Khaki pants for men in Nairobi Kenya are a dime a dozen. Everywhere you turn you will find a khaki trousers shop in Nairobi. So you probably have a wardrobe full of khaki pants. You wear them over the weekends. And on the more relaxed days.
But let’s say you have a very important function coming up. One in which you’ll absolutely have to make a big impression. Awesome. Unfortunately, all you have in your wardrobe are khaki pants. Not so awesome. What do you do to ensure you still look like a boss on this special occasion? Watch the video below.
He breaks it down very simply. Styling khaki pants for special occasions is easy. It’s all about the power and uniqueness of your statement jacket. And if you’re not a jacket man, then it’s about the beauty of your shirt. The more unique it is, the better it will look. Just make sure not to make the entire look too casual. I’ve always been a fan of the look of an un-tucked designer shirt that carefully matches informal pants. Popular on a lot of Kenyan politicians. Particularly on president Uhuru Kenyatta.
I’m a strong believer in one dressing up for themselves and not for others. So if khaki trousers are your thing, then you should absolutely rock them to your special occasion. The comfort you feel while in them will shine through for everyone to see. I’ve also always been a very strong believer n the following mantra. Dress for yourself. Not for anyone else.
That’s not to say you should ignore social protocol and dress as you please. Of course not. Dressing lazily is not a sign of independence. Or growth. It’s just bad manners. But dressing confidently based on your own individual style? Well, that’s that is the first step to great inner strength.
Models walk the ramp in an empty auditorium as AFI Fashion Week moved its last day of runway shows online in response to the Coronavirus pandemic. South Africa Fashion Week has also announced that it will take its Spring/Summer 2020 runway shows online.
Africa Fashion International ( AFI ) Fashion Week to continue without guests due to coronavirus outbreak
Following hot on the heels of Africa Fashion International (AFI), South African Fashion Week South Africa Fashion Week ( SAFW ) has announced that it’ll be taking its Spring/Summer 2020 runway shows online in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
On March 14, AFI cancelled the third and final day of live presentations at Fashion Week Cape Town. Ticket holders were refunded and the scheduled runway shows went ahead without an audience. Instead they were streamed via social media.
That’s partially because Booyzen was concerned that fashion weeks were becoming less about the designers’ collections and more about who was in attendance at the shows.
“Rather than spending lots of money and having big venues, we were looking at new ways of showing collections.”
She’d also been keeping a close eye on developments around the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Since January we’ve been developing a plan B. With the backing of our sponsors, Sandton City, Cruz and Carlton Hair, we are going to shoot the collections in isolation because the designers have already started designing their sample collections.”
Along with having no audiences, Booyzen confirmed that South Africa Fashion Week’s Spring/Summer 2020 runway shows would involve less models, make-up artists and production people than past years in light of the current pandemic. Health specialists will also be consulted to ensure that a safe working environment is created.
The wasteful nature of fashion weeks has been called into question around the globe by environmental groups such as Extinction Rebellion. Beyond being “Covid-19 respectful”, a recent South Africa Fashion Week statement boasts that the upcoming runway shows will be “climate-friendly”.
“It is important for designers to reinvent themselves and think about how they do not have to spend so much money, how to use more natural fabrics and how to be sustainable,” said Booyzen.
Presenting this season’s collections digitally has also made some designers rethink the relevance of Fashion Week entirely.
Neo Serati Mofammere, the young mastermind behind Joburg-based label Nao Serati, explained that while past generations of designers relied heavily on such events to promote their brands, newcomers to the industry have found “a whole lot of different ways” to do so.
“Right now Instagram is the strongest way to market [yourself] and some people are using influencers. It doesn’t work for everybody but some designers would rather have an influencer wear their garments and some use good old word of mouth.”
South Africa Fashion Week is set to take place in late April.
WAA Fashion is a U.K based multi-brand platform and number one destination for stylish, chic and contemporary African-inspired fashion. WAA, which stands for “ We Are Africa ”, defines the concept and the essence of inclusion that is in the heart of the company.
Hosting a variety but carefully curated African fashion brands from all over the continent, under one virtual roof and making them available at the click of a button across your mobile, tablet, desktop and delivered to your doorstep. WAA Fashion aim to offer you a seamless shopping experience for products that are strictly ‘Made in Africa’ and thereby celebrating the talent, the quality and the luxury within her shores.
