......I'm just the first to admit it.

First order of business is thanking everyone that participated in the first part of the festive giveaway and say that choosing a winner wasn't easy until a very persistent reader adamant on winning the rings decided to bombard my facebook timeline with awesome motivation almost every day.

Well done Tori!! We are very very proud. (Julius Malema voice)

You go girl!!

Reuniting with an old friend is great, especially if you meet and its just like old times but we tend to forget its just like old times and after a while you start realising why you stopped being friends in the first place. Its almost the same as getting back with an ex. I believe in moving forward and the only things that should do comebacks is rappers (dead or alive) and fashion eras.

Audrey Hepburn

Biggie Smalls

Most recently I did a shoot with an old friend, Lorraine of Lorraine Alberto Photography Edits. She has her own small business going and she's been doing photography for the past two years and is becoming better by the day. Her motto being ''Let me show you how beautiful and unique I see you.''

We did a photo shoot in a river bed near my house where I used to play growing up with 4 of my closest guy friends in the street, a german shepherd named Keanan and my long lost cousin She-Earl who was by the way also a tom boy. That smelly riverbed in Hochland park was an adventure site to us where we'd play for hours.

The hat was purchased at Mr. Price after some bad decisions at the salon

This corset is what I like to call 'one-size-too-small

-but-was-the-only-one-left' kind of buy. At Mr.Price a year ago. 

 These boots I bought at Jay Jays for N$50 only because they were on sale, 80 percent off or something, not realising I'd never wear them.

I still don't. Giving them till next spring then they're in the pile of closet exchange  items for next year.

 

 These leather shorts were a best buy my sister and I made at a flee market held at garlic and flowers every first saturday of the month. Cost us less than N$30.

So self conscious of my toes, thats as far as you'll see them.

 

This group is called 'A is for alpine' and was suggested to me by my very dear friend Teddy. Have become a huge fan.

enjoy!

 With love, 

Esther

Seems I have been in a super giving mood lately, I think its all the eager beavers and their christmas decorations and festive specials. Well it got me thinking and I guessed why not jump on that train.

My first festive gift are these set of rings from me to one of you out there and to win this prize and more simply just follow these two easy steps

 Share and motivate to share

All you need to do is share my link on either facebook or twitter (Tag me) and motivate 4 friends to visit the link. Thats a little motivation from you about why anyone should visit this blog. Best answer gets the set of rings featured.

Competition runs till November 20 2013

Let the best man Win!!

 

 

.....addicted to retail

This was one of my less inspirational weeks. With exam stress still fresh writing on my blog is a last concern. I today realised how therapeutic it is to spill my beans to you, my faithful reader.

 

I can't believe its been 3 months and I haven't had the urge to text him. I unfortunately still think about him as evident but more thought of his well being. Breakups are scary and work in phases, I'm at a good place and blogging keeps me busy. 

In other less depressing news in my life my braids are out and for those who don't know I'm a newly natural 4c girl. Ahhh, the struggles of a black girl. Due to being lazy I paid the people at the salon           

N$100 to take out my braids, I then just braided them down for a Cigar and Coiac party on friday and did a twist out on sunday. Now I'm rocking my fro in a hat.

Before: Rocking braids, soft dread (first time)

The handsome man in the stripe shirt is a friend  Jean-Michael Twinplatinumgun. Check out him out sound cloud.

 

 My hair: Friday

My Hair: Wednesday

Speaking of Wednesday......Outfit post

   

Denim shirt: Mr Price
Neon Mesh top:Guillotine by Lisa Jaffe
Denim shorts: Mr Price
Shoes:Tommy
I own 1 designer piece of clothing and its this top by South African Designer Lisa Jaffe which I even got as a gift. Best believe it'll make another appearance on the blog.

Okay now I dedicate this next song to anyone who relates to the first verse of Kanye West's 'All falls down'. Single black female addicted to retail.

            

With love,         

Esther

32B or not to Be

Ever get caught stuffing your bra? It was rather very embarrassing as my mom grabs my sock stuffed chest trying to brag to her friends about how much I was growing. Luckily her shock was contained and played off. As for me being a tom boy for most of primary school I was really hoping no one would ever find out, despite the fact that it was just my mom. Little did I know 9 years later I figured out how to dress my little chest.

