What comes to our minds when we think about women? Except for the fact that they can literally make another human being, they make your walls a home with their warmth. If you have a daughter as a father she will probably love you more than anyone else. As a sister she will be your confidant . As a wife she’ll be your companion(only when treated right). But is this what women are only known as? Life/care givers? (I’m talking about majority of the women but there are a few exceptional cases who’re the complete opposite).
While she is conveniently living upto all the roles thrown at her we forget she too is a human being with goals, needs and emotions. Women are actually the most strongest yet the most fragile creatures alive. She goes through so many changes that almost break her, but she always gets through to all this and gets up stronger. There’s a lot of intolerance towards how you’re suppose to go about your life.
Pre Islamic times people used to bury their tiny newborn daughters, with no remorse whatsoever. Our Prophet(Pbuh) gave so many examples and rules on how you’re suppose to treat a lady. Once Islam came it gave women so many rights. They were businesswomen and self reliant. Our backward culture however has taken us back to those medieval times. You see so many people go and perform umrah or even hajj and they become more corrupt and a bigger fraud. You mistreating someone and going for pilgrimage won’t really help you in the next world. Moving forward I feel bad for the girls in this society generally particularly the ones who literally have no exposure, haven’t seen anything in this world except for the place where they’re born and bred. They literally have no expectations from their lives other than settling down with whatever’s convenient and later living with that decision throughout their life. The exposure actually helps you grow your thinking and shapes your personality on so many different levels. It makes you tolerate less bullshit and see people as what they are, not who they pretend to be. It’s like the woman has no life of her own other than living on other peoples terms and expectations. A woman is no commodity you can trade or keep. You need to act a certain way in order to make sure her self worth is never compromised.
I hope this society grows a brain and realises there is more to this world than what you see or know. However if you can’t let your brain to evolve with time please don’t bother coming out from your cave the world doesn’t need your existence.
This post is dedicated to all the girls/women standing up for themselves and I hope (those who aren’t) you all stop letting people walk all over you. You’re bigger than this society and its misogynistic mindset!
You only realise when you’ve taken someone’s presence for granted when you search for them and all you see is emptiness. A void or a hole in your chest which won’t ever be filled. No matter how many people you meet but that space left behind will never be filled by anyone. When waking up everyday we think the people around us are going to be there forever. We make our plans our routines being selfish until we realise the people who needed our time the most might not be there tomorrow, next month or the coming year. And when the loss hits you, you can’t utter a word, you try to speak words remembering them but you can’t. You remember the time you spent with them, the way you would put your head in their lap, the bedtime stories and the warm hugs. Ultimately we all move on from a dear one’s loss of life but we can never get over it. We grow around the grief of losing a loved one. A bond which can no longer be seen but felt deeply. So if you still have people who matter the most to you in this world make sure to tell them they’re loved and cherished before it’s too late. This can be immediate family and extremely close friends. You never know how long someone’s going to be there or how much someone needs to know they matter.
Time
When we’re young we forget how quickly time is going by. We take tomorrows for granted. We take our own time for granted. We prioritize the wrong things in life and ultimately when someone gets old all that is left is regret to make better use of our time. Time is literally flying and it hits you when you are a certain age and you see how things have changed and how things are now. This is your time, do whatever you want, wear your favourite sweater/outfit, put on your favourite perfume, get your hair coloured the way you want and wear your favourite pair of shoes, make plans, travel and focus on yourself. What if you have all those things but you no longer desire to dress up or dine out or go to your favourite place anymore? Circumstances and time changes a lot of things and because of this we too change. Our life, our surroundings and most importantly our mood. So try living in the present for yourself. This world is a bitter place and you deserve to do what you have to do in order to stay sane and happy. You come before anyone else, everyone and everything else comes later.
Health/Appearance
One of the phobias I have is Acne and being Fat. I cannot emphasis how much I dislike it when someone is extremely careless about their appearance. You don’t get fat overnight. It’s the lifestyle you follow and the poor diet habits you make which have led you to become like a balloon. Secondly for skin. I’m not saying you should have baby skin but at least it should be taken care of. Have a basic skin care routine and get clinical facials. Sure some people are genetically blessed with good skin but if you’re not you should start investing on yourself. Doctors give proper Accutane course for acne, it’s pricey and turns your skin into Sahara desert, but it’s only for 6 months. Someone who doesn’t take care of their appearance shows how much they truly don’t respect themselves and are pure lazy. There are tons of laser treatments to combat different skin concerns, but there are a few professional doctors who are good at what they do. Next focus on a clean and healthy diet and get your blood work done at least twice a year to see if your healthy diet is actually benefiting you.
Lastly I’d like to add is that tomorrow is never promised and yesterday is already gone, all you have is today and try making the most of it by doing what makes you feel good & happy. Draw boundaries and keep away from people you aren’t comfortable with.Don’t ever let someone make you feel bad about yourself or a situation. Peace.
