VB X MNG

I’ve always been a fan of Victoria Beckham. If ever I was going to be a Spice, I’d be Posh, no questions asked. LBD – check, high heels – why not? Bob – I could make it happen… Let’s be real, the Spice Girls remain iconic, did you see the video David Beckham posted from Victoria’s 50th last week?

Like every other Millennial, I’d been a fan of the Spice Girls from Wannabe right through to Viva Forever. Even after that, I followed Vicky Becks closely, wondering what her next big break would be. She published Learning to Fly in the early 2000s and even though I wasn’t big on reading, as a teenager, I made it through that autobiography cover-to-cover. Around the same time, she released her first solo album. You guessed it, I bought the CD.

Today, I can’t say I’m that big a fan of hers (or anyone else for that matter), but I’m not going to lie, I’ve been keeping tabs particularly on Victoria Beckham -the Fashion Designer. I low key think this is who she was supposed to be all along. Everything prior to that, was just a journey she needed to experience to arrive exactly where she is now.

Earlier this week, coinciding with their 40th anniversary, Mango released their collaboration with Victoria Beckham. The 55 piece collection covering womenswear, jewelry and footwear was inspired by La Piscine, a 1969 summertime film starring Jane Birkin (the collaboration video even shows the models jumping into a pool). Specifically, parallels are drawn between Jane Birkin’s character’s ease, natural beauty, femininity, and “a real sense of freedom”.

The collection is très chic with feminine and macho inspired looks all very much wearable. The vibes are more Spring than Summer, either way, VB and MNG kept it graceful, elegant, sophisticated. The collaboration was really a match made in style heaven given that both brands are so similar (save for the price point). It’s more of a surprise that this wasn’t done earlier.

Good Luck getting anything in stock though, from what I hear, items sold out in hours. Below are some of my favourite pieces from the collection.

Were you lucky enough to get your hands on any pieces? Let me know, would be great to hear your thoughts on the quality. I don’t doubt that it would be anything short of exceptional.

xXx

Ps: What’s everyone watching these days on Netflix or Prime? I need recommendations

Column Dressing

As much as I love fashion, I’m still very much on the fence about trends. Could it be the millennial in me? I guess I like what I like and if I don’t like it, it’s fine to keep it moving.

Having said that, Column dressing is one of those trends I’ve noticed and become definitively obsessed with. You didn’t ask, but you know the drill, I’ll tell you why anyway…

I’m obsessed with a classic silhouette – comfortable without drowning you, tailored, but not exactly fitted. It’s easy and somehow it remains elegant. I kinda feel like it’s a tease, never really giving too much away but drawing you close enough to want more. Regardless of whether it’s a dress or a two piece, it’s pretty much always maxi, falling right down to the floor. 9/10x it’s a monochromatic look, 10/10x it’s a fire look.

Below are pictures of some looks I stole off Pinterest. Is it just me or are they all strapless? Never been one to brave it strapless but don’t hold your breath, I might surprise you.

Source: WhoWhatWear.com

Source: Pinterest

Source: Pinterest

Source: Pinterest

That’s all for today folks

xXx

Ps: Taiwo has been on my neck for God knows how long about doing something creative again. I hope this suffices even if it’s only for today.

Pps: Special thanks to Kathleen for encouraging me to get back into blogging . I’d totally given up!

Don’t Spend Time, Invest In It: Casio A168WE

With the new year often comes new resolutions. This year however, there’s been a trend of INs and OUTs and I’ve bought into it. Having compiled my 2024 INs and OUTs, I’ve noticed that a good chunk are centered around how I spend my time. What is that saying people preach…. “Time is a currency you can only spend once. Be careful how you spend it.” Yeah, that’s me this new year.

A couple of months back, Taiwo and I had a conversation about time. She was in my ear about how I spend it… advising me to relish in the moments I enjoy, letting the time pass and damning the consequences (within reason of course). Funny that advice came from her considering that she’s the one that bought Wura and I our Casios… The A168WE to be precise. It was supposed to be a gift for our -Taiwo & I’s- 35th birthday, but somehow, Wura was lucky enough to end up with one too.

