Vintage Inspiration-Blazers Pt 2

A few weeks ago we brought you our first shoot that was inspired by vintage jackets and blazers. This week we are bringing you part 2, featuring a beautiful vintage Jaeger Blazer.  Teamed with the right accessories, blazers are the one must have of any girls wardrobe. Vintage blazers in particular, have  character and timeless style that the high-street simply cannot compete with.

Get the Look
Blazer- Vintage Jaeger (Charity Shop Find)
Bag-LV
Boots-Primark
Scarf- Espirit
Jeans-Oasis

Snowy Days

Don't you just love the snow... and the best thing about it is getting out the winter wardrobe, especially boots. I've recently become a fan of  wellies and have my eye on a pair of Hunter Boots which i'm hoping to get soon. In the meantime I found a beautiful pair by Scholl on sale for an awesome price at Daniel's. Perfect for those snowy and rainy days :)

 

 

 

 

 

Boots - Scholl -£96.99 (reduced to £25.99)

Jeggings- TopShop

Coat- Bershka

Scarf- Primark

Watch- Micheal Kors

Necklace- Primark

IMAT 2012 Weekend

This weekend I went to the IMATS with a couple of friends. I had never been before but I heard a lot of good reviews about it from an American friend of mine, who said it was a big thing in the States.

IMATS (International Makeup Artist Trade Show) is for people involved in the makeup or creative industry, it is however also open to the public so anyone can go, they hold it once yearly normally towards the beginning of the year here in the UK and takes place all around the word at different times. It is most definitely a make-up lover’s dream event. There are a host of high end and in most cases designer makeup brands on show with many giving up to 75% discount on products. It is also a great opportunity to meet others in the Makeup industry, see live demonstrations of new products and to get your hands of some much sought after products.

I spent a lot of money , an absolute fortune some would say, but it was well worth it! Once I came home I realised I paid 1/5 of the price for all my products had I bought them all full price, and it is an event I will definitely be going to again. The show allows you to build your makeup collection with key essentials and you can definitely get some items that will last you a long time.

Now if you do ever decide to go, you do need to be prepared for queues! The event opens at 8:30am however queues begin from 7am and inside people always flock to the most sought after brands such as Illamsqua, Make Up For Ever, NYX, IGLOT amongst others.

You can swatch products at your leisure, try products on and there are always plenty of makeup artists to help you out. The infamous and renowned makeup artist and founder of highly acclaimed makeup brand Eve Pearl was also there demonstrating hands on some of her makeup:



See below for my haul of goodies which I got:



The first place I headed was Make Up For Ever, I had heard a lot about the Make Up Forever(MUFE) HD foundation and really wanted to get my hands on one, MUFE does not retail widely in the UK and you can only order it online so it was one of the first stalls I went to. HD foundation is £28.99 so it’s quite a steep buy, at the IMAT’s however it was being sold for £18.99, nearly half price! A definite bargain. I also read a lot of reviews on their liquid blush and uplight - a dewy glow cream for your cheeks, so also got those, cant wait to try them out, will update on whether they are worth it.



Other purchases which I was extremely happy with were those I got from Illamasqua which was 75% off most products and was probably the best stall. All foundations were at £7.00 a bargain from the rrp of £21.50! All eye pencils were £2.00 again a great bargain, I also got a cream blush and eye base.


I had never purchased from Iglot but had done some YouTube research before and they have similar items to Make Up For Ever's liquid blush for a fraction of the price, I decided to get one of these also to wear as an everyday blush and use the MUFE on on special occasions. I also purchased a bright pink blush which can be toned down with the right brush.


Lip Tars- I had read so many reviews on these little beauties by OCC and was so happy to get my hands on some of the most popular colours, They are great because they leave a matt look on the lips and can last for up to 10 hours, also a little goes a long way and you need less then a dot to cover your lips, be careful to moisturise your lips well before as they can be quite matt.

Did you go to IMAT’s, what did you get your hands on? If not, let us know what you think of the review! 

Spotlight: Modern Mary (+Competition!)

Modern Mary is a freshening American label that seeks to combine great high-end style with modesty. We got to catch up with Seema, the founder of Modern Mary to find out more about her and her company.

What was your inspiration for creating Modern Mary?

My designs give women the chance to express themselves while being true to their identity. For most Muslim women it can be challenging finding styles that express their cultural heritage, American identity, and at the same time being true to their faith. What motivates me is trying to reconcile these three forces and translate them into my designs. Creating modest designs is one thing, but there is certain flair to my designs that makes it stand out and appealing. The uniqueness of each design attracts different women and speaks to different women. I try to design something for everyone.

After I started designing, I knew that an online store was not enough, which is why I decided to open up a boutique. The Boutique offers my customers an exclusive shopping experience without compromise to privacy and comfort. The boutiques' modern and high end appeal reflects the same values as my brand, Modern Mary.

Sounds great! How did you initially get started?

I’ve always had an understanding of fashion and a strong sense of how to style. When shopping through the malls, there was no difficulty in creating a modest wardrobe, rather a challenge. Actually, the challenge was exciting and refreshing; kept me hunting through each store in the mall. Women would always stop me and ask me, “where did you buy that?” or “how did you think of putting that outfit together?” Noticing the comments and compliments, I knew I was doing something right. And what is better than putting together an outfit? Designing an outfit! I want women to have a fun and comfortable shopping experience. The only way was to bring the designs to them. I know what elements are needed to make a modest yet modern design. Design is not just how it looks, but how it fits, how it feels, and how it flows. Not only is designing a passion of mine, but I am good at it.

What words of advice would you give to budding business women?

It’s a struggle everyday but Alhamdulillah; it's our passion that keeps us going. We have a vision, but remember they are anchored to the ground by reality and resources. The biggest challenge a women may face is balancing her roles; for me, that is the role of being a mother, a wife, a designer, and an entrepreneur- this is my every day struggle. When starting a business, it’s more than just pursuing a passion. Yes, you have to be passionate about what you are doing, but you also have to be persistent, willing to learn, and ready to play various roles. I can’t run a business by just designing- I had to learn to be a manager, bookkeeper, marketer, etc. Identify your support network and turn to them when seeking advice and guidance- from family to colleagues.

This is great food for thought and advice that I am sure a lot of our readers will appreciate ... So what can we hope to expect from Modern Mary in the future?

Multiple boutiques. Department Stores, Editorials in Vogue, New York Fashion Week. Need I say more!

This all sounds very exciting! How can Hijablicious readers stay in touch with what is new at Modern Mary?
By visiting our website and joining our newsletter and becoming a fan on our Facebook page, Hijablicious readers will get the very latest on special promotions, events, and contests. We have monthly special events at the boutique that are educational, empowering, and enjoyable.

We would like to thank Seema for giving us her time and now... Competition Time!

We are delighted to announce this month’s giveaway in conjunction with Modern Mary to win this fabulous reversible hooded dress worth $48.00
How to Enter:

1) Like this photo on Modern Mary’s Facebook Fan page
2) Subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on google connect (on the left hand side of this page)
3) Comment here letting us know you have entered.

 The competition ends 8th February 11pm and the winner will be announced soon after.

(T&C: One entry per person, the winner will get a chance to select their size, No entries will be accepted after the closing date, Hijablicious and Modern Mary have the right to withdraw the competition at any time.)