At WAA Fashion they are fully committed to researching and bringing you fashion products that are unique and exclusive yet responsibly, sustainably, ethically sourced and produced using earth-friendly methods. WAA Fashion partner with artisan groups, cooperatives, small businesses and independent designers to design and produce high-end clothing and accessories, providing income and encouraging fair trade always.
Through their company, they give back and support charities working to eradicate poverty, providing safety, shelter, healthcare, education and training for women and girls in ecologically vulnerable regions, not only in Africa but the world over. A purchase from their platform helps provide at least one woman with the education or training she needs to create a sustainable livelihood to provide for her family, to give birth in a safe environment, or to escape domestic violence. It will protect at least one girl from abuse, or slavery or get her off the streets.
WAA Fashion Believe in Fashion As A Force For Good.
Pieces of jewelry are the costly things to invest your money. So, everyone does proper research before investing money in jewelry,no one wants to waste their money on fake jewelries, Due to trust issues, many of us still buy gold, diamond silver, bronze , copper jewelry offline. We are afraid of investing money online that too without seeing the quality of jewels.
Photo credit Adele Dejak
A perfect look remains incomplete for a woman without the right kind of jewelry. Jewelry shopping remains indispensable and irresistible when a woman is out shopping for an occasion,but with jewellery being readily available online, who really wants to wait for an occasion?
Here is a list of online Jewellery store to checkout while shopping:
Adele Dejak the brand is home to luxurious African inspired jewelry handcrafted in the heart of Kenya. Everything comes from materials that different African tribes would use to make their ornaments and trinkets. they have contemporary, artistic and wearable bags, necklaces, earrings, rings and bracelets not forgetting some exclusive home decor items.
2. Ami Doshi Shah
Ami Doshi Shah is a jeweller and applied artist based in Nairobi, Kenya. Trained at the Birmingham School of Jewellery, she has been the recipient of the prestigious goldsmiths award for best apprentice designer UK & The African designers for tomorrow award.
Kipato Unbranded is a social enterprise that collaborates with local artists, promoting their talents and skills and giving them access to markets. Kipato Unbranded is about beauty and unique designs. they create jewelry that is inspired by everyday people and for everyday people. their pieces are made from local materials that include brass, recycled bone, and beads.
Kipato Unbranded was founded in 2015 as a social enterprise that creates unique jewellery designs and collaborates with local artists, thereby promoting their skills and talents as well as enabling them access premium local and international markets.
Zanta Adeyde is a brand that specializes in African inspired accessories made of beads ,leather,bones ,horns and brass it mainly we have a range of products which include pure beaded Zanta Adeyde leather handbags statement jewelry and everyday accessories that fits in to the current global fashion front but with the classy and unique African touch.
Shop soko make modern artisan jewelry made for people, by people,their jewelry combines a strong, yet minimalist aesthetic that hints at the natural, modern and historical landscape of Kenya. Each piece is handcrafted by our artisans using heritage techniques.
shop soko they at adapt tech for good,unlike large centralized factory production, we use technology to empower human capital and artisan entrepreneurship, not displace it. their mobile-powered “virtual factory” directly connects Kenyan artisans to the global marketplace, a scalable production solution with greater positive benefit to people and their communities.
Kapoeta by ambica is a luxury collection of handmade feather & silver jewellery and beaded linen boho-chic apparel. As an african eco-fashion brand, kapoeta by ambica supports ethical and sustainable sourcing, production and design.
Each piece beautifully combines edgy, elegant and extravagant.
7. Kazuri
Kazuri, which means “small and beautiful” in Swahili, began in 1975 as a tiny workshop experimenting in hand crafted ceramic beads,Its founder started with two single motherhood women and soon discovered that there were many others in the villages around Nairobi, most of who were disadvantaged and were in great need of regular employment.
Today Kazuri has grown tremendously and now has a large workforce of over 340 women skilled in the crafting of ceramic beads, strung into beautifully and artistically jewelry, the flair has taken them to a different dimension of making their own unique range of pottery which reflects the culture and wildlife of Kenya. Each piece, like our beads, is handmade and hand painted in rich colors.
Zaveris offers a wide range of services including: engraving, jewellery polishing, repairs, valuations for insurance purposes, re-stringing of pearls and a bespoke design service where we can discuss how to bring your creative mind to a reality.
They are an Independent family run jewellery business established in Kenya since 1994. Coming from a background of jewellers from the last three generations we have a wealth of knowledge in this business.
