What are your New Years resolutions?

I don't believe in waiting for a new year in order to implement change, in fact I try my hardest to avoid putting things off until the next day let alone the next week!

However sometimes there is nothing like being incentivised (is that a word?) by the calendar to reflect on what you could do to improve.

So here's mine:

"Do more and be more..."

Initially I had three resolutions (my favourite number lol) but I decided that wasn't concise enough. Instead I chose to oversimplify things and create a short motto that I could live by; I want to see more of the world and continue to achieve my goals, and just generally live my life to the fullest. These five words are easy to remember can be applied to all areas of my life.

*On second thoughts I decided that I may as well share my other mantra for next year: "new year new tings"...but that's generally how I feel every year!

What are your new year's resolutions?

Style Inspiration: Bianca Jagger

If you were to ask me who my style icon was I would instinctively say Rihanna as her look is quite attainable for the average woman in her twenties due to it being edgy, trendy and fairly experimental. However I choose not to copy the style of any particular celebrity and instead take inspiration from a variety of places such as films, editorials, blogs and general people-watching where ever I am in the world.

With that said, Bianca Jagger is someone who I'm hugely inspired by even though her full-on glamour is often not suitable for my daily life, I think her vintage looks are just fabulous and timeless enough to be worn today.

See below for some of my favourite looks by her.

New Discovery: Suitcase Magazine

I'm sucker for fashion and indie mags which is why I love WH Smith Selfridges and Wardour News: both are great for finding literally anything including banned magazine covers! On a not so recent visit to pick up a copy of Vogue Collections SS14, I found this gem:

Excuse the quick iPhone snap!

The magazine which focuses on travel and fashion (my two greatest loves) initially caught my eye due to the Jamaican flag cover, but after a flicking through I realised it was worth buying. It contains features on beauty, guides to Amsterdam and Cape Town as well as huge section on Jamaica; I was impressed with the coverage of local knowledge such as the latest dances, hottest nightclubs and a strong focus on Portland which is a beautiful but less popular tourist destination in Jamaica. 

The magazine is bi-annual so I'm curious to see what they have in store for the Summer edition; I love the format and would definitely recommend this to any magazine collector.

New Year, New Format

I hope everybody enjoyed their Christmas!

I've decided that my blog needs a stronger sense of direction and what better time to make a change than the New Year? In order to make it much more cohesive I've decided to combine the restaurant reviews and any event coverage with outfit posts in order to accurately reflect my multi-dimensional lifestyle; I was actually inspired by a girl I met who suggested that I blog about where I'm going and in what 'fabulous' outfit. It's a great idea and it will allow me to feature more of myself and my personality since I haven't really posted anything personal since my holidays.

Let's just hope that I can stick to it! Oh, and also I've updated my travel bucket list in preparation for the new year...take a look!

Beyoncé - Drunk In Love

Just because I love it...

Enjoy your weekend!

Midnight Musings: "I can't wait..." vs. "I look forward too..."

As of late I've been comforting myself during these cold, dark winter months with thoughts of what I will (hopefully) be doing next year; this has resulted in endless conversations beginning with, "I wish I was in (insert anywhere but London)..." and "I can't wait to...". Whilst it's wonderful to have something to look forward to and these small things can help boost our morale, it can be harmful and destructive to become so consumed with planning the future that we forget to enjoy the here and now. Let me repeat: it can be harmful and destructive to become so consumed with planning the future that we forget to enjoy the here and now.

I caught myself typing, "I can't wait to..." before I deleted the words and replaced them with a much more fitting, "I look forward to...." At that moment I realised just how damaging this mindset had the potential to be; the truth is I love my life at present, I enjoy what I do and I am blessed to have amazing people around me. Whilst I have every reason to believe that the future will be even better, it's important for me to enjoy the journey.

So next time you find yourselves placing too much emphasis on the future and indulging in escapism, take the time to stop, think and reconsider just how much you have to be grateful for and embrace the now!

Monday Wisdom: Live Without Regret

'No regrets' is a motto which remains firmly at the heart of my personal life philosophy; I can quite confidently state that I don't have a single regret in life! There are the odd events that I wish I had approached slightly differently, however I just consider these to be a lesson learned.

