A Tempestuous Love Affair- The iWalk Series

Crazy- We all know how drama-filled fashion is, she is feisty and ever-changing. The best friend who is able to embrace all her personalities and is a warrior who is never afraid to embark on a journey that keeps discovery new facets of her being, fashion never apologises for having the confidence of a victorious army. Fashion loves to push our buttons, whether it is the currently trending “flatforms” or pyjama-inspired evening wear, Fashion intends to see how far it can push the envelope and just how willing are we to stay in her fashionista books and follow the path laid out for us by this innovatively chic and (sometimes) downright mad bff of ours.  At times we beg, borrow or steal (from unsuspecting walk-ins) just to keep up with her and though we sometimes are frustrated when the changing times do not relate to our “girl next door” image as “Gagaresque” pieces sweep into our retail stores. Fashion, for all her dimensions, is a circular being and the 360 degree rotation will find us on the same page as this strong, vivacious and unruly material girl.

Sexy- That moment when the heavens open up and you can hear an orchestra of angels reciting poetry specially written for you. You, my friend, have found an item or ensemble that transformed your body and reality into a musical. The notes dripping with sensuality as the material falls with ease and covers your every inch with such comfort and a pinch of “porn-star” flamboyancy, you can’t help but do a double or triple take at the celebration of your full curves, the hourglass silhouette as the fabric dances and silently kisses your shoulders and arms. Who is that girl in the mirror, you ask, and how can I get to her? She is the enigmatic side of your person that you keep hidden and when you are lucky enough to find her, you keep her out of the closet and let her roam the earth like the sexy beast she is meant to be. A beautiful woman with a brain is a lethal combination

Cool- Ever walked into a room and felt that you were having a conversation with everyone in the room without saying a word? The power of confidence through looking and feeling like a million bucks, having your outfit give an introduction of who you are, smart, beautiful, confident and compassionate. Even when you do not feel like any of those attributes belong to you, Fashion helps you fake it till it becomes natural for you to accept that there is an awesome power in you that exudes in your presence, a prowess that if  unleashed could propel you from your cocoon of insecurities and thrust you into your rightful place as a one woman army linked to a network of other women who too have found their place in the world and are doing their bit to make change towards positivity a habit rather than a mission.

Live Laugh Love

Passing on the fashionista torch- The iWalk Series

Fashion, like an olympic torch, is passed on from one willing participant to the next. You see, fashion is an activity, a mental exercise that rewards with the most amazing result-an ensemble that is gold medal worthy. I love that feeling of anxiety at the starting line of your cupboard as you take in the smells of all the different fabrics in your closet to draw in some inspiration, that breathtaking moment when you run your hands through your closet rack and relive memories of fashion past and of outfits that made you feel like you too run the world. The race itself, the selection of the pieces, is my favourite part. As an outfit repeater I love the way I can take the same item of clothing and breathe new life into it by pairing it with a staple piece or a beautiful accessory. Leaving my flat with the confidence of a hundred Solange Knowles is my gold medal moment.

Going back to passing on the fashionista torch-I am sometimes pleasantly when I see young girls with a broad fashion vocabulary. Their A to Z from head to toe shows a strong character that has identified its uniqueness and the fearlessness to be oneself despite the pressures that society often tries to impose. Young girls no longer take their fashion ideas from the grapevine. They use the tools available to them in the form of the internet, social networks and magazines. They make an effort to source the information and make up their own minds and that is how fashion revolutions are born. Passing the torch to this bright generation of thinkers is going to be an easy task and I have a feeling that the re-invention of the fashion industry is going to send us on a journey beyond Wonderland where the pure beauty that lies in sheer madness lights a way for those who are afraid to let their “Nista” come out to play.

Live Laugh Love

 

 

 *Pictures were taken at the Pretoria Girls High Spring fair. Would have loved to put you all in this blog you beautiful young ladies.

She Is Woman- The iWalk Series

Transparency, neons, prints, pastel colours and the re-invention of the little black dress. These are the trends that will set the backdrop for spring/summer '12. What interested me is that the above mentioned trends not only described a trend in fashion but also described characteristics that women should aspire to have. The Love Being A Woman event hosted annually by Elle magazine celebrates women in search of something bigger than themselves, women who want to be a formidable force by creating a strong network through sisterhood  and women who strive for a society that is all embracing of diversity, divinity and the anomalies that give us all an individual beauty.

