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Butterfly books

Tag: style

  • Books to read on International women’s day 2026

    Alina Zainab

    Happy international women’s day everyone, as a book lover, author and writer i thought share some of my favourite female authors who saved me during bullying in school and female authors i started reading as an adult.

    1.) Dorothy Whipple – high wages.

    It is about women’s need and rights to work and own their own wages. When i watched the documentary at Blackburn’s museum and saw she was another female authors from Blackburn i was struck with excitement. Blackburn might not have the cold, elitists fashion like kensington chelsea and knightsbridge. But Blackburn was multi cultural, the textile industry and cotton town. Blackburn was full of art and also literature.

    High wages is exactly that story set back then when women were looked down for having a job or even self employment. Dorothy Whipple of course use her strong beliefs about working women.

    2.) Holly webb- The girl of glass.

    A fantasy fairytale about a girl who senses and suspects that the girl of glass is a ghost made to be real. Its a story about sisterhood, mother and daughter friendship. Wicked stepmothers much like you’re cinderella stories, this story helped me through primary school.

    3.) Alison Wier and Phillipa gregory

    Now the book i’m holding up is not one of Alison Weir six tudor queens series, but still written by Alison Weir. She is a historian and author of many historical fiction. Similar to Philippa Gregory and even her majesty Queen Camilla even shared these two authors on her queens reading room.

    4.) Queen Camilla has always been a big literature lover and supporter of books ever since she was a little girl. One if my main women in the literature industry i look upto. Her father and brother written books.

    5.) Dale Elizabeth Harper (Lady Tryon, third baroness) also known as kanga, i have always spoken dso fondly of Dale, called her my darling designer, Australian princess, fashion queen of my heart. Before she became a fashion designer she was a fashion writer for the melbourne office of Australian women’s weekly later fleet street office in London England. Her parents owned a publishing company in Melbourne Australia.

    5.) My mother Angelika Kraasch (Shaukat). My mother always supported me with reding she took me to the library every Saturday she listened to me read and saw me write pages after pages, saw me publish two books supported me as a young author and writer.

    Those are the authors and writers, literary lovers and supports i support for international women’s day 2026.In loving memory of my darling mama and darling designer and fashion queen Kanga Dale elizabeth Harper.

  • The truth of being a socialite that movie/films and tv shows get wrong.

    Alina Zainab

    Today i was just reading through gloss magazine on the internet, and i came across this article that said how to live your life like a 1960s socialite. But that is not the exact fact of becoming a socialite.

    There are some correct information that are facts, and there some incorrect like the last subheading mentions be scandalous.Again they do not encourage to sleep with your best friends boyfriend or husband, or any of your female friends husbands and boyfriends.

    Btu what they do advise is when at a charity event or gala, throw a cocktail at one of your male friend and call him names. That is so wrong and let me tell you not every socialite is scandalous, they do not go through scandalous affairs, not create a scene or a scandal at an event. That would be seen as the typical Kardashian jenner, Hilton, Paris Hilton, Ivana Trump basically any american typ of socialite. Many american socialites are the ones that have celebrity friends, who use celebrities and famous people to climb the ladder.

    i always been fascinated with my fashion queen of my heart, soul sister, best friend Dale Elizabeth Harper nicknamed Kanga from her husband whom she called Ant. My Dale was an Australian socialite and fashion designer, she started of as a fashion writer for the australian women’s weekly and the women’s weekly office in fleet street london. I mentioned to her she has the looks of a fashion model, but she didn’t want to do professional modelling not wanting to be sculpted and moulded by managers who can not see the true essence of fashion. She designed colourful clothes with elasticated waist and pockets for omen who came out of maternity or like me felt intimidated by high end fashion.

    Her socialite status came from attending and hosting dinner parties, charity events and galas, she also since she was never invited to the MET gala or this invite only couture, haute couture shows hosted her own fashion shows from her home great dunford and boutique. But her only high profile friend ws the then prince of wales, his majesty the King charles. She never had celebrity freinds.

