Birds of Paradise

Summer is almost here in Southern Africa and, as you could tell by my recent hate letter to winter, I am too excited! I wouldn't consider myself a trend forecaster but I do know what I would like to see this summer... prints. 

I've been totally inspired by prints and patterns lately (hence 'Kuchora Fridays' ) and I am obsessed with this 'Birds of Paradise' print that Givenchy had for their Spring/Summer 2012 collection. 

Its clean and polished yet crazy and colorful with a subtle but effective hint of grit. It's also bold, a contrast to the gentle (whimsical?) floral prints we saw two or so seasons ago.

All in all the cold has created an excited need for heat, painted toe nails, sunglasses and light clothes and if these are the tidings of Summer I believe my excitement is damn-well warranted. 

Monday Jam x The Black Keys

The Black Keys - Lonely Boy from wbrdigital on Vimeo.

The guy in this video makes me so happy and this song makes me happy. We should all have a dance-party by ourselves once in a while - yes?

Winter, could you leave now please?

Because with you still hanging around, with your dark clouds, sad rain and rancid cold-fronts - how is one to rock (or even aspire rocking) a 2bop five panel cap? Your unforgiving cold has fueled desire for unforgiving heat and I'm sorry to say winter, but your cramping my style and  I think it's about time you left.

Maroon Grey & Gold

Make a good combination. Surprisingly.

Photos taken by one of the coolest kids on the block Chi Chi of Midnight Cool

Monday Jam X The Sheepdogs

The Sheepdogs - "Who" [LIVE] from Breanne Atlanta Major on Vimeo.

The first unsigned act to feature on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazne. This song ("Who") is from The Sheepdogs' album Learn and Burn; somewhere between the cool beards, catchy phrases and  blues-like sound I find myself really really liking this song. 

Tanzania | Part One

Tanzania...where does one start? I honestly don't have the words and even if I did they would never adequately capture the experience and feeling.All I can say is it was seven amazing, adventurous days that I won't ever forget. I gained family, insight, a sense of heritage and...weight. And I loved every single moment. 

My Board of Inspiration

This is my board. It's just above my bed and I love looking at it, especially now at past two in the morning when I am overwhelmed with work. There are lots of magazine clippings, quotes I love, Peter my bowler hat (pronounced "Peet-urr", you  know, in a good American accent), and a lovely painting I bought from a flea market in Moshi, Tanzania. I was going to post a picture of myself, but I felt like this was way more personal - way more appropriate (:

Coco Chanel | Noir

I love perfumes but my not-so-glamorous student lifestyle has me confined to cheap deodorants and magazine freebies (FML right?). Thanks to my lovely sister though I have two perfumes in my ownership which I absolutely love, namely,  Tom Ford's Black Orchid and Marc Jacob's Daisy, both very different and both extremely appealing. I thought I was satisfied until I came across Coco Chanel Noir;  the  new, third installment to the very limited Coco Chanel perfume collection. 

Chanel perfumer Christopher Sheldrake had this to say about the new addition, "Noir sits in its own space...we are careful not to launch a lot of fragrances - we choose to create scents that represents an era, not a passing fancy". I love Sheldrake's comment here, I see it as a subliminal statement to the rest of the perfume world, a way of saying "yes guys, we are better than you". 

Well if that is the case then I want to be better as well Christopher, I want to be better.

vogue.co.uk 

When You Feel Ten Years Younger

The moment when the love for five women you thought was long dead and gone suddenly comes back, and all of a sudden you are a kid again, singing to the words, re-calling old dance moves, and (like children) staring at the t.v. screen with the same awe and admiration you had ten maybe even twelve years ago.  

This was me on Sunday, I loved the closing ceremony (fat boy slim, jessie j, my favorite "Oasis" track) but in all honesty all I wanted was the Spice Girls; and when I saw them in all their Pop Glory I was beyond excited. I'm actually listening to "Wannabe" as I write this post. Viva Forever, guys, Viva Forever.

Her Damn Blog

I talk about Solange a lot. Maybe if she wasn't so cool and her blog wasn't so amazing - maybe then I'd post less about her. But until then, until she stops being so unbelievably awesome Solange Knowles will continue being a regular. 

mydamnblog.com

Kuchora Fridays

Kuchora [swahili] verb: to draw.

Kuchora Fridays: a monthly show casing of all things I find visually appealing. Also a show casing of pictures, patterns, people and things that don't neccesarily 'go together' (only Miss Moss has the ability to do that) but that I believe compliment each other in a beautiful way. I don't know how long I'll keep this up for, and this month's pictures aren't a lot (I want to see how you all respond first) but I have had so much fun compiling this first one - I could make it a temporary thing.

I have to thank the creatives at Street Etiquette whose lovely pictures inspired a lot of this.

Enjoy!

That Music Mix x Women's Day

When Miss Moss drops a new music mix my world becomes that much brighter. It's what I would like to call (if I may borrow her signature phrase) a compendium of musical radness; it gets me thinking, sometimes crying and most of the time head bopping or dancing.  She says the cover for this mix was inspired by the Olympics but I feel like its also very appropriate for today (Women's Day, in South Africa). The women on this cover symbolise camaraderie, love, courage, victory. All the celebrated qualities of humankind, but today especially, the the celebrated qualities of women.

Mixwell.

Combine one of my favourite people with one of my favourite fashion retailers - and what do you get? A very happy Sabu, and one helluva add campaign.

Where Was I?

While I was hiding under a rock somewhere - this happened.

Serena Does It Best

 

I've been thinking about various things I could do at my graduation ceremony next year, many people do little silly dances - you know - as a slight jab at the very dignified chancellors and vice chancellors behind you and a major victory dance for oneself. I think I'm gonna do the c-walk.

Who am I kidding? I could never do it. I'm going to leave it Serena, who does it beeeest.

Over Quota

I've been gone for a couple of days. I guess it is time to admit that I am an avid internet 'fan' (perhaps this word is used as a euphemism for something else? *shrugs*) and I used up my weekly internet quota. It is back, I am ecstatic and I'm trying to be as frugal with this quota as possbile.

But frugality is so boring.

The Matador

Model Ben Grimes for the April issue of Flair.

Fashion Gone Rogue

We're Screwed

Say goodbye to monthly budgets, self control and vain attempts at a frugal lifestyle.

I'm happy for myself, I'm sad for my future bank balances.

ONLINE STORE

Midweek Jam x Gettin' Up

I've been taking a good listen to Q-Tip's 'The Renaissance' album.

Gettin' Up is constantly on repeat.

That's Me.

Ummm...yeah.