I know it sounds cliché, but life really is too short to live to beat of somebody else's drum only to end up as nothing more than bitter old 'shoulda, woulda, coulda' type of person. I'll admit that was a little harsh but I strongly believe that the only things in life that you actually will regret are the things that you didn't do...

So with that said go out there and grab the bull by the horns!

Happy Monday all x

Beyoncé

Beyoncé shook the internet left, right and centre the moment she dropped her latest self-titled visual album, as someone who became caught in the rapture I felt compelled to make a post. First of all not only are the visuals incredible, but they are incredibly sexy which I feel is quite refreshing for her as an artist, with each video really bringing the lyrics to life. I enjoyed the majority of them so I won't bore you with the list, but in terms of the songs Drunk In Love immediately stood out as did Flawless; I love how she turned around the original 'Bow Down Bitches' and created a feminist anthem with a sample of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's TED Talk...brilliant!

I originally contemplated sharing the video when I posted this, but I wasn't sure if viewers would watch it in it's entirety, however now it's part of pop culture I recommend it to all: this woman speaks the truth!

See below for the Chimamanda video.

The Best Man Holiday and Nia Long's Fabulous Hair!

For the life of me I struggled to remember The Best Man in detail, aside from the scandal centred around Harper's book and the electric slide at the end, but after continuous Facebook statuses etc I eventually warmed to the idea of watching the sequel...

I felt that the script was extremely well written although the plot twists were no surprise to my friend and I who studied film; there were several awkward moments alongside the more humorous ones, and of course let's not forget the emotional scenes. Despite the negative (mainstream) critics who I felt either completely missed the point, or could not see past the all-black cast, because let's be honest Bridesmaids was hyped up and it's probably the worst movie I've ever seen, I would actually highly recommend watching The Best Man Holiday! In fact my friends and I loved it so much that we would actually purchase the DVD to watch around the Christmas period.

Mini review aside, the main thing I wanted to discuss was Nia Long's hair:

Rest in Peace Nelson Mandela

...a truly inspirational, influential and incredible individual. 

R.I.P. Nelson Mandela (1918-2013)

Beyonce in Jamaica

I've been quite busy with no spare time to blog, however my heart was warmed when I saw these photos of Beyonce in Jamaica (in a patriotic top) and I just had to share! The land of wood and water (Jamaica) is one of my favourite places on earth: the people have an incredible and incomparable energy, and it's filled with so much beauty much like the rest of the Caribbean.

She even has a Red Stripe!

Daily Wisdom: Life Isn't About...

So true! While I believe that deep internal reflection is a necessary part of self-growth; I think the key to developing as an individual is to experiment, take risks and make mistakes, and to be sure to try (almost) everything at least once!

Kara Walker at the Camden Arts Centre

The full title of the exhibition is, "We at Camden Arts Centre are Exceedingly Proud to Present an Exhibition of Capable Artworks by the Notable Hand of Celebrated American, Kara Elizabeth Walker, Negress."

I first saw this exhibition a couple of weeks ago and although I had a rough idea of what to expect as it was personally recommended, I still found the works to be intriguing; believe me they definitely provided the 'shock' factor. Not only did I find that Kara addressed these particular themes of race in a clever and innovative way, but her choice of medium added to the viewers experience and approach to the artwork in addition to the topic at hand.

I would highly recommend going to visit this exhibition: it's free and is on until the 5th January 2014. Watch the video below for an insight into Kara's inspirations and methodology.

 

Rihanna 2013 American Music Awards Doobie Hairstyle

If you don't know by now this a Rihanna friendly blog so I'm not even going to speak on any of the other red carpet looks for the night!

I saw the first photo of her at about 2am GMT and screamed, "YAAAASSSS HUNTYYYY!" Not only was Miss Robyn working werking that Jean Paul Gautier ensemble, but she was seated at the American Music Awards with her wrapped in a doobie!