    Her majesty the queen queen Camilla was a British Socialite in her youth from 1960s – 2005, she like my fashion soulmate where in the same circle as they both were friends of King Charles. Known as his closest female confidantes, Camilla like Dale attended and hosted charity events. Both countryside women socialite.

    You heard it is true many people now days think socialite, they must be city girls, they must fashion models. The Kardashian/jenner family and Paris Hilton, Ivana Trump. Those were fashion models and socialites in the New York and LA los angelos. Also Parsi Hiltons british twin, not really twin but Tara Tomkinson Palmer was a british it girl and socialite who like paris was a fashion model modelling high end fashion, partying in nightclubs and being seen as it girls in their time.

    But the reality of being a socialite is understanding right i am asocial butterfly, i loe and i always attend events i have been invited too, i love hosting events mainly for charity.

    Build the influence and once you built your influence have people coming to you asking me advise on skin care , hair care, make up brands and products.What clothes to wear. Also i have also been asked to write poems and sings for others and i did that tag those people in the video and thanked them for their lovely comments and support and my social media went viral, i have been on TikTok live and often do lives on youtube and sing, dance engage with others, act making others laugh. read or write on a live video im an average reader, and i’m an author of two books, writer and trainee journalist.

    Also Juliet Mcdaniels written about luxury, if you cannot afford luxury, don’t worry, you can still be a social butterfly you are still a socialite. Do as a charity worker go shop at charity shops, get second furniture craft with second hand furniture and fashion.

    Concluding this article to reassure others, traditionally socialites do not need to get involved in scandals,they do not need to invest in luxurious items, they can get a vintage item at a charity shop on a budget.

  • The true meaning of socialite and how to become one.

    Alina Zainab

    For years i have always been meaning to research both through books, articles, journals and of course going out meeting people building social connections.

    Socialites like the Kardashian jenner family and paris hilton are those American socialites who alert the press. also They have apress agent well more of a team of press agents. Who will help them not lose support and trust in the public.Remember how Paris Hilton did a lot crimes during her youth and that could have really messed her reputation, however, she had a press agent to built herself up.

    But you do not need a press agent to built your self as a socialite, a true socialite is someone who strives and values social interactions and attending social events and gatherings making a mark through their fashion what they are wearing.

    Coming from a true german socialite and best friends with an australian socialite lady Dale Tryon also known as Kanga.We both loved fashion and always challenged each other making bold statements with our fashion and social etiquette at charitable events. We were both philanthropist, i still am, a writer, author, and fashion designer.

    A true socialite and it girl do not need to be slim and skinny, even if you are chubby who does it hurt at least you are turning up to social gatherings. Paris Hilton and the Kardashian jenner family, they all have brainwashed the public and thinking people from working families cannot become socialites but anyone can be social meaning anyone can be a socialite.

    Get yourself into papers and magazines, i’m more on the local ones like lancashire telegraph. Being part of a charity event. Be good at that networking, influential people are not celebrities and social media followers, influential people the ones who own a wealthy company like a hotel owner, restaurant owner, or cafe or diner. Many social gatherings happen in restaurants and hotels. Those are built by true influential people.

    Most importantly make sure you have fun and get networking in public give both local and national media outlets something to write about outshine the haters.

    With love from Alina Shaukat (Lin Zainab).

  • Lady Dale Tryon obituary

    Alina Zainab

    A tribute to themost loveliest, kindest,calmest, caring, sweetest, cutest, adorable Australian fashion designer. My number 1 favourite fashion designer, lady Dale Tryon barroness Tryon also known as Kanga.

    Which she said herself I the autralian. Womens weekly 1977 to Lana Wells; “prince Charles calls me kanga it’s my husband’s nickname for me and I call him Ant.
    In England everyone calls me that.”
    Born Dale Elizabeth Harper, 3rd January 1948. First of three children to a wealthy printing magnitude owner.
    Dale’s early childhood was on irons, and she did not defeat or overcome perthes disease and spina bifida. According to many health care information sheets on perthes disease and spina bifida, perthes disease can affect mainly boys then girls around age 4 to 12 and comes with mobility issues specifying more in the hips.
    Excercise and diet is recommended, and this what Dale did joining many social clubs and sports clubs during her school years I the 1960s, even enjoying some quality time after school and work at nightclubs.
    Her early twenties late 196os, she worked as a fashioneditor for the Australian women’s. Weekly, later she relocated to London to work for the same magazine in their London office in fleet street.

