A Year in Outfits: 2010

So, it is New Years Eve, which is always a time for reflection, right? 2010 was one of the most amazing years for me ever!! I worked on the election campaign, learnt a lot about myself and this blog became more a part of me. In 2010, the blog allowed me to do things and go to events that I would never have dreamed about. I made some amazing friends through the blog and really enjoyed myself.
I thought I'd do a round up of all my favourite outfits of 2010:

1) I wore this while in Dubai. I love that skirt (Joy) and the shoes (Vans) are my favourite shoes. I remember, it was February and everyone here at home was cold.
2) This was the first warm day of the year (April or May I think). I whipped out the dress (Hollister), but still had to wear tights as it was a tad chilly.

 

3) I wore this one my last night out while I was at a Political Conference back in March. I've worn the dress (Camden Market) more than once this year and love it. I also did spend the evening with a very attractive guy :)

4) I wore this to my cousin's wedding in March, while in Pakistan. I'm not usually a fan of traditional clothes, but loved the colour and style of this one. It's really unique. 

 

5) The first time this year that I could leave the house without tights. Love this dress so much (Motel Rocks) and did actually spend most of my summer in it. It just fit so well. 

6) I wore this to the TIA's, in June. I loved the '60's style and print of the dress (Pakistan) and I remember having a great evening.

7) My first playsuit (from Max C). I wore it while at Lovebox Festival, in July, courtesy of Aussie Hair. It was my first festival and I had such a fantastic time that I can't wait to get going to some festivals this summer. 

8) This was what I wore for the first Take 10 Project, where the waistcoat was sent by Dorothy Perkins. I wore this to dinner with my friends and felt great in it.

9) I wore this to the Pretty Reckless gig I was at in August. I'm not usually one to dress up that much for gigs but I had to as it was Taylor Momson. I absolutely fell in love with the band that night.
10) Finally, I wore this to a HP Event in October. Again, I wore this dress a lot (H&M) to various parties and events this year.

So tell me, which is your favourite? And what's your favourite outfit that you've worn this year?

Also, just a huge Thank You to everyone who has read, commemented on or supported this blog in 2010! I feel so lucky that I've gotten to know so many amazing bloggers, from across the world, and have even had the chance to meet some of you! Each one of you is incredible and I wish you all the best for this coming year.

Bring on 2011: Who's with me???

Sherin xx

Lounging Around

Now that the Christmas rush has settled a bit, I've been lounging around, just relaxing at home with family and doing some sale shopping.
I've always wanted a long cardi, since I saw one from Emma Watson's People Tree Endorsed Collection, but they were always above my price limit. I bought one last month, on sale from H&M and have been wearing it loads. It's perfect for going out in the sales, as it's warm, but not too heavy, and is also really relaxing to hang around the house in.

For this look, I paired it with H&M Tee and gloves, and a locally bought skirt. I can't remember where my boots are from, but they do look pretty wrecked. I've been wearing them a lot lately as they have great grip on them, and so, are perfect for the snow and sludge that we've been having.

What do you all relax in? And, it's nearly the New Year! What are all your resolutions?

Sherin xx

Christmas Outfits

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas weekend!! And that you all got the presents you wanted. My weekend was filled with lots and lots of family.

On Saturday, we went to my aunt's for Christmas lunch. After much deliberation about what to wear, I eventually settled on a LBD (bought from a H&M sale in Qatar) and gave a bit of colour to the whole look with pinkish heels from New Look.

I usually do really light make up, but decided oon doing something a bit heavier for the day. It's really heavy, but I quite liked it.

On Sunday, we were the ones hosting. So not only did my outfit have be be nice, but it also had to be practical for all the running around. I ended on a New Look outfit, with both the dress and boots being from there.

I was also given control of the potatoes so I used a roast potato recipe that I'd seen on Jamie Oliver's Best Ever Christmas. I've never properly cooked anything before, so I was pretty proud at these. They did come out really nice, if I do say so myself.