As a black woman I was both amused and elated that Rihanna had managed to make every (relaxed/straightened/weaved) black woman's night time hairstyle a fashion statement! Already there are women who wear their doobie/flexi-rods/rollers out in public whilst running errands etc, but now Rihanna has opened the floodgates I would not be surprised if we start to see these same women actually start sporting them at events!

See her full look and performance below.

Trophy Scaves: Controversial Art

"I wear white women for status and power."

-Nate Hill, founder of Trophy Scarves

I first came across this image on Twitter and thought "WTF?!" There was no context, no information on its origin: just this photograph of a man with a white women draped over his shoulders like a scarf.

The image was posted by Nate Hill on Instagram three weeks ago: no explanation, no caption, just the hash tag 'trophy scarves' leaving the viewer completely open to interpret the images as they see fit. I drew the conclusion that the aim was to highlight not only the objectification of women, but to also challenge certain depictions of race which deem white women as status symbols.

See below for what Nate had to say regarding the piece in an interview with Vice Magazine:

Christian Louboutin Spring 2014 Collection: My Top Three Picks

It's been a while since I've done a fashion post so I thought I'd share my top three picks from the Christian Louboutin Spring 2014 collection. I'm a huge fan of the classic Pigalle heel, and could quite happily repurchase this shoe in multiple skins and colours so I'm delighted to see several single-sole pointed styles in the collection! I'm also happy to see gladiator styles (yet again) as they are another summer staple of mine...now I just have to sit tight and wait for spring to arrive!


How fabulous does the python skin look in this shade of blue?

Pigalle 120 Python in Neptune

Find What You Love And Run With It: Talia Sanhewe at TEDxBreda

"So many of us disqualify ourselves from the race because of what's in our minds..."   

This morning I discovered the following video which I felt needed to be shared; Talia Sanhewe discusses the importance of discovering your purpose in life and then pursuing it with all your heart. Not only is her story heart-warming and inspirational, but it's a reminder of something which we perhaps all know, but often forget when making career/life choices. Last but not least it's worth watching because she is an excellent public speaker: something which I definitely aspire to be one day...

Haché: Gourmet Burgers (a local gem)

Continuing on with my current theme of burger restaurants it's about time that I mentioned Haché, a restaurant which I had passed many times without ever trying simply because I just wasn't a fan of burgers, however after the rave reviews and personal recommendations I decided to give it try.

                                

Fitspiration: Bad Gyal Rih Rih!

It's no secret that Rihanna is my ultimate girl crush; I've loved her since the 'Pon De Replay' days and I love her even more for religiously playing mas at cropover! Her body has always been amazing, but her latest set of bikini photos have inspired me to hit the gym (at some point lol) and get right for carnival!

Um can we have a moment of silence for Rihanna's thighs please...damn!

Source: Global Grind

My latest obsession...

It's no secret that I love food (in fact don't be surprised if this blog slowly morphs into a food blog) but I've found a new obsession: burgers!

I was never a big fan of them, my attitude was more 'take it or leave it'/only if I'm in McDonalds, but after a recent visit to Haché they're my new thing. 

I'll post a review shortly but for now  here's a photo of the Leon Chicken Burger - another great discovery which is absolutely delicious and great value! 

Daily Wisdom: Words to live by...

Miss Lily's, New York

This review has really been a long time coming...sorry guys!

I'd heard about Miss Lily's restaurant for a while; a native New Yorker had raved about it and I had seen it in a few online publications, but perhaps most ironically it featured in an email that I'd received during my visit from the airline I had flown with. Despite all this I was still quite sceptical, as far as I'm concerned Caribbean cuisine is often at its best when it's from a low-key local shop. Miss Lily's however manages to bring an authentic taste of Jamaica to lower Manhattan...successfully!

Music Corner: Magna Carter World Tour

I was initially hyped about the MCHG album until I realised that despite the great production it was lyrically abysmal, all of a sudden I was no longer excited about the prospect of his new tour. However being the massive Jay-Z Stan fan that I am I decided it would worth going even if it was only to hear the classics.

