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SHAKE IT OFF

Lisa Gabriel Photography

Another week has gone by and I’ve managed to maintain a mindset that has gotten me through some really stressful moments. I have been juggling so much lately that it almost seems impossible to remain positive. I am in the business of motivating people whether it be through fashion, dance and ultimately the way they perceive themselves which is why it is so important that I practice what I preach. It would make absolutely no sense for me to preach self-confidence and positivity if I myself am lacking in that field.

When I find myself feeling low or doubtful, I remind myself of all the things I am instead of lingering on what I ‘think’ is a negative trait. Sometimes those negatives can be turned into positives just as quickly as your mind disillusioned those traits into negatives in the first place. It helps to surround yourself with those who believe in your goals and do activities that enriches your soul. If you follow me on Instagram then you would know that I did a sunrise hike up Lions Head this week and I can tell you that if ever you need clarification, take a peak at mother nature.

About this look:

To go along with my semi – ‘calm’ way of dealing with life, I think this look is the right dose of casual-chic. You could just as easily throw on a pair of sneakers as you would a pair of heels, making this look super versatile. Although this look has a semi-boyish charm to it, it still remains feminine so let’s just say that any ‘cool’ girl can rock this outfit. I have also been eyeing this tasseled- jacket for quite some time so I just had to share it with my readers. There is so much you could actually do with this look but this is my interpretation. Email me with your thoughts, I would love to be in touch and hear from my readers. What would your interpretation be?

Lindy Lins Makeup (book here)

Lisa Gabriel Photography (book here)

Lindy Lins Makeup

Topshop jacket & top, Forever 21 pants, River Island heels

Lookbook Outfit Street style

ME AND MY DUNGAREE

Lisa Gabriel photography

Lindy Lins makeup

This dungaree is the most comfortable and practical thing I have gotten in a while. It’s nice to ditch the skin-tight jeans and resurrect some childhood staples. A few posts back, I rocked a skin-tight dungaree whilst this post showcases the more classic version of the dungaree and personally, classic is aways best. I love how many versions of the dungaree there actually is making it almost impossible for you to miss this trend. The one thing that I love is that it can be rocked both in Summer and Winter in different variations according to personal preference. I am quite schizophrenic when it comes to my style, I would wear this dungaree with a pair of sneakers and a pair of heels. It all depends on my mood on the day.

About this look:

As you might have gathered, I chose to style this look in the more ‘girly’ fashion whilst straying away from the typical. There is a very close association between ‘girly’ and ‘typical’. This is why I have opted to pair this dungaree with a beautiful light-dusty pink polar neck. I stuck to the same colour concept when choosing a shoe. I chose to wear heels because I am quite curvy around the hips and because this dungaree is quite baggy, I wanted to add some length and not look like I was drowning.

Lisa Gabriel photography (book here)

Lindy Lins makeup (book here)

Introduction to BOOTYFULL

As some of you have seen that follow my social media pages, myself and professional choreographer have joined forces to create the ultimate confidence-builder and dance class for women. It’s a concept that materialised when I was looking for hip hop classes but not the generic type – the type that can make me feel sexy whilst working up a sweat. I did my first class with Courtney and posted a video on Instagram. I then suggested for us to take this a step further and start classes. Courtney and I developed the concept and together, materialised it into something amazing and something that had been lying dormant for so long – A class for women that builds their confidence through dance and other confidence-builder exercises. Aside from the massive mirror keeping us motivated, these ladies genuinely feel better about themselves when they leave our classes both mentally and physically and that alone keeps us motivated.

We are only in our fourth week and have done a radio interview and generated sponsorship. This is only the beginning and we are so excited for this venture. I will have a section of my blog dedicated the BOOTYFULL workshop with all the information really soon. With Courtney being a master of his craft, we make a great team – better than either one of us could have ever anticipated and this is only the beginning.

