Night Prints

Outfit Details: Topshop Sweatshirt (here) , H&M Printed Slacks similar (here) + (here), New York Gold + Pearl Bangles similar (here), J.Crew Frog Necklace (here) , Fendi Bag similar (here) + (here), and Carven Sling Back Flats (Sold Out). 

 I am currently obsessed with the sweatshirt trend, it allows me to channel my inner tomboy. I tend to love clothes that feel comfortable and are easy to throw on, without too much fuss. Thus, while running my errands in West London, I threw on this sweatshirt that I recently got from Topshop with cropped print pants to finish the look. Not to mention these Carven Flats go with literally everything (note: yes I am that girl that you will see in the winter with no socks on wearing flats with a coat *smile*)! I love them SO MUCH! Don't get annoyed if you see me wearing them a lot in the near future!

Uniform Staple

Outfit Details: Gap Cropped Slacks, Gap Blouse, Marks & Spencers Vintage Blazer, Vintage Bally Shoulder Bag, Vintage Italian Heels and Vintage Faux Fur Stole with Assorted Bangles

My daily 'uniform' definitely consist of, cropped slacks, a blouse and a jacket or blazer of some sort with flats. I chose this time to wear Vintage Brown Leather heels that I bought on my recent trip home to the states. I have been saying over and over that I am going to focus on buying shoes that are not black to add some color to my shoe collection and I did pretty well. I scored these Barely used Vintage Italian heels for a mere $10.00. I was ecstatic as the aren't very high and are easy to walk in! I definitely enjoyed shopping in the states this time around. 

Are you like me and have too many black shoes? Make a conscience effort to not buy any more pairs of black shoes no matter how 'amazing' they may be. Chances are you probably already have something similar lying around in your closet! Hope you've been having a blessed week thus far!! I have been working horrific hours of 2-11's and 7-3's it's very tiring, but at the moment I don't have a choice....duty calls!

Gold Bomb

Outfit Details: Blouse: H&M similar (here), Gold Bomber H&M get similar (here) + (here), Old Zara Cropped Slacks, Suede Vintage Tassel Shoulder Bag similar (here) + (here), Assorted bracelets, Vintage Earrings get loads (here), + Shoes: La Fenice Venzia on sale (here).

New Year, New Hair right? If you follow me on instagram you've already seen my new hair style along with my recent almost purchases. I am trying so hard not to spend since I know my wedding is around the corner. I now carry cash with me a minimum of £20 with me and leave my card at home to guard against swiping. This weekend I walked into COS and spent money I didn't plan on, which is why I leave my card at home now. I don't regret those purchases though, COS is my STORE!!! Minimal and the clothes feel amazing! When you get older you start shopping better and love how clothes look on you and feel against your skin as opposed to this is a nice trendy piece. (don't get me wrong I still love trendy pieces as I am eyeing this Zara blouse, I'll get it next week *don't judge me*) 

Nonetheless. I do miss my Afro, but I need my hair to be in tiptop shape for my wedding so I trimmed well basically cut off about an inch and a half before this protective weave for the winter. I will be getting another weave next or braids next to get my length back. Plus I just need a natural break! What are your favorite protective hair styles, and what do you guys do to avoid shopping when you shouldn't be?

Wedding Planning: Famzing + Friends

Hey everyone I hope you have been having a spectacular New Year's thus far! I am still juggling work, planning my wedding and studying. Let me just start off and say if I could have foreshadowed everything that has transpired and will transpire in the future. I would have had my wedding in the UK or planned a destination wedding in the Caribbean or Europe. Or just been an overall better planner by doing more research and not trusting people so much.

One thing I have learned is do not use friends (I used the word loosely) as wedding vendors especially female ones, unless they are your close friend. It seems men are straight to the point, they are about their money and don't give the run around...females? Nope. For some reason they play games, drag you through the mud, and waste your time. I have had two bad experiences with a decorator and a make up artist. In the end I have myself to blame for not being more assertive with them and trusting that they would do what they said they would do or act professionally. Wedding planning will definitely show you who is who, teach you professionalism and increase your project planning skills.

