Acacia Label: modest, elegant, quality gowns. Win.

Acacia Label most probably hates my procrastinating ways and have most likely lost all faith in humanity because of me. I meant to do a review for them in Spring and look where we are now. Hey, at least it has not snowed yet, right?

The Australian-based company (and I think Oman, too?)  has greatly expanded since I bought a dress from them, and their collection is even more beautiful. I have never been a very big fan of south Asian clothing (I don't understand the whole matching pants, both in material and pattern coupled with an awkward length dress concept), but long, sophisticated, ethnic gowns are right up my alley. The dress I bought is not even on the site anymore. It does not matter because I customized it so much that it was no longer relevant, regardless. The point is is that the quality of the dress is immaculate. The company takes your exact measurement of every part of your body into consideration and customizes your dress. They are very detail-oriented and make the dress look and feel like time was their closest companion.

I will be getting another dress from them soon, the "Cosmo Black" dress externalizes my romanticizing of the color black.

These dresses are very affordable and fair. They change colors, materials, lengths and are open to really anything to ask of them. The staff use your name and are very personable.

I wish I could model this dress for you guys, but it looks too good on me. Ironic modesty?

Pure chiffon scarf

Mint green paneling

Sleeves

 Hem of dress

Length of dress

Full length

Craftsmanship

Sleeves

Sleeves

Good quality custom gowns with a cheap flat rate shipping, ya'll, that's rare to find. www.acacialabel.com

-A

hijabi's fall: coats!

Yesterday morning, I ran outside to go to work at the crack of dawn and my heart audibly broke from the frozen slap I received. Yay. Now, I am snuggled in bed trying not to fall in love with/buy any more coats. If you have not bought a winter coat yet, may I live vicariously through you, s'il te plait et merci.

Here are a few coats I like. For some reason, Zara online does not show their complete collection. I died in one of their stores in DC, but many of the coats I languished after are not on the site.

As you all probably know, it's all about the masculine coat this winter. I normally dislike checkered or plaid, but this works for me.

I tried on this Zara coat but ended up not buying it because I prefer longer coats and I was looking for a coat with a looser silhouette (the coat is too structured for my liking). It was a hard decision because it is camel-colored and has a high composition of wool in it. You all know my fascination with wool/quality materials, right?

I've liked this Zara coat for awhile because it has everything I normally dislike in a coat. It has a belt AND a hood. However, when I tried it on in the store, I liked the carefree chic silhouette. I would contrast the casualness of the coat with leather pants and some heeled booties. I still would rather buy it on sale, though.

ASOS has a large selection of coats, but not many that I really like. This is one of the coats I do like. I love the patch pockets and the flowy, oversize cut. 

No one should spend $500 on a coat, but someone should, at least, kindly steal me this. DAY birger et Mikkelsen

(...and the less cute version)

Contrast Yoke Bouclé Coat by Kenneth Cole New York for $89

-A

beauty of shade

flat white & dusty pink

Autumn has arrived. It is getting cold, and it is just not my probable anemic state. The only gleam of light in this seasonal situation (besides it being a gift from God, thanks God, for real, I'm sure there is a very wise point to colder months) is that it results in a few coats, boots, and some semi-closed heels here and there. I have a few coats that I will share here this season. The one I have been wearing the most so far is the "Lofty" wool coat by Tildon. I love the oversized look, whether it be in the shape of the swinger style, cocoon, or A-line. I prefer collarless, though giant masculine collars are everywhere right now. As far as colors go, dusty pink and camel are my favorite colors in coats. Camel is fiendishly popular on runway, but I am finding it slow to appear in the average American store, especially at reasonable prices.

Coat: "Lofty" by Tildon

Heels: "Karlie" by Michael Kors in genuine leather (sold out)

Suede version here (personally, not a fan of suede)

Dusty pink leather version here

Wiser alternative here, here, and here

Lipstick: Dior Addict 545, it is a lovely, sheer, and feminine orange (discovered it two years ago in the department stores of London, that shade still has not made its way to the USA yet...but you can hunt it down online)

On our way to NYC, my gas ran out in the middle of nowhere. It sucks to be a procrastinator sometimes.

A delicious Flat White from Culture Espresso Bar, midtown NYC. (so smooth, even my little sisters LOVED it)

 Downtown B-more 

(Checkout Dooby's Coffee shop's new location on N. Charles street...GREAT cappuccinos, I know I seem to say that a lot, but really, very good)

And last but not least, this past weekend Sheerin and I met up in DC with a couple of other girls. I packed light because I am lazy, but I did not forget to throw these heels in the bag. These are called  Majisty by Steve Madden and come in different colors (I love it in "Blush Leather"). I switched into these in the evening, but a passerby was sure to inform me to wear sneakers to save my feet. Ma'am, I wear sneakers 43 hours of the week at work, so I do think I will take any opportunity to not wear them in any other setting ever in my life, thank you.

We of course stopped at Baked & Wired in Georgetown. They have really very spectacular cupcakes. There is always a line lately, for good reason.



Here are Sheerin's weekend outfits:

Denim on denim, love.

Watch: Tangerine boutique in Adams Morgan neighborhood, DC

It is FotoWeek in DC. We stopped at FotoNoma for the opening.


We finished the weekend with Sunday morning brunch. We ended up randomly selecting the absolute cutest French restaurant, Petits Plats. Two of the waiters were French and the other two were randomly Spanish-speaking (charming nonetheless). To be honest, we are highly uneducated in the beautiful French language, despite me having visited France and being somewhat preoccupied with the desire to marry one (I'm sorry, but who can resist a man with impeccable shoes and facial hair?). Our waiter had such a heavy accent on his English that it almost seemed fake, however, upon further examination we found that it was, in fact, not an act. Well, personally, I cannot deny that my accent is always genuine at any given point, but hey.


Mmm, poached eggs with smoked salmon.

Leather pants: H&M (love these because they are paneled and not entirely leather)

Sweater (pure wool): vintage

Thanks for visiting :)

Peace,

-A