Hey my faithful readers, this Is to let you know that the site has moved over to blackandfierce.com and that I will no longer be posting on this site. Kindly head over and have a read on my latest post and view my new site and of course kindly SUBSCRIBE again. Thank you.
Author: black&fierce
STEREOTYPICAL PERFECT BODY.
Its been a minute since i talked to you guys, I’ve seriously missed you, hoping that you’ve been well and are staying clear of the constant skirmish between civilians and the police. This is a long post, kindly bare with me…
So guys I’ve been contemplating on what topic to discuss with you and i decided i was going to talk about our bodies. But before i get to that I’ve got a major announcement, (haha, no you’ve got it wrong! am not getting married, am still very much single and not searching) anyways guys last month on the 29th was the blog’s first anniversary and to commemorate this, i decided to change the face of the blog which you will get to see in the next post. This is something i planned to do for the blog on its one year anniversary, i hope you will like it. I’ve got to show my gratitude to all those of those of you who’ve supported me from the start of this journey and continue to do so even when you get nothing in return. Thank you for always tuning in to read my posts, i couldn’t have done it without you.
Alright, having said that; when i did this shoot, i was feeling quite lazy given that i was really tired so i ended up just lying on the floor or standing there like some mannequin thus the normal model-like poses you’re used to will not be exhibited in this particular post. So i decided at that very moment that i would use this post to talk about body image. By that i mean the stereotypes that exist on the preferred/perfect body type.
If you know me at a personal level, then you probably know that I’ve added a bit of weight; a lot maybe, i don’t know, which on the contrary to what people expect i actually love and not ashamed of. Society has it twisted on what the perfect body is and this affects people in ways we cannot begin to fathom and on some level i think it has affected me too because i grew up as a very slender girl and as i got older, i constantly thought of adding weight because people kept commenting on how tiny i was to the extent of asking if i was stressed or wasn’t eating right etc… i think they got to me because on the onset of 2017 i initiated project make Kim “thick” as they call it and now that I’ve added a bit of weight (by the way am in love with my looks at the moment) the society is again putting a label on me, which begs the question what is wrong with our society?! I told myself enough was enough! i would no longer care about what someone said about my body, if they had issues with it they should go and fix their own to suit their preferences.
The society is quite judgmental when it comes to many things; body included. It’s like there are set standards on what the perfect body should be and sadly with the onset of media things aren’t getting any better. Therefore many people, women especially have a lot of insecurities. The media exposes women to ultra thin unrealistic female images and negative cognition and feelings. If its not ultra thin then it is “thick” meaning tiny waists and big ass, hour-glass figure, Kylie Jenner lips and what not. As a result people are out here trying to change how they look with plastic surgery and the likes. Others become anorexics due to thinspiration. We are busy hurting ourselves trying to become Kim Kardashian yet we forget the images we see on media of these bodies we envy could be photo-shopped. I think research should be done to reverse these adverse effects. We should fight back to change how people view realistic beauty. I thank God for Ashley Graham for refusing to be swayed by people’s insensitive opinions on her body; she is a true inspiration.
But don’t get me wrong am also not saying that if you feel insecure about your love-handles or your stomach, weight and beautiful stretchmarks that you can not change yourself. It’s entirely up to you. Am just saying that you should not feel the need to conform to the society’s set standards on what body type you should have. And with that said thanks for stopping by.
Till next time loves, bye.
Photography: BRIAN GATHU.
OUTFIT DETAILS:
Dress & shoes- vostilook.
Ankara is the new black&fierce
My love for Ankara designs runs deep, it is incomprehensible. When i was younger, i had zero tolerance for Kitenge/Ankara designs, i had to be scolded for me to wear them and that’s not even the best part…my dear mother would make sure the tailor sewed two similar designs, one for her and one for me. I went through this for the first 10 years of my life till it got to a point where no more fights were necessary for me to put on the attire. Let me confess though; i secretly loved that she and i wore similar outfits to occasions…nothing beats a mother-daughter bond. I can’t fathom why i was so stubborn , regardless look at me now, Ankara is the new black&fierce! Have you similar childhood experiences? share them with us on the comment section.
