with Aplomb!

style speak | little yellow jacket.

2012-10-11T15:41:00.001-07:00

So my chica mejor and I are having some inspirational conversation about social mobility, and economy boosting, and large scale business in Nigeria and I was unbeknownst to her re-acquainting myself with Virgos Lounge A/W '12 collection. OH YEAH!!! I can multi-task business and fashion in one phone conversation. Total 'I talk like this cos I can back it up' moment...haha!

Anyway, I spotted this YUMMY jacket. Forget Karl's Little Black Jacket. Black is boring but ...

YELLOW is fresh,

YELLOW is optimistic

YELLOW is so 2012 (I just made that up;-)) and I know a yellow loving fanatic that will agree with this statement...

With all that fire in my belly from our social change/economy boosting convo, I was spurred on to created a little mood board for the different ways which we would rock the LITTLE YELLOW JACKET.

How would you rock this baby?

THE WIN - PAIRED UP CHIC

THE BIM - PAIRED DOWN CHIC

Image 1 - Little Yellow Jacket (Virgos Lounge), Skirt (Topshop) and Clutch (Topshop)

Image 2 - Little Yellow Jacket (Virgos Lounge), Shorts(Topshop) and Clutch (Topshop)

style speak | concrete 360 degrees.

2012-10-09T12:26:00.001-07:00

It was so sunny on Saturday and I went out for brunch with the roomies in a barely-there sun dress...yes it is October and I am still deluded about the summer that we never had in the UK. Post-brunch, my delusion wore off a bit and I figured it was prudent to change into something more sturdy, more suitable for a schizo weather, more sensible before running over to the other side of town to meet a friend at the 'Everything was moving' exhibition at the Barbican. I literally threw on the first thing and it turned out to be just right for the Barbican.

The Barbican is famously debated to the be the ugliest building in London. With its domineering and rather harsh presence, it belongs to the Brutalist style of architecture from the 50s - 70s which sought to create functional and low cost structures. Making our way through the rear entrance, I couldn't help but notice a certain marmite-like charm to this building. I mean you either love or loathe the damn thing. However, as this outfit seemed so right, I wanted to mirror the functional and possibly the austere spirit of the building in these images. I have also kept the retouching of the photos to a minimum so as not to dilute this effect. xx

Top (H&M), Lace slip (Topshop); Jeans (Zara) and Shoes (Aldo)

style speak | combat truck.

2012-10-07T14:07:00.002-07:00

Park life in the big bad NYC >> buff boys throwing frisbees to each other >> pimp my bicycle sighting >> voyeuristic endeavours >> post standard east roof top malaise >> corn bread eating>> combat pants but on a truck >> OOO YEAH! My friend, Josiah and I had quite the time hanging out in the NYU part of town. I got so excited when I spotted that cool truck. It went so well with my shirt which was a present from a friend - she got a truck load of them made by her tailor in Nigeria (THANKS TORI). At first I wasn't sure about this colour but I think it makes quite the companion for those leather shorts. xx

Shirt (Nigerian hand made); Leather shorts (Topshop) and Shoes (Zara)

art speak | nude with joined hands.

2012-10-04T15:10:00.001-07:00

Whilst we are on the topic of New York, I came across this piece of Picasso's (Nude with Joined Hands, 1906) at the Metropolitan Museum. I don't really know all that much about Picasso, so I won't attempt to wax lyrical too much about my own interpretations but I this is simply exquisite and reminds me of quiet confidence.

Wawa x

style speak | the guggenheim and me.

2012-10-03T14:27:00.004-07:00

So the BIG APPLE... never been my whole life and I get to go TWICE in one year and this time around I even got a marriage proposal in Penn State station and a taxi cab confessional. The stars are aligning... things are looking up ... my stock is up people!!!
I got to finally visit the Guggenheim Museum and my favourite new york ciddy printed pants came in tow. Remember them?! Back to the Guggenheim, I love the way the spiral effect causes that entire dome to look like a large hat/a bit like that dress Audrey Hepburn wore in My Fair Lady. Do you see it?

