DAHLIA NADIR AH The social media manager and super stylish mum on her eclectic, boho style and the return of the Seventies trend. By Cai Mei Khoo.
Growing up with parents who are avid collectors of art, it’s only natural for Dahlia Nadirah Juhari to view fashion in a similar manner. “Fashion is a form of art. You buy what you like and how you wear it is what your art is,” says the 30-year-old, amid the vibrant masterpieces acquired by her parents over the years that include works by Khalil Ibrahim and Ismail Mat Hussein. “I love how we can express our feelings with fashion. Some people have the talent to draw, or to paint, or to make music, but with fashion, everyone has a room to express themselves.” Dahlia, a social media manager with a Malaysian bank, says this appreciation improves with age. “The older I get, I’ve learnt that there is no right or wrong in fashion. You just need to know what compliments you – the rest is all subjective. It’s like how no one ever says a Dalí or a Pollock is ugly. You appreciate it for what it is.”
This inherent epicureanism is yet evident in Dahlia’s two-yearold daughter; it’s early days yet, but clear preferences are being honed. “It’s a bit surprising but Anggerik is not your typical girly girl. For some reason, she doesn’t like to be in dresses – there’s always a bit of a struggle when I put a dress on her,” laughs Dahlia, who cites her own mother and maternal grandmother as her earliest style influencers. “My mother is a working mum and every night, she will put aside her outfit for the next day. As a child, it was so fascinating watching her get dressed. I still have her vintage blazers although unfortunately, I can’t fit into her size 2 skirts.