Boston Fashion Week: LIT Boutique Modern Mixer featuring Stylist Nathalie FanFan

I was invited to LIT Boutique a few weeks ago to attend a mixer presented by stylist Nathalie Fan Fan. I was intrigued to visit because I really enjoy her use of pattern and color in her styling. LIT Boutique has a few locations in Boston and they have an "eclectic mix of fashion-forward designs" according to their website so I thought it was up my alley ;) I really enjoyed mingling with such beautiful and stylish women. Below are some shots from the night!

Throughout the event Nathalie styled models Alina, Mary, and Shay with clothing from the boutique. Janeen Jones provided hair and makeup for the girls. Attendees got some goodie bags to take home.

Quick selfie!

I think what I enjoyed most was seeing the beautiful women that attended, each having such unique personal style. It's always fun to have an occasion to rock your own ways of expression!

XO

Cambridge Love with Jean from Drossintogold!

This crazy internet world has allowed me the pleasure of meeting beautiful souls from all around the world. Jean is an amazing woman and her friendship is one that I truly treasure. The sparks were literally flying everywhere the first time we met!  She was visiting from Atlanta to see family and we decided to meet in Cambridge for lunch and a little shopping.

Cambridge is such a beautiful multicultural area, I feel like I've been seeing it with new eyes in the past year or so. I met up with another friend Yasmin (another beautiful soul!) from the UK here and we had a great time so I knew Jean would enjoy it as well.

We met at Boomerangs and did some thrifting and then had lunch at a great Indian place called Dosa Factory (highly recommend!). Afterwards we walked around Harvard square and did some window shopping at some of the stores around there. Of course we took a few outfit pics in between ;)

I remember the weather was so beautiful that day. There was something crisp and beautiful in the air. We spotted this alley which was full of graffiti art and decided to snap some outfit pics. There happened to be some live art happening too ;) 

Loved the colors and patterns in these women's clothing. I had to get a shot while they were walking by. Inspiration is everywhere!

I loved Jean's big scarf which she upcycled into this circle scarf creation! The colors and the way it added to the layers in the back was amazing. I couldn't forget her accessories too. All collected and thrifted. Can you tell I'm obsessed?!

I was in an experimental mode this day. I remember being a bit uncomfortable in my outfit because I don't wear high waisted things too often or hats! I had been seeing hats over scarves in magazines/pinterest and I thought it was so beautiful. I had to give it a try! I thrifted this small folk scarf over the summer in Maine (I have to blog about that trip soon) and I borrowed my husband's hat and tied it around. I added the bright lipstick to bring out the flowers in the scarf. It was fun getting out of my comfort zone even if it was a flop. I would say it's not the most flattering on me but not bad! What do you think? yay or nay?

Took another outfit shot in front of this beautiful ivy wall. I love Jean's big flowy top! She explained to me how simple it would be to make and I definitely want to give it a go.

We happened to have met an older woman that was dressed sooo funky. We both were eying her outfit. We started chatting with her and I wanted to get her picture but she insisted she never took pictures anymore and we needed our picture taken instead. She said we both belonged on a magazine haha! Even though it came out blurry it captures a beautiful memory.

Have a wonderful week and if you haven't already go check out Jean's blog Drossintogold for her fabulous adventures in fashion, thrifting, and upcyclying!

Much love!
XO

It's all about the bling!

I was recently sent this beautiful headpiece by the UK company Avizeh jewelry. I've always been in love with ethnic jewelry so you can imagine how giddy I was when I had this piece in my hands! I'm still pretty obsessed and I've had it for a few weeks now.

"Avizeh is company which is born out of the love and culture of ethnic Afghanistan. Avizeh translates jewellery in Farsi. This unique name speaks for what we cater for and the rich cultural heritage of jewellery making which dates back to thousand of years ago and at time of when great trading routes flourished through Afghanistan. These rare Jewels of the east still remain and are carefully hand crafted by a nomadic tribe called Kuchi."-from their website

The piece itself is beautifully made. It has signs of being a vintage piece, there were one or two bells missing and some stitching done on one side with the connector pieces, nothing you notice unless you inspect it up close like me :) I doesn't detract from the piece at all and I actually felt it added to its charm. I asked Avizeh about the minor imperfections and they said they rework/restore these vintage pieces, some gems are added etc.

