Discover......... Seku. Look Book.

Hello everyone!!! It's been too long since I put up a post. Been sooooo busy with work. I hope to do better. Hopefully, I'll be able to continue soon. I just want to share a new discovery with you. Seku is a young designer whose style I am really loving. Clothes for the young and young at heart.

Hear her: sEKu is a fashion brand that exudes fun, ease and affordability. It provides unique and quirky fashion for individuals who enjoy being different and do not live by fashion rules. sEKu encourages individuality by making available one-off pieces at affordable prices. you can shop sEKu at www.jumia.com.ng. you get free delivery to your doorstep anywhere you are in Nigeria!

So check out her work for yourself. I hope you like it. Take care of yourself and I hope to be back soon. Stay fabulous.

What Makes A Style Icon?

Hello. This post was inspired by a conversation I had with a friend a few days ago. We were discussing some of my blog posts and she mentioned the fact that she doesn't think Nike Oshinowo is a style icon, ANYMORE. I was a little surprised by that. So it got me thinking about what I think qualifies someone as a style icon.

So what makes someone a style icon? I think the main ingredients are an eye for color, understanding proportion and then the ability to use fashion to tell a story, ie the ability to pull a look together in a way that looks fresh. A look has got to say something. For example, my ultimate fashion icon is Jackie Onassis (not Jackie Kennedy). Even though her style was simple and looked effortless, she just had this way of working with clothing and accessories to tell you a story that said 'I'm rich but not flashy'. The sunglasses, the handbags, the simple but statement jewelry. Her look said ''luxury' and 'leisure'.

I classify someone as a style icon who loves fashion and invests the time and effort it takes to build up a cohesive wardrobe that he/ she can use to create looks that are interesting and pleasing to the eye. And then they take it even further. To them fashion is fun, an idea to play and experiment with. But then it's also serious business, so they make sure that their look is on point 99.9% of the time. A style icon never has an off day. That I think is what separates them from ordinary 'fashionable' people. They are always on. They make the effort even when they are just running errands. Every item in the ensemble is well thought out, even when it looks like they just threw it on.

One thing I must touch on is the idea that real fashionistas shouldn't wear an item more than once or at best, a couple of times. I remember the first time I heard that idea. I was compiling a list of 'most stylish women' with the fashion editor of a magazine and when I mentioned someone to her (I can't remember who), she said that the person didn't qualify because she had worn a particular skirt several times. I was shocked by that way of thinking, to say the least. As far as I am concerned, a real fashionista knows how to work an item into several, sometimes unrelated, looks. If you can take one skirt and work it into ten different looks, then you are a fashionista. If you need to always be wearing something new, it doesn't say you have style, it just says you can afford ( or rather, MAY afford) a large wardrobe.

So, back to my conversation with my friend. Her reason for saying that Nike is no longer a fashion icon is because she doesn't feel Nike dresses 'age appropriately'. I don't agree. I feel that even when she is wearing something short, she does it tastefully. Besides, she has the body to pull it off. What do you think? I must also say that I see a lot of up and coming style icons that INCLUDE Funke Fowler, Ifeoma Williams, Lisa Folawiyo, Dolapo Oni among others. Up and coming because they are on their way, but haven't quite gotten there yet. (In my opinion.) Please note that there are a lot of other people I feel are note worthy and may have to do a post to cover the list.

I hope this post helps you in your quest to put your best foot forward. Take care of yourself and remain fabulous.

How To Dress To A Wedding

Hello. How are you doing? So, I got my inspiration for this post from my last (OOTD) post. That post had me thinking and I have tried to come up with a guide on what to consider when getting ready for a wedding.

Now we all love to look good, but the pressure goes up a bit when it comes to a wedding. Why? Because it's a festive occasion and with so many people coming, some of whom we haven't seen in a long time, we tend to want to go that extra mile. Also, is the fact that weddings are a very good place to mingle. They also present an opportunity to be approached by guys. And so we tend to want to look attractive. Besides all that, it's just polite and shows consideration to the bride and groom to bother to dress nicely. I mean they did go through the trouble and expense of putting on a show, right?

Anyway, that not withstanding, there are things to consider when choosing what to wear for a wedding. The first one is to not outshine the bride. It is her day so please let her be the star. That includes not wearing any white dress in a style that looks even remotely like a wedding gown. You know, long and flowy or princessy, etc. It's rude to do that. I find that a white short dress or suit or (of course) 'native' are fine. Also, while you want to look as fabulous as possible, do not over do it. It's not your wedding.

Do not wear jeans or denim to a wedding, please. It's just plain rude to the couple to not bother to dress up. I have been guilty of this before. I was once out of town and had to show up some long lost, distant cousin's wedding when I was totally unprepared for it. Believe me, I did everything to make sure that I made the jeans look as dressy as possible and it still felt rude. The way I see it is that the couple has planned and payed for a nice event, show them the courtesy of dressing up. Another thing is that showing up in jeans makes it look like you don't know the couple. Like you heard through the grapevine about the wedding and just showed up, uninvited.

