Tokyo

Tokyo by Charmaine

♪♫ Meet in France.
Meet me in Mexico.
Chinatown.
Then off to Tokyo.
It doesn’t matter ’cause anywhere’s perfect with you.
City lights, colors of indigo.
Sun or snow, don’t matter where we go.
It’ll be perfect ’cause it’s all amazing with you. ♪♫

You hear an unbelievably good song on radio and don’t have a clue as to whose sang it or even what it’s called. So you result to singing the bits of the chorus that stuck (and every possible search engine available). To no avail.

Until one day the radio presenter finally TELLS you. After weeks of empty lyric searches on Google, you hesitatingly go to YouTube and voilà!… There’s a video!!

I’m so happy. I can already see the models strutting down the runway to the beat of the tune someday. An awesome, floaty, indi-esque song for an awesome, floaty, indi-esque collection.

♫♪ Singing…oh-oh-oh-ooohhhhhh… ♫ ♪

- Marjory

Enter The Makeup Brush – A Perfect Arch

HOW TO: A MAKE-UP GUIDE ON MAKE-UP BRUSHES  (Part III)

For those of us who are not just getting back to make-up but getting back to make-up well done!

“She had curiously thoughtful and attentive eyes; eyes that were very pretty and very good.”  ― Charles Dickens, Great Expectations

Discovering the best shape for your eyebrows without sacrificing their natural appearance is what you want to accomplish when shaping your brows. I’ll do a how-to guide on shaping techniques later, for now, here’s just the tool to help you sculpt that arch to perfection…

|| The Eyebrow Definer Brush

The eyebrows are often described as frames that showcase the eyes. Those thin strips of hair make a surprising and dramatic difference in the look of your eyes. When you start using eye makeup, it won’t take long to discover that the emphasis you place on your lashes and lids needs to extend to your brows to create a good balance. That usually means shaping and the addition of some color.

The brush – There are a number of eyebrow brush styles on the market. They can look like miniature hairbrushes, spiral (mascara style) applicators or even like angled eyeshadow brushes. The most flexible and useful eyebrow brushes have long handles and heads with short, stiff, angled bristles. This design makes the brush useful for shaping brow hairs as well as applying waxes, powders or creams. If your brows tend to be unruly, look for a combo, dual end, brush with a second, spiral style applicator on the handle end. You’ll be able to tame and tint your eyebrows with one tool.

The technique – Very few eyebrows feature a perfect, full arch. An angled eyebrow brush is very good at filling in sparse spots (possibly from an overzealous plucking session) and defining a smooth even curve. Start by using short strokes to apply product to your brows, and then lengthen your strokes as you achieve even distribution. Employ the spiral to remove excess product.

And The Winner’s Are…

There’s been a heated debate going on in the blogosphere (…does Facebook count as a blog?) about the current worldwide trend in African Prints. I believe the buzz began last year with Marc Jacob and Louis Vuitton’s use of the Maasai print for their men’s 2012 Spring/Summer collections.

I didn’t buy it. And even now still think that neither did justice to the strength exuded by that bold Maasai print. Maybe the designers (experienced as they are) just didn’t know how to work it, maybe it was the models who didn’t sell it, maybe seeing it on a runway in Paris drained it of all it’s authenticity. Either way, I thought that was that, until I began seeing Hollywood celebrities with Ankara, Kitenge, Khanga and Leso prints on their outfits. What really got my attention though, were the comments from fellow African designers, bloggers and fashion enthusiasts…

In a nutshell. NO, please note that not all ‘Tribal Prints’ are African. And YES, it is definitely a plus to see African culture in the limelight and on the world’s stage. YES, there will be opportunists  as there generally are where money is to be made. But NO, they won’t last. They simply don’t have what it takes to outlast the trend and go on to build a strong brand. Vision is a most powerful thing. So what do we need to do as designers? Keep at it. Stay true and true to our course. As bloggers? Step away from the magazines, movies and music. Get back to what’s real and begin appreciating our own. We cannot purport to give, what we do not have.

Africa/Kenya. Wins.

