BLACK AND WHITE

I attended the FALL INTO FASHION EVENT HOSTED BY BOULEVARD OF CHIC this past weekend by the Inner Harbor. I was invited as a VIP Blogger to cover the event which was such an honor. I met a great number of people and made a few connections. Networking is everything! Despite the drop in temperatures (it was 43 degrees but it felt like 19) the turn out was great. Read more on the event here....

(5 hours earlier....)

     Ever had a day where nothing looks good on you. Absolutely nothing!! It can be quite frustrating. Especially if it is an event, a fashion event, where pictures will be taken, and a lot of mingling happening. I look at the pile of clothes over flowing my bed in utter dismay. This can’t be life. (Oh! About that pile of clothes. I started this thing on being organized, or at least, getting things organized.  You know what they say when you have things in order. It’s easier to find whatever you are looking for, you feel more at peace…bla bla bla.  Number one rule of getting things in order is to remember the extreme importance of returning things where you found them. Ha!)

So here I am, trying to figure out what to wear, the pile of clothes on my bed already forming an impressive mini-hill and I ignore the gentle voice in my head says something about returning things where I found them. The hangers are strewn on the floor, I can't find that stole I had on a minute ago, and I’m about to fall flat on the floor because of a shoe that I had kicked off earlier trying to put a few looks together!! My goodness!! ORDER  has walked out the door and it’s evil twin chaos is about to walk in.

Sadly, I don’t have the patience to put that first rule of thumb in good use. I recall no one ever goes wrong with a black and white ensemble. Boom!

(I usually know what I will wear in advance, and I at times, I even lay out the outfit a day before, but sometimes, those looks don’t look as good as I thought they did the day before**I might have gained weight overnight because the waist band on my pretty laid out skirt is too snug, must be the cupcake***…and on being organized, I am, at least I like to think that I am. It’s not the  “color coded, folded as the GAP store, hangers 2 inches apart, OCD CRAZY,” but organized all together.)

I decide to tackle my mini pile of clothes when I get back home. I still adhere to the rule of thumb (at the back of my mind) just not immediately because…who wants to be late for an event right?

So here I am in black and white ensemble because when all fails, black and white will always be there to save the day.

Photo Cred: Teri Q

Thanks for stopping by. xx

BIKER

Let’s talk about how much I love my biker jacket. Like I love you to eternity kinda love. It seems to get better and better with age. If I could, I would  rock it daily, there’s no shame in showcasing love right? Any kind of love… If it could talk, well, let’s just say Biker J here would be having their own blog!! Here’s a list of where my biker jacket has been spotted.

With my go to Sunday best dress? check

Date night? Check

Gym? Check

Movie night with the musketeers? check

A movie screening in New York? check

A quick stop at Rite Aide in Sweat pants? Check

New York again? Check

Strolling on the Las Vegas strip at night? check

Rocking it in the house cause I just want to? Check

…check

…check

…check x1000

Ok! You get it…. There is always that one piece in your closet. Always!

For today’s look I felt totally bad ass. Think western movies…dusty salon… gun strapped in holster… quick on the fingers…ten paces out… sort of bad ass. (It's a biker jacket not a cowboy hat?? I knoooowwww, I’m letting my imagination run with me here so just enjoy the ride) Bike or horse, you choose.

That is the best part about dressing up. It makes you feel amazing! Afterall, that’s your style, right? You can be bad ass one day, get a French connection- berets and all  the next day…be a diva on the streets (flips hair** wait no... those days are long gone! Rubs bald head***)…the list is endless.

Then they are days where I really don’t give a flipping %$^%. Am in a get-up so bad, am hardly recognizable. Days that if I attempted to walk out the house, Keziah would say she doesn’t know me, my brother Wesh would confirm that am a tad cuckoo so its alright!!! Then I think about the random friend I might see at IKEA. I don’t know what it is about IKEA, every time I’ve stopped in for some throws or something, I always see someone I know. Weird right?

How about gasing up the car and someone yells your name from gas pump 8? Am on Pump 4, on the opposite side, looking like a total slob! Yes that too can happen… Oh the best one… lining up at whole foods during lunchtime rush hour because you dint want to miss that oh-so-delicious buffet, along comes your ex from three years ago!! Ever wished the earth would open up and swallow you at that exact moment or that you could pull a HOUDINI but since you don’t have such magical powers…you humble yourself before the Lord. For he will lift you up! (You are still frozen on the same spot!) Yikes!!

Ah…MORAL of this over-active imagination? You never know when you get to have a date with destiny. For destiny, you better be looking your absolute best. Be it lining up at the cleaners for your coat, brunching with the ladies on a Sunday afternoon or a late-night Grand Marnier run… You just never know.

Photo Cred: Kimnation

Knee-high boots, skinny jeans, and biker Jacket. My absolute Fall must haves. Is there anything in your closet that you just love…love…love? Let me hear about it..

