Any hijabi will tell you it's easier to dress in Winter...Summer is a whole other challenge! You want fabrics that are cool yet breathable and non transparent so you can avoid layering.....oh and "with sleeves please".

It's rare to find long tops and dresses with sleeves that aren't sheer..and when I do...I want to know how many colours I can get it in. I do have the advantage of being able to sew what I want, but often don't have the time. Despite the lack of Modest wear...I still love shopping;)

This outfit combo is my go to!

Scarf: Lace, pleated kashkha Laila Couture Fordsburg ( I got it at the Eid fair a while back)
Scarf band: Sowsan
Shirt: Mr. P
Pants: H-twenty one jeans (90% cotton)
Necklace: gold leaf Checkers Hyper
Watch: Swatch
Wedge Sandals: Jet
Bag: LV
Inner: Moondrops (Durban, Overport) couldn't skip it ...it's a white shirt..lol..Moondrops has the largest selection of inners I have seen one shop carry!
Gold belt: WOW Couture


When I want a change, I just swop my shoes, bag, scarf and wear the shirt in another way....tucked in at the front, skip the belt or try another..and the options are endless.

I love this White shirt, because it is a loose fit but has some shaping and has a longer back. Shirts are my staple...I even wear them over dresses and jumpsuits like a jacket and with skirts..the looser fit offers more versatility. A white shirt is a perfect addition to a capsule wardrobe for the budget conscious (who isn't these days?!)

It was really hot when I wore this...so we were running for shade when my highly esteemed photographer(ahem my hubby) took these random pics...Thanks Hun!  It was a relief to be wearing a cotton shirt and mostly cotton pants...

This one is definitely a selfie;p
Right now, the trend in lace scarves are running riot and this one from Laila Couture is really gorgeous!

 At the Home stuff store at Brightwater Commons...

Last seen in this OOTD at the Industry Bakery...:)

Xoxo....

Spring is here and it's not just about blooming flowers, chirping birds and warmer weather. It's a time of renewal, and that part of the year where we begin to alter our mindsets, rearrange our goals, create new ones and ultimately embrace change. What better way to reflect this than outwardly through fashion. We put away our heavy sweaters and keep the lighter ones close by, give away our knits that have seen too many Winters and opt for breathable fabrics for the warmer seasons, in colours that are bright, light and cheerful. 

So here is this Seasons Key Colour Trends:

1. Khaki, 
2. nude, 
3. bold red, 
4. orange, 
5. blues, 
6. yellow

1. Khaki 

A classic, and back on trend this season, in all hues and textures, form satin to suede, in more elegant forms, including smart safari to military. How about a Khaki lace skirt or satin dress? or perhaps bring out those camo or khaki cargos...Mr. Price Sport currently stocks these and I'm pretty sure they are a staple at JEEP and Cape Union Mart stores. 

Liviana Conti S/S 2015 

Ralph Lauren S/S 2015

Marc Jacobs S/S 2015

Chanel RTW S/S 2015

3 ways to wear khaki

* Pair khaki utility or Cargo pants with a more feminine top in chiffon or lace and wear strappy sandals or block heels.

* pair a khaki shirt knotted at the front with a grey t shirt maxi dress and converse takkies

* try khaki accessories: a fringed khaki kimono will hit 2 trends in one go, khaki sun hat, large bag, military jacket, or scarf paired.

Perfectly paired khaki:

Try it with grey, nudes, coral, red and even aquamarine and denim.

Jessica Alba

2. Nudes

Nudes such as cream, beige, white tones, blush and dusty pinks, and earthy stone colours have been on trend for a while now and still going strong into Summer. They are feminine, glamourous with minimal effort exude luxury. Nudes are easy to pair with existing items in your wardrobe as they are not an overpowering palette and can be mixed with other trends. My go to on this trend is to pair nude seperates and accessories such as nude shoes, belts, bags, cardis or scarves to mix with my current wardrobe staples. Consider Nude chiffon skirts, Flowy nude sweaters and dresses, and longer length culottes (think wide leg extra flare pants).

Haider Ackermann S/S 2015

Stella McCartney RTW Spring 2015

3 ways to wear Nudes

* pair pastel or brightly coloured outfits with nude shoes

* use nude shoes with nude pants to elongate a petite figure and make your legs look longer

* pair an all white ensemble with nude heels, clutch, and scarf or belt.

Perfectly paired Nudes:

Have fun with nude shades they are as basic as you can get and play nicely with all colours. Remember though that nude paired with cooler colours are perfect for warm weather.

3. Red and orange 

Popping up subtly in our blushes, lipsticks and even bags. This season they are celebrated in dresses, sunglasses, shoes, and pretty much every piece you can wear from head to toe. Red is overwhelming for the majority of us, so try pops of red in your scarf prints or elements on your bags, clothing or jewellery..think red pom pom key chains, red floral prints and red stone jewellery. The bold will love red skirts, dresses, stilettos or takkies (this seasons "it" shoe)...whatever it is, it is worth a try!

Balmain Spring 2015

Zuhair Murad S/S 2015

3 ways to wear Red:

* try a red shoe with a black ensemble to start out, then pair with nude. 

* Colour block Red shoes with a cobalt blue dress and yellow accents like a belt and black as a neutral colour in your bag, scarf and elements on your dress like a black zip, buttons or a panels.

* Red compliments green, try a red plaid shirt with a khaki scarf or utility jacket.

Perfectly paired Red:

4. Blue

I doubt there is a wardrobe that lacks this colour, whether it's nautical stripes of navy blue and white, blue floral prints, marine blues touching on green, or denim in different shades of blue. 