Another thing is to dress modestly. Please, do not over do the sexy. It's a wedding not a date and definitely not a club. So not too much cleavage, or legs and nothing overly clingy. If you must wear a sleeveless or strapless dress, wear a bolero, shrug, jacket or wrap to the church. You can always take it off at the reception.

So, hopefully, I've got you thinking about what is appropriate and what isn't for your next wedding. If you are guilty of any of these offences, you are going to need to repent. Anyway, this was written in the spirit of 'nothing but love'> Please remain fabulous.

Ankara Skirt OOTD

Hello everyone!!! Today's post is an Outfit of the Day (OOTD) one. I wore this outfit to a wedding this past weekend. The look is very classic. It's a simple white shirt paired with an Ankara pencil skirt, which is a very easy way to bring Ankara into a contemporary wardrobe (I put a close up of the skirt). I wore black shoes with a bit of gold on the platforms to go with the gold clutch in a way that is not too matchy, matchy. Nothing says "classic" like a few strands of pearls, yes?

I hope that this simple way of bringing Ankara into your everyday wardrobe will inspire you. Take care of yourself and remain fabulous.

It's Been A While!!!

Hello everyone. I've been gone for a minute and I am so sorry about that. I have been working on a project which has taken so much of my time. I'll tell you about it in a few weeks. This post is just to let y'all know that I'm back, blogging. This time, I hope to give you more. I intend to do outfit of the day posts, showing you examples of the different subjects I have covered and the many more that I intend to cover.

I trust that every thing is as good with you as they are with me. Remain fabulous!!!

How To Wear White.

Hello. I hope you had a productive and happy week. Things have been busy here at headquarters. Anyway, since my last post was on how to wear Black, I decided to talk about how to wear White this time. So, what is the first thing to consider when deciding on whether or not to wear White?

Like in the case of Black, not everyone can wear crisp, clear White. Different shades of white suit different skin tones. Like in the case of Black, the best way to determine what shade suits you is to stand in good, natural light with the white placed next to your face. When you have decided on the best shade for you, the next question is "How practical is it?"

Because of the fact that dirt easily shows on White, It is advisable to avoid White if you have kids around, and avoid it as a bottom if you are on your period. Also, because of the fact that it becomes transparent when wet, avoid it on rainy days. Of course there is the thing about rain and mud. The fact that White is easily transparent, it is best, when purchasing a white piece of garment, to place your hand under the item in bright light to see if your hand shows clearly through the fabric. One thing to keep in mind is the fact that with White, the quality of the fabric usually makes a difference since inferior quality Whites tend to be more see through.

One very big issue with White in regard to transparency is under wear. We all know that wearing white under wear under white garments is a big no no. So we tend to wear it with black under wear. This however, also tend to show under White. The best color to wear under White is your skin tone. Always have under wear that is as close to your skin tone as possible. With Skin tone under wear, there is no contrast to draw the eye to the wrong place. Also, when wearing White skirts or dresses as with all light colors, wear a slip. It may seem old fashioned, but it is still very practical in today's world.

Another issue with White is that, unless you have the perfect, slim, hourglass figure, it is not advisable to wear White in the form of clingy clothing. This is because White tends to show every roll and bump on the body when it clings. Also it tends to make big women look even bigger. White just looks better when they are loose and flowy. Choose silhouettes that float away from the body. Just make sure that it fits close to the body at the waist. That will help to give an hourglass shape.

When accessorizing, White looks especially good worn with bright tones. Colors like Coral, Orange, Pink and Turquoise look beautiful against White. Of course, being a neutral, White goes well with every color, these just happen to give White a certain freshness.

For anybody who is not comfortable dressed in all White, try White as an accent. A white pair of shoes, handbag or jewelry can be used by anyone who is not ready to be adventurous. However, for anyone who is ready to take it a step further, white skinny jeans, pants, or blazer can really give that freshness to an outfit. I personally love the look of a white, well fitted suit. Think Bianca Jagger or Dianna Ross in the seventies. Another thing is that if you think an all white out fit is too monotonous, try layering different shades of White. The different shades give depth to an otherwise flat color story

I hope I have added some value with this post and I look forward to your stopping by soon. Remain fabulous.

How To Look Good In Black

Hello. It's been a week since I put up a new post. Things have been busy here at head quarters. Anyway, one of the things that have been on my mind lately is black clothing. For a lot of us, Black has become our go to color. We've all heard it before. Black is slimming, it's a classic, and it goes with every thing. True. But it only works if it suits your skin tone.