Zaveris specialize in all types of jewellery, which includes wedding bands and engagement rings in yellow and white Gold and bridal jewellery. We pride ourselves for using the latest technology combined with the best of traditional craftsmanship to offer you an extensive collection of gold Jewellery, precious and semi-precious stone Jewellery, Pearl Jewellery and Silver Jewellery of the highest quality and unique design.
little jewellers are dealers of 925 Sterling Silver Jewellery thier products include wedding rings,engagement rings, anklets, bracelets, chains, earrings, pendants, necklaces and birthstone rings. We are a family owned business offering exquisite yet affordable jewellery to the individual or in bulk to our wholesale clients.
They exclusivity in dealing only with silver jewellery that makes them the ideal company to enter into business with because they offer you a wide array and diversity of merchandise. This directly impacts the prices of our product making them most favorable to thier customer thus satisfying their needs.
Since its inception in 1974, the Onyx Jewellers in Nairobi, Kenya has earned the reputation as one of East Africa’s most prominent retailers of jewellery and wholesalers of the finest quality gemstones, Spanning two generations and built on trust and integrity, The Onyx boasts a product range of jewellery that is as diverse as its client base.
As a licensed mineral dealer The Onyx is also renowned for being one of the region’s leading stockists of Tanzanites, Tsavorites, Diamonds, Precious and Semi-precious Coloured Gemstones.
Offering a bespoke design and manufacturing service, The Onyx Jewellers is renowned for its dedication to creating exquisite and delicately designed pieces of jewellery that would suit any occasion and regularly commission important pieces of fine jewellery that today serve as a continued testament to the company’s commitment to aesthetic designs, expert craftsmanship and attention to detail.
Online shopping in Kenya is on an upward trend due to its convenience and time-saving. Generally, online shopping, which is also known as e-commerce, is a method of trading goods and services via the internet. There are over 21 million online shoppers in Africa.
Photo credit Binti
A number that is even projected to continue it’s upward trend according to reports released by the United Nations Conference on Trade And Development (UNCTAD).
Kenya has also not been left behind on this trend. In fact, with 2.61 million shoppers, Kenya ranks third on the list of countries with the most online shoppers in Africa. Nigeria and South Africa come in first and second respectively.
Photo credit Jumia
Jumia is undoubtedly one-stop online retail shop in Kenya, both in terms of traffic and wide variety of products where you can find beauty products, Fashion items , clothes for both men and women, electronics, home appliances, and much more.
The website has various Top branded stores too, and you’re likely to find some of your favorites.
Vivo woman was founded in 2011, and is a proudly Kenyan-owned clothing brand which is designed to make women look and feel great. Vivo tapped into the need of ready-to-wear clothes that were affordable when Kenyan women had very few options to choose from.
At Vivo, they pride themselves in having 90% of the products they make, made in Kenya and they are 100% dedicated to inspiring confidence in women no matter what size or shape they are!
From a fitness wear clothing line to one of Kenya’s leading women’s clothing brand, Vivo has tapped into the need of ready-to-wear clothes that are affordable and offer a great sense of style and comfort,with 90% of products made in Kenya, vivo clothes are designed to make you look and feel great as well as inspire a great deal in confidence in you no matter what size or shape you are.
2. Fab Guru
Fab Guru Online store is one stop shop for fashionable women’s products in Kenya, mostly fab guru focuses on women’s wears trendy dresses , fashionable shoes, designer handbags and ladies fashion accessories like earrings and bangles.
La BELLE fashions is the shopping destination of choice for something a little bit different here you can get a wide range of outfits from summer wear, winter and all seasons wear. La Belle Fashions provide trend-led fashion for those on a budget, taking inspiration from international and local celebrity style, while using the catwalks as its inspiration,
Binti is the largest leading wholesale E-commerce platform for ladies fashion items and accessories in Kenya, and growing across East Africa. Binti aim to empower and grow local micro-based, medium, individual entrepreneurs in business, startups, and customers who are looking for quality and stylish products for the best value in the market.
They do this by linking and offering the best products directly from certified manufacturers and suppliers around the globe mainly from Asia to our customers at reasonable prices and affordable quantities.
LeStyle Parfait is an Online shopping store in Kenya for the best fashion trending clothing and shoes, with a wide range of family wear range from women clothing, men’s clothes, kids clothes, shoes, jewelry and handbags.
