I can’t stop oooooh aaaaah’ing over this house!!!
Everything is so meticulously designed and immaculately presented!
via BHG
Archives
Women who ruled the street style scene first!
After watching only part of the VMAs this year (because to watch all of it would have been the ultimate test of patience), I couldn’t help but wonder how royally we have screwed up the definition of the word “edgy”. Because if we find Miley Cyrus’s awkward, high-school’ish antics or Nicki Minaj’s daring wardrobe “edgy” then we have no concept of where the word originated from or what brought about its existence in the first place.
So let me take you back in time when women kept the “classy” alive and well without the urge to bare it all. Watch how the world’s perception of the word “edgy” has changed and how fashion has evolved over the years.
via Harper’s Bazaar
Simone D’Aillencourt in Lower Manhattan, 1950s
Paris
On the street in Paris, from a shoot that first appeared in Harper’s BAZAAR in the 1950s
New York, 1960
Muriel Oxford Dorville
Models pose in Pierre Cardin looks, 1980
Model Shakira Caine in West London, 1976
London
London, 1971
Jill Leslie and Patricia Donald Smith wear Dior, 1966
House of Worth evening suits, 1969
Christian Dior coats
A woman wearing snakeskin waistcoat, 1971
A woman wearing Chanel, 1980
A model poses in New York, 1952
A Dior hat, 1955
A couple at Penn Station
1972
1958
I wish I could transport some of this fashion back into today’s world!
Meet The National Geographic Traveler Of The Year – Part III – Jordan
This will be my last post dedicated to Heather Finnecy‘s photography-rich trip to Middle East to document the lives of women in the region for her project From What I Can See.
If you are reading this for the first time, make sure to read my posts on Heather’s journey to Lebanon and Kuwait and then to Palestine.
Today we will see the women of Jordan!
College Girls – University of Jordan
For more on Jordan, be sure to visit Heather’s portfolio of pictures here.
Meet The National Geographic Traveler Of The Year – Part II – Palestine
Last week I attempted to introduce the works of Heather Finnecy, a photographer from San Francisco who set off on a quest to photograph women of Middle East. Heather was 2014’s National Geographic’s Traveler Of The Year. I had all intentions to continue sharing her work last week. What I didn’t anticipate is between Ramadan, work, play, volunteering, with bits of spiritual moments here and there, I wouldn’t be left with any time to dedicate to this blog.
So today I pick up where I left off.
Last week we peeked into the lives of women in Lebanon and Jordan. Today we embark on a journey to Palestine.
Make sure to visit her project site From What I Can See for a complete gallery showcasing her journey into the Middle East.
Palestine
Visit here for a deeper look into the restricted territories of Palestine!
A Memorable Wedding in Hill Country, Texas
My loveliest friend Saf got married to an incredible man Jameel!!!
I could not ask for a more perfect fairy-tale Hill Country wedding for my dearest friend who is leaving us to move to somewhere close to Amsterdam.
Saf, the coffee houses await our next reunion… 😉
I wish both you and J an amazing and thrilling “married” journey for years to come. I hope and pray Allah only grows and strengthens the love and mercy within your hearts for each other.
Theme: All About Texas
Location: Houston, TX, Austin, TX and Dripping Springs, TX
All photography done using an iPhone6
Day 1 – The Mayoun (Houston, TX)
Bride & Groom
Bride & Groom during a traditional ritual
Not leaving the party without a selfie with the BFF
Day 2 – The Nikkah (Official Ceremony in Houston, TX)
Friends posing with the Beautiful Bride in White
Live Love Laugh
Day 3 – Welcome to Texas Party (Austin, TX)
Friends posing right before Line Dancing
Lining up for Line Dancing
And so the Line Dancing begins…
The Kids
selfie with The Bride with kimchi Fries in The Hands
And ending the night at Halal Bros, Austin TX, The Tradition…
Day 4 – The Reception (Camp Lucy, Dripping Springs, TX)
The Scenic View from Camp Lucy overlooking Hill Country, TX
Posing…one more time…
Guests waiting for The Bride
selfie fail
The Sister having a Bollywood moment
The Sisters enjoying a laugh…
Guests waiting for The Bride & Groom (reblogged from Mir Anwar Photography)
Here comes The Bride & Groom (reblogged from Mir Anwar Photography)
All in awe (reblogged from Mir Anwar Photography)
The Dutch Friends and Family
The Sister and Hubby with The Newly Weds (reblogged from Mir Anwar Photography)
The First Dance (reblogged from Mir Anwar Photography)
selfie with The Beautiful Bride
The Stunning Bride and I
The Last Selfie (enough with the selfies…already)
Of course my bro-in-law, the Incredible Mir Anwar, did a much better job photographing the beautiful evening. Be sure to visit his VSCO journal for a more creative experience!
