For the Fashionable Mom

Interesting how often what you think will be the easiest transition, is possibly the hardest. Once I found out that I was expecting, I was extremely excited.

Many of us have great expectations, especially when it comes to ourselves. Pregnancy and childbirth would redefine a lot of those expectations for me.

For one, I thought I would be able to bounce back into my regular self & flow of things pretty fast, I mean you have the baby and your normal again…right?

WRONG.

Having a baby takes A LOT out of you, emotionally, mentally and physically. It feels as if you are starving of yourself and then begins the slow process of healing, but along with that comes sleep deprivation, latching on issues and colic. So again the healing doesn’t come single handed, it is presented with motherhood beginnings.

One of the most challenging parts for me was getting back into my regular routine in how I present myself..I have never been the sweatpants kind of girl. I enjoy playing around with colours, textures and prints. I would go as far as saying that it is a crucial part of who I am but having a baby and breastfeeding exclusively made that harder. Often you find yourself in the easy quick outfits but they do not make you confident or happy. Contrary to popular belief how you feel about your body after childbirth is important, and coming from a styling background I know how wearing the right clothing vs the wrong clothing can influence body image issues.

So the first time I hit this realization that I had not been doing myself any justice and had became okay with feeling sluggish and very bluh about my body was a couple of weeks before my sweet friends bridal shower. I struggled more than ever to find a dressy outfit because I had surrounded myself in dreary clothing. So i’m here to rescue you with a few fashionable motherhood tricks I have found to work best for me.

1. Oversized Dusters

Duster jackets/coats are a great way to add colour and elegance to a very simple outfit. They are perfect for spring/fall weather because they are a light Out-wear option. Your outfit could be as simple as a basic top and some leggings. I find dusters to be very slimming especially when left open to drape over whatever ensemble you think appropriate for your day. Dusters can be found on ASOS & Boohoo.

2.  Shirt Dresses

I am a sucker for shirt dresses especially if you’re looking for a modest ultimative to a shirt. I think they are perfect for breastfeeding moms on the go and when paired with leather trousers, leggings or jeggings etc they still provide a fashionable but functional option. Shirt dresses can be found on ASOS, H&M & Topshop.

3. Palazzo/ Wide leg Pants.

I find these a great option if you’re looking for comfort and style. You can tuck in a nice loose T-shirt and then pair it with a oversized shirt of your choice. Quick and effortless. This will take you no longer that 10/15mins to put together & allow you to spend more time on your mummy duties. ASOS, Zara & Mango do a great range of wide leg pants especially in cotton.

4. Checked Button down shirts.

I LOVE checked shirts right now, I mean this is self explanatory. Add a choker, oversized denim or leather jacket, leggings & your fierce comfortable boots and you are on your way to being the rockstar mom you’ve always dreamed of. Zara, H&M and Topshop have a great selection of checked or buttoned down shirts.

5. LIPSTICK

I think this is the best tip to end the post, carrying your fave lipstick is the best way to accessorize any cute outfit.

Love Always,

Fahima Abdul

My Absence

Peace & Blessings Beautiful People,

Last time I actually did a post was mid 2015 which is absolutely crazy to me because it doesn't feel that long ago and that is probably because I am still active on my instagram page (FABHIMA).

So here is a quick catchup on where and what have I been doing, I took a lovely long break because I had to deal with my ever blooming bump and body and MORNING SICKNESS which happened the entire pregnancy. I then went onto having the baby and that was a huge and welcomed adjustment which made me want to stop time and marvel in the blessings I was given...and I did...and now I am back kinda lol.

The last time I styled a Fashion event was August 2015 on behalf of CMB by Hakeemah (www.lovecmb.com) I was afforded the opportunity to go to Toronto for IMFDF and style a range of amazing clothing from various different designers. It was probably my most fave moment in styling because the event was done at such a high standard and had the most helpful staff members especially being close to 6 months pregnant. I also had the most incredible assistant who really got me through the event in my pretty high heels. You can go to Hakeemah Cummings page for further details and also view the latest IMFDF event that she went and represented at. Below are a few pictures of the styling work I did on behalf of CMB in 2015 at the IMFDF show.

After I headed back to London and landed a pretty awesome job, for those that know me I have BSC Psychology Degree and have wanted to work with children in the educational sector. So I was now being trained as an ABA tutor at Rainbow School (Beyond Autism), which is a school that provides children diagnosed with Autism with the best education and life skills, as well as allowing them to form amazing friendships and bonds. Please do research and support the school if you know of any child with Autism ABA might be a great fit. It is also filled with the most dedicated staff and incredible little humans who will bring you absolute joy. It was an incredible experience that I treasure the memories and hope to return to further in ABA. Below is a picture of some of the phenomenal people I had the pleasure of working beside.

After my journey at Rainbow School I had 2 months left to prepare for my beautiful daughter and to be honest I was pretty much struggling to walk, sleep, eat and breath. It was difficult and that was why I took a early pause from work and social media. I was no longer the cute little bump lady and it was incredible to see how much I had bloomed. So late evening on the 25th of December I was finally in Labour and welcomed my daughter in the early morning of the 26th. She was exactly a week overdue and was by far exceptional. I then decided to really just enjoy motherhood and spend time exploring this addition to my life. I strongly stand by that decision. So I should be back with regular fashion posts from November 2016, with a hint of motherhood. 

Love, Fab