    This how she met her best friend and soulmate Lord Anthony Tryon 3rd Baron. It was an instant match, the pair called each other Ant and Kanga. They welcomed four lovely healthy children the honourable Zoe Tryon, Charles Tryon later 4th baron, (2018). And her honourable twins victoria and Edward Tryon.

    It is mentioned, by kanga herself that after the birth of her twins, she struggled quiet but with her mobility.
    However, it did not stop the fashion queen of my 💓 heart to assist American born, Hong Kong based designer Diane Frais, it is said kanga loved the elasticated waist a dbold colorful dresses, she even once before her marriage, on a strict budget to buy something from yves saint Laurent, in later Interview in 1992 she mentioned how find she was of Yves saint Laurent designs the texture, colour and shape.
    This is why she also became Diane frais fashion agent In the early 1980s after meeting her at a stop iver in Hong Kong, took around 20 dresses with her back to London set up her own boutique and sold quite well. The following year In 1983, she started her own fashion corture dale Tryon collection, kanga collection which sold mainly Diane frais designs and her own inspired by Diane frais.

    Kanga gave her support to number of charities including SANE both for the UK and australia, where she was the chair woman of.
    Later after her tragic fall out from farm clinic rehab window the inspire foundation.
    She also helped a lot of fashion charities and supported may fashion designers mainly the Independant ones.
    Also about Kanga’s schooling she said herself attending lauriston school for girls, not timbertop feeling grammer school, the the prince of Wales now king Charles did. But not kanga.
    Even Kanga’s brother Derek harper said she did not meet Charles in 1966 and kanga herself denied, until during her last days where she wasn’t feeling well mentally and physically.
    It is against the law to use someone words whilst they where not in the right state of mind.
    She has complication of bedsides which she wanted to treat after he trip to Australia to see her mother in Melbourne her home town, not Sydney for Diana’s memorial as an Australian financial source claims. Why would Dale Tryon mourn of someone who was never close to her and she did not know.
    Yes my darling designer and fashion queen had a huge, gigantic big heart of gold for everyone, but not everyone turned that love and kindness, certainly not Diana, some sources suggest Diana did not get along with any woman close to Charles.
    In last article I mentioned how Dale Tryon is my fashion best friend and soulmate/sister, never Diana’s, they never had a connection my darling designer needed a fashion promotion and thought Diana would be a good example when she met her at lunch at San Lorenzo which as opposite her boutique.
    My darling designer, Fashionqueen died on. The 15th November 1997 after contracting septicemia after undergoing treatment in India.

    She forever be the queen of ymheart, Diana mentioned in an Interview she antes to be the queen of peoples heart now many use that, however, Diana never will be the queen of my heart as I saved that position for my darling designer my fashion queen. Dale Elizabeth Harper Tryon, 3rd Baroness. Kanga. My daffodil.

  • The Harris museum in Preston

    Alina Zainab

    Visited on Tuesday 07th October 2025.

    Museums are historical archives, they archive art work, fashion and textile, well researched information about each garment has been displayed at the Harris museum in Preston lancashire.

    I love to visit new and exciting places, meet new people make new friends keep people in contacts.

    This dress from the form of the silhouette the ripples from the skirt, light wight fabric lighter polyester perfect for everyday way especially if you’re like me you love dresses and skirts.

    The colour combo on this dress, a perfect evening wear party wear the sleaves flowy the red shoes would be so fitting for this dress.

    Pink is my favourite colour with beautiful roses and tulips these where the dresses from the 1930s and 1940s.

    This an example of a former student in Preston, also the sketches fashion illustration the fabric choice. These are the behind the scenes.

    A close up on the sketch book also the colour palleted for the silhouettes.

    These where the heroic faces during the great world war 2.

    This silhouette bold and crafty i just loved the dramatic scruffles on the neckline. This was created by Ndine Knight in 2019 this is the carnival costume.

