Meet Adewale

Feeling a tad bit overwhelmed with my personal shopping gig, writing a piece entitled "I Am Not My Louboutins" and the departure of a dear friend in early June. I find it very difficult to tell my closest ones, with the exception of my brother, how much they mean to me so its going to be hard saying goodbye. It's the end of long conversations and hours of people watching. There will be no more trips to ZARA to scan the new delivery, no one to play Spot The Tightest Outfit with me and no one to whinge about portion sizes at 'wanky' restaurants.
        

I'd hoped to spend some time with him on Sunday but Moo, being the social scene whore that he is, had other plans. Gutted, I did solo brunch at my spot and accepted an invitation to a late afternoon 'engagement'. This is what my alter ego, Adewale, wore on Sunday.

I've decided to experiment with new lip colours and thought I'd rock a new lippie and gloss from MAC. The lipstick is Up The Amp Amplified Creme Lipstick and the gloss is Narcissus Cremesheen Glass. Pop into a MAC store near you and try them along with any others. Do tell what great lippies you come across.

Jacket - Belstaff

Top - Ralph Lauren

Jeans - Levis

Shoes - Jil Sander

Newsboy cap - Ralph Lauren

Jewellery - EA Drew ring +

earrings from a Harare street vendor

Another hood pose dedicated to my parents who don't know that I also
look to them for fashion inspiration. One day soon I'll tell them about the 
blog and hopefully they'll understand their influence on my style and 
realise that they are in everything I see and do.

XXX

Fat Day 101

I caught up with a girlfriend for what was supposed to be Lunch-slash-Gallery Day but we never made it past Table 18. A good part of this working day was spent flirting with the idea of checking out the exhibition we'd come to see, taunting an American waiter and discussing happenings on Planet Relationship in Dave Chapelle's Rick James voices. While we ate very little food, copious amounts of wine were involved on this Harare-Mbama-Feeling-Fat Day.

I'm convinced there isn't a single woman who doesn't have a couple of fat days every month. These are the days when loose tops debut, diets go out the window, treadmills are distant memories and loved ones + lovers are on the receiving end of irrationality. For me, these are the days I also pull out some reggae music that makes me laugh out loud like no one else in this building or cry like I've just been dumped. Yes this is a fashion blog but its important you all know that I'm real. I'm a real woman with real issues. Got days when zits appear out of nowhere, when I just want to chill  in my pyjamas all day and eat a whole flattened chicken, when I'm frazzled after an old boyfriend gets in touch, when I hiss my teeth at some teenage girl in her micro mini and when I put Monica's Don't Take It Personal on repeat until I master her every murmur.

These fat days are the days wide leg pants and a silk scarf come out to play. I thought I'd keep it casual with a singlet, some bangles from H&M and a Harare street vendor and throw in a little high fashion in the form of Louis pumps I adore. As expected, the weather turned and I wore a cardigan that can be worn several ways.  

Top - Supre

Pants - DKNY

Cardigan - DKNY

Scarf - from Beijing market

Shoes - Louis Vuitton

Bag - Barneys New York

Jewellery - Hikari earrings + Georg Jensen watch + 

H&M bangles + wooden bangles 

from a street vendor

 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

Baby Pink And The Basket

Thank The Universe, The Ancestors and the gods (+ goddesses) of all the different religions its Friday! I haven't had an overly stressful week but I can't wait to:

• shave my head tomorrow morning
• read all the weekend papers in bed
• check out a culinary bookshop just a neighbourhood away
• watch two films back-to-back at a nearby art house cinema  
• kick back with a glass of wine in hand and listen to D'Angelo as my oxtail slow cooks
• talk to my brother without interruption or having to dash off somewhere
• start the search for a good-for-budget peplum top and the perfect pair of boyfriend jeans in an age-appropriate wash
• research costs associated with attending Africa Fashion Week London (AFWL) this August and work out if going actually makes financial sense 
• check out the five fashion and beauty Tumblrs everyone who's interested in fashion or beauty should know according to the Editor-in-Chief of Fashion Bomb Daily, a blog I religiously follow

Today, I'd agreed to meet my hairdresser friend for lunch in one of Melbourne's well-known food lane ways and when he changed venue, I suggested meeting on the steps of Parliament. This is what I wore today.  

More often than not, generally nice wholesome people forget when exactly they purchased a fashion item, the person who might've assisted them, the transaction itself and what other events took place on the same day that their purchase was made. I, on the other hand, remember every single detail as if there are prizes to be won for this sort of meaningless information. I remember the vendor who sold me my basket, the different colours and sizes that they came in and the tedious haggling that took place. He was stoned and I was broke. He got tired of my whining about the price and gave in. The basket, like the Taxi Earrings, makes my heart sing and I know I will never tire of it.

 Shirt - DVF

Pants - Vanessa Bruno

Basket - Vendor at Harare Festival Of The Arts (HIFA) 

Shoes - Anna Fiori

Sunglasses - Ray Ban

Jewellery - Diva + EA Drew rings + Georg Jensen watch +  

bracelets from a Johannesburg market 

My next post features Amelia who I spotted in the street. Her outfit popped in the sea of grey and black and as she walked past I couldn't help but compliment her on how well-put-together she looked. Sweet Amelia doesn't know this but she is the sole reason I braved the ZARA after work rush in search of something bright and trans-seasonal.

Woza Friday!

xxx

I Heart Taxi Earrings

Having what I'd like to think are serious computer issues and waiting for a tech savvy friend to call back about where Saturday's post entitled Viva Celine! could've disappeared to. Its gone and I'm on the verge of having one of my classic meltdowns. A meltdown that involves a dinner fit for a king or a childless Miss Independent with credit, a pricey pair of shoes, a case of wine and tissue. I'd rather be down in the dumps with bloodshot eyes munching on a Wagyu beef knowing that a pair of Bawse Lady pumps and wine are on their way. 


While deleting photos on my camera earlier, I came across images of random things pinned to my vision board and things that have caught my eye over the last few days. Little things and places of significance that have me squealing with glee, seeking out new underground spots, researching homewares and listening to all kinds of sounds. Thought I'd share the only decent photos of what I wore to yesterday's not-so-boozy brunch and things that inspire and influence my fashion style. 

I bought these earrings from a stall at HIFA, Harare Festival of the Arts, nearly two years ago. I love fine jewellery but feel like no Harry Winston, De Beers, Cartier or even BVLGARI piece has anything on my taxi earrings. I don't wear them often for fear of losing them but when I do they make my heart sing.

Knit - Country Road

Cargo pants - J Brand

Shoes - Jil Sander

Bag - Bottega Veneta

Sunglasses - Ray Ban

Jewellery - EA Drew ring + HIFA stall earrings + 

bangles from a street vendor

Random inspirations...

 

I wonder what sort of things inspire you and your style. Do tell.

xxx