Style Anatomy: Zainab Hashim

A digital marketer and a girl with effortlessly chic taste, Zainab Hashim breaks down her style for us. From the silhouettes that suit her body most, to the clothing items she’s afraid to flaunt, Zainab shares it all

Understanding your body is the key to looking good and a trait found amongst all impeccably dressed fashionistas. While people shy away from talking about their bodies, these brave souls explain how they work their anatomies to their advantage



How would you describe your body type?

Super crazy petite; so much so, that for the longest time I had trouble finding clothes that would fit me the way they would fit the people modelling them. I’ve consciously made an effort to gain weight these past few years and also learnt to dress myself the right way.

Has your body type changed over the last five years?

Absolutely! Funny thing is that when someone who’s skinny says they want to work out (which I’ve never managed to do) or gain weight, it’s always met with a sarcastic reaction. Losing weight may be hard but so is gaining weight and I like to think I’ve come a long way, and there’s a lot more to go.



How has your style changed over the years?

My style over the years has changed immensely. It’s been completely based on the idea that you need to wear the clothes, the clothes aren’t wearing you. So no matter how simple or crazy the outfit is, it has to be you. My style, no matter what I’ve chosen to wear for the day, represents my mood and it has to be the one thing that speaks for me before I’ve even started a conversation with someone. I’ve learnt to experiment a little, understood what I can and can’t pull off and also had fun realising that no outfit is too crazy.



In your opinion, what is your most troublesome area?

Nothing about a person is troublesome as long as they’ve figured a way around it. Too skinny, too bulky doesn’t matter. There’s plenty of styles out there suited for each body type, each skin tone and the key is to focus on your best features and the rest just falls into place.



How do you dress your body according to your body type?

I feel like this is something that comes only with experimenting with different cuts and clothing styles. Experimentation is key and it may not always work but that’s the best part. There have been so many times when I’ve fallen in love with pieces that are only available in the wrong size, 1-2 sizes too big but even that comes with solutions: a belt, a scarf, skinny jeans, you just have to figure out what brings out your best features.

In your opinion what is the biggest mistake a person can make while dressing?

Wear something that they liked on someone else. Just because it looked nice on another person doesn’t mean it’ll look nice on you. And it works the other way around also, you might see someone with an outfit you hate but you could completely pull it off.



Which silhouettes suit your body the most?

Anything that makes me look lean. And honestly this could be a pair of skinnies with a basic t-shirt or it could be one of my dad’s old button down shirts.

What is the one piece of clothing that you shy away from wearing and why?

Saris. I’m terrified of them. They look absolutely gorgeous but need to be carried so perfectly. I’ve always had a love-hate relationship with them because I’m always tripping over the palu or fixing one end or the other.