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

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 was in a colorful mood the other day and thought I'd try something a little different. The dress I'm wearing here is a vintage '80s inspired piece from our collection coming out soon. It has antique Kashmiri embroidery in pink, gold and silver along the front collar. I just love these touches of color, they make a piece truly unique! On top, I added a tie-dye scarf (another one from our collection) to bring even more brightness to the outfit. And I finished off the look with gold accents (shoes, jewelry, watch) to really add that '80s factor.


Dress: Haute Heritage | Earrings: Kenneth Jay Lane | Purse: Bimba y Lola | Shoes: Zara | Watch: Michael Kors | Assorted bracelets | Scarf: Haute Heritage

One of my favorite style inspirations for my clothing line is folk-chic: that is, adapting traditional folk details into a modern, chic look. Traditional Afghan women's dresses provide a great palette from which you can achieve this style. These dresses typically have gorgeous, colorful embroidery, a great mix of patterns, and full, bell-sleeves with good definition in the waist. 
Afghan woman wearing traditional dress

At first glance, it may not look like there's much you can do with such a traditional dress. But there's always fashion inspiration for anyone looking beyond the surface. :)  I was shopping in Karachi one day when I came across a festival celebrating the culture and heritage of Pakistan's Northern Areas. There, I saw this multi-colored embroidered folk dress and it was love at first sight! I loved the colors and pattern and knew it would make a great addition to my wardrobe. It might not look very practical or even wearable, but I tempered down the overly-ethnic aspects with a neutral bag and shoes. Finally, I topped off the look with a cream suit jacket to add some extra polish. And voila! You have an ensemble perfect even for a day at the office!




Shoes from Zara
Bag from Coach
Watch by Michael Kors
Jacket from J.Crew
Jewelry vintage

Hi everyone!

Today I decided to go for a mix of bold patterns - but I stuck with similar silk textures to maintain cohesiveness in the outfit. Here, I'm wearing the embellished color block print jacket from my collection with a black-and-white dotted satin shell and wide-leg pants from Banana Republic. I paired the outfit with a neutral envelope clutch and heels to balance the bold color and patterns:

Today I felt inspired to pair this South-Asian embellished pink maxi from my collection with a grey knit blazer from Zara for a dressed-down effect. With some gold accessories like chunky bangles, flats and a clutch to finish the look, the result was a surprisingly wearable ensemble ready to wear anywhere!

My parents are Pakistani-born while I was born and raised in good ol' Wisconsin, USA.

With my parents' rich cultural heritage (like most other kids whose parents were first generation Americans), my siblings and I were often made to go to Pakistani parties and dress up in Pakistani clothes that my mom or grandma brought back with them from their trips abroad.

I liked some parts of the clothing, mostly the bright colors and sparkly beads. But I always remember thinking to myself, "I don't look like Jasmine from Aladdin, do I?" (Considering that my mom was able to take the same outfit and dress me up as Jasmine for Halloween one year, this fear wasn't too far-fetched). The clothes were always different from the party dresses I saw everyone else wearing on TV or at the mall. And not to mention more complicated - I always had the pants, the long shirt, and the long scarf to keep together - that's too much for an 11-year old to worry about! I wanted to fight with the boys and run after them outside!

Alas, I got older and stopped running after boys. But there are still Pakistani parties to go to, and with them, Pakistani clothes to wear. As I've grown older, I've realized that if I'm going to wear Pakistani clothes, I want to wear ones that represent my own style: something that will be a perfect blend of both my cultural heritages and that I can mix and match with my own accessories.

Here is a Pakistani dress from Haute Heritage that I'm wearing traditionally and then dressed down a bit. I want Pakistani clothes that I can wear to more than just one event.

What about you?