Often times we take our mental health for granted, however, I believe that mental health is right up there with our physical health. They go hand in hand,once one is affected so is the other. Self care has everything to do with improving and maintaining your health.
Self-care is not just about fancy skincare or bubble baths. Sometimes it requires us to be a little uncomfortable. This may include organizing your finance, talking about problems in your relationships so you will feel better in the long run or simply dressing up.
Simple as it may sound dressing up could elevate your mood from a 2 to a solid 10. Wallowing in self pity wearing your pajamas binge watching How I met your mother won’t help the situation, if anything it’s only going to make it worse. So suck it up and face your issues in the baddest,bougiest, most elegant outfit you have.
There is no denying that if you feel confident about what you are beauty will radiate from you. No one said that you should dress like your problems.
I love how fashion can be an illusion. Your clothes don’t define you.(They shouldn’t that is). They define your image for the world. A book jacket describing the fun story inside. Choosing your outfit should be like choosing an Avatar for the day.
Who do you want to be today?
Lastly keep in mind that,
You shouldn’t settle for nice, for pleasant, for familiar. Keep looking until you find something that moves you something that resonates your core. Curate every aspect of your life as much as you can. It’s in the things that deeply inspire us that we find ourselves. Surround yourself with the truth and you’ll have found yourself a haven.
In another life I’d probably be Gothic. The all black, dark hair,black nail polish, cute af black Dr Martens boots, rock fanatic kind of Gothic. I’m not a big fan of needles so forget the piercings and wild tattoos part.
Can you imagine it? Having your whole wardrobe stocked with different shades of black. It’s a wedding you going to? No problem, your obsidian dress/ suit comes in handy, brunch with the girls? Time to test the power of your midnight leather shorts paired with an onyx fitting top, a pair of heels and you are ready to make the streets your runway.
Wearing black on black has to be the easiest way for that effortlessly attained sassy outlook.
I’m personally obsessed with my black pieces.
Let’s take a moment to appreciate this outfit.😂
Okay now we can dive into attaining the all black with the African touch outfit. Black in this case doesn’t have to be black. Yeah I said that right . Black can be any monochromatic colour you pick as long as it doesn’t draw the attention away from our golden piece here,the Ankara vibe.
For the shoes,I went for my favorite pair of caged heels to give the outfit that elegant casual look. Apart from them being black I love how they give that “long feet” illusion.
Such an outfit would be perfect for any casual hangout.
Just remember that ultimately dressing is always about attitude, feeling comfortable and confidence. ~Kate Moss
2020 has been many things,disastrous, cruel, unfair,horrific,you name it. I mean how often does a pandemic hit the world like it did this year? We’ve gone through so much. We’ve fought so many battles during this period. Some of us emerged stronger, some of us are still collecting the broken pieces. We’ve all been pushed to our limits.
2020 has tested our strength, and we’ve made it to a new year.
As the year comes to a close,it’s time for reflection. A time to let go of old harmful habits, practice forgiveness, be hopeful of what the future holds.
Greatest lesson I’ve learned this year is that you should always make happiness a priority and be gentle on yourself in the process. It’s true things won’t always go your way try as you may, it’s true you’ll face obstacles that’ll question what you stand for as an individual ,all that shouldn’t define you.
Damn I sound like a motivational speaker, haha. I hope you’ve gotten the point though.
All of that said, I wanted to start 2021 in style and nothing says chic,bossy and stylish like this outfit. Lowkey I look like a successful entrepreneur hehe.
Bold,effortlessly stylish and undeniably stunning are just but a few impressions you are likely to create rocking an Afrochic attire.The electic mix of vibrant colours, prints and patterns creates room for a creative and imaginative blend.
The attempt to take the majestic, bold,colorful elements and using them to adorn various aspects of life with an edgier twist, that’s how google defines Afro chic.
The unique thing with Afrochic is that each cloth is chosen to match a specific design and very often there’s meaning behind the patterns. It also gives an opportunity to embrace and flaunt African roots in African fabrics while adding a modern twist in the form of futuristic statement accessories.
Don’t be afraid to explore by mixing and matching clashing prints and fabrics. @romeosfashionfix on IG always has a way of blending patterns and prints, completely ignoring all the fashion rules. The outcome? Well what do you think?
Absolutely gorgeous ❤
If you are still new to this whole Ankara world but are willing to try it out you could start off with pairing your outfit with a printed headwrap for the ladies or a printed tie/ pocket square for the gentlemen. It adds some pop of colour to your whole attire.