Tique a Bou was born in 2012 and is run by bou-tiful people from Kenya and the UK. Tique a Bou was built to bring online shopping to Kenyan’s. As Kenyan’s, we know how frustrating it is that new, good quality clothes are so expensive and limited. Well, we’ve had enough of paying too much and buying second hand.
So, here at Tique a Bou, they have made it thier mission to bring brand new, good quality online shopping to you at an affordable price.
Tique a Bou UK team in London are constantly searching for the latest in online shopping and fashion and with our years of experience in the industry we have access to prices and quality that we think is pretty hard to beat. See for yourself, feel free to have a browse.
Sarai Afrique Fashion House has been serving women for the last five years and the experience we have gained over this time with manufacturers and designers allow us to offer top quality designs at competitive prices in the industry. they take great pride in the relationships, Sarai Afrique form with our customers whom they consider part of the Sarai Afrique family.
Sarai Afrique Fashion House offers a wide assortment of the latest and best selections of women’s apparel from brands across the World. Designs that fit the sophisticated woman as well as the modern styles of clothing that best suit the trends of today.
Style connection is a Kenyan online and physical boutique aiming to bring you up to the minute quality, trendy, unique women’s fashion clothes and accessories.
At Style connection, they are continuously working hard to deliver on-trend women’s clothes that are perfectly suited to fit your style. they have an utterly amazing range of fashionable clothing for the ladies, including brilliant casual day-to-day clothing and stunning evening dresses for that special night out with friends.
Amore was born in Dec 2014 and our flagship store officially opened in March 2015. Amore is the initials of our names Amadi and Moreka and means love.
Amore is the greatest commandment and they believe that when you come to Amore you’ll fall in love with everything. they got a storage space near our home and set up the business. they diversified from interior décor to men women and children’s wear.
2NU Boutique is an online shopping store for smart career women, that specializes in offering unique and fashionable clothing, Their website is designed to provide an easy, accessible shopping experience,for the 1st time you don’t have to go through the hustle of going from place to place through the traffic to get to the shops in time before they close.
Let’s be honest. We all dress up for other people. At least to some extent.
It may be to attract the opposite sex as we seek their admiration. Admiration, not approval.
It may be to impress members of the same sex as we seek their respect. Anyone who’s ever had to dress up for an important function with a lot of big wigs can easily attest to this. Today, however, I want to address the most important person you will ever dress up for.
YOU.
Elevating your standards to new heights and dressing up for yourself can have some serious positive impacts on your psychology. Benefits which include but are not limited to;
A major boost in your self-confidence which radiates like warm sunshine to those around you.
Improved mental health based on the good feelings you end up having about yourself from within.
A sudden increased desire to go out and conquer, which is essentially what men are all about in the first place.
When all’s said and done, anything you wear to a special occasion should pump you up as it does with the gentleman in the video below.
https://youtu.be/znsyf0Ot0mU
If it doesn’t, then it’s a waste of money. And as my grandfather would always say, “It’s better to invest Kshs. 50,000 than to lose Kshs. 5,000.”
So, gentlemen, it’s time to stop taking cheap shortcuts and make the investment in yourself that you’re worthy of.
You deserve it.
Black designer mafia boss jacket exclusive to King Sidney.
Content courtesy of Paul Oloo & Nairobi fashion hub
As she walked the runways, no one could tell how lucky she felt having an opportunity that could turn her life around. Indeed life turned around.
Priscilla Ray is now a mother of three beautiful kids; a 5-year-old girl, a 3-and-a half -year-old girl and one-and-half-year-old girl. She holds a Master’s degree in International Business from the University of Westminster in London. After dabbling into a string of businesses that didn’t go well, she chose to now focus on real estate, and life has never been better.
You recently turned 34, what has been the biggest life lesson you’ve had so far?
Never to undermine any job, as long it’s income-generating. Life is about making mistakes, don’t be afraid of failure. You need to be really patient, if you want to get what you want.
Suit – Kai’s Divo Collection
Has there been a point in your life where your patience was tested to the chore?
After doing my Masters, I failed to get a job as soon as I had wished. I was living in Notting Hill where it was rare to find a black person across the street. So, I figured that no one would hire me because of my skin colour and even made peace with it.
Jumpsuit – Eguana Kampala Bags – Joseline
One evening, while watching football, I met this random white guy. As we chatted, I found out that he owned a hedge fund. I told him how I was hunting for a job. He asked for my credentials, I shared them. And just like that he offered me a job. To do what? Make tea!