As i began to write this article, i was experiencing two kinds of emotions; happiness and sadness…oxymoronic? i know. I was sad because when i remember the look in my mother’s eyes when i refused to wear the vitenges that she so excitedly sewed for the both of us…it haunts me and i immediately regret because now i do not have the chance, i wish i wasn’t so stubborn consequently am happy because well guys, make an educated guess…
you will see a lot of Ankara/kitenge designs on my blog because i believe Africa is the next big thing and am embracing this in all possible ways. Of late i haven’t discussed to detail how to put together outfits because i realize when i started this blog, my insight wasn’t entirely to show or teach people how to dress but it was also about expressing myself through fashion but i was busy listening to people’s opinion of how my blog should be that i forgot how i wanted it to be.
Anyway in this particular post, i chose to wear an Ankara design that is limitless…diverse. Pant suits are a must have whether it’s for an official or unofficial cause. Although many women tumble into many pitfalls when it comes to trouser suits- poor fit, boring corporate styles and so on, they’re with no doubt easy to wear and accessorize. When i decided to do a shoot in this Ankara pant suit, i was strictly thinking about reaching women in the corporate world, i mean do we have to walk into the office everyday wearing boring suits with the same color scheme the whole week?? You can head to the office with this stylish outfit and still look presentable, make a fashion statement for your colleagues. With Ankara we can pretty much do anything; they’re diverse, come in different colors and sown in different styles. Add some vibrancy to your office wear. On top of that this is an outfit that you can literally wear to any occasion, throw on some heels and its done. What is better than a diverse outfit?
photography by BRIAN GATHU.
WHAT I WORE:
Ankara pantsuit- custom made @Maggie fashions
shoes- Backyard shoes
Sunnies- Forever Trendy
BRINGING BACK THE RETRO.
Generally Kenyan elections render the whole country to a standstill and now that they are over we’ve all resumed our daily activities…silly me i always forget, how are you guys? i hope you have made peace with the election results; it was such a tense moment for most of us am glad we are now able to put the past behind us and focus on building this great nation rather than destroying it simply because one is not in agreement with who holds the highest position of power. Lets all remember that Kenya is bigger than one individual, so we should preach and maintain peace at all times.
With that said i couldn’t have been more happier to write this post given that i really enjoyed this shoot and the theme behind it, definitely felt like an alpha female while at it. I decided to pull a retro look for this particular shoot. Some might ask what exactly is Retro? retro is a style imitative of past trends/fashion. Others may ask, why retro? and to that i would answer, it seems the fashion styles of the past are on a revival and i wouldn’t wanna miss out on the 70’s looks.
Do you ever wonder what fashion in the 70’s looked or felt like? I do, i keep bothering the 70’s and 80’s babies to indulge me on how fashion & style was during their 20’s. It is with that same spirit that i would watch my mother reminisce about their olden days and of course she would digress a couple of times and lose touch with the purpose of the consultation. But can i blame her, she isn’t that much of a fashion enthusiast like myself. I think their time was the peak of fashion, when the likes of Thomas Burberry were busy innovating fashion trends. I was a 21st century teenager, so you can imagine i wasn’t surrounded by the Marilyn Monroe paraphernalia; they were the icons of beauty and the epitome of style. I would have loved to time travel back to that time but unfortunately our science isn’t yet that advanced.
Anyway back to…i tried to pull a retro look…i put together vintage and new pieces as is manifested in the sweater dress, the stripped socks and the platform heels. On top of that i added to it make up and hair do that is contemporary with minimal modern accessories; less is more was at play. You don’t wanna end up looking like you’re dressed for theatrics. Consequently, its crucial that you mix up modern and vintage pieces in an attempt to achieve that retro look. On the plus side with the weather not being entirely on its stand, you can pull this look off very easily. Your sweater dress which is obviously warm for the cold and socks to protect your legs from the cold and if it’s too much add a trench and when the sun comes out, just roll your socks down or better yet take them off and still manage to look completely and utterly sexy. Two birds, One stone…
Till next week Loves…
Photography by: KEN KINOTI
OUTFIT DETAILS:
Shoes & Sweater dress- Vostilook
Belt & socks- Toi market/ Adams.
THE-EVER-CHANGING-TRENDS
I know for a fact that writers experience content freeze, sometimes you brainstorm on topics to discuss with your readers and you just can’t find any…maybe it’s because you’ve written a lot that you feel you have covered all bases or your mind is involuntarily asking for a break from creative thinking and writing…which obviously baffles me, regardless i think the world is full of lots of information; we couldn’t have possibly covered all ground. Might i say maybe what one needs is time off for some inspiration.