Courtney Smith & Nadia Jaftha

Lookbook Outfit Street style

TIME TO CHANGE

Lindy Lins makeup

Lisa Gabriel photography

I’ve been going through so many changes lately but then again, change is the one constant thing in life. Some changes we embrace whilst some changes, we fear but things don’t remain the same no matter how much we would like them to. I have always been the type of person to embrace change. Some of you may have noticed that I cut my hair and I can honestly say that it is the most liberating thing I have ever done. It forced me to embrace a beauty I never knew existed before I removed my mask and stepped out of my comfort zone. My style is also always under constant construction. I never stick to one specific style because I believe that in order to evolve, one must be willing to change and that refers to all facets of life.

About this Look:

Along with my new cut, my style has changed slightly. I find myself gearing my attention to the more minimalistic way of dressing and foe me that’s something ‘different’. I’m usually one to be flamboyant and loud with my style but lately, I’ve found that it’s not necessarily what you wear but how confident you feel when wearing it. I always felt the need to be noticed or the more ‘unusual’ I dressed, the ‘cooler’ I’ll be but secretly, I’d feel uncomfortable. This dress is so cute and perfect for a night out with the girls or can be worn to the office. It’s appropriate for almost every occasion and is very ‘clueless’. I added a bit of edge by throwing on a leather jacket. A good leather jacket can go with almost EVERYTHING! These lace-up block heels adds something extra by just making this look scream minimalistic – chic. I always love a good pair of practical heels because us gals love comfort and these block heels are perfect for the girl that wants to be stylish and comfortable.

Lindy Lins makeup (book here)

Lisa Gabriel photography (book here)

Zara dress & jacket, River Island heels

Lookbook Outfit

WHIMISICAL

Lindy lins makeup

Along with the softening of the trees in Summer, I tend to soften my style.Generally, the mood of your surroundings should determine the mood of your style and just like my moods and the seasons that are constantly changing, so is my style. I mean, it’s mother nature after all, we change our moods constantly. I never believe that our style should be stagnant especially if you are a lover of fashion. It’s okay to play around and we’ll eventually figure out what works and what doesn’t.

About the look:

This Kendal and Kylie playsuit from Forever New SA borders the perfect balance of lady-like and fierce. It’s a statement and is suitable for basically any body type. It’s light-weight and the cut allows you to move comfortably and confidently and as a woman, it’s rare to find clothing that appeals to all your needs. It’s usually a case of, ‘it makes my legs look fat’ or something along those lines. Ladies, you can see the size of my legs so if I feel confident then there’s no excuse for you. I also love that the animal print on this playsuit is blurred and the high-neck cuff adds that extra edge. The fixed waist-band further accentuates the frame and automatically creates an hour-glass frame or the illusion of one at least. I love that you can be silly or serious in this playsuit and ultimately yourself.

Lindy Lins makeup (book here)

Lisa Gabriel photography (book here)

Lisa Gabriel photography

Forever New playsuit & Steve Madden heels

Lookbook Outfit

TIMELESS PERCEPTION

Lindy Lins Makeup

Lisa Gabriel photography

If you follow my Instagram account, then you would probably be so sick of seeing this dress but I am so obsessed with it that I couldn’t resist doing a post with Lisa featuring this amazing dress. In general, I’m not really one for loose-fitting dresses or the colour green but this dress so effortlessly moves to the shape of my body whilst still remaining loose in it’s frame. It’s not everyday that a curvy girl such as myself can find a dress that is not tight-fitting and still compliments my frame so beautifully.

I’ve started to kind of steer away from body-cons just because it is my comfort-zone and a comfort zone is a dangerous place to be in all aspects of your life. With that being said, one of my resolutions for 2016 – as mundane as it might sound, is to step out of my comfort zone in all spheres. Let us not dwell on the past but gear towards the future with full force. Happy 2016 and let’s rock this year together.

I have also launched my Strada Chic online store which I am so proud of so if you have a chance, please check it out and let me know what you think. I am always open to CONSTRUCTIVE criticism.

