Let me start this post by saying: I DON'T KNOW WHY. Why do we? Does anyone have the answer to this question?

I have no doubt that there is a scientific answer to my question but I haven't gotten around to being in the zone where I really want to dive into it, most probably because I know the answer isn't going to produce a tagline that will promote positivity in life. Rather the contrary, I'm sure.

It has been important for me to be as mindful as possible about purchasing clothing items and accessories but honestly, I don't succeed doing so with every single item.





So why couldn't I resist those white leather HEELED slingbacks, that I would have definitely bought if the store had them in my size? Who knows?

Note: But maybe this person who wrote this article can help shed some light on my predicament. It says that, basically, all purchases I ever made = emotionally driven. So one way to explain my emotional want of those slingbacks:  so I could...look as cool as those street-stylers...?
(Maybe I got it right the first time around.)


On to this outfit, as someone with a penchant for Beetlejuice-like fashion + statement sleeves, I can definitely justify getting this black-and-white striped top with pouffy sleeves. I may not need it, but I will get plenty of wears out of it! I paired the top with these flat white mules and my one and only high-waisted black pants, which reminds me: these 5-year-old pants are losing their sheen and I need another pair of high-waisted black pants, guys.

Shah and I went to perform the umrah recently but before doing so in Mecca, we made our way to the city of Medina, situated about five hours away.

A lot of my blog readers are Muslims (according to analytics, that is) who already know plenty about what people do on an umrah trip, but I also have a lot of readers who are of different faiths and religions so I'll try to explain my umrah story as best as I can!

Umrah is one of the two pilgrimages undertaken by Muslims that are entirely performed in Mecca — the other being the hajj — but it is common for Muslims to include Medina in their itinerary, solely with the goal to visit Al-Masjid an-Nabawi or simply Masjid Nabawi, also known as the Prophet's Mosque ("masjid" is Arabic for mosque). It was built by our Prophet Muhammad p.b.u.h. (peace be upon him) and it also serves as his final resting place, with his tomb under the prominent green dome.

Tiny update: I got to spend the first two weeks of this magical Ramadhan back in my hometown with my family! While it was ahmayyyzing and something I wish could last a lot longer, it's now sadly back to my "reality" of roughing it up here in Johor.

(Well, if you call sitting on your butt all day long in front of the laptop in a little hotel room with nothing else to do "roughing it up", that is.)

One thing's for sure: after days of devouring my mom's comforting home-cooked dishes after breaking fast, I miss it terribly now.


Right before Ramadhan started, my family and I had a family dinner in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. Ever since Shah and I moved to Johor, we don't get to have sit-down family dinners as often as we all like, so it's always a special occasion when it happens.


And a special occasion calls for a special outfit, guys; it was time for me to break out this crushed velvet blazer and pants I bought months before. I don't even remember if I've ever worn crushed velvet, ever, so this bold sunny yellow velvet blazer felt like a breath of fresh air for me, sartorial-wise.


Unfortunately the yellow blazer it doesn't come with matching pants, but then again, on top of loving fun casual suits, I also love a good colour-blocking moment! Plus,  navy blue is (strangely) one of my favourite shades, ever.

See: To All The Casual Suits I've Loved Before

There was, however, a navy blue blazer to match the pants. Trust me, guys, the temptation to get both blazers lingered for the longest time. In the end, I decided I'd rather not deal with the guilt that would inevitably accompany the purchasing of two blazers that I — let's face it — don't exactly need. I had to make a decision, and the sunny yellow ultimately stole my heart.

First things first: RAMADHAN MUBARAK TO MY FELLOW MUSLIMS AROUND THE WORLD!!! It has been a week since we entered this blessed month, alhamdulillah. I'm so grateful that I'm able to experience a big portion of early Ramadhan with my family in my hometown, especially since it means more of my mom's cooking during breaking the fast, yasss. Hopefully we're already accustomed to the slight hunger pangs and drier mouths, and in turn feeding our souls with more good thoughts and good deeds than usual. ❤

Maybe some of you have seen this super loose black robe I shared on the blog in 2017? If you ask me to pick a few firm favourites in my closet right now, honestly, that shapeless sack of a thing would make it into the top ten.

Seriously, I have worn that robe so so so many times but I worry about it getting worn out from washing it too many times.
PS: I wash my clothes and jeans often; can't stand to wear clothes I've sweated in — this is the hot and humid Malaysia we're talking about!

So I decided to search for a sub for it and thankfully discovered this kimono, which looks similar enough to my black robe with its length, its cut and subtle black print, only it has these gorgeous,bold floral embroideries on the front and back.




My mom absolutely loved this kimono when she saw me in it and already has ideas about adding buttons to the kimono (for her to borrow, of course!), an idea that I am all for; I like wearing flowy long kimonos open-front but I like wearing them half-closed at the front even more.

See: My fab red-orange kimono robe that I adore