Tuesday, 3 May 2016

Chasing... crystals, chasing dim stars


Very recently,


A couple of months ago, a guy whom I liked a lot, and who I was in an intimate relationship with came to a rapid and cold end. He ended the 'love affair' if you want to call it that, which had been going on for 7 months in a sentence. In a sentence, it was all over, a sentence which included the information that he had left me for another girl.

This guy wasn't a legitimate boyfriend to me anyway, but when somebody moves onto someone else so effortlessly without any regard for your feelings it does take a toll on your self-confidence. I was left feeling in the dark for weeks... wondering if I could trust another man again
I only stopped crying three weeks ago...
I had so many questions I wanted to ask this guy, questions like did you just use me to get intimate? did you even like me?, was I a bad lover?



But time is healing me, and I am getting my own closure.

you should never depend your self-worth on a guy making love to you, and telling you that you are pretty... and in this event, I did that.  I am young don't judge me

After that event things slowly started to unravel in my mind, after those following weeks post the breakup. And that was this question, 'am I good enough in general?'.

Not only my problems with men have erupted this question, but my interactions with people in general and the response I get from them. As mentioned in my previous post about body image, I went to a fashion university (I have recently graduated), a place where as you can probably imagine competition,  comparison of  style and boasting about who your connections are, is something which is constantly in the air. some days I would walk away from the university, without a single compliment on the outfit you thought out so carefully, thinking that you don't know as many cool people as the girl who was sat next to you and by the time I got home I would be left feeling invisible.

Even more recently somebody who I messaged three years ago when I was 19, randomly decided to  get in contact with me. He is Parisian, he is cool, sexy, simple with I would assume a lot of female interests around him. In return for my questions, and being to intrigued with him as a person, he doesn't really seemed that impressed with me or feel like I'm such a cool person they way I have expressed I feel about him.
Lately, my feelings of self-worth have been going up and down, some days I wake up and I feel beautiful and I feel fine, I do some painting and remind myself of how creative I am.
But some days I can't help but question what does the world think of me...
I'm sure we all do.
some days I think about all the guys who I was close or intimate with and who left for their different reasons...
I think about the lack of internet presence that I have
I think about the fact that I don't have my dream job yet
I think about the friends who used and abused my kindness, lost interest and then left


I think about so many of these empty shells in my life yet to be filled, and wonder is it because Im not enough...?

And obviously I know deep down that I am, but it would be nice to be reminded once in a while...and while this is a lovely thought, this week my best friend reminded me this week about self-affirmation and how it's important not to always wait for others to point out the beautiful things in us.

And while I deep down still would love a significant other to look at me like I am the most lovely thing he has ever seen, and that everybody loved my artwork and outfits and that I could inspire someone with this post. At the end of the day, I made a promise to myself not to chase anyone, or to fight for anyone's attention. Because the one thing which I learnt from the experiences that I have had this year is that I would rather be alone, than continue to chase after dim stars in the sky,  from a distance they are beautiful but up close they mean nothing. It is important to be grateful for what you have until you are blessed with better...

















(All images are from tumbr  photography by  LUMI TUOMI)


Tuesday, 2 February 2016

body image

Since recently body image has become a big part of my life and how I see myself. And I would say this is the case for most females over the age of 20...

As a teenager, I never cared too much, despite wanting bigger boobs I never really felt conscious of my body and what others thought; in partitucalr what men thought. These days between 12-18 were perhaps my most carefree when it came to self-love and embracing my figure. I wore what I want and was oblivious to expentations,"body trends" and the media's expectations of the 'perfect'female physique.

That all changed when I started univeritsy.here is the thing, because I go to an art school; it meant when I lived away from home I lived with mainly females. and when females get together there are 3 main particular things which tend to come up in  conversation; boyfriends, bodies and beauty regimes. it doesnt matter what decade, era or language we are describing, these 3 topics are what divide, bring together and also consquentely cause women to compete and compare themselves to one another.

my personal journey for self-love and self-acceptance has been a long, hard and lonely one. and as you can imagine, having these converstations with the girls I live with don't help much.  ontop of that, comes with the lack of  body compliments from my peers, apart from guys I have had relations with in the past.

so my body journey goes something like this...I am naturally petite, I am no more than 5"3 and my frame is small too, narrow shoulder and hands complete.  being of west indian background where large, (and I mean large), voluptous and plus size is the norm meant that petite wasnt.  I have had to explain to realtive s on several occassions that I am just small and that will never change; it is sad that I have to explain or apologie for being who I naturally am....