Lisa Gabriel photography (book here)

Lindy Lins makeup (book here)

Topshop dress & Steve Madden shoes

Lookbook Outfit

BLOOM

Lindy Lins makeup

Lisa Gabriel photography

As I sit and reflect over the past year, I find myself amazed at how much I have actually grown as a person and as a digital influencer. For me, when I began my journey into becoming a blogger, the toughest thing to deal with was that my opinion didn’t really matter because I was not well known yet. I do not consider myself that well know currently but compared to a few months ago, I’d say I’m starting to make my mark as each day comes. Some of the bloggers I was inspired by I now share conversation with and that is one of the things I love about being a blogger is that it truly is a community of individuals from all walks of life.

I love that bloggers are started to be taken more seriously. A few months ago when asked what I do, my response would always be a hesitated answer of ‘I’m an aspiring blogger’ with hopes that I wouldn’t be judged too harshly. When I stopped being ‘intimated’, I started to find my own voice and realized that my voice is actually my greatest asset. For those who wish to become bloggers but feel they are not good enough because there are so many other successful bloggers out there, please get rid of this mentality because everyone has to start somewhere. I know exactly how you are feeling because I was there not too long ago.

About this look:

Both the top and skirt are from Forever New and are on sale. I bought both items separately and they just work beautifully together. The skirt is light-weight and perfect for Summer. The top can be worn both casually and for special occasions depending on how you choose to dress it up. Paired with a hat and heels from River island, we’re ready for that perfect Summers day.

Lindy Lins makeup: (book here)

Lisa Gabriel photography (book here)

River Island hat & shoes, Forever New top & skirt

Lookbook Outfit

BLACK + GOLD

River Island hat, Witchery crop and shorts, Topshop shoes, H&M bracelets

Lisa Gabriel photography

My favourite part about this look is that it can be worn and mixed in so many ways. I just decided to pair this off-the-shoulder mesh crop with these amazing black shorts because I had recently purchased both items and wanted to showcase it to my readers. I always love to pair black and gold because I’m not really one for accessories and when I do wear jewellery, I like to keep it simple and have pieces that I can use over and over again and gold goes with almost anything.

Also, these pieces can be worn all year round and if paired correctly,they become timeless pieces and a real investment. I believe that almost anything, if bought in the colour black are investment pieces because black never goes out of style. Gone are the days and the notion that one has to wear bright colours for Summer. The mesh sleeves makes it perfect and breathable for Summer and Winter if paired with a leather jacket and jeans. It’s also important to pick silhouettes that make you feel confident and comfortable. I have quite a curvy figure so I always love to frame the smallest parts of my body because it is much more flattering for my body type.

Lindy Lin’s makeup: (book here)

Lisa Gabriel photography: (book here)

Lindy lin’s makeup

Lookbook Outfit

MONOCHROME

Lisa Gabriel photography

I know I have been off the radar recently but things are moving at a thousand beats a minute in my life right now. With the upcoming launch of my online store, I’ve barely had enough time to do as much posts as I’d want to do and my laptop has been away for the past 2 weeks so the second I got it back, I couldn’t wait to share some new content with my readers.

Lately, I’ve been committing myself to simplicity and living by the motto of ‘less is more’. I think the most common misconception for those who are wanting to start a blog is the constant need to be ‘different’. I would know because I fell victim to this. I felt that my blog wouldn’t gain as much recognition or ‘respect’ if I didn’t push boundaries when it came to the way I dressed. The best piece of advice that I can dispense is to make sure that you are comfortable and confident in what you are wearing. Don’t follow a trend if it doesn’t truly resonate with your character. Dispose of this bad habit because at the end of the day, part of having a blog is remaining true and authentic – so if you like to wear crocs with army shorts then ROCK it as long as you are comfortable. I don’t have a blog because I feel my way of dressing is superior to yours, I have a blog because I’d like to share what makes me feel, comfortable and confident and if it so happens that you can relate to some of my content, then i’ve achieved what I set out to achieve.

Don’t get me wrong, I love keeping up to date with fashion trends but only those I truly can feel myself in. If not, then wait for the next trend but if you’re not one to keep to trends then there’s nothing wrong with starting your own. Isn’t that what all great fashion designers do? Just because I LOVE fashion, doesn’t mean I have to love every trend. I mean, I love chocolate but even chocolate addicts have their preferences – like I hate dark chocolate.