‘How could he?’ I asked myself. With a Master’s degree in International business, how could he ask me to make tea? But after giving it some thought, I agreed to take the job, because there wasn’t much I was doing anyway. My role was to make and serve them tea and coffee, a job I was horrible at.
After a month, he intimated to me that he would have me for two more months. After, I’d go get a better job elsewhere, and he would write me a nice recommendation. Two months later, I waited for him to let me go, but he didn’t. Meanwhile I was getting paid 2000 pounds monthly for my job of making tea. Then, they hired another tea girl who was obviously doing a better job than I. Still I wasn’t let go. I went to him to make my case.
That’s when he finally opened up that he had been testing my patience all this while. He wanted to see how far I could go before hiring me for the job. I burst out in tears and cried. I couldn’t believe it.
I worked with them for 3 years before moving back to Kampala.
Dress – Fatumahasha
How are you instilling the value of patience in your kids?
My kids know that they can get what they want from me if they are patient. If someone throws tantrums “Mummy I want this”, then they are surely not getting it.
Surprisingly, you’re living a very quiet life. Yet you have every reason not to. Is this intentional?
It’s very intentional. I live both here and in London, so I’m always in and out. Also, I enjoy my privacy so much that I wouldn’t trade it for anything. The life of a social butterfly ended when I left Sylvia Owori to focus on my studies. I did Social Works and Social Administration at KIU, before immediately moving to London for my Masters. My life changed since then.
You are also quite inactive on social media too..
Yes. I prefer to have real life experiences rather than living for social media. I live a completely normal life. For example, instead of posting on social media, I’d rather spend that time with my kids. I’m on Facebook and Instagram, that’s all.
Does that make you anti-social media?
Not at all. I believe social media is such a blessing to everyone trying to put themselves or their products out there. It’s also quite convenient. I believe if we had social media in the early 2000s, I would have done much more than I did.
You’d probably be an Instagram model like Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid
To some extent, it’s unfair that some of those models are touted as successful not because of what they can do as models, but because of their huge following on social media. That’s the part I dislike.
Would you let your children become models?
It’s up to them. I’d like for them to make their own decisions, and become their own people. Although I would be thrilled to see my daughter on the catwalk one day.
Dress & kimono wrapper – Martha Jabo
You make motherhood seem so easy. Look at you, 18 months after giving birth and you are in such good shape.
I’m enjoying every bit of it. I never liked kids to be honest. I didn’t even want to talk about them. It’s one of those things I never saw myself doing. Then, at some point I felt like I was growing older, I needed to just get it out of the way. After my first child, I couldn’t believe what I was missing. I wished I had done it a lot earlier.
You say that your dad left you when you were 9 years old. Have you ever bothered to look for him?
No! I know where to find him, if I want to see him. Ohh it’s been a while since I last asked, so I don’t know if he’s still there. I’m not angry at him, I just don’t care.
Dress – Bantu by Clare Asiimwe
What has been the turning point in your life?
When I met the father of my first child. He totally changed the course of my life. He made me look at life differently. You know my mother struggled to take us through school. She told me that she would only go as far as S4. But we managed to make it to S6. That was it. She didn’t have the resources to take me to university. That’s when my then partner came in, I joined university. Then after, I did my masters. I was in London for three years, away from him and he never complained. That’s when I confirmed that he actually wanted the best for me.
Was it easy living in London on your own?
I managed. As children, our dream was to go to London. We never knew America or Dubai. So, going to London was a dream come true. I made it work. However, the first year when I was doing my Masters, it was one of the most challenging time of my life. I slept for three hours every day for the entire year because I didn’t want to fail. From not having any hope of going to university to having the opportunity to study at the University of Westminster. I just couldn’t let myself screw it up.
You say you have done a few businesses that didn’t go well. What some of the lessons you picked from those experiences of failure?
My first experience was immediately after I came back from London. I was hungry to start a business, and have something going on for myself. A friend of mine lured me to getting into event promotions. I wasn’t directly involved in it though, I brought the money and let him handle the rest. In a space of just a few months, I lost 120 million shillings. I was broken!
My lesson after that was; you should be involved or at least have a considerable understanding of any business you set out to do.
