Be a Giver

I am the first child of 4, and I used to get tired of sharing, it got really bad at one point in my life. I knew every single item in my closet and if it went missing I new my sister's were in my room. After a really bad fight, we started sharing things a bit more. A decade later and my ability to share is still okay but I really don't like sharing to be honest. I put a lot of time, money and effort into looking for clothes, altering them and making them my own, so I find it hard to share. Unless of course you're my sisters.

However, I love to buy my friends things they may like or give them something that looks better on them than me. Once I found this nice Marks and Spencer Vintage Blazer at a Consortium Shop and it was too big but being the greedy shopper I am at times, I bought it anyway. One day a friend of mine came over and she tried it on, and it looked better on her because it was honestly massive on me so I gave it to her. A year later I walk into a charity shop and see the exact blazer in my perfect size!!! I smiled and said thank you Lord, and bought it immediately. 

In short, I'd rather give than share/borrow. What about you? what type of friend are you a giver a lender or both? Moral of the story, if you can make someone happy by giving them something especially a dear friend, do it, it will pay off in the end....I have generous friends, thus I am somewhat generous, lol. Now if only Lola would be generous and give me her vintage Christian Dior Sunglasses...hum....

Photographer: Oluwatosin Ogunlesi

TheVarina

I fell in love with Salvatore Ferragamo when I was a Sophomore at Howard back in 2004, and my friend/older sister Lola used to rock her black and white heeled Vara's on campus like it was normal (I love her style!). I was drawn to the little bow and how chic they instantly made someone look! I got a vintage pair of Vara's soon after, then discovered the Varina, I've been obsessed since. Being that I am 5'11" I love the Varina as they are flat, chic, and simple. 

This season they have added a couple of beautiful colors: Jean (Pastel Blue), Tobacco (a dark beige), Peony (Purple) and Apricot to name a few. 

I love the Ferragamo Varina! I will be rocking them for the rest of my life as they are a timeless shoe that never goes out of style!  On another note, I wish they would make a green Varina I would have bought them yesterday!!!

What is that one shoe that you LOVE and cannot live without?

Hope you had a wonderful weekend!!!

The Rope Belt

I collect a couple of things. When I like something I tend to buy it in different variations. I love vintage Gucci bags, Salvatore Ferragamo Varina's, vintage rope belts & vintage sunglasses. These are items that I always keep an eye out for whenever I go to a second hand market, thrift store, charity shop, flea market or shop online. 

The best thing about rope belts are they can have two functions: the obvious belt and they can be worn as a necklace. I love rope belts, for this reason they are versatile. I have several here and a couple in the states (if my younger sisters haven't raided my closet in the states!) and I can say I'll be keeping them for my future daughter...

What pieces in your closet would you never throw out because you want to give them to your future daughter(s)?

Photographer: Oluwatosin Ogunlesi

I Pod Playing: Jill Scott - 'Blessed'

MixedPrint

I love mixing prints, and have loved it for some time now. Mixing Adire with Ankara is my template for many clutches I've designed. I thought while in Nigeria last summer, why not try making an Adire low back dress and see how it comes out. The material is a bit stiffer than normal, thus a bit of room to wiggle around in was needed and the construction around the edges wasn't perfect (I blame the tailor) but all in all I liked the outcome. I am also a fan of low scoop back pieces, thus this dress is dear to my heart. 

Photographer: Oluwatosin Ogunlesi

I pod Tune: Talib Kweli & Hi-tek - 'African Dream'

Ankara Obsessed

From as young as I can remember I have always loved Ankara. Growing up Nigerian in America made me proud of my heritage, not all the time to be honest, but thanks to an enlightened father and a curious knowledge for my culture, ancestry and race learned to love my culture, our fabric and the skin I am in.

I never understood why people didn't like ankara or made fun of it especially in High School and Middle School. I am sure other Nigerian-Americans or African Americans can attest to being called African Booty Scratcher or etc...simply because I was African, wore an African bracelet, or skirt. I will never forget wondering at 9 in 5th grade, but aren't we all black? And I am not just as American as you, I was born here too? This would spark my curiosity even further I would later learn in life, of educating myself about black history as a whole. One stubborn fact about me as a child, is if you made fun of something I loved, I would NOT change. Almost 10 years later the love of African fabric has not died but become an obsession.

I love that I can go to Maryland now and see young girls rocking Ankara dresses to prom, church and parties. I love that Celebrities like Kelis embrace Ankara and Afrocentric designs, and I love that Africans are loving our own fabrics more and embracing it, as we know this was not always the case.

It seems this love has spread across the globe not just this season but season after season the trend finds it's way back onto fashion week runways. I personally think it's amusing, that a high end designer will charge thousands of pounds for an ankara bracelet, jacket or dress. I won't buy it! One because I can probably make it myself,  two I'd rather support a Black/African designer esp. those that aren't as popular yet and three I can get a one-of-a-kind sewn in Nigeria for nearly 95% cheaper. 

To be honest I probably won't buy an ankara bracelet from anyone because I can make it myself, real talk. 

The obsession with Ankara, Black Culture '90's Grunge', and Africa in Fashion will never die, and I am just as happy as any other Black person for this 'obsession;' however, you probably won't catch me in a Burberry Resort Skirt (unless it's a gift of course then hey we have no problems!) or Gwen Stefani's collection from a few years back as I found the collection very ugly and the fabric was what I pictured on my grandmother in the village wearing!

I hoard Ankara and always have at least 10-20 different types lying around the flat, even more in America. Dalston Market and Shepard's Bush in London are places that I frequent when I am looking for a new fabric in Jand, and Balogun Market in Lagos. I use Ankara for making tee shirts, dresses, bracelets, earrings, necklaces, notebooks, and anything else I can think of. I even want to use it to upholster my vintage winged chair when I get married. 