Still on the topic of trends… Albino models. Stunning. They make for simply stunning models. Came across Amina Adams of Knitwear Models (Kenya) earlier on in the week. Speaking as one who’s generally not a fan of trends, here’s where one has actually been an eye-opener for me; I just didn’t know it was a possibility. Definitely looking forward to incorporating  Albino’s in my product photo-shoots future. Can’t wait.

Albino models. Win.

Sat in for Baby Banda’s 1st Motherhood Workshop last weekend. Being surrounded by 1000+ pregnant women is an overpowering feeling; everyone was glowing like a 100 watt light bulb! Now, imagine my shock when at the end of it all I hear my name being read out as a winner’s of the Palmer’s Hamper. Me. Not-pregnant,  not a mother, there by work default, me. And then MC, Tahidi High’s Ms. Morgan asks… “How far along are you?”  Surreal!

I won again this weekend at The Mingle; courtesy of HP, i’m now the proud owner of a lovely big, white, branded umbrella. (It’s the simple things really). I’m on a roll. God’s on a roll – this unmerited favour of his amazes me!

Me. I win.

Wishing you many winning moments this week too.

- Marjory

Stackable Statements

 

 

These silk bracelets – one of the very first items I designed and made – are (if I may say so) superbly lovely! And indeed very close to my heart.

Now, when it comes to styling, I soon found out that one just wasn’t going to cut it. I needed at least three stacked up on my wrist to create that enviable statement effect. So that’s how they’ve been paired for you in the online store. Each one’s design is unique because each reflects a different part of the overall print. But together, they blend in again so well it’s amazing!

My favorite (yes, even designers have favorites from among their own) is Red Coral but in all there are five prints to choose from including Bohemia, Blue Coral, RoseWater & Paisley. 

Which one would you wear? And what would you style it with?

I Wanna Be Reckless. Shameless.

Reckless – Jeremy Camp

♩♪♬ “Everytime I try to play it safe. Holding back just a little part of me…”♫

Been plugged in and listening to this song all week! Time to share? 

Dear Pearls, give it up for the very talented – very rockin’ – Jeremy Camp!…

Fashion, Style & Four Days Of Sunday

Four days of Sunday. Four days of pure bliss! Four days of catching up with your style.

Today I took time to finally read through and even comment on posts from everyone I follow on Bloglovin’ – not every post, mind you – just the ones I found the most interesting. It made for some very funny, very good (and sometimes shocking) reading.

Interesting because of the amazing amount of effort, style and dedication that fellow fashion bloggers put into their publications.  For that’s what they most rightly are; many having just put my favorite fashion magazines to shame.  Asanteni sana, reading through your posts has given me some much needed insight as to the direction I ought to go into with my own. So…all in all, the editors at Instyle Magazine and I need to UP our game!

On the other hand, some of the reading was shocking because not all style is equal. And not all fashion is fashionable. Unlike a magazine, which goes out of print when people stop buying. It’s everyday people who own blogs and the only time someone stops is when they choose to. My dear pearls, it broke my heart to see you update posts of yourselves literally half-naked; thing-high, butt-low, skintight body contouring dresses, sheer tops and bright bras, cropped high above the navel, busts overflowing… all while proclaiming the ‘fierceness’ of your style and championing others to do the same.

No matter what the fashion guru’s may tell you (whoever they may be), i’ve learnt never to buy into a trend that asks for my dignity, my very integrity in return. There is G.R.E.A.T. beauty in modesty. The famous Coco Chanel once quoted a poet who said “When a girl ceases to blush, she has lost the most powerful charm of her beauty.” And she herself is quoted as having said “A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.” How can this be under-dressed as you are?

I know, I know …my views may draw heat and indignation from those who believe ‘fashion has no boundaries’ and come from the school of thought that ‘trendy’ or ‘avant-guarde‘ is all that is weird and dark and naked. But the truth remains the truth; my sentiments firm and motives genuine. Now more than ever – we need a revolution of sorts and online is the best place to start. #ProjectDignity …a return to what is truly beautiful, stylish and fashionable.