What I really loved was that this is basically a one of kind piece. What I love about thrifting is that you're buying and putting together things that are not necessarily still in stores. This headpiece feels like a vintage treasure and I like that we all won't be clones next week! I'll definitely be picking up some more treasures from their site. I've been eying the beautiful cuffs and necklaces. The prices are great for what you are getting. Even when you convert the pound to dollar (If you're from the US and have traveled to the UK you know how expensive it can be with the pound being almost double the dollar!).

I actually had a hard time styling this! Especially with the turban. I wrapped this thing a few times and finally settled on this turban creation. I also wanted to dress it down because I think it would be hard to wear this baby out without dressing it down a bit. I decided to wear simple jeans and these flip flops I got from my trip to Nantucket I've been wanting to wear now that the weather is a bit nicer (although it is still freezing every other day here in Boston). I'm not totally sure about the red accents I added. I had painted my nails red the day before so I had to incorporate it somehow. There were little red accents on the headpiece and shoes so I thought it would fit in.

As always much love,
Feda

Outfit Details:
Scarf/turban: TJ Maxx
Black shirt: gifted from my sister- from H&M
Cardigan: thrifted- Vince
Jeans: recent thrift- Joe's Fit: Best Friend
Red bangles: thrifted
Beaded bracelet: Sisco Berluti
Flip flops: Bodhi Tibetan store in Nantucket, MA

Bag: TJ Maxx- Brand: Cardamom + Coriander
Rings: Gifted and from random carts

Channeling Your Inner Creativity Workshop for Teens

This is some of the student work from a teen workshop I did a few weeks ago at the ISB Cultural Center in Boston for Deen14. This was the first time I taught a workshop of any kind so I was a bit nervous. Thankfully my passion for photography as a tool for self-expression and coping with things like depression/stress far surpasses my resistance to public speaking. I was also speaking to teens who are still discovering and experimenting with their own voices so that made it exciting for me.

I went into it not expecting much. I wasn't sure if they would be completely bored or enthusiastic (you never know with teens). I'm happy to say that they completely surpassed my expectations.

I started out by talking about how photography can help you be present by being in the moment while taking an image. I also talked about using photography as a way to express and channel emotions into something productive, creating a piece of art. I projected some of my own work as examples of my own self-expression.

I then sent them off into a park close by to tell stories of their own. The only rule was that they had to tell a story in three images and could only take up to fifteen. I made sure they understood it wasn't about continuously clicking, that they had to spend at least 30 seconds looking at the subject, seeing it from different angles, and capturing their own unique vision of it. (Something I learned from my own mentor Banafsheh during our many photo outings.) These were all taken with phones or point and shoot cameras so the day was all about "channeling their creativity" and less about the tool they were using. I also wanted them to feel like they could go home and use this outlet for creativity at any time.

Here are a few pics I took of them taking pictures also taken with my iphone (edited with vscocam app). I gave them about 15 minutes to take these and some of them were still taking pictures after the fifteen minutes! I was happy they were focusing and getting into the art.

When we went back in we were able to project them onto the screen so we could review them as a group. The thing that sort of took me by surprise was the deeper meanings they related with their images. They told stories of hope, friendship, their dreams and goals, and overall reflections on life. I really felt the discussions we had were the highlight of the day. I left feeling that I had gained much more from them than they did from me. For that I was thankful and grateful. :)

Much love,
Feda

Feda in the City: Spring is in the Air!

Took a trip into Boston to get a shot for the Emirates contest. Standing in front of the tallest building in Boston, the John Hancock Tower. I was feeling bright and cheery for spring so crazy color lady came out ;)

Photos taken by Anthony!

Happy Monday!
XO

Outfit Details:
Patterned scarf/turban: thrifted
Red Scarf: Target (gift from my sister)
Orange dress: thrifted by Calypso
White Jacket: thrifted by TCEC
Necklace: Spain
Tights: hand me downs
Boots: TJ Maxx