Ankara it's the fabric of my life!

I-Pod Tune: Les Nubians - 'Africa for the Future'

Primary Agenda

I have had a lovely week. It has been a mixture of fantastic revelations about friends and their success, exams, time with the Mr. and just a mixture of high and lows, but I wouldn't change it for the world! After the life of a legend was lost this weekend, I am just trying to appreciate every second of life, because we never know when the Lord will take us. I pray I live to 70+ and I am able to see my children walk down the aisle and hold my grandchildren. That is my prayer. Thus, my primary agenda is to continue to live life and always appreciate the blessing of life, because it truly is a blessing!

Photographer: Oluwatosin Ogunlesi

I Pod Playing- Whitney Houston 'I'm Your Baby Tonight'

R.I.P. Whitney Houston

I have been up studying and suddenly my bbm pings and my Ace tells me Whitney has died. I said Whitney WHO?!?! Houston!?? I didn't want to believe it and hoped it was a sad rumor.As we now know, it is was not, and is true.

 I am greatly saddened at this time. Whitney is a LEGEND not was, IS!! I don't appreciate CNN, BBC and other news and media outlets highlighting her drug addiction and downfalls in life. Instead they should praise her for the many accomplishments she achieved during her eventful life!

I pray more so for her daughter Bobbi!! As my maternal instincts begin to kick in more and more these days, I can't imagine how Bobbi is feeling right now. I pray for her during this time and her strength to endure all that she is and may go through. We have lost Etta James, Don Cornelius and now Whitney....my heart cries.

Whitney there will NEVER be another!! Rest in perfect peace...

I-Pod Playing- Whitney Houston 'The Greatest Love of All' and everything else Whitney

SuperNatural- Bantu Knot Twist

For awhile now everyone has been asking me how I get my hair to look like this:

To be honest it's very simple: Bantu Knot Twist. I started doing these in my hair about 5 years ago when I started to finally grow my hair out, but it wasn't until recently that I have done them with the right products that leave my hair soft and well moisturized. It is an easy process and takes about 20-30 mins depending on the size of the bantu twist that you knot. I personally don't like wash and goes, and never like going out without my afro having some type of curl pattern in it!

I use Coconut Oil, Castor Oil or Shea Butter (I prefer Shea Butter), Motions Setting Lotion and as always Wave Noveau's Moisturizing Finishing Lotion. 

1. After washing your hair or combing out your hair, section your hair into three to four parts. Then part out small sections anywhere from 2-5 cm's, add moisturizer and then a desired sealant in my case Shea Butter, especially to the ends. Comb through with a wide picked comb then do a two strand twist.

2. Next put Motions Setting Lotion onto the twist and wrap twist into a knot (Note: If your hair is prone to drying do not use Motions Setting Lotion as it contains Alcohol, instead use a non alcoholic styling gel). Then, use a bobby pin to hold the twisted knot in place. 

3. Continue to do 15-20 Bantu Knot Twist all over the head. (Make sure not to make the knots too tight as the bobby pin will hold the knots in place. Squint your eyes and if it feels too tight loosen the edges, as to not damage your hair follicles.)

4. After completely twisting the entire head into Bantu Knot Twist, massage coconut oil into the scalp, and set over night,covering your hair with a satin cap or scarf. (For some using a dryer may be more practical for you, but I try to guard against using heat whenever possible.)

5. In the morning, unravel your twist and your hair should look something like this:

6. Next, use you hands to gently separate the unraveled twist all over your hair to give you a curly afro.

7. Add a light base of moisturizer to your hair if it is dry, then massage Coconut Oil again, into the scalp and/or ends of hair to add a shiny look if your hair looks a bit dry, remember coconut oil is a moisturizing oil... 

Finished Product:

I hoped this hair tutorial helped and you'll all be rocking beautiful curly Afros in the near future!!! Have a blessed weekend!

I-Pod Playing - Dwele - 'If You Want To'

SuperNatural- Protein Part II

I haven't done a protein treatment on my hair for about 3 months now, and noticed my hair was shredding a bit, and was very stretchy (remember the hair strand test) so I definitely needed one. However,I did a few things differently now due to my previous results:

1. My scalp was itching a bit after washing out the egg and mayonaise concoction last time, thus I didn't add it to my conditioner this time and did a light wash after washing out the protein treatment.

2. Secondly, I did not add any honey or oils to the egg and mayo as it made the mixture more runny. I the treatment staying in my hair not dripping out.

3. Finally, I washed my scalp with luke-warm/cold and not hot water when washing out the egg+mayo protein treatment to guard against 'cooking' the egg in the concoction.

1. As usual I divided my hair into sections. This time I did three sections to make it easier for myself.

2. I used two shampoos as I find the Creme of Nature strips my hair a bit more and my hair was VERY dirty. So I washed each section once with the Creme of Nature then Once with the Elasta QP Shampoo.

3. I Towel Dried my hair then added the Egg+Mayo Protein Treatment Concoction. And added Cling Film on my hair for about 15 minutes - 20 minutes.

4. I lightly washed out the Protein Treatment with luke-warm/cold water, and lightly washed each section with the Elasta QP Shampoo.

5. I then added the Tresemme Conditioner and I know I shouldn't have used this but when I was living in Barnsley they had NO Black hair shops so I had to settle for this. I would recommend using another conditioning agent such as Cholesterol as that leaves my hair softer. Nonetheless, I already bought it and left it on overnight with Coconut Oil in Cling film and washed it out in the morning, with luke-warm water.

After Washing out the hair I now put my hair into Bantu Knot Twists....but that's for the next SuperNatural Post, coming later this week

 I-Pod Playing: Tank - 'One Man'