5 Comments// Posted in Hijab Styling by Nielfa Hanifa on 10.01.12.
So I haven’t blogged in ages, mostly because I really have nothing to say… and also because I’m preoccupied with shoes. Just kidding, I’ve been busy being a homeowner, which I’ve come to realise is a bigger responsibility than it seems.
Anyway, for a while I’ve been dabbling with the idea of blogging my personal styling while incorporating the headscarf and maintaining the hijab. I’ve been reluctant because, in my opinion, I look really stupid in photos and I don’t have a decent camera to make myself not look stupid. Until… A good friend, Makkia (contact her here) who’s a graphic design student and an aspiring photographer was willing to make some time and take a few snapshots of me while trying to be fashionable. The deal was, I give her some graphic designing tips and job shadowing time in return. Makkia really loves being behind the camera and with her graphic design background, would like make a career out of photography. Check some of her photos here.
So for my first fashion/styling post: I wore this outfit two weekends ago to a friends wedding reception and as the title eludes, I’m draped in purple.
This necklace and blazer are my current wardrobe favourites.
Nabbed these booties on sale, it was the last pair and luckily in my size.
Scarf: Gift from Saudi Arabia
Blazer: From my late Grandmother
Purple dress: Custom made
Necklace: Sass Diva
Ring: Lulu Belle
Shoes: Luella
5 Comments// Posted in About Me, Life by Nielfa Hanifa on 02.29.12.
The last couple of months have been busy (but who isn’t busy these days?) and I’ve been biding my time to share some news. One of the biggest being that Razeen and I purchased our first house! With the processes of signing our lives away over and done with, we’ve been waiting for a stash of keys so we could pack up our belongings accumulated over the last 5 years and make the trek to our new abode… about 15 minutes away.
We now finally know that we’ll be moving in on 1 April, no April fool’s joke (I hope)!
Then I have to confess, what has also been keeping me busy is my new obsession with something called Pinterest. I received my invite in the middle of all the excitement of house buying and it turns out to be the perfect space to archive (or pin) my ideas, wishlists and favourite things that I’d like to use to turn my new house into a beautiful home.
I’d like to document my decorating process as time (and finance) will allow, but most of all, I’m just really thrilled for all the space I’ll soon have and hope to invite you all into my home too.
3 Comments// Posted in Thoughts by Nielfa Hanifa on 08.19.11.
Razeen and I have been house hunting since returning from Hajj. It’s been long-winded, disappointing, but mostly a very frustrating endeavour… and we’re still at it.
To keep me hopeful and sane, I browse interior design and lifestyle blogs for inspiration on how to decorate my own home one day. Something that’s stuck on my dream board, is this open storage unit from a renovated kitchen I found while browsing Desire to Inspire.
I’m obsessed about tea sets, I gasp out in delight when I see beautiful teapots and antique cups and saucers. I’m definitely keeping this stunning cabinet as a concept to one day display my growing collection.
See more photos of the rest of this miraculous renovation over here.
Naturally, I went web surfing for all things tea related to fill up my unit one day.
1. Square Black and White Floral Tea Set, Divine Tea Sets | 2. Purple Satin Cup and Saucer, The Tea Pot Shoppe | 3. Eva Solo My Teapot and Eva Solo My Tea Thermo Cups, Yuppiechef | 4. Jasmine Tea for One , The Tea Pot Shoppe | 5. MacKenzie-Childs Blue and White Morning Glory Teapot, auntlettuce on Etsy | 6. Art Deco 1920s Japanese Jade & Gold Satsuma Sugar Bowl, Milk Jug and Teacup & Saucer, The Oxford Tea Party | 7. Samarah Teapot, Villeroy and Boch | 8. Samarah Turquoise Dinnerware, Villeroy and Boch
1 Comment// Posted in About Me, Thoughts by Nielfa Hanifa on 08.17.11.
I recently read an article in ELLE about getting older. This got me thinking about myself as I’m “growing up” and I thought I’d do a retrospective post and highlight the ages that were pivotal to me, shaping me into who I am now.
19 is the cusp of adulthood. For me it was the start of working/studying. My mum would refer to it as my “neither here, nor there” phase and it is a bit of an in between age; you’re ready to flap your wings and jump out of the nest but you haven’t quite learnt how to fly yet. I was naive then but I had a good idea of what I wanted and didn’t want. What I wasn’t prepared for was the bumpy road to get where I wanted to be. I was driven to someday work in publishing and to see my design work in print; so I tripped along trying to get into the industry. Having to deal with many a criticism and being turned down for jobs can be difficult, but this time of my life taught me to lick my wounds and to get over my feelings of dejection. The lesson learnt was: when failing to succeed, dust yourself off and try again.
On a social front, I used to be the typical “quiet girl in the corner of classroom” but being out in the world turned me into a rebelliously bubbly woman; and that’s when I decided that I don’t like dating. It’s not that I didn’t like meeting guys, I just didn’t like the whole pretentious fluff surrounding a meeting, under the guise of romance and supposedly getting to know one another, while all it actually is, is a very ambient interview. If I liked someone, I preferred being blunt and to the point… and that’s how I met and married my husband.
I introduced myself to him, we became good friends, we fell in-love and we married, all within my 23rd year. Marrying my soul-mate was the biggest highlight of being 23, but this age was also the beginning to a chapter of rediscovery for me. If I never met and married Razeen, I’d never have been introduced to people who impacted my life tremendously and were crucial in me reviving my love for the Almighty, the Prophet (PBUH) and my religion. I seriously don’t consider myself holier-than-thou but during the last 5 years of marriage, I’ve had experiences that inspire me and continuously motivate me to become a better Muslim and by striving to do so, also be the best person I can be in service to humankind. My husband and I have grown together, our relationship thrived and so my path led me to my greatest experience as a Muslim, Hajj.
I was 28 when I first saw the Kaa’ba, visited Madinah and stood on Arafat. I don’t think anyone can adequately describe the spiritual impact this pilgrimage has in any amount of words. The only thing I can describe fully, is the longing and heart-wrenching yearning to want to go back again.
As I’m inching toward 30 now, I can see that after time the physical aspect of age does show; my increasing grey hairs are testament to that. But I also know that that there is a deeper meaning to life.
I recently had a conversation with a 17 year old friend who shares a birthday with me. She was telling me how she’s changing and discovering things about herself. We ended up having a long conversation about growing up and of finding a sense of self. This made me realise, that even though I now have teenagers considering me their older confidant, what comforts me is that at no matter what age, this journey of self-discovery never ends.
No Comments// Posted in About Me, Random by Nielfa Hanifa on 08.15.11.
Hijab South Africa is a style blog from a 20 year old, cupcake loving girl’s point of view. The blog showcases everything from Eid ideas to online shopping resources.
She’s just started a feature called Muslimah Mondays and asked me to be the first featured. Click here to read it. I’m wearing one of my favourite dresses from A-list Boutique in Long Street that I bought for a wedding and will wear again for Eid ul-Fitr, Insha’Allah.
Hijab South Africa is still fairly new, but it’s a definite on my reader for it’s already great posts. My favourites are the fashion profiles, the most recent one being on Maysaa designer, Hana Tajima-Simpson.
Do check out her blog filled with more awesome styles and her beautifully wrapped hijab at StyleCovered.
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