Icing & Glitter
A Toronto-based fashion and lifestyle blog
Fashion

Diversity

Diversity

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Top: Aritzia (similar here and here); Pants: Aritzia (similar here and here); Jacket: Oak & Fort (similar here and here); Choker: Zara (similar); Shoes: Steve Madden (similar here and here)

Disclaimer: things are about to get personal. Last night, I found out that I was featured on Who What Wear. To say I jumped up and down is really an understatement, I basically got my entire cardio workout for the day in. Who What Wear has been my favourite website for years, and so this achievement for me was a milestone, and the reasons go beyond vanity.

Growing up, I was always fascinated with the fashion and entertainment industry, but whenever I read magazines, watched movies, or saw pictures of fashion campaigns, I could rarely find a South Asian woman I identified with. It seemed that South Asian women naturally gravitated towards Bollywood, and while Bollywood is a beautiful world full of glamour and fashion, it was never something I was interested in. So looking at the industry I wanted to get into, I never found anyone I could relate to.

I find it quite appalling that despite the fact that it’s the year 2016, I can only really list Priyanka Chopra as a South Asian woman who has truly broken into the industry, and she isn’t even Bengali. I won’t even get into the fashion industry, because despite my extensive knowledge of it, I don’t know of even one major Bengali model or designer or stylist or blogger or anything else (please correct me if I’m wrong). So when I decided to get into fashion, not just as a blogger, but as a writer, I felt the need to work even harder because I wanted to show girls back home that it is possible for us to work in the industry. Now I’m not saying I’m the next Chiara Ferragni, but what I am saying is that even the smallest achievements get me a centimetre closer to proving that race should never be a factor in what you can or can’t do.

I am so sick and tired of brown women being pigeonholed as ‘Bollywood’. We are so much more multi-dimensional than that. I am frustrated by the fact that brown women are so underrepresented on runways and the covers of fashion magazines. Unfortunately, this conversation lends its hand to the bigger discussion about the lack of diversity in the fashion industry. Sure, some of the front runners in the industry are Soo Joo Park, Jourdan Dunn and Aimee Song, but the truth is they are the minority. The fact of the matter is Balenciaga cast exactly zero coloured women in their fall 2016 show. The fact of the matter is that Leomie Anderson had to deal with an unprepared makeup artist in 2016. The fact of the matter is that I don’t know of a single South Asian woman who has graced the cover of an international Vogue (again, please correct me if I’m wrong). Of course, progress has been made, but guys, it’s twenty-freaking-sixteen, it baffles me that this is even an issue.

But I digress. Circling back to being featured on Who What Wear, while I am by no means at the height of my career, each one of my tiny little achievements are aimed to inspire and encourage other brown women to pursue their passion and break the mould.

If you guys have any thoughts on the whole diversity in the industry matter, I’d love to hear them!

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58 Comments

  1. Raysa Garcia
    July 1, 2016 / 3:40 pm

    Beautiful outfit! Love your Jacket, babe.
    Happy weekend.
    Xx, Raysa

  2. Len Parent
    July 1, 2016 / 4:21 pm

    Head to toe FABULOUS doll! Love your coat and black top. Perfect combo! Have a fabulous weekend darling!
    Much love, Len
    http://www.lenparent.com

  5. Erica
    July 1, 2016 / 6:03 pm

    Congrats for being featured on Who What Wear! You deserve it! xx

  6. Tamara
    July 1, 2016 / 7:00 pm

    Labelling, and grouping people into one category is such a sad thing. I’m a minority in a minority so I know how you feel. Hopefully the more we talk about it the more awareness we spread!

    XoXo,

    Tamara – LoveofMode.com

  9. Amber Shannon
    July 2, 2016 / 3:18 am

    I’m sorry, sweetie. It’s a white person’s world. Blacks have made a lot of advancements, but truly, there’s a lot to still fight for… for people of all ethnic backgrounds. The progress that needs to be made won’t happen as swiftly as we would like. But it’s good that you voice your opinions and keep “reaching” for what’s right. Diversity is what’s right.

    ♥
    Amber
    All the Cute 🎀
    Today’s Post: Casually Striped…

  10. Yulia
    July 2, 2016 / 3:24 am

    Siffat, I just saw you being featured there; congratulations, girl! You definitely deserve it:) I understand how you feel about this misrepresentation in the fashion world; it’s such a sad truth. Even though we hear a lot about “diversity” from media nowadays, the reality is still very different from what it’s supposed to be. Anyway, you look on point as always, and I can’t wait to see your next post:) Have a great long weekend, beautiful, and congratulations again!

    Yuliannova

  12. Biki
    July 2, 2016 / 4:29 am

    Woop Wooop to being featured in one of your favourite platforms. Lets hope it continues to push fashion forward in accepting different forms of beauty from all over the world, i.e that fashion represents what the world actually looks like! Have a fab wkend ( :

  13. Rachel Holliday
    July 2, 2016 / 9:16 am

    Congratulations on being featured on ‘Who What Wear’! That’s such a huge achievement!! You look absolutely stunning and I love how you’ve mixed the black and tan pieces 🙂

    It annoys me how racial stereotyping still exists! I hope it will subside! One things for sure, your outfit here will inspire women of all ethnicities!

