Spring, is that you?

It’s March, and I am aware I didn’t do many winter outfit posts, and honestly my winter wardrobe is pretty simple, skinnies, boots or my purple converses and an oversized sweater. This winter was pretty interesting, which is always the case for North Carolina. Up until January it wasn’t even that cold. One week it would be in the 50’s and then the next week, the town shut down due to one and half inches of snow… yup, you read that correctly folks. The town shut down. Its okay though, we all fully enjoyed the snow days at home doing absolutely nothing – who wouldn’t?

So here’s a transitional outfit, the temps are getting warmer here, and I couldn’t be more excited! Can’t wait to pull out the flats for good and officially put away the boots. I’m a person who is naturally always cold, pleather is my go to, to stay warm and to make any simple outfit have some edge! I’ve mentioned this before, but I have a serious [unhealthy] obsession with outerwear! Living in NC, we only get a little bit of time to wear those lighter jackets before it gets too warm- and that time is finally here!

I am going to go ahead and apologize for the overload of pictures- my amazing and talented friend Kristina, took my pictures for me downtown! I had so much fun doing this shoot with her- if you guys are in North Carolina, seriously hit her up! Follow her instagram page: @kristinakeleephotography or email her directly at Kristina.kallen@yahoo.com

jacket & shoes: Buckle | top & pants: f21

I kept my accessories pretty simple, which has become the norm for me. I let the jacket do all the talking. My necklace was also purchased at Buckle. I love the simplicity of it. watch: Michael Kors | bracelet: its my grandmother’s 24 carat bangle, that she gave me last time I went to Pakistan<3

Quite frankly I’ve never been a sequence girl, but when I saw these sparkly loafers, I just had to have them! They are such a fun pop to outfits, and I absolutely love that. Which is why I fell in love with this jacket!

March 4, 2015 1

adorned in couture + Giveaway!

Shopping in Pakistan is a fun experience. Seeing all the small shops on the street, the choodiyan (bangles) lined up so perfectly, the khussay (traditional Pakistani/Indian shoes) in a variety of colors, all the laces and fabrics you can chose from, the shopkeeper begging you to stop and look at his stuff. He shouts at the little kid who works with him to get us chai or a bottle of pepsi. It’s wonderful. My mother is currently in Pakistan and I am extremely jealous. She says shopping in Pakistan isn’t the same anymore. You’re constantly in fear someone will rob you. More shops over time, which means more people who will rip you off. I mean, that always happens right, but that’s when your bargaining skills come in handy. Sigh, I miss that, I really do, but it is also very overwhelming. If you have never shopped the local bazaars or once they know you’re from outside of the country, it’s a wrap, they jack up the prices even MORE. Nonetheless I enjoy it, it’s a great experience and everyone should do it once in their life.

If going to the motherland isn’t a simple task but you still want amazing eastern wear, that is where my amazing friend Ruma’s boutique comes in, a La Couture. She carries designer wear from Pakistan and India. She even does replicas, custom Bridal, and also carries designer summer lawn and winter wear pieces. Shopping has never been so effortless. The service is fantastic, uncomplicated and exceptionally trustworthy, and she is SO efficient. There are times I mention in passing, oh I love this suit or jewelry especially, and it will be at my doorstep in three to four days! Her incredible jewelry line just keeps growing! From timeless antique styles, to gorgeous gemstones! I can not rave enough about her jewelry line! Tons of designer inspired pieces!

In this post, I am going share some of the gorgeous jewelry she carries and outfits I have purchased through her! If you guys haven’t checked out her stuff, I urge you to go give it a like! She now has a website! Go like her Facebook page and instagram!

For Garments: https://www.facebook.com/alacouturebyruma

Jewels by a La Couture: https://www.facebook.com/jewelsbyalacouture

For more information, check out her website: http://alacouture.com/

Instagram: alacouturebyruma

Andddd we have a Giveaway!!! She sent me the most lovely earrings and teeka for anyone who wants to participate! You all know how much I love headpieces/teekas ! So we wanted to incorporate both of our favorite things! To enter is SUPER easy! There will be three winners! All you need to do is make sure you are following me (fatimabutt926) and a La Couture (alacouturebyruma) on Instagram! Tag three people on one of our Giveaway pictures and get them to follow us or repost using the hashtags #alacouturebyruma #fatimabutt you have three weeks 🙂 Enjoyyyyy and good luck !

all outfits, earrings, & teeka courtesy of a La Couture

these traditional bali’s are my favorite! with blue stones and pearls hanging towards the bottom with an antique finish! I have had these for three years, and they look brand new! Paired with My favorite white lace outfit 🙂

emerald green is one of my favorite colors! when Ruma got this outfit in, I wanted it so bad, I ordered it immediately! the jeweled neckline, the red embroidery, this outfit is everything! She recently sent me these gorgeous emerald earrings that I wore at my cousins wedding and got SO many compliments- PLUS factor- they’re not even heavy!

