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Tuesday 18 March 2014

My Weekend Ensemble: Floral Maxi Dress

“Go Forth and GlamouRIZE” is the closing statement by my favourite South African magazine editor for Glamour SA Pnina Fenster. It may not have much of a relevance to this post but I started this week off on a pretty good note. For starters, my styling venture “The GLAM Project”, had an official launch in the 4th issue of Infinity Magazine (released Saturday), where I’m currently the Fashion and Styling contributing writer. I’m lending a hand to my good friend and Editor of the mag Sophia Michelle Chitemere (our line of friendship stems from our little sisters’ friendship). So its pretty exciting to say I'm broadening my horizon. I plan to do a blogpost very soon to let you in on my current fashion projects (which is besides school).  

So onto this week's Weekend Ensemble, which is my very floral strapless Mr. Price summer maxi dress that I purchased way back in 2010. I have had this sunny yummy dress for a while now but had not posted about it, and well Sunday, was a good day to give it that opportunity. I paired my maxi dress with my pink blazer, my favourite signature studded clutch (as always) from Mr. Price, bobble neckpiece from Bling Bling stores, topped off with blue summer sandals that I have featured here. I chose to channel a side swept hairstyle with my braids that I plaited into a braid and tucked in at the back.

My whole vibe right now is to embrace a lot of feminine pieces and that exciting essence of summer by wearing lots of skirts and dresses. I wish I had discovered the beauty of all of this a little bit earlier on in my life, because I will admit I might have spent half my life in denim and pants. But alas, it’s never too late to embrace just about anything, and right now is the perfect time for me.

I hope you love this ensemble as much as I enjoyed flaunting it during the weekend.

Yours in Glamour,
ST
A clutch adds an understated glam.
You could take this look to a braai or a girls day out.


Beauty Boutique: Vault Cosmetics

Upscale, adorable and super Chic is how best I can describe the interior decor of the beauty boutique that is Vault Cosmetics, the brain-child by Zimbabwean born and American based make-up artist Jackie Mgido. Jackie Mgido resides between Zimbabwe and America (where in Zimbabwe is her Vault Studio and America is her work-station). Vault Cosmetics has been a hot commodity make-up studio and make up line for quite some time now having launched sometime in early 2012. Their make-up artistry has been featured in a lot of local fashion projects, that include red carpet for Tsitsi Mutendi (whom they work closely with for the shoots for Jewel Magazine, and they did Lochnation's make-up for her cover shoot back in 2013).

Recently, Vault Cosmetics launched a lipstick line with Big Brother 2013 winner Dillish Matthews at an evening soiree hosted on the 13th of February. The Dillish Lipstick range covers Lipglosses for $12 and Matte Lipstick for $15. The full event and an interview with Dillish is covered in the March online issue of Infinity Magazine (where you will find yours truly in the Fashion and Style section with The GLAM Project).

Last week Thursday was my first visit to the studio with @TatRobin on our first hangout as bloggers (which was fun if I must say), and their studio is based upstairs. Originally the studio was based in Avondale along King George road under the Emirates Building complex, and they moved to Arundel Village in late 2013, to a much more accessible and epi-centre shopping location. You wont miss the studio because its a wide open entrance, with make-up displayed on compartments on each side.

I however didn't get a makeover but I was more than glad to watch @TatRobin getting glammed up or "vaulted" by the Vault Cosmetics team, with a make-up session and threading afterwards. I'm no make-up marvel, so on that particular day I learned and picked up quite a few tit-bits on applying make-up and the process of keeping it on for the whole day. My make-up is usually basic, which is your eye shadow, mascara and lipgloss. So its safe to say that I cannot wait for the day to come when I get my vaulted look.

Vault Cosmetics is open from Tuesday to Saturday (not on Mondays), from 10am-5pm. Address is 1 Quorn Avenue, Arundel Village Suite 25. Some of their products include foundations, powders, lipstick, concealers, liners, lashes, mascara, threading and of course a Signature Vault makeover for $25 (bonus if you purchase something during your makeover tutorial).

Vault Social Media Platforms;
Facebook; www.facebook.com/vaultcosmetics
Twitter; www.twitter.com/VaultCosmetics

Thanks to the Vault Team and TatRobin, I've a new found appreciation for makeup (I'm starting to save for my very own Vault lipgloss).