It is very important to make sure, before you rush out to fill your wardrobe with 'all black everything' to be sure that it suits you, because the black close to the face on the wrong skin tone can age you significantly. It can highlight dark circles around the eyes and also wrinkles for older women. Also, Black can leave your face looking ashy and dull if it doesn’t sit well with your skin tone. In fact, less than a quarter of us have the correct skin tone to look good in Black. Black tends to look good on people with cool skin tones. It just drains warm skin tones. The best way to determine if it suits you is to put Black next to your face under natural lighting in front of a mirror to see if it picks up your dark circles and wrinkles and if your skin looks dull aand lifeless. You may need a friend to help out with this.

So you’ve done the simple test and it turns out that Black doesn’t suit you. Does that mean that you can never wear that LBD that you had hoped would become your new go to dress for every occasion? Not really. If it turns out that black isn’t your color, you can still wear Black. All you have to do is to make sure that you put color around the face. You can do that with quality colored jewelry, say a lovely red statement necklace or turquoise chandalier earrings. Or a scarve/ pashmina. Just make sure that you have a more flattering color around your face to counter the negative effects of the black against your face.

Another thing is that the idea of the little Black dress comes from the fact that it is a neutral so it goes well with other colors and the fact that is slimming. Generally, darker colors tend to be more slimming than light colors. So a suitable alternative for Black is Navy blue. Navy tends to read better against the skin than Black and even many shades of Brown. And then of course, it’s also slimming.

I really hope this post is of benefit to a lot of you who read it. Thank you so much for stopping by. Remain fabulous

How To Look Expensive When You Are On A Budget

Hello. Some women know how to put clothes together in a way that makes you feel like they spend hundreds of thousands on their wardrobe, when in fact they don't. We see her all the time. Always crisp and well put together. Her hair is immaculate, her feet look so clean, like you can eat off them, her watch is Bvlgari and you can smell the leather that is her handbag a mile away. She wears white a lot and it never turns dull yellow or gets stained. She has you convinced that she must have a walk in wardrobe filled with every designer brand. That her look must take millions of Naira to achieve and maintain. What you may not realise is that this socialite look, this Lisa Folawiyo, Nike Oshinowo or Kate Middleton look can be achieved by just following a few basic rules.

The most important thing with this look is the quality of your clothing and accessories. Clean lines, good cut and finishing made with good fabrics are key. These cannot be compromised if you want to have that 'expensive' look. In this day and age, however, you don't need hundreds of thousands of Naira to get that well tailored look. With brands like Next, Zara and French Connection, you can get clothes that look expensive without the price tag. Keep the style simple, you want to avoid trends. Trends have an expiration date and will make you look dated after a while.

Another thing is to always calculate cost per wear. I for example, have no problem spending a good amount of money on quality Jeans. The fact that I will wear it all the time, that the fabric is luxurious and the cut is perfection means that I am very willing to see it as an investment. The same goes for my watch and my handbag. The key here is that to look expensive, there a few things that you cannot cut corners on. Know what they are and invest in them. The key, when you are on a budget, is to know when to buy. A quality leather handbag can be bought for the equivalent of $200 and less at the right time of the year. Look out for periods when shops are clearing old stock out to restock for the new season. Also, look out for people and brands that sell good quality clothes for very good prices. There is a lot to be said for people who sell from home, their cars or online because, in a lot of cases, since they don't have the overhead of big stores, they tend to be cheaper. A good number of online shops are now available in Nigeria so you can give them a go. A lot of them allow you to pay money into their account, for those afraid to give their bank details on a website. Just do your due diligence to make sure the site is legit.

There is a lot to be said for bulk buying. Say you have come across that perfect pair of Jeans that makes you look slim and your behind look fabulous. It's the right wash, length and the fabric is superior. It will be a good idea to buy a couple. The same can be said for all your basic; white shirts, ballet flats, tank tops. That way, you always have a new pair to bring out as they wear out. If it makes you look so fabulous, you never want to be without it and you never want to continue wearing it after it has lost it's luster.

Take proper care of your stuff. Always read the care instruction before you buy an item to be sure that you don't end up with clothes that you can't afford to maintain. The reason is that caring for your clothes and leather goods in the correct way help them last a lot longer. For example, hand washing your 'Dry Clean Only' silk blouse will wear the fabric out really fast. Also, avoid bleach as it is very harsh on fabric. Instead wash your whites in hot water with detergent and a bleach alternative like vinegar. Be very careful to separate and wash like colors together and if you use a washing machine, wash each item in the correct setting. Do not wash delicates and Jeans together nor should you wash them with the wrong setting.

When it comes to beauty, you need to take care of the basics. Have a manicure and pedicure every few weeks and style your hair as and when due to keep you looking clean. Also, taking care of your skin; cleansing, exfoliating, and using a good moisturizer help you look bright and beautiful. Your hair should always be shiny and neat. Make up should be natural looking and applied on a clean face. Do not forget your deodorant and perfume as nothing spoils a fab look faster than a bad smell.

