The Not So Conventional Fit

Am i the only one who instantly thinks of 'what dress to wear' when invited to a wedding?

I attended my friend's wedding in June and decided to ditch the conventional 'dress/skirt' look and go for something different. If you are African, you will know that as a female, rocking up to a wedding in trousers is definitely unconventional and i got a few looks from some aunties and uncles but who cares *sticks tongue out*. 

Anyway in addition to wanting to wear trousers, i've also been on the look out for a pair of high waisted flared trousers, and found this colour pop gem in Zara, this summer is all about ditching the bland shades and going BOLD with my colour choices. I teamed it with this gorgeous double peplum vintage jacket i picked up from Beyond Retro.

Top Bun, Top Bun, Top freaking Bun!!!!! i've practically worn my hair up in a top bun all year round, i absolutely love this hair style, such a simple and easy style to rock. My boyfriend absolutely hates it but............

                                    

Outfit Details 

Raul Blanco Saks Fifth Avenue Jacket - Beyond Retro

High Waist Flare Trousers - Zara 

Studded Vest - Zara

Glasses - Mummy's Circa 1970's

Clutch Bag - Accessorize

                                                                       

Black & White

I don't even know where to start, but.......

Here's a little something i wore last week whilst on holiday in Lagos. Monochrome outfits are quite popular at the moment and here's my casual take on how to wear this trend.

Have an amazing week everyone x

The Bone T-shirt - Zara 

Faux Leather Skirt - Topshop 

Rubber Bow Slippers - Kurt Geiger 

Grey Leather Bag - Osprey 

Glasses - Louis Vuitton 

Officially Missing You

Rather than going into the normal blogger spiel about how sorry i am, I'll just go ahead and let you guys know that i missed you, i still miss you and i hope you guys feel the same *peace sign*

A few posts ago, i mentioned that there were some changes happening in my life, which is why I've been away from blogging for a minute. To cut a long story short and save you all the emotional blackmail, i started a new job last week *insert crazy dance*, so i am mega busy and haven't had time for myself or anything else; oh and just before that, i went on holiday, so this little munchkin has been mega busy.

I took a risk last year, after much soul searching, reassessment of my life, goals, and aspirations, i decided that  i needed a break from the corporate world and a general change of scenario. Without banging his drum a fraction of what i should be, GOD is amazing, I've always known this, and he has always shown himself worthy of my praise, but in January his light has really shone bright.

I walked in faith, i spoke in faith, i thanked in faith and i wasn't disappointed. Whatever it is in life you want, hard work alone is not enough, speak positivity into your life, pray and it shall come to pass. I don't think a lot of people fully comprehend the power of the tongue, think it, speak it, be it......

Anyway, my body is still readjusting to the hustle and bustle of a 9-5er and i am in full learning mode for the next few weeks, so i can't promise that i'll be cosistent with my postings, but where i can, i'll definitely try :)

I couldn't end this post without a few OOTD pictures, i also have a product review for the Tee Tree limited's 'Natures Response' products which i have been using recently, review should be up this weekend.

Hope you all have an amazing week

Coat: Zara
Green Jumper : Zara
Bag: Gucci 
Phone Case: Biba
Lipstick: Mac Rebel

Jumper: H&M
Jeans: BDG (Urban Outfitters)
Bag: Dior 
Watch: Sutus (bought in charity shop)

Pink Blouse: H&M
Watch: charity shop 
Gold Bracelet: Portobello market 

Cardigan: Zara
Kiss ring : Topshop 

Top: Zara 
Love ring: Topshop
Arm candy:...........

NEW IN : The Haul Chronicles

It is sales season and you know what that means, lots and lots of new things at ridiculously low prices, however I've been pacing myself and holding back from doing a lot of shopping. As it's a new year, one of my goals every year is to save much more than i did in the previous year, and 2013 is no different.

Anyway thought i would share some of the things that i have picked up thus far.

Faux fur & leather gloves (H&M in Selfridges £5), it was love at first sight when i spotted these gloves, they looked sophisticated and different, and anyone who knows me well, knows how much i love faux fur. Imagine my surprise when i found out the price and best of all it is real leather, can someone say mega bargain

BIBA phone case (£11.50) - as you know i  got an iPhone for Christmas and i have been on the look out for a phone case but hadn't found anything. I randomly popped into House of Fraser in Victoria and found this little gem, i love everything about it down to tassels.

At first sight it looked like a blackberry case but when i put my iPhone in, it fits with only a little bit sticking out which is perfectly fine with me. I instagrammed this case and got messages from people asking about it, even my mum made me go and pick up one for her. It comes in different colours, from black to animal prints, there is something for everyone.

Shoes Kurt Geiger £35, open toe shoes are big at the moment and i love this one with bows at the back and front. I got it in Harrods and as you can see, i loved it so much i bought the black version too, i haven't yet worn them out but they feel very comfortable.

