Fashion Friday: Diversity

Happy Fashion Friday!!! What would Fridays be without Fashion Friday? Good thing we’ll never find out...This week’s post features the styling Nomathemba. I love how diverse her style is. Fashion is about being diverse and not necessarily sticking to one look. Yes it’s important for one to find their "preferred" style but one should be careful not to limit themselves to one look, hence being diverse in what you wear is key. So go ahead and try something new that you haven’t worn before without completely “diverting” from yourself....lol I hope I make sense. Do send those pics tquoiz(at)gmail.(dot)com much love and appreciation to all who check out this blog!

Lovely weekend

Fatima

xxx

Fashion Friday with Nomathemba...enjoy the pics

Fashion Friday: It’s all in a dress and peplum

This has to be the sexiest Fashion Friday feature ever! Definitely going in to my top 5 favorite post since Tquoiz started! Today it’s all about dresses with a “dash” of peplum! Peplum is a short overskirt or ruffle attached at the waistline of a jacket, blouse, or dress. This trend has been around forever and seems to be gaining momentum again! As we know, nothing is ever really lost when it comes to fashion! If you’re looking for a feminine, elegant yet sexy look…yes you guessed it! Go peplum!

So the bar has been raised….let’s make next week better! Shall we…send those pics to tquoiz (at) gmail (dot) com

Thank you ladies for being your gorgeous selves and making Fashion Friday, Fashion Friday!

Love

Fatima

xxx

Fashion Friday with: My pretty Ray from http://ngokukwam.blogspot.com/

Fashion Friday with: gorgeous Fifi

Fashion Friday with: Me

Fashion Friday with: stunning ladies! Laurian, Bukiwe and Indira

Fashion Friday with: Me I'm a sucker for black and white!

Fashion Advice: All white everything

It’s all in the LWD “little white dress”! Yes going all white this summer! What more can I say, white is clean, fresh, cool, light, simple and elegant! White goes with almost every color! So there’s room to add your favorite colors to spice things up or just be all white. It’s up to you! I would wear anything but white shoes except for kicks of course! Go for it!

Love

Fatima

xxx

All White everything!!!!

Fashion Advice: Neon and Pastel Lips

Yes, by now we all know that Neon and Pastel colors are pretty hot this spring/ summer! But I want to focus more on lips! I’m a big fan of lip colors especially in neon and pastel. A definite must have!

I can give you a million reasons why you should wear neon / pastel color; most importantly you have to be ‘bold’ to pull this!

I’ve been hunting for these lip colors for ages and still hunting with no luck….but I won’t give up. When I find the colors, you’ll be the first to know! If all fails I’ll have to make it myself, I read all sorts of things from using eyeshadow to crayons lol, but hopefully that will be the last resort.

Question is what color(s) will you be rocking? I want all of them

Love

Fatima

xxx

 Pastel: soft, feminine and edgy!

 Pics from “random” Google search

Summer/Spring 2012-2013 Trend: Roaring 20's! Jazzy! Art Deco!

1920’s those were pretty exciting times! And as always nothing is ever really lost in fashion! This summer we’re definitely going the 1920’s route! Think flapper dresses, drop waists dresses, crystal embroidery, straight cut silhouettes, geometric patterns, sequins, chain and fringes details! Talk about ‘multiple trend’ all in one!

Let’s get jazzy this summer!

How to wear it: here’s an example thought I’d keep it a bit edgy and modern by adding ankle bootie and these hot sunglasses

To see more of this trend google Gucci Spring/Summer 2012. Image source: (footlixe.com)

Fashion Advice

Love

Fatima

xxx

Fashion Advice: Summer / Spring Layering Trend 2012-2013

  

I put this look together just to demonstrate some aspect of summer layering



Getting ready for spring and summer! Here is something to look forward to next season! Summer/spring layering. Yes layering in summer is possible and it’s a great look to go for! I know you’re probably thinking what??? It's hot in summer why would you add more layers! Well with sheer fabrics and other light fabrics you can get your summer layering on! Another way to pull this off is by wearing a light skirt open in front with shorts! See pic below.

Hit or miss your thoughts?

