HAUTE ELAN | MODLIST LAUNCH

MODLIST - 'The global destination for modest fashion'.

I was recently invited to the launch of the Haute Elan website - Modlist at their gorgeous modern HQ and showroom in Chelsea, aaas. MODLIST is your NOW go-to hub for modest fashion.

There is some stock available exclusively at the boutique / HQ in London, I highly recommend popping in to browse the collection and meet their lovely team. You'll notice that the place smells amazing thanks to a healthy spritz of Scents Of Paradise, they have the yummiest smelling room scents and wax melts- @scentsofparadiseuk.

The new platform www.modlist.co includes curated collections from the high street and international fashion brands, such as, ASOS, Uniqlo, Mango, Joseph, Gucci and a selection of over 150 global designers and boutiques selecting their finest modestly fashionable prices and placing them at your fingertips. 

As well as appealing to the modern Muslim market,(estimated to be valued at $484bn by 2019), MODLIST also speaks to the style conscience woman. MODLIST is not just for those struggling to find suitable modest fashion from the mainstream retail markets but it's for everyone who simply wishes to dress elegantly. MODLIST provides access for global fashion brands to this evolving market.

My beautiful blogger friend @ASmaBdrr and I wearing Kimono print Abayas by Ayah El Elif for the event. I love the middle eastern silhouettes with small details of the far east. I'm also in love with the luxe vibes that these abayas give, I seriously felt like a princess.

Haute-Elan's main focus is on providing luxury fashion from emerging global designers, bringing modest fashion into the mainstream and providing you with the latest trends. One of my favoured features is the ability to browse all of the collections by trends. 

The team work with brands globally to bring YOU the best in modesty. they have a huge range of products and designers, a few of my favourite up-and-coming modest Abaya designers include: Asta Creations, Endemage, Shellzy Design.

Entertainment

On the night we all had the chance to enjoy muscle relaxation by the glorious Urban Massage team - @urbanmassage. The team were so professional, that they even picked up on a back issue I had without  me mentioning it to them.

The Secret Spa team ensured we were all looking our best by giving us Made In Chelsea standard manicures. they cater for private functions and for those winter days when you don't feel like leaving the house. @secretspauk provide their services to many celebrities too- thank you for my pretty nails, natural I went for oxblood.

... and of course we had one another, I have honestly met some of my  closest friends and followers from these launch parties.

Another feature I absolutely value the daylights out of is the fact they have an eveningwear edit. So, you know when you get invited to that killer showstopper wedding?, You're a hijabi, and you just cannot for the life of you find that long sleeved, full length get- me-married-to-your-son-aunty kind of dress?, yeah we all have them right? This website is a huge,huge game changer to prevent those moments, check out these babies out of eveningwear:

So now you can check out your favourite bloggers picks. The bloggers with profiles on the site include; Myself, the beautiful Queen Of Sabba, lifestyle blogger Zara Azi, hilarious YouTuber Manoosa, celebrity make up artist Maryam Taqi, Dina Torkia and many more.

Sponsors

So as attendees we received two amazing goodie bags jam packed with treats. A cosmetic one from The Vintage Cosmetic Company (@thevintagecosco) with some of the best eyelash curlers and fake eyelashes (Kitty lashes) I have ever laid eyes on along with other treats. The second from various sponsors containing: Popchips - @popchips_uk, Mi-in Lashes - these eyelashes are super light weight and natural looking, in fact I think I'm going to do a separate post on them (@miin_lashes). 

A special thank you to the caterers at the event - Halal Eat - @halaleat who filled all of our tummies with delicious Arabian goodness. Anybody who knows me, knows that these pink / red sausages  are my favourite things to snack on - I don't even eat red meat that often... but these are to die for. If you check out the link on their name you will see that they have launched a halal fast food delivery service! Super, super, handy especially when travelling to different cities in the UK.

I had such a lovely time at the launch of Modlist, I hope you enjoyed my coverage of the launch and that you make use of this valuable resource.

Follow them on Insta for your daily dose of inspiration 

@hauteelan | @modlist.co

TRAINS | HIJAB DISCRIMINATION

"She should do that in her own country not here"

I was sitting on the train when a french couple sat opposite me. I smiled at them both before they turned their heads away.

Everybody becomes seemingly brave with their b*tching when they think that you become completely deaf when your headphones are in, or perhaps because you wear a headscarf it somehow limits your understanding of English?

