PAPLE RAYN PARTY OUTFIT

I had a general idea of what I wanted to wear for this event but wasn't sure I'd be able to find exactly what I wanted here (Pinterest can really raise your expectations!) and did not feel confident having it custom made because as I experienced here, this route can prove to be quite disappointing. 

Anyhow, I knew I'd be wearing my hair out in a big do and therefore wanted an outfit that could hold it's own against such an in-your-face style but still be sleek enough to let me move up and down between my seat and backstage yet not too casual that I'd look like I didn't get the Red Carpet memo, you know?

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EVENT REVIEW: PAPLE RAYN HUB LAUNCH

Does it make sense when I say I knew EXACTLY what to write before the event and then after the Launch I was all "where on earth do I start???" *panicked voice* I found myself taking ages to sort through the images and postponing this post so I changed my mind about my previous event review post format which was real systematic like a color-by-numbers to this which is basically going to be an uninterrupted stream of consciousness. Strap in.

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PAPLE RAYN HUB

If you follow me on social media you've probably noticed my increasing excitement over the upcoming paplerayn party. It's now one week to the event and I can barely contain myself.

It's just so inspiring seeing the growth Paple Rayn has undergone in just a year!

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THE SWITCH UP

Valentine's is just a day away (!) and what's on every romantic's mind is where to go, what to wear, what gift to get that special person. True, there are those who claim they don't see what all the fuss about this one day is about but if you are like me, each and every excuse to give and receive gifts, indulge in a day of pampering, or even just an extra long cuddle session is pounced upon with both hands.

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STILL ABOUT THAT...

...red and blue life. I had never realised how often I gravitate towards this particular colour combination until just recently when I started documenting my personal style. Turns out most of my accessories are in one of these colours or the other.

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SEEING RED

Or Maroon. Or Burgundy. Or Masala as Pantone will say, depends on the lighting really. Lately I've gotten into the habit of planning outfit mood boards when I have a fancy occasion coming up. For the evening reception part of this wedding I was thinking red, midi length, body hugging, long sleeved or off the shoulder. Then the hunt for this perfect dress begun in earnest.

What I was hunting for.

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RED, WHITE & BREEZY

Another year, another month of weekends of weddings. Seems like I not only ended last year with a wedding, I'm beginning this one off with another! Love really is in the air. At this rate there will no longer be such a thing as wedding season because it seems to be all year round these days.

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OOTH (Outfit of the Holidays)

First photoshoot at my new digs! Pictures taken with Galaxy S4

2015 is off to a great start! But after the doozer that was 2014 there was really nowhere to go but up! So HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!

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Introducing the latest in minimalist Lingerie...the C-String

"Brevity is the soul of lingerie" - Dorothy Rothschild Parker (Vogue, 1916)

No...this is not a hairband

What do Gwyneth Paltrow, Kendall Jenner, Jamie Alexander and Governor Peter Florrick’s intern have in common? They all dared to go bare – or at least made us think they did.

Jaw-droppingly gorgeous!

With cutouts, sheer panels and formfitting designs ruling the runways and red carpets, who can blame them? French panties and thongs just don’t cut it anymore…when you throw on your freakum dress last thing you need is to worry about bunching undergarments, visible panty lines and in the case of thongs, errant strings creeping into view.

Designer Stella McCartney nailed this trend in her Fall 2011 show!

Cleverly employed sheer paneling to preserve your modesty while at the same time piquing the imagination of onlookers! This is what I call a win-win situation

But then again going commando is not an option. Granted there’s a certain freedom to be enjoyed by having a cooling breeze blowing through your nether yaya with every swish of your gown, the worry of flashing almost outweighs it. Let’s face it, not all of us have the brevity of Peter Florrick’s intern on the latest season of the Good Wife.

So what’s a trend loving stylish girl to do? Hit up Purple Rain Fashion Uganda, that’s what. Purple Rain exclusively stocks the latest in minimalist under garments – the C-String; your all in one answer to visible panty lines, muffin tops, squashed bits and Bridget-Jones-type-granny-panty situations. 

Oh Kim...so close, so very close...if only your stylist had Purple Rain's number on speed dial!

Available in a wide variety of colours and fabrics, we’ve got you covered (pun definitely intended) whatever your preference maybe!

Lace, Satin, Cotton... White, Red, Polka dot, Animal Print...You name it!

Eve - the original fashionista!

Think of it like the modern version of Eve’s fig leaf – it covers just the essentials and leaves you free to wear whichever style, cut and fashion you fancy. And the best part – it's as comfortable as your birthday suit! So what are you waiting for? Order a pair or ten while stocks last. Free deliveries in and around Kampala City centre.

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Miss Uganda 2014

1st page of Google when you image search *Miss Uganda 2014*! All pics are of Stella, not a single one of Leah until about page 3.

With Miss Uganda 2013 winner Stella Nantubwe (Ellah) making such a favorable impression on BBA Hotshots,  many were curious to see who would replace her as Miss Uganda 2014. This year's pageant was ridden with much controversy from an alleged UPDF sponsorship to making the beauty queen hopefuls till gardens without so much as protective gloves! Not to mention in the scorching sun!

I understand where they were coming from - beauty with a purpose blah blah blah - but listen, there's a reason planting tree seedlings is the go to manual charity work for royals the world over. A hard shove of the spade, a sprinkling of soil, and a pat so ensure everything is firmly rooted and you're done. Nothing that would give one calluses!

Kate doesn't even have to take off her heels!

But clearly the currently gestating Brenda Nanyonjo had  a different agenda. An agenda that I assume didn't include hiring a professional stylist and Make Up Artist for the girls. (*side bar* Brenda is a professional stylist and MUA herself but I think she was on organiser duties only this year.)