It starts with me, so i’ll be sharing from my own as well as from the blogs of those i’ve stumbled upon who prove dignified fashion true – and stunningly so. We’ll begin with orange …my next color-of-the-moment – whether blocked with fucshia or baroque print peplum skirts. Denim tops paired with neon skirts, white distressed jeans with pastel pumps…etc.  Fashion & design as it was truly meant to be!

Sit back and enjoy!…

††† Much Love.

- Marjory

Sun, White Sands And Another Pretty Bottle Of Nailpolish

B.O Pastel Nailpolish – Summer Peach [#31]

An Easter holiday share from blogger Latifa Swaleh’s review of the B.O Pastel Nail-polish range. Simply lovely! No two ways about it. And just another colour I think every pretty girl should own.

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. || Isaiah 53:5-6

Good Friday through to Easter Monday…wishing you a most blessed and happy Easter/Passover Season.

 

- Marjory Simon

Enter The Make-Up Brush – A Gentle Blush

HOW TO: A MAKE-UP GUIDE ON MAKE-UP BRUSHES  (Part II)

For those of us who are not just getting back to make-up but getting back to make-up well done!

“Such a blush in the midst of brown was born, Like red poppies grown with corn.” –  Thomas Hood

     

The Blusher Brush

Glowy, rosy cheeks help to give your complexion contrast and make you look healthier. You can’t blush on cue, but you can add a hint of color so expertly it’ll look like the real thing.

The Brush – This may be your new secret weapon. It has the power to perform one of the most essential tasks in makeup application: blending effectively. Look for a chubby, dome-shaped brush tip that’s a little smaller than a face powder applicator brush. The bristles should be soft and between 2 and 2.5 inches long. You’ll want a relatively long handle, too. Professional beauty experts usually prefer natural to synthetic bristles, but even if you like an animal cruelty-free approach to most of your purchases, consider making an exception here. Natural bristles help distribute minute powder particles effectively. They deliver a feathered finish you’ll have trouble getting any other way.

The Technique – For the best results, apply powder to the tip of the brush and tap off any excess. Too little powder is better than too much, so use restraint. Sweep the brush over the apple of your cheeks. When you smile and hold it, the bump that forms over your cheekbone and directly under your eye is what’s known as the “apple.” Use a sweeping motion to blend blush powder upward toward your temple.

——————————————————–

The shades to use?… If you’re chocolate-skinned like me, lay off  wearing pink or red as it mostly tends to come off as incredibly unnatural – like a doll’s or …errrm (there is no nice way to say this) …attention seeking twilight girl’s. O_o

On the other hand a warm bronze shade makes your skin come alive, your cheeks radiate health – and THAT’S the look you want to go for!

xoxo

- Marjory

Pretty Colours Every Girl Should Own

B.O Pastel Nail-polish
Photography: Sharon Mundia

1. Pop Candy Pink

2. Mandarin

3. Cotton Blue

4. Mint Green

5. Lemon Chiffon

Just two of the five pretty pastel colours I think every girl should own. And just one of the ways to get you ready for Passover (Easter) celebrations.

- Marjory

Kenya Decides – A New Dawn

Photography – Diego Arroyo, African Digital Art

I’m privileged to have been born in what is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful (if not the most beautiful) 580,400 km² of land on this earth.

Yesterday, we went to the polls to vote in our next president and since then everyone has been glued to their screens (TV, Laptop, Blackberry, iPad…and radios too) keenly and anxiously following the results as they slowly trickle  in.

Through it all, Peace has lain as a calming, protective blanket in the air. In our midst. In our hearts. Refusing to let go and refusing to allow us to sink into the darkness that we witnessed in 2007.

As we wake up to not just a new leadership, but a new dawn, never have the words of our National Anthem rang so close, so very true. Indeed…

“O God of all creation
Bless this our land and nation
Justice be our shield and defender
May we dwell in unity
Peace and liberty
Plenty be found within our borders…“

Continue to keep us in your prayers.

- Marjory

#ProudlyKenyan