific shade of lipstick I mentioned but I would definitely recommend having a browse through their lip products and see what catches your eye!:
4. LAURA MERCIER POWDER in TRANSLUCENT
Now listen, paying any more than £5 for a l o o s e p o w d e r is ridiculous. But this, this is a game changer. My face? Not cakey. It's smooth, airbrushed and just nice to look at. I may have just become a broke student again but it was completely worth it.
That's all I have to say about this.
Buy it here:
http://www.selfridges.com/GB/en/cat/laura-mercier-loose-setting-powder_304-3001489-12321001/
5. KHAKI PANTS AND JACKET
This kind of counts are two favourites but I didn't take two separate pics for them (whoops). I bought these khaki pants and jacket from Zara on two separate occasions and when clearing out my wardrobe these two items just found their way together. They were just laid on my bed next to each other and I was like wow wait hold on this is actually a great outfit and this is how I ended up creating what I have decided is my most coordinated outfit yet.
Unfortunately, the pants and jacket aren't available anymore but here's some good alternatives...
Pants:
https://www.zara.com/uk/en/drss-trsr-01-p08547860.html?v1=8468819&v2=1180677
Jacket:
https://www.zara.com/uk/en/jacket-with-contrast-topstitching-p08073021.html?v1=8167138&v2=1180323
6. THE ORDINARY HYALURONIC ACID
Skincare has been a bit tricky this month since I had such a crappy breakout but this has really helped. I've been using products to dry out my spots so stuff like the Mario Badescu drying lotion and Sudocrem (weird yes but it works so well!!) and to somewhat combat the dryness after my spots have gone, I've been using this twice a day.
It's important to use this before a moisturiser in order for it to work properly, so in the mornings I'll use this with my GlamGlow Glowstarter Mega Illuminating Moisturiser and then in the night with Bio Oil. It's wonderful and so inexpensive.
Buy it here:
https://theordinary.com/product/rdn-hyaluronic-acid-2pct-b5-30ml
7. & OTHER STORIES PERFUME in MIAMI MUSE
I'm quite a picky person when it comes to perfume. I'm not a fan of overpowering perfumes or like extremely floral ones. I always look for something that smells clean, comforting and something you'd sniff and be like 'hm that's nice'.
It lasts all day and isn't too strong but strong enough for people to compliment me on my scent. I think & Other Stories have such a good range of fragrances and it's not really somewhere you'd expect to be selling such high quality perfumes. A very unexpected but well-loved favourite this month!
Buy it here:
https://www.stories.com/en_gbp/beauty/fragrances/product.eau-de-toilette-miami-muse.0293738026.html
8. FLORAL EARRINGS
I'd be lying if I said I've been wearing these a lot but I only got them a few days ago but they already make me drool so so so much. Lovisa is such an underrated shop with the prettiest jewelry ever. I saw this and cried for a few minutes and somehow found my feet dragging me to the till and my hands pulling out my debit card. It all happened so fast but I'm dying to wear these. I might just be
that
person and wear them to uni this week.
Buy them here:
https://www.lovisa.com/products/rgld-rg-coated-flower-hoop-er
9. LUSH ROSE JAM BUBBLEROON
The Lush Rosejam bubbleroon has changed my zen Sundays massively. Every Sunday, I take time to myself and relax. I'll run a bath, put a facemask (or about 4) on and just chill. It's become a part of my weekly schedule and I treasure it.
I bought this because it was pink and sparkly. I hate that I'm
that
person but it caught my eye and I'm so glad that it did. It smells so lovely and just clean and floral. Did I mention it turns your bath water pink?????? yes pls.
Buy it here:
10. SHOES
Words cannot explain my love these shoes! If you haven't heard me speaking about these whether it's in real life or over on my Instagram then you must have been living under a rock for the entirety of Feb.
On one of my many trips to TK Maxx, I found myself wandering through the shoe section (mainly disappointed because nothing exciting usually pops up in the size 3 section) and found these pretty things. My shoe knowledge is quite limited so I have no idea what these are called or where you can even get your hands on a pair like these but they're just wow.
Pink and velvet is a combo I never thought I needed until now. I thought they would be quite difficult to style but they fit right into my wardrobe so well and match so many of my outfits. These have truly made not only my year but just my entire existence overall.
Thanks for reading this post! If you want to see more like this please let me know :)
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Underrated TV Shows #1 | Zafira
Hey!