The woman then began talking about my headscarf (in English with a french accent) saying "I don't know why she's doing all this *gesturing around her head about the hijab before scoffing* she's showing her ankles... And the worst is when they do this thing *making burqa gestures around the eyes*, it's so stupid". "She should do that in her own country not here..." etc. The hate rant went on a little longer.

Her husband was agreeable, and said 'I know... you see them everywhere here'. Then after pausing he said to her "just try not to think about it". She responded 'I can't' waving her hands in my direction.

I was about to take my headphones out and respond before I received (and took) a phone call. I can only assume they were shocked with my 'near perfect'British accent because they couldn't stop staring at me with looks of surprise slapped across their faces.

I don't know if was embarrassment which lead her to her next sentence but she turned to her husband and said 'let's find another seat' and got up and walked further down the carriages.

What on earth is wrong with humanity?

I could've easily have sl*gged off her disgustingly coordinated hot pink outfit - which quite frankly I couldn't physically bare the sight of- mainly because it was an offensive fluorescent 'highlighter' shade pink. If anybody had any reason to move seats based on clothing choices of others it would've been me and my poor suffering eyes. But I didn't, why? Because I know better than to provide unwarranted/judgmental comments and actions based on the wardrobe choices of others.

As for my ankles which supposedly invalidated my whole hijab and attempts of pleasing God - I'm not a prefect, model Muslim, I have my own struggles in life, but If that's the only flaw she could point out with my hijab then that makes me proud. Lord knows the struggle I suffer to get to the point that I am at now and the amount of vile human beings (like these two) I endure on an almost weekly basis, who judge and make nasty remarks on the way women like myself CHOOSE to dress.

If you have an issue with a country which allows women the freedom to cover as little or as much as they please, kindly go back to France's secularism where they strip woman off in public, there is no place for that in our society.

Unfortunately for these Frenchman they were blessed with neither beautiful wardrobe choices nor personality. If you cannot possess both in life, at least strive to better your personality to make up for the days when you have hot pink 'disaster outfits'. Don't let this be you.

Think kindly of fellow beings, everybody is going through a struggle you know nothing about. My religion teaches me that you get rewarded just for smiling at others. 

My Islam, my choice.

SHOP THE LOOK

TROUSERS | H&M

SHIRT | H&M

SANDALS | (VERY OLD) H&M

BAG | BULGARI

AATITA LONDON | MALAYSIA

Introduction on Aatiya London

Aatiya London is a company which is modern, contemporary and celebrates women of different heritages and backgrounds within the world of modest fashion. Aatiya London seeks inspiration for their collections by reaching out to women from all over the world. 

While in malaysia I hooked up with my wonderful friend @zuraahmad who asked me to be a model for the Aatiya London campaign. I don't usually do video shoots, but its alway nice to be surrounded by people who encourage you to try new things.

Unfortunately I was still one month deep into my Asia trip when the launch was taking place in London, I couldn't be there in person but loved seeing the photos and media coverage. I received videos and photos taken by friends of the campaign being played on the big screen at the event watched by my friends and bloggers. 

After seeing all the photos of the event, I'm even more upset to have missed it. I looked like an elegant rustic romance filled with wooden crates, candles, regal chairs and accentuated by the grey walls and foliage.

The marriage of glass domes, edible goods and dried plants is a match made in heaven. Event pictures are courtesy of @ishtarphotograpy and @sharmsoul - thank you for doing such an amazing job at covering the event for the rest of us! 

@BubblegumHijabi has also done a collaboration with the brand which was also part of the event launch. You can see more of the beautiful collection here.

Here is a the video I shot with Aatiya London, somewhere around two am, with a quirky norwegian photographer and his Malay wife who was also the make up artist.

I loved what I wore for the shoot, and to my surprise when I landed back in London, I had this beauty waiting on my doorstep.

The first thing I noticed was how luxurious the packaging looked... for a moment, I thought I had a Louboutin delivery, haha. The gold just sets it apart so much, and also the fact that it comes boxed rather than wrapped. simply beautiful.

I was so excited to open it, and even more excited to see the piece that I loved the most from the shoot packaged up for me!

I couldn't resist sneaking the macbook in the back, the gold theme just flows too well up in here.

Aesthetics are honestly to die for. I cant wait to wear my 

Exclusive Two-Piece Brocade Dress in Golden Apple.

For more information on the company and exclusive pieces, feel free to email Info@aatiyalondon.com or visit our social medias instagram : @aatiya.london, facebook : aatiyalondon.

Until next time, I'm trying so hard to be consistent with my blogging even whilst travelling!