Let me end by giving you a list of what I feel you should splurge on and what you can save on. You should splurge on your classic pieces; neutral colored Cocktail dress, handbag, sunglasses, wrist watch, blue Jeans and neutral Ballet flats or Pumps. These are the things that you will reach for all the time. You need to make sure that their quality will withstand the continuous wear. Besides, we can all spot cheap a mile off. You can always save on items that you will not wear so often. Colored shoes and handbags, tops, dresses and accessories because since you probably buy lots of different styles of them, you don't wear them as much. Like I said earlier, there are good brands that sell designer quality at high street prices. Look into that and find out where you can get them for a reasonable price.

I hope I have succeeded in adding some measure of value. Remain fabulous.

Organizing Your Wardrobe

Hello. I recently took time to (yet again) reorganize my wardrobe and based on the reaction of a friend to this information, I realize that a lot of women do not understand that the main reason it always looks like they have nothing to wear is because their wardrobes are so disorganized. It is important to, every once in a while, declutter your wardrobe AND organize it. That way, you are able to very easily remember what items of clothing you have.

Many of us have very basic wardrobe space. Our physical wardrobe is made up of a top shelf on top of an empty space with a hanger rod. This can be very limiting for most of us. We have more clothes and accessories than we have space for. Our clothes are hung and folded without much thought to their placement so we end up with clothes at the back of the wardrobe that we never wear because we've forgotten that we even have them.

To be able to keep track of what you own, you have to come up with an organization system that will help you keep track of what you own. What I do is to hang clothes with similar items together. In my clothing space, starting from the back, are all my cardigans, hoodies and jackets. Because Lagos is hot most of the time, they can be back there and I can be sure that when I need them, I will reach for them. And because they are all in one place, I can see what I have, when I do reach for them, and make an informed decision on what to wear.

Next to them are my formal dresses, followed by dress shirts and then blouses. After that are my polo shirts, then T shirts, then other cotton/ jersey basic tops. These are followed by my casual dresses, then formal skirts, then casual skirts. Finally my formal trousers, then casual trousers, then capris and then my shorts. Everything is arranged from lightest to darkest colors within their category. My jeans are folded at the bottom of the wardrobe according to color. From lightest to darkest. With my own system, I am able to find, very easily, whatever I need, to put together the look I am going for each day.

I hope I have been able to inspire you to organize and come up with your own system that will help make getting dressed every morning, an easier experience, enabling you to utilize what you already own. Remain fabulous.

Developing personal style

Hello.

There is something about the way certain people dress that sometimes, when we see a certain clothing or accessory item or something else, we say " that is sooooo so and so". It's called personal style and it gives us (at least fashion wise) so much character. Think Mai Atafo in his fitted suits, Nneka with her bohemian chic, Kim Kardashian in her feminine, figure flattering clothes. There are so many ways and directions that one can go in developing personal style.

Of course the first thing to do is to assess your already existing style. What do you tend to lean towards? Are you are classic dresser, fashion forward or romantic? You need to understand what you are comfortable with so that you are developing your style in a way that is sustainable for you. You need to determine what it is that you are trying to achieve with said personal style. Do you want to be more memorable, or do you want to be more chic or to just be more experimental? It may help to study a lot of celebrities' style and you will begin to see that you prefer certain looks over others. It is important however, to know the difference between using someone else's style a template and being a caricature of the person

At first, you may have to follow the look of your favorite celebrities, but after a while, your confidence will grow and you will understand yourself and your preferences to begin to grow in your own direction. Just make sure that it suits your own personality or you will not be comfortable with it. Decide what you are comfortable changing.

You could decide that you want to change your hair, for example. You may want to try a new hair style or color for a while if changing your wardrobe is not what you want to do. Just be sure to change it in stages so that you get comfortable with the idea of change and to be sure you that it suits you. Or you could start to wear certain colors a lot. This is another way of being unique without changing the type of clothes that you are comfortable with. You can start out with a couple of shirts, or a few scarves to be sure that you really like the color and that it looks good on you. Another way is accessories. Chunky jewelry, a particular style of sunglasses or just always having sunglasses on or cocktail rings are another simple way of changing or developing style. Truly, the possibilities are endless.

Naturally, as you become sure of what you like and what you want, your confidence will grow and your style will develop. I really hope I have been helpful. Remain fabulous.

Getting out of a Style Rut.

Hello. Do you find that most of the time you reach for the same clothes over and over again? Do you have problems deciding what goes with what? Or do you always feel like you have nothing to wear despite having a wardrobe filled with clothes? If you answered yes to any of these, then you are probably stuck in a style rut.

Most of us have a fashion comfort zone that we feel safe within and try not to dress in a way that is outside of that.Unfortunately, it just keeps us from developing our sense of style and feeling bored with what we have in our wardrobe. Our style should always be evolving in the same way other parts of our lives evolve.We just have to be willing to try new things; new shapes and silhouettes, new colors and textures.