And despite some of my astributes could be seen as enviable I would still not clasify myself as perfection. despite being slim, I have a booty which comes with stretch marks which I hate (I hate the stretch marks) being petite means I have to carefully select clothing so I dont look like I am drowing in the fabric or like a child who is dressed in their mothers clothes. even though I am little, I have a bit of a hourglass shape so on the postive side I can wear alot of waisting clincing or emphaising things...but  dont get me started on my skinny thighs...

sounds bad right?

But this year 2016, I decided to just accept myself. To being my journey of self-love.to get off instagram and  stop comparing myself to other girls.  To pace me and see myself as  a unique, beautiful creature who is not in any competition with everyone. and to learn to love my body wihout a guy doing it for me.

hopefully, I can begin this journey successfully and when I read this post in a couple months I will have a different more positive view of my body.and hopefully, I will inspire otehrs to do the same. let's stop letting people and the media tell us what we should look like and whot we should be.


and if you were wondering, all these beautiful  pictures are from:

Video Vixen Alphabet, Jade Schulz




Monday, 4 January 2016

Another retro edition

In this post, I wanted to pay homage to the classic screen sirens and vintage goddesses who are still seen as beautiful today. However to add a twist to things, I am going to suggest ways to dress like a classic vintage icon but in the modern day, to make things more appealing. so here goes!

First of all, take the quiz to find out what screen siren you are: 
Are you the demure, Grace kelly

The rebelle, Marilyn 

or the sophisticated, Audrey 



Quiz:

question 1: at a party what drink are you most likely to get:

A)CHAMPAGNE COCKTAIL
B) PEAR MARTINI 
C)RED WINE

question 2: what is your go-to going out dress, that you would grab from your wardrobe:

A)  a fitted classic mid-length LBD
B) a mauve body-con dress with deep plunge feature
C) a cute, co-ord crop top and wide pleated skirt collaboration

question 3: favourite lipstick shade ?:

A) latte and rich neutrals
B) bold crimsons and wine 
C) warm rose and glitter pinks

question 4:  what type of future appeals to you the most:

A)  I don't mind being single as long as I am successful in what I love 
B)  having it all, true love, dream job and being a mum
C) a calm one, which involves being a mum at some point 

question 5: how do you act when it comes to guys/flirting

A)  I can get quite boisterous and cocky; I act like a bold damsel in distress
B) I get all shy and giggly and the bubbles go to my head
C) I just act myself, just a little friendlier, I am like one of the guys

question 6: what single word describes you most?: 

A)  LIVELY 
B) SWEET
C) CHILLED

OK so, now add up your score and see which old-Hollywood sexy symbol you most likely are:

mostly A's Audrey

Miss Audrey hepburn, known for her witty tongue and dainty waif-like features.

If you got mostly C's, you are most like this out-spoken lady-like flower. you are a girl who know's everything about class, simplicity and elegance. although your outer appearance and the way your carry your self may be incredibly dainty; you definitely have a mouth on you and at a party, you are the loudest and most fun to be around.

Here is how to dress like the beautiful Audrey:




Yves Saint Laurent black shift dress, £800 / Topshop night out dress, £42 / Tea party dress /Proenza Schouler black top, £550 / Cotton shirt, £34 / M Co sheer black top / Oversized sweatshirt / Studio slimming legging / Flat front pants, £21 / Michael Kors black flat shoes, £360


mostly C's: grace kelly!

you are a chilled kinda girl, you can skip a full face of make-up and all you need is a bit of lippy, you can hang out with the guys and it doesn't mean a thing. you are still seen as the perfect wife material 

Here is how to dress like Miss Kelly: