TO THE OFFICE WITH COLOR

{necklace and ring~ maasai mkt, black and yellow checkered skirt~ local thrift store, bag~ mom's old thing, Victorian blazer~ ngara}

I have started my internship so that means I will be wearing a lot of official clothes. One thing I have vowed to myself is I will not get sucked into the dull boring black and grey suit wearing routine around the office. I will be all about color!!! Watch this space..

XoXo

StYl

Shopiah wedding dress

Week in Review: Princess Nikolaos, 23-29 January

Here's what Princess Nikolaos wore the week of 23-29 January:

1. At the opening of a London Tory Burch store, 25 January. Tory Burch store, it would follow that at least the jacket here is a Tory Burch design.

Well, look at that. You wear gray and black the right way, and I'm all for it. She looks chic!

Cute Lace Wedding Dresses

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Beautiful Strapless Wedding Dress from Chiffon

Beautiful Strapless Wedding Dress from Chiffon

Royal Fashion Awards: Monaco's Circus

The circus is in town! In Monte Carlo, to be exact. Quite an event, this International Circus Festival, and as usual it brought those crazy Monegasque royals out in droves. They're always good for discussion, so let's get down to business:

Best Couple

Pierre Casiraghi and Beatrice Borromeo

Snuggly and cute, these two. Demonstrating two correct scarf-sporting methods, I might add: for decoration without overwhelming your outfit as in the first picture (most astutely noted by reader Alpa who emailed me pics) and when you're required to wear them, as in the second picture.

Most Formal

Charlene Wittstock

Wearing the winter version of her summer engagement dress, Charlene here is a whole lot of done up for the circus, right? It was her birthday that day, I suppose we're all allowed to dress up to whatever version of the nines we please. Not that I would know what the appropriate dress code for a circus visit is anyways. Nothing's scarier than a clown, if you ask me.

Most Appropriate

Princess Alexandra

Now, see, this is what I expect at the circus. Complete with what looks to be a repeat of the mouse shoes from National Day.

Best Sport

Pauline Ducruet

How many teenage girls can you think of that would be willing to sport a ridiculous wig in public? In front of cameras, no less! Points to Ms. Ducruet for that alone. The rest is typical teen, right down to the skinny trousers, but she looks happy to support her mom. Hey, Albert gets points too:

Most At Home

Princess Stephanie

I'm just going to say it: she looks good. She looks comfortable and happy to be circus-ing it up (she's the president of the organization, I believe). Still clearly not in the couture realms of her sister, but for Stephanie, this'll do. Oh, except for the SHOOTIES on display in that last picture. That will never do.

Best Circus Outfit

Charlotte Casiraghi

Well, she didn't actually go to the circus, but you wear clown pants, this is what you get. She's at a Gucci party, she's wearing a Gucci outfit. The same thing was worn by Jennifer Lopez. Not a lot of crossover there, royalty and J.Lo., usually. (Preferably.) This is kind of steezy though; you know, she's working the whole "I just woke up and threw on this old designer rag, and I could care less what you think" look. Which is sort of her thing, I guess.

So, what do you think: is Charlotte working it? Is Charlene overdressed? Do clowns scare you too?

Photos: Zimbio

The Column Wedding Dress for 2011 Trend

The Column Wedding Dress for 2011 Trend

Nicole Miller Wedding Dress

[Link]

Week in Review: Crown Princess Mette-Marit, 16-22 January

Here's what Crown Princess Mette-Marit wore the week of 16-22 January:

1. a, b, and c) New pictures released from the family's travels for Ingrid Alexandra's 7th birthday, 21 January. Good traveling outfits, nothing much to see here.
2. a, b, c, d) New official photographs released, 22 January; e) the Valentino gown on the runway.

A week of photographs that aren't actually from this week, but we'll go with it since it's been a while since we've seen Mette-Marit. No new gowns on display for the official pictures, but it is nice to see these repeats in a posed manner - all the better for the details.

And hey, look what's back:

Quite the selection, there, Queen Sonja. Now we know the layers are alternating pleats, lace AND ruffles. The full trifecta for this ruffled wonder.


Photos: Norwegian Royal Court

Romantic Wedding with White Lace Wedding Dress

Romantic Wedding with White Lace Wedding Dress

Flashback Friday: Royal Wardrobe Malfunctions and Mishaps

I'd like to apologize in advance for the content of this post. Máxima made me do it. Let me tell you something: once you start looking at wardrobe mishaps and malfunctions, you can't stop. It's the train wreck that keeps on giving. Allow me to demonstrate:

Apart from flashbulb peril, Máxima seems to be prone to earring problems. (Goes with the territory when you wear giant rocks as jewelry, I suppose.) Noticing you lost an earring (left) is not nearly as embarrassing as not noticing (right).