Chloe S/S 2015

pic courtesy of Style mag

Elie Saab S/S 2015

pic courtesy of Vogue.com

3 ways to wear Blue

* blue skinny jeans with a loose asymmetrical cut or high low hem white shirt and fringed red, tan or teal clutch or wristlet bag

* try a denim skirt with button down front and a red, yellow or nude boxy shirt half tucked in at the the front

* pair a bright blue scarf with a nude ensemble and a yellow clutch

Perfectly paired blue:

This polka dot number hits so many trends in one

5. Yellow

The colour of sunshine, used by colour therapists to energise and reawaken enthusiasm and confidence, it's one of my favourite colours. This colour is not usually widely available but being on trend means you are going to see alot of it....yey!

3 Ways to wear yellow

* Try a yellow cardi or floral kimono over blue, grey, denim, nude or a purple dress or t and jeans.
*  Full length maxi in yellow paired with red, tan, turquoise, purple or nude heels or strappy flats looks amazing.
* for a more subtle approach try buttercup or pale yellow in scarves, belts, bags and jewellery.

Perfectly paired Yellow:
  

Hope you enjoyed this!;)....Please note, that this post mostly serves to inspire you to combine colours and create combinations that you will add to or make hijab appropriate and are ofcourse not entirely hijab appropriate on its own....next up is current trends,  and how to incorporate them in Hijab, finally some feedback on our amazing sponsors and the hijab workshop and hijab styling as a career, the magnetic pin craze and the lady who started it all, spa that is altering the way we see wellness, an adventure safely tucked away in Fourways thats great for the whole family,...and a whole lot more..InshaaAllah till next time;)

I studied at UberGlam designer training under an incredibly talented teacher and mentor Ms. Lelanie De Bruyn/ Jacques.  
I left with the ability to create items as I saw or designed them. This field is demanding, time sensitive, often high pressured and very much cut throat. You need to constantly evolve as a designer, learn and grow to not only survive but thrive.

Sounds a little scary, and thats exactly how you feel when you start, but as you progress, you develop new skills and with it, the confidence to move forward and face bigger challenges and transcend personal plateaus.

I started out with a fashion show hosted by Uberglam, showcasing items I had made in class and a few other items I wanted to try my hand at. 

I called my brand "Iridescence" out of a necessity to have a name for the fashion show, funny enough it's a word I heard whilst tuning the radio and it stuck with me, it became reminiscent of what my designs and I was like, back then. Heres the link to view the fashion show:
Iridescence Fashion Show

I have recently decided to change the name of my brand to WOW Couture and Makeup Artistry or World of Waseema to be more in line with the modest nature of the items I produce.

I progressed to creating items for myself and friends which clearly expressed my love for modest wear. Wearing my own creations proved to be great for marketing my brand so my business began to grow from there and so did my passion for creating Islamically suitable separates.

My first big challenge was when my client Janine Johnson requested 2 bridesmaids dresses. Evening wear can be challenging on an emerging designer, basic and advanced knowledge has to be manipulated to achieve the desired result.She knew exactly what she wanted, firmly expressed her belief in my abilities, was incredibly patient with me through my trial and errors, and a delight to work with. 

Each client differs with her unique style and taste, so you are tasked with various challenges. Below are the Bridesmaids dresses I created for her including a few work in progress pics.

Searching for clothes that are hijab appropriate or atleast modest was difficult and still is. I was annoyed with the lack of modest daywear available for Muslimahs, so I pursued my love for creating separates and smart casual ladies wear. This proved to be rewarding and I continued my personal journey into exploring Hijab styling and modest wear, which became public knowledge;) I then launched myself on every social platform I knew and had fun creating my own ads.

I learnt that in this age, people are inundated with info and standing out becomes almost impossible, but is sometimes as simple as being �you� and offering people what you �yourself� would love or �following your passion� ardently. Probably a lesson we are told by many but easier said than done. If you put more of what you love out there irrespective of any acceptance or praise, you eventually find (I said eventually, because you need to stick it out and keep at it, to see results) you attract people with similar choices, likes, or possibly influence others to love what you love, inspire and bring about change. 

Here are more items I created for various clients and often more than one of the same design.

I loved making all of these items and much more and I have been rather fortunate to have an amazing clientele with varied taste. One of my favourite clients and friend is Raeesa Sadik of Veiled beauty, she's an absolute darling and I love her blog too....so classy and always on pointe! Wish you all the success Raeesa, I will always be rooting for you(",)

Check out the following links to view her blog:

Raeesas blog interview with me

The tulle skirt Raeesa wore

I have also had the wonderful opportunity to work alongside models and photographers among them is Chloe Jessica Sizer and Dineo Mongae.

Chloe has been an absolute breath of fresh air and her photography is amazing. I was really sad to learn that she was leaving for the US and we had only just begun our friendship. She is still very much a friend and I have no doubt our paths will somehow cross again. Here are some pics of her brilliant work. Models are wearing clothing designed and created by me.

Dineo Mongae is a precious friend and model who stepped up to the plate to help me out at the fashion show modeling one of my garments. We have been friends ever since. I then did a collaboration with her and her model friends and photographers doing makeup for all the models for a photoshoot which included some of my designs. Here are some of those pics:

Pic of Dineo Mongae in my design

model wearing makeup and dress by me

Model wearing makeup by me and clothing by a featured designer

Model wearing clothes by me

Denim skirt and lace top by me

Wedding pics coming soon of a bridal gown for an amazing, down to earth bride and her bridesmaids:)

The above are just a few of the pics of work I have done and I am so excited about the future, Insha'Allah!

If you would like to enquire about my designs, or for a collaboration, please feel free to contact me on 

0837868177 or waseema561@yahoo.com

I will gladly provide you with quotes on any items you would like to make. Enquire about the Winter Catalogue which will also incorporate Eid wear and will be out very soon.