I'm what you would probably call a 'binger' when it comes to TV shows. I'm crazy about them. I love nothing more than a TV show I can waste my time on.
Last month I did an 'Underrated Movies' post and a lot of you really liked it so I thought I'd do another one but dedicated to TV shows. I'm kind of a picky person when it comes to shows, I like something with a bit of grip to it. It ultimately depends on what mood I'm in. I can go from watching something as terrible as Riverdale (don't even lie to yourself that show is a mess) to something as complex as Westworld.
Here's 8 of what I think are probably the best underrated TV shows at the minute:
ORPHAN BLACK
Many, many years ago (like 5 but ok), BBC Three (yes this was when that still existed) showed what I thought was literally the best TV show I had watched at the time. To be completely fair, I was only like 13 years old and was watching Pretty Little Liars so pretty much anything could have been better than that but this was so different than any other concept a TV show has had before.
The show is all about a woman who witnesses the suicide of a woman who looks exactly like her. Long story short, turns out the woman was a clone and the company that created them are trying to kill her and the rest of her identicals off one by one. It's a strangely unique show. It's insanely good. You'd be amazed at how connected you become to all the characters and how different all the clones are. It feels like they're all being played by different actors it's crazy.
2. THE ROMANOFFS
I've recently become an Amazon Prime member (helloo 6-month free student trial) and I love it. I especially love all these Amazon Studio shows and movies. I read the reviews for this show and I honestly, wasn't expecting anything grand or life-changing. I've had a strange fascination with the actual Romanovs for a long time now. I guess it all began when I watched Anastasia as a child but it's just a part of history that's intrigued me because of how sad it all is.
It's one of those shows where each episode is a different storyline which you think would be a bit annoying but it's so so so good because there's so much detail and focus in each episode. They're also each over an hour long which makes it feel like you're watching a movie.
Anyway, the show is about 8 different people that think they're descendants of the actual Romanovs. And of course, they're obnoxious and just very entertaining to watch. Some way or the other, the different characters in each episode connect. Kind of like in Love Actually but they don't actually meet which is a bit disappointing but nonetheless, it's such a good watch. If you're someone that watched Mad Men then you would love this because a lot of the cast from Mad Men are in it. It's also made by the creator of Mad Men. I think it's had a lot of unnecessary hate, ignore the reviews and just watch it. (except my review of course)
3. Z: THE BEGINNING OF EVERYTHING
This is another Amazon Studios series and I adore this so much and I'm so annoyed it's been cancelled.
Scott Fitzgerald has had a warm place in my heart ever since I read the Great Gatsby. I read a few bits about his wife Zelda here and there online and everything I've concluded from that is that she was probably one of the greatest women to have ever lived. When this show was recommended to me on Amazon I didn't even have to think, I just watched it straight away.
It's roughly based on Zelda Fitzgerald's life, everything comes from her point of view which I love. It starts off with her life shortly before meeting Scott but massively focuses on her relationship with him which is super rocky and just a massive sh*t show. The show also made me hate Scott Fitzgerald quite a bit. He's such a ... man. You'd think such a profound writer would be different especially because he writes such beautiful things about love and Zelda. He treated her pretty poorly.
This show is so worth watching. Zelda is crazy and wild and so full of energy. Also, did I mention Christina Ricci plays her???
4. TWIN PEAKS
Writing a little segment about me and my relationship with Twin Peaks is not enough. One day I'll have to write an entire post about it but it truly did change my life. I was going through a strange period of life, kind of an eh one when I found it. I wasn't in the happiest of places and something about this show just flipped my life completely around. My entire life is incredibly influenced by this show.
This show is definitely not everyone's cup of tea. It's more for those of you who appreciate the weird stuff, the stuff that makes no sense but also so much sense. It's also kind of old but good old.
It's about the small town of Twin Peaks where the dead body of a girl has been found. An FBI agent comes to the town to investigate and figure out what happened. This is the show that started all the 'small town' mystery shows like Riverdale (which actually features some of the Twin Peaks cast).
If you're looking for something different then this is it. Watch it and come be my bff please because no one I know has ever seen it :(
5. THIS IS US
This is one of the more 'popular' shows on this list compared to the rest but still, no one seems to know that this gem is floating around.
