African Fashion + Designers!

The inspiring looks coming out of the continent of Africa and from fellow ex-pats are INCREDIBLE! Traditional prints and creative designs are giving fashion-forward men and women a reason to feel sexy and proud!!!!

Personally, mixing traditional prints with items I buy locally in Saskatchewan is a great way to highlight both aspects of my wardrobe!

Below are a few designers and items to share:

Botswana Fashionistas with their lovely colourful accessories - The Khoi Fro

Loved this collared-coat....very striking!

Also mixing contrasting prints has become a wonderful trend!!!

Kente cloth design print dress shirt

Traditional embroidered tunic shirts on wax printed fabic....an old classic but with a modern slim fit

Ankara-style fabric in a playsuit design! Playsuits are becoming summer essentials for Lady J

African-print with solid colour for South African Fashion Week

Sober - Spring/Summer 2014

Also stay tuned for my upcoming highlights of AfroFest Regina over the weekend where I hope to catch more amazing African-inspired styles and cultural happenings:)

xoxo
Lady J 

#Snap Your Style Contest - Steven and Chris

Hi everyone:

The fabulous show Steven and Chris which talks about all things style, is hosting a "snap your style" contest where viewers send in pictures of themselves! For this particular entry, they want to know how you style yourself wearing a classic white dress shirt.

I sent in my entry in yesterday via Twitter:

The winner of this contest gets:
• A shopping spree at Hudson's Bay = approx. retail value $1,000.00.
• A complete makeover on Steven and Chris. (Ekk! I could be on TV)
• One night stay for two at Trump Hotel with valet parking, dinner for two at STOCK
Restaurant Bar & Lounge, In-Room breakfast for two. Approximate retail value $1,695.00.

And the total retail value of the prizes is around $2,695.00!!!

Every fashionista's dream! Wish me luck and stay tuned y'all, we find out in during the show's Fall season!

xoxoxo
Lady J

Where did you get those Cheekbones?

Hello beauties!

Have you ever wondered how/why some women have the most fantastic cheekbones and sculpted features
you have ever seen? Yes, sometimes it is just genetics but for many ladies its all about countering.

Photo credit: Stylelist Canada

Countering allows for more definition, by highlighting the natural peaks and valleys of face to create stunning symmetry to your features. So you can virtually widen or narrow features just with pigmented foundations and highlighter creams.

Check out this article for more tips!

xoxoxox

Lady J

What I'm into: Eyebrow Threading Technique

Hello beauty lovers:

As someone with very sensitive skin, I am not a big fan of waxing usually, so I have adapted my eyebrows to incorporate the threading routine.

This practice has been around for centuries all over southern Asia as well as Eastern Africa. By using, strong cotton thread women (and some men I'm sure) have been maintaining smooth hairless skin....so the secret is out I guess...

Follow along with this step-by-step guide to perfecting the threading technique and creating a near-perfect brow shape! It really does frame your face and also can give the appearance of a more open and lifted eye!

Check yourself out first and observe what brow look will flatter your face and eye shape....for me personally I have very round features so a fuller eyebrow looks best, the thinner and smaller your features are, the thinner and smaller you are permitted to make your brow shape (but watch out, since you don't want non-existent brows! we have all met those people lol) Some ladies like to use a white eye pencil to outline their new desired shape and/or just the spots where the would like to remove the hair.

Ok back to threading.....so you want to start with a looped piece of thread about 12 inches/30 cm long (about the length of a ruler) or your forearm.

Next you will twist the centre of the loop and create a "bow-tie" shape to place along the skin area, with your fingers facing inward, you will feel in control to slide the string upwards against the hair and towards the nose. The hair gets trapped in the twisted string and it almost lifts them up and out of the pores. Imagine a lawn mower cutting blades of grass!

This continuous motion will feel like 10 plucks at once!!! But we had a saying in our household that "it hurts to be beautiful" but if it's just a touch-up then the pain is a lot less:)

Photo Credit: Glamour.com

Ultimately, threading is all about angles....so naturally you will stop and start again at different points to create your ideal shape!