I remember one of my best friends started wearing her moms high-waisted skirts in grade 9 already, when it wasn’t trendy and low and behold, it made its appearance and to be honest, a good high-waisted skirt is an essential for me.

At the end of the day, If I can make you feel confident then my work in done. Be happy and comfortable with yourself above anything else.

About this look:

I feel monochrome is always relevant when sticking to fashion trends. Monochrome just screams sophistication and speaks to the girl that is truly comfortable in her own skin. It’s a classic trend that can be dressed up or down in so many interesting ways. For this particular look, I decided to pair this pleather t-shirt with my high – waisted lace shorts and suede boots. Seeing that all three fabrics are black, I can get away with the fact that they are different textures. In fact, it adds a bit of depth to my look. Ending off with my Strada Chic blazer, it gives my look that extra kick, don’t you think?

Lisa Gabriel photography (book here)

Strada Chic Blazer, Woolworths t-shirt, Forever New shorts, River Island boots

Lookbook Outfit

WHITE OUT

Zuri necklace, Strada Chic knot top and pants, Steve Madden heels

Lisa Gabriel photography

If there was ever a time to start wearing white, it would be this Summer! It’s so versatile because it can take you from casual to smart. Let me give you a classic example of this – If I were to be wearing a basic Panama hat with a pair of flats, this look would instantly be transformed into a more casual look.

About this look:

Clearly, I have decided to dress this look up by wearing a pair of nude heels and adding a simple gold necklace. The two deciding factors when determining whether a look is ‘smart’ or ‘casual’ rests with the shoes and the accessories. If you would like to jump on the white on white trend this Summer then check out some of the items I’ve listed below that you can purchase and be on trend this Summer.

The gold accessories really complements white if you are going for more a sophisticated look. This triangle hand-piece from From Turkey with Love is amazing and if you would like to order then feel free to visit their website. All their pieces are simply beautiful!

Also if you would like to order either my Strada Chic knot top or side-tie pant then please email me to pre-order from my S16/17 range. My online store will be available soon but for now, please feel free to pop me an email. I look forward to hearing from you.

Lindy Lins makeup (book here)

Lisa Gabriel photography (book here)

Strada Chic white out set (purchase here)

From Turkey with Love (order here)

Lindy Lins makeup

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Lookbook Outfit

STRADA CHIC | SHE’S GOING PLACES

Lindy lins makeup

Strada Chic dress, FromTurkey with Love jewellery, Steve Madden shoes

Have you ever felt like what you wear represents you as a person? We may not all feel this way but I for one do. If you see me on a daily basis then you would know that I don’t really ‘dress up’ on a daily. However, for my blog, I wish to portray a certain version of myself, a version that all of my readers can relate to on a stylish level and somewhat on a personal level. This is why, when we want to portray different versions of ourselves whether we do it consciously or unconsciously, one of the ways in which we do so is in the way we dress. For example, you’re not going to go to a buisness dinner dressed in your sweats, will you?

About this look:

There’s something about my STRADA CHIC dress that encompasses an air of confidence for the girl wearing this dress that screams, ‘she’s going places’. There’s something so effortless about it and that’s the way I designed. Ultimately, confidence is one of the most important tools a girl can possess and what better way to feel confident and comfortable? If a girl has confidence, she is truly capable of anything. I decided to pair this dress with nude heels because personally, I don’t think that anything should overpower this dress as it is a statement on it’s own. In fact, I have added a bit of edge by adding this MAC lipstick but still keeping it sophisticated by adding these stunning pieces of jewellery from From Turkey with Love. You can visit their website if you would like to purchase any other of their beautiful pieces. Also, the sleek-back look is a first for me, I usually let my hair go with the wind but I feel this look is working for me. What do you think?

Lindy Lins makeup (book here)

Lisa Gabriel photography (book here)

From Turkey with Love (purchase here)

Note: My online store will be available soon but for now, if you would like to pre-order my STRADA CHIC dress then please feel free to pop me an email.

Lisa Gabriel photography

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