Do Denim Joggers (Part 3)

Do Denim Joggers (Part 3)

Last but certainly not least to the “Do Denim Joggers” series is this casual attire that has comfort written ALLOVER it! This ensemble is perfect for running errands on a dull day with the plimsolls and the tote. The turtleneck will keep you warm, whilst the headwrap is a stylish accessory to the entire look.

Jogger Denim – Great Gear (Noczim Building)

White Turtleneck - Gifted

Black and Blue choker - Gifted

Black tote - Zara

Sunglasses - MRP Fashion

Denim Plimsolls - PEP South Africa

Headwrap - From my closet

The purpose of this whole series was to find a constructive way and budget friendly approach to wear denim joggers. Not only that, but as the writer I felt frustrated that I couldn't find lookbooks online or outfit posts on how to style denim joggers, so the best resolution was for me to create something for the blog. Not only that, but I also had a fun time experimenting with looks and potential ideas for the upcoming A/W season! I hope these series have inspired you in some way to work with denim joggers without wearing them once. Whether sporty, edgy, chic or just laid back; denim joggers can have the same effect that silk/drawstring joggers can do, but with just a different fabric texture.

For just a quick recap, here is a look back at the first two series HERE and HERE.

Do Denim Joggers (Part 2)

Do Denim Joggers (Part 2)

This ensemble borderlines an African rendition with a contemporary twist. The print headwrap with the black and gold choker resemble the “African” rendition at the back of my mind. Whilst the vintage safari shirt stands out between an African outback experience or your modern recall of a vintage shirt; whichever suits your fancy. The contemporary twist lies in the pastel sunglasses, red heels, AndEdgy white stud clutch and the studded belt that provides the cinched-in waist.

Simplicity is KEY! and not much jewellery is required to state the obvious. I could see this look being the perfect excuse to edge up an evening with the girls or a fun outdoor-tsy event (minus the heels of course). Whichever way you interpret this look, one or two pieces can be removed to suit your persona, without compromising the construction it has to the jogger denim.

Vintage Safari Shirt – Vintage Thrift

Black and Gold woven choker – Bling Bling

White tank – SK2

Studded belt – From my sister’s closet

Jogger Denim – Great Gear (Noczim Building)

Red Heels – Wardrobe Mix

Sunglasses – Elle Magazine SA

White Stud Clutch – AndEdgy

Headwrap – From my closet

Stay Gorgeous! 

Do Denim Joggers

I will begin by saying I have thrown a lot of names around to describe this particular pair of denims. In the beginning the label was “Cuffed Denim”, and it worked quite well back then because at the time everyone was using that term. Then came along the “Elastic Cuff”, but this was just the generalized term we used at college. Only recently have I discovered that this denim tucked away strategically in my closet is actually a “Jogger Denim”! Amazed and a little bit embarrassed, I did my research to find the correct term to label them without having my head all over the place. Making the link between jogger sweatpants, leather joggers and denim joggers was an AHA moment made in my fashion diary.

You might remember these denims from 2012; they had a moment on the blog with a casual attire suited for that time. Fast forward to 2015 and they have been given a much more chic revival to suit. I have been consuming myself as of late into finding a way to style these particular joggers, and soon enough this post will spread over 3 looks and ideas centred around them. Part of the reason is to find combining ways to make the most out of old trendy clothes without chucking them away completely (especially in my case where they still fit).

Denim is always a stylish alternative for a casual attire or a dolled up look. The best part about denim is the classic fixture in which it carries without being outdated or scratched out completely.

Black Peplum Blazer – Jet Stores Zimbabwe

Silver Grey Bauble choker – Bling Bling

Black tank – Edgars Stores Zimbabwe

Black belt – Thrift store

Jogger Denim – Great Gear (Noczim Building)

Red Heels – Wardrobe Mix

Sunglasses – Elle Magazine SA
Lipgloss - Sleek Lipglass Rose

In other news, I have been closely monitoring the progress of my #NaturalHairMovement. It’s a bit tedious; with the combing of the afro and twist outs every evening, but I have found relief in detangler, olive oil and a blow dryer to keep my afro smooth and manageable. Head scarfs and Head wraps are my best friend to tie up my hair on bad hair days, and bonus points because it’s a chic style alternative.

Don’t forget to find my blog and many style adventures on Instagram - @tendaitoscie!