I was so glad that I went as it turned out to be more of a greatest hits tour with him only performing five tracks off the Magna Carter album. I enjoyed it slightly more than Watch The Throne Tour simply because I was in the mosh pit this time round. The warm up DJ set got the crowd going long before Jay-Z arrived on stage with a mixture of Biggie, Drake, French Montana and various other rap artists on rotation.

I was pleasantly surprised that Timbaland was the DJ for the tour and not only were we privy to a new track from his upcoming album but also we got to hear some of his classic beats during a short interlude. Other highlights included Jay-Z performing his verse on Drake's Pound Cake which was completely unexpected, and Coldplay's Chris Martin coming on stage to sing the hook for Heart of the City; the only disappointment was that Jay-Z didn't perform Oceans, but other than that the majority of his best songs were featured including an explosive opening with U Don't Know off the Blueprint album.

Here are some pics from the night:

Book Club: The Fashion Book (New and Updated)

Yesterday I received an email invitation to The Fashion Book launch event at Topshop, I didn't see the email until about 4:30pm and was running on just 4 hours sleep and 4 sushi rolls but I knew that I just had to attend!

New York! New York! - Photo Diary

Finally the last instalment of this year's holiday photos...

New York was fun as usual, but this time it felt quite different. I met some really cool people and had a great time, although for the first time in my life I departed from JFK airport actually feeling ready to go home instead of crying at thought of having to leave the city!

Music Corner: Zane Lowes Interviews Jay-Z

I blame me being away from home the entire summer for my lack of knowledge that this interview existed (July 15th was Carnival Monday in St. Lucia...I was very occupied) As a huge Jay-Z fan I wasted no time in getting stuck in, the MCHG is definitely not one of favourite albums, ignore my initial hysteria; despite there being a few good songs on the album, it's not one I consider worth listening to. I do however stand my claim that the production was solid, just like Yeezus...yea I said it!

Immediately Jay discusses the magic that birthed The Blueprint album (my personal fave) and the almost by default creation of the epic track No Church In The Wild which features on Watch The Throne. I won't give it all away, but see below for the full interview.

 

Smile Jamaica: Photo Diary

I feel like this post is long overdue, but better late than never I guess? I'm not sure if I mentioned the details of my journey, but after my time in St. Lucia I went on to visit Jamaica and then New York. So here are just a few of my photos from my wonderful time in Jamaica.

The view from my Grandad's backyard...breathtaking!

Kanye West Radio 1 Interview: Thank You Kanye! (NSFW)

A good friend of mine who knows just how much I happen to love Kanye West recommend that I watch this interview. I literally had it on my agenda for days before I got round to it, however when I finally did, I thoroughly enjoyed it: often Kanye is criticised for his 'rants', but I happen to quite enjoy when he decides to share his thoughts with us. All too often society tries to quiet the outspoken, against-the-grain voice and let's be honest, more often than not Kanye is the beholder of an unpopular opinion. I happen to think that his unabashed confidence is inspiring, he may be arrogant but surely his accomplishments have earned him the right to be? Even if you disagree, who are we to deny him the right to consider himself a God...?



Watch the remaining videos below.

New Video Alert: Rihanna - Pour It Up (NSFW)

I wouldn't ordinarily bombard you with a series of video posts, but after watching Rihanna's new music video yesterday I was left with no choice! It was allegedly banned after just ten minutes, joining S&M and We Found Love in the list of 'controversial' videos; it seems the world was not quite ready for such an in-you-face display of erotica in a music video.

I happen to be huge fan of Rihanna and find her persona to be not only refreshing, but also liberating- she's a young woman who appears to write her own rulebook and is not afraid of her own sexuality. I actually find the video to be quite artistic and creative despite the fact that is perhaps more appropriate for an adult audience. Not to mention as a fellow Caribbean woman I can't help but admire here wire bra and those dance moves...high five Ri Ri!

 

New Video Alert: A$AP Rocky - Fashion Killa

I love this new visual by A$AP Rocky; the song may read like an (extensive) list of hot designers, but at least he looks cute with Rihanna!