 

How was everyone else's Christmas? Let me know what you were upto, and more importantly, what presents (good or bad) you got.

Sherin xx

Insert Cricket Pun

You'll have to forgive for my lack of outfit posts these last few weeks. I'm unemployed and London is very cold, and twitter job hunting doesn't require any kind of nice outfit. I'm only leaving the house if I really need to and am currently living in my 'unemployment' sweats (please don't judge me!!)

Anyway, that does mean that I am making more of an effort at any chance I get. I wore this for last minute Christmas shopping (I left it really late this year).

My trousers are H&M, my shoes are Vans (The snow has only just disappeared so we can leave the house in shoes that aren't boots) and my jumper is courtesy of Blue Inc.

(Thought I'd add a fun prop to the pictures. As you can tell by the way I'm holding the bat, I don't play Cricket).

My dad is a huge cricket fan, so he'll be delighted that I finally to got a Cricket jersy. I'm not a huge cricket fan, despite going to a few matches during Summer (it is relaxing to watch live), but I have admired the Cricketing Jersey's that the players wear.
I never knew how warm and cosy they are. This one was a tad large for me (I cheated and pinned it at the back) and is so snuggly! I think I'll be wearing this jumper a lot during the cold winter days. And despite it being sport's wear, I think it's something that could be worn on a normal day and still look stylish.

Also, a HUGE MERRY CHRISTMAS to all of you celebrating. And for those who don't, hope you all have good holidays. I wish all of you a wonderful day, spent with your loved ones and great presents.

So, would you wear a Cricket Jumper? If so, how?

Sherin xx

Take 10 Challenge 5: Wilfox Tee

This month we were each sent a vintage style tee from Wildfox. I really liked this piece and I know we all had fun styling it. Although the size I received was an XS, it was still really baggy for me, so I have had to take it in a bit. And might cut/shorten the sleeves as soon as I have the courage to cut it.

I do love the tee though, and will probably wear it a lot over the summer. The materail is really soft and comfortable.

And this is how everyone else wore it:

Jen from A Little Bird Told Me
MJ from Dreaming Spires & Old Car Tyres
Sherin from HiFashion
Jazmine from Jazzabelle's Diary
Vicki from Magpie Girl
Adele from Molto Curiosa
Paula of Pinkbow 
Ellie of Pretty Much Penniless
Sabine from Psynopsis
Sarah from We Shop Therefore We Are

This month, we've also had to say goodbye to Shini and Nic, but have found amazing replacements in Paula and Ellie. Both, you can agree, have fit in wonderfully with the rest of us.

Who do you think wore it the best and how would you have worn the tee?

Sherin xx

Sherin and the Red Bull Factory

A few weeks ago, Pepe Jeans held a Facebook Competition for people to have a tour around the Red Bull F1 Factory.
I was really excited when I was invited along and seriously felt like Charlie going to the Chocolate Factory (Yes: I was expecting Oompa Loompa equivalents!) I'm a huge racing fan and have spent numerous weekends watching the F1 on TV, so there was no way I was refusing.

It was an early start for me, with our coach due to leave at 10am, from Notting Hill, with an hour and half drive to the factory, in Milton Keynes.

After initial introductions, we had a presentation from one of the expert engineers and I learnt so much about the Red Bull F1 cars and their history.
Red Bull first bought the, then owned by Jaguar, company back in 2004 and have been going strong since then. Their two current drivers are Mark Webber and the very attractive Sebastian Vettel, who is currently the world's youngest world champion.

We also learnt about te aerodynamics of a car. The wings are built facing downwards (the opposite of a planes wings), so that they push the care downwards and make the tires grip to the ground. My favourite part of the presentation was learning aout what goes on during a pitstop (it's my favourite part to atch during a race as well.) We were told about the atmosphere during one and it sounded amazing. Apparently the guys only go out 30 seconds before the car is due and everything is calm until the car comes. Then it's manic for the few seconds the car is there and then completely calm afterwards.

Don't these cars look amazing. They're made from Carbon Fibre, which is really lightweight and delicate, but they break really sharply, so can be really dangerous for tires when there are accidents on the tracks.