    Rachel xxx
    http://www.thedailyluxe.net

  16. Kathrine Eldridge
    July 2, 2016 / 12:30 pm

    Congrats on your feature! What an accomplishment! I totally agree that there needs to be a lot more diversity in fashion. Love the choker with this chic minimal look!

    http://www.kathrineeldridge.com

  18. Kristiana
    July 2, 2016 / 1:54 pm

    Congrats on being featured in Who What Wear!!! That’s huge!
    And good for you for speaking out on how diversity is lacking in the fashion industry. Great post.

    Kris | Window Seat Style

  19. Julia (The Velvet Runway)
    July 2, 2016 / 2:21 pm

    Congratulations on being featured on ‘Who What Wear’! That’s such a great achievement and so well-deserved!!

    I agree there needs to be more diversity in fashion and you are a major inspiration for all ethnic backgrounds!

    On another note, I love this look – the black and tan are perfect together!
    Julia x

    http://www.thevelvetrunway.com

  20. Hira
    July 2, 2016 / 5:05 pm

    Simple and Stunning !
    What a good post , Love your shoes …
    Great post Looking forward to more !
    Hira
    http://www.hirascabin.com

  26. Yasmin
    July 3, 2016 / 12:50 am

    I totally agree! There isn’t a lot of diversity for Asians in fashion/media. Priyanka’s first American cover was Elle and she had to share it with a bunch of other diverse personalities. Now she’s got InStyle to herself and Mindy Kaling was on the cover of Domino and Glamour (again shared with others), an airplane magazine and one other I believe. The only other person I can think of is Frieda Pinto and Top Chef personality Padma Lakshmi who may be featured here and there. Congrats on your feature – love the pic they used. You are bringing us one step closer 😉

    xx Yasmin
    http://banglesandbungalows.com

  28. Edye
    July 3, 2016 / 2:43 am

    So happy you got featured. I couldn’t agree with you more, Siffat! There totally needs to be more diversity in the fashion industry. I get so excited whenever I see a woman of a different ethnic background on a magazine cover. Amazing blogs like yours are paving the way for generations to come <3

    Blessings,
    Edye | http://gracefulcoffee.wordpress.com

  30. Aldora
    July 3, 2016 / 7:59 am

    You look edgy in that trench coat Siffat 😉 Have a great weekend!

  33. Violette
    July 3, 2016 / 2:36 pm

    Congrats, that’s awesome!! I think diversity is really important to reflect everyone in the whole word! Love this outfit!

    http://violettedaily.com

  36. adele miner
    July 3, 2016 / 10:53 pm

    Love the outfit, so casual.. the sandals look really comfy too! x

    adelelydia.blogspot.com

  37. Leftbankgirl
    July 4, 2016 / 12:44 am

    Amazing post! Congrats on being featured there! We do need to see more diversity, I hope it will change. You look so chic here!

    http://Leftbankgirl.blogspot.com

  38. Filipa Jackson
    July 4, 2016 / 1:39 am

    Congratulations on the feature beauty. I totally agree with what your saying here, diversity needs to be more apparent… especially in this industry. I am kinda sick of seeing the same looking girls getting all the jobs. Anywhooo you look absolutely amazing here babe

    Filipa xxx
    PlayingWithApparel.com | Instagram

  40. Izabela
    July 4, 2016 / 8:47 am

    Congratulations, Siffat. You certainly deserve this as your blog and style are amazing.

    I completely agree with you that we need more diversity in the fashion world. As someone who is mixed race, I know how important it is for ethnic minorities to be represented.

    http://www.mydailywear.co.uk

  42. jasna
    July 4, 2016 / 4:04 pm

    Thats amazing, congrats! You deserve it you have awesome style 🙂

  43. Dresscape
    July 4, 2016 / 4:27 pm

    I agree with you. As a mixed European and Asian girl, I only wish for more diversity in fashion. I surely hope it’ll get more “open” soon 🙂

    Love your effortless look!

    xx

    Claire from Dresscape
    http://www.dresscape.com

  45. Alice
    July 4, 2016 / 6:58 pm

    These Aritzia pieces look gorgeous on you, and I’m such a fan of Oak and Fort as well! And I can understand how frustrating it is to find someone you can relate to in the fashion industry.

    xo, alice / T Y P E N U

  46. Kelsey&Kenecha
    July 5, 2016 / 1:08 am

    Congrats! You look really lovely!!

  47. Marta
    July 5, 2016 / 5:31 am

    Congrats on the feature! That’s too rad, and definitely a milestone in your career 🙂
    As for the outfit, I’m totally lusting after this one. It’s so effortlessly put together, and everyone needs a nice camel coloured jacket.

    xo
    marta
    http://www.paradiseplayground.blogspot.com

  49. Albertine
    July 5, 2016 / 8:36 am

    You look very fashion, love your fashion coat

  50. Funmi Alabi
    July 5, 2016 / 8:50 am

    Congrats hunny! Love the jacket.

    Funmi x
    funmialabi.co.uk

  52. Stella
    July 5, 2016 / 10:43 am

    Big congrats on your feature to WhoWhatWear my darling! This is a great milestone to achieve and considering the fact that I am really happy and excited for you, I can imagine that you had the cardio for a week at the moment you saw it haha! I agree with your points, fashion needs more diversity in many levels, as well as in age! You look amazing by the way, love your minimal style! Congrats again on your milestone, I hope you celebrate it as it deserves 🙂 Wish you all the best my dear!
    Kisses
    Stella
    http://www.stellaasteria.com

  53. Anouk
    July 5, 2016 / 10:55 am

    So nice that they featured you! Congrats and well done.

    LUXESSED

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