
STYLE
30 May 2018
Sweet Embroidered Cloth Ballet Flats from China & My Sartorial Willpower

Maybe you remember this flowy green high-front-low-back top that I wore on Eid two years ago? I expressed excitement at the anticipation of wearing it with jeans in that Eid outfit post, so #goalsachieved as this is already the second time I'm jeans-ing the versatile top on the blog.

STYLE
26 May 2018
Modesty Is Priority | Pleated Dress, Rainbow Glitter Boots & Bejeweled Bag from Dubai

Usually when Ramadhan rolls around I'd already be thinking about shopping for outfits for the celebratory month of Syawal, but living part-time in two cities and the resulting exhaustion from having to travel constantly between three cities (we still have to occasionally visit Shah's hometown after all) kind of take the fun out of planning Syawal fashion, though.
Thankfully I already have an outfit for the morning of Eid (fyi also the first day of Syawal) that I bought a looong time ago though, so that's one less unticked things on my Eid To-Do List!
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Extra read: What is an "open house"?


Generally, Malaysians wear modest outfits when attending Malay weddings and open houses, and more often than not the outfits worn to those events are interchangeable. I wore this black dress with a gorgeous bejeweled bag (really, isn't it gorgeous?) bought in Dubai's Textile Souk, paired with these rainbow glittery boots to a friend's wedding, but I can see myself wearing this getup while attending a future open house.
But perhaps sans the glittery boots though; it's just easier to wear shoes that are easy to slip on and off as, after all, it is customary here to take off your shoes before entering one's house!
PS: Read the dramatic story of how I came to own this black pleated dress.
PPS: Explore the hashtag #ModestyIsPriority on Instagram to see more of my modest outfits!
Wearing: Uniqlo pleated black dress | Zara rainbow glittery boots | Bejewelled bag fro Textile Souk, Dubai | Heart-shaped earrings from Seoul

STYLE
21 May 2018
My Airport Outfit (That I Didn't Wear To The Airport) | Adidas Velour Track Pants & Sneakers
Ever since I picked up these velour track pants, they were all I wore whenever I was in for a long-haul flight — to and from; I would actually send it for washing at wherever hotel I stayed at just so that I could have them on again for my flight back home.
I haven't travelled since my trip to Seoul in March but I don't want to just leave the pants unworn and all unloved in my closet! Plus, they're not only really comfy but make me feel like a hijabi version of J Lo circa early 2000's, the era of Juicy Couture and velour tracksuits — remember?
PS: J Lo is obviously still freakin' smokin' hot now (have you SEEN her in those Guess posters?) but she was seh-MOWWW-kinnn hawt back then, OK.
On my flights I'd usually pair the pants with a dark t-shirt (stemming from a fear of spilling things on my clothes), sneakers and a jacket or a sweater as it gets pretty cold on board, so this is a pretty accurate representation of my usual airport outfit — except I'm wearing a white tee here (no need to worry about staining my tee with mango juice from a plastic cup) and added cat-eye sunglasses in lieu of my glasses.

(Note: "History" being the fact that I brought it home with me, stashed it among my other clutches and for some reason waited to debut it on this blog alongside a pair of velour track pants.)
One question: do you prefer the orange-tinted cat-eye sunglasses I'm wearing here or the gold-rimmed black version from the How To Make A Regular Outfit Fancier post?
Wearing: Levi's oversized denim jacket | Adidas "Tokyo" t-shirt | Adidas velour track pants | Adidas Superstar sneakers | Cotton On cat-eye sunglasses

