Did Some Say All Rounder?

At the moment I'm mildly obsessed with keeping my skin as hydrated as soon possible, finding the perfect pair of sandals and getting my hands on a cuff from Ndau Jewelry. 'Mildly obsessed' is an understatement when it comes to this Zimbabwean brand's crocodile cuffs which I've begun to visualise on my wrists at next April's South African Fashion Week (SAFW). Yes I'm hoping to attend SAFW wearing a piece from Ndau Jewelry which accessorised a number of Zimbabwean designers who showed at last month's Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Africa in Johannesburg. Came hail or high water, I must be there flexing a Ndau cuff on my wrist.

I have a confession dearest friends and followers. I might be 'into' all these things but I'm currently harbouring a more-than-mild obsession for dresses. I've always liked wearing them but something happened to me after re-reading Nina Garcia's The One Hundred, a book that I often refer to as one of my fashion bibles. In it Garcia shares famous quotes by some of the world's greatest fashion influencers including Coco Chanel who said,

 "Look for the woman in the dress. If there is no woman, there is no dress"

I'm not one to read too deeply into what other mere mortals before me have said but this quote has had a profound effect on me since last Saturday. I read it, wrote it on a Post-It note which I stuck onto my inspiration board and first thing Sunday morning ironed an All Rounder Dress, I affectionately refer to as my Take-No-Prisoners-Poolside Caftan.

"An All Rounder Dress is a dress that you wear to brunch or late lunch with your girlfriends at Miller's or Tasha's or that hidden gem on Victoria Island. It's a dress you wear on a first date that's comfortable and that shows enough skin to pique someone's interest. Grown Woman it's that dress that sets you apart from the youngins with curfews and chipped nails.

Thought I'd share the All Rounder Dress that never fails me with a quick change of footwear 'working' with cobblestone friendly flats and cramp inducing heels.Thought I'd also share two other All Rounders that I've worn over the last dresses-only eight day period. 

Sunday - Take No Prisoners Poolside

    Caftan - Phyllis Boho

Flats - Gucci

Tote - Oxfam

Sunglasses - House of Harlow

Jewellery - Vincci earrings + BVLGARI rings 

+ Swatch watch

Lipgloss - MAC Underage Lipglass 

Thursday - Work Then Meeting the Obamas 

  Dress - Prada

Shoes - Vivienne Westwood Melissa

Basket - HIFA vendor

Scarf - Hermes (George Lilanga)

Sunglasses - House of Harlow

Jewellery - BVLGARI ring + Hikari earrings +

Makers Mark necklace + Swatch watch 

 Friday - Summer Ready

  Caftan - Phyllis Boho

Sling - Louis Vuitton

Shoes - Gianvito Rossi

Jewellery - Chanel vintage earrings +

Georg Jensen watch + BVLGARI 

and EA Drew rings

Hope you've all had a great start to the week!

Photos by my friend Erika and a troupe of random street photographers who weren't easily charmed.

xxx

Same Shorty But In Shorts

I've been suffering from a mild case of Blogger's Block and suspect it has something to do with a grooming related post I'm working on. I usually write whatever comes to mind ignoring the Do-Not-Share-Things-That-Are-Not-Fashion-Related-With-Your-Audience Rule sharing tidbits of happenings in my life and the odd fashion tip. This particular post is unlike anything I've ever written before with more factual information that I've been told my close friends and followers need to know. The post I'm tempted to entitle Don't Sweat The Big Stuff Before You Master The Small Stuff, is not easy for this mere mortal who doesn't drink enough water and quite often goes to bed with makeup on after epic nights out. I'm also guilty of over waxing, over threading, over exfoliating and over moisturising. And yes I apply my foundation with my fingers rather than with a brush. 

I have good-grooming related tricks I've learnt over the years but one never stops learning. Do I start with the super basics or skincare or nail care or how-to-keep-your-shaved-head-looking-fresh? Decisions.

Tired of over thinking the post, I decided to accept a last minute invitation to a rooftop cocktail party last night. A few friends who had gone to Crown Oaks Day, one of the biggest days in the Australian horse racing calendar, were going to be there too. Nothing like a few cocktails with friends on a city rooftop to help with one's writing issues. Thought I'd share what I wore.

 Tshirt - Givenchy

Shorts - Lucky 13

Bag - Chanel

Shoes - Prada

Sunglasses - Ray-Bans

Jewellery - Vincci earrings + 

EA Drew and BVLGARI rings

Lipstick is MAC Up The Amp

My outfit was inspired by Zimbabwean fashion designer Tanya Nefertari, also known as Nikko Frikko in social media circles, who on Wednesday tweeted:

"I want leather pants but where on earth would I rock them in this heat in Zimbabwe..."

I was tempted to tweet that I too was in the same boat leather pantswise and confess that I'd found the perfect pair at Reiss in London but had ditched them mid transaction. I waited patiently for someone to respond to Tanya's tweet. I needed answers. Funnily enough, my dear friend Chichi in Canada responded in true happy-go-lucky Chichi-style and tweeted:

"Just do it!"