Wawa

Top (Uniglo); Printed trousers (H&M); Shoes (Zara) and Necklace (from my roomie's jewellery stash)

style speak | black and gold.

2012-08-29T13:08:00.001-07:00

I don't care much for summer dressing. There is not much intrigue or mystery is there? Now autumn/winter is a different thing altogether - all those layers, rich colour and texture is enough to get me giddy. Of all the trends this season, I am looking forward to the Baroque/Rococo period inspired trend the most - all that opulence, decadence and pure sensuality, yuu-mmmmmy! Dolce & Gabbana's Autumn/Winter 2012 collection does a pretty damn good job at capturing the sentiment. In short, cannot wait to deck myself out like an 18th century courtesan. In anticipation, I have put together this collage, scrumptious feast of my baroque inspirations, from pictures from my European travels to modern interpretations from favourite designers....enjoy!!!

What's your favourite trend for the upcoming season?

art speak | where are you from?

2012-08-28T13:57:00.001-07:00

Sometimes it can be rare for the subject matter of art to strike a familiar chord, or at least, this is the case for me anyway. I mean it can make me feel a certain way, it can make me feel happy or sad, sometimes both at the same time, it could provoke certain thoughts in me or even challenge me to consider uncharted waters but it is rare to find a topic that is so relevant, so close to home, you know?

I recently came across Njideka Akunyili, an Nigerian born, US dwelling artist and was very intrigued. I sort of left her website page open for weeks and kept returning, each time becoming even more captivated by the detail in her medium and topic of choice. I am sure I wouldn't be alone in saying that her work spoke to me in a way no other artist had ever done before.

The connection with the detail in the collages, a mixture of family portraits, traditional Nigerian wedding photos, African prints and familiar architectural styles was of course a given for me. However, the subject matter which she tackles, the joining of two cultures is one which I feel resonates deeply with myself, my friends and anyone who was born in one country but spent their formative years in another.

For instance at one point or the other we may have felt like we were tossed right in the middle of the culture ingrained in us from birth and the new culture of country which we reside, we may have been at the receiving end of parential nagging about not 'forgetting our culture' and similarly may have truly been at a loss for words to describe to an unsympathetic crowd, the reasons we do certain things a certain way.

Njideka is frequently cited as saying, 'my art addresses my internal tension between my deep love for Nigeria, my country of birth and my strong appreciation for the Western culture'. She is also talks a lot about the third space and hybridisation, both of which point to the emergence of a new culture born out of multiculturalism. It seems to me that this idea of an internal tension is not about to go away anytime soon, not with globalisation redefining our cultural identities as we know them anyway. Case in point is a good friend of mine, half Italian/half Filipino, born in London, living in Amsterdam and soon to be married to a half Belgian/half Moroccan. Makes you think, doesn't it?!

5 umuezebi st., new haven, enugu {acrylic, charcoal, pastel, colour pencil, xerox transfers on paper}

thread {acrylic, charcoal, pastel, colour pencil, xerox transfers on paper}

efulefu: the lost one {acrylic, charcoal, pastel, colour pencil, xerox transfers on paper}

nwantinti {acrylic, charcoal, pencil colour. collage, xerox transfers on paper}

[Image credits: http://njidekaakunyili.com/]

fashion in forest hill.

2012-07-18T13:44:00.000-07:00

I apologise in advance if this post comes across as a little schizophrenic like London's weather with two seemingly unrelated posts being cobbled together under one title. I debated giving it the Hollywood sequel treatment but on second thoughts I decided not to, in vain hope that it might have some sort of F.Scott Fitzgerald quality to it, two opposing ideas and all that {yeah right...delusions of grandeur indeed!}. Moving on...there is a point to this loose rambling, I promise.

A few weeks ago, when Promiteo @novicenomad suggested that we go check out this obscure exhibition at the Horniman Museum, I was a little apprehensive. I had no idea where Forest Hill was but I decided to give it ago anyway, in the spirit of saying 'yes' to something new everyday (a new/ borrowed philosophy of mine).

