fashion tour of the world

6 months exploring fashion across barcelona, lisbon, paris, morocco, thailand, pakistan, california, new york

in my lucky b*tch era

I flew from Lahore to New York last week, culminating a six month “fashion tour of the world” — an excursion I gifted myself to explore my childhood love of fashion, which I’d all but forgotten about during my years working as a software engineer. Essentially I went shopping around the world; Barcelona, Lisbon, Paris, Morocco, Thailand, Pakistan, California, New York. My suitcase was always overweight, at times by 6kg, and yet I never had to pay excess baggage fees — such is the power of a smile.

Founder house in Barcelona; basically adult study abroad, group of kids exploring a city together, long enough to build a rhythm but not so long that we grow to hate each other. Shopped at Zara and Desigual, two Spanish brands you may have heard of. One night while watching Eat Pray Love the group was inspired to travel (lol) and we spontaneously booked flights to Morocco for the next day. How fun was that?

I stopped by Lisbon, previously the site of one of my lowest moments, to honor my growth since. I fittingly fell ill and spent the entire time in the hotel — same hotel I cried in on the last trip — really getting cozy with the memories and how far I’ve come. I’m proud of myself.

I spent an evening in Paris, having dinner and walking around the Seine with a friend I went to high school with. I used to think because I attended a conservative all girls convent in Pakistan, my schoolmates and I were somehow uncool on the global scale. When I got to Stanford, the cool kids all grew up frequenting rooftop bars and ultra-chic clubs. I definitely did not grow up clubbing, in fact to my knowledge Pakistan does not even have clubs. I was very, very wrong about this. I went to school with some incredible women and I’m grateful that thanks to Instagram, we get to reconnect as adults.

Thailand — this should be three chapters, but I’ll try to summarize. My cousin’s wedding; a Pakistani destination wedding in Thailand, exactly as dreamy as it sounds, and an obvious stop during fashion tour of the world. This was a visual feast, and a very special one for me, as it’s a rare time the whole extended family was on vacation together. Sipping on a coconut getting foot rubs on the beach while having a heart to heart with my Nano — that’s a memory I'll keep with me until the end. Thank you, Alizeh!

Then I briefly lived on the island of Koh Phangan, where I learned to ride a scooter. My daily routine: ride to my MMA class, do ice bath, then sit at the local vegan café and write. Evenings I would attend fight night and bet on blue (I lost a lot of money, thankfully it was Thai baht). I lived at a beachside resort with the most adorable Thai kids (all boys) — they would pick out seashells to gift me with their tiny little hands and I swear to god I felt like someone had just handed me diamonds. I love those kids, they will forever live in my heart. I hope one day I have a son as cute as Lucas.

Life intervened and I got to attend a Coldplay concert in Bangkok. Hearing them play “Biutyful” was a peak experience which just about explains how I felt about life in that moment:

I hope that you get everything you want in this beautiful life
Watermelon moon, so happy you're alive
And I feel like a river finally arrived at sea

When you love me, love me, love me

I don’t know, it was beautiful and I haven’t been able to stop listening to this song since.

I stopped by California to do the Hoffman Process which I wrote more about here.

Lastly, Pakistan. Home. The place where I fell in love with fashion to begin with. I manifested a collab with my childhood girlcrush Pakistani design house. I have always wanted to be one of those girls who get free designer samples — I know, if I can do all of this then surely I don’t need free clothes but here’s the thing: I do. As I was leaving I made some “New York vs. Lahore” videos contrasting a dress with a saree. I fell in love with Pakistan again, this time without the anxiety that plagued me growing up. This time I know how the story goes: it all works out in the end.

Now I’m back in New York and back on my bs; living in Nolita, running the Glow Up Squad, taking people shopping in Soho. It really does all work out in the end.

Oh, and the mermaid Barbie came along everywhere :)