Love

Fatima

xxx

Straight from run way from shows like Maison Martin Margiela haute couture autumn-2012, Daks ss12, Lanvin S12, Ann Demeulemeester SS12, Valentino-haute-couture autumn 2012,



Fashion Advice: Leather Mixed Media

We are truly living in the most exciting fast fashion times! So many options to choose from! One of the trends that I’ve been eyeing for a while is the Leather Mixed Media. Mixed media is simply items with contrasting fabric, textures and patterns from leather, wool, fur, chiffon etc. But today we are focusing on the leather mixed media for that edgy, sexy, daring look. The great thing about this trend is that both guys and girls can try it out and it’s not only for winter but perfect for summer too since lighter fabrics can be used. So far I have a high waisted pencil skirt; my second item will be a dress I spotted last weekend at a Fashion Show in Summerset West. See below for examples I put together of the leather mixed media

Love

Fatima

xxx

Your thoughts?

Fashion Friday: Fashion Editorial

Happy Fashion Friday! Today we’re going the fashion editorial route….the theme is black, and a hint of color! Yes I’m killing two birds with one stone since there wasn’t fashion advice this week. Why black simple, because it’s beautiful and timeless. Played around with some of my favorite must have winter items, faux fur vest, wedge bootie, leather pants, colours and print. The items are flexible enough to wear in other seasons so it works out perfectly! Enjoy! I had fun putting these looks together…wish I could do this in real life….

Love

Fatima

xxx

Outfit1: One of my fav colour for obvious reasons. This look is flexible enough to pull during the day…love the hat too

Outfit2: Black and white colors. Simply classic! Turtleneck to keep warm and a lace jacket and print knit skirt finishing touches

Outfit3: Here I was thinking sophisticated look. Used bold red colours to portray confidence

Outfit4: Young, chic look! Paired with leggings to keep warm…can be worn in spring and summer

Outfit5: Very simple look, with sunnies perfect for day or night out! Polka dot also timeless!

Fashion Advice: Durban July Guys Edition

How’s is everyone doing today, good I hope. Last week I suggested a few ideas for the ladies going to the 2012 Durban July and as I promised this week it will be all about guys. These ideas will work perfectly if you want to dress "cool” / laid back yet appropriate for the July. I think unlike ladies guys have it easy when it comes to putting outfits together.

Outfit 1: I can never say this enough, there’s nothing mind blowing than a guy in a right tailored suit! I chose the denim shirt just to keep things laid back. But if you are looking for a more elegant look, easy change the shirt! Simple hey and the hat is optional…but it’s a nice touch I think.

Outfit 2: My fav, decided to go the “vintagey” route and using the chain bowtie to add a modern feel to it, and again using a denim shirt simply cos it works with anything really

 

Outfit 3: You can never go wrong with a white shirt! Instead of a tie or bowtie why not use a scarf with nice prints to create your look. Like all the outfits, this outfit will not be complete without the sunnies, as you can see I love aviators’ lol.

Love

Fatima

xxx

Fashion Advice: Durban July 2012

Last week’s Dress according to the occasion post was a mini introduction for today’s fashion advice.

It’s that time of the year, where ladies and gents are preparing for Durban July Handicap 2012. Like every other year there’s a theme and this year’s theme is A MATERIAL WORLD. Clearly this theme was inspired by the COP17 conference held last year in Durban. If you are planning to go and still trying to figure out how to stick to the theme….well you are in the right place. Two things come to my mind with this year’s them. Eco Friendly and Red carpet.

Eco friendly: think green, think earthy colors, think recycling fabric/material, think organic fabric, think nature, flowers.

Red carpet: this is quite diverse. The point is to look like "a material girl". Look like the star that you are. The options here are endless. From current lace gowns/dresses, classic silhouettes, refined, glam and elegant.

Of course an outfit is never complete without hair accessories ladies! Yes bring out those hair fascinators, hats, flowers etc. Whatever you choose to wear look trendy, chic, be comfortable (very important) and have funs creating your looks!

Love

Fatima

xxx
Next week we look at guys stuff! Enjoy and share your ideas...

 Eco friendly: paper dresses yes made out of paper! The dress on the left i took the pic at Wag shop in longstreet and the other one is from www.gradientmagazine.com pretty cool hey!

This is a red carpet look I was talking about

These pics I took at the previous Durban July 2009, 2010, 2011, some sent by peers



Fashion Advice: Dress according to the occasion

Dress for and according to the occasion, recently there was the Met Gala event (great example) where people were really dressed up which I loved. Whether it’s a theme party, wedding, and of course our local evens SAMA music awards, J&B Met, Metro FM Awards etc step up to the occasion. For me there’s nothing more dull, never mind boring than a person who doesn’t make an effort to dress for a particular occasion. I think if you are going to show up to an event at least do it fashionably well. Getting it right or wrong? Well that’s another story. Next week we look at ideas for Durban July 2012 one of the biggest events in South Africa! The best advice I can give for now, is to be creative. This does not mean going overboard…but if you can, then why not!