The first time we owned Casio watches must have been 1997. It was a gift from our parents for our 10th birthday (if I remember correctly). We had matching pairs in dark purple and those watches did everything my 10yr old self required of any watch… they were fastidious in time telling – right down to the second, they reminded you of the day and date, the watch had an in-built alarm and was water resistant, but most importantly, at the touch of a button, it would light up, keeping you updated at the darkest hour. 10yr old K thought it was GENIUS! This time around, I opted for the silver watch, while Taiwo went for gold. Gbonju says the gold one reminds her of Del Boy from Only Fools and Horses, which had me cackling at the thought!

The Casio is so timeless, light, very simplistic, a little fun and heavy on nostalgia. It’s definitely a fave. I’m not sure that it ever really went out of fashion, but if it did, it’s safe to say it’s back and doing the rounds all over again.

What’s a nostalgic piece of jewelry that you own?

xXx

Ps: Is it still safe to say Happy New Year, or has that ship sailed?

Don’t Spend Time, Invest In It: Cartier Baignoire

I’ve never been a watch girlie. Always been wishy washy when it comes to time. You see, when it’s in my favour, I’ll tell you that I’m a stickler for time. Punctual. And when it goes against me, I’ll stand firm in the belief that time is a construct, an illusion. What I have found though, is that when I wear a watch, I’m more conscious of time and a tad more respectful of it. 

Over the past year or so, my interest in watches has heightened. I can’t pinpoint the exact moment in which it happened, but I am increasingly aware of the rabbit hole I get lost in every time I see an instagram post, or a TikTok about time pieces. So, I’ve been inspired to post a series on my current faves beginning with my most recent obsession- the Cartier Baignoire. 

Before we get into this, I acknowledge that Cartier is a jeweler. But for whatever reason, I have never been a fan of their infamous Love and Juste Un Clou bracelets. Just tooo cliché for me (the irony of this statement will be discovered in future posts). But their watches…! THEIR WATCHES!!!!! *Chef’s Kiss* 

I’ve never known a watch to so succinctly capture my every desired essence quite like the Baignoire does. Its bracelet secures a careless grace in it’s loose fitting. It’s feline silhouette dances up and down the wrist with each gesture. So carefree and yet so calculating. The oval bezel is very much minimalist but somehow decorative in that it can be stacked with your finest gems without losing its significance, or worn in isolation in appreciation of its simple, yet rare beauty.

As is Cartier’s signature, the watch dial is outlined with the typical rail track and labeled in roman numerals, while the crown is set in sapphire. Pure class.

As a start, I’ll need to set aside c. US$12,000 to adorn my wrist with this 1958 beauty! But the REAL magic happens when you’re able to cough up US$50,000. Shout Out to my future husband for this one. I will no doubt be burning a hole in his credit card for this dime piece. I just need him to show up already… Tik… Tok… (pun intended).  

Source: Cartier Website

Source: Cartier Website

What are your thoughts on my latest obsession?

Basic? Too much? Or right up your alley? Let me know…

xXx

Ps: What’s everyone doing for Christmas? I suspect this one will be reflective for me. Sooo thankful still. So, so thankful!

The Beauty Edit: Skincare

Ever so often, Me, Myself and I have an unbalanced conversation detailing the urgency of maintaining a positive & informed mindset, a cleansed & fit body and a God-fearing (and soul searching) spirit. But I won’t take you down the rabbit hole of my inner most thoughts and roller coaster of emotions (particularly of recent). At least not today. I’ll tread a bit more delicately and dive into my skincare instead.

