International Women’s Day may be over, but we’re still celebrating strong and inspiring ladies all through the month (and beyond!). Gracing our March issue cover is none other than the popular English multi-hyphenate Jameela Jamil. She started as a presenter and later moved into acting with her most notable role being Tahani Al-Jamil in The Good Place.
The 34-year-old has since used her showbiz fame for positive causes. The Instagram account, I Weigh, was created in early 2018 to push to help women find self-worth beyond the number on the weighing scale.
Ahead, we celebrate the amazing woman and take a look at the amazing fashion moments that she has given us both on and off the red carpet – and how to cop them for your own.
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Showing skin might be a common trope when it comes to celebrating your sex appeal. However, as Jameela shows here with a stunning neon gown, it’s about finding the right balance of covering up and revealing that treads the fine line between tasteful and trashy.
Jameela chose to cover up most of her body while using an asymmetric neckline to show off her shoulder and decolletage. Our favourite part of this look though was the thigh-high slit, which further added drama needed for the red carpet event and gave her the illusion of height.
Despite its long-sleeved and maxi length, this hibiscus-print dress from Matteau is made with lightweight cotton-poplin. The knee-height slit and open-back design further add to the breathability of the dress – crucial details we have to consider when dressing for Singapore’s heat – while being elegant, subtle ways to show skin.
We’re used to seeing celebrities dressed to the nines with heels on the red carpet. So it was particularly refreshing when Jameela appeared with an unusual footwear choice: clean, white sneakers. The kicks add a cool, casual vibe to the outfit and it’s also a practical and comfortable choice as compared to the formulaic stilettos.
While slip-on shoes have an ease and convenience to them, they usually aren’t as sturdy or comfortable as lace-up sneakers as the latter tend to have thicker soles. Moreover, a clean silhouette, such as this pair from Bata, has a more forgiving, versatile and evergreen style. The pink detail at the heel adds a nice touch of colour too.
No, we’re not telling you to ditch cotton for leather or silk for latex. Rather, consider picking up your wardrobe staples in different materials than it is usually made. For example, Jameela is wearing a pantsuit here – a favourite for work – but instead of the usual cotton or wool, she opted for one made in a unique silk-satin material. Moreover, the bright peach colour adds warmth to her complexion.
You don’t have to worry about any animals being harmed to make this high-waisted skirt. It is made with PU leather and is lined with an airy jersey material so the skirt doesn’t trap too much heat. Pair it with a shirt or lightweight jumper for work and finish with a pair of block heels.
If you’re a longtime fan of Jameela, you would have noticed that she loves pantsuits. They’re polished and chic and can even be worn to work or the red carpet. What she does to make the tried-and-true style more interesting and personable is to play with different colours.
On an occasion, she sports light purple number with wide-legged pants, while in another she wore a tailored maroon iteration. The moral of the story: pick your favourite silhouette and opt for unconventional colours beyond black and white.
If you need to make your presence known at an important meeting with your bosses, this fuchsia suit will definitely grab their attention. Beyond that, the tapered leg of the trousers also helps to create a slimming and lengthening illusion. For the weekends, pair the suit with a bralette or camisole for a less serious look.
Weekends are a time to let your hair down and relax. Consequently, it is a precious period where we can hang up our tight-fitting suits and pencil skirts in favour of something more loose-fitting, breathable and perhaps more revealing.
Take a leaf from Jameela’s book and pick up an off-shoulder dress. Remember to moisturise your shoulders and decolletage and pop a little highlighter to make them pop.
A white dress is as essential as a little black dress. It looks clean and bright and can be worn to a variety of social occasions from a garden brunch to dinner with the in-laws.
This pretty off-shoulder number from The Editor’s Market features a slightly ruffled neckline for a little dash of romanticism (plus it is great for women who have a smaller chest). Finish with dainty jewellery and wedges.
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Text: Ho Guo Xiong