Post 11/30: Running Errands Chic

Just been working on a budget-friendly wardrobe for a friend's friend who recently 'lost' her long term boyfriend to a younger and more sassy woman. I seriously doubt a new wardrobe is what Miss Heartbroken-And-Thirty-Something needs at the moment but I've decided that it's not my place to tell her this. It's not my place to tell her what I really think about women attempting to reinvent themselves after a relationship breakdown . I've learnt my lesson after a childhood friend of mine and I drifted apart following a heated discussion about her lousy (and I mean seriously lousy) dude. The calls stopped, the texts got fewer, our Facebook emails became one liners...

Working on Miss Heartbroken's Essentials for Single Hood has made me think about the basics missing in my own wardrobe. I spend a great deal of time researching key looks for other people and working out where I can find what. Funnily enough, my Saturday mornings often start with a search for clean and breakfast/brunch-appropriate attire. I usually can't find what I'm looking for and end up wearing gym gear or tracksuit pants I'm emotionally attached to. I've been known to leave the house in full gym gear, meet up with my girlfriends for brunch, go on a shopping spreeya (learnt spreeya from Blu Cantrell) then do late lunch with my brunch buddies and somehow end up in a trendy bar later that night. Yes in that same gym gear!

I'm ready to retire that look, run errands in style and socialise in real clothing. I've got so much to do this Saturday and will be far from looking like Dishevelled-But-Active Baldie. Thought I might share what I've termed Running Errands Chic.

Ciao bellos + bellisimas

Kain scoop neck tee
$90 - net-a-porter.com

TopShop black skinny leg jeans
$105 - topshop.com

Longchamp tote handbag
$125 - nordstrom.com

Vanessa Mooney red bracelet
$230 - editnewyork.com

ASOS gold tone earrings
$10 - asos.com

Orange shawl
$32 - topshop.com

Converse All Star Classic Lo-Top Sneaker - Red - Punk.com
$42 - punk.com

Post Mmm...

Forgiving people. I'm back after a f***** up couple of days.

The Background
I had a long term affair with Marlboro Golds during my uni years and for a few years after. About 2years ago I suddenly became seriously repulsed by all things smoking and smokers related and in all honesty, it had something to do with my mum expressing her disappointment in me after spotting a pack on ciggies in my handbag, the graphic ads and of course the increase in ciggie prices here.

The Issue
This past Saturday I woke up feeling super shit (unrelated to my hangover) and by late afternoon I was lethargic, having trouble breathing and feeling slightly nauseous. I had a quick lunch date with Mr Big-ish and Alex so had to perk up, put on a brave face and rest later. Saturday 6pm-ish I was curled up in bed.

Sunday I was wheezy and seriously phlegm-alicious but soldiered on. I tried to stop thinking about the wheezing by popping into my local pub to sample their new beer and catching a flick (Bridesmaids). Sunday night I was in bed early with a touch of the shivers. First thing Monday I called my doctor, aka Dr Deep-And-Meaningful from SA, to debrief him on my symptoms and what my phlegm looked like. Without thinking it through, I basically bullied him into agreeing that what I had sounded emphysema-licious. He instructed I come straight away. Mmmmm I tried to tell my not-so-sympathetic colleague about what I'd termed The Condition but he wasn't hearing it. As the day went on, I became more and more nutty because I had convinced myself I had emphysema.

TODAY
Today is the day I went to my doctors and found out that:

1. I need to take my health more seriously
2. I don't have emphysema but rather have a very serious throat infection
3. I need antibiotics
4. I need to stop flirting with anything Marlboro-related for good
5. I need to have a normal patient/doctor relationship with my doctor

Yes I also need to stop turning up at the good doctors with a list of possible ailments I have. Google is to blame for this behavioural issue.

Soooooooo... I'm back and to celebrate my throat infection and NOT the beginnings of emphysema, I splurged on something special to wear with a Diane Von Furstenburg Christianna jacket I recently snapped up on sale on Netaporter last week. Chrisette Michelle (below) rocked hers to The Apollo where she performed in May.

