Love To Dress dress / Zara coat / dUCk scarf / Chloé bag / Mel & Molly heels

Let's just put it out there that this was the first time I've seen London with spring as its backdrop. I fell in love harder than I fell for this city back in February. Spring there is so overwhelmingly beautiful, I can't even. I was crushing it on another level. I had butterflies and everything. Even Paris didn't look this handsome.

Well, I was just too happy to be back in this city. Kaksue and I were there for work first and foremost, but there were some days we were having way too much fun that it felt like, 'Work what?'.

We stayed just minutes away from Notting Hill, which was ideal since I was in need of inspiration. And the amount of eye candy around there was truck loads of inspiration to last me the whole year! I've been wanting to explore Notting Hill for the longest time, but wasn't able to because back in February our schedule was so packed, so we only stayed nearby our apartment in Kensington.

So many of the cafes I wanted to pop by were located in this neighbourhood, so it was meant to be. And seriously, I can't even begin to describe just how smitten I was with the row of pastel houses, and contrasting coloured doors they had on. Some even had a huge cherry blossom tree on their door front, like this one right here. We came across this street on our way to get some Chai latte that chilly afternoon, and I had to do a double take and go back there a few days after.

I can't wait to see how it looks like there in August. Hopefully with warmer weather so I can roam about the streets of Notting Hill again with just a flowy summer dress, minus the coat. :)

Thank you to LtDs ex-intern Farah, whose partner is an amazing photographer, who happened to be there in London too for the same event I was there for. So they woke up early that Sunday morning and helped me capture some of these amazing shots.

Photos by Syahmi Azman

So enough of me. Here's one of them. Thanks Farah and Mie for that fun morning and letting me shoot you guys too! I missed being behind the lens.

So if there's one thing that people always get confused with is that they think I founded Love To Dress. It's not me guys. I wish I had it in me to be an entrepreneur. Not just yet. It is indeed my elder sister Kak Sue, also famously known as @Sumigolightly on instagram lol, who created this amazing company.

Anyway, I was so honoured that Havehalalwithtravel.com decided to feature both KakSue and I. This would be the first interview we do together. I love the questions they asked and I think this is as honest as it gets about how it is like working with each other.

I’ll forever owe my sister for opening this path for me and allowing me to really explore my creative side. For allowing me to wake up to a job that I love and not feeling any kind of Monday blues. I’ve learnt so much from her and will continue to learn what the scarifies are you have to make as an entrepreneur. I've seen her at her lowest and you really need self-belief, courage, and strength to do what she does. To be able to start over when things fail. 

I hope you guys will get to know us a little better in the interview below and follow @havehalalwithtravel for more interesting articles on Muslims trotting the globe and places to check out on your next travel. ALSO, click here because we collaborated with them so you guys could win an RM150 voucher. Just read below and answer the question they asked on the picture of Kak Sue and I, on their Instagram page here. All the best! :)

---

Sisters in Faith and Fashion – Meet Sumayyah and Asma’ from Love to Dress

#HHWT Explorers

The Nasaruddin sisters, Sumayyah (also fondly known as Sumi) and Asma’ are on a mission to answer the needs of  urban Muslim women everywhere, with their feminine, fashion-forward yet modest dresses for every woman’s wardrobe through their brand Love to Dress.

Read on to find out more about how these talented sisters manage working together and bring their brand to life!

1. Tell us a bit about yourselves, and what it’s like working together.

Sumi:

I am Sumayyah, the second of 4 sisters. I’m a cheerful, dreamer and ambitious person. This makes me very curious about things and easily trust people. I like this about myself. Most of the time, I like to do things with my husband because he’s my best friend and he believes in me the most.

Asma’:

I always surprise people with my true self. I am very laid back, disorganised and a klutz mostly. I am without a doubt an introvert, and one that is highly receptive to visuals. I shut down at the sight of numbers, hence why I am the Creative Director not the finance director, lol.

Sumi:

Working together with Asma’ has been very challenging and I have yet to understand where the journey will lead us. She’s the most talented person I’ve ever met. She has the capacity to create a world that is visually enchanting and beautiful. I on the other hand fight to create a world where beauty lies from within. Together, we make a good match where in fact, both are equally important.

Asma’:

Working together has been both the most rewarding and challenging experience for me because both of us are such strong personalities. I have learnt so much from her and it has helped me grow.

We have many disagreements. And sometimes we have to agree to disagree. But at the end of the day, what matters is the bigger picture and we have the same vision which is to serve the Urban Muslim Women globally. That we are truly passionate about and on the same page.

2. Love to Dress is all about empowering women to achieve their dreams while maintaining their modesty. Can you tell us a bit about how the brand started?

