'THE FASHION BUDGET SERIES' POST THREE!!!

Hello People,

Its been a wonderful week so far. Why? I have been writing about two things that i am really interested in. Fashion and Finance. I looove to look good ( my mum thinks am the vainest person created) and i am also very money conscious ( my room mate in school, friends,boy friend and family members can attest to it). I am part Ijebu and that's the dominant part of me, i must confess. I am very frugal and i am NOT a shopaholic( i can be,but i refuse to). When i wanted to start this blog, i wanted to go the fashion blogger route but after going through various fashion blogs and seeing the daily fabulous fashion updates and the name brands they wear. I realized that i could not compete, period! I am totally confused on how these ladies can afford their ward robes? Do they save? How much do they spend on cloths monthly? Can i be an Ijebu Fashionista? I am not dissing them oooo, far from it. I have the utmost respect for them and a little envy i might add. If i had the resources to have as many cloths as they do, believe me i would. One of my dreams in life is to have a 'walk in' closet filled with shoes but till then i have to work with a budget. Which is why the idea of this fashion series popped into my head while chatting with my sister. Anyway, this is my third post on the fashion budget series and i intend to continue writing on affordable fashion, from time to time. I also want to say that i cannot be placed under the title 'FASHIONISTA' but i do love to look good.  So that gives me the right to write about fashion. Being a fashionista is too much work if you ask me, but if you are a young lady and love to look good but on a budget, then we are soul sisters.

This post is about some staple pieces that any woman MUST have in their closet, Fashionista or not. I am not a ' Trendy' person i believe in ' Timeless classy pieces' that will stand the test of time. Trends should be used to update a ward robe not build it. So lets go....

• The little Dress: This is a staple. It could be black or white or are as many colors as you can afford. However start with the black. Black is versatile,goes with everything and can be dressed up or down,depending on the occasion. Make sure it fits your body type and you feel fabulous when you wear it.  

• Blazer: I love blazers.They have saved me so many times when i have no idea what to wear. Especially the black one. Its also very versatile and can be worn both day and night, casual or formal,depending on what you wear it with.  

• White button down shirt: Have as many of this as possible. The Nigerian weather demands it especially if you are not mobile. White shirts can fade or get dirty or become cream in color ( lol) if you are a public transport veteran.  

• Black Trousers and Black pencil skirt: Must haves! I love the black pencil skirt. Ist a life saver, goes with everything and fits almost any shape. It gives me curves especially those that come in body con material. Black trousers go with anything as well. 

• Black Leather Bag, shoes ( heels and flats): Frugality aside, i believe you should invest in a good black leather bag ( do not go birkin) but  you have to buy one that will last a very long time. I have a brown leather bag that's older than i am, passed down to me from my mum. The shoes too, if you can. Flats are comfortable and heels give you sex appeal and go with everything. 

• Cardigan sweaters and Camisoles: You should get these in  black,tan and a bright color. They can be worn together or with dresses,blazers etc. They look very sophisticated.  

• Leather belt: Black and brown colors are essential and help to finish your look. 

• Leggings; Black ooooo! that's the must have to be worn with tunic tops and shirt dresses. 

• Jeans: Its preferable to get this in dark washes. It allows you to wear them in semi formal and casual attire. 

• A pair of sandals: Make sure they go with everything and are comfortable. Sandals can be worn with dresses ( maxis and knee length),leggings, shorts and even jeans. 

• Statement accessories: neck pieces, rings, bangles and earrings etc. They help in transforming attires from formal to casual. 

 

 

 Hope all these posts are very helpful. We 'frugalistas' need to stick together. Its been a blast this couple of days and i have enjoyed writing every post, hope you have enjoyed reading them. All these tips are a combination of common sense and research. Please post comments and send suggestions via my email account rasaqtobi@yahoo.com or  please follow me on my twitter handle @tobirasaq. For your gorgeous and AFFORDABLE accessories visit www.facebook.com/TheAccesoriesLounge.  

Cheers.

Live Love and Laugh..

