Happy New Years | Naimah.A.

                                                                           Hello Dolls

                       I'm so excited to finally be writing a New Year's post. As per usual every year has drastic ups and downs and I wouldn't trade my experiences for the world. 2017 was my "WHAT IF" year. I was constantly second guessing myself wondering if I was good enough, smart enough, strong enough for every situation I faced. I broke a lot of internal doubt in 2017 and embraced a new found courage within. I cut all my hair off so I can break my internalized beauty standards. I experimented with different hair styles and looks which helped me create a new sense of style. I got out of my comfort zone and  collaborated with different artists along the way. In 2017 I knocked down the walls of "WHAT IF" and found my inner courage all over again. I'm so excited to see what 2018 brings. I'm not a resolutions kinda girl but I will keep you posted on the growth and progress I make this time around next year. Life is too short and I want to live up each moment to the best of my abilities and I hope you do too. I hope you guys like this post till next time XOXO

Finally 21 | Naimah.A

Hello Dolls 

                        I hope all is well wherever your beautiful souls are at. My 21st birthday was this passed Thursday and I can't explain how long I anticipated for this day to hit. My adult life birthdays have been very basic in the past few years ,and it was mainly because of me not showing my internal excitement. I always had some fairy tale hope that all the people that love me will come together and throw me a massive celebration to remember. The reality of my past birthdays have been nothing like that in fact my 19th birthday was a surprise mess. This year I wanted to take matters into my own hands and celebrate my growth made within this year. 

                  Being 20 comes with some sort of independence but 21 is when u fully knock all the barriers down and your considered a real adult. I'm so grateful for my cousins and my best friend who are all practically my sisters for taking they're time to make me feel special on this day. I'm so grateful for all the growth I've made within this year and for all the amazing experiences that took place. I'm also grateful for all the birthday wishes and excited to see what this year has in store. Till next time XOXO

My hair journey | Naimah.A.

Hello Dolls 

           I've been through so many drastic hair changes in the past couple of months (gosh it's exhausting lol). I always wanted to experiment with my hair but never knew where to start. My hair journey has taught me so much about myself and it goes a little like this. I grew up on braids and protective styles so, it wasn't shocking when my boyish self got mistaken for my brother. I liked it a whole lot and didn't find nothing wrong with it until I got to high school and most girls had their hair figured out. I used to wear the hijab for the most part but as soon I decided to show my hair the big reveal wasn't too impressive. I didn't know how to make the frizz in my hair go away or have my edges laid like most girls. I would take the easiest route and straighten my hair every morning before school, and I still didn't feel beautiful. I remember how difficult it was for me to get my hair to look sleek straight and frizz free for my graduation. Oh how much I cringe every time I look back at those pictures. 

                   After not having to wake up everyday to straighten my hair, I stumbled across YouTube videos that cater to a girl like myself. I learned a lot about different curl patterns and ways of caring for my hair. That's when I cut my hair to my ear length and nurtured my curls for almost 2 years. My patients has paid off and right when I was fully fulfilled; I chose to switch gears and cut my hair all off. Everybody kept asking why I did it as if I sacrificed a baby to the wolves and I always told them 'I just felt like it'. I felt so beautiful with my short hair and I truly never felt so free and powerful in my whole life. I dyed my hair blonde, and it's been the first time ever changing my hair color so you can only imagine how I felt. With all that taking place I decided to take it back to the old school days and get myself some box braids. As you can tell from down below I really love my new hair style and I hope you stick around more for my hair transformation. I worked with a local photographer named @allouisjphotography, and he's helped me capture these amazing photos of myself. You should go give his Instagram posts a look you'll be amazed. Till next time loves XOXOXO

Outfit Details
 Sweater : Forever21
 Jeans : Gab
Sox : Rue21
Shoes : Zumies 

What Rupi Kaur taught me | Naimah.A.

Hello Dolls

                   I hope all is well wherever your beautiful souls are at. I recently picked up a new read form a local bookstore called The Sun and the flowers writen by Rupi Kaur. I have read her previous poetry book which has moved me beyond measures. So I figured picking up the new book will bring back the thrill of reading poems to me. After reading this masterpiece I felt that it has spoken volume to my soul. She covered so many things from having immigrant parents, being a first generation American, to self love, and healing. Here is one of many poems that resonated to me...