Sumi:

No. Actually I am not modest at all bahahha. Love to Dress was founded because when I read the Quran, I felt very empowered. I dreamt about a world where Muslim women such as myself can achieve anything they want to, no matter how silly or insignificant it looked.

I had an NGO background that taught me a lot about building a community and working for a greater cause. But I picked business as a vehicle because there is a family member of mine who is in need of a lot of money.

3. What is the motivation behind your collections? Is there a particular design philosophy that you follow?

Asma:

With each collection, before I start creating the mood board, I always Immerse my thoughts with the fact that clothing was given to us as an honourable gift from God, first sent down to Adam (peace be upon him).

That fuels me every time. And then I go back to the core aesthetics of Love To Dress; sleek, tailored fit and timeless. I rarely look to what is trending, and more to the archives of great fashion houses.

Sumi:

Asma’ nailed it.

4. What’s your personal favourite piece from all the LtD collections so far?

Asma’:

I find this one of the hardest questions to answer because I have a favourite with every collection.

Sumi:

LtD lounge.

Asma’:

But if there’s one piece I can see myself wearing even ten years from now, it would be the Pleat dress from our Fall 2016 collection where we debut pieces for work. I love the black and brown colour equally.

The cutting is sleek and tailored fit, signature to LtDs aesthetic and the subtle pleat detail makes it a timeless piece.

5. Your travels always look so picture perfect on social media. What’s something that your followers might not know about you when you’re on the road?

Sumi:

Maybe she/he is talking about Asma’s Instagram account. Bahahahaha….

Asma’:

That I actually don’t plan much of my trip. I usually only have a few things on my must-visit list and the rest is whatever I come across unexpectedly as I explore casually. And that I always carry a pair of flats with me in my bag to switch with my heels. I enjoy walking and exploring a city by foot but I also know walking in heels for over an hour is just asking for trouble.

6. What are some of your essentials when travelling?

Asma':

My camera as I really enjoy vlogging and I see a place so much through my 50mm lens, a book I’m currently reading (I like bringing them along and reading it during my travel as it allows me to attach an added memory to it) and my lipbalm. Nobody wants dry lips.

Sumi:

Packing list, LtD Lounge, fleur snoods and my trench .

7. The two of you are not only sisters and co-workers, you’re best friends! Tell us something most people don’t know about your sister.

Sumi:

Asma’ is not my best friend, although I wish she was. She has other people that she gets along well with. It’s a miracle that she wants to work with me. I am very, very, very grateful for this.

Asma’:

That we are very very different in so many ways; our personalities, the way we look at things and our style aesthetic for example. It’s hard to think of what people may not know about my sister because she is such an open book. If you follow her on her ig and insta stories you will see her brave honesty. Though perhaps one that can’t be seen is her generosity to her friends and family. So much of what I have is because of her.

Sumi:

What people may not know about Asma’, is that she is my mother’s ‘machai’. No matter how inconvenient, demanding or complicated it gets, she always finds a way to be there for mum. She will bend and stretch herself to the maximum for people that she loves. I have, on more than one occasion, taken advantage of this. For example, when I first started LtD, there was an ‘epic’ dress called Vintage Jannah. It was far from what you see LtD is now, but because she wanted to help me, she OOTDed in it. She would do ugly for me. Now that’s love. Bahahahaha….

8. What are your favourite places to travel to and why?

Asma’:

New York still sits at my number one spot. It’s hard to explain, but there’s a distinctive vibe and energy about this city that can only be felt when you’re there. It gets you moving.

London because there’s something so cozy about it. Perhaps it is the charming neighbourhoods that are so inviting, ridiculously affordable cheese and comforting chai lattes that make me want to one day live there.

Australia because it feels like home. I grew up there (throughout high school up to uni) and my sister and her family live there so it really is somewhere I look forward to visiting every year. It is my home away from home.

Sumi:

Anywhere with Chia (husband). Cause he buys me a lot of bags, tells me I am a good person and makes me laugh like mad.

9. What’s the one thing that you must-do in any country that you travel to?

Asma’:

Go to a park. Ideally spend at least half a day there soaking in the fresh air.

Sumi:

Same like Asma’. Park!

10. If you could give any advice to young Muslim women who wish to walk down the entrepreneurial route, what would it be?

Sumi:

Believe in yourself no matter what.

Asma’:

I don’t regard myself as an entrepreneur but I can confidently say that knowing your strength and weakness can take you so much further to make your vision come to life. Find someone that compliments your strength and fill in the gaps of where your skills are limited. Be prepared to live your vision and stay very focused on it.

11. Can you give us any tips on how to take the perfect OOTD while travelling?

Sumi:

Bring Asma’ along. She can make anyone look good. Bahahaha…

Asma’:

Always shoot under natural light and it helps to snap a picture at a place you are actually inspired by or have enjoyed time at because your true feelings will show in your expression. A natural and genuine smile is the cherry on top of that travel ootd. 