I absolutely loved focusing on my education and career. I wanted to be self reliant and never rely on some man to pay for me. That is what I had in my head when I was in my student years. I was the most hard working one in my group, heavily focused on the presentations, exams and all the class participation. I always stood out and almost every teacher pointed it out. I was so aware about what was happening on in this country and all the international news. Maybe it was my love for reading papers, scrolling through twitter and get all the latest updates or my father generally discussing what’s happening around the world.
I had so many dreams and ambitions. But I forgot the backward environment I belonged from. Sure I have traveled more than an average woman of my age. That broadened my horizons. Changed how I looked at things and people. Made me want to dissociate with people real quick. Life is too short to be around people you aren’t certain of.
When I was in my undergrad I had made it clear to my parents that I had a few universities in my head for my postgrad. Particularly King’s College London. While there was still time left the topic wasn’t really argued upon. But as soon as I graduated and obtained the GPA for the university I wanted to get into my sweet mother told me how girls from our culture can’t go abroad for further studies. That is the moment my world came crashing down. My parents could have easily sent me abroad and it was a one year course with no break straight. But the sick thought of what might the “society” say made them kill my goals and dreams. I wanted to pursue a career in journalism in a renowned foreign news channel. Away from the ruckus of this country.
I never wanted to repeat the cycle of how it was like being a girl from a huge Baloch Family. I had goals and dreams far bigger than this society. But another dream was wasted and life was lost. This all made me regret years of my education and studies. I wish either my family had never given me that exposure and if they did they should’ve been kind enough to encourage me to pursue my ambitions and dreams.
This society is not meant for women. They are only treasured when they suffer quietly and that too when they’re dead. I absolutely loathe it when a woman has to shrink herself for the society to feel big about itself. DONT EVER DO THAT. Support your child regardless of their gender to achieve their dream, careers or just don’t make them dream of it next time if you can’t help them achieve it. We put our culture before anything else without realising how much outdated it is. Repeating the same cycle for generations has led to nothing but a steep decline in a lot of families. Their thoughts and existence is limited. I hope we change the society and make it a better place for people (particularly girls) to pursue what they want.
Guess who went over board with lawn and promised herself she won’t be doing it anymore? ME. That’s right. ME. What’s summer without tons of lawn suits you’ll even probably not wear because you prefer staying in Pyjamas at home. Every girl/woman needs dresses just in case they might need to dress up.
HUSSAIN REHAR
I absolutely love his clothes. Specially the lawn unstitched suits. Though you need a lot of effort to find the right laces in at least 3-4 different shapes and designs. I wore his designs on both the Eids this year. His lawn quality is the best amongst Pakistani designers. He also launched Jugnu Pret and I got a yellow 2 piece dress from that collection it’s so cute and the best part is it’s super comfy and super loose. Loose fitted clothes are extremely comfortable to carry in this 44 degrees heat. Do check out his collection if you’re into something similar to these cute dresses.
ZARA SHAHJAHAN
I absolutely love all her collection. From the Eid RTW to her coco lawn collection. The quality never disappoints and they recently opened their outlet in my city previously they only had studios in Karachi. I just realised all the articles I got and/or planning to get are from the same color family, Blue.
If you’re into blues definitely check out her collection. My size in the Pret for completely sold out, will probably visit the studio to see if they have my size available over there. I absolutely love her Coco Collection, it’s perfect for day to day wear. I prefer having minimal embroidery for causal wear clothes because it’s very difficult to carry heavily embroidered lawn clothes in this heat. You want something soft, loose fitted and easy to carry anywhere anytime.
SERÁN
I got a few dresses from this particular collection. Absolutely loved the soft lawn fabric and the easy to carry cotton net and chiffon duppata. The only headache was to find the right laces and getting them dyed. I’m big on all the tiny details of my dresses. These are again easy to carry with minimal embroidery. They have had multiple collections launched too but this collection literally has all my heart for all the florals and cute prints.
ZAIB
Disclaimer: Their stitched options are very loose, if you’re a size small usually just get an extra small.
Absolutely loved the quality of their fabric however the sizing is a bit confusing so I’d recommend you to get in unstitched and get it stitched from your own tailor. Their models are super skinny which makes you think you might want to size up but trust me the fitting doesn’t come in slim fit, it’s loose. I got a dress and will probably never wear it or just give it to my tailor to fix it. Do check it out if you’d opt for something unstitched. Rest it’s all good and pretty.
SAPPHIRE
This is my everyday wear go to brand. The best part is it’s not that pricey and I experiment new designs on them and they turn out to be amazing every single time. The lace, necklines, hem and sleeves I experiment with every single thing. Again their cute minimal prints, duppatas and basic embroidery is what I love the most about this brand.
MIAASA
This is just another Pakistani Footwear brand which I absolutely love. I have a couple of pairs from this amazing brand. Got flats and heels. It’s a very unique brand and different from all these other common shoe brands. The way they sparkle and look is just too good. Whenever I go through their website I just want to order everything. I absolutely love buying shoes in different colors and designs to match my outfits. Just a quick tip make sure you get padded shoes not the ones with a hard plastic sole, otherwise your feet will start killing you and it’s terrible. Comfort needs to go hand in hand together with fashion. They recently started selling their shoes in New York too, and this brand has a long way to go.