    This is the perfect hat choice, i love hats not for home of course or indoors but for events and garden parties.

    Glittery and sparkles the colour combo of a fish type.

    Now to some art and sculptures

    and here is the book of women something i would love to have on my bookshelves.

    But on the second floor near the computer study area was the south asian exhibition. The bold colours.

    Here on the next part are fragrances and i love a good natural fragrance.

    Again here is a silhouette i adore the red and black perfect colour combo, i do love agood blazer.

  • Hermes

    Alina Zainab

    The french luxury brand that took off and is the talk of the town, and if you haven’t watched properly go check out @loveluxury @bagista and @seller who sell multiple luxury items in store from chanel, louis vuitton, gucci, dior but love luxury mainly sell hermes brand the hermes handbags.

    So how did it come about, well we all know that hermes was french luxury fashion brand, and of course paris, France is known to be the most fashionable but also romantic city in whole of europe.

    And according to Hermes.co.uk – it took six generations to craft stunning leather good handbags in each different colours, but why do most hermes hand bags are called birken and kelly.

    Well we do a deep dive into why, but first lets look at the six artist behind hermes brand. The adventure according to hermes.co.uk began in Paris, France in 1937, harness-maker Thierry Hermès opened a workshop in rue Basse-du-Rempart. He understood very his customers desire for simplicity and harness, also in 1867 hee was recognised with an award in the universal exhibiton.

    Then in the 1880’s his son Charles Emilie Hermes opened and moved the workshops to  24 Faubourg Saint-Honoré, and opens a store. At this now-emblematic address, harnesses and saddles were made to measure. The house’s reputation for the excellence of its creations spread throughout Europe.

    1922

    Émile Hermès

    During the interwar period, lifestyles changed and the house broke new ground under the management of Émile Hermès, son of Charles-Émile. Hermès offered items that met society’s needs, from saddlery and harnesses to leather goods. Émile Hermès had been inspired by a very simple idea that decisively changed the course of the family business. During a trip to Canada, he was fascinated by the American “close-all” opening and closing system on the hood of a military car. In 1922, he obtained the exclusive rights to this system, known today as the zip or zipper; and it came to be used on many of the house’s bags.
    Throughout his life, Émile Hermès was an avid collector of works of art, books, objects and curiosities. The collection is constantly enriched by his successors and continues to be a source of inexhaustible inspiration for the house’s creations.

    Emile Hermès

    Later on around the 1950s, Charles Emilie Hermes passed on the business to one of his son in laws as he was a father to only four daughter. Again in that time period women really struggled with being seen as business women. and that Charles’s couldn’t give the business to his daughters his own flesh and blood.

    Anyway it is here where Hermes son in law Robert Dumas started silk scarf, e Kelly bag and the Chaîne d’ancre bracelet, which he was inspired to create while observing boats moored in Normandy.

    The famous kelly bag was created because of Grace Kelly the famous actress also later known as princess of Monaco. this was around 1950s, and Grace Kelly being photographed with Hermes Kelly bag brought great success to the business, also around the 1980s out came the Birkin bag inspired by the famous actress Jane Birkin.

    Also the swinging sixties we had eïla Menchari, a graduate of the Beaux-Arts of Tunis and Paris, joined Annie Beaumel in designing the window displays of the Faubourg Saint-Honoré store.

    In 1967 the French stylist of hungarian origin, Catherine Karoliya was entrusted with the women’s wardrobe since 1980 then she designed clothing and accessories.

    Around the 1970s Robert Duma’s son Jean Louis Duma revolutionized the Hermes brand around the 1970s and 1980s and 1990s. From watch making to operating name to  La Montre Hermès. In 1976.

    Jean Dumas continued expanding the business even in in the 21st century however, since 2006 Patrick Thomas. Who established the difference between the different generations from nineteenth century to twentieth century to the twentieth first century.