I have this weird obsession with shows and movies where they use the multiple characters whose lives somehow intertwine storyline like Love Actually and Valentine's Day. I just think they're interesting to watch and I love seeing how everyone is connected.
This is Us has one of those storylines but is super unique. I've never seen anything like it and I don't think I ever will because this is done so so so well. It's about a set of triplets, not your average triplets though, some very individual and distinct set of triplets. The show is all about their lives as well as their parents. It's something you will cry, laugh and get angry at. The cast is also just spectacular.
It's a really good show to watch with your family or with friends. I definitely need to persuade some of mine to watch it.
7. THE COLLECTION
Another Amazon show, I promise I'm not being sponsored by them although I wouldn't mind it if they did (pls sponsor me).
The Collection is made for fashion lovers like myself. It's set just after the war in a fashion house and the house is tasked to restore Paris as the fashion capital. It has a very Peaky Blinders-esque tone to it which I love. There's lots of drama, whether that's family or business or even both.
I think it was shot so well and it's set in France what's not to love? I love the clothes, I love seeing the fashion industry trying to pull it's self back together after the war and I love the surprising amount of depth this show has to it. I hope there is a season 2 so badly because it deserves it.
8. BIG MOUTH
I was heavily debating whether to put this in or not but it's too good of a show to miss out from this list.
This show is certainly not for the light-hearted, sensitive 'snowflakes'. It's vulgar, rude, blunt and most importantly, absolutely hilarious. It's the funniest thing I've seen in the longest time. It's an animated series about teens starting and going through puberty. They have these things called hormone monsters which are literally the best imaginary things to have ever been created.
It's one of the best things to have ever graced Netflix and they also recently released a Valentine's day special which has become one of my favourite seasonal specials of anything ever.
Thanks for reading and if you're watching anything good at the minute please let me know!
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Parisian Inspired Lookbook | Zafira
Hi everyone!
So, if you know me well then you'd know that I adore clothes. I don't really have a set style or look but one style/look I find myself coming back to time and time again is the Parisian look.
Maybe it's because I have this overwhelming love and obsession for pretty much anything French like every time I imagine myself in my 40/50s, I can vividly see myself sat in the French countryside with a thick French accent sat in my head to toe designer outfit.
Anyway lol, I guess the only way I could describe Parisian style is elegant, chic and effortless. You don't want to look like you're trying too hard (but secretly you are). I think it's a pretty universal style and is a style you can definitely personalise into whatever you want.
I had so much fun shooting these photographs with my friends and putting the outfits together. I haven't included a lot of accessories such as bags and stuff just because I pretty much carry my Kanken backpack everywhere. I haven't quite advanced in the accesories world yet.
The boots I'm wearing in literally every pic are my everyday Zara boots. I think they go well with every look and I actually do wear them every day. They're unfortunately not available anymore but here's a pair that are very similar.
LOOK NO.1: RED SUEDE
When I think of suede, I think of camel browns and creamy whites but when I saw this beauty in Zara, I fell in love. Something about this shade of red reminds me of Parisian fashion. This is an amazing everyday dress that you can easily dress up. Here I'm wearing it with a pair of leggings, ankle boots and a pair of small hoops (that you can barely see soz) and I think that this made a perfect, easy day outfit. If you wanted to change it up for a more dressier and evening/night time sort of look then you could switch out the ankle boots for a pair of over the knee boots and wear a pair of statement earrings. Dresses like this are such a staple for any wardrobe because they are super easy to style.
Dress:
https://www.zara.com/uk/en/buttoned-faux-suede-dress-p07901157.html?v1=8086578&v2=1180558
Knee high boots that would go great with this dress:
https://www.zara.com/uk/en/flat-over-the-knee-boots-p16060301.html?v1=8267676&v2=1180430
Maybe a bag like this?:
LOOK NO. 2: PRINTED BLOUSE & MIDI SKIRT
I don't want to go too much into detail with this outfit because I've mentioned it a lot over on my Instagram and previous posts but I think a midi skirt is such an essential in anybody's wardrobe. Whether you're a Parisian wannabe like myself or not, a midi skirt will definitely change your life for the good. In this look, I've paired it with this velvet printed blouse for some texture and it's created this beautiful chic look. I can already imagine myself posing near the Eiffel tower in this outfit.
