Anyone For Pheasants?

It's been one of those weeks where so much has gone pear-shaped on so many levels and where I've found myself reciting Maya Angelou's Still I Rise for strength. This is my favourite part of the poem: 

Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I riseI rise

I decided to catch up with friends for Friday drinks before strutting my stuff home to freshen up for dinner and a movie. I'd been dying to watch Delicacy, a French film starring Audrey Tautou and was determined to watch it tonight! Tonight in leather shorts and cramp inducing heels. The thing is - one wee wine later, I was in a department store sussing out Mary Katrantzou's Spring 2012 Ready-To-Wear Collection rethinking my grand plan. 

I didn't strut anything home. I didn't make it to dinner. I didn't wear the leather shorts or the heels. I did however, watch Delicacy and I highly recommend it to lovers of beautifully shot foreign films. 

This is what I wore today.

The pants were from Ralph Lauren's men's section and the minute I saw the pheasant embroidery, I wasted no time in trying them on. I'd been flirting with the idea of an androgynous look but had only gone as far as buying masculine-style loafers and brogues. Both Adewale and I love these pants dearly.

Trench - Scanlan and Theodore

Shirt - Uniqlo

Men's Pants - Ralph Lauren

Belt - Hermes

Shoes - Sergio Rossi

Jewellery - Kazuri earrings + EA Drew ring +

 BVLGARI watch

Remember to follow me on Twitter @HarareMbama where I share products and chic fashion finds. Have a great weekend!

 xxx

Tantalizing Tuesday

There's nothing like popping into your old university just before the lunch rush and waiting around to meet a man you've exchanged close to twenty emails with over a three day period, The Short Course Enrolment Guru. I decided to stop blaming an old IT lecturer, my temperamental notebook and the patchy network in my area for my technological shortcomings and brave the students to enrol in a short course with the guru's help. May is indeed Self Development Month! Watch this space.

Melbourne's weather has been sensational over the last couple of days so I've been able to wear garments I can easily layer should the weather suddenly turn. It's really a fours-seasons-in-one day city where hosiery, not a diamond, is a girl's best friend. Although I've started stocking up on heavy duty hosiery, I'm determined to 'bare leg it' for as long as I can. This is what I wore yesterday, Tuesday.   

Top - Dotti

Skirt - ZARA

Bag - Chanel

Shoes - Miu Miu

Sunglasses - Ray Ban

Jewellery - Georg Jensen watch + ring 

+ BVLGARI bracelet + earrings

xxx

Hearting D'Banj in Phillip Lim

Long day.

Long night. 

I'm so glad I'm home in one piece. So glad I remembered to check the letterbox for bills, digest the amounts owing and still write. Just had dinner with my girls and its another night I'm reminded that some things never change no matter how fun. The highlight of my night has to be hearing a snippet of D'Banj's Oliver Twist playing and seeing the naturally rhythmless hold their drinks up in the air and the one or two get down in style. I feel like African music is now transcending cultures and generations. I'm so proud. 

Thought I'd share what this I-Love-D'Banj-While-He's-Hot groupie wore today and shook her sugar in for a few hours tonight. 

 

Jumper - Country Road

Skort (skirt + short) - 3.1 Phillip Lim

Bag - Louis Vuitton

Shoes - Charles and Keith

Scarf - from a street vendor in Kuala Lumpur

Hosiery - Target

Jewellery - Georg Jensen watch + Diva + BVLGARI rings + earrings 

xxx

YOLO! Show A Little Leg

I've had an amazing day and feel like I'm in a really good place right now. Nothing particularly life-changing happened today although I did meet someone interesting, an architect of Chinese decent who was born and bred in Zanzibar and who identifies himself as an African. Mama Africa has so many children and its saddens me when some of them box not only their own but many like him. I worry. After our chat, I felt like I needed a wee glass of wine and a little Amy Winehouse to relax my mind so off I went to one of my haunts. Thought I'd share what I wore today.

Jacket - White Suede

Top - Uniqlo

Skirt - Donna Karan

Shoes - Prada

Sunglasses - Prada

Jewellery - Kazuri earrings + Diva ring + 

BVLGARI watch

The skirt is an oldie but a goodie I scored at a Donna Karan family and friends sale in London about seven years ago. I remember spending my entire rent at that sale and then playing Dodge The Landlord for a good two weeks until I got paid. Yes...yes I've been there! I've been to Planet Look Good Without Two Cents To Rub Together. I thank The Universe, The Ancestors and all The Gods (and Goddesses)  I learnt my lesson sooner rather than later.


I wear the skirt with simple racerbacks in the warm summer months and then team it up with fine knits in the cooler. I love its draping and how it almost feels like its dancing with each step. Oh I love being a woman!

xxx

Patent Power

It's been a wet and miserable Anzac Day, a public holiday here in Australia, so it's been another excuse for good friends get to together, overeat and openly discuss their issues. Another day where we throng a family friendly establishment in different shifts and spend a good few hours talking over each other. Early lunch turned into late lunch for the strays so I decided to head out and go to the cinema for some me-time. I share my apartment, my sacred spaces and this city with so many people - I find myself yearning to be alone. 

This is what this social butterfly whose wings certainly need to be clipped wore today.

I have a weakness for all things patent and absolutely loved the booties' smooth and patent leather combination.

Trench - Ralph Lauren

Jumper - Country Road

Jeans - Levis

Clutch - Isabella Rossellini for BVLGARI

Booties - Giuseppe Zanotti

Jewellery - Thousand Things I Love earrings +

 BVLGARI ring

All I needed was a little sun.

xxx

The Jacket That Gives Me Wings

I fell for Diane Von Furstenberg's Christianna Jacket the very day it was uploaded on Netaporter nearly a year ago but I, being a bargain hunter, decided to wait for it to go on sale. I tend not to follow trends and am not fussed if a designer or a print is deemed to be 'out' by the time I snap it up usually on sale. However, if a garment or accessory item shouts rather than speaks to me and I know the likelyhood of ever finding it is slim then I'll do the plunge. So while many of my friends discuss their man troubles, car leases, developments in wind energy and if Obama will see a second term - I sit there thinking So glad I no longer have a car as I stalk my timeless-with-a-twist pieces. After all, these are the purchases that still make sense years later.

I fell more in love with the jacket after seeing Chrisette Michelle, who I suspect had been styled by The Great June Ambrose, wearing it on Fashion Bomb Daily. Funny how an artist or personality (I loathe the term celebrity) can inspire a look, reaffirm the uniqueness of a product or completely destroy whatever love you had for that item or brand. Nene Leakes and a good number of Nollywood actresses have butchered brands I'd coveted season after season.

Woke up this morning ready to roll with my new foundation and new lippie. This is what I wore today.

 Jacket - Diane Von Furstenberg

Tank top - Supre

Jeans - AG Adriano Goldschmeid

Shoes - Celine

Sunglasses - Prada

Jewellery - EA Drew ring + Forever New earrings +

Georg Jensen watch + BVLGARI bracelets

Makeup

MAC Matchmaster Fluid Foundation

MAC Loose Powder

MAC Eyeshadows (Plum Dressing)

MAC Ruby Woo lipstick

MAC Russian Red Lipglass

Maybelline Great Lash Mascara

Illamasqua Blush

Dedicating this photo to everyone whose family members used to do poses like this back in the day.
I've seen several photos of my dad and his friends doing such. He cringes. I laugh. Little does he know I think he looks what I call 'hood handsome' and had the swagger men of today only dream of. 

Have a wonderful weekend everyone! Don't forget to follow me @HarareMbama on Twitter.

xxx