I experienced a similar circumstance all too recently, as day went by i felt more and more stressed because i knew at the back of my mind, i had to give my readers a worthwhile content come Thursday which needless to say is the day i prefer to publish my posts. But i wasn’t too worried because deep down i knew i would deliver.
Without further ado, some of you may have noticed my undying love for jumpsuits, not so much time can pass by without me posting on it. I haven’t talked much about them but i thought of digressing from writing about it this time given that sooner or later i will do another post on a jumpsuit. Occasionally i prefer to stray from style talks and discuss more pressing needs as per my observation or desire to express a certain opinion.
I have realized that most of the things i wear and blog about today do not resonate with the person i was years back when my mother was solely responsible for my wardrobe. I was so unreceptive towards her choice of style that i felt coerced to dress the way i did. little did i know what a huge favor she was doing for me. I note with keen interest that fashion is cyclical, what is worn in the 50’s is old school today but trendy tomorrow. A 20 year old person is likely to be wearing today what a 40 year old person wore when they were 20. Bear with me, we have a few examples of items our mothers dressed us in as kids that we are now on the hunt for again, a clear indication of how fashion is cyclical .e.g. dungarees, chunky heeled shoes, fringe, off shoulder, platforms, turtle necks e.t.c. I had a feeling of old school soon as i rocked this jumpsuit because the attire itself with its flared legs is from previous fashion, nothing is new about jumpsuits, it immediately reminded me of my childhood fashion which i am now embracing in my youthful age.
So with the current state of affairs, what does one do given that fashion is fueled by conversion?! Fashion designers convince you to wear their new designs for a period of time before they retreat away from the public eye and their runway shows to design something new and then try to convince you that is what is good for your closet and the old are no longer fashionable only for it to come back to the limelight 20 years later. whose pocket is this affecting? then it begs the question what does one do to keep up with this? maybe you shouldn’t go full on trendy or you should adopt trendy ideas and elements of popular items but don’t completely replace your style. Unfortunately this is a question i cannot fully give answers to… for that reason guys you can give your thoughts to this on my comment section below and also comment on what you do when you experience content freeze.
Bye till next time.
photography by Ken Kinoti.
WHAT I WORE:
Jumpsuit- tailor made @Maggie fashions.
Shoes- Backyard shoes.
STREETSTYLE CASUAL
Hi guys! Has it been forever since we were last together? Certainly feels like it…it’s almost the end of the week and what better way to start off your weekend than with a read on the blog. So someone recently questioned my inspiration for the next series of posts and as I got down to thinking I thought why not simplicity, elegance at a low cost? I know there are guys who faithfully follow bloggers for outfit inspirations, it’s disheartening that we tend to focus on designer wear forgetting not everybody can afford such pieces. But style is style regardless of the price, tag or brand. So I thought of doing a budget friendly post and while at it, I decided to do a casual wear.
what exactly is casual wear? It is a dress code that emphasizes comfort & personal expression over presentation, formality and conformity. Simply put its relaxed, not planned, informal. This is everything I tried to bring out in this outfit. Although as a stylist, in my attempt to be casual, I find myself putting together pieces that strive to be presentable. I wonder how many have this struggles…
Do you have a hard time finding an outfit that’s comfortably casual yet totally stylish? A casual wear collection of clothes are made up of e.g. Leather/denim jackets, fashionable sweaters, skirts/dresses made out of chiffon, silk, velvet, cargo, cropped or utility pants, denim shirts, pants etc such casual wears can be made to look more chic if scarves, hats, belts , jewelry are used to accessorize them. With the correct basics and accessories, spicing up ordinary casual clothes can make a fashion statement, paying a little bit of attention to smaller details, simple clothes can be mesmerizing.
I chose to crown this look with a high-waist jeans, a sweater shirt and accesorised it with a scarf, a little bit of jewelry and boots, minimalism at its best display. This is a look that you can shop at a thrift shop and not necessarily an expensive uptown shop. I prefer not to indulge you guys in this outfit because I believe this is a combo that just about anyone can put together and it’s an easy look to pull off.
Some people like to dress casually because it is comfortable and practical, most simply have laid back, informal personalities that don’t jibe well with formal wear. Sometimes though it’s difficult to draw the line between casual and just plain careless/ sloppy. Although a wide variety of clothing can be defined as casual, it would be an error to think of casual clothes as limited to rugged and unconventional. We should try to keep it abit presentable as much as we are trying to achieve comfort with our casual wears.
photography by:KEN KINOTI.