Also be mindful of a few key things:
*You may see some redness post-threading but not to worry it is very normal and will fade within a hour or less

*You can use your trusty tweezers to take care of those stubborn stray hairs that my be too tricky to thread out (probably closer the the inter arc of you brow; between the areas of #1 & 2 in the first image)

*To keep your brows looking neat and sharp, maintain this routine every other week

*Also don't be afraid of filling in your brows with a matching eyebrow pencil or eye shadow that goes with your natural brow colour to give a finished and smooth look! We call do that ;)

**Bonus Tip: in case you have long or slightly curly brows like me....comb the hairs upwards and trim the edges of the arc (areas #2 & 3) with some fine bladed scissors....hopefully the security detail at the airport did not confiscate them like they did your girl #truestory #youknowwhatmynextpurchaseis

xoxo

Lady J 

I Hope You're not Wearing the Wrong Bra?

...but in case you are, don't worry you join over 75% of women around the world in your misjudgment.

Read this article to find your correct fit and size and let those "girls" feel COMFORTABLE!

Photo Credit: Google Images

You're welcome,

xoxo,

Big sister, Lady J

Shopping in Saskatoon - Part 2

Hi friends:

How is the month of February treating you?

In continuation with the local shopping series, the next installment is here!

Flashback Clothing Collective
Drinkle Mall (Lower Level)
115 - 3rd Avenue South, Suite #6

• Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Open Wed - Fri 12-5:30pm & Sat. 11:30am-5pm

Facebook Page - Flashback Clothing Collective

Flashback is a wonderful vintage clothing and accessories store here in Saskatoon's Drinkle Mall. I remember walking down 3rd Ave this past Fall and came across their sandwich board on the street...and being being very intrigued by the name as well as the possibility of vintage treasures within!

The store has been arranged by decade, so you are able to easily pick out the item's references and understand its influence on today's styles:

Also the owner Shanon, has a wealth of knowledge about every piece of merchandise and able to discuss an piece's historical context with shoppers. She mentioned to me that her merchandise comes from her and her family's personal collections but Shanon also purchases vintage items from women who are down-sizing and/or cleaning out attics and storage rooms from their rural and urban properties throughout the province.

When it comes to vintage shopping, be sure to have lots of time to spare, since half the fun is in the find as well as this will give you a chance to inspect a piece properly and consider its fit!!! Also before you get ready to stop over at Flashback, be sure to hit up the various ATMs downtown since it is a "cash only" shop!

xxxxoxo

Lady J 

You're so Vain...

Hi folks,

After intensifying my hair skin-care moisturizing rituals...the harsh winter weather seems to wreck havac on my sensitive body (secrets to be shared soon!)...I have realized that every fashionista needs a designated place that makes her feel even more beautiful as she gets ready to meet her public and/or at the end of the night when she is taking down all of the glamour of the day!

Also I find that it gives a bedroom or a luxurious bathroom that extra PUNCH!!! with a great display of personal items, jewelry boxes and various fragrance bottles showcasing her style personality from minimalistic to over-the-top fanciful:

Mirrored vanity

 Skirted version:

Interesting corner vanity

 Breath-taking!

Photo Credits: Google Images 

xxxx

Lady J 

Style Watch: Holiday Party Outfits

Season's Greetings Fashionitas:

The holidays are coming up so fast,  in 4 more sleeps to be exact!

Hopefully you are attending holiday parties throughout the month and enjoying all the little treats and drinks available.

Below are a few festive trends I have noticed this season!!!:

I love how this white and cream coloured dress glows on her skintone:

Photo Credit: glamour.com

A beautiful sweater for your daytime events:

Photo Credit: lyst.com

A pair of fancy coloured or brocade print pants (Lady J has a pair of the black and gold ones in her closet!):

Photo Credit: oliviapalermocom

 Metallics have been consistently a part of the holiday colour palette:

Photo Credit: Google Images

Photo Credit: Google Images

Or one can glow in all shades of green (the fringe dress is one of my favourite):

Photo Credit: Google Images



Whatever you plan to wear to your festivities, remember to be merry and joyful for all that you have!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

xoxoxo

Lady J