Harare Mbama

Monday, December 31, 2012

Festive Fever

It's been an interesting festive period with back to back gatherings, last minute consults and brunches which roll into lunches and lunches which roll into dinners with loved ones. My good friend Moo, hairdresser to Kuala Lumpur's finest, had a glamour wedding to do here in Melbourne so its been two weeks of non-stop chatter about Asian film stars, the power of false eyelashes, makeup trends and must-have products.

I once again stepped outside my fashion comfort zone after reading an article where Giorgio Armani was quoted as having said:

"A woman should always dress to be remembered, not simply to be noticed."

I found myself standing in front of my closet and letting my alter egos battle it out for the remembrance related part of quote. I spent an entire morning watching Mad Men in my full skirt and then left my apartment in my new money-esque ensemble ready to break hearts all over this city with my big lashes and batwing top. Moo is not one to decline an invite to an industry event so I tagged along in a jumpsuit that made feel like I could be the next Bond girl should there ever be an African James Bond film series. Laugh now but my Africa is rising and soon there will be a Bond we can relate to. I will be in African designed and made high fashion ready to play the femme fatale.

Thought I'd share three looks that were inspired by Armani's words.

Big Lashes Meet Batwing

Top - Mathew Williamson

Jeans - Dejour

Shoes - Alexander McQueen

Bag - BVLGARI

Jewellery - Vicini earrings + EA Drew ring +

BVLGARI ring and watch

Got some great news and had to do The Zim Bop right there and then. Life is far too short to not express yourself wherever whenever. Believe me.

The Emergency Jumpsuit

Jumpsuit - Zara

Shoes - Gianvito Rossi

Bag - Chanel

Jewellery - Cotton On ring +

BVLGARI earrings, ring and pendant

Kenzo Inspired Primark Reality

Dress - Primark

Shoes - Gianvito Rossi

Bag - Yves Saint Laurent

Jewellery - EA Drew ring +

BVLGARI earrings, ring and watch

xxx

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Down But Not Out

It's been a toughish week thanks to a cold I initially thought was a hay fever related something. I'm a bit of an antihistamine aficionado so I popped the latest and greatest antihistamine on the market thinking I'd zap the sniffles away. Hours later, I was at my local pharmacy being schooled on herbal remedies and demanding the non-herbal potent stuff. I had no time to talk 'herbal'.

I've gone into overdrive on the wardrobe planning front after locking in a client I really can't afford to lose. This woman has me drinking well, eating badly, sleeping less and waking up to hit the treadmill for clarity. She's got me reading both new and old issues of my favourite publications, stalking Style.com, calling nearly every luxury retail hookup I have and re-learning jewellery collections. She's got me determined to come out guns blazing when I present what I think she can't live without moving forward. She's got me falling in love with fashion over and over again. I'm smitten.

Today was the first day this week I've left my apartment sniffle free so catching up with friends before checking out a vintage poster store was in order. Thought I'd share today's Down But Not Out Outfit.

Jacket - White Suede

Top - Green With Envy

Cargos - J Brand

Shoes - Casadei

Hands down my favourite wallet - Trading Company Zimbabwe

Sunglasses - Ray Bans

Jewellery - Hikari earrings + BVLGARI ring +

Anton Heunis necklace

The wallet was a gift from my mother many years ago. She and I absolutely loved products from Trading Company, a store that had the most beautiful products and yet the worst service. I remember going into the Newlands Shopping Centre outlet in Harare thinking "Certain things in retail in this country need to change." Years later, I can safely say that it's taken a while but change is coming. Every time I use my favourite wallet, I'm reminded of the positive changes in my homeland not only in retail or in fashion but also in other sectors. Rise up Zimbabwe!

xxx

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

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