'THE FASHION BUDGET SERIES' POST 2

Hello Everyone,

It's still the affordable fashion series and i hope we all learnt a thing or two from post one and are getting inspired, i know i am.

In post 2, we are focusing on accessories and how we can use them to update our ward robe if we are a bit cash strapped. Its not all the time, that you  totally change your wardrobe but with a few select accessory pieces, you can breathe some new life into those cloths that you are so tired of. Here we go..

• Embellished Sandals : Sandals are so comfortable when dressing down especially in this very hot weather( i cannot say for those in the west, i guess they need boots). Thong sandals in different colors give some sparkle to a casual outfit and gives you a bohemian vibe.  

• Colorful scarves: Even though the weather is very hot now. Harmattan is around the corner with its hazy, cold windy mornings ,filled with dust. Wear a colorful scarf to dress up your outfit, they also come in handy in winter and Autumn. Scarves can be worn on the neck,as headbands and tied on bags for a chic look. 

• Fun Bracelets: They are so affordable and come in bright cheerful colors. Wear one or many at a time and give your outfits a youthful zest. 

• Bright Heels: Do not buy another boring black shoe. Get some pop of color into your wardrobe with a bright colored pair of heels. I prefer pumps because they are versatile and can be won with jeans, skirts and dresses. 

• Skinny Belts: Belts have gone beyond functionality and can be a fashion statement especially when they come in color. Cinch in that waist with a bright colored skinny belt when wearing sweaters or a dress or even jeans. 

• Over sized neck pieces: They are on trend and in my opinion going to be here for a while. Buying statement neckpieces and wearing them with old cloths just give you a different look and they come in different price ranges, so its pocket friendly. 

Hope these tips go a long way in keeping you fashionable on a budget. More posts will come up on the Fashion budget series. Do not forget to send your suggestions to rasaqtobi@yahoo.com and follow me on twitter @tobirasaq. If you also want to get fabulous accessory pieces please visit the facebook page www.facebook.com/TheAccessoriesLounge. 

Cheers! 

Live Love and Laugh

The 'Fashion Budget Series' Post 1

Hello Ladies and Gents,

How was the weekend? Fun,chilled or in between? I spent the weekend at home. The weather these past couple of days has been extremely hot. Just raising my hand to swat away a fly makes me break out in sweat. Unfortunately, living in Nigeria means that hot weather does not give you an excuse to prance around in short shorts and crop tops( especially if you are not mobile).

Anyway lets get to the business of today. While i was just lounging about in my short shorts and tank tops ( indoors of course) browsing through the internet and fashion magazines. I could not help but feel a tad bit jealous of these celebrities ( some local and mostly international) with their $5000 hand bags and cashmere sweaters. What's a girl to do on a budget? No matter what all these fancy pants economists tell me with their graphs and pie charts and reports, the truth of the matter is that we are broke ( speaking for the common man i mean). The economy is comatose and our leaders are in a coma as well. I cannot believe that Nigerian senators receive a ward robe allowance of N621,061.37 about $4000 a month. Is this fair?

Anyway i digress... so what does this mean for young women who want to look good but do not have endless deep pockets, an oil company job, a 'sponsor' or a rich family background? It means you get creative. I did a post in the past ' single girl living on a budget' but that was more of a rant on our life style in general. These series of posts are going to be more practical and will actually give tips on how to look good on a limited amount of cash. Some of them will be sheer common sense, some from fashion websites that actually know what they are talking about and some might be from friends and even my own thoughts or ideas. Ready? Lets go...

• Going Vintage: I have always said that 'Vintage' is just a fancy way of saying 'Okrika' or 'second hand clothing'. I know some women will rather face boko haram insurgents than be caught ' bend down selecting' and Yaba and Lagos Island market is not for the faint of heart but you could stumble across some really good pieces.   

• The art of Mixing; a good fashionista knows that mixing and matching is a very smart way to go. You could pair an expensive pair of shoes with a less pricey blouse or dress. There is also no shame in repeating some pieces and wearing them in a different way. 

