[Style Series Africa Edition] Drifting in Marrakech

Today's post is inspired simply by my wanderlust and my Moroccan mint tea. Three months since the start of the trip passed by so quickly.

Wondering what I'm talking about? Click on the labels to the post to read more about my trip and time in South Africa and Morocco.

Feel a bit like dressing like Morocco yourself? These items have been inspired by Moroccan prints, tiles, art, and colors.

Tommy Bahama Tanks · Lucky Brand Longsleeve Tops · Style&co. Longsleeve Tops

[Style Series Africa Edition] Majorelle Jardin in Marrakech, Morocco

Towards the end of three weeks of constant movement through Africa, Andrea (my friend with whom I traveled) and I were in the mood to lounge. An overwhelming number of people (thanks Halima!) had emphatically suggested we get away from the commotion of Marrakech by spending a peaceful afternoon at Majorelle Jardin.

Majorelle Jardin is the beautiful botanical oasis in the middle of the desert.  Designed and owned originally by French artist Jacque Majorelle, who owned this artists' escape in 1920s and 1930s, it was later purchased by Yves Saint Laurent, the French fashion designer, in 1980.  Now it remains as a visitors paradise, and a treat for a fashion-centric person like me.

Channeling my needs into my outfit, I combined a warm (it was a bit nippy), soft jersey (jersey may have been a theme this trip) striped Hive and Honey skirt (featured here).  The sweeping skirt felt as breezy and lazy and unencumbered as I wanted to be that day. Because the colors of the skirt were neutral and muted sand and black, I chose to wear a similarly neutral, sequin shirt with a 3/4 length stretchy cotton top (the t-shirt had short, sheer sleeves) (featured here).



If I wasn't as hungry as I was at that point, I could have spent another hour just sitting at Majorelle Gardens. A lover of colors, I could not stop snapping pictures of the rich, bright, fresh colors that created the theme - lemon yellows, sunset oranges, watery blues.  Fun fact: the blue that was populated throughout the site is a specific color called Majorelle Blue.

Love the chevron skirt or the sequin t-shirt?

[Style Series Africa Edition] Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg

After a full week in Cape Town, it was time for this MBA student to move on. The class had run its course in Cape Town and was on our way to Johannesburg.

This outfit was inspired by Stephanie of Pretty Is This, whose picture I snagged over a year ago.  I'd been so taken by her outfit and how she modest-ified what could have been a slightly scandalous dress, loving the transformed look of the delicate lace against a white canvas.

So, I did what any good blogger would do - I copied the look.



Admittedly, these are not the greatest photos of my outfit, but it still was one of my favorite ensembles of the trip. The outfit consists of a Michael Stars ikat tank dress and simple white Gap skimmer pants, which were a gift from Zeena after a photo shoot. The exact dress is shown below, with almost the same pants:

The Limited Skinny Denim · Gap Maternity Jeans · Michael Stars Day Dresses

(more shopping and actual discussion of the apartheid museum after the jump! click on 'Read More')

[Style Series Africa Edition] Tweede Nuwe Jaar in Cape Town

In the weeks prior to jaunting off to Cape Town, I posted this entry on the jumpsuit I purchased as a "Black Friday Deal" (sadly, it was not as much of a deal as I usually like, but I couldn't let it sell out on me).  Leading up to the departure of my trip, I didn't have an opportunity to wear it or really, the guts to pull it off in person.  The jumpsuit, all wonderful jersey surpliceness of it, hung there in my closet, asking for its day in the sun.

Patience is a virtue because when I started packing for Africa, it was the #1 thing on my list to bring, donning it on the first non-active day of the trip (day 1 and day 2 consisted of hiking and a day safari...those outfits coming soon). That day came on the Cape Town celebration of Tweede Nuwe Jaar, when the city has its Minstrel Celebration.

Tweede Nuwe Jaar reaches back to the days of slave trade and servants in Cape Town, when the disenfranchised would generally work on New Year's Day for their masters and employers; they waited until the day after New Years to hold their celebration. The tradition continues and the city even pushed off the celebration a few days to accommodate the Muslim Friday prayer (so it was held on Saturday, January 4).

So you ask, HOW DID I WEAR THE JUMPSUIT?

(more after the jump)

[Style Series Africa Edition] Farrah's Fashion and Modest Style in Africa

Before launching into my Africa Style series, I should recap why I was in South Africa and Morocco.

You may have picked up throughout the progression of this blog that I've been in an MBA program part-time at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business while working full-time as a consultant in the DC metro area.

Last March, Andrea emailed me with the subject header, "3 Reasons Why You Should Go to a Study Abroad in South Africa". I think I was convinced before opening the email.  South Africa! For school! Of course!

We tacked on Morocco because as Andrea wrote, "it's on the way!" (It's not but who am I to question?)

Overall, our trip - including travel time - lasted from December 30 until January 18; that's 20 glorious days of frolicking around the continent of Africa.  Those 20 days also included me, dressing to the nines (well, maybe the fives...I was on vacation!) in my comfortable modest style.

You'll start to see that most of the pieces I'm wearing have been posted on this modest style and fashion shopping blog. There are a lot of great examples of stylish modest dressing women out there, but sometimes, their clothing selections are unattainable - whether for the price or the lack of occasion.   On my blog, you'll see that the pieces I post are not only attainable (about 80% being under $50) but can be worn daily, for work, or for play.

Let me know what you see and what you like!