Daily Wisdom: Confucius

By Matt Hunsberger

Photo credit: saysomethingposters.com

Piece Of Velvet: Nobody Does Velvet Cake Like This!

Anyone who knows me even the slightest will know that I love cake: cupcakes, rum cake, birthday cake- you name it I adore it! So it comes as no surprise that at the top of my to-do list when I arrived in New York City was to get a slice (or two) of Red Velvet Cake...

A couple of years ago I when I was in the city I was introduced to what I thought was the greatest red velvet cake ever from an infamous bakery in Brooklyn; I told anyone who would listen to visit and see for themselves just how good it tasted. So I'm sure that you can imagine my excitement when I heard about the recently opened Piece of Velvet located at the original 708 Fulton Street address where the previous bakery resided.

Photo Credit: Piece of Velvet Facebook

My friend and I featured on the Instagram page for the second time lol!

St. Lucia We Love! - Photo Diary

Although I managed to keep you somewhat  up-to-date with photos whilst I was in St. Lucia there's a few more that I have to share, not to mention updates on Jamaica and New York where I also spent the summer!

I was only supposed to be in St. Lucia for two weeks for the carnival, but my friend and I fell so in love with the island that we extended our stay to an entire month! Quite indulgent but so worth it: we had the best holiday ever and plan to return next year! Although I have a soft spot for Jamaica (there's no place like it, and it's also where my family are from) I consider St. Lucia to be my favourite Caribbean island thus far; not only are the people are so laid back and super friendly, I find it easy to explore and navigate as a tourist even for the first time, not to mention the island is beautiful (of course). One local said all I need is my ID card and to learn the Patois because I seem to have met everybody he knew and picked up all the local slang!

Daily Wisdom: Live,Work, Create.

A random piece of street art in Williamsburg, Brooklyn which I found particularly inspiring and decided to share with you...

Back To Reality

After an epic two and a half months abroad I'm finally back in London; it's a bitter sweet feeling as although I'm glad to be back home (as in my own house) I could care less about being back in the city! The good news is that I can finally dedicate some time to blogging. I have quite a few ideas for new posts that I can't wait to share with you all, and plenty of photos to share from my travels. I'm also working on a separate blog soley dedicated to my musings which I shall be launching shortly. Stay tuned...

Ah tell you ah have it.... - Bunji Garlin Carnival Tabanca

Birthday Celebrations!

I was lucky enough to celebrate my birthday whilst still in St. Lucia, due to being a summer baby I've been blessed enough to celebrate a few birthdays abroad including New York, Jamaica and Aruba. What I love most about spending it abroad is the fact that however you choose to celebrate, it's a new and unique experience, anyway enough with the talking...here's some pics from the day.

St. Lucia Beauty Haul

I'm obsessed with purchasing beauty items abroad, whether it's natural locally produced goods or just a product from a mainstream line that is not available in the UK I'm always on the lookout for something new...

L-R: African Black Soap, Raw Shea Butter, Sulphur Soap, Coconut Oil, Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Intensely Smooth Leave-In and Garnier Fructis Fall Fight Strand Saver Anti-Breakage Spray.

I will post full reviews at a later date as I have only tried the sulphur soap so far, which I loved: it immediately dried out my spots and bites (my skin had been acting up for a while), the only negative is the scent so I stick to using this at night (whilst sleeping alone of course). 

I swear by Garnier hair products for both my weaves and real hair so I'm excited to try these two products; the Triple Nutrition line is incredibly hydrating especially the conditioner which I make sure I stock up on the USA.

New Nails!

Carnival is over so I needed a new look.

My nails were done by the lovely Mel who also did my lashes for carnival. Find her Upstairs Beauty City, Brazil Street, Castries, St. Lucia. 726-9600.

Don't forget to tell her Megan sent you!

St. Lucia Diary Pt. 4: It's Carnival!

So after an intense morning at J'ouvert, we were ready for the road! As I previously mentioned, it is truly a miracle that we even managed to wake up and arrive on time. Here are our costumes: we were in the Phoenix section in Just 4 Fun, the only item missing are our leg pieces which we hastily put on on the side of the road.