• Make it fit: No matter how expensive an outfit is, if it does not fit properly, it looks cheap. This goes for less pricey stuff as well. Making sure its tailored and fits right will make you look like a million bucks.   

This is it for the first post of the ' Fashion Budget Series'. More posts are coming and hope you enjoy, learn and even send suggestions. Please send your suggestions to rasaqtobi@yahoo.com or follow me on twitter @tobirasaq . 

Have a fab week ahead. 

Live,Love and Laugh

LAGOS FASHION AND DESIGN WEEK!!!

Hi guys,

Something exciting has been happening in the Lagos Fashion scene and that is the GTBank Lagos Fashion and Design week, 2013. This annual event kicked of on the 23rd of October to today 26th of October 2013. Designers from different parts of the continent have come together at the Eko Hotel to showcase their signature collections for the world  to see.





This event is an opportunity for Fashionistas, buyers, sellers etc to mingle and network. It's also an opportunity for Lagos socialites to 'SEE' and be 'SEEN'. Forty established and 10 upcoming talents  have been  presenting their latest creations at the event.

In my opinion and am sure many people agree, Nigerians are one of the most stylish people on earth. We have taken the art of looking good beyond fashion to way of life. This event is is an opportunity for a new generation of both established and new talent  to display their creative Genius. It is now most acceptable and even a status symbol to have Nigerian Designers make custom made designs to be won by celebrities and the like.

The corporate world has also come to realise that the fashion industry is a multi-billion dollar enterprise and have begun to show their support with the likes of Guaranty Trust Bank and MTN showing support through CSR initiatives.

OK! enough talk. Feast your eyes on some of the designs showcase by the designers and get inspired....

Ella & Gabby






Wana  Sambo





Another highlight of the event is the arrival of American Makeup Line  ' Maybelline' as official makeup sponsors of the Fashion week. Sign* So many make up brands to choose from, so little time. For more information please go to the links below.


That's all for now folks . All i can say is ' Get Ready World' for Africa. We are slowly but surely catching up even in fashion. Have a great weekend...

Live Love and Laugh.






Sources:
www.lagosfashionanddesignweek.com
www.bellanaija.com

thoughtful tuesday

Hi guys,

How's the week going? Hope you all are having better times than me. Right now am updating my Blog while in ikeja traffic. On my way back from a meeting that just made me look inwards. Everyone knows that there comes a time when your life is going at a pace that makes you sad or you are faced with decisions that frighten you and make you confused. Well am at that time. My only consolation is that I know this to shall pass.

So wherever you maybe and you think you are alone in this difficult times, be rest assured that you are not and this to shall pass. It will be alright in the end and if it's not alright, it is not the end.

Toodles!

Live Love and Laugh 

Eid Mubarak

Hello guys,

It's been  eons hasn't it? Some folks thought I had left for parts unknown. The truth is your girl has been alive and well but sometimes you have to go into seclusion and reassess your life. No am not having romantic drama( in fact that is going well).

Hopefully I'll be back to full time blogging soon but a woman has to got to eat and I could never do well as a 'kept woman', i need to work. One of the reasons my would be helpers found me so disagreeable to begin with. You can't call me at the last minute to accompany you to ' Asaba' for a weekend, i probably had plans. In fact am not sure 'runs' is a profitable business right now, everyone is tighter than the horses at 'TBS'. 2013 has been a very 'good ' year, am now a firm believer in the number 13 stigma. Could the economy be any worse?

Anyway it's the Sallah holidays and that means dentists might make some money at least. Sallah meat abounds for all and sundry and as a friend said a friend said ' if you have not eaten Sallah meat by now that means you have a shitty attitude in the neighbourhood'. Please eat meat if you are offered, as a Muslim, i can assure you, its not poison. If you have not combined Sallah meat and ijebu garri together, you have not lived.

Till next time.

Live, Love and Laugh

when life happens...

Hi guys,
It's been a minute. Am so sorry I have been out of circulation. As my title states life is happening right now but when everything settles down. I'll be back and better.
Miss you guys..
Live love and laugh