OUTFIT DETAILS:
High-waist jeans- Sasa mall.
Sweater shirt-Vostilook
Scarf&Shoes-Gift
THE BARDOT STYLE
This has been one of the hardest times for me because i had to make a choice between school and blogging. I must tell you it was a tough and heart breaking decision that i did not for see coming. It had people speculating i had quit and lots of queries as to when next i would post but guys NO! i certainly did not quit, i never quit regardless of how tough the going gets, i only stop to recharge and forge on.
So as i sat quietly at the corner of my house drawing my hands away, i meticulously planned my comeback counting days to when i would finally open my laptop and update the blog and i thought what better way to start off than with an off the shoulder dress.
If you think the off shoulder is a recent trend, then you would be mistaken. The apparel dates back to the Victorian era where empresses, queens, princesses and their ladies donned the look. It was later named the ‘bardot style’ in the 1960s by Bridgette Bardot who added a twist into the design making it what is now known as the off shoulder.
The best thing happening right now in women’s apparel is this trend. It has certainly taken the fashion industry by storm, you see it in all forms; tops, jumpsuits, dresses etc shoulder baring is sexy without being obvious, i absolutely love this trend. This is an outfit that you would definitely want to rock in the summer and give everyone the cold shoulder, they’re the chicest way to show of some skin. Shoulders always look good unlike abs, you can skip aerobic classes, dab some illuminating lotion on your sexy clavicles and your ready to go. The ensemble is convenient for those who dislike bras but still wear them because they have no option, you can go bra-less! and be absolutely carefree but if you still like bras you can try out a strapless bra.
This style may not be exactly fit for the workplace, its a weekend and after-hours staple. The off shoulder is sexy and flirty while still leaving enough to the imagination. My dress in particular came with a ruffle detail to add femininity to it , i paired it with red heels to blend with the red on it as well as the black and white which goes well with red too; a mix and match tale. Whether you’re headed to a festival or a simple weekend brunch closer to your home, channel your inner Kendall Jenner, Kerry Washington or Rihanna etc with this look.
Bye, till next time.
photography by KEN KINOTI.
OUTFIT DETAILS:
Dress- custom made @ Maggie fashions
choker- Unique accessories
shoes- Instyle shoes
MORE THAN JUST ‘A THING’
What’s the first thing that runs through your mind when you hear, KIMONO? Excuse my manners…hi everyone, how was your week? Did you enjoy the previous post, furred?! My first instinct is Japan and I marvel because the kimono is bigger than Japan(its origin). The word kimono literally means ‘ a thing to wear’ but the most fascinating observation is that the garment has outgrown its shallow meaning. Its more than a thing to wear or so I like to think.
Today kimonos are associated with women who don them in different styles and designs and as a true fashionista, I wouldn’t get left behind as fashion draws on diverse cultures which I am very receptive towards. There have been a few fundamental changes in the shape of the kimono since the 18th century e.g. changes in hem length and sleeve/collar shape. The kimono can either be formal/informal depending on its materials, pattern and how its accessorized. Despite all that was involved in choosing and wearing a kimono in the past, the modern person tends to choose a kimono based on its appearance incognizant of its history/ specific rules of the kimono.
As enthralling as it is, I couldn’t have worn the kimono on its own, I chose to pair it with a turtleneck top, a midi skirt and red heels. The harmony in the colors I chose brought out the minimalist that is always me. The only jewelry I used were a pair of earrings but as a maximalist one can choose to accessorize the outfit with bolder jewelry like a statement neck piece and larger ear pieces. I wore my kimono this way to create diverse options because the outfit as it is can be used for both formal and informal occasions.
kimono can be worn in a variety of ways;
- You can make a skirt and tank top combo interesting by adding a colorful kimono.
- pair it with a romper for a casual but chic look
- one can use a kimono as a bath suit cover-up
- pair a super long kimono with shorts and heels.
- wear the kimono with jeans and boots etc.
Such are just but examples on how you can wear the kimono. This is a definite must have, your wardrobe shouldn’t go minus the kimono, so as you can see its not just a thing to wear after all.
Photography by: Ken Kinoti.