Lastly i’d like to say is you can wear the most amazing outfit but at the end of the day it will all come down to how you carry yourself. Take care of yourselves, you are what you eat and think. So eat good and think good/positive too.
We’ve reached the end of the 5th month of this year and the time is just slipping by so fast. Anyways, I have been using some products this year which have been my go to every single time. I’d recommend these to anyone reading this blog post;
Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun : Rice + Probiotics (SPF50+ PA++++)
This is a light yet very creamy and hydrating sunscreen and i’ve been using it for 3 months now. This is contains 30% rice extract which is highly nourishing for the skin. I use it twice throughout the day once after my morning skin routine and the other layer 4-5 hours later throughout the day. I generally use sunblock a lot, even if i’m home i’ll use it.
BeautyofJoseonGinseng Essence Water
I have been using this amazing toner and it’s my go to everytime I wash my face. Ginseng has been a cherished herb in Korean history, renowned for its benefits to our overall health and particularly our skin. This Ginseng Essence Water, is made with 80% ginseng water, harnesses the natural power of ginseng, nourishing and hydrating the skin deeply. This essence not only supplies your skin with ample moisture and nutrients but also ensures long-lasting hydration.
Bioderma Sensibio Gel Moussant
My skin has gotten really sensitive and I cannot use harsh chemicals or cleansers on my face. This has been my favourite facial wash since over a month now. They didn’t have the 200ML size available in my country to I had to order it from abroad. They had the 45ML sizes which hardly lasted me 10 days or maybe 12. This has no fragrance and is amazing when you want to wash off your stubborn mascara or even normally washing your face in the morning.
*remember you need to clean the excess makeup off before washing it with a face wash for a double cleanse and make sure everything comes off before you start your skincare*
Bioderma attoderm moisturiser
This is my favourite moisturiser. This is insanely hydrating. They stopped selling this particular moisturiser in my country *yet again* had to order it from boots and they had an amazing deal of buy 2 get the third one for free. Boots.uk has amazing deals so do check them out when ordering. Bioderma has been my favourite brand since last year.
Cosrx Pimple Patch
We all have that day when we have a pimple show up in the most obvious place on our face , and guess what I got? Cosrx pimple patch. You can literally do all your skincare and put up a patch over your annoying pimple and wait for it to go away.
Armani Luminous Silk Foundation
This foundation is everything. I am so upset that I never listened to people suggesting me this hydrating , sheer coverage and silk foundation before. It feels like your own skin and it gives you such a natural glow. I have used it 3-4 times already and I absolutely love it. This is coming from someone who has used Nars, Huda Beauty, Fenty and Chanel foundations; Armani takes the cake. Also your makeup will only look good if you take care of your skin and your diet. You can get all the expensive stuff but if your skin isn’t doing good you won’t look good.
Nars Creamy Concealer
I’ve been using this concealer since I first got it 2022. Got 2 more this year. The best part? It’s not at all heavy can be used on its own or over your foundation for a more glammed up look.The shelf life of this product is 2 years making it a major plus point to anyone who, like me, throws away makeup after the shelf life has ended.
Kiko Colored LipBalms
I absolutely love these lip balms. They are so hydrating and not too pigmented. It has the perfect balance of both. Even if it comes off it leaves a hint of the pigment on your lips. It has this immense scent of shea butter with a creamy formula. If you’re someone who loves lip balms do try it out.
Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush & Lip Oil
Previously i’d used their lip oil when it came out and I usually just wear it under my lipgloss for that pop of color. It’s really long lasting and hydrating and a perfect substitute for lipsticks. The cheek tint however is absolutely lovely. A little goes a long way, one dot is enough for your cheeks and i’ll definitely be repurchasing these items. I got the dewy liquid blush in the shade happy.
L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream
I’m a complete germaphobe and I tend to wash my hands a lot. I prefer using mild soap since they are less drying and then boom I got this hand cream and I always use it whenever I wash my hands. It doesn’t have an extremely strong scent and it is very thick consistency and immensely hydrating. This can be used as a hand mask too for immense hydration.
Summer Fridays Lip Balm
Another absolute favourite lip balm has to Summer Fridays lip balm in the flavor; pink sugar. The scent of vanilla is very overpowering in this lip balm and it gives a hint of sugar too making it really cute. This is the best product you can carry in your bag and if you’re someone who doesn’t like using lipsticks. For all my lip balm and lip gloss girlies I’d suggest this lip balm. I’m definitely getting 3-4 different flavors in this now.
YSL LIBRE INTENSE EDP
I am a huge fan of Vanilla and Tonka generally and whatever perfume has these two as base notes tend to grab my attention super quick. I got this a couple of weeks ago and I reach for this perfume every single time. I absolutely love how it dries down on skin, it’s a perfect balance of everything. If you’re a girl who loves buying perfumes and still hasn’t gotten their hands on this one i’d suggest go for it.
