I Love Looking Good

Last 6 months

WARNING: A possibly long post with lots of pictures.

The last 6 months have been a whirlwind of adventure and as such I did not even have any opportunity to sit down and blog. For that, I apologise to all of you for leaving without any note. But now I’m back and I can’t wait to share with all of you what I’ve been doing for the last 6 months.

Let’s start with New Year’s, both Fai and I didn’t have any opportunity to welcome all our readers to the year 2012 because we were literally UP IN THE AIR. For a month right up til New Year’s, Fai and I were jet-setting around Europe and UK.

We visited Fai’s aunt and cousins in Walldorf, Germany, had a second honeymoon of sorts in Paris, France, visited a dear friend in London (she sponsored my henna during our wedding), and made a pilgrimage to Manchester United’s Old Trafford (I’m a HUGE Man United fan), UK.

Fai and his cousins in Walldorf, Germany

Walking through the streets of Paris

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Written On: On May 13, 2012 at 12:43 am by Nur
Tagged: Random | Chanel, Europe, Honeymoon, London, Manchester, Manchester United, MODE Clothier, Old Trafford, Paris, UK

Have you got it covered?

Recently I came across a local TV personality’s blog post and her transition towards donning the Hijab. And it got me thinking how I was once in a similar position.

She told herself that one day she will don the Hijab and she will do it after…:

“I will do it after I finish JC..”
“I will do it once I enter NIE…”
“I will do it once I graduate from NIE..”
“I will do it on my first day as a teacher…”
“I will do it once I get married…”
“I will do it once I have a baby…”
“I will do it when I turn 25..”
“I will do it during Ramadhan..”
“I will do it on New Year..”

Alas she said: “I have accepted that there will never be a perfect day….that right moment.”

How true her words are. There can never be a right moment for donning the Hijab and I would have been in the same position, always procrastinating if not for my parents. Especially my very strict father.

I used to think that my youngest sister had it the easiest as she went to a Madrasah and all, if not, most of her friends wears the tudung.

Whereas I went to circular school and was wearing short skirts for more than 10 years of my life. Transitioning from the short school skirt to the tudung was never easy.

When I wanted to go out with my friends, I always argued with my mum why I had to wear the tudung. I never understood this compulsory obligation.

I wanted to feel the wind in my hair, dress as how my peers dressed back then. Heck, I even envied them sometimes. Furthermore, I always thought to myself that I was too young to be wearing one. I thought that maybe one day when I am much older and wiser, I will take the initiative of wearing the tudung myself. Alhamdulillah that didn’t happen.

Instead, I bit my tongue and continued wearing the tudung even though sometimes I was reluctant to. I even heard plenty of jokes around me about women wearing the Hijab or tudung but that never faltered me.

One of the reasons why I rarely faltered was because my very strict parents enforced it on me and my sisters. On top of that, most of female cousins wears the tudung as well. They were my pillar of support and never made one of us feel awkward about our tudung insecurities.

Finally, my numerous trips to the Holy land, Makkah, sealed the deal.

Now, I wouldn’t want to wonder what would or could have happened or how different my life would be had I not continue to wear the tudung.

Today I embrace this obligation of Allah’s with open arms as not many people are given the Hidayah to fulfill this obligation. But that doesn’t mean I can’t observe this obligation fashionably and stylishly. Hehe.

I am finally here thanks to my very strict parents. My father may not read this but my mum sometime does. Mak and Abah, I am who I am because of the two of you and I am thankful for all the things you’ve done for me. I can never repay the sacrifices you’ve made.

I’ve got it covered. When will it be your turn?

P.S. Ms Nura J, if you’re reading this, you’re looking great and may Allah continue to bless us with his Rahmat and keep us on the right path. Amin!

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Written On: On December 8, 2011 at 12:21 am by Nur
Tagged: Random | Fashion, Hijab, modest, Tudung

If I could get married all over again

To the same man of course, what were you guys thinking? LOL!

Tis the wedding season and there’s a few weddings I’ve been invited to. And also since my very own sister’s wedding is coming up in the next couple of weeks, I thought I shall blog about weddings.

I am indeed very weird. I did not blog about my own wedding – although I did attempt to blog about it – read the stories here, here, and here. Now I am blogging about the wedding of others.

I’m not really going to blog about others’ weddings but about my own wedding. Argh! I confuse myself.

I mean what happens if I could get married all over again – to the same man.

When I was preparing for my very own wedding last year, I didn’t really think too much about it, I just went with the flow. I let my parents decide on most of the major stuff such as venue, food, and such.

Even my henna designs weren’t picked by me as they were gifts from a dear friend.

If I had it my way, my wedding would have been a small, short, and sweet affair, with close friends and relatives. But since I’m the eldest of five daughters, I had to accomodate my parents wishes.

My mum did tell me that when she got married in the early 80s, my late-grandmother, planned everything for her and that she was told to follow what the elders had in store of her. She said she had to go through 12 outfit changes – that was the trend during that time – for nikah (solemnisation), photoshoot, and reception.

I was lucky that my wedding only consists of five outfits and I was able to pick and choose all five. I picked them according to my family and husband’s heritage as a tribute to our families. So there was the Malay traditional outfit – songket kebaya, Arabian style jalabiya and thope, Indian gaghra and sherwani, and the western wedding gown and suit. A total of five outfits for our two and half days wedding affair.

But if I really had my way and our wedding was only for a day, I would have worn, all the traditional outfits rolled into one.

Hmmm… Now let’s imagine the rolled-into-one kebaya, gaghra, and jalabiya as my outfit. I’ll probably use songket as my main material, with lots of beading.

The outfit will be a modern mini kebaya top made from songket like this one below, although this top is not a mini kebaya top.

Then the bottom will be a heavy beaded gaghra skirt just like the one below.

And finally a flowy-kaftan overlay made from chiffon like this jalabiya.

That will be my solemnisation outfit.

As for the reception dress, I will wear a gown inspired by Grace Kelly – exactly like what Malaysian blogger, Adriani Adnan, wore for her wedding. But instead of pink, or cream, my dress will be a shade of pastel yellow – my favourite colour!

Photos: Adriani Adnan and Google

And a classic pin-up makeup to match. Just like this one!

Photo: makeupbycrystalS.blogspot.com

As for the groom, hmmmmm…. he’s just there to go along with the ride. LOL! So since my husband is Indian, he’ll wear the traditional Indian sherwani for solemnisation, and the boring suit/tuxedo with a pastel yellow satin tie for our reception.

But in reality, this was what we wore for our wedding.