OUTFIT DETAILS:
Kimono-Sasa mall
Turtle neck top- Sasa mall
Midi skirt- Toi market
Shoes- Backyard shoes
FURRED!
While writing this article, I had quite a hard time deciding on a topic of discussion. I’m under constant pressure to write mind blowing pieces given that I should only progress and not otherwise, as a result it took me days to come up with this piece. At some point I became lazy to the extent of giving up, I wonder if other bloggers experience similar content freeze.What kept me going though, was the desire to prove my close friend wrong who is of the impression that I am quite lazy, though I reckon that I am lazy in a hardworking way; she just doesn’t know yet.
Eventually I settled on fur as per the title, pun intended. Fur is the most controversial topic in the fashion world. The controvert arises from real fur (whose collection results to animal endangerment) versus faux fur(which is inferior to real fur). Designers such as the legendary Italian fashion designer, Giorgio Armani banned the use of fur in his designs with the argument that cruel practices are used to obtain fur from animals and I couldn’t agree more although am of the opinion that one can wear faux fur as a substitute which is equally of good quality but this is a discussion for another day.
A few fashion seasons ago, no one could be seen donning fur but now anyone whose anyone has fur in their wardrobe. It’s rapidly seeping back into the fashion industry from runways to streets in tasteful hues despite some designers banning the use of fur in their works. Notably fashion is cyclical, what’s dead and buried can come back again at a moments notice.
Fur can be worn in very many ways. I am of the opinion that; shorter fur coats look funky, mid-length coats look classy while long ones look super dramatic(thus a-no-go for me). A casual very simple style is great, making the fur coat the star of your outfit, which is exactly what I tried to achieve. I paired the coat with a black tee and high-waist pants, accessorizing it with a black choker and masculine shoes, with the aim of attaining a casual yet exquisite look.
In the same spirit you can keep it casual like I did with a replica of this outfit. You can also wear fur with leather pants and fishnet leggings for a cool street style look. Since fur coats are fluffy, skinny jeans on the hips look nice to balance the silhouette, you can accessorize them with low boots, sneakers or masculine shoes.
Fur is a definite must have it exudes extravagance, glamour and class. it is predictably one of the big wigs of 2017, why get left behind?!
photography by KEN KINOTI.
OUTFIT DETAILS:
Fur coat-Imenti House
Kim K choker- unique accessories
High waist trouser-Sasa mall, Moi avenue
Black tee-Jamia Mall
Fenty x puma shoes-Imenti House
‘A ONE-PIECE’
Out with the bodycon dress, in with the bodycon jumpsuit. It has come to my attention that everything is slowly becoming a wardrobe staple, does that mean we have to buy every piece of cloth to keep up with the ongoing and emerging trends? Nevertheless I have to point out that a jumpsuit is a definite must have, I happen t0 own more than a pair myself. Ironically though I had zero tolerance for jumpsuits back in the day. I associated it with toddlers, auto mechanics and clowns, wearing a one piece was left to cellmates.
So what changed?
As I started to become more fashion conscious on what to wear, I realized jumpsuits were revolutionary, you could pretty much do anything with them. For instance this particular navy blue jumpsuit with white stripes, I chose to accessorize it with grey strappy heels and a silver metallic neck piece bringing out the minimalist in me.
But that was my choice, imagine what you could possibly do with the outfit, being a sleeveless jumpsuit, you can pair it with a blazer, throw on coat, cape coat etc. to achieve a more classy/ serious look. This way you can kill two birds with one stone especially if its a Friday- you can wear the blazer for instance to the office, then do away with it and have a night out with your friends or show up at a brunch or late dinner with your better half dressed in a jumpsuit with/without a blazer. You can also accessorize it with different types of shoes to achieve distinct looks e.g. wedges, pumps, strappy heels etc. all with the aim of presenting an exquisite look.
Jumpsuits are now a dominant trend, nearly everyone regardless of aesthetics and costs has now presented a version of this. According to research the last time this look was popular was in the 1970s thus the renewed interest has left everyone experimenting from designers to fashionistas. This one-piece is quite promising, you can literally wear it anywhere and everywhere. Grab yourself one.
lovely weekend XOXO.
Photography by Ken Kinoti
OUTFIT DETAILS:
Jumpsuit- boutique in united mall
Shoes- Instyle shoes
Jewellery- DuBois.
BLACK & FIERCE 