Sancaklar Mosque
I’d like to take this opportunity to invite Amre Arolat Architects to build a mosque like the Sancaklar Mosque in Houston! This gorgeous 7,500+ square feet mosque was built in 2012 in Istanbul, Turkey.
The building was designed as a response to the Sancaklar family who wanted to build a mosque on a site overlooking the Buyukcekmece Lake. The design aimed at representing purest forms of light and matter, just as a primary inner world, free from all cultural burdens.
Enjoy photography by Thomas Mayer
reblogged from Souda
Medina
Al-Masjid an-Nabawi also called the Prophet’s Mosque is an absolute architectural marvel! In my travels to Europe, Middle East and Asia, I have not witnessed a structure as grand and beautiful as this! The minuscule details carved into stones and marbles throughout the mosque are breathtaking. The art speaks a thousand words. And only peace diffuses into the heart.
Photography is discouraged and in some places, strictly not allowed. Yet I couldn’t resist the urge to sneak out my iPhone to capture a few shots.
Unfortunately I barely covered the mosque indoors.
I didn’t want to be that tourist who has to walk the embarrassed path to security!
Colors of Jeddah
Malls are abundant. Fashion is…well…shocking!
On the streets, women are covered in black “abayas“, head to toe.
But fashion displayed on mannequins reveals an unexposed Saudi woman.
My experience roaming in the malls reminded me of the scene from Sex and the City 2 when a group of Arab women offer Samantha a place to hide from the angry, screaming men on the streets. Hidden behind their abayas was couture heaven!
Malls are indeed couture heaven!
However, what you see here are pictures from our visit to a souq which is a name for any open-air marketplace.
And here’s a selfie of me and my sister after a full day of shopping…(me on the left, my sister on the right)
Randomness continues in Jeddah
With only a few days in our schedule to venture out into the city and explore it’s “rawness”, I decided to click my camera as frequently as I could without a preordained thought. So I don’t miss any moment. Any memory.
These pictures were captured either roaming the city of Jeddah or en route to Makkah (Mecca) and Medina.
and last but certainly not the least, driving by, I caught a glimpse of Texas!!!!
Highlights from New York Fashion Week
Herve Leger by Max Azria
Originally founded in 1985, Hervé Léger was acquired by BCBGMAXAZRIAGROUP in 1998, marking the first time in fashion history that a French couturier was absorbed by an American designer. In early 2007 Max Azria relaunched the Hervé Léger label with his own designs, which were quickly embraced by today’s most renowned style-setters, including Kate Hudson, Diane Kruger, Beyoncé Knowles, Rihanna, Kate Bosworth, Kate Winslet, Rachel Weisz and Jennifer Lopez.
Venexiana
Launched in 2003 by designer Kati Stern, the collection is sold at Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and other leading retailers around the world.
Carmen Marc Valvo
Carmen grew up in Westchester County, New York. His father was an anesthesiologist and mother, a nurse. In the Valvo home, traditional children’s story and coloring books were supplemented with educational and anatomy related volumes in hopes their son would follow in the family footsteps. This is where Carmen first developed the formative knowledge of the female figure that would later help him to become such a successful and intuitive designer.
Quaintrelleoquist 