St. Lucia Diary Pt. 3: We going 25/8!

Just 4 Fun Indulgence Breakfast Fete

St. Lucia Diary Pt. 2: Colour Me Red and Sexy in Black

Colour Me Red

I have to admit that I was far from excited to see Machel Montano again, don't get me wrong he's an amazing performer who never disappoints, but I was more excited to see Bunji Garlin at Sexy in Black. Anyway after a LONG day of going in to town, collecting our costume and rushing to get dressed in 30 minutes we arrived at the Beausejour Cricket Ground about midnight, I couldn't tell you who was performing, as we rushed to grab some food and drink  immediately. We caught the tail end of Ricky T's performance before we headed into the crowd to watch Machel, we were front and centre of course! 

Machel's performance was good as usual, the vibe and energy was MAD. He sang all his classic hits, current songs and songs by other artists; the crowd was hyped all the way through. The highlights for me were when he threw a bottle of his rum into the crowd which I almost caught, but instead got in my eye, sitting on the shoulders of a stranger only to be pointed out by Machel, and when he sang The Fog (the song I was waiting all night for) the crowd went crazy literally dancing in the fog; I had no complaints about the night except the red powder that Machel's people threw into the crowd was quite a struggle to remove!

Carnival Prep

I decided to write this guide for anyone who may be new to taking part in Carnival or 'playing mas' as we call it. Prior to this summer, despite attending many soca fetes etc I had never actually gotten round to joining a band, hopefully this will give you an idea of what to expect, especially if you are going abroad!

St. Lucia Diary Pt. 1

We landed in St. Lucia on Friday, ready to drink and party the night away! After about an hours drive (which feels like a lifetime after an 8hr flight) we finally arrived at the hotel to chill out and get dressed for the evening. First stop was a quick bite to eat on the strip (Reduit Beach Avenue), then onto to the Gros Islet Street Lime; at first I was bored and unimpressed with the music (Dance, Pop) there were a lot of tourists congregated front and centre, so we just chilled on the sidelines drinking rum punch.

Later on when the vibe changed and the DJ played Soca, Dancehall and Reggae, we really began to enjoy ourselves; nothing beats the freedom of dancing in the streets! We danced without a care in the world, drank and danced some more...we impressed a few of the locals who had no idea us Brits could party like that...

All in all I had a great night, I was feeling the vibes, the people were friendly and I was having a great time until some c*** stole my phone from my bag, I was livid to say the least and ready to swing for someone and I made that very clear! Luckily some locals including someone I met from J4F helped me to call my phone, although I never got it back and managed to block the phone, I was mostly annoyed about the photos we had taken that night which I never got to share and never will, which sucks! It also ruined my blogging plans, so I was pretty pissed to say the least...but such is life and luckily I had my BB, and most of my contacts on other devices. I refused to let it ruin my fun, but I wished the most evil thoughts on the person who did it lol!

Stay tuned for more!

MCHG: Happy July 4th!

Hip Hop N More

After just one listen of the album, I'm hooked; the production is solid from start to finish. So far Tom Ford, Crown and Part II (On The Run) stand out to me, but I predict that this album will stay on heavy rotation throughout the summer!

My Inflight Essentials

Although I'm no stranger to flying, there are two things about air travel that I hate: packing and the impracticality of being stuck on board for a minimum of seven hours (I'm strictly a long-haul traveller). These are things that despite the repeated experience can easily be irritating. I've created a list of my top five essentials for flying, but I would love to hear any tips from readers, so feel free to leave a comment below.

1. Comfort is key. My staple outfit when flying consists of the following: leggings, a loose flowy top (long enough to cover my bum), flats that are easy to remove, a cardigan or my go-to I heart NY hoodie to keep warm and my favourite cashmere scarf. I have never understood the purpose of being overly dressed up for a flight, not only do you look ridiculous, but it's annoying to be stuck behind you in the security line. I am not suggesting anyone wear a tracksuit, just keep it chic and sensible, and for the record my choice of outfit has never prevented me from getting the number of the hottie seated next to me...take that as you will...