...and I was truly pleasantly surprised. Forest Hill was a very pretty place with lots of cute cake shops (I have a thing for cute cake shops...) and some rather oddly placed mews that looked like they would be more at home in a charming mediterranean village. It is was so bizarre, or maybe the word for it is surreal, that I wasn't sure whether my mind was doing that over-imaginative thing that it usually does again. For instance, when I squeeze my eyes real shut and drink Vita Coco (you know the one with those Rihanna posters all over London), I genuinely think that I am in the Caribbean. Strange...

The real surprise though was the Horniman Museum, an imposing and captivating building that stood with the dignity of a royalty, right across what looked like a council estate block. It felt like another country but of course it was London. It reminded me of some time ago, on holiday in Nice when I dragged some friends against their will to visit the Picasso museum in Antibes only to find that it was closed (can you see the striking resemblance in the photo no.3?)

Anyway, eventually after picking our jaws off the floor, we finally went to pay homage to the real reason why we were there, The Body Adorned: Dressing London exhibition - an introspective that examines our dress choices in London today and the role of immigration in the evolution of fashion in the capital fondly known as the 'cultural melting pot'.

Think a plethora of outfits and artefacts from different cultures from the Japanese Samurai suit to the Nigerian Agbada to some rather interesting get ups dating back to a very long time ago. What I loved most however was the interactive nature of the exhibition - it had enlightening video footages and hard hitting quotes revealing the thought process of Londoners.

Being in that space, listening to those footages and reading those quotes felt was like experiencing London's journey to where it is now. You could see the sort of appreciation of different dress practices that you wouldn't find anywhere else in the world and certainly the fearlessness to pick/borrow dressing ideas from different cultures.

...and the point of all this, the crux of the matter as I have examined it is that well, perhaps the fact that this imposing building was stood there comfortably next to those block of flats is a true testament to the evolution of fashion in London? We are comfortable with two fundamentally contradictory ideas, from torrential rain in the middle of high summer to blazing heat in the November and this very idea is evident in our highly evolved dress choices.

"The test of a first rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function"

{F.Scott Fitzgerald}

Horniman Museum

Horniman Museum - pastel mosaics

Seeking Picasso - Antibes, France

All along the Watchtower

Squares and things

What's in your Wardrobe?

Clothes - Symbolic or Superficial?

Dressing London

The anthropology of dressing

my mother's dress.

2012-07-10T14:55:00.000-07:00

'Is that Mummy's dress?' That's my sister exposing me for swiping our mother's dress as I walk into my nephew's birthday party. I personally call it going shopping in our mother's trunk! You see, my sister and I made quite the team, whenever we returned home for Christmas, looting and pillaging my mum's vintage jewellery and ankara fabric as if we were part of the notorious 'youf' of London, so naturally I think she may have been surprised that I flew solo with this operation.

Yes, the dress is indeed mi Madre's. Back then in the 70s, she rocked it with a super cool afro that would have made Jackson Five to ponder their reason for existence. Although, I can hardly remember the actual specifics of its acquisition, I remember that from the moment my go-to Balham seamstress had fitted this to size, I felt this overwhelming urge to throw a 70s bash, just so I could wear it, with a boho head tie and walk around bare feet a la Joss Stone whilst listening to Isaac Hayes 'Hyperbollicsylabbicsesquedelanistic'. Eventually, I threw in the towel and took it out for a trial run at my nephew's birthday party.

It caused quite a riot but interestingly most people commented on how the colour had not faded one bit despite being circa 30 years old. This sort of spurred on my curiosity to find out more about the textile in question - Polyester. Apparently Polyester is actually a petroleum based product which when spun as a fiber was extremely strong, long lasting, water resistant and had high colour retention - no wonder the dress made it after all these years eh?!

It was extremely popular then when the fashion rhetoric for both men and women was bold patterns, flower power and high octane colours for both men and women...what's not to like really? My only regret is that my mother did not see it fit to keep many of these dresses. I am definitely very happy to have gotten my paws on this one before they vanished inexplicably like the others.

