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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AW x UG Bloggers Style Uniform Challenge

Fashion icons such as Vogue Editors like Anna Wintour and Emanuelle Alt, designers like Victoria Beckham and Karl Lagerfeld, and stars like Janelle Monae and Rooney Mara all have a style that they favour and wear again and again until it becomes a uniform of sorts. Having a style uniform saves a lot of time and takes the fretting and second guessing out of getting ready because once you find a look that works for you, you’re always confident about your appearance. As fashion consultant Yasmin Sewell put it, “too much choice clouds your judgement – if you know what works for your body, that’s half the battle.”

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THE HAKAWATI

Happy New month guys! We are nearly half way through 2015 and it never ceases to amaze me how fast time goes now that I’m no longer in school! I have to say 2015 is shaping up quite well and while I’m still not 10/10 for my goals and dreams I did manage to tick off a few already.

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SPORTY LUXE: UG BLOGGERS MAY CHALLENGE

I’m a girly girl. I like my frills and ruffles, ribbons and bows, and flounces galore. What can I say, I cut my reading teeth on medieval fairy tales - all corsets and full skirts and glass slippers. True I favour a more streamlined silhouette now than 8 year old me did, a midi jersey cowl neck shift over a slinky cleavage bearing floor length gown (or a Toddlers&Tiaras-esque travesty) any day, I still lean towards sweet feminine styles ergo 90% of my closet comprises of dresses and skirts. 

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ABSTRACT FLORALS

One of my very best friends Hilda enlisted my personal shopping services to spice up her wardrobe with the addition of some Ankara pieces and I was all too happy to oblige. I've always loved bright colours and prints but steered away from African print outfits for 2 reasons,: (this is going to be a long rant so strap in. Or just skip to the images :)

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DENIM AT THE OFFICE: UG BLOGGERS CHALLENGE

Over easter break, Eleanor of aboutseptember suggested a collaborative challenge for fashion bloggers in ug and I was more than happy to jump on board. For our first challenge we decided to showcase how to style Denim -  the quintessential casual fabric - for an office appropriate look.

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I ♡ T-SHIRT DRESSES: Part III

You guys, I feel like Easter break should be 2 weeks long, I am that fatigued and my next four days are already chokeful of activities! I know, I know ...Beyonce has the same 24 hours in her day...what no one ever mentions is she also has assistants and bucketloads of cash. Ambition is great, but no one wins if I'm burning the candle at both ends - like they say, all work and no play makes Mimi a dull girl. So unless I get minions for my easter miracle, I'm taking a much needed hiatus this Easter Break. No work, no social media, just my nearest and dearest, and a good book. But before that, here's the last installment in the TShirt dress series.

LOOK 5: GIRL ON THE GO

This is my go to look when I'm running errands. There's truth in the claim that shopping is a work out because by the time I'm through with my monthly grocery shopping I'm sore all over despite that fact that I barely do any carrying in all this. Just the walking up and down aisles, crosschecking ingredients lists, trying to decide on an alternative if the usual brand of cereal is out of stock...is as exhausting as a 30 minutes jog uphill. Which is why comfort is key.

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I ♡ T-SHIRT DRESSES: Part II

Today's post featuring the next two looks in the Tshirt Dress series will be short and sweet  because I have a million thing clammering for my attention before we break off for Easter Holidays! So let's just dive right in, shall we?

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I ♡ T-SHIRT DRESSES

1 Dress, 6 Looks: Vampy, Beachy Vibes, On the Go, Simplicity, Work Flow, and Date Night.

Question: If you could only wear one item of clothing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Answer: T-Shirt dresses. Hands down. No contest.

I love me some T Shirt dresses, all day every day. So much so that I'm making my first styling post about this versatile closet staple. Well, it doesn't always feature in the *closet classics every woman should own* list but it should! Allow me to tell you why.

This silhouette is flattering to all body types - pear, hour glass, boxy - you name it. It's also one of the few items a lady can wear pre-maternity, during and after. Now if that isn't a win I dunno what is.

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#MY256STYLE

The newly revamped African Woman Magazine has teamed up with Jumia Uganda to run a social media campaign showcasing unique Ugandan style dubbed #my256style where entrants post pictures under the hashtag and tag both @Africanwoman_magazine and @Jumiauganda to stand to win shopping vouchers with the online retailer.  Needless to say yours truly is giving it her best shot. Instagram link is to the left of this post.

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BOX OF CRAYONS

I'm not big on handbags. In fact I own only three, one of which is more of a satchel than a handbag if we're being honest here, and I have been using these three on rotation for the past two years.

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BOSSY PANTS

This blogger life is not for having qualms about where to shoot or not to shoot. I’m fast realizing that I cannot walk away from a great location or an interesting prop without carrying out an impromptu photoshoot! 

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CATCH 22

This blue monochrome look might be my favourite for the month! Although the month has just started so really there’s not that much to compare it to. I wearing feather earrings, paired with a long sleeved tee with a quill emblazoned prominently on its front and an embossed peacock print box pleat skirt.

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7 - ELEVEN

~~~

… Oooh wee be-be freaky deaky

Think me see she pink bikini

Rock that groovy dye dashiki

Nefertiti, edges kinky

Sweatin’ out my blow out,

Sweatin’ out my press …

~~~

Today’s post was inspired by one of my favourite songs to work out to, Queen Bey’s 7 Eleven. It actually started out as a coincidence that I took out my braids just before we filmed a clip for our YouTube channel The Talk256 set at the pool and that’s how I found myself in a pink bikini with my edges kinky.

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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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SHOOTING THE BREEZE

You know those days when you throw on a random outfit (aka laundry day) and you're just hoping to get through the day without any important meetings but then you step out and the weather is just right, sun is bright but not hot, sky is as blue as it gets, and strangers smile at you, and birds chirp a happy song just for you? Yeah, those days.

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ALL BLACK & BLUE

I'm all about the Red + Blue combo lately

I have to start off with a confession;  my mum HATED this look. See the top is actually this dress I last wore 2 years ago and when I walked in (it was my muffin's grad party and I was seated at the high table) she immediately WhatsApped something along the lines of what a bore I was for cutting the dress!

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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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