"How do I shake this envy 
when I see you doing so well 
sister how do I love myself enough to know
your accomplishments are not my failures"

         Growing up being raised by an immigrant mother comparison to other kids was a form of encouragement. I for one hated it growing up, but looking back I know my mother wanted nothing but the best for me. I didn't have the highest self esteem growing up either so excelling in nearly everything was so important. I was really hard on myself  and failure wasn't acceptable until it became a routine. That's where I had to learn to be okay with failing and being happy if one of my peers accomplished something I wanted to. The next poem that had also hit home for me goes a little like this.

"I made change after change
on the road to perfection
but when I finally felt beautiful enough 
their definition of beauty 
suddenly changed 

What if there is no finish line 
and in an attempt to keep up 
I lose the gift I was born with 
for a beauty so insecure 
it con't commit to itself"

         The unrealistic beauty standards that society holds for women is constantly changing and evolving. For women like me to constantly doubt ourselves and chase after the new beauty trends is for many reasons unhealthy and exhausting. I for one gave up early on beauty standards that in all reality has no substance and holds no truth to me. I hope you guys enjoyed this post and give Rupi Kaur new book a read. Down below are photo's I've collaborated on with @meeksmediaofficial on Instagram be sure to check out his amazing work. Till next time xoxoxo

Outfit Details 

Top : Forever 21

Pants : Amazon 

Heel : Cape Robbin

The art of collaborating | Naimah.A

Hello Dolls

                       I hope all is well wherever your beautiful souls are at. Today I wanted to write a post that cateres to all the creatives who don't live in a large city packed with opportunities. It can get a bit frustrating for some of us with massive dreams and limited access to exposure and opportunities. I am an example of a creative who constantly had big ideas and wanted them to come to life but didn't quite have the proper tools. I always hoped for a big brand to notice me and sponsor my visions in anyway possible. That is not always ideal when you are one of many trying to be noticed. So in my quest to recognition I learned the art of collaborating with other creatives and bringing our unique skills together. You won't believe how much can be accomplished when different skills come into play. It can be a bit challenging to step out of your comfort zone at first but once you do, asking others to collaborate with you will be second nature.

              I have got such an amazing opportunity to work with an old high school friend of mine whose drive still blows me away. She has an amazing line of T-shirts that rep the city area code she's from. When I asked her what was the Inspiration behind the amazing brand this is what she said " Since I've started 7FortyGear I've always had trouble answering the question on what inspired me to make my brand. Now after almost a year I can honestly say I started 7FortyGear to give others around me hope that you can do anything you set your heart to do, no matter where you come from. I started this so my city can be a city of believers and achievers." It was really inspirational seeing someone I practically grew up with make such an impact. I myself own a pair of 7FortyGear and I had fun styling it for my look down below. If you would like to purchase any of the 7FortyGear press here and show my entrepreneur friend support. I hope you guys enjoyed this post, Till next time XoXo.

Outfit Details 
T-shirt : 7FortyGear
Overall : Levi's
Sox: Zumies
Boots : Forever21

Beautiful You | Naimah.A.

Hello Dolls

                    I hope all is well wherever your beautiful souls are at. I recently came across a wonderful video posted by Trace Ellis Ross who to me is one of the many incredible women I look up to. The short clip that I watch has moved me beyond measures reminding me how far we've came with self acceptance. Growing up I remember seeing advertisements and looking up to women with different complexion and features then me. I never understood how misleading it could be to my young mind until I became a teen and my insecurities heightened. I call this my awkward teen faze where my hair was a frizz ball I had a huge overbite, and an odd body shape that didn't resemble any of the high school musical characters I liked. Now that I am a lot older I am happy to see so many of the beauty standards being challenged instead of blindly followed. I'm here to encourage you to start your self love journey if you already haven't and, embrace your individuality that sets you apart from the rest. I hope you guys enjoyed this post till next time XOXO.

Identity crisis | Naimah.A.

Hello dolls

              A lot of times I hear the term "America is a melting pot" usually used to describe the amount of  diversity here in the United States. Many of us being born here or living here for over 20 years have an underlined American culture no matter where you'r ethnically from. We have Chinese Americans, Mexican American, and many more ethnicities who share an underlined American culture. The reality is if any of us actually go back to our homelands we feel a bit of a disconnect with the culture because we didn't go to the local schools or listen to most of the local music.