The key to getting out of your fashion comfort zone is to take the time to organize your wardrobe, and then plan your outfit before hand. Take the time to think of how you are going to put an outfit together. Don't just reach for the same old, same old. By organizing your wardrobe, you are checking to see the tools your have at your disposal to help create the look you are going for. You need to ensure that you have your wardrobe basics because that will give your options to build your outfit on. If you don't work on your essentials first, your attempts at being stylish will get messy.

Once you know what you have in your wardrobe, you need to put thought into how you put things together. The main things with putting an outfit together is your figure and your coloring. Stand in front of the mirror naked and decide what your best features are and accentuate them and what your flaws are and hide them. What ever you put together must flatter you. How you choose to do that is up to you. It is also very helpful to put colors that suit your skin tone around your face. The right colors will make you look prettier.

I really hope this has added some value to you in your quest to evolve your style. Remain fabulous.

How to dress youthful without looking like you are trying too hard.

Hello everyone. I've noticed that these days, I sometimes find myself looking in the mirror, wandering if what I'm wearing is age appropriate. The thing is, I still feel so young and yet I know that my body is not quite were it was a few years ago. I was telling a friend a few days ago that I have just a few more years to wear shorts of a certain length and that I know the time is coming when I'll have to take the length of my shorts about four (4) inches lower. As much as I want to dress as young as i feel, I am only too conscious of the fact that there are very few things worse for a woman than the perception that she is an 'old mama youngy' (I'm sure y'all know what I mean by that).

So how can you dress in a way that makes you feel young without coming across as trying too hard or inappropriate? Well there are quite a few of them.

Jeans.

The cool thing about jeans is that you can wear them whether you are two or twenty or forty or sixty years old. The only problem I see with older women wearing jeans is that most of them, especially over forty, tend to close their eyes to what the current trends are and go for cuts and washes that were trendy when they were younger. No matter your age, get yourself a pair of jeans in a cut and wash that flatter your body and you can be sure of being appropriate AND sexy.

Dresses.

Again keep your eyes open for current trends. Pretty print or block colored dresses in bold or pastel colors that show some skin (but not too much) make any woman look feminine and youthful. They soften your look and make you seem less of a matron. If showing skin is uncomfortable, you can always throw on a cover up.

Body Shapers.

These little miracles in fabric form help you life and pull in any dangling or bulging bits. They help you hide your flaws so that you can wear clothes that you ordinarily wouldn't and give you an attractive silhouette. There are many brands and types to help you with your hips, thighs,stomach, breasts and even some for a total body lift. Be sure that it is firm but not tight as you don't want to spend your time uncomfortable.

A sexy bag.

The wonderful thing about handbags is that they don't care what size you are so every woman can partake. So please forget the big, bulky, matronly handbag and get yourself something with attitude. There are enough bags that are practical but yet have character and they help give you a youthful look.

Shoes.

Another thing that you can go all out with are sexy shoes. As long as it doesn't affect your posture, you can wear any height, any color and any style.

Make up and Hair.

As you get older, the mantra becomes "less is more" when it comes to make up and hair. With make up you want to look natural as you get older. That is not to say that you can't do a smokey eye or bold lips. What it does mean is that you must not have too much going on at once.

Hair should also be natural looking. Avoid overly long weaves or shouting hair color. Simplicity is the key.

I hope I've been helpful in some way. Till me meet again, hopefully soon, remain fabulous.

The Ankara Handbag

Hello. Have you been thinking of adding some Ankara to your wardrobe but don’t want the head to toe Ankara look? Or do you live outside Africa and don’t have access to a good dressmaker or designer that works with the fabric but still want to show off ‘ethnic’ fashion? How about getting an Ankara handbag? Very easy to style, it is one of those things that will give your wardrobe that added oomph. It will very easily turn your ‘tee shirt and jeans’ outfit into something notable.

There are a good number of African handbag designers that work with the fabric so getting one should not be that hard. Since it is clothe, it’s easy to clean and maintain. All you need to do is make sure to make the bag the focal piece in the ensemble. Yu don’t want too many things clamoring for attention.

I hope this short post has inspired you add a little variety to your wardrobe with an Ankara bag. As always, remain fabulous.

How to choose a handbag.

Hello. Today I’m going to talk to you about choosing an everyday handbag. For a lot of us, buying a handbag over a certain price (depending on budget) doesn’t make any sense. We don’t believe it’s worth the extra money to buy what I like to call a ‘serious’ handbag. I’m not talking here about designer bags. I personally am yet to buy my first big name designer bag so that is not what this post is about. I’m talking about a good quality handbag. A lot of ladies would prefer to own twenty cheap bags that two or three quality bags.