Then I did a diaper brand, after a friend who had just given birth shared with me how she was struggling to find quality diapers. I did my research, flew to China to meet the suppliers and did a product that I was proud of. The diapers were received positively, but then, no one was willing pay for them. I realised that many people preferred quantity over quality. Then my distributors became shady, the diapers would move off the shelves, but they would never commit to pay us. Then the taxes were hiked every other time. I was strained until I chose to end the project. It pained me so much because this was like my baby. But, I had to make the smart decision, and it was to quit. I lost over 400 m. My lesson this time was; I had to be content. My motivation for doing that business was to have something going on for me, which was wrong.
Do you have any regrets?
Not at all. There’s no point where I say “I wish I had done this”, because I did it all. The only regret I had then was; I wished I had channeled all those resources I lost into real estate, because that has worked out pretty well for me.
How do you unwind?
I travel a lot with my kids.
During the photo shoot you had so much fun. You also walked the runway (and red carpet) at the Abryanz Style & Fashion Awards last year. Is this some kind of come back?
Come back or not, I love modelling and I’m happy to do it anytime. I’m very open to any opportunity, because why not? I have the time. I had so much fun doing this photo shoot. Seeing all those happy people trying to do the best they can to make the shoot come out perfectly. I loved it.
Dress – Bantu by Clare Asiimwe
Jacket & pants – Kai’s Divo Collection
Dress – Kori House of Couture and Design
Dress – Aisha Ganda
Dress – Martha Jabo
Dolce & Gabbana Leopard print bodysuit – From Priscilla’s wardrobe
What were some of your favourite looks?
I really loved the short blue Martha Jabo dress. I loved the leather dress from Bantu. I also loved the maroon Fatumah Asha dress. I loved that dreamy purple gown. I loved basically everything. I wanted to buy some of them actually, because I would totally wear them.
Does that mean Ugandan fashion is getting where you think it should be?
Exactly! The industry has grown so much that I’m excited about the future. I couldn’t believe that all the looks on set were made by local designers. To get where the industry should be, we, the consumers should develop a culture of supporting them and wearing original products.
Excellent idea. Should we prepare to write about your wedding gown, custom made by a Ugandan designer?
Wedding? Not me. I don’t believe marriage is for me. My partner and I are happy and content with what we have. Why fix it when it’s not broken. A lot of times, marriage makes couples take each other for granted. What makes a relationship work is not a ring, a gown or a big event.
In person, Ray is a delight; she’s bubbly, talkative and insanely funny. She greets me with a big hug, and agrees that we leave Café Javas to have our chat at Riders Lounge, Acacia Place, which was a lot quieter. Dressed in a blue Baum und pferdgarten ruffled striped shirt, and a pair of off-white printed textured Derek Lam 10 Crosby wide-leg pants.
Her hair, which she flips incessantly (because who wouldn’t?) is in a beautiful dark brown shade, a perfect match for her skin tone. She’s carrying a brown Chanel purse, which I later find out set her back a staggering $5000.
She was discovered at the age of 15, when she walked into Sylvia Owori’s ‘Sylvie’s Boutique’ on Kampala road, and asked if she could be a model. She was fresh from school wearing her Kitante Hill School uniform and dirty shoes.
“My friend and I were walking from school when we stumbled upon Sylvia Owori’s boutique,” she recalls. “I had been seeing and reading about all these glamorous things she was doing, and I thought ‘why not go in and give it a shot?’”
She was received with ‘wows’, and before she left, she met Sylvia Owori, who was blown away by her unique features. She signed with ‘Ziper Models’, one of the first modelling agencies in East Africa, and kicked off a life of runway shows, magazine spreads, advertising and glitzy events. This life of lights and attention was a wide swatch from the life she was familiar with at home.
Ray was born in 1986 in Kampala to an Italian father and a Mutooro mother. When she was 9 years old, her father disappeared, she has never seen him again.
“I wouldn’t say he was a loving father, but he cared for us. My mother would occasionally take me to his home to visit. One fateful morning, the images are still very vivid in my mind, we went to see him, only to be told that he was gone. No communication, nothing. He just left, “she recalls.
Her mother immediately took on the role of mother and father to her 5 children. “She was an uneducated poor woman, but she tried her best to provide. She made sure we had a normal childhood, albeit living in abject poverty.”
” Motherhood, The easiest job I’ve had to do so far. “
She and her siblings were always in and out of school because of the huge burden school fees was on their mother. At first, they lived on Kitante road, as her mother worked at a hotel close by. Then she lost the job and they moved to Rubaga where she rented a one-roomed house. Obviously things had to change. The kids had to walk a very long journey from home to school every morning.