Got a girlfriend's birthday din din next Tuesday so I'll rock it with a wicked clutch, skinny jeans and Prada pumps that scream Who Run The World! Promise to take pics:)

Post 5/30: TGIF for real

Happy People it's been a gruelling week and Baldie's so looking forward to a quiet weekend. Two weeks TODAY until she's in Zim and she honestly can't wait.

I miss my family so much.
I miss my mother's cooking.
I miss my childhood friends.
I miss speaking Shona.
I miss getting 'gangster' on someone and it being completely normal when they've inconvenienced me.
F*** I miss seeing black people.
I miss being in contact with African people...my people.

I spent much of today thinking about the only place I call home and sharing what I call 'my truth' with Rania, my friend slash work colleague. Feeling a bit down in all honesty:(

Ciao bellas

Post 4/30 What to wear to dinner with your ex (the meaningful one)

So I've been asked by a super stylish girlfriend, someone I worked with many many moons ago, to come up with what she should wear to dinner with her ex, also known as Mr Shoulda-Coulda-Put-A-Ring-On-It.

I swear every woman (except for some hardcore no-penis lesbians) has that one man who they envisioned a happily ever after life with who still rattles them. Yes 'rattles' is the chosen word. My friend, lets call her Fever, is a wholesome Miss Independent who I always thought 'had it altogether' on all levels. Funny thing is Mr Shoulda-Coulda sent her an email letting her know that he'd spent this weekend with their ex-friends, was thinking of her and would love to catch up over dinner at a swanky London restaurant. Suddenly Fever forgets that she hadn't even thought about him in months and in a mad panic rings me in the wee hours of this morning to tell me the news. YES - Fever woke me up to discuss what she should wear to this bloody dinner with that twat this Saturday. Fever wasn't listening to me when I was telling her that buying a whole new outfit for one dinner is ludicrous. It doesn't make sense and I still can't understand why she cant wear something she already has, perhaps a new lipstick (MAC's Ruby Woo), maybe get her nails + the hair 'did' and be done with it. Believe me I really love shopping but I'm all about recycling key pieces and switching it up with show-stopping footwear and inexpensive accessories.

Bottom line - my girl needs an outfit quick. Nothing like a good-for-budget red dress to steal the show. This is what I came up with.

TopShop sleeveless dress
$95 - topshop.com

Nine West sparkly sandals
£90 - houseoffraser.co.uk

Diane von Furstenberg pewter handbag
$295 - net-a-porter.com

Kenneth Jay Lane 14k earrings
$45 - charmandchain.com

Amazon.com: OPI NLW42 Lincoln Park after Dark: Beauty
$5.20 - amazon.com

Post 3/30 - Wifey's back

Ola!

My flatmate a.k.a, Wifey, got back this morning after a trip to Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai for a l'il business mixed in with a lot of pleasure and I'm thrilled that she's back home safely. Just got in from din din with her, our ngoch friend and our responsible-adult-girlfriend so dinner was hella funny with everyone talking about developments (or the lack of developments) in their lives since she's been away. Feels good to sit down with people in my inner circle and openly talk abut whats been going on with me without judgement. Its been a great night!!!! I feel so blessed to be loved by people who love me for me. They accept my boisterous nature, multiple personalities, the hermit tendencies and don't judge my actions. If only they could see me in my element at Shisa Nyama slash Bizi's Corner slash Cubana slash Cotton Club slash Teasers slash Mereki slash Judgement Yard. If only (sigh)...

Lina a.k.a My Sister Under The Skin

I've been drinking for much of the afternoon and the evening so I might sign off here. Mr Big-ish hasn't called to apologise for Monday's drama so I'm in a somewhat fragile state. Thank God (and The Ancestors) that Wifey is home to cook authentic Chinese meals before sharing 'her truth' about my messy relationship sagas. Thank God she's back to veto some of my purchases, pick a suitable colour for my nails, decide on where we should holiday next and to screen calls.

