Category: Photography

We’re nearly two weeks into this heatwave and I’m suffering. These cold brew coffees are keeping me going though.

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I’ve replaced my morning coffee, usually made hot in my french press, with one of these. I’ve also started having one mid afternoon to cool down and help beat the mid afternoon sweaty slump.

How do you beat the heat?

So we’re having a bit of a heat wave here in London so fashion become a bit of a struggle. Making sure an outfit is practical and comfortable while staying stylish is tough.

I spent the day running errand and volunteering at my local PDSA so I wanted something super simple so I went with a vintage tee and pyjama style bottoms! Can’t be more comfortable than the clothes you’d normally sleep in!

If you’re struggling trying to be comfortable and chic at the same time my hack is get dressed with only comfort in mind and then spend a little time with accessorising and makeup. I’ve only started to take accessories seriously, it’s hard but it’s worth it for sure! Took a page from style icon Rihanna, and did a white liner look, and paired it with a black lip to make it even more edgy. A little makeup and a pair of earring can take an outfit from slouchy to sleek with minimal effort.

Before I’ll get into the details of the outfit I want to say two things;

  • the #metoo movement has come for Quentin Tarantino and thrown on spotlight on his bullshit; sauce sauce sauce. He’s appologised for some of this fuckery but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen.
  • while I was on the high street, I had one of those terrible fundraisers approach me with ‘Great shirt!’ so I made eye contact and said ‘Sorry, I haven’t got time but good luck today.’ to which HE replied questioningly ‘Have you seen the film?’ and that kind of made me snap a little because the inherent misogyny(femme ppl don’t like action films) in that question. I turned on my heels, looked him dead in the eyes and said ‘Is a quarter pounder called a Royal with Cheese in France?’ and his eye kind of bugged out a bit as I walked away.

Alright so now that I’ve educated you a little on Quentin Tarantino’s problematic af behaviour, and shared my little rant let’s get down t o the dirty details of this look;

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Strawberry season is one of my absolute favourites. I try my best to shop and eat food in season, and try to source as much as my food as locally as possible. At the moment we’re coming up to the end of British Strawberry season and I’ve been averaging a punnet(sometimes two) a day.

Decided to do a little photo shoot because these berries were as beautiful as they were tasty. Taken on my kitchen table with some cute vintage coffee mugs from my local charity shops.

Landed back in London late Sunday night. So thankful that the Eurostar pulls in just short ten minutes from my flat so getting home was relatively easy(I sat relatively because getting a cab from Kings Cross is ab loody nightmare). There’s only an hours time difference between London and Paris so we avoided major jet lag but that doesn’t mean I did wake up with post holiday exhaustion.

With two suitcases and two duffel bags to unpack, our holiday clothes to wash(plus two weeks of backed up laundry because our washing machine broke and was finally replaced while we were away), dry cleaning to drop off, bed clothes to take the laundrette(British washing machines are small and I hate them), orders placed in my online shop while I was on holiday to package and post, and of course a restock for my fridge, I had a long ass day ahead of me. To be honest I didn’t really have much energy or brain power to commit to coming up with a look. I did though, because… what can I say I have a gift?!

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I finished the ‘in house’ portion of my TO DO’s list and put together an outfit that didn’t end up seeing the light of day, it was more of a look than I actually had the energy to carry off so I took it down a few notches and ended up with a casual and comfy look that didn’t feel like too much. This happens a lot, I’ll put together a look in my head that doesn’t translate into reality how I’d hoped, or more often than not I don’t have the confidence to wear a look I’ve put together so end up toning it down considerably. I don’t get it right every time, and I don’t always look good, and that’s normal.

It was really hot in London yesterday, so cool comfort was in the cards, and with all the stuff I had to lug around I went with my MASSIVE Juicy handbag. I started with that as my foundation; and I did comfort and practicality my way.

 

Outfit details:

 

I’m working on a blog about my holiday in Nice and Paris as well as a ‘HOW TO PACK’ guide too! Susbcribe so you don’t miss it!

 

Spent a lazy Sunday strolling through Portobello Road Market, hay fever has had me in it’s grips for the last few weeks, so as I’m a bit worse for ware I went with a pretty basic look.

 

There’s a saying ‘West is BEST’ and it’s said, as one would expect, by people in live in west London. It’s an interesting borough to be sure, it’s home to the Portobello Road Market and Carnival, it’s where the film ‘Notting Hill’ took place and is home to some of the wealthiest and the poorest in the city. There is a massive divide between the have and have-nots. It was the site of the horrific Grenfell Tower disaster a year ago and the scars are still visible…

I used to work in the area but haven’t visited in a few years. This visit was heavy, the poverty and the wealth were suddenly more obvious to me.

I had decided to sport a high end handbag, to make myself feel less out of place and less judged by the monies milling about the area… but it mostly just made me feel guilty. Growing up poor, and now not being such, is really complicated. I struggle trying to establish an identity that is honest about both and it’s hard.

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Outfit details;

  • t-shirt by Armani Exchange, (thrifted)
  • Mom Jeans by Topshop, (thrifted, found these brand new WITH TAGS!)
  • leather trainers and sunglasses by Vans
  • Givenchy ’13 Rottweiler shopper

 

 

Had a spectacular time shooting Shahira who runs AfroGlory. Such an inspiring person and I joy to photograph!