What they don’t seem to understand is that when it comes to handbags, you get what you pay for. Quality bags last so much longer than cheap (disposable?) bags. Those handbags that you buy for four (4) thousand naira that you have to change every year are costing you more than the bag someone else bought in 2006 for twenty thousand, carried everyday for four years, rested for six months and has been carrying everyday since and is still in perfect condition. Your four thousand a year handbag habit has cost you twenty four thousand naira in that same time and you probably don’t have anything decent to show for it. At the end of the day, when shopping for your basic everyday bag, cost per wear is a good consideration. There is now the added benefit of second hand value if you choose to sell through a ‘vintage’ stop.

Making the move from buying cheap bags is quite a serious business for a lot of us. I remember when I first made the decision that it was time to start carrying quality bags. When I thought about how much it was going to cost me, I almost changed my mind. However, when we do get to that point, a lot of us don’t quite know what to look out for and some even assume that because it costs more, it must be better quality.

The first thing to do when buying a bag is to pick it up. A good quality leather bag will always have some weight to it and the handles will be quite sturdy. Another thing is that stitching will be very neat and very secure. As an example, I know that an authentic Hermes handbag’s stitching is so secure that if the stitch gets broken at a point, the rest of the stitch will remain in place and even the next point will not unravel. It will stay put. Also, ALL the edges around a good handbag will be covered so that you cannot see the roughness of the leather. All hardware on the bag will be strong and of good quality. The zips will be metal with big sturdy teeth. The lining of the bag will be some kind of soft leather like material and these days most good bags come with a lot of compartments inside for you phone, credit/ atm cards, a key ring etc and even an attached matching purse for you money.

I hope this has been helpful to anyone thinking of buying a quality handbag. Don't forget to enter the competition below. Entries close on Saturday at midnight. Good luck. Remain

fabulous.

Updated Wardrobe Foundation

Hello everyone. I’m so glad that you stopped by today. Its been a busy few days for me but it’s been really good. I trust that you are in good spirit. For the last few days, I’ve been thinking about what young ladies coming out of school and getting their first job and thinking of what I believe should be the first set of clothing items that she should buy. Let’s call it her wardrobe foundation. I’ve done a post on this before so this is an update.

So let’s say you just got you first big pay cheque and you want to update you wardrobe from that of a girl to that of a young woman. What are the first things to spend your money on, assuming the said cheque isn’t blank?

The White Shirt.

Popular convention says that you should start out with one white shirt. Experience has thought me that that is not adequate. You need at least three white shirts to start with. Idealy, these should include a plain, formal looking botton down, long sleeved white shirt, the other two can have some kind of feminine details like frills, pleats, lace etc. Just remember not to go too crazy if you want to wear them to work. When purchasing, be on the look out for quality of fabric, cut of the shirt ( to be sure that it flatters your figure and washing instructions. You don’t want to end up with a ‘dry clean only’ when you are on a budget.

Blue shirts.

After you have you most basic white shirts, you need to own at least two blue shirts. As in the case of the white, you can’t make do with only one. The particular shade of blue should be based on what shade suits you the most. One plain, formal looking, botton down, long sleeved blue shirt and another more feminine, more detailed shirt. Look out for the quality and feet and washing instruction as above.

Camisoles

One of the most important elements especially for work, are camisoles. You can never have too many of them. It is with your camisoles that you can really go crazy with different colors. Just remember that they should always be worn under a jacket to keep from looking unprofessional because of the fact that they show your arms.

Suits.

You need to start with at least two pencil skirts. One plain black, preferably high waisted pencil skirt and the other can be either black pin stripped or some other neutral like navy blue, gray or brown. There are those who think that you can buy trousers in place of skirts. I don’t agree. I think that because of the conservative nature of the avaerage workplace, you want to own at least one skirt. Ideally, you should not start with Trousers until after at least two skirts. Of course you start with black and work your way through the other neutrals. I think that at the foundational stage of your wardrobe, you should think more in terms of separates than an actual suit. So next should come two jackets. First a black plain jacket and then either a black pin stripped or a navy jacket. Note that with jackets, fit is key. The bodice of the jacket should fit your body closely but not be tight. The shoulder of the jacket should also not extend beyond your natural shoulder. Also, with formal jackets and skirts, you have to be very careful with the care label because so many of them are better dry cleaned and so you have to be sure of whether it’s hand washable or mashine washable depending on what your resources are. The wrong cleaning process and your jacket, skirt or trousers will not just last as long.

Accessories.

To start your wardrobe you need a pair of COMFORTABLE black shoes. I know a lot of people say court shoes/ pumps, but I think that they have to be shoes that you can be comfortable with. Just be careful that they are formal. Anything from the court shoes/ pumps to ballet flats to loafers to stiletoes are adequate. You also need a neutral big handbag. It could be a grab bag, a tote, a shoulder bag, what ever as long as it is somewhat formal looking. With both items, it is important to buy the bast quality you can afford as it may not be ideal to to have to change your basic bag too often. Your basic bag should be able to hold its shape through the abuse of everyday use.