Life is an occasion, Dress accordingly!

Love

Fatima

xxx

These pics are from my high-tea party last year with my friends. Dress code was chic and a hint of turquoise… Had so much fun!!!

Fashion Advice: Spring 2012-2013 Men Color

As usual used polyvore for the clothing images

Seasons come and they go. We might be in winter now, but nothing is stopping us from spring forecasting so that when spring hits! We are all up in this business! Today focusing on men! Now that I have your attention let’s get going with the day’s advice….Mint is the word and color for spring 2012/2013. I love mint cos it’s close to turquoise lol yes and it’s such a cool, fresh, calm color and I think anyone can pull it off. It’s just one of those colors! It’s also a haute color for ladies!

Love

Fatima

xxx

Fashion Advice: Cap Toe

I spotted this Cap Toe trend a while back from fellow bloggers and recently on fashion forward celebrities like Solange Knowles! Cap Toe shoe are definitely going to be big in this spring / summer! The great thing about this trend is that the Cap Toe shoes also come in flats, which is awesome! I know some people think color blocking is outdated but I don’t think so. Color blocking has always been around and ain’t going nowhere especially with the cap toe shoes! Who’s getting a pair?

Love

Fatima

xxx

To make the collage a bit more interesting added the colors of the shoes…well I tried lol. Until Friday later have a great Wednesday! Pic source: www.fashioncollec.com and www.polyvore.com

Fashion Advice: The Art of Layering

It feels like winter already I'm freezing this side of the world. Hope everyone is keeping warm. Today we look at the art of layering! Not so many people can pull off this layering technique; I also haven’t mastered it yet. What I like with layering is that you can also use some of your favorite summer items during winter. There are no rules really, just avoid looking bulky by wearing fitted cuts first as the base layer and take it from there. Play around with color, different fabric texture and don’t forget to accessorize with your scarves etc. Get creative or keep it simple it’s up to you just layer up!

I put together this basic winter layering for Him and Her

Love

Fatima

xxx

Fashion Advice: Winter Trend 2012-2013

Good day ladies and gents. Still focusing on winter trends 2012-2013! I love how the 2012-2013 winter trends have been playing out! Last year one of the big winter trends was the whole masculine look which was fun and not completely written off. This year’s major winter trend is all about luxury, opulence, and celebrating women with ladylike/ feminine silhouettes. Fashion brands Dolce & Gabbana beautifully captured the essence of this trend in their F/W 2013 (google the show it's amazing). That collection really brought tears to my eyes and my little heart was throbbing with joy up to this day simply soulfulJ.

I came up with the two simple outfits that are inspired by opulence/ luxury trend and the Dolce & Gabbana F/W 2013 source (www.taistoisoisbeau.com)

So how can you draw inspiration from this trend? Getting the colors right would be a good start, no other colors portray luxury like black and gold.  The type of fabric also comes into play, it’s interesting to see how embroidery is still a hit throughout the seasons. If you have been following Fashion Advice you’d remember that embroidered fabrics were one of the fabrics to note in 2012. Here's the link if you have missed it http://tquoiz.blogspot.com/2012/03/fashion-advice-embroidery-trend.html                Other materials like velvet and brocade are also perfect to go with this winter. I’m head over heels with this trend and looking forward to winter! Share with us your views please...

Love

Fatima

xxx

Pop by next week for your weekly fashion advice! See you Friday for the Fashion Friday

Fashion Advice: Winter 2012 Colors

Winter is just around the corner so for the next few weeks we’ll be focusing on 2012 winter trends from colors, styles, fabrics and designs. Color also plays a huge role when it comes to trends in the fashion world. Winter basic colors like the blues, reds, browns, greys and blacks will always be a great starting point. To add on to your previous winter collection here are suggested colors that caught my eye. What colors do you like for winter? Please share...

Love

Fatima

xxx

I know my suggested colors have a summer feel and shouts color blocking…that was not the intention. Looks like tangerine will be around for a long time. Metallics, yellow and purples will be my winter colors this year.

Fashion Advice" Do's and Don'ts

Hello’s, hope everyone had a great holiday yesterday. Today’s Fashion Advice is all about the do’s and don’ts. Yes some rules are meant to be broken but there are those ‘fundamental’ fashion rules that must never be broken. Below are a few do’s and don’ts for ladies and guys.