Recent Happenings
18 May 2018
What Happened Recently
I used to do similar "What Happened Recently" posts with the intention of making it a series but it's been forgotten until now! I feel like it's a chance for me to share some relatively more personal/intimate tidbits about myself on this blog.
Let's get on with it, shall we?
1.
The holy month of Ramadhan is here, so wishing Ramadhan Mubarak to my Muslim readers ❤. I hope those who are fasting are coping well — make sure you sahur every day!
(Note: If you aren't sure what sahur or suhur is, Wikipedia = best friend.)
PS: My first ever "What Happened Recently" post was coincidentally published at the beginning of Ramadhan two years ago.
3.
Had the BEST lamb chop I ever had in my life at Hotel Maya in Kuala Lumpur. (Oops I mean second best, sorry Shah, please still make me your lamb chop.) The side dishes and its sauce were not to my liking though but oh God I'm salivating just thinking about how the tender meat cut almost like butter! (Only virtually salivating, it's Ramadhan after all.)
My red blood count has been a little lower than normal so I was advised by a doctor to consume more iron-filled food. While I've been amping up my pumpkin seeds and greens intake, it's nice to have a good excuse to eat red meat and shellfishes too, I'll be honest!
5.
OK, so this is a huge one: I just got my own car! And not just any car too, it is my dream tiny red Beetle car! It's just so adorable that I've asked Shah if we could do a photoshoot with the car as my background — while it's still brand-new — and he actually seems on board with the (somewhat ridiculous and hilarious but hopefully not narcissistic) idea, so let's see if this plan materialise...
Let's get on with it, shall we?
1.
The holy month of Ramadhan is here, so wishing Ramadhan Mubarak to my Muslim readers ❤. I hope those who are fasting are coping well — make sure you sahur every day!
(Note: If you aren't sure what sahur or suhur is, Wikipedia = best friend.)
PS: My first ever "What Happened Recently" post was coincidentally published at the beginning of Ramadhan two years ago.
2.
Watched A Quiet Place and I loved loved LOVED it — amazing acting by the stars (especially Emily Blunt!) and fantastic directing by John Krasinski. I can't remember the last time I shed tears in the movies before watching this.
Had the BEST lamb chop I ever had in my life at Hotel Maya in Kuala Lumpur. (Oops I mean second best, sorry Shah, please still make me your lamb chop.) The side dishes and its sauce were not to my liking though but oh God I'm salivating just thinking about how the tender meat cut almost like butter! (Only virtually salivating, it's Ramadhan after all.)
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4.
Finished the first season of the rebooted Queer Eye on Netflix and now I CANNOT wait for season two. I adore all members of the new Fab 5 but I think I have a tiny mild crush on Tan, is that weird?
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5.
OK, so this is a huge one: I just got my own car! And not just any car too, it is my dream tiny red Beetle car! It's just so adorable that I've asked Shah if we could do a photoshoot with the car as my background — while it's still brand-new — and he actually seems on board with the (somewhat ridiculous and hilarious but hopefully not narcissistic) idea, so let's see if this plan materialise...
So what's been happening with you?
A post shared by Liyana Aris (@theliyanaaris) on

STYLE
16 May 2018
Why I Love Blazers
When I first started wearing the hijab about seven years ago I had to find ways to utilise my already-existing clothing pieces, as overhauling my entire wardrobe was not a viable option for my wallet + bank account (but not-so-oddly the complete opposite of what my heart said).
That meant "hijabifying" said pieces was crucial but turns out it wasn't all that difficult. I already owned a bunch of cardigans, jackets and blazers which "rescued" a lot of outfits; I could still wear my favourite sleeveless/short-sleeved tops and dresses just by throwing one of those outerwears over them.
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(Tucked-in blazer is now a thing, as I recently discovered. Also: ten points if you can name another way to wear a blazer!)
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We're still in that "Blazer Moment" which means there are crazy many options out there. Even though my go-to blazer is the long navy one I bought in Tokyo, my personal fave at the mo is this glen plaid blazer which I've paired with a black maxi dress here (probably bought in 2006 or 2007 and in amazing condition, so proud of this fact), super cute bronze ribboned mules I got recently, a little vintage "flurry" bag and statement earrings.
I wore this plaid blazer on my birthday this year but my first outfit on that day (I'm a high-maintenance birthday gal) consisted of a different blazer.
If that isn't proof that I love blazers, I don't know what is.
Some think blazers are too serious for regular daily wear, which is cool, as to each their own.
How about you though? Are you a blazer fan as well?
Wearing: H&M glen plaid blazer | Mango ribbon mules | Bag from Kinji Used Clothing, Tokyo | Lovisa earrings