This skirt is from Zara and is sadly not available anymore but here's some similar ones:
https://www.asos.com/bershka/bershka-pleat-check-midi-skirt/
https://www.asos.com/max-co/max-co-gingham-pleated-midi-skirt/
This shirt is also from Zara but the men's section, it is also sadly not available either. I can't find any similar ones either but if I do, I'll update this area or post about it on my Instragram.
LOOK NO. 3: THE ONLY BLACK DRESS YOU'LL EVER NEED
One day I was in Zara (i'm at Zara everyday) and I was having a little browse through the sale sections and I gazed upon what eventually turned out to be one of many great purchases of 2019. A dress like this could possibly replace your best friend, in fact, it could probably replace anything in your life that needs replacing. It's just such a good dress. I'd say this is more of an evening/night/event type of dress but I also wear this to uni a lot so it's quite versatile. You might look like you're trying to be the next Morticia Adams or even look like you're ready for a funeral but it's a look. A look that needs to embraced.
The dress has a lot of texture to it which I love. It has a velvet collar, a velvet button strap and lots of velvet polka dots all over. I like the see-through-ness of it and how lightweight the material is because it makes it so flowy. It's an all-around beautiful dress and makes me feel like a pretty woman. You could pair this with a pair of black heels if you're trying to be fancy or a pair of ankle boots like me. Maybe even a couple of gold hair barrettes?
The dress is from Zara and isn't available anymore but here's a very similar one that they're selling at the minute:
LOOK NO. 4: GREEN VELVET
I've never been a green wearer but this jumpsuit from UO makes me want to be a green wearer. This velvet jumpsuit was kind of an impulse buy but it's such an easy to wear piece of clothing so in my eyes, my purchase has been justified. Here I've paired it with a white t-shirt because it's -6 degrees everyday and my oversized suede, shearling lined coat from Headlock Vintage. I also put in a couple hair barrettes from Blue Rinse Vintage because I think green and gold go together so so so well. This is such an effortless outfit, perfect for when you're about and about. It's especially perfect for colder days. You could also wear this for formal events if you pair it with some heels and maybe even a blazer.
I know a lot of stuff isn't available that I've posted about but it's because I bought everything during the sales, here's a good alternative the UO green jumpsuit:
https://www.asos.com/monki/monki-dungaree-jumpsuit-in-dark-green-velvet/
The gold hair barrettes are also not available online and I can't find anything similar to them but any gold hair barrette would work great with this look.
LOOK NO. 5: CORDUROY
I said I was well and truly over corduroy last year but then I saw a picture on Instagram of my French Parisian queen Jeanne Damas in corduroy so naturally, I went out and bought myself a pair of corduroy trousers.
In terms of practicality, corduroy trousers are amazing for the cold, they block out all cold wind and they're super comfy. I found it quite difficult however finding a pair that were flattering enough and fit well. This pair from Monki fit so well that I don't have to even wear a belt which for me is so shocking. I wear belts with all my trousers. I am wearing one in the pictures though but just to look pretty. This has slowly but surely become my go to look for winter days. A black turtle neck, corduroy pants and a pair of ankle boots. I also threw my coat from Headlock Vintage on top too because like I mentioned earlier, it's about -6 degrees everyday in Manchester.
Corduroy trousers:
I hope you liked this post! If you want to see more stuff like this then let me know.
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Music of the Month: January | Zafira
Hey!
January has been a pretty gloomy month but one thing that has really lifted my spirits is the amazing amount of good music that's been released throughout the month.
If you've followed me for a while, then you'd know my music taste makes 0 sense. It's all over the place but I think maybe I've finally found a type? My January playlist is probably the most normal one out of them all.
Here’s my full playlist!
One of the best things released this month was James Blake's album 'Assume Form'. I cannot put into words how much I love this. I truthfully haven't listened to him since his Retrograde days just because I never was really into his stuff but this, this is amazing. He's very similar to Bon Iver who may just be the love of my life and I just can't get enough.
Some of my favourites from this particular album are
but honestly, they're all pretty wonderful.
You know how I just said James Blake reminds me a lot of Bon Iver? This song is the most vivid and fluorescent example of that. This song reminds me so much of 33"GOD" which when I first listened to, I think I had some sort of spiritual awakening. Listening to this song was exactly the same. I shared it on my IG stories a few days ago and said that it felt like a really good headache. I can't explain it. You just need to take a moment and really listen to it.