Tried out the printed headwrap ❤
Afrochic does not limit you to a specific occasion since there are so many designs and patterns you can choose from . Whatever you choose, make sure that you are comfortable enough to enjoy the rest of your day in it.
Here are a few crazily beautiful and unique styles from the Thriftsocial Nairobi event whose theme was Afro chic and masks.
When it’s cold all i want to do is curl up in my bed all day with a cup sorry mug of coffee beside my bed as I toss and turn till very late in the evening, too bad I can’t do this every gloomy day. So on the cold days that I have to abandon the comfort of my bed i find solace in a nice, cute and warm outfit.
Keeping warm while looking good at the same time is the main goal in today’s blog.
When it’s cold, it’s really easy for me to get stuck in a rut of wearing the same thing each day (sweatpants and pull necks). So I’ve been pushing back by playing with warm textures,especially cotton and I must say I’m having a lot more fun getting dressed.
For my outfit I chose a pair of vintage checkered pants then paired it with a black pull neck. I added the fitting black blazer well because 1. It complements the look and 2. we know how obsessed I am with blazers. The black beret and black mask goes well with the outfit for color coordination. For the shoes, i needed low,closed black heels. It gives the outfit that kasmall official vibe.
This would be my outfit of choice to official occasions say luncheons or my Friday work outfit.
Cold seasons offer perfect opportunities for layering. I’m still working on my layering skills.
Make sure you try the vintage checkered pants and pull neck combo for an amazing look.
Trends come and go,style is eternal. That’s just a random quote i read somewhere I can’t remember where. Trends do come and go and some of them stay longer than others. Take for example this trend,wearing your scarf or bandana as a top.
Three words,stylish but risky.
If you are reserved or “kinda reserved “like I am then this is definitely not your thing. You have no idea the number of times I had to make sure the knot at the back wasn’t lose.
Where to wear it?
It’d be my outfit of choice while going for a casual hangout,brunch maybe, shopping and so on.
The trick to making it work is finding a scarf that fits and wearing a strapless bra underneath .One more thing, small an silky is your worst combo. It’ll fall off as soon as you set foot outside.
Okay now, you are all set to rock that scarf top, yeah I just called it that.
The one thing I have learnt during my years working as a fashion blogger is that most women are really very clueless when it comes to how they should dress their bodies. They know the latest trends and the kind of dress they want, the fabric the colour right down to the shade of the sequins. However, most of them are happily unaware of the most integral detail: their body shape.
I have spent endless hours explaining to some of my friends why a particular outfit is just wrong for their body or that particular function. While some will say, “I am thin. I can carry off anything!” the others will say, “But this looked great on Joy Kendi and my body is similar to hers!”Yes, you are thin, and yes, you have a “similar” body to a runway model, but that alone is not enough to decide if a specific outfit is apt for your body shape or not.
If you still don’t know what your body shape is you can either try every outfit to see if it fits or simply learn what your actual shape is. I prefer the latter.
Keep in mind that body shape is not the same as body size. Body size is an individual’s body measurement while body shape is defined mainly by the distribution of muscles and fat.
The purpose of knowing your shape is to make sure the dresses we choose to sit beautifully and proportionately (or according to your body proportions) and enhance your looks for an even better looking silhouette. Short, tall, slender, curvy, etc., do not determine your body type, the body parts do. Since all of us almost have a distinct shape, yet (our bodies) fall under bigger buckets that we need to delve into this a little.
Okay with that said, there are 4 body shapes which include hourglass, apple,rectangle and pear.
1. Hourglass
Your styling goal is to flaunt your waist. Invest on bodcons, waist defined tops and jackets,belts, wrap tops and dresses.
Avoid low waisted jeans,tops with ruffles and high necklines.
2. Pear body shape.
Characterized by rounded bottom and well defined waist. The lower body is wider than the upper body. Your styling goal is to add volume to your shoulders. Invest in shoulder bags, high waisted pants and skirts. Avoid bags tops, low slung belts and tube skirts.
3. Apple body shape.
Characterized by a bigger bust size as compared to the rest of the body and narrow hips. The styling goal here is to draw attention to your legs and create an illusion of a waist.
Invest in straight leg jeans, dangly earrings and slightly flared bottom. Avoid bodcons, high waisted pants and skirts and ruffled skirts too.
4. Rectangle body shape.
This shape is characterized by a small bust, undefined waist and straight hips. The styling goal here is to create an illusion of curves. Invest in skinny jeans, cropped pants and tops and dresses with collars.