As Always, Stay Gorgeous!

The Nude Collection

Nude:

The colour “Nude” is described as a shade that is a little darker than champagne, lighter than sand and perhaps with a hint of blush or peach – Nola.com

According to the online colour finder, Pantone.com; “Nude” comes up as light beige in the description.

There is no one single term to describe the term “nude” in fashion, because the word is scattered around pale hues, flesh skin tones and neutral colour palettes, that cover an array of whites, pinks, yellows, beiges and browns (according to stylist David Zyla on Nola.com).

One thing for sure is that the colour “nude”, pretty much flatters any skin colour when it comes to both make up and clothing. That Nude appeal was the order of the day with this ensemble. I was inspired by the theme of my year, which is “in transitioning”. Part of which centres around a structured finish. I wanted to channel my best Coco Chanel/Effortless Chic look with a neutral colour palette from head to toe. For some reason, the serious librarian adage was popping in my head, which made me add the beige cardigan as a throw over. The finished look felt like a kick into Old Hollywood glamour with the peep toe heels and very minimal jewellery.

“Nudes are a soft whisper – a sexy and elegant whisper. Nude allows a woman to wear her dress instead of the dress wearing her”. – Pamella Roland, Fashion Designer

Outfit Details:

Beige Cardigan – Downtown store in Harare

Silk Blouse – Vintage thrift

Cream Pencil Skirt – Vintage thrift

Pink & Cream peep toes – Powersales Zimbabwe

Chain bracelet – Bling Bling

Pastel Sunglasses – ELLE Magazine SA Dec 2014

Freshly blooming Pink Roses and pink shoes where the order of the day!

Best Looks of 2014

Looking back at 2014, it was definitely a defining year for Print on the blog and in the writer’s own personal closet. From a bold striped Henry Holland mini dress that kicked off the year, to the many looks curated under the Ngosikadzi Collabo and a yellow Aztec mini that was a go-to favourite throughout the year – 2014 was a Fabulous year of bold local prints, colours, and patterns. 

Check out the best print ensembles from the blog:

Out of all the above ensembles, i really can't choose one dress. But i will say i had alot of fun experimenting with print looks, styles and the patterns; further pushing the boundaries of my personal style. I'm not sure what 2015 has in store, but i know for sure i will continue to find unique ways to be chic and polished, without breaking the bank!

Wishing you an even MORE Glam forward 2015!

Yours in Glamour.

White Turtleneck

The rainy season is a very crucial period in Zimbabwe, not only for the crops and the farming season but because the rains bring with it a much cooler and comfortable aroma, which is a breath of fresh air from the much warmer summer sun. Soo cool that sometimes Hararians mistake it for the cold! I however personally favour the cooler rainy weather. It’s a perfect time to stay in, enjoy some movies or catch up with my many stacks of magazines (old and new) for tonnes of inspiration. Staying in doubles up as a method to steer clear of the rain, in a bid not get wet or caught up in it. Another factor I would like to add is the rainy weather is the perfect time for me to pull out some knits, shrugs and cover-ups that are usually tucked away for the winter. This white turtleneck is one of them, a hand me down from a friend that I purchased for close to nothing! It was one of those free closet raids because she was moving to England and wanted to load off some old clothes (old in her terms, but new in my eyes). It maybe summer, but my winter closet is already underway with this snow white, fine knit turtleneck. I love that it is not too chunky or heavy, but lightweight which means it can work both in summer and winter, as well as the autumn season! I paired the turtleneck with basic blue jeans from Wardrobe Mix, a grey chainlink purse (thrifted), grey thick chain neckpiece from MRP Fashion, nude stud pumps from Jet Zimbabwe and Elle Magazine SA pastel sunglasses from their December 2014 issue. I found this ensemble to be perfect for a rainy Sunday morning to church, just to keep cosy but still styled appropriately for the weather. This post officially introduces you to this white piece of decadence, and I cannot wait to curate some looks to dazzle for the A/W 2015 season. As for now, I will let you devour into this look!

Happy Readings!

Tendai Sophia

xo.