Left to Right: Crown Princess Mary, Sara Buys (now Sara Parker-Bowles, daughter-in-law of Camilla) at Charles and Camilla's wedding, an engaged Lady Diana Spencer, Princess Michael of Kent

The unplanned problems are the saddest, really. Even the best laid outfit plans can go astray. Poor Máxima's not alone, Mary's also had some issues with camera flashes and visible undergarments. And who looks at the back of their skirt in a bus-climbing pose before purchase? Another failure to consider camera angles resulted in one of the most famous royal wardrobe malfunctions of all time from poor Diana. At least she didn't do it intentionally...ahem, Princess Michael.

Princess Eugenie's among the ones I just expect to have some embarrassing moments, what with all those perilously short skirts. She's not the only one to have let the wind get the best of her, though:

L to R: Queen Elizabeth, Queen Paola, the Duchess of Cornwall, Princess Letizia, the Princess of Wales, Princess Madeleine

Oh, wind. How dare you mess with the royal composure. You have to give credit to these ladies for rolling on like nothing happened after such unfortunate incidents - some worse than others. (If you recall Letizia's windy moment, you know that I am posting the most delicate photograph I could find. Poor girl.) I had a Marilyn Monroe moment once myself, on a street in London. It still pains me to think of it.

Extra composure points are awarded for those that have to deal with the wind on the worst possible days. Poor Marie. I'd make a face so much worse than that if nature decided to have its way with my wedding dress. Oh, we'd have words, Nature and I.

Some royals are more prone to mishaps than others, it seems. Mary's lost her hat on more than one occasion (at Parliament before her wedding, and not so long ago in Vietnam). Lucky for her dashing soldiers always seem to be around to do the hat fetching. Recently, she lost her shoe while in Washington, D.C, proving why a princess shouldn't leave the house without a pedicure. Just in case.

Here's my question: is Sarah Ferguson truly more prone to wardrobe malfunctions, or do people just take extra delight in her mistakes?

I know, Sarah. I'm not helping. But I take a stance like Boyfriend Dave there does: what good does a sour face do us? Just have a laugh and move on.

Finally, my investigation into the phenomenon of  the royal wardrobe malfunction turned up a few particularly disturbing incidences. What do you call it when a mishap is planned, and prepared for, and...intentional?

L to R: Princess Mabel, Princess Kalina of Bulgaria, Princess Caroline

Lest anyone be tempted to make excuses for these ladies, let me clarify: this is Mabel attending the King of Norway's birthday celebrations, Kalina attending the silver wedding anniversary in Luxembourg, and Caroline at the Rose Ball. Not a costumed function in sight.

Listen: if I have to be scarred for life, so do you. We're in this together, friends.

Lace Wedding Dress with A - line and Cathedral Train

Lace Wedding Dress with A - line and Cathedral Train

Week in Review: Princess Beatrice, 16-22 January

Here's what Princess Beatrice wore the week of 16-22 January:

1. Leaving Annabel's nightclub, 22 January. Not too shabby - I like this purple Luella jacket better over the black dress than I did when she wore it over a purple dress. That's a bright purple, it needs to stand on its own. And Boyfriend Dave there's looking quite suave, no?

 Photos: Purepeople/Angeli

Bridal Hair

[link]

Islamic birth Rites...

Alhamdulillah i have reached 30 weeks...inshaAllah 10 more weeks to go....

Now besides sibuk kemas2 bilik, now me and habib are looking into islamic birth rights takut tertinggal anything.

ok the first thing we should do is

1) Azan (Adhan)


Reciting the Azan to our baby's right ear.The words of Azan can halau the syaitan as mentioned below

Narrated Abu Huraira: Rasulullah SAW said, "When the adhan is pronounced Satan takes to his heels and passes wind with noise during his flight in order not to hear the adhan... [hadith Bukhari book 11 hadith 582]


This amalan mmg we all buat dari dulu lagi kan, actually untuk give indication that inshaAllah all parents will bring up the anak mengikut the guidance of Islam, correct? but sadly ramai sangat yang buat amalan ni for the baby, but solat sendiri tak terjaga. solat anak bila baligh pun tak jaga. InshaAllah May all of us, strengthen our Tauhid to become parents yang beriman, and didik anak2 yang soleh. Ameen.


2) Tahnik


Tahnik is a process of chewing something sweet ( selalunya tamar/dates) and gently rubbing it agianst the baby's upper jaw or palate so that the baby can suck it. The baby's first taste should be something sweet, so parents may chew a piece of date and rub the juice along the baby's gums. It was a practice carried out by the Prophet Muhammad SAW and is believed to help tiny digestive systems to kick in.