“Life changed drastically. She would pack porridge or black tea without sugar in a flask. She would also prepare sweet potatoes. This would be our breakfast and lunch. She would do all this before leaving for work very early in the morning.
How she did it? I don’t even know,” she laughs. With all the gloom that hovered over them, they lived quite happily as a family.
When the little modelling jobs started bringing in some little cash, Ray chose to channel the income to her school fees to offset the burden her mother had. Towards her S6 final exams, she and her friends rented a small room deep down in Kifumbira slum on Mawanda road, to get closer school.
“It’s one of those things I can’t forget. Sometimes we would go days without using the bathroom to shower as it was shared by the whole neighbourhood, and it wasn’t the cleanest.”
Content courtesy of Satisfashion UG & Nairobi fashion hub Digital Team
Priscilla Ray makes her magazine cover debut, 16 years after her last appearance on Zenji magazine. Then a glamour model, she was a fixture on Kampala’s social scene, runway shows and magazine spreads. She then quietly stepped out of the limelight, got her Master’s degree and became a mother.
Satisfashion UG’s March 2020 issue is here starring Priscilla Ray
Now a businesswoman, she’s enjoying a quiet life out of the spotlight. She talks to us about finding herself and the beauty of being content.
In person, Ray is a delight; she’s bubbly, talkative and insanely funny. She greets me with a big hug, and agrees that we leave Café Javas to have our chat at Riders Lounge, Acacia Place, which was a lot quieter. Dressed in a blue Baum und pferdgarten ruffled striped shirt, and a pair of off-white printed textured Derek Lam 10 Crosby wide-leg pants. Her hair, which she flips incessantly (because who wouldn’t?) is in a beautiful dark brown shade, a perfect match for her skin tone. She’s carrying a brown Chanel purse, which I later find out set her back a staggering $5000.
Courtesy of South Africa’s hottest celebrities and influencers, Durban July has become an annual event to genuinely look forward to. Officially titled The Durban July Handicap, this event is a South African Thoroughbred horse race held annually on the first Saturday of July since 1897, at Greyville Racecourse in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.
The butterflies start for many,When the horses step out on parade,The adrenaline builds to a climax, At the winning post heroes are mad, Jockeys dazzle in their rainbow silks, As they gallop past the crowd to the start. Muscles tight with expectation,Each chest thumping to the beat of a heart, There’s a serious side to this racing game,Connections well-groomed for the show ,some dressed to match their racing colours,Others just content to be front row.
Nimbly flitting from flower to flower,Social Butterflies are Queens of this Day Spreading what’s gathered gives them power,Collecting nectar! Never tiring! “Hooray!” Altogether it’s a colourful show,From casual racegoers to those in the know. Paint your own picture, be who you’ll be,t’s socializing in the extreme, sweet pea!
This year, it will be held at the Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse, Berea, South Africa on Saturday 4th July, and the 2020 theme couldn’t be any cuter: butterflies! Think bright colours, big patterns and even a little bit of shimmer.
The Vodacom Durban July Africa’s Greatest Horseracing Event! Saturday 4 July 2020 Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse #Vdj2020
Chic Ama, a Nigerian fashion blogger who resides in Washington DC, USA has not ceased to recreate fashion trends with her style. The fashion blogger enjoys experimenting with different types of fashion. She creates style inspiration for street fashion with her daily post on Instagram and her website. Chic Ama is a force to reckon with in the world of fashion.
A glance through her stunning pictures will literally leave thousands of fashionistas dreaming of living her amazing life,Her brand name, Ama, has grown to become a well-grounded force to reckon with in the international fashion and style community, Chic Ama’s style is the purest possible definition of a classic chic. Her style is simply flawless.
Chichi Ama street fashion blogger with high sense of creativity
Chic Ama is fashion blogger and owner of “chicamastyle.com”, proud mother, and wife to a loving husband. Chichi who is based in Washington, USA, started blogging as a result of her social media followers, friends and family who saw how neatly and creatively she was able to combine styles, and recreate trends.
She’s of the opinion that being “you don’t have to break the bank to look expensive and gorgeous”. She also has her private business as a personal stylist.
Chichi of the blog Chic Ama Style, is a stylish African woman currently residing in Washington DC. Chic Ama describes fashion as defining who you are as an individual based on the colors you put together, combined with good accessories to give that finished unique appearance.