{Photo credits: Chinelo}

older and wiser.

2012-07-09T14:34:00.001-07:00

...thank you to my pack of friends for making this year's birthday celebration another one for the history books. Life is beautiful truly with you all in it!
//
...muchas gracias a mi amigos por haciendo mi celebracion de cumpleanos este ano una otra uno por el libros de historia. Mi vida is muy bonita con todos vosotros!

(Photo credits: Miss Okine)

ladies with aplomb: miss lawal.

2012-07-05T16:12:00.000-07:00

{Hey guys, I have had to stop my weekly Spanish lesson for a wee while and in an attempt to keep my 'hand-in', I am going to try to blog in English & Spanish. It is mostly to widen my vocab, so I thought what better way to learn (this is definitely more fun than homework).
Hope not too distracting, largely ignore it but you are not Spanish inclined. However, if you are, corrections are totally welcome and in return, I will resist Google translate....too much:-)}
//
Meet miss Lawal, otherwise known as my flatmate slash chef extraordinaire slash closet physical trainer . She has this perverse habit of labouring over complicated recipes till she gets it just right. For the record, I won't like to say that this is a habit that I am 100% in support of, but of course we are not here to talk about her culinary exploits, we are here to talk about her FASHION. Miss Lawal has an amazing laid back style that is completely cool and effortless. She can be in a pair of denim shorts and a t-shirt and still have major ooomph factor - she totally embodies the with aplomb spirit. Enjoy her photos!
//
Encontre miss Lawal, tambien conocido mi companero de mi piso barra cocinera extraodinario barra entrenador fisico. Ella tiene este habito perverso de trabajando en recetas complicado hasta este es perfecto. Para el record, me gusta mucho este habito de ella pero por supuesto tenemos aqui a hablar sobre tu moda. Miss Lawal tiene un moda fantastico eso es completamente natural. Ella ser en vaqueros y un camiseta y todavia tiene muchos 'va-va-voom'. Este guapa tiene el espiritu de 'with aplomb'. Disfrutar su fotos!

Tee (Topshop); Skirt (Topshop); Necklace & Bangles (Nigerian market) and Bag (Moroccan Souk)

you should buy art that you love.

2012-06-19T16:09:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago, I attended an independent art exhibition opening, celebrating African inspired art. I sort of walked around as you do in these events, waiting for something to hit me hard in the pit of my stomach (a tad dramatic I know, but you know what I mean, no?).

I saw some great work, some greater work and some that a wise old friend of mine would describe as 'naive art' (don't ask!) but when I saw this painting, 4 women, I knew instantly that I had arrived.

It reminded me of Nina Simone's 4 women, a track that I had the pleasure of discovering last year. Everything about it made me think of Aunt Sarah, Saffronia, Sweet Thang and Peaches. And the more I looked at it, the more I was convinced that this must have been the inspiration. I love how the artist, Mode used such a delicate medium to depict such complex emotions. It felt like each of the women had a unique story that was being only but mildly betrayed by their eyes. It had some raw sort of power to it.

Can you tell I was hooked? I was a woman so obsessed that I messaged my friends in a typical who wants to be a millionaire 'phone a friend' style to ask...

Shoe or Art? They told me, 'You should buy art that you love'! I agreed.

Anyway, the organisers of the event put me in touch with the artist, to whom I proceeded to waffle on in the same psychotic way I just did up above about Nina Simone and 4 women. Alas, it was not necessarily her inspiration but the interesting thing was that when she did listen to the song, she too could see what I saw. It is still unclear as to how much of that could be attibuted to the power of hindsight but just on the off chance that it wasn't, isn't it interesting how Nina's women are still relevant today, even though the artist did not specifically have them in mind when she created this piece? The mind ponders...

I have selected my favourites for your viewing pleasure, courtesy of the artist herself. What do you think? Don't forget to drop by on Mode Chronicles to check out the rest of her work. She is one to watch!