That's the only way I can explain how all shots of the winner, 23 year old Ms Leah Kalanguka show her with atrocious make up (including lipstick on her teeth) and jewellery that not only overpowered her beautiful face but the gown as well!

The styling during the catwalk session worked because it was thematic - clearly they were going big or going home. And the stage lighting worked in their favour.

Really gorgeous dark skinned beauty

Leah is a beauty, no doubt about that, so much so that some international media outlets are hailing her as the next Lupita Nyong'o. (Pause as that sinks in.) Her make up Sunday night however wasn't for her skin tone. In fact I suspect that all contestants used the same palette and with majority being of lighter complexion than Leah, it's unsuitability went unnoticed until photos of her getting crowned started doing the rounds.

Honestly those necklaces...and earrings...should have taken something off after the catwalk session.

The first thing I noticed when a friend WhatsApped me the image of her driving off (it was the first image I saw) was that cheap looking choker necklace layered with 2 other cheaper looking chain necklaces on a V-neck gown! So many fashion sins already! This was coupled with totally unsuitable and unmatched chandelier earrings! Did I mention Leah is delicate featured? With her hair pulled away from her face in an elegant updo, all this jewelry was overwhelming!  Throw a Tiara into the mix and you can begin to understand why the average Ugandan's first conclusion was that she was ugly. She isn't. Her styling however was.

The sash beneath the Miss Uganda one reads Miss Photogenic. Huge irony then that media is only circulating the least flattering images of her!

That she still won despite of it goes to show she really has the complete package;  charisma, brains, and the innate beauty that even styling from hell can't hide. (Still, how come no one, not even Flavia who was Emcee-ing, told her she'd gotten lipstick on her teeth??? These girls ain't loyal.)

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TAKING STOCK AUGUST 2014

Its been a minute since I last blogged and honestly I don't even understand it myself...I've never been this busy in my life. I mean usually I announce the beginning of the best month of the year with a boastful post about how August babies are the best! Now we're 19 days in and I hadn't even sounded my trumpets! Anyhow, with my birthday tomorrow I figured I might as well get this month's Taking Stock post up.

Making : Plans for my birthday celebrations. Being mid week and with my packed schedule I want something very low key. Last year I was on leave and pulled off three dinners but tomorrow I'll be pretty content with a bit of office festivities and just one dinner thereafter.

Cooking : anything but super market meat. I'm a health nut so when that report about excess preservatives came out I swore off all kinds of supermarket meats. 

Drinking : Water. My trusty water bottle is always within arm's reach. 

Reading: Allegiant - the second book in the Divergent series. Loved seeing Mr.Pamuk in the movie! I just had to know Four better so I got the books but Allegiant isn't doing it for me to be honest. 

Wanting: To receive 3 very particular, very expensive gifts tomorrow. But I'll be happy just getting one of them.

Looking: Forward to starting my driving lessons. It's about time I ticked that 2014 new year's resolution off the list!

Playing: 30 Seconds - this might be my favourite game of all time! (After Scrabble of course.)

Wasting: Time. What else is new.

Sewing: Nothing this month! huh!

Wishing: For an exotic holiday! (Don't I always)

Enjoying: Suburgatory. Finally got the dvd set.

Waiting: To move into new digs. 

Wondering: When I'll find the perfect new apartment. Everyone says I'm too particular but when you design spaces for a living, how can you not be?

Loving: My bae

Hoping: That my brother takes my moving out news well

Needing: To have the moving out talk with my brother 

Smelling: Toast that I made my colleague bring me this morning.

Wearing: This cute thrifted print dress. It's a little loose fitting and I should probably take it to the tailor but felt like something free and casual today.

Noticing: hmmm, some extra inches.

Knowing: Everything always works out for the best.

Thinking: About my new targets for the new year.

Feeling: Surprisingly nonchalant about turning 25.

Opening: My current project (Cafe Interior design) now that this blog post is finished.

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Featured Designer: Martha Jabo

I'd never heard of Martha Jabo here til I opened the papers today, and upon seeing a selection of the designs she showcased at Swahili fashion Week in Dar December 2012, I immediately wanted to know/see more. These weren’t jawdroppingly awesome mind you, but they were fresh enough to make me hit Google a few seconds after reading the article instead of just flipping the page and forgetting her. And I’m glad I did. Otherwise this post wouldn't have to come to be.

Why she was wearing that fugly pounds adding jumpsuit when she had all those beautiful items to her left to chose from I shall never know

24year old Martha is a fresh graduate of MUK’s Arts and Applied Design who’s been actively pursuing fashion design for a year now. No modest ambition for Martha here, she wants to target the High end market and plans to launch her official line, Jabo Designs this May.

Enough about the designer, on to the designs. These were my favorite pieces, I’m so into chiffon right now and also love them cuz the African print doesn’t seem so glaring in your face African print. You can substitute any other bold print here and get same amazeballs result.

These on the other hand… I get the asymmetrically - it's on trend, it edgies up the collection, its too cool for school I-can't-be-bothered-to-colour-within-the-lines kinda thing and all - but I don’t like it. Boo hoo!

I just have one bone to pick with her (and almost every other up and coming African designer – why must all items of the collection have African print? Do you worry we won't take you as a genuine African designer if the prints are missing? God knows Africa produces other fabrics other than Batik, Tie & Dye, Maasai and Kikoi. We won't judge if you eschew the African prints (I won't at least. In fact I'll applaud!) , a good design is a good design! Take Kunda for example, great designs, but because they have such high fashion silhouettes and are in print, they lose the originality, I feel like it’s the less privileged cousin of Gwen Stefani’s 2011 collection. )

See what I mean? Every single piece had "African Print" on it! EVERY!

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