This is a replica Ruma made me for my cousins wedding, sent her a picture and with some modifications- came out prettier than I could have EVER imagined! These pictures also do no justice to the teeka and my Jodha Akbar styled earrings!

Every summer Ruma carries designer Lawn! I absolutely loved the Faraz Manan collection this year and bought a couple of outfits! She also does Designer Linen for the winter 🙂

and shoutout to my personal photographer, my adorable baby brother ❤

January 11, 2015 0

new birthday beginnings.

My birthday this year was amazing. Initially when my birthday month started, I was extremely sad about it, not going to lie. Every year my birthday is simple. I only want to spend it with family and my best friend. It always consisted of work/school and then a dinner… with my best friend. The past eight birthdays went that way. This year was different, my “best friend” isn’t in my life anymore, and that has been hard in itself to cope with. My birthday felt weird, how was I going to spend this day? Plus, I turned 27, how do you celebrate that? Jokes aside, I just didn’t want anything or to do anything. I wanted to have a little family dinner, where Rubes cooked my favorite food. Of course though, my lovely sister and amazing friend Mary, wanted to do something special for me, considering how I felt. My family and her threw me a surprise birthday party a week before my actual birthday and boy was I surprised. A room full of incredible people. Can’t thank my family and friends for constantly making me feel so loved. As I walked in, my adorable baby brother goes, are you surprised? I managed to get a yes out and held back the tears. I said why? and he quickly responded, you do so much for others, you deserve this. It was the sweetest thing ever, he makes my heart melt. My sister and Mary went above and beyond for the cutest party! I am blessed with amazing siblings. To top off all the amazingness, on my actual birthday, my awesome cousins surprised me from New York! Drove all night to get here one day before, just for me. Blessed doesn’t even begin to to cover how I feel. I have the most amazing people in my life, and they just happen to be my family.

“Don’t grieve, anything you lose comes around in another form” -Rumi

I might not have known what I was doing for my birthday, but I knew exactly what I was going to wear. Confessions of a shopholic, clearly. I went into forever21 and went a little crazy on jumpsuits. I found two that I absolutely adored. As my birthday approached, I knew I wanted to keep it minimal and sophisticated. I opted for the black jumper with my whisper pink blazer. I added the headpiece – had to be a little fancy, it was my birthday after all 🙂 My favorite thing I wore, was my father’s watch. I’ve had my eye on this watch every since I was a little girl. It was in my mothers jewelry box and I would just stare at it, hoping one day it will be mine. It was the watch he wore on his wedding day. Just a year ago my mother took it out and gave it to my brother. I literally cried and was bitter for months, I actually still am. It just happened that my brother gave it to me to get the battery changed. I took this as an opportunity to wear it at least once. My father got married when he was 27, and the fact I got to wear it on my 27th birthday, made up for the fact that Bilal got the watch. Hey, the connection works for me, let me have it.

Jumper: f21 | blazer: h&m | headpiece: A La Couture | shoes: Steve Madden | purse: Versona

October 14, 2014 4

boho chic.

I swear, I was meant for a different era. My mother calls me a hippie all the time… and sometimes even a gypsy. If I could be in a headband all day, I probably would. I know the cooler temps are getting everyone excited for Fall, but it has been rainy and icky all week in NC. Luckily, the sun decides to come out and play mid-day, so I still get to incorporate some summer looks. I’ll take this post to also talk about my obsession with white. Whether it be eastern wear or tops, I constantly gravitate to white. There is something about a white shirt, especially white shalwar kameez, that makes me weak in the knees. I can’t explain the obsession but to me, everything looks better in white. It’s angelic yes, but it also feels brand new and I love that feeling.

So, here’s a look I put together last week. When it gets cooler, you can throw an oversized cardigan, pleather jacket, or a vest over this kind of top, and it will look great. These over-pieces are three completely different looks to style the outfit. I never go into American Eagle- not that there is anything wrong with AEO, I just feel too old for it, but I went in there to purchase a present earlier in the summer, and got this top for literally four dollars! It was meant to be. You will notice my jeans are AGAIN acid wash. I’m telling you, different era. I kept the look relatively simple, my headband is my focal point, obvi.

top: American Eagle Outfitters | jeans: Crash&Burn for Buckle | shoes: Francesca’s | headband: Tilley’s | purse: Buckle

September 29, 2014 0

orange you glad it’s pleather?

