BEHIND THE wardrobe
Our style icons dished on their best style tips and where they get their most-loved pieces, and namedropped some of their favourite local designers. We’re taking notes; how ‘bout you?
The ideal pair of jeans is...
I honestly love revolving my denim styles as the trends change, as long as they’re not too tight!
What is your go-to feel good outfit? I love high/low dressing... so maybe something very casual and comfortable paired with some sort of blazer.
What kind of jewellery do you like? Gold and simple, always. I prefer simple pieces, as they’re easier to layer on top of one another.
Where do you normally find the best pieces? Some of my favourites are from Kelly Jay Jewellery and Pichulik.
What is the biggest misconception around modest fashion? There are so many. That dressing modestly is forced upon Muslim women – when it’s not at all. That dressing modestly is only for Muslims or super-religious people, when it’s actually a practice that’s been intentionally observed throughout human history across many different religions and cultures. That modest fashion is boring, when it’s actually found across Fashion Week runways, from some of the best designers in the world.
The best place to find modest swimwear is... Lyra Swim – undoubtedly the leaders in modest swimwear globally right now.
Any local brands that you think deserve a shout-out? Wow, there are so many, but the brands who first come to mind are Connade, Çoise, Rose May and L’UNFM.
If you could have only one pair of shoes for winter, what would it look like? A good pair of chunky leather loafers is my dream footwear right now.
You must have picked up some great styling tips being in front of the camera; can you share one? Yes, absolutely. I find that adding a belt makes such a big difference, and there are so many different ways to use and buckle it.
Is there any trend or look that you ‘discovered’ as a model? I wouldn’t say I discovered it, but I love hats. I have a thing for hats. Running around from casting to casting, I find a hat can transform a look. I love a wide-brimmed hat! The wider the better. I love Simon and Mary hats,
as they come in different, interesting sizes. My favourite one at the moment is from Zara – and of course it’s a wide-brimmed hat!
Were you fashionable as a teenager? I was – thanks to my mom, funnily enough! She would sew my clothes and basically experiment with me. Which also meant no one else had the same clothes as I did. To this day I love finding and wearing rare pieces. I loved dungarees when I was younger. There’s just one thing I would never, ever, ever wear ever again: pedal pushers! OMG!
Do you prefer bold colours or neutrals? I tend to gravitate more towards neutrals, but a pop of colour here and there really complements the colour of my skin, so I like to dabble in bright colours: reds, yellows, oranges, you name it!
Now for some name-dropping – who is your favourite local designer?
I have a few. I’ve been buying a lot of blackowned brands lately: Made By Nayo, Rich Mnisi and The Lavender Swan, to name a few.
What is your go-to off-duty outfit? Oh, a pair of sweatpants and a crop top. After a busy day, I look forward to throwing on a pair of sweats – it’s the loose freedom for me. I buy mine from Factorie and the men’s section at H&M. The Factorie ones come in different styles and they really cater for tall people.
What is the one thing you end up buying multiples of because you love the way it looks?
I love a nice one-piece or bodysuit. It’s a staple in my wardrobe and I have them in different colours. It can be styled in so many ways!
Any shop you can’t resist popping into for a browse? Zara. No matter what, I always pop in at Zara for a quick browse – and sometimes end up leaving with bags of clothes!