With these, you have started your journey into your adult wardrobe. As a lot of older women will probably tell you, building an enviable wardrobe is a marathon, not a sprint. As long as you nail the foundational items, you can take a bit of time to start to build a wardrobe that will have pieces that you can still enjoy even after.

I hope that this information has been helpful. Remail fabulous.

Everyday Ankara

Hello. I’ve decided to change things up a bit. Let me give you a little bit of my history. I did not become a designer that works mainly with Ankara by accident. Growing up, I hated clothes made out of Ankara. I’m not a big fan of the ‘skirt and blouse’ Ankara ensemble, which was one of two options that we had when I was growing up (It was either that or using the Ankara to sew ‘double wrapper’). I personally find it boring. I prefer to use Lace or Silk or some other fluid fabric to make ‘native’. So from the time I was a little girl, I couldn’t wait to start using Ankara for what I have always thought it is good for. Bare in mind that I don’t like most of the fabric available in the market, I find them mostly dull or garish.

My mission has been how to bring Ankara into daily life for the contemporary woman. Focusing how to create pieces that any woman can pull out of her wardrobe and wear on Casual Friday, or to go watch a movie, or to have drinks with her girlfriends, or something to wear to that lecture you are going to give. On how to take Ankara out of just being for weddings or church and into everyday life. The fact that Ankara is made of cotton, means that it is breathable and that is ideal for everyday wear in this our hot West African weather. Focusing on this has led me to come up with certain pieces that I think Ankara is well suited for which I think every woman that fancies herself a fashionista should have in her wardrobe.

So what are these pieces? They include a Skirt, a Cocktail Dress, a few Day Dresses that should include a long Summer Dress and a Wrap Dress, a Jacket/ Waist Coat/ Trench and Cropped Fitted Pants. The items can either have Ankara as their main or as their accent fabric. These items, in my opinion, should form the foundation of your Ankara wardrobe, pieces that you can work your already existing wardrobe around, pieces that if you own, you will find yourself reaching for, time after time. Notice I did not add The Jumpsuit to the list. This is because the Ankara print is characterized by its ‘busyness’, what with its bold and colorful design and so much going on that making it into a jumpsuit tends to come off as being too much. I personally am yet to see an all over Ankara jumpsuit that I like. For a Jumpsuit, it’s always better for the Ankara to just be the accent fabric, its job being to ‘lift’ the look of the jumpsuit.

I realize that this is just an over view of what I consider the foundation of a modern woman’s Ankara wardrobe. I hope that over time, I will be able to take each item and break down how to make it work in today’s wardrobe. What to consider when choosing them and how to integrate them into your wardrobe to create a look that is very contemporary.

Hope you stop by soon. Remain fabulous.

The Role of the Accessory

Hello babes, today I’m going to talk to you about accessories. It is really quite simple. Without accessories, all you have is cloth. Accessories make the outfit. A lot of ladies don’t wear a lot of accessories apart from the very basic shoes and handbags. Others add a basic, everyday necklace, earrings, and watch. Very few of us will ‘because it’s Tuesday’, for example, pair a fabulous statement necklace with a pair of jeans and t shirt and maybe even add a waist coat, working it into a unique ‘look but yet’ suitable for whatever activities we have planned for the day, whether it be going to work or school or just running errands.

There cannot be style present if accessories are absent (I just made that up so feel free to quote me). It is important as a fashionista to have a healthy stock of accessories that you can rely on to help you bring to life the various looks you try to achieve every day.

Go beyond the ordinary, think spectacular. In a world of mass produced clothes, where you and a few thousand or even million people have the same dress or something similar, your choice of accessories is what will stand you out. I don’t mean shoes and bags, except of course they are som’n special. When you think accessories, start to think scarves, cocktail rings, statement necklaces, pendants, bangles and bracelets. They don’t have to be gold. They can be silver, wood, leather, hemp, glass, etc. You could work with vests, waistcoats, hats and even gloves (if you can find any that don’t look ridiculous in this heat).

For example, a t shirt worn with blue jeans with a pair of sandals and your basic bla

ck bag is sooooooo blah. However, choosing to use a red belt instead of your basic black one instantly lifts it. You can then add character by adding a lovely beaded Ankara vest. That gives the ensemble a boho vibe. You could instead of the vest, layer on different lengths of gold chains. That gives it a funky vibe. So over the next few days, experiment. Look through your accessory collection, whatever the size, and go where they take you.

I hope I was able to add value. Hope to see you soon. Remain fabulous.