 This is my second year attending and it only gets better because I get to bare witness not only to the ideas of changing women's mindsets but also to the action and tracking of the progress that is propelled by those ideologies. Elle, in my eyes, refuses to just think about it, they work very hard to be about it and it is refreshing to find a magazine that talks to women from all walks of life to find out what it is that ails them and how to remedy the situation. It is through initiatives such as the Love Being a Woman event that I realize that no matter what background we come from, many women share the same concerns and that although we may shop differently, internally we are driven by the same instinct to have the world become a better place to those we will eventually leave it behind to.

 Going back to the comparison between this year's trends and women, I will begin with transparency. Transparency allows a woman to always be herself because she has no reason to hide when in an environment that is conducive to the celebration of her womanhood and this makes it easier for other women to relate and open up to her. Neons highlight the personality of a woman, her adventurous spirit to enjoy being the centre of attention and not mind having others showering her with adoration every once in a while. Prints showcase just how multidimensional a woman is, the power she has to interchange between her emotions, the delicate balance between her strengths and weakness and the tough shell of a backbone she has to think independently and create her own success. Pastel colours, for me at least, are the maternal side that all women have. The soft but striking combination of colour remind me of a mother who is beautiful, comforting but will not think twice about smacking your behind. I love pastels for their deception, the impression of a poised woman who does not wear her  ambitious traits on her sleeves but is a power house and a gift that keeps giving to whatever she touches. The little black dress embraces the elegance and drama that is a woman. She is a silhouette of sexy and exudes the prowess of a tigress as she stalks what she wants, goes for it and does not take no for an answer. She does this without losing her integrity or hurting others to get what she wants. She is beautiful in every aspect and that is her birthright as Elizabeth Arden believes.

I am inspired by Elle magazine for their genuine interest in women and I too want to walk in the footsteps of the graceful women who have taken their time to get to know the women who read the magazine. Live love laugh!

Ek Bly 'n Bul- The iWalk series

Our manager/mommy
Nicola Brosnihan

When I am not studying, reading, writing or blogging, I dance for an entity that has its roots in radio, service provision and sport. Plainly put, I am a Vodacom Bulls Babe along with twenty other talents and the answer is, “I have no clue" to all of you queuing up to ask me anything about our delectable players. We may have the best seat at Loftus stadium but when the final whistle blows we all go our separate ways. The ladies I dance with all come from different backgrounds and beauty isn't their only claim as we have people studying or working in various corporate or entertainment disciplines from homeopaths, Bcomm accounting students, financial administrators, events managers, brand managers, accomplished drama and dance teachers and graduates but I think we unanimously agree that our favourite job is the one where we get to be girly in our make-up, bring sexy back in our game day gear and put on our "Sasha Fierce" personalities as we dance to an audience of hundreds and sometimes thousands!

 Game day preparation is always such a religious experience, the hustle and bustle that sets the tone of excitement while outfits are being distributed and organised, the clattering of make-up cases as we experiment with shades that transform us from girl next door to vixen, that subtle but intoxicating scent of all our different perfumes, hair spray and eyelash glue and the scuffle at the mirrors as we double and triple check that we have achieved a look that will sell the fantasy of a babe to the audience. I feel like a little girl as she watches in awe while her mother transforms herself into a beautiful butterfly and I am privileged to be a member of such a lively spirited group of ladies but it would all fall apart without a captain and my captain, Mrs. Nicola Brosnihan steers the team with such precision. I am never insecure about the management of our schedules, changes in outfits or the introduction of new girls because she has an eye for talent, personality and beauty.

 Our outfits, I must admit, are sometimes weather inappropriate and that does not dampen our gees one bit, infact it is during these moments where we have our most fun using dance, laughter and the energy from an enthusiastic audience to keep the chill at bay. Our game-day gear has borrowed inspiration from a time machine, with crop tops that have puffy sleeves, halter neck dresses, shorts and hoodies and the common thread that binds all our outfits, the diamante. The more bling the better! All in all we are reviving the 60's with a twist from the 2012 and who does not want to re-live an era that broke many fashion trends introducing box-shaped PVC dresses, the pillbox hat, go-go boots and of course the bikini. We are a brand that embraces the treasures of yesteryear and innovation of modern day fashion. Be sure to catch us in our new game-day gear, a body conturing unitard and our new sizzler of an opening routine on the 10 August 2012. Till then, live, laugh and love.

With great winters come great responsibility- The iWalk Series

The day is 25^th July, the air of spending spreads around Pretoria as the euphoria of pay day sinks in and it finally makes sense, the late hours in the office, the overbearing boss and complaints from the girlfriend/boyfriend who hardly gets to spend time with you. You have arrived.