After some delicious lunch, we went for a tour around the factory. Understandably, we weren't able to take pictures durig this part. It was great to see all the machinary that goes into making an F1 car and seeing all the different processes and the soul that goes into it. We even managed a sneak peek at a bit of the car for the upcoming season!

We also found out a bit about the drivers opinions about driving. We were told that, apparently, according to David Coulthard, driving an F1 car can be really painful and can feel like you've been beaten up. And apparently the biggest shock for new drivers is braking as it's so powerful. The force is so strong that it's like having the weight of 5 people on you when you brake!

I found out that David Coulthard has is own charity as well, which he started when he was at Red Bull. It's called 'Wings for Life' and is dedicated to the 'Spinal Cord Research Foundation'. He even had a car dedicated to it, where people woould pay £10 to have their picture put on the racing car and all proceeds went to charity.

Overall, it was a great day, as I learnt a lot and saw some spectacular cars and designs. It was definitely a really out of the ordinary day for me and perfect for an F1 fan.

Are you an F1 or a car fan and what do you think of these cars?
I have more pictures of these gorgeous cars on my Facebook Page. Check them out (and don't forget to like me!!!)

Sherin xx

Sunday Specials: 19/12/2010: Christmas edition

Right, have you sorted out your Christmas presents yet?? Here are some last minute ideas if you haven't.

I know I've mentioned Dauphines of New York before, but it's defintiely worth a mention as a Christmas present for a loved one. They've just launched their online site, which features a really unique product: an adjustable headband that can also double up as a necklace: How cool is that!?

The products use the finest materials, such as Swarovski materials, amethyst chains, weightless metal chains and woven leather. These products are really versatile and can be worn so many different ways, such as a flapper or hippie style. It's sure to make anyone's Christmas!!

La Senza are doing perfect little stocking fillers, which would also be perfect for Secret Santa presents.

Lush are also doing the cutest little Christmas packages. They have categories for you to choose from so you can get the most perfect gift for the right person. They have amazing names, such as the Snow Fairy, Secret Santa and Winter Warmer. Each package has some really lovelly smelling products and would make a perfect present.

Don't forget to have a look at their video, which is filled with more gift ideas.

I've also just discovered Pilgrims Proverb, which is an online vintage and secondhand bookstore, started by none other than the ever so amazing and inspirational Rachel. There are a few books with really lovely covers at the moment, which will be perfect for any book lover (I have my eye on the 'Gulliver's Travels'). The store is definitely a place worth keeping your eye on, as I predict lots of gems popping up over time.

Share and let me know what last minute gifts you're giving!

Sherin xx

P.S. The winners from my Hotels.com competition were Florrie and Lizzy. Congrats!! I've emailed you details.

NEIMASITAWI

I love discovering new brands: it's possible one of my favourite things about having a blog. Every so often, a brand comes along that I absolutely fall in love with. One such brand that I immediately fell in love was N E I M A S I T A W I. The new collection is full of some fabulous pieces, and I was able to get an interview with the brains behind the brand: Neima.

1) Tell me a bit about yourself:

I am an native born American living and working on and off in Europe since 2000. I have had the pleasure of living in France, Italy, UK, Luxembourg and Switzerland and in February of this year have my way back to Italy.  I am a lover of all things creative, artistic, cultural, linguistic and culinary.  Although I work well in complex situations and environments, when it comes to fashion and design my motto is, “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication”. Since childhood, I have always wanted to be a designer.  I even started my academic career in University in Fashion Design  in the Design, Arts and Architecture program in my home town but my passion for travel and languages inspired me to switch to International Affairs and then to get an MBA in strategic marketing in Europe.  After 12 years working in multi-national corporations in the US and abroad, found myself consistently confronted by my original passion, of course fashion.  

