Kazuri

I have the sweetest brother in the world. His name is Nigel.

Now Nigel went 'home' (Zimbabwe) a few months ago to see our parents and to sort out a few things business-wise. Mr Busy had a stopover in Nairobi and bought me two pairs of Kazuri's hand painted ceramic earrings. Thought I might rock the Pansy Double Drop tonight!

The earrings are available online at http://www.myasho.com/ and don't forget to check out other Kazuri products at http://www.kazuri.com/

Monroque madness

Happy people! I've got this glorious Monday off and I've got so many things to do, so many glossy magazines to get through at Borders, so many acquaintances to catch up with and then an art house film to watch. I'm tempted to cancel a coffee date with one acquaintance-slash-friend but I need some advice. I've fallen in love...

I've fallen for Shala Monroque, the super stylish Editor of Pop Magazine. I saw her on my first ever trip to New York where I spent hours aimlessly stalking the shoes at Bergdorf Goodman. I was trying to work out exactly how much money I had and what percentage of it to be spent on a pair of shoes that I could actually walk hundreds of metres in. I had waited years for this day. The day I could just try serious designer shoes and actually buy a pair. Remembering one pair and one pair only. I couldn't decide so 'cruised' a number of Fifth Avenue stores holding tightly to my bag. My Lonely Planet guide and my mum had warned me about New York's so-called hoodlums so I was on high alert. Back at Bergdorf and fast forward to seeing Shala in person....

I hadn't seen a black woman with such grace in ages. I had studied in London and seen many well-to-do and well-dressed Black Butterflies but this was the first time I saw one that:

1. did not have a weave
2. had minimal make-up
3. had natural elegance
4. looked individualistic and effortlessly chic
5. did not look like new-money

I hoped that she'd notice me rocking larger-than-life frames, vintage riding boots, Topshop tunic and a DVF coat that I had snapped up in an underground DVF sale. I hoped that she would say "Oh my. Can I please try those pumps that stylista is trying on?" and perhaps compliment me on my style. She didn't. She didn't notice me but I noticed her and years later I still remember her entire outfit.

The thing is every month or so she seems to pop up in my life. Yes in my life! Just a moment ago I logged on to style.com and there she was again. Thanks to Scott Schuman, Garance Dore and one other blogger, I can share this Black Butterfly with you.

The Essentials Saga

My 'sister under the skin' a.k.a my apartment-mate and I are both on our laptops researching fashion must-haves. She's off to Italy for a friend's wedding + a wee break and I'm helping her with The List. The list of essentials and not-so-essential items that every fashionista should carry with her at all times and at least glance at before handing over her method of payment for a major purchase. Deciding what is essential is proving to be very difficult. Are statement coats, power clutches, Missoni knits and cramp-inducing pumps essentials? I'm not entirely sure. What do I know? I'm just a self-indulgent mere mortal who adores subtle and not-so-subtle accessories, vibrant silks, cuddly cashmeres and multiple pairs of comfy Converses. I've made many mistakes over the years but I've made some unbelievably great purchasing decisions. For good guidance check out Nina Garcia's Little Book of Style and style.com. Both are yet to fail me.

Dreaming of Vogue Africa

I've had the most relaxing weekend in ages. Yesterday I stayed in, chatted for nearly 5 hours to a good friend in Shanghai, read my new fashion 'Bible', Elegance by Kathleen Tessaro, cleaned my room, laundered 'my smalls' and researched summer's affordable must-haves. I recently splurged on a pair of LV pumps to complete my 1950s look so I'm super skint. Super skint with fabulous shoes...

I can't stop thinking about Vogue Africa.


I can't stop visualising its first cover, Mario Epanya's image. I can't stop dreaming of a magazine full of colour and my continent's best exports donning fabulous creations by both well-known and upcoming African designers. I yearn for a publication that celebrates black beauty and one that also addresses issues that plague women of colour. I'm desperate for a Vogue Africa that has 'honest shots' and real women (not just Jozi's Elite and Nollywood's Bleach Queens). One that is not 60% advertising and one that is not filled with unattainable products. I yearn for a magazine of real substance and on my weekly (sometimes bi-weekly) visits to Borders I find myself looking out for it as if it exists. With a heavy heart I skim through Essence and Ebony and then settle for New African and African Business. These magazines sometimes have interesting articles on the different countries' manufacturing and textile industries and their developments (or decline). For those of you in the diaspora, I urge you to subscribe to them.

This Empress is guaranteed to be thinking of Vogue Africa for the rest of the day. She's off to watch I Am Love again...