Her sense of style is what I would describe as high fashion, DIY gorgeous, classy and elegant. She loves figure hugging styles, high heels, statement sunglasses and statement bags. Her posts are usually on an outfit of the day basis, which clearly indicates that she slays all day.
Chicama is not only a fashion blogger but also a brand influencer, personal stylist and personal shopper
Content courtesy of Chic Ama Style & Nairobi fashion hub
Today at CorporetteMoms we’re doing a mini-Hunt for the best maternity dresses for work, from sheath dresses and beyond please do check it out. But in the meantime, I thought now might be a great time to talk generally about what to wear to work while pregnant here at Corporette what are your favorite maternity options for workwear?
What gaffes have you seen pregnant women make in your conservative office and who did you really think looked great? It’s been a while since we talked about the best maternity stores for workwear, how to hide an early baby bump, and what to wear to court when you’re pregnant
Don’t buy maternity workwear too early, you just don’t know how you’re going to carry (low, high), where you’ll gain weight (bust, arms, bum), and so forth. Budgeting for your maternity wardrobe is already difficult, and the last thing you want is a bunch of wool low-rise maternity pants for your third trimester when a) it turns out it’s way too hot for wool and b) you vastly prefer high-rise maternity pants.
(I’ve also advised readers not to buy a fancy diaper bag before you’re actually a mom save it for a treat when your baby turns six months old or something else after you’ve been in it for a bit.) I could still wear my regular (non maternity) blazers until week 38 or 39 with my second child, and I never owned a maternity winter coat. Stylish maternity suits are notoriously hard to find
Chic Ama, a Nigerian fashion blogger who resides in Washington DC, USA has not ceased to recreate fashion trends with her style. The fashion blogger enjoys experimenting with different types of fashion. She creates style inspiration for street fashion with her daily post on Instagram and her website. Chic Ama is a force to reckon with in the world of fashion. See more photos of her pregnancy style above.
Keep these smart shopping tips in mind when choosing maternity clothes for work:
Find Ways to Keep Wearing Your Clothes: Leaving the top button undone on your jeans or pants is fine when you use an elastic band or safety pin to hold them up. You can also invest in a Bella Band, which is an elastic band that can be worn throughout your pregnancy to help keep your pants from sagging down (great invention and a huge money saver).
Buy Clothes That Will Grow With Your Body: In the first few months of pregnancy, you have no idea how your weight gain will progress throughout the coming nine months. Therefore, buying maternity clothes at the outset isn’t wise. Instead, buy skirts and pants with elastic waistbands that will give you the longest wearing time.
You will, however, wake up one day ready to put on your stretchy black pants, and they simply won’t fit. Many pregnant women will try to get more wear out of these items, but you need to know when to put that pair of pants in the box for use during your next pregnancy.
Invest in Wardrobe Staples: With many high-end designers making their lines of maternity wear, it’s tempting to buy trendy maternity clothes, especially for work. However, any smart fashionista will tell you to try to resist this temptation and stick with stocking your pregnancy closet with wardrobe staples.
Buy Black, Gray and Brown Pants: Then use accessories and different tops to vary your daily attire. If your job calls for business attire, buy a basic dress that can be worn to work, as well as out to dinner. Invest in one suit jacket. Basic, non-trendy clothing also will come in handy if you plan to get pregnant again in the future.
Price Shop: Maternity clothes can become very expensive especially because you won’t be wearing some of these items for more than three months. Therefore, don’t invest your entire maternity clothes budget in one designer suit. With so many maternity clothing designers today, you can price shop and still get decent apparel. In fact, many discount retailers, like Molly’s Maternity wear, MumsVillage, Just9, Bumpy and Goregeous Maternity, or Everything Maternity Kenya.
Buy as You Go: Because your size can change drastically from one day to the next when you’re pregnant, you should buy maternity clothes as you need them. Buying in advance, especially when there is a change of season coming up, isn’t wise because you may jump up a size, and never get to wear some items. (For this reason, always check a retailer’s return policy for unworn maternity clothing).
Borrow From Friends or Buy Used: If you’re one of those people who can’t fathom going nine months with such a limited wardrobe, it pays to announce to friends, friends of friends, and colleagues that you’re in the market for maternity clothing. Many women have maternity clothes boxed in their attic that can prove to be great maternity clothes finds for you that can help you vary your wardrobe.