Everything around me seemed to be a sign that I should return to my dream of being a fashion designer and so I took the challenge and have never felt to be in a more perfect ambient since.   Today, I feel to have struck the perfect balance, using my life long involvement in the arts, culture, language and cooking as inspiration for my pieces, my exposure to the inner workings of corporations to guide my business decisions  and the network I have created over the years living in different places and traveling the word as my support system and source of advice and mentoring.



2) Why did you decide to start N E I M A S I T A W I?

NEIMASITAWI started as an accident.  I had spent over 2 years in Milano and London exploring my creative fashion ambitions.  Even if I was not designing per se, I was implementing all of my inspirations, ideas, and dedicating a lot of time to conceptualizing and defining my fashion ideals.  I guess you could chalk it up to research and development stage of my business.  I would host themed parties, masquerade balls, period aperos etc, designing the ambiance, providing the styling, investigating the sounds, smells, and sights for the event.  I also did a great deal of fashion photography at the time; creating mood and experimenting with color and shape.  

It was really an inspiring and fulfilling period in my life.  When I moved to Bologna, I finally found myself in a position where I was able to make everything happen.  Italy is well known for its production quality and artisan sewing and Bologna is right in the heart of it all with luxury production hubs of Modena and Carpi.  It just all fell into place and I was sure that this was the boat that was not to be missed.  I jumped on with full intention and never looked back!  


3) Tell us more about the collection and the brand:

The NEIMASITAWI brand is synonymous with timelessness, sophistication, sensuality and quality.  The concept was born from my realization that the world is slowly forgetting the value of quality and the nostalgia of a properly made piece.  Fashion has become so functional, trendy and transactional that women are no longer dedicating a moments time to considering their own wonderful body types, age and position in society or stage of life before making fashion decision.  In recent years, fashion has been very top down and dogmatic.  When we watch the film divas in the old black and white films, there is a sense of longing, appreciation, hopefulness and approval for how they dressed and how stunning they always looked.  With properly fitting clothing, quality fabrics and stitching and the right accessories, the modern woman can really achieve that glamour without looking tacky, pretentious or over-the-top.  My brand aspires to satisfy these needs.   

My debut collection is presented as a capsule collection where many of the pieces are interchangeable and can be worn as coordinates or separates.  As you can see on the www.neimasitawi.com  inspiration page, each piece was inspired by a particular story or mood in time and represents a timeless article of clothing that can can be worn in almost every season and at any age.  These are staple pieces that all women must have in their wardrobes. Pieces that will always ‘wow’ the others but still maintain their discretion and demure.

4) Where do you draw inspiration for your collections?

A lot of my inspiration for this collection comes from the noir films of the early 1960‘s and the overall return of the french chic style.  Subtle sexiness and demur glam.    However, my biggest vintage style icons is the glorious Erte, (Romain de Tirtoff) Russian costume designer who worked out of Paris in the early 20th Century. He was a genius, his work was pure art. I am also very much inspired by texture and weight of fabric.  I like either pure structure or stitching that follows the form of the women’s body that gives the impression of an item being structured or tailored.  I also tend to find a lot of inspiration in old costume design at visits to the Theater during my travels around Europe and Asia. 

5) What makes Neimasitawi different and unique from other brands? 

This is a great question. I really believe that the uniqueness of the NEIMASITAWI brand comes in the rare form of high quality simplicity.  You just don’t find accessible, high quality clothing anymore.  My pieces have just enough character to be authentic, different and special without taking away the owner’s right to unleash her own personal style philosophy.  I like to think of my pieces as high quality, canvases upon which a woman can express herself. 


6) What is your favourite piece from the collection? 

This is very difficult since the entire collection was born to respond to what I found lacking in my own wardrobe. I would have to say however that the French chic, boat necked silk “Paulette” top with aproned collar and capped sleeves is to die for.  However, the high waisted, satin sashed Zoe flow pants are not too shabby either!

A huge thank you to Neima for taking the time out to answer my questions. 
Have a look at the collection and let us know what you think!


Sherin xx

P.S. All photo credits got to NEIMASITAWI's photographers: ALESSANDRO BOSELLI and Paolo Panzera