It was a sign. I had to pull out a pair of leather shorts I'd packed away in a box headed for a Salvation Army Family Store. I'd found them in a bargain bin in a shop women over a certain age really have no business walking into unless they're looking for something for their teenage children. I'd only worn the shorts a couple of times but felt like they really had no place in my wardrobe. Well...

Yesterday afternoon, I wasted no time in getting home early to freshen up and to work out how I was going to pull off the shorts. I was determined to kill 'em softly in the street on my way to the gathering. I was determined to kill the heterosexuals softly on that rooftop! But before any 'killing' of any kind, I needed an outfit that looked tasteful. I wondered how Tanya would wear the shorts. Would she team them up with a white shirt and one of her quirky bow ties or would she wear them with one of her must-have blazers? I was running late and simply decided to throw a little Harare Mbama slash Concert Chick something into the mix and wear the shorts with a sleeveless men's tee, power pumps, a classic bag, tried and trusted aviators and earrings with a little oomph.

What do you think of my Rooftop Shenanigans outfit?

xxx

PS ----> If you're on Twitter, follow @nikko_frikko, another Zimbabwean designer I can't wait to meet, and my girl Chichi @KairaB who is an undercover fashionista and a Natural Hair Guru. Their random tweets are guaranteed to brighten up your day! 

Nail The Little Things First

What a glorious Sunday!

Sunday is a day I don't pick up the phone unless it's family or money is involved, don't catch up with people that aren't meaningful and don't do anything super strenuous. I don't go to Victoria Market and fight for my place at bratwurst sausage vendors and don't dare go to the supermarket. I usually just float makeup free in flats doing whatever comes to mind before I have to be home at 6pm to call my family. However, today was different.

I picked up calls from randoms.
Had coffee with a not-so-meaningful.
Cruised by Victoria Market and waited in line for a bratwurst sausage.
Swung by the supermarket for organic products my flatmate is convinced we need. 
Stopped by my nail place and let my nail lady pick whatever colour she liked.
Caught up with friends at the Grace Darling Hotel and sat at a communal table with a beer-loving crackhead with the wickedest haircut.
Caught up with Darth Vader and wore his headgear for a bit.
Soon tired of the Darth Vader jibes and decided to call my high maintenance friend as I walked home.

 Post bratwurst sausage rocking a Paul and Joe dress, Celine tote

Haviana flip flops, Prada sunglasses, BVGLARI earrings, Georg

Jensen ring and a Swatch watch 

Nailing it handwise with OPI Blue My Mind

 *I honestly have no words*

Miss High Maintenance and I talked about what we've both spotted fashion-wise lately before moving onto what I think is the most important thing to 'nail' before hitting any shops - good grooming. I've always had strong opinions on what women should have down pat at a certain stage of their lives but have always held back on both the blog and Twitter for fear of causing offence. It's time I discuss good grooming. It's time I discuss the little things that are bound to offend some of my readers and it's time I discuss the things that might just help a good number of them.

Are YOU ready to 'nail' good grooming?

xxx

In Love With Issey

I'm in the process of looking for a 'run-around chick' slash assistant to help me out so it's been one of those meet-and-greet weeks. One of those weeks that've left me all chit chatted out and somewhat disillusioned after meeting with a couple of arty student types. I thought only they would totally get me and what my personal shopping service is about but I was wrong. So wrong. One girl in Isabel Marant Bekett Trainers, lets call her Space Cake With Steelo, had made me thinking "Ancestors I beg strike this one down while I get the bill!" while another, Miss The Lights Are On But No One's Home, had me drifting off thinking about who I knew who could give the lass a cushy job. She looked wicked on paper and looked wicked in real life but I knew Day 3 of working with her, I'd have to ask her to step back when she couldn't complete the simplest of tasks.  

Come Friday, only a facial or a glamour lunch could save the week. I chose to go with the lunch route and ended up at Movida on Hosier Lane. One glass of top shelf pinot later, I didn't have a care in the world. 

The sky could've been falling and pigs could've been flying, I was in The Good Life Zone in a throwback top sharing my truth with my lunch date. It was a rather casual affair and this is what I wore.

Jacket - Belstaff

Top - Issey Miyake

Jeans - Target

Bag - Bottega Veneta

Shoes - Jil Sander

Scarf worn on the wrist - Hermes

Eyewear - Chanel + House of Harlow

Jewellery - BVLGARI earrings + ring + Swatch watch 

I'm not a lover of head-to-toe avant garde looks but I do love garments that me to be a little edgy while staying true to my style. I have quite an ample bosom and like to keep it covered Monday to Friday so this is where Issey Miyake Pleats Please garments come through. They work for just about everyone with their uniform pleating and trans-seasonal colour palette. Contact me if you need any help deciding on your first Issey Miyake Pleats Please purchase.  

I'm here. 

xxx