Another thing I have come across a lot as well are mediocre wedding vendors. No one is going to be a Bill Gates over night; however, people need to know when they are just starting out and their work is not good, great or fantastic yet. Their are some vendors that just started off and their work is average but they are still charging what professionals in that field would charge. I asked on of my friends why this up and coming vendor was charging so much when their work was just mediocre  Her reply: They were featured on Bella Naija. I rolled my eyes at the hype and stupidity of some couples that hire this vendor but I can't blame them, they believed the hype.

The problem here is the mentality that if you spend a lot of money then you are getting the best service. After viewing examples of this Bella Naija featured Vendor, I told myself I need to look online for a Vendor in this arena and not seek out Nigerian referrals or look for a Nigerian that is not big headed now because of famzing. Granted I love my people but anyone that knows me knows I like the best. But you don't always have to pay high dollars for the best, this also pertains to fashion, you don't have to spend a million dollars to look like a million dollars.

 I don't go by Nigerian famzing or any famzing for that matter, I want to see your work. Let your work speak for itself. I like humble people and people that have good work aesthetic  I don't care how good you are once these two traits are apparent you can charge me anything (joke, babes are on a BUDGET).

In short, there are certain things in a wedding that have to be done correctly. Decorations, the food, the music, the photography and the video. I was trying to cut cost with the above then I realized I do not want to regret being cheap on my wedding day then having horrific memories in the future. Thus, I am trying to juggle around my budget to make sure these items are done correctly. Nonetheless, I won't be subjected to famzing and I am trying to not use friends. I do have some friends helping me but these are people who I know won't flake on me, or I will flug them (joke). So I have five months to do a lot of last minute planning do to flakers and etc... but I know God is on my side and everything will work out for the best. Now to find a good professional decorator that is willing to go with my budget....this shall be interesting!

Giveaway- D.I.Y. Bag

Hello everyone and hope you've been having a blessed week. I have been extremely busy these past few weeks but should be back into the scope of things this upcoming week in regards to regular accessories post and outfit post, for all other updates follow me on Twitter or Instagram. For those of you who already follow me on instagram you know I said I will be giving this bag away soon, thus today is the day.

This is a D.I.Y. bag that I did, thus not made to sell. I thought why not give it away via my Blog as I am sure someone would love this. To Enter simply leave a comment with your email address and you have to be following me via one social media: twitter, google, or instagram . Open to everyone and closes Friday February 1st, 2013! (Note: Readers in Nigeria if you win your package will be sent via air mail at the Post Office). Goodluck!!

Now CLOSED!!!
Winner to be Announced Shortly.

Shoe Crush - Sophia Webster

Sophia Webster definitely knows how to create a shoe that makes the outfit. Being that I am a simple dresser most times. It is nice to wear out-lavish and overstated shoes that make you the talk of the crowd, and Sophia's Spring 2013 collection is just that.

Get the Current Collection Below:
1. Dana Peep Toe Leather Sandals 2.Yayoi patent leather Sandals 3. Lana Enbellished PVC + Suede Sandals 4. Riko cutout suede+ leather sandals 5. Yayoi Patent Leather Sandals 6. Daria Leather and PVC Slingbacks 

Wedding Planning: Guest + The Dress

I never thought planning a wedding would be stressful. I know some of you are looking at the screen like,  'did she just say that?' Yes I did. Until about a week ago if anyone asked how my wedding planning was going, I gave an easy go lucky reply of 'fine' no stress in my face with a happy and cheerful voice. Now two weeks later after leaving the States and not completing everything that I wanted to...I'm becoming a bit tensed, but I'll be okay.

I have a wonderful and informative wedding planner my Aunt which thank God she is straight to the point and professional without giving you the run around. She knows how a Nigerian Wedding is and forewarns me about my 'people.' for example assigned seating.... I told her there will be assigned seating so they better get with it, she said okay, smiling. 

I am having a SMALL wedding, and by Small I mean 200 guests. For a Nigerian Wedding of two first born children it is small. How do we plan to do it? By having an invite only guest list with bouncers and park police present (I'm so serious). Simply if you aren't invited don't come. 

I know some people may be upset but at the end of the day it's an intimate day and it's OUR money. After getting married you have so many other financial obligations, i.e.: buying a house, buying furniture, a car of my choice, decor, honeymoon, travel expenses for the year, student loans and etc... thus I'm going all out on my wedding day but I am staying within our budget. And with the amount of money we are spending we'd like it to be with people we love and cherish. As they say it takes one day to get married, but it takes the rest of your lives to stay that way. I'm not getting married to impress anyone, I'm getting married to start my life off with my best friend, and we're going to have fun doing so.