Real Techniques Shading brush - I recently bought my first real techniques brush which was a stippling brush and it is amazeballs, blends in foundation so well, as a result i though I'd start building up my collection of their brushes as they are quite good and not as expensive as MAC brushes.

Topshop Patent Bow Shoes (£12) - I bought this as my new everyday work shoes but as you can see it can easily be  worn with non -formal looks. It has a nice cut out in the inside of the shoes which gives it a funky feel, funny thing is some lady really wanted these shoes as well but it was the last one, i could see her praying that i wouldn't like them whilst i was trying them on hehe

Zara statement bracelet (bought for £12.99 but now down to £9.99) - I have been on the hunt and still am for statement jewel necklaces but i have still now seen any, the ones i have seen and love are from Mawi but right now i can't justify spending that kind of money on one necklace. Anyway this piece will brighten up any look and is a great arm candy.

Lilee for Asos lace Skirt - I have had my eye on this skirt for a while now and had to snap it up when it went down further in the sale. This is a gorgeous high waist skirt, the fit is lovely, i absolutely love the detailing on the front although i think i might have to sew down some of the things (not sure what to call it) in front

New Year's Eve

The last day of 2012 was a gloomy and grey one in London, non-stop rain and winds and in fact my lovely umbrella didn't make it into 2013...........

For my last looks of 2012 i kept it bright and cheery, end the year as you mean to begin the next one.....during the day i rocked this short sleeve Topshop jumper paired with Primark Skinny jeans and some thrifted gems from Portobello market. Can you believe i got these beauties & much more for only £1 each *insert chicken dance*.....most of the day was spent in my favourite shop IKEA, i needed a new coffee table & a few bits, i LOVE this shop, i can spend an entire day just day dreaming from section to section.

I switched it up for church and changed into my floral denim Zara shirt & BDG skinny jeans for Midnight service, i always usher in the new year in the house of God, and usual service was amazeballs.

My Ikea Coffee table, i put this together myself, my first unsupervised DIY  :)

Bag -Urban Outfitters
Leather Gloves - Gap

                                                                                XOXO

Happy New Year

2012 was an awesome year in many ways than i can list and for most of us i am sure the same is applicable. We came, we saw, we conquered, laughed, cried, said goodbyes, lost our way, found our way, lost it again, went against the norm, took risks, got emotional, cried some more, the list is endless…….but through it all we are still standing and made it into 2013.

In addition to all the things in my personal life, like family, friends, love etc, i am thankful for all of you, my readers, those who have welcomed me into the blolgsphere, connected with me through twitter, email, comments etc THANK YOU

As we all begin a new journey of 365 days, i look forward to you all being a part of my ride, sharing the ups & downs, expanding, growing, learning, experimenting with fashion and much more…..

So join me in raising a toast, to our year to SHINE, 2013 

Pyjamas: not just bedroom wear anymore (Guest Post)

Having previously disappeared from most women’s bedrooms around 1950, it seems

lately that pyjamas have become not only acceptable outdoor wear, but also an

unexpected fashion influence. They’ve been everywhere recently, from the runways

of Rochas and Dries Van Noten, to the red carpet (both Rihanna and Nicola Roberts

stepped out in pyjama-esque suits) and even Kim Kardashian on the cover of US

Glamour.

Now, we all know pyjamas are comfortable but does wearing them outside your

home seem glamorous or a little too much like crazy-cat-lady behaviour? After all,

unless you’re ill or raising money for charity, who wears pyjamas after getting out of

bed, let alone out of the house?

This trend has been around in various permutations for some time now, with mixed

reactions from the public. In fact, the style is causing quite a stir across the pond

with a Louisiana commissioner trying to enact a law banning the public wearing of

pyjamas.

To show you how to rock the look, Glamour UK has compiled a list of 

23 uber-fashionable celebrities who adore the PJ style, showing you who got it right and who

got it very, very wrong. The key is to mix the nightwear with day wear; a blazer over

a cute vest top, pyjama shirts over jeans or a work blouse with loose PJ bottoms.

A warning though: pyjamas aren’t exactly suitable for the unpredictable British

weather. Also, they’re probably not suitable for work either, unless your boss takes a

very relaxed attitude to casual Fridays.

For those of you who are a little less brave, you can always try out the trend in the

bedroom first. Very.co.uk has a beautiful collection of women’s pyjamas, and with

these styles you’re bound to get rave reviews.

Embellished Dreams

Hi Guys, hope you are all having a wonderful weekend, today was fun, i indulged in one of my favourite things which is shopping & gisting (Nigerian slang for catching up with a friend).

