Photos taken at the Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul, South Korea
Hi everyone!
Hubby and I are in Seoul, South Korea right now - Annyong ha seyo! (Hello!) It has been quite an adventure - most things are not in English (like store signs and restaurant menus), but you figure out a way to get around! Here are some pictures of us navigating the subway and exploring Bukchon Hanok Village, the oldest existing village in modern Seoul.
The houses here are about 600 years old and represent the cultural influences of the Joseon Dynasty. I just loved the tiny alleyways and traditional architecture.
Hubby and I are in Seoul, South Korea right now - Annyong ha seyo! (Hello!) It has been quite an adventure - most things are not in English (like store signs and restaurant menus), but you figure out a way to get around! Here are some pictures of us navigating the subway and exploring Bukchon Hanok Village, the oldest existing village in modern Seoul.
The houses here are about 600 years old and represent the cultural influences of the Joseon Dynasty. I just loved the tiny alleyways and traditional architecture.
As part of a continuing series on scarf style here in Karachi, I bring you another look created with one of my favorite vintage scarves. Paired with a simple green tee and black culottes, this leopard-print chiffon scarf is what takes this look a notch up. I added some red nail polish to evoke the classically fierce image of animal print with fire engine red, and topped it all off with a citron clutch for an unexpected pop of color.
My grandmother has this gorgeous French sofa that she's had since forever. It's beautifully carved from mohogany wood and has these perfect little feet! I've always loved it, and it always inspires me in an uber glam way. I decided I'd use it for a shoot and share it with you all. Here I went for a glam vintage '70s feel with a gold headband, a black empire-waisted maxi dress and a faux-fur vest. I'm wearing my favorite jewelry, these vintage gold earrings made in a traditional Bengal fashion that a generational family friend handed down to me on my wedding. They are truly one of a kind and I love them! To complete the look, I kept my nails short and violet, and offset them with scarlet red lips.
Dress from H&M; vest from Zara
Dress from H&M; vest from Zara
My husband and I recently had the wonderful opportunity to visit his hometown of Bangkok, Thailand. After spending a few GORGEOUS days in the south in Phuket (which has the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen!), we hopped on a short flight to the country's capital. There, we explored some of the world's most famous Buddhist temples (known as Wat in Thai), including the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) and the Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Wat Pho) - which boasts a Buddha statue 50 feet high and 143 feet long!
Image from Wat Pho
Images from Wat Phra Kaew
Thai architecture is very distinct. Roofs of traditional buildings typically have multiple tiers and have curved, pointed corners to evoke the images of serpents and birds common in Hindu iconography.
The gold in the temples is just dazzling and is offset by boldly colored mosaics for a kaleidoscopic effect.
Remember, inspiration can come from anywhere! Seeing the majesty of gold in the temples reminds one what a luxuriously powerful color it is. And the supporting mosaics were appropriately made up of basic primary colors red, blue and green for a harmonious result.
Image from Wat Pho
Images from Wat Phra Kaew
Remember, inspiration can come from anywhere! Seeing the majesty of gold in the temples reminds one what a luxuriously powerful color it is. And the supporting mosaics were appropriately made up of basic primary colors red, blue and green for a harmonious result.
Hello lovelies! Another day, another outfit :) This time around I took a vintage yellow, blue and turquoise tie-dyed silk scarf and paired it with a citron top and full orange skirt for color, color, color all around!
Hope you're all having a wonderful day! xx
Hope you're all having a wonderful day! xx
In Karachi, one can't really leave the house without a scarf of some sort. So women here typically carry scarves called dupattas with all their outfits. But don't be fooled - despite being a required clothing staple, this scarf doesn't cramp anyone's style. There is a myriad possibilities in scarves here: silk, chiffon, fringed, laced, embroidered and embellished - you name it, it's been done. And each scarf adds a distinct look to an outfit. As I've noted in blog posts before, the opportunity to create custom pieces here by choosing the dyes and color combinations is a sheer delight. So with all the possibilities available, finding a stylish scarf hasn't been much of a problem :)
So here I am, adding a scarf with every outfit before I head out. Here I pair a vintage tie-dyed blue, yellow and purple silk scarf with some simple black leggings and a coral tank I got off a street vendor in Bangkok. (Watch by Michael Kors, shoes from Charles & Keith.) I am super-tan right now, so I added some hot pink lipstick and matching nail polish to complement the tan and bring out some pink tones.