Now I had some good and bad experiences in the DMV planning my wedding, and I want to share some with you now.

First the Guest List:
Since we are only having 200 guests we split the guest 4 ways. My fiance and I have 50 guests each and our parents have 50 guests each. I started off with 90 guests. And I have now swendled it down to 58. When people asked me when my date was this trip I simply said in the summer or told them upfront it's small and I don't have many guest to invite but we'll see, because I can't afford people who aren't invited.

Now to cut my list down I used two main rules:

Rule Number One: Have I spoken to this person in the last 6 months? If you haven't spoken to someone in the last 6 months, chances are they are not your friend, end of.

Rule Number Two: Would I feel offended or hurt if they didn't invite me to their wedding? If the answer is no, then they probably aren't that important to me, and aren't a close friend.

These two rules made planning the guest list a bit easier as it puts facts and emotions into perspective. There are obviously friends that I have not spoken to in the last several months or years because of distance but there are very few of them that made my guest list. I had to think long and hard with my guest list and I still have people that I'd like to invite but simply can't.

The Dress:

I went to three Bridal Shops:
Two in London and one in New York.
I tried on the dress I ended up getting in April of last year, but never thought it would be my dress, even though I cried in it. I wanted to keep looking. After exams and procrastinating I tried two more bridal shops in London, in December. I fell in love with a Vintage Inspired Sequined dress that I couldn't try on because the sample size was too small, but I thought I had to have it. Being that my Aunt's are buying my dress as a wedding gift, they told me to visit dress shops in the States during my Christmas trip.

I ending going back to RK Bridal in New York and getting the dress I cried in, during my April trip. Unfortunately the dress is discontinued, and cannot be made in extra length anymore. Fortunately, they had one more dress left in a size 16 which I bought and will tailor down to my size. Buying the dress several sizes up also makes the dress longer as well so I won't be looking tacky on my wedding day. Note: I hate brides when there dress doesn't hit the floor I often wonder if their friends didn't tell them they looked horrid?

Nonetheless RK Bridal ships dresses to the UK, so that was also a benefit. Now I only have to find a Wedding dress tailor for my alterations in London....

Bridal Shops I visited:
RK Bridal: 318 West 39th Street  Manhattan, NY 10018
Always and Forever: 122 Hanworth Road, Hounslow, Middlesex TW3 1UG
Teokath: 16 The Broadway Wimbledon London SW19 1RF
*I tried Provonavis on New Bond Street but they were fully booked (so to visit there call months in advance)

I'll continue posting information about the Cake Tasting, Decor, Dessert Table, Photographer and Videographer hunt and Make-Up and Hair artist later in the following weeks if you want me too. 

Long story short, my relaxed approach to life almost bit me in the butt when it comes to planning this wedding. I have a timeline to finish so much by the end of this month and I will! Say Amen! As my wedding is around the corner. 

New Year's Wardrobe Update

Happy New Year Everyone!!! Every year around this time I start to add additional items to my closet and get rid of others that are no longer needed, it's my New Years Tradition. I have been updating my wardrobe with various vintage finds and winter sale items. There are a few dresses at House of Fraser that I love at the moment. Adding these dresses and various accessories into your wardrobe this year will be a fantastic way to update your look easily. Which ensemble do you like the best?

Motel Dress (here), Carven Wool Coat (here), East Hammered Necklace (here), Valentino Ruffled Boots (here), Dune Delany Metal Bag (here), Asos cuffs (here), Aurora Swarovski 18ct Earrings (here), + Sephora Purple Lipstick (here).

Warehouse Swing Dress (here), I got these MiuMiu heels (here), Ralph Lauren Bag (here), Enamel Frog J.Crew Necklace (here), 2 Asos Link Bracelets (here), + YSL Lipstick (here).

Warehouse Metallic Dress (here), Carven heels (here), Moschino Cheap + Chic Bag on sale (here), Carven Jacket (here), LuLu Frost Necklace (here), Asos Crocodile Bracelet (here) + Martine Water Tribel Crystal Earrings (here).

I hope you are having a blessed weekend!!!