    Around 2020s Hermes produced fragrance and make up brand, companies like love luxury work closely with Hermes.

    https://www.hermes.com/uk/en/content/271366-six-generations-of-artisans/

    https://loveluxury.co.uk/shop/hermes/?srsltid=AfmBOorYRPgeI6mMyu-ObvDrAr2P61uUwCznFWhOnPP7qPqsFYuPFd3e

  • The met gala 2025

    Alina Zainab

    Yesterday 5th May 2025 was the met gala with theme black tailoring, dandy fashion. black fashion designers where asked to describe the meaning of Dandy, with many mentioning being yourself, when creating a fashion label.

    For me i always loved fashion and art, what i always found interesting in fashion how different designers create their label, advice for aspiring fashion designers. Fashion is a way to express yourself, many designers take this on and create extraordinary designs.

    Lets talk about the first iconic look at yesterdays met gala event, which is none other Diana Ross, who stole the red carpets breath, not just people attending in person but even this watching from the live stream like me.

    Here it is the fluffy, cotton, longest cloak with a matching hat, and for those who haven’t done their homework and need to hide from teachers Diana’s cloak is just right to hide under. But the dress underneath the cloak white, greyish shimmering chiffon.

    Blackpink JENNIE in an all black, vintage Chanel from the og creator of chanel Gabrielle coco chanel and the hat she looked stunning a 5 out of 5, but one thing i realized of the black pink girls every red carpet premiere they always look like princess out of fairytale book.

    GIGI Hadid in this classical golden gown with matching earrings was like the cherry on top, also can be used in the dark to light your way back home.

    and of course Zendaya always shines on every red carpet she is on, yesterday she wore this white tuxedo and matching white hat.

    This right here is my favourite male south asian fashion, it is lovely to see different representation in fashion again and i always say it fashion is away to express oneself.

    But can we talk about simone Biles outfit the elegant blue dress matching blue sequins makes her look like a queen, and Jonathan Owens white tuxedo and fluffy white cloak.

    But this gown was just eye catching the yellow bow making it look like a bow and white in the midst makes it look like we just travelled back in time.

    Can we just talk about the silk and satin south asian style as half asian myself i can totally say asian style have this gorgeous satin and cashmere style. Also the dress here at the front very creative sparkles and all.

    here we have Sabrina carpenter entering the MET gala, in her short and sweet era hasher style shortened.

    Here she is the star of Wicked movie, Cynthia Erivo, a black Chiffon underskirt with a stunning red and black jeweled designed top.

    Miley Cyrus just spotted wearing a long black skirt and long sleeved crop top, whilst we also have Shakira looking like a princess, the new Princess Aurora.

    Now to Tracy Elle Ross in her gorgeous trousers and stunning outfit march jacobs i think she said would definitely check that out on the vogue channel.

  • Tom Ford

    Alina Zainab

    The designer’s life story and lessons, success in the fashion industry and story behind the designs.

    Tom Ford as you may know him is a well known male fashion designer and film maker, he directed films like single man in 2009 and nocturnal animal in 2016. He revived the Gucci brand fashion house o which he received credits as the creative director.

    His early education starts with him attending New York university then later Parsons school of design the new school in New York.

    As https://www.britannica.com/biography/Tom-Ford claims that Ford He graduated in 1986 with a degree in interior architecture and then worked during the late 1980s as an in-house designer at New York fashion houses Perry Ellis and Cathy Hardwick. He was hired in 1990 by Dawn Mello, then Gucci’s creative director, and began work as the company’s in-house designer.

    This is New York fashion week, and of course the designer himself is american as well as being a film maker which links into why most of the cloths he designs seem to have that lively dramatic spirit.

    according to https://www.businessoffashion.com/people/tom-ford/ In March 2019, Ford was voted chairman of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), succeeding Diane von Furstenberg, who held the position for 13 years.Ford has gathered recognition throughout his career spanning 28 years, collecting accolades such as the CDFA International award, Board of Directors Special Tribute and 2008 Designer of the year, named in the 2011Timetop 100 list of influential people, four VH-1 /Vogue Fashion Awards, two ACE awards from the US Accessory Council,GQman of the year award in 2000, the Andre Leon Talley Lifetime Achievement Award from the Savannah College of Art and Design and was nominated for a BFA Designer Brand award in 2012.

    The story behind his collection link back to his film maker role and even his interest in photography.