Pleather weather is here, and I couldn’t be more excited! Disclaimer: I had to take off the jacket because it got extremely hot mid day… but nonetheless it’s around the corner right?!

This is my favorite jacket, and there’s a story behind it. When I worked at Buckle last year, we got it in freight and for days we all just stared at the jacket thinking… why? On the hanger it just looked like glam went wrong. I don’t know why but it just looked horrific to me. Before my Cali trip last year I was dying to find the perfect black pleather jacket. My co-worker insisted I try it on. As I was trying it on, it was as if the light was shining on me… okay sorry for the dramatics, but there was something there. I could not believe how amazing and different it looked on! Everyone walking in, my co-workers, and my boss, said, Fatima, you NEED that in your life. Thank God I tried it on. Trying on things are key for me, they just always look different on the hanger, and then on me.

I love that I am able to dress up a simple outfit with this jacket. I’m not crazy about sequence, but the small gold specks over the sleeves grew on to me, it helped that it was a light gold color. And to be quite honest, I feel like a badass in this jacket, and that by itself is a good reason.

jacket: Buckle | dress & purse: h&m | leggings & shoes: Fabulous Finds Boutique | necklace: f21

September 22, 2014 3

linen & things.

Blazers have always been my favorite go-to piece. I love how it can instantly dress up a casual t-shirt with a pair of skinny jeans. Since I tend to be a little bit more conservative, I always wear something over my dresses, and I feel a blazer adds a little something extra. I normally wear cardigans over dresses, but adding a blazer transforms your look from girly to sophisticated. I purchased this white linen blazer about two years ago, and it has been one of the best investments I have made. I love how light and breathable it is, and it extremely versatile! I knew the DC heat would have been intense and especially having to walk around the city, I wanted to keep my look easy. I prefer to keep one piece of my outfit the focal point, and everything else relatively soft. Hope you enjoy this city edition of pictures! And since the day wasn’t about me, I couldn’t get too creative.

Blazer: Fabulous Finds Boutique | Dress: Buckle | Clutch: Steve Madden | Neckelace: Buckle | Shoes: Buckle

July 27, 2014 3

summer blues.

Ramadan gives me NO energy. It is a horrible excuse, I know. And to be quite honest, with all the atrocities happening in the world, my heart is just extremely sad, but that is the thing about life, it must go on. I would make my fashion post serious… so here is my first OOTD!

Maxi dresses are my favorite! They’re so chic and simple, yet you can totally dress them up. Long sleeve maxi dresses are such an obsession for me. I am always on the hunt for one! When I style my outfits in general, I honestly don’t put too much thought into it. Over the years, I have gotten more and more simple in that aspect. I styled this maxi dress with a statement necklace, a clutch, and some simple black sandals. I added the scarf for a more fun factor, but let me tell you, this North Carolina heat and humidity is real. The scarf came off and my hair went up in a pony tail! LOL Hope you guys enjoy! And thank you to my cute photographer, my brother.

maxi: limelush.com | scarf: f21| shoes: Naughty Monkey, purchased from Buckle | clutch: a boutique in Atlanta| necklace: f21

July 24, 2014 2

heads up!

It’s not a surprise how much I LOVE headpieces. Just take a look at my Instagram, with my eastern wear I am usually always rocking a “maatha paati” or “teeka”- which are just more specific names for headpieces in Urdu. Even with American clothes, I like to incorporate headpieces and headbands. I know statement necklaces have been HUGE this year and I really like how they jazz up an outfit but I’ll always have a soft spot for headpieces. Being that they’ve always been so common in my culture, and the new craze fits right into my insane obsession for them.

My rules for wearing headpieces are simple. Less is more folks. When I want to wear a head piece I keep the rest of my jewelry to a minimum. Simple studs usually suffice for my earrings. I don’t even bother with a necklace, and if you must, keep it as effortless as possible. With Pakistani clothes, I tend to dress it up more, but that’s a given.

So I get a lot of questions on where I buy my headpieces. I am fortunate my mother goes to Pakistan every year and shops for me. I have picked up some great pieces at Urban Outfitters and that was two years ago, now they are much more common and can be found anywhere. I have also purchased some of my favorite pieces from my lovely friend, Ruma. Ruma owns her own business and you can follow her on her Facebook page and Instagram by the name A la Couture! She carries beautiful Pakistani and Indian clothes and the jewelry is definitely drool worthy! I am hooked, any time I need matching earrings for an outfit, or in my case a teeka or headpiece, I instantly think of Ruma. Not only is she exceptionally friendly and sweet, her service is extremely efficient! We have a special giveaway coming up so stay tuned, I’m giving you a heads up! 🙂