What are your fashion do’s and don’ts? Please share with us. 

Do’s: Ladies 

•  You don’t need a reason or an occasion  to look good. I say look good everyday if you want to. Same applies to guys
•   There’s no such thing as being over dressed. Same applies to guys
•   Invest in a good pair of comfy shoes, your feet will be kind to you for life
• Shop smart,ladies love shopping but know when to stop

Do’s: Guys

• Invest in a great watch
• Add color in your life. I know most guys like to keep it ‘manly’ which I understand, but don’t be afraid of color. Explore a bit and brighten up your wardrop.

Don’ts: Ladies

• Extreme tight clothing is a no no. The tight I’m talking about here is when you are struggling to breathe or move, minimum blood circulation kinda thing. There’s a fine line between looking sexy and trashy
•  Dress according to the weather…nothing stands out more (not in a good way) than a person wearing close to nothing in when it’s zero degrees outside
• Avoid cheap looking fabrics. My rule if it looks “plastic-ky” stay away
• Yes animal print is still one of the biggest trends. But one should not wear animal print from head to toe. Mixing prints is allowed but not animal print on animal print.  

Don’ts: Guys

• Leave the floral trend to the ladies. No floral shirts please
• White shoes (excluding kicks) are still a big no no! I don’t know why they still make them
• We ladies have caught up to these one.
• Guys please find jeans that will complement your body shape. Not all jeans will look good, find the right fit.
• Don’t deceive yourself into thinking that dressing up is only for ladies and ‘metro’ sexual guys (whatever that means) times have changed and men are allowed to have fun with fashion

Love

Fatima

xxx

Fashion Advice: Embroidery Trend

That time of the week….Fashion Advice. I’ve been ‘semi-obsessed’ with embroidered items since last year when I saw the Balmain S/S 2012. Embroidery has been around for centuries, I remember when I was young my granny would made her own table cloths with pretty embroidered flowers.  Embroidery is the art of decorating fabric or other materials with needle and thread. As we know in the fashion world nothing is ever really “lost” and always has a way of coming back. If you are feeling a little creative you can treat your old clothes to a DIY project using embroidery.

I put together this set using embroidered dresses and jackets with different patterns. This is the contemporary way of embroidery incorporating pearls, beads, quills, and sequins. Depending on the pattern and the detail of the embroidery one can wear no accessories or subtle accessories when wearing such items.

As seen on the runway the use of embroidery, it’s not only limited to women’s clothing but also have seen in guys clothing especially jackets. Source www.fashionblogblogger.com (guys) and www.trendland.net (the Balmain S/S 2012)

Love

Fatima

xxx

You may share your fashion advice with us....thank you

Fashion Advice: Beauty and fashion

I wanted to write a 'different' post for this week’s Fashion Advice (take a break from polyvore a bit). I had no clue whatsoever so I asked my monkey Rato for suggestions and she saved the day!

Collage used some of my pics (the lips etc lol) and a couple of pics I got from the net

So this week’s Advice is about beauty and fashion. Fashion and beauty goes hand in hand, fashion would be dull without the makeup and hair part. Just like accessories, good makeup and hair gives the outfit that extra boost. How can one look fab during the day and at night. The trick is to strike a perfect balance between what you're wearing and the makeup you’ll choose. Example if you’re outfit is really busy, tone it down on the makeup and hair (keep it simple). But that doesn’t mean you can’t be “adventurous” and all…

Lips: Day or Night with lip colors its personal preference. But it doesn’t hurt to step out of your comfort zone and try the bolder colors. Since last year the coral color has been taking over both in fashion and beauty products, other bolder colors like your pinks, reds (classic) are still standing their ground. I’ve seen interesting colors I’ve seen on the runway blue, purple and olive green when you’re feeling brave.

Hair: bad hair can ruin the outfit. So this must always be on point weather its natural hair, weave, braids keep it tidy. What caught my eye now is the slick pony tail and high hair bun. Very simple! Same with lips day or night doesn’t really make a difference how you have your hair.

Pic Source: www.handbag.com

Nails: it may seem like something small I mean who looks at the nails but the attention is in the details. With nail color it’s more of a seasonal decision. Bright for summer and toned colors for winter…

Eyes: the color you choose will determine the color of the lips (that's how I do it). Neutral Eyes are perfect during the day. Night: Smokey Eyes my favorite, I still need to master this one.

 Love

Fatima

xxx

Hope it was useful...please share your tips! Thank you for popping by!