THE COURTYARD
I have no idea why I got a floral bomber jacket with the number 95 on it. It must have been the floral print. The numbers 95 got me thinking of the year 1995 woah! That’s twenty years ago. If someone had told be back then that I would be shaving my head every week, wearing trainers 90% of the time and living in New York City, I would have thought them totally crazy and run faster than Usain. That madness is infectious. Do you remember what you wanted to do twenty years ago? The dreams you had? Perhaps the goals? There was a time when you were a kid and you said you wanted to do something but your parents or teachers didn't like and your were instead told to focus on something else. Something more reasonable. Something more conventional. A kid in my class was very good in science, smashing in liberal arts. He always liked to read, figured he could write when he grew up but the teachers upper lip would curl in disdain. They expected him to spew words like scientist or surgeon every time he opened his mouth, not an author. Sadly, I do not know what he is doing today. Hopefully, he is writing to is hearts content.
When I discovered I wanted to live my life creating, I didn't care what it was. It could have been building houses, making pots, welding,creating food recipes, weaving baskets, or artwork, I just wanted to be involved in something creative. I zeroed in on clothes. I decided that that was the path I was going to stick to. The journey has had it’s ups and downs but I have been relentless. I am glad I have this platform to document the journey and hopefully, I can look back years later and see how things have progressed. I don't know about you my friend, but what I know is that all of us are here for a reason. You have a purpose and if you find what it is, work hard at it and don’t give up. Immerse yourself in it fully. If you haven’t, keep looking, it’s there just waiting to be discovered. Our past may be somewhat responsible for defining who we are at present but it does not define our future. I read this book by Mitch Albom called Tuesday’s with Morrie, and it had me thinking so much that my thoughts are now trickling into an outfit post.
Sometimes I feel like if you have something to say, something that might be of use to someone, say it. Nothing haunts us like the things we did not say. I have jotted down a review on that book because I think everyone needs to read it. The review will be up later today. Tuesday's with Morrie is a beautiful, thought provoking and inspiring book. One of my favorite quotes from the book goes like this, “So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they’re busy doing things they think are important. This is because they are chasing the wrong things. The way we get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.” There are so many gems in that book if I start putting them here I will end up pretty much copying and pasting everything.
I walk through the courtyard daily sometimes on the phone with a friend or my family, other times super charged from a work out and at times deep in thought like today. It’s the focal point of the apartment building I live in. Very old and well kept. It’s what got my attention when I found this place. When I was going up the stairs to the apartment I figured I should share what’s on my mind and because I haven't forgotten that this is an outfit post....
Trainers have become my most comfortable, go to pair. I do a lot of walking nowadays.The pair I am wearing today are my fave. The trainers are in a neutral grey color so they can pretty much go with anything. A lot of people wear black in New York, this lady here needs color in her life, I wore them with a red midi dress over a floral bomber jacket and a mini cross over bag.
Lastly, do remember that if you are lucky enough to find a way of life you love, you have to find the courage to live it. Happy Monday and as always thank you for stopping by.
Floral Bomber Jacket: Forever 21 (Similar)
Red Midi Dress: Zara (Similar)
Trainers: Shoedazzle.com
Mini bag: Forever 21
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
I wanted to capture the energy, the people, the lights, the bustling craziness that is New York City and what better place to do that than TimeSquare.
Helllloooooo It's me... (In my Adele voice)
I was wondering after all this....
(Ok let me stop! It's been a while...and alot has happened.)
It's been a minute since I penned words for the outfit section of my darling blog. By now you already know I made that big move to the city that never sleeps, the big Apple, the concrete jungle and any other name that is out there. To be honest so much has happened this year that at times I was not at the right frame of mind to post pretty much anything. I felt like a juggler in a circus trying to keep an eye on what's going on while praying and hoping that none of my balls drop.