A couple of years back, I had really bad skin. I thought I was doing everything right, so I couldn’t quite figure out where the forehead acne all of a sudden emerged from. It got increasingly distressing as people started noticing and making a point to tell me just how bad my skin had got. Before I knew it, an insecurity I never had, was constantly staring me down in every reflection. I couldn’t leave the house without wearing at the very least, medium coverage foundation. The problem is, make up sits soo much better (and is so much easier to apply) on clear skin, so my insecurities were heightened. I did everything – cleared out my skincare products, went to see an aesthetician, signed up for regular facials and a new skincare regimen, but that wasn’t working. Literally, nothing worked until I got rid of my Cook and changed my diet (bear in mind that not only do I detest cooking, but I’m also not particularly good at it).

Then I started being very intentional about what products I was using. Thank God for my sister, Laitan, who is always on standby to listen to your skincare woes and recommend what she feels might work best – she will advice you on what product to use at what time of day and the benefits of wiping one’s face with a bamboo muslin cloth (gentle on the skin and environmentally friendly). Let’s not forget the importance of watching what you eat – you are what you eat (at this point, I’m the one testifying).

So, I decided to tackle this skincare business head on. Here’s a breakdown of some of the things I started doing that have had a huge impact on my recent glow, in no particular order:

1. STAY HYDRATED… this is an all-day thing: If you’ve got one of those fruit infuser water bottles, GREAT! If you haven’t, that’s totally fine. Just throw sliced lemons, cucumber and mint in a glass/jug of water and you’re good to go. I legit think this is a game-changer that will have you downing liters of water in much shorter time periods. Hydrating from the inside is wonderful, but hyaluronic acid also does wonders for that topical hydration and so does snail mucin… which leads me to my second point… 
2. MULTI-MOISTURIZING… “Guys, do you multi-moisturize? Try it, it works! I exfoliate twice a week, hot cloth cleanse and moisturise with serum, cream, oil…oil only on the dry areas…” LOL That was Laitan in our group chat! Who knew this was a thing?! It’s basically knowing what works for what parts of your face and addressing identified needs. Except I don’t have time for that and I’m not entirely sure I know where my dry spots and oily spots are . So, I just use a layer of Cosrx Snail Mucin All-In-One Moisturizer – this thing is the HOLY GRAIL! It deeply hydrates and moisturizes waking your skin up. Koreans are undoubtedly the beauty aficionados – and then, I top it up with La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 + SPF 50, because otherwise, I WILL forget to apply SPF! It works as a nice thick sealant for me. At night, I replace the LRP with Argan Oil or Jojoba Oil.
3. DOUBLE CLEANSING. I recently started using Cerave Foaming Oil Cleanser instead of Micellar Water to wash off my makeup (I don’t know if this is a good or bad thing, please drop your thoughts in the comments) and then I finish off with La Roche Posay Effaclar gel face wash which I wholeheartedly love. The lather helps break down any residue makeup, oil or product that was left lingering on your face. It also feels really gentle on the skin and doesn’t leave your face excessively dry.
4. DIET! DIET! DIET! Last but definitely not the least, don’t ever let anyone tell you your diet doesn’t matter. Nothing could be further from the truth! Also, check those people, they’ve probably never suffered from bad acne so they don’t know! I incorporate fruit and veg salads in my diet, reduce oils – I’m very careful about the ones I use- and I generally watch out for reactions to new things I incorporate in my diet.

How are you looking after your skin? Is skincare important to you?

xXx

Ps: Do we need to address the elephant in the room – New Blog name, me acting like I never left…. Or are we just going to keep going and see how long I last this time?

PPs: I’m thinking of getting a proper website so that I can categorize my posts properly, “The Beauty Edit”, “Fashionably in Style”, “The Reading Corner”… I’m still working on the names particularly that Fashion/Style one, but you get the gist. A penny for your thoughts…

The Vanishing Half

Month: May

Book: The Vanishing Half

Author: Brit Bennett

I don’t know…

I was looking for a book to read so googled New York Times Best Sellers of 2020 and this book screamed at me. It’s about twins. One disappears. That was all it took to get me interested.

I didn’t enjoy the read. I wasn’t a huge fan of the writing style, and the storyline was just ‘meh’ in my humble opinion.