I said I was over my indie phase a long time ago but apparently 2016 Alex Turner and Oasis loving me has resurrected from the dead. I think I have always secretly loved the Japanese House, they're super chill and relaxing. This song feels like summer and I miss the summer a lot.
I found Yung Lean a couple of years ago and he's so weird but I love love love him. He's very similar to like Earl Sweatshirt and $uicideBoy$. He's really great and I know this is a song I'll never get bored of.
Okay. I have a lot to say about this, a lot of deep stuff. It's a sad song but January is a sad month. January is like a Monday but it's 31 days long instead of just 24 hours. Anyway, the song is about heartbreak and mourning an ex-lover. The lyrics are so sadly beautiful and so well crafted. My personal fave lyrics in the song are :
“I don’t want to be small, small, sad, I want to be big, big, sad”
“I want to make a pageant of my grief”
“I’m annoyed with clothes today,
I’d rather swaddle myself in sorrow today”
I've been obsessed and infatuated with Twin Peaks ever since I impulsively watched it when I was 12. It's probably the best thing to have ever happened to me (if you've ever watched it come be my friend pls i just wanna talk about it forever). You can imagine how I was feeling when I was sat in my soft office (my bed), working and then my Spotify Discover Weekly playlist plays what faintly sounds like Angelo Badalamenti's Laura Palmer theme. I was so confused.
This song is so good. It's all about Twin Peaks because the artist that wrote it grew up near Twin Peaks which is the coolest thing ever.
where he talks a bit more about it if you're interested.
This also another pretty sad song. This was in the movie Requiem for a Dream (read more about it and some other good, underrated movies here) and the amount of impact this song has is 1. heartbreaking but also 2. breathtaking. The movie would not be a masterpiece without this song.
A lot of my friends listen to Blood Orange and they've told me to listen to him countless times but I always end up forgetting. This came up on one of my Spotify Frank Ocean song radios and it felt like sitting in a car at like 3am in the morning when you're sleepy but awake because of all the streetlights that keep catching your eyes. I don't know. It's a very calming song. It's definitely a good song for the car.
I don't even know how this ended up on my playlist but it did. I'm not mad about it. I'm not really an Ariana Grande stan, I think she's an amazing person but her music isn't really for me but I've been listening to this on repeat so maybe I am an Ariana Grande stan?
I used to love Don Broco when I was in year 11 but like many of us, I grew up and got over them. This came up on my Release Radar and I actually thought it was a new Death Grips song because of the intro but boy oh boy was I far off. This is pretty good. It's very angsty and shouty but I like it. It's making me miss the old indie rock/alternative rock days so much.
I've decided that Florence is one of my all time favourite people. I just really want to be her honestly. I don't know how someone releases an amazing album and then shortly follows with an amazing single. I love her. I also think that regulars on my bus think I'm a bit crazy when I'm aggressively lip syncing this at like 7am every morning.
If you liked the songs I've mentioned in this post, there's a lot more over on my playlist. It's embedded near the top of this post but I will also leave a link right at the bottom with links to all my other social medias.
Thank you for reading! If you like these sorts of posts let me know and I'll start doing them more regularly.
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Underrated Movies #1 | Zafira
Hello!
I'm a big movie person. Especially recently since I've had a lot of work to do and it seems like my favorite procrastinating activity is watching a good movie (or 2).
January is gloomy and literally, the most boring month I have ever come into contact with. I wish I felt overwhelmingly motivated but there's just something about the atmosphere of this month that makes me want to melt into my Ikea rug.
So, this month, me and procrastination have become extremely good friends. Better than we need to be but it's given me a chance to really explore the movie world. I'm not someone who loves a generic movie. I like the weird stuff, the stuff that really makes you rethink your life and everything you've ever done. That's when you know it's a pretty amazing movie.
This led to the birth of this post. I've been binge watching movies left, right and center and I'm so surprised that some of the stuff I've watched isn't more widely talked about.
Here's a list of some the best-underrated movies:
I want this music box more than I want a degree from uni.
Maybe one day I'll have to do an entire list of neglected children's movies because they are so so so many of them. I remember one day my dad bought me one of those double-sided CDs that had a movie on either side. I put it into our portable movie players (I'm sure this was actually from the 90s it had the tiniest screen) and discovered Anastasia. One of the best Disney princess (but not really) movies to date.
