where did you buy that?

Sun Comes Out, Vintage Dress Out

fashion June 25, 2020

One of the things I've been focusing on during lockdown is to be healthier and get my body back in shape. There's nothing like visiting family at Christmas where most of them tell you how much 'fuller' you look, to motivate a girl. To add context, I was in Sierra Leone last Christmas, hadn't seen my family for two years and yes.. had put on some excess LBs. The thing is, weight gain over there isn't seen as catastrophic as it is here, but the comments certainly gave me the wake up call that I needed. One of the things I do for motivation is to fit back into old clothes I've had for years. This lovely Lipsy dress has now been in my life for over a decade and for a while, it would not zip up. After nearly 4 months of working out three times a week and not eating a packet of oreos a day, I'm slowly but surely getting there. Finally, my lil dress fits again and I don't need to throw it out though I have no idea where I would where it again. This dress and I have had so much fun over the years from weddings, to hot dates, to all night raves in Ibiza but I'm not sure if it's my style any more. Never the less, I could never get rid of it as it has so much sentimental value, not to mention being my weight loss motivation. This shoot is to celebrate being able to wear da dress again. Hoorah!

Throw Back Times with the Dress 2012 and 2014

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It's all about the African Prom Dress

fashion May 15, 2020

With proms being cancelled all over the world, I really feel for the students who won’t get to have a graduation this year. I do love that lots of them are still dressing up and sharing their outfits on social media wearing top line suits and beautiful prom dresses. As my prom was over 100 years ago, I can’t quite remember much of it except that the dress I wore to it was horrific (thank God there was no Facebook or Instagram then). If I were to go to any type of prom now, I would wear a dress like this. I had this beautiful evening gown made in Sierra Leone at Christmas, and it fits so well because it was made to measure. I chose a stunning green gara print (as green is my colour) and went for a an off the shoulder cut with a sweetheart neckline and fishtail/mermaid style finish. I love love love love this dress. Where will I wear it? I don’t know. When will I get to wear this? No idea. But the fact that I have this amazing African style print made to measure gown waiting to be worn in my wardrobe, makes me smile. The one thing I will say about this dress is that is motivates me not to put on a single pound because it’s already so snug! No Corona pounds for me then!

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What to wear with an African Print Skirt

fashion May 06, 2020

One of the pieces I had made in Sierra Leone last Christmas was this cute high waisted skater skirt. As soon as I saw the fabric, I knew exactly what I wanted to use it for, and this skirt was born. I wanted an easy-to-wear A line style with a high waist, but not too short. What to wear this skirt with however, was a bit more tricky. A plain vest or Tee could work but if I want to make the outfit dressier, anything over the top would be too busy with this fabric. Thankfully, I remembered the black lace body suit I had, which matched perfectly.

The sleeves, frills and mesh fabric add texture, while the plain black colour keeps it simple. The v-neckline also adds a nice silhouette to the outfit, as the skirt has some volume. The bodysuit is versatile because I’ve worn it with a maxi skirt, mini skirt, smart work trousers and jeans. These are the kind of staple bits to have in your wardrobe as it does a bit more of a job than the plain black vest or t-shirt. What’s your favourite body suit?

Skirt | Bespoke tailor made but similar here | black mesh/lace bodysuit, Femme Luxe Finery

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3 Ways to style a Tweed Blazer

fashion April 29, 2020

Sometimes I think I should just call this blog how to wear blazers and be done with it. I just can’t help myself. In my defence, I don’t have a tweed blazer in my collection (ok, ok I don’t have a double-breasted long version) so as soon as I saw this one, it had to be mine. The navy and red tartan print is timeless and chic but also incredibly versatile. Personally, I love it with denim but would also wear it with a plain black mini skirt, or a pair of black leather/pleather trousers.

Out of all my other blazers, this one is the boldest and most striking. I could wear it to an interview or formal meeting, and then for a night out on the town, depending on how I style it. The wool blend and gold button detailing technically makes it more of an Autumn/Winter staple, but I think it can work all year round with the British weather. With this in mind, here’s how I’ve styled my blazer in three different ways:

As long as you get a size that allows you to button it up (and you have a decent bra), the tweed blazer on its own works great. This would also good look good with a pair of smart leather trousers and high heeled pumps.

Balmain Style Double Breasted Tweed Blazer

Nothing like a crisp white shirt and a pair of jeans to change the game completely. Interview, meeting, conference, meeting the parents or just being a boss bitch. It's all about the white shirt with the tweed blazer.

If you have to wear something underneath and the white shirt is too formal, why not try with a plain t-shirt, tank top or blouse. I prefer black but you can go with any colour that compliments this particular tweed blazer (e.g. navy or red).

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It's all about the Silk Chiffon Blouse!

fashion March 17, 2020

And so …the UK lockdown begins. If I’m honest, I am actually still in a bit of shock. As I try and get my head around life in COVID19 world, I’ve decided to lose myself in fun creative projects as well as having a clearout! Pretty sure I’m not the only one who has been putting off clearing out their closet so now ladies and gents, we really have no excuse. Having a wardrobe clearout is a bit like detox; eliminating disastrous fashion choices, saying goodbye to the dress size that once was, and decluttering pieces you haven’t worn for months (sometimes even years). One of the things I also love is finding clothes I'd forgotten about like this lovely silk chiffon blouse from Pretty Little Thing.

I found this on ASOS and when I saw it, I loved the colour, balloon sleeve and chiffon fabric but had no expectations. When it arrived and I tried it on, I loved it. The style is cropped with a plunging neckline so it’s not something many could wear on its own. Luckily, I had a baby blue lace bodysuit from I Saw it First which worked nicely underneath. I think this is the ideal Spring to Summer top because though it has long sleeves, it’s made with a light, floral, pastel fabric. For this look, it’s all about the high waisted jeans but it would equally work with a maxi skirt, white trousers or even as a cover up beachwear item. Thankfully I’ve discovered some great lighting in my balcony so it photographs well. When we finally come out of lockdown, this will definitely be the piece I make good use of this Summer.