Avoid crop tops, slouchy blazers and jackets and straight dresses and skirts.
What’s your body shape? Have you been dressing it appropriately?
Online shopping is the easiest,most convenient and the most popular since internet was founded. Although there are some disadvantages we cannot deny that this has been successful because many individuals are looking for a wide variety of choices,great deals, cheap prices and online shopping is the best answer for that.
Can you remember the first thing you bought online? Or even the most recent item? Online shopping has become such a part of modern life that it’s hard to recall when it wasn’t an option in our lives.
No question, online shopping can be wonderful. The selection is unbounded, and delivery can be fast. But there are also plenty of ways to slip up when ordering online. Here are a fee ways to make sure that doesn’t happen.
1. Pick up from the store.
It’s an ideal way of saving money. If you can not get the price of your shopping to allow for free shipping or delivery, you can always ship to the nearest store close to you and pick up your items.
2. Follow your favorite store on social media.
Once in a while online stores have a discount or coupon for those that follow them on social media. Follow your favorite stores on social media to get all the deals, specials, coupons and more.
3. Directly ask for discounts.
Before purchasing an item ask if there’s a discount for the same product.
4. Beware of scammers!!!
Check if the site is secure. Check the company’s profile,business logo,customer’s review or ask a friend who can help you tell if the business is legit or not. Shop at a trusted site or account. Make sure anything you are buying doesn’t have a value you are not willing to lose.
5. Check shipping/ delivery terms.
Right now pick up mtaani has made things easier. At a fee of 100 Kenya shillings your item is delivered wherever you are. It is important that you check what the delivery terms are . When they do their deliveries? Charges applied?
6. Always trust your guts.
If you have doubts about a particular site don’t shop from it. If something is wrong but you don’t exactly know what keep off.
7.Don’t believe the sale hype.
Sometimes sites will inflate the starting price of an item to make it look like you are saving more money than you really are, so it’s up to you to do your due diligence and make sure the prices you are being given are accurate. Just put the item you’re interested in into your cart so you don’t lose it, and then do a quick Google search for the designer’s name and the type of product you are shopping for. You may find that the amazing deal you thought you were getting isn’t actually so great after all. You may even find that same item for less. I know it sounds tedious but it’s totally worth it.
8.Pay close attention to how a product is showcased online.
A crop top that exposes few inches of stomach on a model , might feel intimidatingly naked at first but depending on how tall you are, you may find that your midriff is barely exposed at all. Similarly, a midi skirt on the model will probably end up looking more like a maxi on you if you are short. Always ask the seller for size details before making a purchase.
I hope these tips help you have more positive and successful online shopping experiences.
Being feminine does not have to be your way of life. I find most male clothes really comfortable,say for example sweatpants and baggy T-shirts. Don’t get me started with how comfy these babies are. Right now anyone can rock a pair of sweatpants and there a gazillion ways to style baggy clothing. Basking in the awesomeness of feminine energy can be an on and off thing. It’s okay if you want your hair in a mess for a day or two. It’s okay that your nails are undone for whatever period you want.
Shortly after this period you feel the urge to glow up,awaken the goddess of beauty within you,radiate feminine energy only. Well when this happens we know how the bank statement looks like. Let’s just say beauty comes with a cost.
A good example of when you might be forced to consider dressing femininely casual is a date. First impressions are important. You do know that right?Well below are a few factors you should consider if you are trying to pull up your A game on the subject matter.
1. Wear bright colors.
Bright coloured clothing will make you look more feminine. It doesn’t have to be pink or red. Both are classic feminine colors. I went for green instead.The secret is to understand which colors fit you better. And for this, you must be familiar with your own color palette and what colours best suite your skin tone.
2. Wear heels.
Nothing is more feminine that adding a pair of heels to your outfit. Wearing heels will not only give you a feminine look but also a much sexier walk, elegance, and demeanor. Choose the height you’re the most comfortable with. If you’re still learning to walk with heels, don’t risk stilettos just yet. Stay on the safe side, and choose chunky ones or wedged heels as they will have better support for the rest of your body.
3. Wear clothes that fit.
Wearing clothes that are your size is the number one and an easy way to look more feminine. Masculine clothing generally tends to be a looser fit than feminine clothing. Making sure that your clothes show your body shape without being curve hugging will make you look more feminine and elegant without looking tacky.