It's very loosely based on the story and legend of the Grand Duchess Anastasia of Russia. There was a big theory about how she escaped the tragic execution of her family and thus began this incredible movie. The animation is beautiful, the songs are beautiful and so is the character of Anastasia. I always wanted to be her, there was just something very relatable and quirky about the character that made her so much better than your typical Disney princess.
As I've gotten older, this movie is more of tragedy, turns out Anastasia didn't escape the execution of her family. It just took a lot longer to find not only her body.
I had seen a few movie stills and quotes from this movie on Instagram and it was enough to compel me to watch this.
This has the basic gist of the classic novel Great Expectations by Charles Dickens but has a more modern twist. The movie is about the pursuit of a childhood love which sounds cute but this movie goes in so many different directions. It's not straightforward which I like but sometimes it was very frustrating. Estella (played by Gwenyth Paltrow) is probably a pretty good example of this.
She is the most annoying but amazing character in the entire thing (alongside her erratic aunt).
ALSO, a very big big big also, the settings of the movie are so outstanding. Every scene filmed in 'Paradiso Perduto' had my creative juices flowing like crazy. The most beautifully decorated home I've ever seen in my life. A sort of forgotten, hidden gem of a house. It's just somewhere I can totally imagine myself shooting some stunning pictures.
I can't tell if this is a happy or sad movie. I know that I learned a lot from it. It's a pretty good watch for a lazy Sunday.
This is one of those Amazon movies and I was not expecting it to be anywhere near as good as it was. If you loved Her starring Joaquin Phoenix then you will also adore this.
I'd say this is a good mix of I Robot (without the violence) mixed with Her (2013) and Lars and the Real Girl (2007) and maybe like a splash of I Origins (2014). It's about a company that makes synthetic humans and all about the way that a synthetic human interacts with humans and the way that they feel. It stars Ewan McGregor which was kind of a weird cast in my view because the only movies I've seen him in are Trainspotting 1&2. It's strange to watch him go from a crazy druggie to a somewhat crazy scientist falling in love with his creations.
It also stars Lea Seydoux who I haven't really heard of but she was really good at her role in this. This has really pushed me to watch more Amazon Studio movies.
I'm not going to lie. The only thing that drew me to watch this movie were all the movie stills I saw floating around Instagram where Meena has like crazy beautiful hair. The hair was enough for me to be sold into watching this tbh.
The movie is all about an Indian family that is forced to leave Uganda due to Idi Amin being in power (the entire history of the expulsion of Asians in Uganda in the 70s is actually really interesting to read about you should look it up). The family then move to Mississippi where the daughter, Meena, falls in love with a young black man named Demetrius.
It's heartbreaking to watch a cycle of racism and prejudice repeated over and over again especially when so many of us face it. You'd think that you'd try and better yourself than the people that hurt you.
One night, I was searching for something similar to the Virgin Suicides and fell upon this masterpiece. The Virgin Suicides (book & movie) had a massive impact on my life, it changed the way I looked at so many things.
Mustang is kind of like the Turkish equivalent to the Virgin Suicides. It has a lot more to do with a culture which I think personally resonated a lot with me since my family is very culture and tradition based. Unlike the girls in this movie, I am fortunate to say that my family is a lot more open and modern about things which is great.
It's all about 5 sisters that are caught innocently playing with boys on their way home from school. Everyone in their little village/town sees the event as immoral and takes it the wrong which eventually leads the family of the girls basically imprisoning them in their home. It's sad seeing them forced into such a shitty life. They're trained to be housewives and eventually married off one by one.
This is definitely more of an eye-opening watch. Sometimes, culture and tradition really do suck.
Out of all the movies I've mentioned in this post, I have to admit that this is more of a popular one but not popular enough.
I love period movies. It's my biggest guilty pleasures. Something about a fancy frock in the 1800s just really excites me so when I found Marie Antoinette, I was more than overjoyed. Marie Antoinette is more of quirky take on your usual period movie. A lot more vibrant and kind of more 'Wes Anderson-y'. It's filmed beautifully and all the scenes set in Versailles are just stunning. The outfits and shopping scenes are also just impeccable. A fashionista's dream come true.
It's the perfect watch for when you feel like watching a typical chick flick but with a bit more maturity.
Also, Kirsten Dunst is amazing in this.
If you want to see more posts like this please let me know, this was a really fun post to do!
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