So here I am, adding a scarf with every outfit before I head out. Here I pair a vintage tie-dyed blue, yellow and purple silk scarf with some simple black leggings and a coral tank I got off a street vendor in Bangkok. (Watch by Michael Kors, shoes from Charles & Keith.) I am super-tan right now, so I added some hot pink lipstick and matching nail polish to complement the tan and bring out some pink tones.
Today we made a trip out to the famous Sunday bazaar in Karachi. Here, you can find anything from organic veggies to recycled jeans from the '90s - and if you're lucky - some coveted vintage traditional Afghan jewelry (for which I am currently searching high and low! No luck yet though :()
Check out these shots of a stall in the bazaar carrying some colorful folk textiles. Each piece comes from and represents a different province in Pakistan - Balochistan, Punjab, Sindh and Pakhtunkhwa. One familiar with Pakistan's rich textile history can easily identify which comes from where by the different types of embroideries and colors used.
All the bright colors spark so much vivid inspiration!
You can always pair a traditional folk piece with something clean and simple to create a unique look. The unexpected burst of color will be more than welcome. I found a gorgeous hot pink and turquoise embroidered bag at the floating market in Thailand, and paired it with a simple black shirt dress from H&M for a playful touch.
A little ethnic flair can always brighten up something that would otherwise be bland and predictable. And who doesn't love that!
Check out these shots of a stall in the bazaar carrying some colorful folk textiles. Each piece comes from and represents a different province in Pakistan - Balochistan, Punjab, Sindh and Pakhtunkhwa. One familiar with Pakistan's rich textile history can easily identify which comes from where by the different types of embroideries and colors used.
All the bright colors spark so much vivid inspiration!
You can always pair a traditional folk piece with something clean and simple to create a unique look. The unexpected burst of color will be more than welcome. I found a gorgeous hot pink and turquoise embroidered bag at the floating market in Thailand, and paired it with a simple black shirt dress from H&M for a playful touch.
A little ethnic flair can always brighten up something that would otherwise be bland and predictable. And who doesn't love that!
Hey everyone!
Recently I had the privilege of spending a few weeks exploring Pakistan. Despite the country's obvious security concerns, there are breathtakingly beautiful deserts, lakes, and mountain ranges to experience:
But best of all, I had the chance to navigate the bazaars - the myriad bangles and Pakistani slippers (known as khussas) were a pure delight!
In addition to these gorgeous accessories, Pakistan offers some of the most beautiful fabrics in the world - one could go crazy with the possibilities! So I thought it might be interesting to show how clothes are made there. Here is Aashiana, a retail fabric store in Karachi where one can get any variety of silk and cotton:
A common thing in Pakistan is to buy plain white fabric and dye it any shade or pattern - solid, ombre, tie-dye - the possibilities are endless! Here is a dyer dying fabric in the back alley of a popular market in Lahore known as Khussa Mahal Gali:
Once the fabrics have been selected and dyed the right shades, the embellishment work begins. And the selection of stones is limitless!
Finally, the clothes are retailed in high-end stores in malls (like Muse, below) and their knock-offs in the back alleys ;)
Recently I had the privilege of spending a few weeks exploring Pakistan. Despite the country's obvious security concerns, there are breathtakingly beautiful deserts, lakes, and mountain ranges to experience:
But best of all, I had the chance to navigate the bazaars - the myriad bangles and Pakistani slippers (known as khussas) were a pure delight!
In addition to these gorgeous accessories, Pakistan offers some of the most beautiful fabrics in the world - one could go crazy with the possibilities! So I thought it might be interesting to show how clothes are made there. Here is Aashiana, a retail fabric store in Karachi where one can get any variety of silk and cotton:
A common thing in Pakistan is to buy plain white fabric and dye it any shade or pattern - solid, ombre, tie-dye - the possibilities are endless! Here is a dyer dying fabric in the back alley of a popular market in Lahore known as Khussa Mahal Gali:
Once the fabrics have been selected and dyed the right shades, the embellishment work begins. And the selection of stones is limitless!
Finally, the clothes are retailed in high-end stores in malls (like Muse, below) and their knock-offs in the back alleys ;)