GIVE AWAY!!!! ( CLOSED)

Hello everyone. To celebrate my being back on Blogger and also my new collection, I'm giving away a dress worth N10,000. For you to qualify for it, you have to Like my Facebook page Ajiri Avae Clothing http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Ajiri-Avae-Clothing/229050093848224 and follow me on twitter @ajiriavae. What you need to do to actually be in the race is to go to my website and look at my newest collection http://www.ajiriavae.com/ and then come back to this post to rate and comment, telling us what you like and/ or don't like about it. The winner will be picked based on how useful and practical the comment is and how well it can help to point us in the right direction for our next collection. The give away will close on the 21st of July 2012 to give people the chance to participate. So what are you waiting for? Go and join in the hunt. Remember, you have to be in it to win it. Remain Fabulous peeps!!!

Elements of Style

What is it that makes you choose what you wear? Is it comfort? Style? Color? We all choose our clothing for different reasons. Some of us want to stand out, others want to blend in. Whatever the core reasons, the one thing to keep in mind is that there are certain basics which must be achieved before we can even talk about having style. What do I mean? I mean that whatever it is that we want to express with our look, we must make the conscious effort to keep within the boundary of style. Every style can be overdone and look cheap or done tastefully. It’s about balancing every item within the look. The single most important thing to consider when choosing clothes is your body shape. No matter how cute that dress is, if it was not designed for your body shape, you will end up looking silly. Ever body shape can be flattered by wearing the right cut of clothes just as great injustice can be done to a figure by wearing the wrong cut. The next thing to consider is color. Every skin shade has certain colors that enhance it and others that subtract from it. Some people look better in warm colors while cool colors work better for others. An easy way to find out which works better for you is to drape different colored fabrics around your face and you will begin to see that certain colors read better against your skin tone. It is even easier to have someone help you observe the effects of different colors.

After that, the next consideration is occasion or practicability. You don’t want to be the girl wearing a suit at a picnic or the girl wearing that Herve Leger stunner at a young child’s funeral. As long as you get these basics right, you can be sure that you are on your way to projecting yourself stylishly. Without taking these into account, one is likely to miss the style boat. Your attempt at looking like a rock chic will be unsuccessful if the jeans are the wrong cut for your body shape. Also the most stunning dress will look drab if worn in the wrong shade of green. Of course we all know that the flyest outfit will only make you look like a fool with money if worn to the wrong occasion.

It is when all these have been fulfilled that one can start ones style journey. With these conquered it is easier to navigate the murky waters of fashion to arrive at whatever style destination we set for ourselves.

I really hope I have been of help today. Till we meet again, hopefully soon.Remain fabulous.

Allow me to re- introduce myself.

Hello babes, my name is Ajiri Okah-Avae and I’m a fashion designer and stylist. I am very interested in helping women (and men) put their best foot forward, presenting themselves in the most advantageous light, assisting the best way I know how, in their quest for world domination (or whatever their goals may be). So many fashion writers and enthusiasts have written about fashion but my purpose here is to help women (and men), from the complete novice who is trying to become more chic to the fashionista who is open to new ideas, explore the world of fashion and with what they have available in their wardrobe (with maybe a few key items added) interpret it into their own personal style.

The natural question then is ‘what is style?’ I have heard and read several opinions on what style is, but I think the simplest way for me to describe it is this. Style is the way an individual chooses to present themselves to the world. Style of course is not just about the way we dress. Style includes (but is not limited to) the kind of car we choose to drive, the way we decorate our personal space, the kind of activities we choose for relaxation and other nuances that give people an idea about who we are and what we represent. Basically, our style is what people see when they first meet us.

In fashion, sometimes style is interchanged with the word ‘look’. However ‘style’ is a more involved term than ‘look’. What do I mean? Let me put it this way. In the morning, when we all stand before our wardrobes, no matter how big or small, we have an image of what we want to project to the world based on how we are feeling or the activities we intend to take part in, and we all pick our outfits based on that. That is picking a look for the day. Style, at least in fashion, comes into play when we stop and actually give deep thought to each piece in the ensemble and how they enhance our size and shape. When we say that someone has style, we simply mean that the person gives thought to the relationship between each element and how those elements enhance their person and their space AND that it comes off as aesthetically pleasing.

I hope to be able to help you navigate the sometimes fickle, sometimes confusing world of fashion, interior design, fine wine and food. I’ll be helping you broaden your mind on how to put looks together in a stylish way, critiquing outfits worn on the streets of Lagos, giving you tips on how to make your personal space more appealing, help you understand the little things that help make wine taste better, and share a few recipes with you.

I hope to meet you here again in a couple of days. Enjoy what I have to offer today. Remain fabulous.

It's been a while.

Hello everyone, It's been a good four years since I last posted anything and I have decided to turn over a new leaf. So I'm back, a little older and hopefully, a little wiser. This will be a much more fun experience than my first go round. There will be Outfit of the day posts, give aways, first look at my latest collections, even video posts, etc, etc. For any returning readers, thank you for coming back, all new readers, thank you for stopping by. Hopefully, we will all learn something about style and how to articulate it, whatever our interpretation of it may be. Remain fabulous.