Ode to My Fashion

Hello faithful readers! I recently made the mistake of organizing yet another diner with my colleagues. I ended up having a great time but I was irritated at the beginning mainly because of my friends' behavior. It was not the first time I organised a diner. The first time was fun but was such a hassle to do that I had decided then and there that I would never do it again. But for some reasons I forgot. You see, I love organizing, coordinating. I always kid that I would love to be a wedding planner because planning gives me so much joy. But try organizing a simple dinner for a bunch of highly opinionated, strong headed women. The diner I organized made me realize that there are several types of annoying people at parties that I would love to avoid.  And here there are: Wrap around shirt - Gift Wide leg high waisted pants - Numero Uno Sandals - HLM market Necklace - Gift   The cheap one will always complain about how everything is expensive even though I al...

Hi Y'all! Can you believe we are almost at the end of January? I can't! This month went by so fast for me. Last December, I attended a fashion show/ private sale from a local brand I like: Zadada. Zadada is owned by the older sister of one of my friend. I started patronizing her last year around this time because I like her designs. She uses African fabric mixed with others to make very beautiful dresses and bubus that are very feminine yet comfortable. The event was organised in a local restaurant in collaboration with another designer that makes accessories with woven fabrics. I arrived just before the fashion show started. I watched with sparkly eyes because everything was so beautiful and oh so my style. Zadada collection was inspired by Senegalese women of Nder who were known to have honor and be extremely courageous. Every piece that came down the runway was a mix of African prints, eyelet fabric, even a special kind of fabric that is from my Mother's ethnic gr...

Hello! Hello! Happy New Year 2019! I hope you had a wonderful time with your family and your friends during the last days of 2018. I had a wonderful time with my entire family, but also attending weddings and parties with my colleagues and other friends. But today, I will tell you all about the best day I had in 2019 so far. During the Winter break, I had decided to take my boys to  the new Museum that opened in December. It is called Museum of Black Civilizations. And I was very eager to check it out. I had called in advance to check the dates and the entrance fees. Turns out, the entrance is free all the month of January. On January 3rd, I dragged the kids along. The Museum is located in downtown Dakar. It is right opposite the "Grand Théatre", near the soon to be open TER train final stop. We arrived there just before midday. The museum is big, and round in shape. It is very spacious inside, with big columns and high ceilings. The main colors are beige and brown. The...

Hello! How was your Christmas day? Do you even celebrate Christmas? I come from a family with a Muslim Dad and a Catholic Mom. It means that we mostly celebrate all major holidays from both faiths including Christmas. Truth be told, Christmas is celebrated all over my city of Dakar whether we are Christians or Muslims. Because Christmas has become a commercial holiday where people are forced to buy food to make a feast, and gifts for the kids.  For me, Christmas means family. My Mother always made sure we had a small party at home. She would put her finest china out and we would eat in the dining room. In fact, the only time we used that dining room was for Christmas's eve diner. She also made sure we dressed up, in suits for my brothers and a fancy dress for me. We usually had Chinese rolls, salad as appetizers, roasted chicken in mustard sauce and french fries as entree and Christmas log as desert. After diner, my father would take us to the local photo studio to have...

Hello! You may have casual Friday in the US and other western countries, but in Senegal, we have what I call "Friday best". Senegal is a country with a majority of Muslims. Every Friday afternoon, there is the big event of the Friday prayer. The city just stops and thousands of people (mostly men) rush to the mosques. Many prefer to dress up in traditional attire for the occasion. Friday is actually one of my favorite day of the week, just because I like to admire Senegalese men and women all dripped in finesse, rocking their best attire. Funnily enough, even the most blah person becomes a stud rocking Senegalese traditional attire. And women! Oh my! I am such in awe with so much elegance and style. However, dressing up on Fridays have become a pressure I am trying to avoid. It seems like it is compulsory to wear Senegalese traditional attire on Fridays for work. If we do not, strangers on the streets look at us funny. And family or friends judge us. I cannot count the ...

Hi y'all! What is up with you? Me, nothing except I have found the best pair of jeans ever. But let me start from the beginning. a month ago, on a Friday after work, a friend of mine dragged me to the Numero Uno shop in Alamadies. There, I found some nice bodysuits and was ready to buy them when that said friend dragged me out of the store stating that if she did not buy, I would not either. Little did she know that the following day- a Saturday- I went to a similar store (it is a chain) closer to my house to look for said bodysuits. Unfortunately they did not fit me and I proceeded to try on several other clothes. I found this wonderful pair of jeans I did not purchase because a colleague of mine promised to give me one. I went back home but could not stop thinking about those jeans. Come Monday, I rushed back to the store and finally purchased it. Lace kimono - HLM market Watermelon tank top - Uno High waisted jeans - LAURIE brand but bought at Uno Platform sand...