Yellow Mellow

On any given sunny day, this dress makes for a perfect pairing with its cut just above the knee length and that bold-tastic print! 2014 was a year of print in Toscie’s Closet and this casual shift dress was a go-to favourite on a good day to run errands. Although I have a very fond attachment to this dress, I must admit there was a time I despised the colour yellow and the thought of buying, let alone owning a piece in this colour was my personal closet’s sin. Fast forward to 2013 I purchased this dress because I admired its versatility and that the print within itself caught my attention from the shop window. The diamond cut detail and its eye catching colour made this dress THAT dress that finished off my college years, because on a busy day it was soo easy to wear and yet still stylish for a long day.

A few weeks back I took out my “yellow mellow” shift dress and paired it with MRP Fashion accessories from head to toe. I always admire a good statement neckpiece so when I came across this thick chain neckpiece by MRP in town, I knew my purchase was inevitable because it just so happens that I was shifting my attention to chainlink accessories for the summer. Part of the inspiration for my purchase came from Dee Kaw Zee’s thick chain neckpiece that was fused with print fabric to create something unique (which you can find in the current summer issue of INDUNA Magazine).

Everything else in this look pretty much falls into place, with accessories centred around the dress; a chainlink bracelet and matching yellow watch. MRP stud clutch from 2010 with bow detail sandals that have a pinch of gold (or yellow in this case) on the buckle and the bow. I believe when creating an ensemble it really comes down to all the details that eventually encompass the whole look! It’s the finer and simpler details that make the most impact; see how the silver studs on my clutch pick up the silver/grey tone of the thick chain neckpiece? Those little details I take into consideration.

Stay Gorgeous,

Tendai!

Peg Leg + Stripes

Back on that stripes tip again, this ensemble was worn about a month back when I attended the Zimbabwe Fashion Week 2014 press conference at the Harare City Library. It is also the same look from last year’s “Sailor Inspired” post which I paired with my brand new black ZARA tote at the time. For this second pairing, I switched up a few things with the green pumps from Jet, the blue and green statement neckpiece and the Marie Claire tote from Bata Shoes. I remember I added my tuxedo blazer to this ensemble, to keep it polished and editorial for the press conference (something that I’ve been widely reading on when it comes to nailing the chic but comfortable editorial look. I must say I like the editorial vibe as I’ve been fusing it to my personality with the STS brand). The last bit to this ensemble is the ELLE Magazine sunglasses from way back in 2010 – I love having the ability to cherish one of my favourite accessories, which are sunglasses! Care and maintenance is required with pretty much anything really and since I’m one-quarter a vintage soul; I always feel the need to cherish things so that they last longer.

All the same, summer is strongly upon us in Harare and it just so happens to be a perfect time for fashion weeks and showcases. If you haven’t already read, I managed to attend Zimbabwe Fashion Week, and just recently the Fashion Weekend Zimbabwe press conference on the 21^st of October. Unfortunately I did not attend the 3 day Weekend Fest – running from 24-26 October (and it breaks my heart that I didn’t because FWZ has supported bloggers from the get-go with their highly publicised blogger competition in 2013 and their Meet the Industry in February 2014). The only excuse I can give for this is that God and Family comes first in any situation, so no worries, 2015 will roll around soon enough. With that said, I still plan to cover my own commentary on the fashion shows by picking out my best designers from FWZ 2014!

Here’s to summer and Fashion Weeks in Zimbabwe!

Stay Gorgeous

Tendai Sophia!

Black Snood + Pink Jeans

Remember my previous post on Pink Nostalgia? Well this time around the pink denims are back! With a whole new different pairing and of course for a good cause. This time around I opted to pair them with a grey shirt, black MRP snood and black MRP pumps on a dull and chilly Saturday a few weeks back. Not only that but my whole vibe was centered around October Breast Cancer Awareness, which is something I’ve done before on the blog with the same pair of denims. So wearing pink just became the obvious factor to kickstart the month of October, and the black snood was a longing void that needed to be filled as soon as the weather went dull – so it felt natural to pull it out one more time.

 Stay Gorgeous!

Monochrome Lady

One of the things that people don’t know about me is that I’m a big nature lover. If you look back at a lot of the blog’s outfit posts I’m standing in front of a tree or a pack of dusty brown staircases. Nature is my thing, and I contribute to the conservation of the environment in the littlest ways possible – like keeping my rubbish in my purse until I find a BIN! I really cannot throw rubbish out the window or whilst I’m strolling down the street. That is just one of my pet peeves.

Today’s post is a monochromatic vibe with one of my favourite skirts’, and of course my treasured peplum jacket both from Jet stores. Wearing a plain skirt “kind of” freaks me out, so I try by all means to purchase something that my personality falls back into. It’s obvious that I’m a huge stripe lover, and of course my closet boosts a few stripe-y pieces. I completed this look with an old black tank top from Edgars (that has seen better days), and the cutest office wedges from Jet SA. The black leather clutch is vintage and always seems to bring an edgy vibe with its metal clip and ruched top. And the little charm keychain was an added accessory to the all-black ensemble.

Now I’m sure you are well aware of the blog’s styling segment which is The GLAM Project ZW – well I’ve been doing some soul searching as of late, in line with some projects I have been doing and I felt it fit that I rebrand to Signature Toscie Styling. Just to keep it in line with the blog and the vision I’m going after. Posts on The GLAM Project will still remain the same, but future postings will direct towards Signature Toscie Styling #STS. So look out for #STS or #SignatureToscieStyling on some of the blog’s social media, and get to know a little bit of my quirky style.

All the same I wish you a fabulous Fashion Week in Harare and Bulawayo!

As Always, Stay Gorgeous

Tendai Sophia

NGOSIKADZI Wrap Dress Goes from Day to Night

I have been having a lot of fun styling the NGOSIKADZI dresses for the blog, and I’m even more certain that print dresses will be a big trend in Harare pretty soon (I have already spotted quite a few printed frocks, and I’m soo glad the trend is finally taking flight). This post focuses on the NGOSI wrap dress which was a huge highlight for me on Sunday (24 August 2014), as I took the dress from Day to Night; with two looks that I’m going to share in this post. And I will honestly say I was truly a highlight as everyone kept complementing the dress – a lovely feminine print if I must say so myself :).

Pretty in PINK

I love the colour pink, and I’m not ashamed to say I own a few pink pieces in my closet (check out Pink Nostalgia here). So when I had the “AHA” moment of styling this dress in pink, it was a visionary ‘Modern African Princess’ (this is the theme I was going for). I paired the frock with some of my favourite pieces, keeping in mind to match with the colours on the dress:

1. Pink blazer from Truworths Zimbabwe – this is my go-to blazer that doesn’t let me down and looks good with just about anything.

2. Pink head band from Bling Bling – Lost accessory but found right in time for this look.

3. Silver Bubble choker – great solid colour that works with just about anything, and adds a quirky/edgy pizazz to any look.

4. Zara Black tote – I personally think totes are great to carry anything and for an uber stylish feel; bonus points if it’s black because black is a neutral colour that blends in with anything.

5. Black pumps – since I took this look to church, pumps where the preferred shoe choice to keep it neat and polished for the church environment.

6. MrP Sunglasses – I don’t think any outfit is complete without sunglasses, and this particular pair is a go-to favourite, #BigAndBoldSunglasses.

You can't go wrong with Black accessories.

African Themed Wedding

Later in the day I took the dress to an African themed wedding; #NaijaZimWedding – which was absolutely beautiful at the Wild Geese Lodge. Although a lot of the reception party took a modern route to dressing for the ceremony – I was glad I was one of the few who opted to go African. There’s soo much I can describe of Wild Geese Lodge but it will take two good blogposts because I wouldn’t want to leave out any detail. But I will say the lodge is a great recommendation for any wedding, conferences or party – with a 10 km radius out of Harare, if you are coming from Harare drive.

For the evening I switched from pink to black and gold, with a black peplum jacket form Jet, Gold Envelope clutch from Sapatos and black sandals from MrP. I kept the silver neckpiece and the sunglasses, whilst my hair went from sleek pushback in the morning to a low pony tail for the evening. I must say I loved the sunset over the lodge that it was a perfect scenery for a photoshoot by the stairs of one of the buildings – a hazy but golden light as the sun goes down. An “African sunset” it was.

That beautiful African sunset.

Forgive my poor home pedicure but these MrP sandals are too adorable!

Scenes From the Wedding

With that said, I hope this post has inspired you to invest in a print dress this season, because with these two looks in one day – I guarantee you there are a ton of ways to style and rock a printed frock for the summer!

With these two looks, I want know to know which one is your fave NGOSIKADZI Wrap Dress style? Sound off and share your thoughts.

Stay Gorgeous,

Tendai Sophia.