Halfway through, I almost gave up wondering where the hell Stella was. I had to call my friend Faridah (an actual avid book reader and fellow twin) to convince me to keep going. Having uncovered her whereabouts and her entire story, I’m not going to lie, I was underwhelmed.

Now that I’ve expressed all I disliked about the book, I must say that it was refreshing to have so many different stories intertwined and woven back together as one. Chapters weren’t clearly cut into characters perspectives, but somehow, I could keep up and I liked that.

BV Rates: 6/10

xXx

Ps: This set is THE most comfortable outfit I own.

Small Great Things

Month: April

Book: Small Great Things

Author: Jodi Picoult

Now THIS is my book of the year (I write this with so much confidence but I’m allowed to change my mind… right?).

Let me break down (a few of) my thoughts for you:

1. Like I mentioned with January’s read Wonder, I love getting into characters’ minds and understanding their thought process. Life is multidimensional isn’t it? So are points of view. So I’m seeing things through the lens of a black nurse with c. 20yrs of experience, a white supremacist genuinely fighting for what he believes is “just” and a middle class lawyer just trying to do her job, all encompassing this one read! It’s not so much that it’s genius, it’s more the fluidity in which she weaves the character perspectives (being that their mind frames exist in alternate universes) that’s what blows my mind.
2. I’m black. I’ve spent the vast majority of my life living in Nigeria. In Nigeria, the people are black. The citizens are (mostly) black. Racism isn’t a thing- at least not a prejudice I’ve experienced here (I’d be interested in finding out white people’s opinions though). My family is comfortable, I am comfortable. I’ve experienced racism abroad and it’s ugly, so that amongst other things is a reason why I find that I am most comfortable in Nigeria. When someone follows me around the shop here, it’s not because they think I’m going to steal. It’s because they think I’m going to buy every damn thing and leave a tip on top of that! They probably think that my perfectly manicured nails and pampered skin won’t tolerate the stress of having to carry a shopping basket or push a trolley, who knows I might cave under the weight (LOL). When I wear track suit (this is rare by the way) it’s not because I’m “ghetto” and getting ready to make a run for it (what ever it is), it’s because I was lazy and threw on something comfortable. When I read Small Great Things, I got angry on behalf of all the black people abroad that experience racism. No matter where you live, how much you earn or what you’ve accomplished, there will always be those that can’t see past your skin colour the fact that you do not look like them, and this absolutely blows my mind!
3. This book was written by a white woman. She did research, she wrote a story loaded with empathy, unveiling the workings of the American ‘Justice’ system and head on confronting racism. When I read Ruth’s perspective, I felt like I was Ruth and I understood her decisions. When I read Turk’s perspective, I can’t say I fully understood but at least it provided a glimmer of insight. Maybe I’m a little emotional, but I cried when I read Small Great Things.

• Somewhat random, but there’s a paragraph in the book which I quoted on my Instagram Stories because at the time, it was SO relevant to what I was going through. Not as a black person, but as a human being:

“If the past few months have taught me anything, it’s that friendship is a smokescreen. The people you think are solid turn out to be mirrors and lights; and then you look down and realize there are others you took for granted those who are your foundation.”

Which takes me to my final point:

• Jodi Picoult’s writing style is beautiful. Her phrases are like a song with deeper meaning. If you rush through, you might be unappreciative of the melodies…. It’ll be like shutting your blinds when the sun is setting instead of taking in the colours, the patience, the beauty. If like me, you then happen to find something that speaks to your situation, well… it’s all over!   

BV Rates: 9/10

xXx

Ps: When you read JP’s more recent stories, the growth is evident. She’s definitely one of my top authors. I’m not sure I’ll ever turn down the opportunity to read one of her books.

PPs: On that random note about skin, I broke out recently and I’ve now taken on a 5 step beauty regimen which is a bit extra for (and hilarious to) me. I’m really hoping it makes a difference. Should I blog about it? LOL I don’t know I’ll need to put pictures….