Any girl that is as particularly chic as Ruqaiyah, and spends 80% percent of her money on her sweet tooth (instead of clothing) knows what she is doing. She doesn’t waver at all from slight variations of the very classics and never buys what she won’t wear. Ruqaiyah is a little Amelia Earhart, with her seminal high-waisted pilot pants and leather jacket, a little Diane Keaton, with her perfection of men’s classic black oxfords, and a touch of Sunset Boulevard in her very “silent film star on the decline” glamorous kimono that she designed. Clever and resourceful, her kerchief was once a belt, one of her favorite dresses was a skirt, her boyfriend’s argyle socks are a favorite new accessory, and when the strap of a handbag fell off, it became a clutch. On her designing, Ruqaiyah says that at one point, she realized that if you don’t see it somewhere, make it yourself. Her knitwear is derived from the beauty she sees in everything, including insects. She makes it happen for herself – her recipe is don’t be afraid to try new things and fail, it can be more important than succeeding.

If you like Ruqaiyah, you might also enjoy Kate Roling and Ashley Shaw.