Narrated Anas bin Malik took 'Abdullah bin Abu Talha to Rasulullah SAW to perform tahnik for him. (tahnik was a custom among the Muslims that whenever a child was born they used to take it to the Prophet who would chew a piece of date and put a part of its juice in the child's mouth). I saw the Prophet and he had an instrument for branding in his hands and was branding the camels of Zakat. [Hadith Bukhari Book 24, Hadith 578]


Narrated 'Aisha: A boy was brought to the Prophet to do tahnik for him, but the boy urinated on him, whereupon the Prophet had water poured on the place of urine.  [Hadith Bukhari Book 66, Hadith 377]


3) Aqiqah 


Our misconception is that the aqiqah is a party organise by family of the newborn after the meat is cook. but in actual fact Aqiqah is the sacrifice that is made when the child is born. Sacrifice yang dimaksudkan is sembelih of the animal (2 sheep for baby boy, 1 sheep for baby girl, but Rasulullah SAW sacrifice 1 sheep each during the aqiqah of Hassan and Hussien his grandsons) also shave the babies head and naming the child (please refer to hadith below) . 


Narrated Samurah ibn Jundub: Rasulullah SAW) said: A boy is in pledge for his aqiqah, Sacrifice is made for him on the seventh day, his head is shaved and he is given name.  ( Sunan Abu dawud Book 15, Hadith 2832)


The Aqiqah is a right (upon you). Sacrifice two compatible sheep for a boy and one for a girl. [Hadith Ahmad]


The actual sacrifice should best be taken place on the baby 7th day. If the aqiqah does not take place on the 7th day, it may still be sacrificed on the 14th or 21st day. Often during Aqiqah, families have a get together when the meat is eaten. The meat should be contributed to friends, family and golongan miskin.


Buraydah RAA reported that Rasulullah SAW said: The aqiqah should be slaughtered on the 7th day. 14th day or 21st day [Hadith Tabarani]


Narrated Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-'As: The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) was asked about the aqiqah. He replied: Allah does not like the breaking of ties (uquq), as though he disliked the name. And he said: If anyone has a child born to him and wishes to offer a sacrifice on its behalf, he may offer two resembling sheep for a boy and one for a girl. [Sunan Abu Dawud Book 15, Hadith 2836]


4) Naming the newborn


A few Hadith has indicate that naming the child should be done on the 7th day, but don't worry ada juga hadith indicated that Rasulullah SAW named some newborns before the 7th day (example hadith below).


Narrated Abu Musa: I got a son and I took him to the Prophet SAW who named him ibrahim, and put in his mouth the juice of a date fruit (which be himself had chewed?, and invoked for Allah's blessing upon him, and then gave him back to me. He was the eldest son of Abii Musa.  (Hadith Bukhari Book 73, Hadith 218)


i did a seperate entry on naming the child please visit here




5) Shaving the head


After shaving the newborn's head clean on the 7th day as well, Sedeqah is to be given which is equal to the value to the weight of the hair in silver.


Rasulullah SAW commanded his daughter Fatimah RAA to do it for the children " O Fatimah, shave his head and give charity equal to his hairs weight is silver [ Hadith Ahmad]


Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar: The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) saw a boy with part of his head shaved and part left unshaven. He forbade them to do that, saying: shave it all or leave it all.  (Sunan Abu Dawud Book #33, Hadith#4183)


Ibn Umar reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbade Qaza. I said to Nafi: What is Qaza'? He said: This means having a part of a boy's head shaved and leaving a part unshaven.  (Hadith Muslim Book 024, Hadith 5289)


6) Khitan - Circumcision


Removal of the foreskin (for boys before he reaches puberty and sunat for girls)


It is preferable to be done while the child is newborn as Rasulullah SAW performed circumcision for his grandsons Hasan and Hussien on the 7th day [Bayhaqi]. However it can be done anytime before the child reaches puberty


Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, "Five practices are characteristics of the Fitra: circumcision, shaving the pubic region, clipping the nails and cutting the moustaches short."  [Hadith Bukhari Book 72, Hadith 777, Hadith Muslim]


Narrated Umm Atiyyah al-Ansariyyah: A woman used to perform circumcision in Medina. The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said to her: Do not cut severely as that is better for a woman and more desirable for a husband.  [Sunan Abu dawud Book 41, Hadith 5251]

Week in Review: Princess Máxima, 16-22 January

Here's what Princess Máxima wore the week of 9-15 January:

1. Attending the Spots on Jobs fair, 19 January.

Oh, wow. I am so confused. Shockingly pink shirt with gray everything else. Except the accessories...

