If you’re reading this in your email, make sure you click *expand* at the bottom to read the full story!
I met Malak at a weekend long Friendsgiving at a house outside of London. This past year, she and I both found ourselves in a transitional period between jobs, and we took full advantage of that time by going to matinees, walking the east London canals, and spending gobs of unstructured play time together. Throughout this time, I’ve gotten to know Malak as the wonderful person that she is, and will always value those amazing days of just enjoying the passing of time together. She’s someone who is curious and deep digging, and she’s always game to go down my rabbit holes of interests. We can dissect movies and books together, talk about our creative interests (she’s an incredible writer!), and support each other through our life endeavors. I’m sad to be leaving her as I move away from London, but can’t wait for the memories that we make in this next chapter.
The Outfit
When I asked Malak to describe her outfit in 3 words, she said: Edgy, Classic, Comfortable.
Malak grew up in Egypt and on Tumblr. In the early 2010’s, the grunge Tumblr aesthetic was potent and intoxicating - think black and white pictures of cigarettes, girls in Dr. Martens with frilly socks and black ripped tights, Lana Del Rey (anything and everything that had to do with her), extremely vulnerable poetry, and soft grunge pastel hair colors. Once you’ve caught it, it’s nearly impossible to shake it. “There will always be a bit of that grunge Tumblr aesthetic in me,” she shared.
Malak viewed her parents' more preppy aesthetic as sitting on the opposite end of her style spectrum. She grew up watching them wear tailored trousers, loafers, structured blazers, and finely knit sweaters. If there was one brand she could name to capture their essence, it would be Ralph Lauren. We can spend so much of our tortured teen years trying to avoid the fashion influences of our parents, but eventually it sneaks up on us. While Malak has stayed true to many of her Tumblr influences, elements of her parents' style have sprouted up alongside them. In this look, she wears a pair of Gucci loafers, but they’re styled with loose fitting vintage trousers and a sporty pair of crew socks to bring them into her own fashion world. Perhaps younger Malak would’ve looked at these pieces as part of her parent’s closet, but she’s found a way of styling them into her wardrobe that feels authentically aligned with her own taste.
As she’s gotten older, the pieces she once viewed as on the opposite end of her style spectrum are now able to sit comfortably within her own closet. Reflecting on the words she used to describe her outfit, she chose Edgy and Classic, two words that are seemingly opposite but express themselves quite beautifully together. I think this shows a few things: One, things that are seemingly opposite can coexist. Two, that our style will always be evolving and sometimes our Never’s can become Our Most Cherished. And three, and maybe most chillingly, we can’t always escape the influence of our parents (and perhaps that’s not the worst thing).
The Dressing
When I asked Malak to describe her dressing in 3 words, she said: Simple, Approachable, Tangy.
Through and through, Malak is a balsamic vinegar girl. She uses it on everything, so it felt natural that it needed to be a part of her feature. The recipe she chose is from her childhood in Egypt, and is an easy, tasty add to your salads. Malak and I had really meaningful conversations about growing up in Egypt, and a big takeaway I got from this was how much Malak loves and respects her family and heritage. Though she has spent her adult years in London and America, her upbringing in Egypt is foundational to her being. While she honors it in many ways, incorporating this dressing felt like a homage to her past.
As we sat at her dining room table, watching the city lights in the park below her flat turn on in the dusk, I considered the layered aspects of Malak. We’re at an age where we’re seeing more and more of our familial pasts express themselves in who we’re becoming, and while this can be a shocking revelation, it also offers us a window to cherish and reflect on those influences. Because while it’s natural to want to carve our own path, there will undoubtedly be pieces from our past that resurface in unsuspecting ways. Whether it be an aesthetic you picked up when you were 13, a pair of loafers your mom would’ve worn, or a beloved dressing recipe from your childhood, our past is there to haunt and help us grow into the people we will be.
Thank you for reading this issue of Dressings! Until next time :) <3
I’m ready to join Malak at her table for that delicious dressing! Her jewelry choices = ++!!