Thanks for stopping by AND stay fabulous because...DESTINY! You never KNOW! :)

BLUE JEANS

“Jeans represent democracy in fashion.” Giorgio Armani (Fashion Designer)

“Don’t trust the scale, trust your jeans.” Unknown

“Blue Jeans are the most beautiful thing since the gondola” The late Diana Vreeland (former Editor of Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue)

And my all time fave…

“I wish I had invented the Blue Jeans. The most spectacular, the most practical, the most relaxed, and nonchalant. They have expression, modesty, sex appeal, simplicity - All I hope for in my clothes.” – Yves Saint Laurent (Fashion Designer)

   The Late Yves Saint Laurent summed up everything on Blue Jeans. They come in different washes and style, and they are a classic. A must have wardrobe staple. I have yet to meet someone who does not like a pair of blue jeans. I, too, wish I'd invented the Blue Jeans….

Grab a cup of tea because I have a little story.  Long time ago, 1853 to be exact, there was a young guy named Levi Strauss. He was a German immigrant who decided to leave New York for San Francisco with the intention of selling dry goods. When a prospective buyer asked him what he was selling, Levi said he had canvas for tents and wagon covers. The buyer indicated he should have brought pants, since the ones they had never seemed to last.

   After a few google searches (back in 2014) I discovered that 1853 was the Gold Rush Era in Frisco. Lots of miners wearing pants that don’t last??

 Light bulb moment for young Levi!!!  

He started making pants for the miners in canvas, they loved the pants, but they were not comfortable to wear due to chaffing. Young Levi decided to substitute the canvas with “ serge de Nimes” A twilled cotton cloth that came from France, first made in the city of Nime. Eventually, Levi Strauss and Company was born, the fabric was later known as denim, and the pants referred to as ‘blue jeans’

Over the years, the blue jeans have evolved in many different colors and a name for every style. Baggy Jeans, Boot-cut jeans, Flared jeans, Straight –leg jeans, Mummy jeans, Skinny jeans… the list is endless!

Then along comes my distressed pair of blue jeans. My sister Flo, her best friend Val, and I were in Massanutten, Virginia this past weekend. We had a good ol time trying out new things like Zip-lining and horse back-riding in the woods. 

For this look, I decided to change things up from my usual clean, somewhat demure style, to more of an urban street flair. I paired by ‘blue jeans’ with a t-shirt and my now famous biker jacket as we headed out for dinner. I then added a faux fur stole to add some zsa zsa zsu to the outfit, the IT bag that’s debuting on here, and my comfy ‘afande’ boots. The snap back hat made the whole look come together, it was a gift from my friend Sophie, who is all about the Young Life. 

Photo Cred: Flo Ngesh

Happy Wednesday and thanks for stopping by.

BLUSH TONES

 IT IS OCTOBER 1ST LADIES AND GENTLEMEN....

                           MY ONE YEAR ANNEVERSARY!!! WOOP WOOP!!

      Time flies by so fast. Seems just like yesterday I was telling my friends how I would like to start a blog. It got to a point where they were like, “Well go on ahead already!!’ Lol

         I eventually took a plunge into the blogsphere, and a year later here we are!!!  Ofcourse, it’s had its ups and downs, and at times I felt like I got stuck in a rut. There wasn’t enough time, not being consistent…bla  bla bla. At times, the excuses can be miles long when you are not motivated enough to do something. Am glad I was passionate enough to have pushed through, and am hoping for many more years to come. I am still trying to figure things out here and there, it’s such a beautiful learning process.  With learning comes growth, am not where I was a year ago. I have met fun, interesting people along the way, gotten more inspiration, dabbled back into writing 101 so that these posts can look a little bit polished, attended my very first fashion week, the fantastic opportunity I got working with Kenyanvibe.com and….

           The BEST part is you, you who has been reading my posts (even if this is your first one lol).  You guys have been incredible and I couldn’t thank you all enough for sticking with me. Thank you for liking, commenting, sharing, posting, tweeting some of my anneconventional posts and musings. I always say that my style, though at times can be quirky or very nostalgic with retro vibes, is not for everyone, but if one can get a simple idea or some form of inspiration from one of my posts, then am extremely, extremely happy. 

             I have a few things lined up for the blog and am certain you will see a few changes, starting with how I put up the pictures. Talking about the pictures, apart from style and fashion questions I get, one of the most popular questions is, who takes your pictures?

       My wonderful siblings, and close friends do take the pictures. I will be giving credit to each and every one of them moving forward. They bear with me as I direct the shoots, search for a location, bother with the proper lighting, the list is endless. Their patience and support needs to be given credit. I Love each and every one of you guys!!

       It is true that in life, when you want to do something, you should just go ahead and start, for you never know where you will be a year from now. Be it a new fitness regimen, writing a new book, learning that language you’ve always wanted, or even starting a blog. It might not be easy at first and you might hit a few bumps along the way, but at least you started right?

       For todays look, I went for the retro vibe I had mentioned earlier. I wore a blush toned 80's dress with the cutest little shoulder pads. The shoes reminded me of my late shosho (grandmother) who had somewhat the same pair (no kidding!!), without the inches of heel of course. I couldn't forget the little peep-toe. They just seem to go together, throw in the stole and am a belle back in the day running her errands.

I hope you had grabbed a cup of tea or coffee through this very, very long post.

As always, thank you for stopping by and for your endless support.

Have a fabulous day!!

WINTER BRIGHT

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

    Hope you are having a great start with the new year. Am beyond excited to kick off 2013. Starting the year off with tons of color! 

I love how the colors seem to compliment each other. The fuschia blazer with the lemon dress, blue as my accent color. Have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by.