I can't wait to break out the fall wardrobe and accessories! What are your favorite fall pieces that you're looking forward to wearing again?

I am loving that the 90s are coming back in style! That was my jam.

Hi guys!

As promised, here's the first post in the #EthnicEverywear series, where you guys send in pics of how you style your own ethnic pieces for everyday!

Here's broadcast journalist Niala, wearing these awesome embroidered cuff pants with an embroidered belt that she's tied around her waist over a white collared shirt.
(On an added sidenote, check out the gorgeous ethnic textiles in her room!)

What do you guys think of her look?

Remember, you can send in your pics to me here: sanaa.ansari.khan AT gmail.com, or tag on Instagram with #EthnicEverywear, and I'll post them here on the blog!

#EthnicEverywear

It's Wednesday, which means it's time for some style inspiration to get you through the rest of your week :)

This time, in honor of New York Fashion Week that's going on right now, I'm sharing some of my favorite streetstyle shots. Because what's Fashion Week without the creative dressing that's going on outside the shows?

If you like the inspiration you see here, you can check out my Pinterest page here, and follow for more posts. 

xoxo

If you've been following this blog, you know I try to find beautiful ethnic pieces and incorporate them into an everyday look for a unique style. You can check out more posts in this series here!

I think the reason I'm drawn to ethnic pieces is because they're so bold and colorful. I love that hand embroidery and embellishment have been practiced for hundreds of years. It amazes me that indigenous embroideries throughout the world - whether in South Asia, Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia, or South America - all have styles in common, without the communities having any actual contact with each other. It reminds you how small this world really is, and how we are all so much more alike than we sometimes think.

Mixing and matching these pieces into an  everyday look is also a small way of celebrating my own ethnic heritage. I came across the front embroidery for this top when visiting the Middle East a few years ago. It was sourced from the northern areas of Pakistan, and I made it into a shirt for Haute Heritage. Here, I paired it with denim shorts and bold red chunky tie-up heels for an added pop of color.

I know some of you have started mixing your own ethnic pieces into your everyday looks too. Please share them with us! (You can post them on The Style Matrix Facebook page here) or share them on Instagram with #EthnicEverywear! I will start sharing all your looks on the blog here, so keep posting and check back often!

Let me know what you think of this look, and if you would like to see anything in particular featured on the blog here. I'm interested in hearing your thoughts and having a conversation about how to wear beautiful ethnic pieces! #EthnicEverywear

xoxo

I wanted to share with you these beautiful photos of a custom bridesmaid order we worked on this summer for Haute Heritage. The wedding was a fusion affair, blending the bride's Indian heritage and Western culture. You can check out the pics of the gorgeous wedding here!

So many times, we have an event like a wedding come up, and have no idea what to wear. Add to that a "fusion" element, where different cultures are represented, and that can just lead to utter confusion. 

I designed the maid-of-honor dress in a fusion style to complement the bride's burgundy-red gown with sage-green and gold and pearl embellishments.




The bride wanted the dresses for each of the girls in her procession to represent their individual personalities. The maid-of-honor wanted a boho-chic vibe, complete with braided crown and dangly earrings. I selected sage green for her to complement her green eyes, and a long, flowy cut for the boho vibe. We finished the piece with a gorgeous gold and pearl embellished neckline and waist.

It's Wednesday! So that means it's time for some style inspiration. If you're new to the blog, you'll find that every Wednesday, I like to share work from some of my favorite designers or artists, who have inspired my own style and aesthetic. 

Stella Jean is an Italian-Haitian designer who blends her cultural heritages phenomenally. Her design aesthetic has been described by Vogue as a "multicultural, eccentric mix-and-match." She tries to travel to a different place each season, and then reflects that local culture on the runway. In her Spring 2015 collection, she went to Haiti.

My favorite looks from this collection were the ones that paired sports jersey t's with bold African print skirts. I think it's a style that will come to be identified with the mid 2010s, so it will probably end up dating itself. Still, the juxtaposition of masculine and feminine in bold, bright colors leaves a memorable look that's fun and funky at the same time.

Happy Labor Day everyone! Because of course it's "no white after labor day", let's try a white outfit as a last hurrah for this summer (though I will probably wear white until it gets chilly out) :)

I wanted to share with you these gorgeous photos of the bridal I worked on for Haute Heritage this summer.


Ameera is not your typical Desi (i.e. South Asian) bride. Having lived in New York for almost 10 years, she wanted her wedding to represent both her Indian cultural heritage as well as her American/New York style. She wore a traditional white dress for her civil ceremony, and wanted an East-meets-West dress for the evening reception. So she approached me to design her evening dress.

Sketch of the dress before going to production

Ameera was a great bride to work with. She's fun and she likes taking risks, which was evident throughout her wedding style. My favorite part was hearing how happy she was with the dress, and how she felt so beautiful.

We also created her maid-of-honor's dress - stay tuned for photos of that piece, coming soon.

Congratulations Ameera!

It's Wednesday! That means it's time for some boho chic inspo.

Chanel's Paris-Bombay Collection Pre-Fall 2012, featuring some gorgeous high-fashion boho chic:

Summer's almost over, so wear your whites now! Last weekend we did the best outdoor thing you can do when it's so hot: go swimming!

But before that, we strolled around Old Town Alexandria. Here I'm wearing a simple blue off-the-shoulder top with white jeans. I wanted a pop of color, so I added some red tie-on chunky heels, and added a colorful ethnic-embroidered clutch I bought when we were in South Asia a few years back. You know how I love mixing chic ethnic-inspired pieces with everyday clothes!

What do you think - do you like the ethnic touch, or would you prefer to see a different style for an unexpected pop of color? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below - I'd love to hear your ideas!