Wawa

4 women - Watercolour with tissue on paper

Colours of 3 - Graphite pencil, Watercolour and India Ink on Paper

I'm not what you think - Watercolour, Indian Ink and Graphite Pencil on Paper

(Image credits: http://modechronicles.blogspot.co.uk/)

missoni treasures from the 'burgh.

2012-06-18T15:22:00.002-07:00

Look what treasures I found in Edinburgh. Aren't they scrumptious?! I was there last weekend for a 'wee' bridal shower weekend and we went for the mother of all breakfasts at the Hotel Missoni. How stylish does their concierge look in those missoni kilts?! They scurried all over us, offering to take coats, carry suitcases and all sorts despite our mild protestations haha. Afterwards, the girlies gushed over the strapping scotsmen in their kilts and I gushed over their cool missoni kilts...win / win situation I say;-)

the kimono.

2012-06-10T15:43:00.002-07:00

I am fascinated by how clothing/accessories that is typically perceived as 'cultural' can sit side by side with the 'modern' to create something new, a look that is not bound by season, trend nor era, a hybrid so to speak.

This love for the reproductive power of the 'old' and 'new' has often had me spotting a bindi or wearing an african headgear alongside my slug 'em jeans (much to the confusion of my poor friends).

The kimono, which literally means 'thing to wear' (ki 'wear' and mono 'thing') is my object of affection of the moment, in fact it is my object of affection of most summers, mostly because my part Japanese/part Chinese style throw over here. I scored it a few years ago from Gibraltar and since then it has proved to the perfect light companion for my summer gear.

I have paired it with my latest local charity shop find here (the dress) and I love that they both complement each other in such an obvious way.

Wawa

d.i.y. fascinators.

2012-05-22T16:45:00.003-07:00

As the wedding season looms and you find yourself at a loss on what to decorate your mane with, I say, make it yourself. I often find the bug standard fascinators on the high street a little dull. You know the ones, with very scanty plumage (i.e. one or two feathers)?

I used fascinator straw a la eBay for the base, dutch wax print fabric/ankara, used for wrapping or glueing the fabric to the base and some fancy twine for the swirly detail at the top, which I stitched onto the base and BINGO!!!

P.S: this post is dedicated to my dear friend who will soon become a mrs:-) many congratulations loo!!!

Wawa

x

lady sings the reds.

2012-05-14T16:14:00.001-07:00

I met these red pants a little over a year now. They were just standing there in this one store that possibly accounts for a huge chunk of my adolescent years, giving me this sad sad come to mummy eyes. I tell you, it would have been rude not to adopt. There were so right that I found myself attaching cosmic significance to finding it THERE!!! The questions naturally followed...

...Was this exactly the sort psychological fatalism that 'they' want us women to feel?

...Or had I fallen prey to consumerism?

...Why was it the only pair left?

...Why was it reduced to such an enticing price?

...Why does it fit my butt so perfectly?

...Doesn't the totalism of these seemingly unrelated factors equate to 'meant to be'???

I asked my dear friend, whose friendship accounts for the majority of my university years, but she couldn't help me. Alas, she had the same sickness as I. Together, we found affirmative answers, rationalised away any negatives and I bought the pants...

and dare I say, never looked back.

P.S. Pictures are courtesy of Promiteo, my very own Mario Testino! Before you check out, be sure to check out his flickr page @novicenomad for the most striking and honest photographs!

Wawa
xx

Red pants (Miss Selfridge), Top (Topshop), Jacket (Topshop) and Shoes (Kurt Geiger)

francis.

2012-05-12T13:09:00.000-07:00

I consider it my duty to share this man's genius, for I fell hook, line and sinker for his voice, his sound and his theatrics not too long ago. He reminds me a little of Prince and this video is particularly infectious and makes me smile every time. I quite enjoy the series of uncoordinated movements that he makes, how random that they are. He even makes me think that if the stars should so align and I somehow became a performer, I would quite like to be a bit like him...