I know i said on twitter that i wasn't going to shop anymore and i wasn't about to break that promise just yet but was roped into showing a friend the sites of Bricklane, so whilst i was there naturally a few things caught my eye and the rest as they say is history. Although i must say i only bought two
things which is quite an achievement for me :)

The good old turtle neck is finally out, so officially in my books it is winter!!!!!!

PS: please forgive the mirror pictures #badhabit


OOTD

Black polo/turtle neck jumper - H&M
Skinny Jeans - Gap
Belt - Hermes
Bracelet Watch - Vintage fair
Coat - Zara  similar look HERE
Faux Fur Snood - Linea (House Of Fraser) only 1 left online
Earrings - Topshop
Lipstick - Mac Cremesheen Hang- Up

I am currently on the search for a Christmas jumper but i don't want the traditional stuff, i want an embellished one, hence the pictures below, i didn't quite find what i was looking for today but i will keep searching.

I have this thing where i like to wear something new on Christmas day, does anyone do this? i think it stems from the fact that growing up we used to get Christmas day outfits from our parents. Now i am not sure if this is a Nigerian thing but additional to the Christmas presents you receive, our parents would buy us a new outfit usually something fancy that was to be worn on Christmas day (and before you ask, yes you can wear it again after Xmas lol).

Anyway i have kind of carried on the tradition & like to wear at least one new item on Christmas day, so silly i know, i guess i just like to make an effort on the lord's birthday :)

Ain't nobody's business but mine & my scarf

This picture epitomises how i feel right now,  COLD!!!!!!  

England is cold, all kinds of COLD, and all i can think of is layering up and keeping warm. I have reinforcements in place to ward of this unwanted frost, big chunky scarfs & a big bad faux fur snood which will feature in posts to come.

This is the faux fur snood i purchased recently from Linea in House of Fraser, it is amazeballs, i love it, warm cosy & stylish, instantly upgrades your look....get the look HERE and even better it is now half price on their site, thank me later.

Anyway just thought i'd drop in quickly, say hi before i settle in with my cup of Tetley with evaporated milk & catch up on flashpoint on universal.

Scarf- Accessorize

Snood - Linea (House of Fraser)

NDANI: The Nigerian Fashion Project

So my friend Andi of Haute365 made a quick pit stop in London last week and we met up to have a much needed natter and catch up. We were supposed to go see the Valentino exhibition at the Sommerset house but as usual, i was a tad late so we missed the last entry that day.

Anyway, we ended up getting something to eat at a yummy Thai restaurant with my other friend Eremz and then headed over to Selfridges to finally check out the Ndani project.

The Ndani project showcases the best from Lagos Fashion & Design Week, these are handpicked pieces from some of Nigeria's top designers from their SS13 collection.

Designers on show are Lisa Folawiyo (Jewel by Lisa), Lanre Da Silva Ajayi, Eki Orleans, Odio Mimonet & Tiffany Amber. Emerging Nigerian Designers haven't been left behind, as the space also showcases pieces from Agu Anumudu & Jennifer Adighije (House of Silk).

This project is definitely a nod in the right direction for not only Nigeria but Africa, it is good to see African designers getting the recognition and international placement that they deserve. There is a lot of talent & creativity in Nigeria that needs to be recognised & given credit, the likes of Solange & Angela Simmons to name a few have been seen wearing pieces from Nigerian designers, so it's about time that we started seeing their collections on the high street.

As you can imagine, these are some of the best & most recognised designers in Nigeria, so the prices on display were NOT for toddlers, however having thought about it, i came to the conclusion that if the quality & craft is high then why shouldn't the price be representative? #buyAfrican #buytalent

In my opinion, this is only the beginning & i am hoping to see more African designers on the high street.

So what do you think of the showcase in Selfridges? the designers? the designs?

How gorgeous is this piece???? it was love at first sight for me 

From Paris With Love

Hi Guys, i recently went for a very short break to Paris with the BF & in the chaos of my Internet woes, i haven't had the chance to post up any of the pictures that i took.

I still haven't sorted through all my pics from the trip but in any case, here's a look at day 2 in Paris.

We stayed at a lovely boutique hotel in arc de triomphe, it was bang in the middle of everything and a stones throw from champs elysees. I would definitely recommend it, not only for the location & decor but it was very reasonably priced considering that we booked only two days before getting there.

Day 2 started off very lazy but eventually we made it out, we went for a nice stroll around the area, taking in the sights and sounds of the city and lovely smells of the traditional french cafes and bakeries. We had dinner at some meat house and then finished off with a stroll down Champs Elysees, of course we couldn't visit Paris without making a pit stop at the Louis Vuitton flagship store which is like fashion heaven on a couple of floors :)

OOTD

Peplum Dress - Topshop
Coat - Zara (a must have, the fit is amazing, i also want it in red but will wait till the sales)
Faux Fur Collar - Asos (last year)
Charm Bracelets - Roberto Cavalli
Quilted Bag - Burberry

                                                                      xoxo