12. Fill in the blank: Our hope for the world is that _____

Sumi:

we are happy.

Asma’:

we realize that God has created us all with unique talents and capabilities, and that we should use it do something for another person other than ourselves.

Check out our Facebook and Instagram pages to win yourself 4 x RM150 vouchers from Love to Dress! (Giveaway ends on 30th April, 2017 2359H GMT+8)

Salams everyone!!!!! How's it going? Hope you're all in the best of health and feeling all pumped up for two thousand and seventeen.

I'm so ecstatic to be back in Brisbane again with my sister and the kiddos (which you probably would've seen a lot of if you're been watching my insta stories). Ended two thousand and sixteen, and woke up to a new exciting day in the heat of the summer, with these beyond beautiful bunch of Peonies. They're so fluffy I just want to plant my face into the bunch. Wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the world during this time of the year. Come to think of it, I just realized it's my fourth year in a row being here during this time. I guess I didn't realize it has become somewhat of a tradition. I think I like this tradition very very much!

Family, sunshine and, peonies.

Happy New Year everyone! Hoping this is the year you and I do something we've always wanted to but was afraid to do so last year. Sending you guys lots of love and light from sunny Brisbane! :)

Love To Dress Top & Pants / dUCk scarf / Chloé bag / Valentino heels

Hands down one of the most beautiful cafe's I have been to. The last time an eatery left this huge of an impression on me was Caffe Storico in New York. This space though. It's so major, I can't even. There's something about spaces that manage to seamlessly mix the old with the new. Heritage and modernity were effortlessly translated, nestled in an Australian heritage terrace that's right smack in the city, adorned with uber chic modern finishings. Marble tiles, subtle gold trimmings, high ceilings, and natural light for days. The attention to detail brought together by Melbourne interior creatives Hana Hakim and Kestie Lane, warrants it to be on your must-visit cafe list.

Okay, can we talk about the food now, please? BEST brunch I've had, ever. I'm trying my hardest to find one flaw to this place, because I sound so biased right now, but I can't think of any. Not only is it aesthetically pleasing, the menu is as handcrafted and well-curated. Genuinely wish I had more tummy space that day because I wanted more than I could chew. We wanted so bad to order more, but reality dawned when our tummies were so full from a huge bowl of soaked muesli with their home-made yogurt, and Tataki ocean trout with kale and poached eggs. Note to self the next time I'm there, must bring an extra tummy to Kettle Black.

Wandering back to that sunny day in Melbourne, the happiness and ease felt that morning surely set the tone for the day. After brunch, we trotted from one place to another, picking up last minute things to bring back home, so staying comfortable was just as important as the natural light needed to flat lay our brunch, hehee. And this new pairing I had on from Love To Dress' upcoming lounge collection is all about keeping you comfortable and chic, so you can effortlessly transition from lazing around at home to skipping out for brunch dates with your best mates. :)

Photos by

Kim L. , Tom Ross & Studio You Me

Love To Dress dress / dUCk scarf / Chloé bag / Zara heels

How timely was it that when I was in Melbourne a few weeks ago Peony season had jus started! Oh how I wish I was able to stay a little longer so I could have more of them around me. If you have been following me, then you’ll know just how much I LOVE them. I wish I had a bunch sitting in front of me right now as I’m feeling under the weather these past few days, and they really do lift my spirits up when I’m unwell.

Actually, Kim and I had planned to visit a Peony farm and go Peony picking (oh what a dream it has been for us to do this together). But guess what happened? The weather was too cold and so the Peony farms there had all postponed their opening dates to the public. I was so eager (okay more like desperate) to visit one I emailed every single one asking if they would make an exception for one tiny girl (me). Each farm replied back with a polite no. Ah, sadness. Such is life.

But it’s all good alhamdulillah, because all the florists were selling them and Kim had brought me to the best one in town. So we bought a huge bunch for the home, and admired them together and even took turns smelling them, lol.

Peonies or any other flowers really do make the perfect accessory to bring warmth to a home, or in this case, made the perfect accessory for the wrap dress I had on that day. It was my last evening there and the cool breezy weather made it all the more lovely to be outside for a bit. (watch the short video of that day here) And speaking of the dress I had on that day, can I just be honest with you guys? This is by far one of the most comfortable dresses I've had on in awhile.

This wrap dress is truly effortless and I simply love the way it flows and feels. It's light and totally unrestrictive for days I don't feel like walking so lady like. Thankfully, it comes in black too. Ah, yes, how can I forget my first love; black (even though it's not present in here). For now, let's just embrace the pastel hues of the pink brick wall, these Peonies and lovely light brown wrap dress.

Photos by

Kim L.