With all the changes going on in my life it felt like a rollercoaster of some sorts. In regards to the blog, sometimes I had zero inspiration, other times it was writers block, then there were times I zoned out completely. My thoughts were focused elsewhere and that sadly had me neglecting my blog. Earlier on, while conversing with a dear friend of mine, I remember him telling me not worry about my blog, I needed to take care of myself first. The rest will come. Lo and behold, hear we are!
So let's play catch up as to what I have been up to this last couple of months.
I moved to New York. Finally! If you have ever moved to a place, even down the street in your own neighborhood, you know it takes a good minute to finally settle in. Figure out the lay of the land then recruit your team. By team , I mean the people who will be of service to you. They become part of your extended familiy. Johan, my trusted Dominican barber, is one such guy. He is on of the few people I met when I was settling in. First time I met him I was in dying need of a haircut and my hablo espanol was cringe worthy. Johan is easy on the eye, he looks like a guy from the cast of La Muher De Mi Vida. He probably works out seven times a day from the sheer size of his biceps. He wears those musclemania-esq t-shirts over his apron. I swear it's an apron! When I told him my name, he pronounced it as ROZZIE!! Yikes!! Then is was RAaSHE!! We finally settled on ANNA! So every time I walk into the barbershop, he opens up his arms and say ANNNNAAAA!!! I get two besos on my round cheeks, then ushered onto the chair as if a highly important guest. He then goes like how's your day and what I have been up to. I stutter my little Spanish while he secures the barber cape on me. He tries to teach me new words all the time. After he sufficiently believes I have gotten the new word of the day in. He gets busy getting my baldie right while humming some Bachata song that's playing on the radio. He at times sings out loud. His energy is very infectious. By the time I leave am all Gracias and Hasta Luego while he quips Denada ANNNAAA!!! C'mon, if that ain't immaculate service, I don't know what it is. Johan endeavors to bring my Spanish up to scratch. That and my scalp of course! Johan wants to know my plans for Thanksgiving. Family I tell you.
The family will grow eventually. The manicurist, lilly or Jen for down under, fellas at the gym, the Superintendent of the building just incase there's a pipe leaking or the heater stops working in the midst of a polar vortex. God forbid!
I mentioned on Change that I had completely taken out meat from my diet, red, white,any color! All out. How long will this last? I do not know but for now I am reaping the benefits of it all. As if one transition wasn't enough, I had to go ahead and add another change, this time towards my diet.
Truth be told, after a month of not eating meat, the craving somewhat stops. Life as we know it changes. I used to be the person who always said I can never stop eating meat. Well, look at me know. Never say never right? Today, I happened to weigh myself after 3 months and the scale was -10lbs. I stared at those numbers as if they had spoken to me. I looked around to see if anyone else was seeing this! Well damn!
I brought it up while I was chatting with my sister Flo and we decided that a few factors played a major role. One was the stress of that move, two all the walking I do and the few gym sessions I commit to weekly, and lastly, the most important one, the diet. Super clean. Vegan diet. I feel pretty amazing and my energy which had never been an issue is supercharged. Sometimes I feel like I drank two cups of coffee, and a can of redbull. I love it. I have been struggling on meals now and then because you can only eat chickpeas and lentils for so long. I am figuring out creative and appetizing ways to make my meals.
When Mary, the wonderful lady who will be taking my outfit pictures asked me where I wanted to take the first pictures, I decided on Times Square. The most obscenely packed, madly crowded, exciting, and brightly lit place I could think of. It is a hive of activity! I won't be a New Yorker, officially, until I get my NY State ID. That my friends, requires you to be a resident for at least a year. With that said, I can proudly proclaim that I am still a star-struck, dazed, slow-walking, out-of-towner. I make no apologies. Being an out-of-towner comes with privileges, like taking pictures at Times Square and other touristy places in the near future. New Yorkers avoid Time Square like the plague. All that hustle and bustle can be a tad too much but that did not deter me.
Mary and I met up at a Starbucks on Times Square. It was our first time meeting.We had been conversing through emails and such earlier on. We are going to embark on some really cool stuff especially on the lifestyle section of the blog. She is really wonderful and loves photography. For this first post, I wanted to capture the energy, the people, the lights, the bustling craziness that is New York city and what better place to do that than Times Square.