A brown purse? Sparkly pink disco earrings? And two tone shoes? So confused. Somebody needs to explain this to me.


Photos: Dutch Photo Press/PPE/vdWerf

A Line Wedding Dress

[link]

BLACK AND WHITE

Today I just feel like a little girl without want of color. Black and white stripped vest, black bubble skirt black ankle boots and I'm off. 

XoXo,

StYl.

Camo Wedding Dress

[link]

Simply beautiful- Why women cry

Why Women Cry... 

A little boy asked his mother, "Why are you crying?" 

"Because I'm a woman," she told him. 

"I don't understand," he said.

His Mom just hugged him and said,

"And you never will."

Later the little boy asked his father, "Why does mother seem to cry for no reason?"

"All women cry for no reason," was all his dad could say.

The little boy grew up and became a man, still wondering why women cry.

Finally he met an old man who would surely know the answer.

And he asked him: "Old man, why do women cry so easily?"

Old man sad: "When woman was created, she had to be made special. Allah created her shoulders strong enough to carry the weight of the world, yet gentle enough to give comfort. 


She was given an inner strength to endure childbirth and the rejection that many times comes from her children. 


And a hardness that allows her to keep going when everyone else gives up, and take care of her family through sickness and fatigue without complaining.

Allah gave her the sensitivity to love her children under any and all circumstances, even when her child has hurt her very badly. 

She was given strength to carry her husband through his faults and she was fashioned from his rib to protect
his heart.

Allah gave her wisdom to know that a good husband never hurts his wife, but sometimes tests her strengths and her resolve to stand beside him unfalteringly.

And lastly, Allah gave her a tear to shed. This is hers and only hers exclusively to use whenever she needs it.

She needs no reason, no explanation, its hers."

"You see my son," said old man, "the beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair.

The beauty of a woman must be seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to

her heart - the place where love resides."

Week in Review: Crown Princess Victoria, 16-22 January

Here's what Crown Princess Victoria wore the week of 16-22 January:

1.  Day 1 of her official visit to the UAE, 17 January. This is the outfit that prompted the royal court to issue a pregnancy denial (for whatever that's worth).  If you didn't want to encourage pregnancy talk, why would you wear your top like that? She knows people are watching, right? Hmm.
2. A reception on Day 1, 17 January. Love this jacket, and this is an interesting contrast to the bump-friendly day outfit.
3. Day 2, 18 January. This is clean and simple. I'll buy it.
4. Day 3, first outfit, 19 January. Well, this looks familiar. Day 2 is my preference; without the fresh white color these kind of suits can age a girl.
5. Day 3, second outfit, 19 January. Simple and casual for a visit to a national park.
6. Day 3, third outfit, 19 January. Love it!
7. a) Day 4, 20 January, and b) the coat from Armani. Fantastic coat, odd shoe pairing. Elegant jacquard and...reptile? 

Best and Worst of the Week

 I just love outfit #6! Great contrast between the cardigan, the texture of the skirt, and the shine of the shirt. Not a bad week, but this one shines the most for me. Outfit #1 also has some good contrast going on, but it's my worst of the week because of the Bump Factor. Don't get me wrong, I'm hoping the palace will have an announcement for us soon, I just don't see a bump elsewhere this week and wouldn't go stirring up speculation if I didn't need to. But that's just me. Where do you stand on the bump speculation situation?

On another note, check out the total lack of color this week! I think she looks good, but I'm getting a little worried about all these princesses and their neutrals. 2011 better get more colorful, and quick!

Photos: ANP/PPE/Svenskdam

Traditional Big Fat Gypsy Wedding Dress

Traditional Big Fat Gypsy Wedding Dress

Plus Size Bridesmaid Dress

[link]

Week in Review: Princess Mathilde, 16-22 January

Here's what Princess Mathilde wore the week of 16-22 January:

1. Attending the GSK Biologicals Awards, 17 January, a) with coat and b) without. Boring gray, but well fit.
2. Annual Diplomatic New Year's Reception, 18 January, a) full view and b) close up. Interesting jacket: sort of faux bois or zebra-esque in pattern.
3. Reception for NATO representatives, 20 January. Color! Yay!
4. Opening the Brussels Antiques & Fine Arts Fair, 20 January. Oh, those NATAN boots. Too high, and too pink.

Best and Worst of the Week

Gotta go with #3 for the best, hands down. Such a lovely color of pink - it really lights up Mathilde's face. And the dress is a great fit for her. Outfit #4 is also a great fit, and I when I first saw it I loved it. But I only loved it until I saw the boots, and now it's my worst of the week. How about you?


Photos: Isopix/Belga/hln.be

Big Gypsy Wedding Dress

Big Gypsy Wedding Dress