2. Less is more when it comes to hand luggage. It's wonderful that Virgin have literally doubled the weight of their cabin baggage allowance, however it's usually unnecessary to make full use of this, at least not when you are heading to your destination. My personal favourite when it comes to hand luggage are Longchamp bags; they're lightweight, fold down to virtually nothing and are able to fit tons of items. I find it easiest to travel with as little as possible in the cabin, it allows you to roam freely around the airport and means that you can keep your belongings under the seat for easy access. The exception here is on a return flight from NY when a folded travel version of the Le Pliage from inside my case is stuffed with as many shoes as possible to avoid excess baggage fees!

3. Gadgets. This will probably read as a huge plug for apple, but I cannot be without my iPhone, iPod, iPad combo! I don't think I've used in-flight entertainment since 2010, it's actually better now than it was then, but I much prefer my own films and music. Seriously I can keep myself so entertained with various gaming apps and the Godfather trilogy that it any delays or disruptions almost bearable. Also without my phone, how would I be able to Instagram the ubiquitous shot of the air plane in the clouds/on the runway to let everyone know I'm leaving the country?

4. My hair/beauty products are a must...especially on an overnight flight. First an foremost the moment I step on the plane, I wrap my hair. It's a black girl thing, and yes I have no shame doing it in public...between the cabin air and the fabric on the seats your blow-out will be wrecked otherwise. I would be lying if I said I try to smuggle as many things as I could into those clear bags they give you, the truth is I can get by on Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream, tissue (Kleenex Balsam only if you must know), anti-bacterial gel of some sort and shower gel, toothbrush and toothpaste in case (God forbid) my bags are delayed. Yes cabin air is awful, but it doesn't have a detrimental effect on my skin, frankly I'm more concerned with getting some sleep which leads me onto number five...

5. The best nights sleep possible is imperative! Headphones, sunglasses (I can't get with the eye masks) and a neck pillow are three non-negotiable items when I travel. Not only do the sounds of full blast ignorant rap music soothe me when I'm try to sleep on a plane, but they help to drown  out the sound of any screaming babies or precocious children seated nearby. The sunglasses keep me looking fabulous as I doze off next to the aforementioned hottie that I always seem to be seated next to, and the neck pillow prevents me from embarrassingly leaning onto a stranger when I'm not on a plane with adjustable headrests...

As you can see I'm pretty low-maintenance when it comes to flying, it doesn't it excite me nor does it send me into a hysteria...I just want to arrive at my destination in one piece and enjoy the 35 degree weather!

Haute Caribe: In the Spirit of Carnival

"Carnival is fashion and fashion is carnival...you can't separate the two..."

This video is an oldie but goodie that explores the fashion industry in Trinidad and features several talented designers including as Anya Ayoung Chee. Not only does it highlight the Caribbean as a serious contender in the fashion industry, but it also serves as a reminder that many of the exotic resort collections created by the big European fashion houses draw on the Caribbean for inspiration...

Look of the Day: Solange Knowles

Celebrity Gossip

Short Hair Equals Sexy Hair

Let me start with a little background info: in the spring of 2011 I decided (on impulse) that I no longer wanted to have shoulder length locks and opted for a Rihanna-esque crop. It was very sexy let me assure you, I have to be honest in saying that it took a disastrous attempt to colour my hair red at home (4 weeks after opting for jet black mind you) before I was brave enough to make such a drastic change. My stylist at the time knew how much I hated trims, so of course she hesitated and even suggested I compromise with a cute bob before she gave me a life-changing haircut. It was the best decision I had ever made at that point in my life, it suited my face so much more than those God-forsaken buns long-haired gals gravitate towards; it also not only made me look older, or much closer to my age but it made me feel a lot more confident and sexy. Short hair on women is the ultimate 'up middle finger' to society, but I love it!

As of late I've been having the short hair dreams; I'm seriously contemplating going short again this fall, but I can be indecisive at times, not only do I have an arsenal of products catered to longer lengths, short styles and weaves as a result of the confusion, but I know firsthand how painful the growing out phase is so for now it may have to be a short weave, but here's some inspiration for anyone else who is thinking about taking the plunge.

