When in doubt, don a dhuku….

 

I have bad hair days, like everyone I’m sure, or lazy hair days, and the perfect thing to do is grab a cute scarf (preferably silk or satin of course) and cover.

 

One of the best hair accessories to have truly, is a head/hair scarf, turban or in Shona, a dhuku. Especially now in winter, when the temperatures have dropped and covering your hair has the extra benefit of providing warmth.

 

So here is some dhuku, turban  and other head accessories inspiration:

Solange Knowles – one of the biggest trend setters with hair scarves

Solange

Her sister Beyonce, using a scarf as protection for her hair

Zimbabwean singer Hope Masike

Chef Akhi accessorising her dreads

Turban

Souce of all pics is Tumblr unless otherwise stated.

Fashion Friday: Dreaming of Africa….

 

I’ve been getting into african print clothing. More and more I see stylish and modern pieces with african prints and tie and dyed material. Not so much in Harare but outside of Zimbabwe, especially in South Africa where you’ll find large groups of people from all over Africa. So I looked for few pics from Tumblr:

And am not sure if this one’s African material, but I just couldn’t resist:

 

Source of all pics: Tumblr

My Winter Wishlist

The weather is swiftly changing as we move from summer to winter (our autumn probably lasts a few weeks if not days, so the transition is not always evident). It’s getting colder, the blankets are coming out, the bugs are disappearing and it’s time to go shopping! So here’s want I want to get or get more of :

1. Boots
I especially love ankle boots and am thinking of also getting a pair of knee high boots

Reed KRakoff mesh ankle boot

Boot heaven…

Sassy brown ones too…

2.  Skinny jeans are an obvious necessity and high waisted trousers

Blake Lively as Serena in Gossip Girl (i like her coat too)

3. Coats (I’m dreaming of a red cape coat), jackets and some bright coloured blazers

The first family at the swearing in of Barack Obama as President of the US for a 2nd term

A cape coat (poncho) \o/

A yellow blazer worn by Solange

A pretty frilly coat

Perfect….

Cute little jacket

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.  Jerseys (for some reason I don’t have any at all – that has to change)

5. Other knitwear – knee high socks, beanies, scarves, etc 

Blake Lively

AND I would like all these outfits exactly as they are: 

Victoria Beckham

** All pics are courtesy of Tumblr.

Fashion Friday: Music Fest Style – lessons from Coachella

 One of my favourite times in Harare is coming up. HIFA!!!

The Harare International Festival of Arts is a 6 day festival and workshop programme that showcases local, regional and international arts and culture. It’s a week long fest of theatre, dance, music, circus, street performance, visual arts and spoken word. It is also a time where arty people come out dressed to have fun however that may be.

I quote Robert Greig from the South Africa Sunday Independent -“The Harare International Festival of the Arts is probably the best organised festival in the sub-continent and one of the most manageably diverse.”

It’s from the 30th of April to the 5th of May, this year.

In my anticipation of HIFA, I figured I would post some of the style I liked at the just ended Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California, which I hope to go to in the next few years.

Solange Knowles courtesy of Vogue

Vanessa Hudgens

 

Sophia Bush

Solange Knowles

Emma Watson

Love this! Bat for lashes’ Natasha Khan

Jenine Civil

Katy Perry

 

Street style

More street style – one of my favs

Hair and Style Icon: Danai Gurira

By Dan Hallman – Courtesy of venus.provocateuse.com

Danai Jekesai Gurira is a ‘Zimerican’ actress and playwright who is currently starring in the show The Walking Dead as Michonne. She was born in Iowa, in the US but grew up in Zimbabwe from the time her family moved back to Zimbabwe when she was 5 years old.

Source: http://www.wikifeet.com

She has won an OBIE award Outer Critics Circle Award for writing and a Helen Hayes Award for acting in an off-Broadway play The Continuum.

Source: Tumblr

Source: Tumblr

At the premiere of The Walking Dead show

Being honoured on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Source: http://www.npr.org

The Noisettes for HIFA

Guess who’s coming to town, after I just did a post on her?

Source: Tumblr

Yes, Shingai Shoniwa with The Noisettes! I’m stoked! The Noisettes are one of the headlining acts for the Harare International Festival of Arts (HIFA) this year. So excited….

Hair and Style Icon: Shingai Shoniwa

I absolutely love Shingai Shoniwa. I especially love her hair and her style.

To my surprise, not many people know of her in Zimbabwe, but I have noticed her fame has been increasing since she came and sang a bit with Oliver Mtukudzi (a renowned Zimbabwean musician). She has such a gorgeous voice and she lead sings while playing bass on some songs, which is quite impressive.

The Noisettes

Did I mention that I really dig her? Well I do, which is why I decided to do my first icon feature on her and maybe next time she’s here, I can do a real live interview!

Shingai Elizabeth Maria Shoniwa is a British singer of Zimbabwean descent. Shingai means ‘be strong’ in Shona. She is the lead singer and bassist of the UK indie band The Noisettes.

She is also signed with NEXT Model Management London.

She was born on September 22, 1981 and has been singing since she was 8. “She used to hold a mugoti (big flat wooden spoon) and pretend it was a microphone and sing,” her mother told Zimbo Jam.

Impromptu performance at Mekka in Harare with Tinashe Mukarati and Dan Smith

The Noisettes was formed in 2003 when Shoniwa and guitarist Dan Smith were attending the BRIT School for Performing Arts & Technology in Croydon. This same school was attended by other well known singers like Adele and Leona Lewis.

The band first achieved commercial success and nationwide recognition with the second single of their second album, “Don’t Upset the Rhythm (Go Baby Go)” which reached number two on the UK Singles Chart in Spring 2009.

Since then the Noisettes have toured Europe and the United States extensively, with the likes of TV on the Radio, Tom Vek, Babyshambles, Bloc Party, the Mystery Jets, Muse and Lady Gaga.

They have also appeared at numerous festivals including the 2012 London Olympic celebrations.

Shingai with her mom Leoba Kureya

From Nokia’s Shot by Fans

At Club Mekka, in Harare, ZImbabwe

In Zimbabwe

* Biographical info from Wikipedia and ZimboJam. All photos sourced from Tumblr.