I also love beauty and charm of the The Train.

Wawa

year of the hat.

2012-05-12T13:00:00.002-07:00

According to millinery maestro, Stephen Jones, hats are like 'lingerie for the face' and 'if a woman wears a hat, she always gets served first, she always has the door held open for her'.

Whilst, I am undecided as to whether or not he might have a point, I do remember the certain 'je ne sais quoi' of those once upon a time ladies who travelled with their luggage and their hat boxes.

I do also remember the joy I felt when I acquired this little pom pom fascinator by Unusual Fascinators at Lost in Vintage.

What you think, shall we make this year about hats???

Wawa

colour me badd.

2012-05-07T13:25:00.002-07:00

In my last post, 'assault my senses with vibrant colour', I promised to be back with a very colourful post. In fact, I even attempted to start a little 'coup d'rain' (strike against rain...geddit?!), asking Londoners and non-Londonders alike to defy the rain and strike out in mega colour.

Here's me trying to lead by example...

P.S. Did you too strike out in colour? I would love to see your colour warfare!
P.P.S. I am wearing a corsage/fascinator by Unusual Fascinators, who I met at the Lost in Vintage sale. They seriously make the best head gear. Check them out!!!
P.P.P.S. The ankara collar is one of my D.I.Y. projects, courtesy of one of those nifty You Tubers. I am doubling it up underneath my shirt collar but can also work with a plain tee!

Wawa

Shirt dress (Topshop), Belt (Vintage) and Ankara collar (My D.I.Y) and Corsage/Fascinator (Unusual Fascinators)

assault my senses with vibrant colour.

2012-05-06T17:09:00.001-07:00

This advert for Brothers Cider recently caught my eye and since then I have been contributing majorly to the number of hits on Youtube. I can't stop watching it. It's electrifying (yes, I have just quoted Grease...don't judge pls) ;-)

Seriously, I love the way those fruits burst into amazing colour, a bit like how I would imagine Jackson Pollock's painting process (but more fun), or how I would love Paint Balling to be (all colour, no pain). Apparently they exploded/ate 500 strawberries, pears and toffee apples to create this...

...can you see the gorgeous pink dress that morphs into a swirling cider (0.25 secs), reminiscent of Madonna's red in La Isla Bonita? I am now obsessed with finding a deliciously frilly dress in that colour!

Have you seen anything lately that has inspired you?

Stay tuned for a very colourful outfit post! In fact, Londoners alike let's defy the rain and strike out this week, in mega colour!

Wawa

(Image credits: Brother's Cider)

the great gatsby.

2012-05-01T15:25:00.000-07:00

"Then wear the gold hat, if that will move her; If you can bounce high, bounce for her too, Till she cry "Lover, gold-hatted, high-bouncing lover, I must have you!" – Thomas Parke D’Invilliers

With all the buzz surrounding the remake of the classic American novel, 'The Great Gatsby', the ill-fated love story of Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan, I decided to re-visit my copy and was struck by the epigraph above. It sort of captured everything that Gatsby-esque society slash the Roaring Twenties stood for >> luxurious style and extreme decadence with a good measure of gaiety!

...but as much as I enjoy costume dressing, a gal can't always run around town in an embellished flapper dress by day right? Unless one is about to shimmie their tush in one of those prohibition 1920s parties. So, I wanted to create a modern/daytime interpretation of the great gatsby look, the kind that is delicate yet functional and perfect for a brunch with the ladies.

To achieve the drop waist silhouette, I am wearing the green vintage inspired skirt underneath the cream flapper dress, with a basic neon tee for a modern and daytime feel. The ankle length boots and tights add a little edge to the overall look but depending on depending on how much of a fashion sweet tooth you have, could be substituted with ballet pumps. The Ralph Lauren Spring 2012 collection has more inspirational ideas if you re not a skirt kinda gal...

Have fun playing someone's Daisy B

x

Jacket (H&M); Neon Tee (H&M); Flapper Dress (Topshop), Skirt (Topshop) and Necklace (H&M)

(Image credits: The Guardian. Graziadaily.co.uk)

ladies with aplomb: go big or go home.