Hollywood Pix

Wishbone - Brixton Market Row

Timeout

When I first heard about Wishbone I was immediately sold, I hate to feed into the stereotype but love fried chicken, seriously whether it's my grandmothers homemade recipe or the five wings and chips deal at my local Chicken Cottage I just can't get enough! The USP here is that the chicken is...free-range, I used this assure my friend who was on a diet at the time that this makes it a healthier dining option; I know I know but you have to live a little right?

Behind Kanye's Mask: NY Times Interview

My thoughts on Kanye West as a rapper vary, however I feel that he is consistent as a producer and I am here for his persona; his interview in the New York Times a thoroughly enjoyable read, I'll let you form your own opinion, but I must say if there is one thing to take from this interview is the power and importance of self-belief.

New York Times

Full Interview Here

Isbael Marant x H&M

The latest designer set to collaborate with H&M is Isabel Marant, whilst I'm not that surprised this definitely not something I would have predicted. The Margiela collection was probably the least successful of the designer collaborations, probably due to the more avant garde style and the fact that it was not a mainstream brand, I assumed H&M would return to its more commercial pattern and choose a designer who is well known outside of the fashion world. Despite ratchet rappers celebrities making the Beckett sneakers popular, the brand is still not well known among the masses and I predict that the collaboration will be more reflective of her RTW effortlessly Parisan Chic style than the iconic footwear which is great, I will definitely be looking forward to seeing the sneak previews. The collection will launch November 14th 2013.

Here's a short clip of Isabel discussing the collaboration...

Givenchy Doberman Sweatshirt

Remember the Givenchy Rottweiler print? Well for Givenchy Men's Pre-Fall 2013 Ricardo Tisci has decided that the Doberman is the new Rottweiler, but of course...

In stores now.

Source: Harvey Nichols

Inspired by Proenza

A few months ago I spotted this gorgeous Proenza Schouler inspired bag in Zara in a coral colour; I loved the style of bag but for some reason I wasn't completely bowled over by the colour. Then a couple of weeks ago whilst scrolling through instagram I discovered that there was now a white snake effect version which I just had to have!

There's also a metallic silver version with a gold clasp, cute and very trendy but not my style, however these bags offer great value for money and are made of real leather. On another note this was my first time in the Knightsbridge branch since the refit and I am loving the new fitting room area with sofas and display cabinets, adds a slight luxury feel to high street shopping!

Solange: The Style Icon

Solange is without a doubt my favourite of the Knowles sisters; she's fearless, stylish, outspoken and is a proud naturalista! She always takes fashion risks by mixing prints and bold colours, and has the ability to transform from edgy hipster to chic minimalist effortlessly. I'll let the images do the talking...

Buro 247

Travel Bucketlist

Anyone who knows me will know that I'm 110% obsessed with travel, I have an extensive list of destinations (a mixture of cities and countries) that I'd like to visit, and I mostly try to go abroad at least once a year. Whilst I'm not expecting to get through my entire bucket list any time soon, I've broken down the list into three/five priority trips that I would like to take within the next 3 years.


Carefree Adventure Holiday
Take this how you will, but it's always been my dream to take a once in a lifetime long trip abroad; somewhere hot and exotic, to have fun, relax and completely unwind. This is the kind of trip I'd take to celebrate the last of my youth before I have real 'adult' responsibilities in life.

source: le-citydeluxe

A poor woman's Birkin!

I have to admit, since Hedi Slimane dropped the 'Yves' I haven't really paid much attention to YSL as a brand, however a recent post on Selfridge's Instagram page made me strongly reconsider. Low and behold the brand's Classic Sac Du Jour Bag caught my eye; not only is it structured, minimalist and timeless, but it also greatly resembles the much conveted Hermès Birkin bag but with a much more affordable price tag. Until now the Céline Mini Luggage Tote was my perfect 'want one in every colour' bag, but I think the Sac Du Jour in Earth could be the perfect addition to my wardrobe, and would be a nice alternative to my current go-to bag.

Images courtesy of www.ysl.co.uk