STYLE
13 May 2018
The Floral 'Pajama' Shirt
I wonder why people love to hate on the whole floral-for-spring thing? Could it really be the result of Devil Wears Prada's iconic line? Sure, it isn't all that "groundbreaking" but isn't floral for spring as synonymous as pastels are for spring, or warm hues for autumn, or, dark purple-red lipsticks for winter?
Either way I'm just going to continue to dress free as a bird (and get away with wearing this shirt all-year round regardless of what season it is in other countries + sans judgment in Malaysia).
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Honestly though, if anything, it seems like people like me who don't live in a four-season country are the ones living for these season signifiers, probably because that's the only way we get to feel each season.
I wish wish WISH this floral pajama shirt came with matching pants because if you don't know this, I happen to love looking like I "woke up like dis". But even on its own, the thin, cooling-to-the-skin comfy shirt made a great addition to my-country-is-hot-and-humid wardrobe.
More pajama vibezzz on Affordorable: Cat Print Silky Pajama Shirt, I Woke Up Like This & In Love With The Pajama Trend
On a separate note: I didn't have time to update my blog since my last post as I came back to my hometown from the South where I live part-time + went back to Shah's hometown which is all the way up in the North to spend time with his family + came back to my hometown by myself to vote in Malaysia's (very dramatic) 14th General Election (Shah voted in his hometown) where I nail-bitingly stayed up the whole night afterwards to hear the result.
If you haven't heard, Malaysia just made history by electing the world's oldest prime minister who will turn 93 later this year; Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad — who is our 7th Prime Minister AND was also our 4th (!!!) — is freakin NINETY TWO Y'ALL, and truly inspirational.
Our government has now been taken over by the opposition coalition as a result of the election — the first time in six decades where we had a change in the ruling party since we gained independence from the British Empire and officially formed Malaysia , so it's pretty much a huge deal. Big changes are taking place on this wee side of the world and we're all anxious + excited to see positive changes here, so wish us luck!
Wearing: Zara floral shirt | H&M jeans | Mango strappy flats | Bucket bag from Hongdae market, Seoul | Sunglasses from Shibuya 109

STYLE
6 May 2018
Detailed Fuzzy Culottes, Off-the-shoulder Button-up & Red Mules | A Hypothetical Office Style

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Is anyone else getting "office vibes" from this outfit, or is it just me?
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See: Another hypothetical office outfit by me
Most of the things I wear in this outfit are old yet they feel "fresh" to me as I styled them differently (see this striped off-the-shoulder button-up shirt layered on top of a white shirt & the red mules with loop hoop earrings). Aside from making more conscious shopping decisions, I'm also trying to practise another one of those how-to-be-a-more-responsible-shopper tricks: shopping from my OWN wardrobe.

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PS: My first time at Nobu KL, SO GOOD.

I'm looking forward to toning down these fancy schmancy pants with maybe a tee and denim jacket the next time I wear them, what do you think? Any other suggestions on how to dress down the pants?
Wearing: Mango striped off-the-shoulder button-up shirt | H&M detailed culottes | Mango red heeled mules | H&M long-sleeved t-shirt (men's)

STYLE
2 May 2018
Favourite Abaya, Baby Speedy & Samosa Mules

I adore this old sequinned-sleeve black abaya so much that I've worn it countless times, especially to weddings. The fact that it's almost solid black allows me to treat it sort of like a "blank canvas", allowing various stylings to give a different result each time.
Look 1: With red scarf + leopard print flats + "Call Me" clutch
Look 2: With leopard print scarf + red/nude flats + piano clutch
PS: I even have a green version of it!


Aside from the black abaya dress, this outfit consists of my other old faves: my Louis Vuitton Speedy bag and these champagne gold mules with statement bows — bows so exaggerated that they prompted my younger brother to comment that they resemble samosas.
In case you're unsure: YES, samosas as in the usually-fried delicious savoury snack.
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Now I can't quite unsee the resemblance, hence me calling them "samosa mules" from then onwards...
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Wearing: Old dress from Berjaya Times Square | Louis Vuitton Speedy bag | Champagne gold mules from Haji Lane, Singapore | Lovisa earrings
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