I am a 32 B and proud! I can only now say this with conviction. When I was younger all the girls considered hot were the ones with the slightly more developed chests. As the years went by I realised that unfortunately their perceptions of what's hot was tainted. To me now learning to love my body and learning to work with my 'so called 'flaws' is what's hot. If you're bottom heavy,short, tall, skinny, athletic, top heavy, heavy all over and you're not hiding under piles of clothes or dressing like everyone else then do it with confidence. Always aim to look and feel great in what you've got, then my friend you've won the war.

As I love fashion I constantly critique people in my mind but I always give props for anyone wearing anything with confidence, that I can say is the biggest fashion statement.

With love,             

Esther

Kiss me more before you go.....

 Hello springtime! Spring, a season that doesn't seem to exist in this part of the world but still really I believe it's the best time of the year for fashion. My theory is that during the transitional seasons such as autumn and spring, fashion all around the world is more or less similar. According to the weather in these seasons some days its hot and other days its cold, thus for 6 months in the year the fashion of the world corresponds. Although winter remains my favorite season, in terms of fashion spring allows diversity.
The rules I live by for spring/summer fashion this year is remembering to keep it simple when living outside the box.

Spring party was the theme of my 3rd closet exchange. The 18 ladies in attendance had a lovely afternoon eating cupcakes, drinking cocktails and socializing while getting some awesome pieces of clothing in the processes. Here are some of the stuff that were available.

The skirt and the shoes featured

this is a white knit throw over which I wore backwards and these shoes were available

The top and skirt were both available

 These brogues have never been worn

More pictures from the closet exchange

and too the coolest lady I've seen......

With love,             

Esther

Remember remember the month of September

After  spending 3 days in hospital for severe constipation the month of september has taught me that change is constant and the guy I thought I'd never stop loving has become the last thing on my mind. 

Another constantly changing thing is trends, they come and go but some last longer than others. I was really hoping peplum would be gone by now.There are only so many ways this trend can be worn before it starts to look tacky and over done. 

A trend I only just got addicted to is leggings. These skin tight instruments of sin quietly crept into my life. It all started the day I found the perfect high wasted pair of black leggings at pep. Anyone who knows me knows that high waisted anything is my weakness. I was once apart of the skeptical few that judged girls for wearing leggings as pants but once I discovered the graceful way of doing it, my new motto became : ''When in doubt, wear leggings.''

  

"Say hell no to camel-toe"

 With love, 

 Esther

My personal guide to shopping

Nothing is worse than going shopping and returning home with nothing significant or returning half the things you bought because you have nothing that goes with it. So out of the greatness of my heart I've compiled a personal guide to shopping. Hopefully some of my tips could work for you.

Step 1

Online window shopping

Before you even consider leaving your house I suggest you spend several hours online looking at fashion websites and visiting web pages of the stores you usually shop in. This helps you create a mental picture of what you're looking for and also helps you create a budget (a word I hate using when I'm shopping). 

Step 2

Make time

If you don't make enough time to shop it really defeats the purpose. I usually go shopping early in the morning. As soon as the stores open, that time everything you're looking for is there and in your size. Preferably go by yourself, shopping with a friend usually leaves room for you to second guess yourself and who knows your style better than you.

Step 3

Shop Basics

Shopping for basics means buying important items of clothing that you can build your wardrobe around. To me basics include Black/white tank tops, a good pair of denims, pricey leggings or stalkings, little black dress, simple and versatile flats, denim shorts for summer and a sleek leather jacket or coat for winter.

             
 

 Remember your basics are timeless pieces and have been around for a long time. Also they should be in neutral colours as well, makes it easy to pair with what ever crazy colored item you might find. With your these items in your closet you can almost pair anything together.

Step 4

Try it on!!!

This is most probably the most important step. Everything that you even consider buying, try it on. I cannot stress any further how important it is to try on everything you want to buy. Some things may look good on the mannequin but not on you. When trying something on you are checking to see if the cut compliments your silhouette.

Step 5
When in doubt, leave it behind (unless it's a bargain)

I'm such a bargain hunter and by way of being a cheap skate I discovered thrift shopping. With thrifting comes a lot of doubt but if the top in question costs you N$10 then don't doubt it.
When you are out shopping on a students budget on the other hand, its always best to remember that if it doesn't look good in the store it won't work at home. If you are trying to step out of your comfort zone a little then find the confidence in what you're trying to purchase. Ask yourself, does it sit right? Does it send the right message? Does it go with anything else you already own? Is it a basic, a trend or predictable? Finally ask yourself if its worth what you're paying? Trust your gut when answering those questions and you'll leave the store a happy shopper!!


Try these out and please tell me if any of my tips worked for you.

 With love,            

Esther