Pictures by: Mary Conroy Almanda
The weather recently has been quite nice, no beanies were required to cover up my head on this day. I could let Johan's work flourish. I wore a mint coat over a sweater dress then paired it with plaid blanket and some patterned tights. I have started adding links to similar items on my tagged section that way you can be able to recreate your own looks. Happy shopping. So this is me saying Hello from this other side. Welcome back and as always, thanks for stopping by. Hasta Luego! Yes! or Si! is more like it.
Mint Coat: Forever 21 (Similar)
Sweater Dress: Necessary Clothing (Similar)
Patterned Tights: HM (here and here)
Shoes: ASOS (similar)
Bag: Vintage Chanel
Blanket Scarf: Necessary Clothing (Similar)
IN THE NUDE
A few months ago I went to a pre-wedding party in Massachusetts for good friends of mine. Remember the Floral dress that I wore? Yes that one. They were having a summer wedding and as the big day was approaching, I started sweating bullets, literally! One because it’s too damn hot and two I had nothing to wear. The wedding was days away and it being a wedding, a summer wedding to be exact, a dress should suffice, but not just any dress, a superb dress. I had a few options in my closet but the looks dint come together, either the accessories were off or the dress was off. This meant shopping.
Suede will be everywhere this fall. The 70’s are back and if you have stepped into a store recently, you will notice suede and fringe everywhere. I initially walked past the dress about a gazillion times because my color choice for a wedding outfit has always been in the pastel family or popping bright colors, nowhere near the camel and nude family. It actually took me a second round to the dressing room to grab it. I always talk about hanger appeal all the time. This dress had zero! The cut outs looked like someone had mistakenly ripped it apart and the color is nothing I would have gone for. I reserve nudes for Fall. Not those kinds of nudes ---get your mind out of the gutter. LOL
After trying it on, I did a jig and a booyah because this number fit like a glove.
For the wedding I paired it with pink and white-stripped heels that had a cute bow at the back of the strap. Hints of gold with the cuff and brooch were all I needed for my accessories. I kept my make-up subtle with a soft red lippie to complete my look, which had me thinking I do seem to be in the nude. A very unconventional look I might add. ;)
Special thanks to my darling Keziah who took these gorgeous pictures with her phone. I will never hear the end of this because truth be told, her Samsung takes some really good pictures. Thanks love.
Thanks guys for stopping by.
Dress: Necessary Clothing
Shoes: Shoedazzle.com
Clutch: Zara
Brooch: Thrifted vintage
Cuff & Rings: Maasai Market
Lippie: Mac Ruby Woo
PRINTS ON PRINTS
I have never met a print that I dint like. I usually tell myself it is because am a daughter of Africa. Prints run wild in that beautiful continent so being genetically predisposed to prints would be apt. To pull a print on print look you have to be brave. Brave because the colors might not be from the same pallet and the prints might clash and war with each other like the battle of the Titans. It would be a bold look but here is the catch, you will look fabulous. Not a care in the world. Yes you might turn head now and then as you strut head high like a peacock because deep down you know you own it. It’s your style. It’s you!
Sunday’s are always good for brunch. Nothing feels me with joy than sharing a meal and a few drinks or more with people you love. My friends have been nothing but supportive and this brunch was for us to come together and hang out. The last brunch before I make the big move.
Initially I had no idea that I could pull off this look. I remember Qui and my desky (we were deskmates in high school. The name sort of stuck. I don't even know her other names!!) giving me an uncertain look, but I went for it. These are one of those pieces I put together, look up in the mirror and vwaalaaahh. Magic! The proportions were equally balanced because the crop top slightly kissed the edge of my high-waisted skirt creating a balanced cohesive look. My vintage basket bag is everything. I found it scouring for vintage finds when I took my mother shopping, it's become my summer go to bag. For good measure, I threw in my geometric print wedges. As I always say, you can never have too many prints.