4. Master your body shape.
It is essential you know your body shape and what best suits that particular type. Respecting your body type when you dress will ensure that you choose the cuts and pieces that enhance your natural shape.
5. Don’t show too much skin.
Add a high touch of elegance with mid-calf length to under knees length type of dresses or skirts. Too short is vulgar, tacky, and definitely not ladylike at all. No matter what the trends are going towards, there’s nothing elegant or feminine about showing too much skin.
6. Accesorize hunny.
Accessories will always come to your rescue when it comes to creating a feminine look. This is the fun part, where you mix and match pieces according to your liking. Make sure that you pay attention to the quality of those before wearing them. I personally love statement and fantasy jewelry but they definitely get worn off with time and usage. Scanty jewelery is always a great choice to look more refined, elegant, and feminine.
7. Carry a statement bag.
Go for quality over quantity. Handbags have to stand the test of usage, which is very high when you’re using yours on a daily basis. Make sure that you pay extra attention to the quality of the parts that will be folded the most, the handles that will carry the weight the most, and the stitchings technique used
8. Do your makeup.
The key here is to understand what suits you and making sure that you stay clean and well-groomed. You can find tons of free beauty related tutorials on You tube. When it comes to makeup, less is more. If you put makeup on your eyes, put a light shade on your lips. If you chose to go for a bolder lip color, make sure you keep things minimal on your eyes. But never strong makeup on both eyes and lips!
Dressing femininely has so many perks and is very fun. Start with the tips above and progress slowly.
Growing up mixing colours always intrigued me,bright colours were my favorite. I’d do my hair in pretty crazy colours. Red,yellow,green,pink,blue you name it. The boldest one was this time i blended pink and purple, the brightest shades of both. No you don’t want to picture that.
Mixing two bold colors can make an interesting combination. When mixing two colors from different spectrum, I love incorporating neutral colors to blend both colors. Color blocking is a great way to ease from winter to spring.
When mixing bold colors or color blocking, it is important to start simple and pair colors that compliment your style. For my look I went for plain colours . You can also color block using your accessories.
In order to understand how to combine colors, it is important to understand how the color wheel works. This circular rainbow is a must have in the bag of every artist,stylist and designer, regardless of which industry it is that they work in. The color wheel shows us how all of the colors relate to each other.
Monochrome colour blocking.
This is the easiest color blocking technique to pull off. Simply pair items that are all the same color. Your shade and tint could change from item to item, so you could wear dark blue jeans, a sky blue shirt, and navy shoes.
You can also add black and white to a monochromatic color-blocking scheme. Usually monochromatic schemes work well, although sometimes you risk looking washed out or overwhelmed with a single color. This is why variation in shades and tints is important.
With a monochromatic it’s important to understand what kind of effect lighter and darker colors have. Darker shades absorb light, making things look smaller, while lighter shades make things appear larger. You can play with various kinds of illusions to flatter your figure when doing monochromatic color blocking. I mean how amazing is that..
Analogous Colour Blocking
Analogous colors are colors that sit next to each other on the color wheel, and to really rock them in a color blocking technique, you are best off opting for three colors, two colors and a neutral, or two analogous colors and one shade or tint of one of those colors.
Color blocking your look doesn’t have to be complicated. Here is how,
1. Pick inspiration from everything.
Everything from an outfit you saw on the runway,to what is currently trending,to what your favorite celebrities are wearing, to your favorite painting, to a particularly unique website graphic design can be inspiration for your next color-blocked outfit.
2. Own the outfit hunny
When you color block, remember that your outfit doesn’t exist on its own. Once you put it on, you’re also adding your natural coloring to the look. A warm skin tone can look sickly next to some shades of purple, while greens can bring out a pinkish undertone in an unflattering way.
3. Mess around with neutrals.
Neutrals are very reliable.You can always fit a neutral into a color-blocked look, and sometimes it can add a whole level of sophistication.
Whether you throw on nude heels, a white jacket, or some black jewelry, it’s hard to go wrong with a neutral. Make them your friends.
4. Practice with the colour wheel.
Take a color wheel with you when you go shopping, so you can instantly see what kind of color combinations you can create with every new item you purchase.
5. Practice! Practice!
If colour blocking is to be your thing you have to practice. An eye for color is not something that comes instantly, but you can certainly develop it. You have to grow into it.
The more you play with color, and as you become more adventurous, you will be able to tell really quickly what looks good and what doesn’t, and you will also feel more comfortable taking risks.
Kira's fashion story 