             I as an ethnically half Somali and half African American found the mix of both cultures made my life a bit unique. Growing up I was raised by a single Somali mother and a lot of people would question if I was even her child. I had features a lot like my dad same with my brother so I would constantly get reminded how my nose was rounder than most Somalis. When I went to school I got a rude awaking reminding me how I wasn't Somali/African American enough. Most times there would be that one ignorant person who would laugh at me for even claiming that to be a mix. Race can be one of the most defining sociodemographic characteristic of a person so when your from two different ethnic groups you feel like you have to pick a side just to fit in.

            The term mixed- race can also be so vague because to many this implies your mostly of the common mix of Caucasian and some sort of African. There is no fluidity when it comes to race or any other social category we tend to make everything a binary either you're one thing or another. A further example would be Barack Obama who is considered to be the first black president and not the first biracial president of the united states. Basically people don't ask mix race kids about their history and perspective on a lot of things. It's either you fit into a category that speaks for you or you simply aren't spoken for. Mixed- race people is the fastest growing demographic in the world and I feel we each have a unique story to tell. I hope you guys enjoyed this post and took something meaningful away from it. Till next time XOXOXO

Outfit Details 

Dress : Forever21

Jacket : forever21 Men

Shoes : Rue21

why so serious | Naimah.A.

Hello Dolls 

                      As a young girl I remember all the time I would waste day dreaming about being an adult. I loved the idea of having pizza for breakfast and snacking on cookies late at night. I also like the idea of  being responsible and not being told what to do so being an adult was merely a dream. When I finally hit 18 years of age I told myself I have to wear my big girl panties and figure this whole adulting thing out. I wish adulting was a slice of cheese pizza for breakfast because it sure wasn't. I noticed how many expectations I put on adulting along with the ones thrown at me by others which left me in a constant worry. My day dreams slowly shifted to me running around barefoot and carefree as a child. I didn't know what I signed up for and I don't think any teenager hitting adulthood does. I took life way too serious as an adult and put a brick loud of expectations on the smallest of problems I had. 

                          I then found what I call an "ADULT CHILDHOOD" that keeps me from going insane in my realm of thoughts. It consist of a whole lot of coloring and pizza for breakfast I tell you that. I sometimes catch myself racing a child to the last swing just so I can swing on it. I have some of the parents give me that look and little do they now I am a child at heart and there is nothing they can do to stop my joy. I genuinely find my happiness in little things like that and so can all of you. As you can tell in this outfit I hunted down a colorful wall that spoke to my "Adult childhood" and also gives this look a lot of life. I went for my classic mom jeans that I clearly have over worn and simple black pumps. I also pared this look with my favorite cropped hoodie and an over sized pare of glasses to give it a nerdy flare. I hope you guys enjoy this post and find balance somewhere along you adult lives. Till next time XOXOXO 

Outfit Details 

Crop Hoodie : Vans 

Jeans : Levis 

Heels : H&M

Naimah & Warsan's Adventures | Naimah.A.

Hello Dolls 

            I hope all is well where ever your beautiful souls are at. Today I'm here to share a very exciting post that is very dear to my heart. My lovely cousin Warsan has invited me to the west coast to progress our long over due adventures. This all started out last year roughly around the same time when Warsan has payed me a surprise visit at Doha, Qatar. I was so overwhelmed with excitement that I decided to capture our times together through photo's. For this time around I traveled all the way to L.A and spent time exploring the local streets with her. I felt that L.A was one of the most memorable trips that I have taken in 2017. It was an extreme culture shock being at a place where every one was in their own world. I even got the chance to take a picture at the infamous pink wall which belongs too the Paul Smith store in West Hollywood. I hope you enjoy the photos we've captured and please comment and share this post. Till next time XOXOXO

Outfit Details #1 

leggings : Forever21

Jacket : Forever21

Shoes : Rue 21

Outfit Details #2

T-shirt : Metallica 

Leggings : Forever21

Jacket : Fashion Q

Visuals | Naimah.A

Hello Dolls

            I'm here to drop some amazing visuals taken by my close friend Yohanna. I'm going on a trip to Los Angeles, California in the up coming week and I'm going to do a mixture of travel and fashion posts. I have always wanted to do a travel post where I get to explore and share my experiences along side with what I wear. I hopefully make those visuals come true and share it with you guys. Till next time xoxoxo

Outfit Details 

Heels : Forever21

Leggings : Forever21

Top : Charlotte Russe 

Jacket : Zara