Yours in Absolute Glam!
ST





Tatenda having her make up done by Make-up artist Doreen.
Vault Cosmetics logo
Dillish Lipstick Launch party back in February. Evening decor was done by VIP Hostings Zim

Friday 7 March 2014

Becoming My Own Woman: Embracing Femininity


International Women’s Day is celebrated every year on the 8th of March, the significance behind it is to celebrate women and their work and courageousness. According to the International Women’s Day website, the primary aim is to celebrate the social, political and economic achievements of women while focusing world attention on areas requiring further action. The 2014 theme for IWD is Inspiring Change.

Growing up, I’ve always been inspired by femininity, glamour and female empowerment (hence change, and of course my project which covers young women at the forefront). I think I knew from a young age I wanted to be extraordinary, I just wasn't sure how. I remember my primary inspiration came from Media and Fashion. Yes, fashion is a bit obvious and at times it can be labelled shallow because all it really seems to occupy is clothes! But what most people don’t understand is that there’s more to fashion than just clothes. You can add in photography, graphic designing, image consultancy, business and marketing. So there’s a lot that goes on into the aspect of Fashion.

But alas, my inspiring change for International Women’s Day just comes from me. I’ve gone through a lot of stages in my life; from pretty little girl, to music-wannabe, to pre-teen fever, to my first pink outfit, to my first goth moment (just a phase), to starting over and finding myself, and now to me. A young woman who loves being silly, experimenting with new ideas, working on my fashion blog and chasing my dream whilst trying to look good through it all! Now my inspiring change is to become a Harare stylist and help young women dress, and my first start is my blog.

Basically my inspiring change has always been within me. I’ve realised I’ve inspired a lot of people around me just through my choices in clothing and fabric. I say this because I’ve gone as far as helping my friends to dress up and letting them copy because I just thought its ok. Sure it’s a bit obvious that all girlfriends dress up together, but I believe every situation is a bit different and has a story to it. It’s never dawned onto me that my quirkiness is admired by someone else (maybe it’s because I’ve finally mastered the art of dressing my tiny frame, which has been a journey on its own). It’s only recently that my weird feminine, classy fetish self has rubbed off on the most unlikely people. Why I say this? Everything I do is customized or try to customise it. When I’ve an assignment, I scribble my notes with a colour pen (pink or purple is my preference). And when I buy accessories, I believe it has to have life to it, which means it should have colour or be coordinative. I’m not someone who is an avid trend follower, but someone who is always busy creating something (sometimes I don’t know what it is). But what inspires me is everything around me.

I remember Mercy Mushaninga; as my mentor she taught me the ropes to being functional with your everyday choices; in other words work around your lifestyle, dress around your lifestyle so that you can be the best person you can be. In other words be who you dream yourself to be, and inspire other people along the way (If you imagine it, you might as well live it). I’ve been learning and teaching myself for the past two years to apply this, and I’m getting better at it with each remembrance.

Embraced being a woman is an interesting adventure. I will give an example of classic- feminine silhouettes that are old-school but coming back with a serious bang, especially during a time where being edgy and super sexy has become the order of the day. I've come to embrace the other side of fashion which is much more flirty, demure, dressy (with a snark of edge) without being too competitive, under-dressed and lost in Hip-hop trends. Its just headstrong and contemporary.

My blog has built me into becoming my own woman, incorporating my new logo.
For 2014, my inspiring change wish is to see women become their own and not conform to media expectations (its easier said than done). I think i'm becoming more comfortable and acceptable with whom I'm (societal expectation for tiny people is thin, which is NOT always the case nor true), and who I'm becoming because I know I still have a journey into my self discovery, but I have realised I stumble upon the same little details, for instance the colour Pink! I've realised its not a shame to embrace the colour pink because its a recurring element in my life (and I've realised it's becoming a part of my own woman). Be a better version of yourself and not that of popular culture (I'm siding with Jurgen Habermas and his theory in reason and rationalisation through communicative action - critical theory and social construction). Men never really succumb to societal and media expectations, so I personally urge you to become your own woman.

Stay gorgeous and glamourous,
ST



Being inspired by Grown Woman.
Photo Courtesy of Talkingwithtami.com