Thank God My Sister Under The Skin is back. She has a touch of food poisoning from Shanghai but she's back. Hede huri (beaming Baldie)

Post 2/30

What a day! Work was hectic and my boss was in a mood so I was keeping a low profile which in my case actually involves doing some work and speaking when only spoken to. Today was not a day to take personal calls, read the latest Harpers issue back to back, hang around in the staff kitchen drinking copious amounts of tea dissecting each trend and each brand's campaign. Today I earned my money! As I sluggishly walked home, I couldn't help feeling like shit is clearly not going according to plan career-wise. Need to take my side hustle to a whole new level. Mmmmm...

Thought I might share with you my day to day easy chic bag and what its contents.

I've been a Longchamp fan for a few years now and I can't imagine using anything else on a day to day basis. I love the functionality and durability of the Le Pliage product line and i encourage you to check out Longchamp's website http://www.longchamp.com/ and see what catches your eye or simply what would work for you. I highly recommend the shopper styles but some aren't as secure as you might. Frankly, my bag doesn't quite work in a developing world setting.

What's in the bag?

I always carry a piece of fruit for when I get peckish between meals and just in case a crackhead asks me for money. It may sound harsh but I don't believe in giving cold cash to a junkie. I give fruit and fruit only.

Book
I recently picked up a new fashion bible, Parisian Chic, by Karl Lagerfeld's oldest muse. I adore well-written fashion books by non-celebrities that discuss personal style, subtle sexiness etc. In addition to this, books that let readers make up their own minds about their fashion choices.

Makeup case MAC powder, Sephora powder brush, Lady Speed Stick, YSL No 6 lipgloss, Lipsmacker, Dettol hand sanitiser, Aesop handcream, paracetamol and a mirror

• Wallet
  I've had the same wallet for five years. Sounds kookie but the day its completely falls apart is the day a part me dies. Okay that's actually ridiculous isn't it?
  


• Sunglasses
  Classic Rayban aviators are yet to fail me. Steep-ish price point for what they are but amazing lenses.
  



• Beyonce's cd
  I'm dangerously in love with all things Beyonce at the moment (apart for her bleached skin and almost Barbie-ish-wannabe-white-woman thing that she's got going on).
  




• Discman
  YES!!!!! I still use one because I'm convinced some songs sound better on my discman.
  





• iPhone
  I have my brother to thank for this unreliable piece of crap. Do not buy one! Try to get a loved or pre-loved one to buy if for you *wink*
  





• The O.G iPod
  





• Keys
  





• Work swipe card

Feel free to tell me whats in your bag (smirk)

Post 1/30

Just got in from a disaster dinner with Mr Big-ish and I've got serious Panda eyes from chemzing that no Neutrogena Oil-free Make-up Remover can remove. The funny thing is as soon as I got back into my apartment, I :

1. immediately put on Keisha Cole
2. poured myself a tall glass of red (for both health and sanity reasons)
3. sent Mr Big-ish what I call a 'grown folk' text
4. laid out my fluffiest robe and slippers
5. hopped into the shower and belted out I Shoulda Cheated as I exfoliated
6. moisturised like I'm a Nivea brand ambassador and I get freebies
7. started thinking about writing like I hadn't had a minor meltdown just minutes before

Mmmmm... its important that y'all know now that I'm a mere mortal that has a somewhat demanding job, needy but interesting groups of friends and an ex that I can't quite shake off. Sometimes I'm not into all things fashion because I'm actually thinking about food prices, the current state of the Australian economy, my superannuation, global warming, this country's immigration issues and which political here party believes in what. Sometimes my first love, fashion, is secondary to real life things and issues. You've been warned.

Back to fashion stuff *hic*.

This is what I was wearing dancing to Beyonce's Countdown after gym in a pair of Casadei heels I undecided against wearing to work. Nothing like boogie-ing in a pair of pumps to see if you can walk, run, stand and sit for long periods of time on marble.

Casadei grey patent pumps

This is what I wore to work

Clothing - Scanlan and Theodore trench and DKNY tunic dress
Accessories - Chanel classic pumps, BVLGARI ring + earrings and eyewear from China
Makeup - MAC errrthang except for the YSL lipgloss (No. 6)