2012-04-29T05:52:00.000-07:00

Go big or go home!!! That's how I would describe Miss Celi Viruet's style here.

I bumped into her in Upper West Side, New York and had to get a photo. I have never seen anyone fearlessly yet modestly rock an all out neon/super bright combo like that (can you see her toe nails?!). Somehow, it didn't feel like, 'hey, p.s. I am wearing neon and I demand your attention'! It just was what it was...(punto!)

When she brought out neon pen to get my details, I was utterly impressed and knew one thing...

Celi knows good neon.

Have a great sunday folks!!!

bim & winnie take new york.

2012-04-28T02:54:00.002-07:00

Ok, I'm a big fat honking NYC groupie. Hanging out there these past few days with my pal, Bim (who shares the same sentiment btw) really made me think, errr, Why don't I live here again?!

We played unashamed tourists >> we shopped and almost dropped >> we enjoyed the distinct style of the real New Yorkers (look out for Celi) >> we oohed and ahhed over all the things that we didn't have in London, like the 24/7 metro (Boris/future mayor are you listening) >> we potentially spotted the best brunch place on Amsterdam Avenue (Recipe it's called) >> we danced >> and a Justin Timberlake dance-alike threw some major shapes on the dance floor specially for us >> we had a BLAST.

We left as the rain came but not without promising to be back!

big yellow taxi

he drummed, i danced

and then some...

and then some more...

central park in its splendour

a time for cherry blossoms

cycle marathon champ

met museum chic

post Matisse & Picasso education

Magnolia Bakery

eat me

and so we did...

cosmopolitans

in my head, I'm on Carrie's stoop

on SATC tour

Brooklyn Bridge

Brooklyn

we bumped into a photoshoot in Dumbo

este ciudad es magnifico...punto!

amsterdam avenue

brunch

new yorkers

amsterdam avenue numéro do

I got a hat for you, change your whole lifestyle

that's what the purveyor of these hats said to me...

how's that for a tagline?!

cupcakes, candy floss & champagne.

2012-04-25T17:49:00.000-07:00

Growing up, I loved to sew, designing and making cute little outfits for my dolls. I had a couple of 'aunties', seamstresses who lived with us and I loved it when they came home with bags full of gorgeous fabric castaways no longer required in their workshop for me to use. I was also possibly the only 12 year old excited about the Home Economics practical where we had to hand stitch a white cotton slip from scratch (strange...I know)!

Over the years, this enthusiasm kind of wore thin except for the odd coat button or pillow cushion ... but I was recently inspired the d.i.y fashion extraordinaire a pair and a spare to get back on the horse. For project primero, I transformed an old traditional Nigerian skirt (gorgeous mint lace) which had been wasting away in my wardrobe into what has now become my latest skirt crush.

I teamed with a cream lace top, pearl studded collar necklace and a hint of cheeky neon as footwear for a frothy 'eat me' look ...voila!

Pearl studded collar necklace (ASOS); Cream Lace Top (H&M); Mint Pencil Skirt (Latest D.I.Y.Crush) and Cheeky Neon Shoes (New Look, i think)

a new york state of mind.

2012-04-10T05:57:00.000-07:00

In a mere few days, a great friend and I will be setting off to the dizzying heights of the Big Apple for a long overdue girlie holiday. I suppose you could say that it’s been an eventful 2012 already. We’ve both never been but we are pretty au fait with Sex and the City, which is obviously the law on NYC geography ;-)

So as you can imagine, the excitement levels are HIGH, SOARING and FAR, FAR, FAR ABOVE GROUND and Empire State of Mind, the song is on repeat!

Naturally there is the question of the New York wardrobe. ‘What’ on earth to pack ... and more importantly ‘How’ to pack so that we have enough space in our suitcase for SHOPPING. So I came up with my NYC Survival Guide:

Do you have any survival guides of your own? Do share....