    Attached is one of his fragrance brand but he has designed many more like dresses and even sunglasses.

    Each day or even week depending on my busy schedule i would often research fashion, arts and music. As i am slowly becoming interested in journalism again a and the role behind a a journalist and the accountability, more articles on travelling, cities and towns will be written about constructive criticism like music, movies, tv shows and theatre and also about books.

  • Butterfly boutique

    Alina Zainab

    A part 2 on behind the designs

    As we get started on part two, the first four designs are special to me because in year 8 i formed a very close bond and friendship with three girls, with the tomboyish, sporty one making a a club name for our initials B.A.T.Z and in my sketchbook i drew designs that matched the title but our preferences, as fashion and art are all about expressing ourselves.

    i am not mentioning any names but the first dress with leather, green boots with fluffy black lace around the beginning of the shoe. This was for Z, who is not only an animal lover, but had a taste for gothic/emo, edgy and dark kind of style in clothes, make up and hairstyle and colour, and jewelry.

    The bottom orange warm one which should have orange chiffon with black frangles for the top bonjo. The midi dress has short, black satin arms, with orange, satin and again fluffy black at the end of the midi dress. the shoes i went here again are leather heels. This for T.

    Then my own designs for me A. is the one of course with the plastic, silver tiara so each child can wear it too, attached will be mental health helplines from Mind.org.uk-SANE and samaritans and the NSPCC. Because of my rheumatoid arthritis, i went with leather, purple flats, black, indigo purple leg warmer on one leg only, a Sateen,voilet dress matched with indigo leather belt.

    The one with the shorts and t-shirts well since B is the athletic, sporty and physical type i went with Green and blue short jeans, and matching blue and green satin t-shirt.

    design number 6 i think it is now

    Below are my own version of maleficent and Hades costumes but the costume above is used for sports wear and an owl mask as i loved making different masks. Animals, characters raising awareness for mental health and physical health.

    Rise of queen peridot was one of my first costume designs where i went with a long, shimmering chiffon dress and a long black, Satin cloak. Queen peridot is the villain.

    There many more designs which i will share to linkden photos so you can see them properly.

  • Marc Jacobs

    Alina Zainab

    The history of how he became a famous fashion designer.

    Who was Marc Jacobs?

    According to his biography Marc Jacobs began at parson design school and later landed a role at perry Ellis, he also worked as creative director for louis vuitton before launching his own fashion label marc jacobs and marc by marc jacobs, still remaining a strong well known fashion designer.

    His earlier life seemed a whirlwind he was born April 9th 1963, and at age 7 his father died of ulcerative colitis an illness he also had, his mother remarried over and over again for him and his siblings moving from one place to the other.

    He loved living with his grandmother who was emotionally and mentally stable , no one said no to him, saying he can’t be a fashion designer, he cant take tap dancing lessons, hae can’t be gay. This seemed the first step to Marc Jacobs fashion label.

    His fashion prodigy started when he attended high school art and design at age 15 working for boutique Charivari where staff allowed him to design sweaters in between dressing mannequins and folding clothes.

    Biography.com mentions He cited the visually rich films Amadeus and Purple Rain his inspirations for the line. In 1987, he became the youngest designer ever to win the Council of Fashion Designers of America Perry Ellis Award for New Fashion Talent.

    Jacobs took over as the women’s-wear designer for Perry Ellis, where he won the prestigious 1992 CFDA prize for Womenswear Designer of the Year (an award he would win again in 1997).

    In 1997 he was named creative director of louis vuitton luxury goods in paris. however, it is mentioned brought tremendous struggles, like drug use of cocaine and heroin, including alcohol use. Model Naomi Campbell and and vogue editor Anna wintour asked him to get help in 1999 he checked himself in a rehab centre.

    After cleaning up he threw himself back to work and and created Louis vuitton ready to wear line expanding his label.

    To read mor on Marc Jacobs behind the scenes please read https://www.biography.com/history-culture/marc-jacobs

    to buy his designs please visit his official website https://www.marcjacobs.com/

    https://www.marcjacobsfragrances.com/en-us.

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