She Stuns. She Stuns Not. She Stuns Again.

It is safe to say every woman has had beauty-lapsing moments. Those moments you lock yourself indoors just because your mirror says Snow White, unfortunately, is fairer than you –‘How dare she?! If only this pimple understood how unwelcome a guest it is on my face, I would be the fairest of all’. Or those cringe-worthy moments your fashion game isn’t on 'fleek' and the whole world notices, but you – until much later. The beautiful and talented Lupita Nyong’o sadly doesn’t escape this plight.

Hollywood doesn’t play when it comes to award events. Inasmuch as these events are aimed primarily at gathering the crème de la crèmes in the industry and awarding their talent, all we fashion lovers see is a gathering of STYLE! It is a time to increase our fashion-radar frequency; find out those who take our breath away and those who choke us. Where does Lu' stand?

Lupita Nyong'o in Prada

 This was the jaw-dropping, breathtaking moment for me. Lu' wore a light-blue custom Prada gown - that looked perfect against her dark skin tone - to the '014 Oscars. She became a woman after our fashion hearts.

Fast-forward few months later and this 'choking' moment happened...

Lupita Nyong'o in Giambattista Valli Couture

... she wore this purple and lilac Giambattista Valli dress - that did absolutely nothing to and for her figure - to the '015 Golden Globes. There are two major reasons why this outfit was a complete fail:

1. Having a boyish figure, this dress does nothing to cinch in and accentuate her waist.                       
2. Yes, it is advisable for those who are flat-chested to go for ruffled or feathered tops; it gives the illusion of a larger bust, but less is always more. Its as though this designer said: 'oh, i want to make you half bird and half human' but then realized how wrong that decision was a little too late.

The comeback! 

Lupita Nyong'o in Elie Saab

'She's sexy and she knows it'. She did right by the world of fashion in this swoon-worthy, colourful Elie Saab gown she wore to the '015 Screen Actors Guild Awards (SAG). Did she get it right? YES! Did we love it? YES!! Did she look amazing? YES!!! Hopefully she remains 'slaying' on the red carpet.
In other news... isn't her dark skin so lovely?

Denim-Throned

What is simple enough to look casual, yet sophisticated enough to appear glamorous? Say hello to the tried-and-trusted DENIM!!!

Denim is that fabric that kills ‘every flying creature with one stone’, how cool is that?  Through the years we’ve seen designers prove to us, fashion lovers, time and time again just how indispensable this fabric is. If ever there is a designer-fabric-muse, denim takes home the crown.

Last year, transitioning from our skin-tight-skinny jeans, we welcomed a less hurtful, pro-air boxy-boyfriend jean; we loved it and our legs couldn’t thank us enough. We also tapped into our inner-oldie for some inspiration and stumbled upon the high-waisted jean trend, but with a modern twist of course. This year however, we are breaking denim boundaries and going on an adventure! We are time-jumping to a period were denim ruled. Like always, designers are leading the way.

Here are ways to rock the denim trend this year:

 

Think Coats and Jackets

Michael Kors

 

 

 

 

 

Valentino

'Crop-game' just got realer with the newest addition to the crop-family - crop jean!

MM6 Maison Martin Margiela

J. Crew

Hello full maxi skirt, bye pencil midi skirt...

Chloe

If you think you saw bedazzled and frayed (ripped) jean in twenty-fourteen, you're about to see a lot more in twenty-fifteen. This trend isn't done yet and it is over-the-top than ever - we are very pleased.

Hood by Air

Dolce and Gabbana

I call this the 'easy-fix' style. Do you have any torn jean? Patch it up! Don't worry its in vogue, you can get away with it. 

Tommy Hilfiger

Vanessa Bruno

Are you a dare-devil that feels one denim at a time doesn't cut it? By all means get denim-excited;  throw it all on. But be warned, make sure the weather is less than 20 degrees Celsius outside or you could be a walking river.

Fendi

In the fashion Kingdom, denim graciously sits on the throne undefeated... like they say, 'if you cant beat them, join them'.

Photo Credit: Vogue

What Our Bodies Want, Our Hearts Love.

A constant truth in the world of fashion is that style is ever evolving and continuously being recycled. However, once in a while, we encounter certain stylish trends that overstay their welcome, thanks to the impressive fashionable trails they leave in our hearts and wardrobe. It is almost impossible to part with them.

The love of peplum is the beginning of versatility! Yes, the peplum style is one of such trends we don’t seem to want to have enough of and this isn’t because it’s shoved in our faces almost on a daily basis – by our mirrors, but because we know in our inner hearts what it does to our bodies if worn right.

Here are tips on how not to go wrong with the peplum trend:

- If you are spoon or pear shaped, that is, having larger hips and smaller bust, avoid peplum skirts as they would make your already large hips appear larger, remember the aim is to balance out your body. Instead, opt for a peplum top with an under-emphasized flare stopping just above the hips.

- Do you have an inverted-triangle figure? Then you are the opposite of the pear shape; you have a larger upper body, broader shoulders, slimmer hips and legs. Tilt towards peplum above-the-knee (showing off your lovely asset – your legs) skirts with a long-over-emphasized flare. 

  

- If you have a straight or hourglass figure you are in luck as you can wear whatever ‘remix’ of the peplum style there is,  just make sure you don’t get peplum-crazy; leave it at one peplum piece at a time.

I dare say wearing clothes have gone beyond the ‘Adam and Eve’ ‘covering our nakedness’ purpose. Clothes ought also to make us feel good about our bodies; enhancing our physical pros and concealing our physical cons. If our bodies feel good in it, we can’t resist. Now can we?

photo credit: bellanaija