I take this time to reflect on the impact that this winter has had on my life. One often associates winter with the end or the downtime of things but this winter has forcefully brought me to life in such an amazing way, affording me a chance to further my studies and challenge myself as I walk in a dream that I want to turn into reality and possibly be an employee for my favourite magazine. The one thing that the winter has stolen from me is my fashion sense. Being a summer baby, my hippie self thrives off summer dresses, high-waisted shorts, light crochet tops, open-toed shoes and shaved legs and although the winter has made it possible for me to start a small fire with my legs and gather some much needed layer of warmth around my waist most commonly known as the muffin top it, has rested my mind’s capacity for fashion innovation.

What interests me about this indecisive Pretorian winter, besides the hourly change of weather forecast, is how many of the citizens of this mad hatter city seem to just ‘GET IT’ when it comes to fashion. The winter here is much friendlier than in most parts of the country so its citizens have the upper and economic hand and can still get away with wearing their summer apparel and I must admit that my little green monster rears its ugly head when all I can come up with for a solid cold fighting outfit is a hoodie and track pants. I feel my bright spark personality fade into the persona of a sad house-wife who has lost her groove after getting too comfortable in the security of marriage. Thank the heavens that I am not confined solely to the four walls that make up my cosy apartment and that even though I may be fashion’s ugly step sister I have an eye that appreciates the effort, creativity and the absolute zeal that people have when it comes to what they put on. The streets of Pretoria merge into one huge canvas where the art is not dictated by trends but rather by emotion. Just as feisty as the weather, the citizens of the Jacaranda city wear their hearts on their fashion sleeves and it all comes together and sets the city ablaze in a kaleidoscope of colour.

The diverse people of Pretoria who take winter ever so seriously, who do not acknowledge it at all, those who take it with a pinch of salt and those make ‘fabulous on a budget’ look divine. I am inspired by your valiant efforts and as I soldier on towards my winter fashion journey I say a silent prayer for you all to live, laugh and love.

20-WEALTH

So after the treacherous climb that varsity presented I too had reached the finish line and 2012 looked like a man with Jesus' abs and the face of Brat Pitt. I was a graduate, I had arrived, I had reached a milestone that many had given up on for whatever reason and I was ready to conquer the corporate world. Surely after all the sweat, blood, tears and the academic fights that took place between mummy and I, I surely was destined to reap my rewards? Work would fall into my lap; companies would be begging to employ this young, smart, dynamic and strong individual to head up their projects. I would finally move into a cosmopolitan neighborhood and drive in a car that would make men drool and form a love/hate relationship between other women and myself. Oh yes, 20-wealth had my name written all over it and I was the star of the show BUT boy was I mistaken!

No great companies or any companies for that matter called. My mornings were spent in pj's waving goodbye to my boyfriend as he went off to his new job. I also discovered that looking for a full-time job IS a full-time job ladies and gentlepeople. The money spent on internet searches for the type of job that is suited to your qualification, the faxing or emailing of your c.v, the dreadful waiting and of course more time in your pj's eating yourself out of house and home. Now some of you may say that I lack patience and it has not been long enough for me to begin with the hair-pulling exercise that comes with being unemployed but a song once told me that "mama may have and daddy may have but God bless the child who has her own" and I want nothing more than to make myself proud in that regard, plus leather boots are very expensive. I know that I am swimming in shallow waters as far as the time I have spent looking for work but when you do not finish varsity in record time the journey at the end is so emotionally draining and it makes no sense why the world cannot see the hard work you put in just to get to that end.

I even have employment envy towards my boyfriend. Everyday is different from the last and it is so lovely to watch him happily skip and hop to work knowing that the opportunity to challenge himself presents itself on a daily basis. I am very proud of him but because misery loves company, there are times when I want to kick him in the nuts and have him stay at home with me so that we can rock in the same boat.
Thank goodness for the blessing that is dance, it helps patch up where the bills have a hole hahaha

I have had slight depression, for lack of a less dramatic word, episodes but I continue to put my best foot forward and make lemonade out of life's lemons. I am currently an employee in the unemployment line and will one day resign from this position and instead of making women hate to love me, I will take a sister by the hand and help her find her feet. For now, I work at finding work.

Live Laugh Love

Return to the bloggersphere

So I am back and to be totally honest it is quite scary. I have read my old pieces and not to sound arrogant but I enjoy my wirting *toot *toot! This is going to be a short post simply because have to shake the dust of my writing tools and do ot want t ramble and lose both you and I in my sporadic thought process. I will be bck soon, keep your minds and hearts open and warm for the occasion. For now I bid you adue. Mission: To land safely back in the bloggersphere
                              To stay true to all that I publish
                              To entertain and celebrate life through my words
P.S- Smiles are free