Massimo Dutti

Mix and match maze

Posted on by Keya

Good day to you my mish mash maidens,  

With the daily changing weather we tend to have in London I feel it’s so important to master the art of mix and matching your wardrobe. For this weeks post I am going to give you the top five tips to successfully making your wardrobe seem endless – the real chronicles of Narnia 😀

1) Invest in a classic little black dress.

The little black dress much like the white shirt is probably one of the hardest working pieces in my collection. I have varying styles – one with cap sleeves for that warm but crisp spring morning, one sleeveless which is perfect for summer and a long sleeve polo neck dress which looks amazing with over the knee boots and knitted stripy tights. Even if you just change the way you style your hair from one day to the next, it can make it look like you have a new outfit on. 


2) Wear colourful cardigans or jackets

At work I am known for my collection of bright cardigans and interesting jackets. I love how versatile they are, you can just throw them on to stave off the air con chill in the office or to smarten up a sleeveless pencil dress in the work place. It’s amazing the combinations you can come up with when pairing a particular dress with a pastel cardigan one day and then with a suit blazer and heels the next week. 


3) Change your jewellery 

The power of statement jewellery is a force to be reckoned with. I wear a uniform of silver bangles and bracelets on my right arm all the time and my watch on my left but if I know I am going to an event after work then I will bring either a chunky costume ring or a pair of chandelier earrings with me to alter my look from work to evening wear. Dependent on your budget you can find some great bargains on the high street or if you have similar taste to me, Swarovski or Emporio Armani have some amazing earrings and bangles. 


4) Switch from flats to heels

I am sure you have all seen the woman on the train wearing her flat pumps on her commute to work to only change into an elegant pair of court shoes when she arrives at the office – that is me to a T. My colleagues laugh at me when I open my drawer to find varying styles and colours of shoes. For me wearing heels at work or for a night out is like wearing make up is for other women. I feel like I am ready to begin my day as soon as I slip my feet into the soft leather. Shoes are such a good way of transforming an outfit too, you could go through every colour of the rainbow or stick to the classic black or nude – it’s completely your own perogative. 


5) Pair designer with good quality basics

And lastly, if you have been reading my blog for a while you know I am a huge advocate of investing in timeless designer items that will last for years to come. It is equally important to pair these pieces with good quality basics. I love the tasseled loafers and day dresses from Massimo Dutti, fitted shirts from Uniqlo and everyday pointed shoes or pumps from Dune. The prices are still deemed high street appropriate but the fabrics they use for their collection ensure they withstand a few months of daily commuting or sticky bar floors on nights out.     


By following these five top tips, you too can be the woman in the office or within your group of friends who seems to have an everlasting closet, or failing that the go to person when they need a great black court shoe or nude wedge to borrow for an impromptu wedding invite or board meeting. 

Until next time, take care

Keya X 

The ankle adventure.

Posted on by Keya

Good day my footwear loving beauties, 

I, like a lot of you I am sure, have a momentary fashion indecision all the time when it’s not quite cold enough for knee highs but equally not warm enough for a loafer, what my dear followers do we wear instead?? Well this is the perfect time to turn to our trusty ankle boot 😀 For this weeks post I am going to share with you my staple ankle boots I am sporting for the upcoming Spring and with what I wear them with. 

The lace up heeled boot.    
 
As soon as I saw these boots in Ralph Lauren I knew I needed them in my life. I love the multiple strap and eyelet detail and although they are rather high they are extremely comfortable to commute to work in. I usually wear these boots either with skinny wet look trousers and an oversized jumper in my leisure time or when I need to look smart for a meeting I just throw on a fitted pencil dress and black opaques with them. 

The Brogue boot. The brogue pattern and tasselled accent on these Russell and Bromley boots drew me to them immediately. They are so versatile and my go to pair at the weekends thrown on with some skinny jeans and a buttoned up shirt or a day dress. They have been worn and worn over winter and the leather has become even more comfortable with each wear. I definitely think it is best to invest in a good quality pair, your feet will thank you I promise!  

The Chelsea.   

I was ecstatic over the Christmas period to find a black and a brown pair of Chelsea boots under our tree for me last year. They really are the everyday boot and I have barely taken mine off since I received them. My brown pair I wore this past weekend with a cream cable knit jumper, brown All Saints belt and my Massimo riding jacket. Equestrian style in the city.
The Day to night boot.   

 It is virtually inexcusable in my humble opinion to not own at least one pair of day to night boots. These nifty inventions are perfect for that planned dinner date after work where you want to feel glam but not have you reaching for your stilletto heels mid week either or even something you can reach for when you are going for a girls night out and strappy sandals just won’t do in our cold London evenings.
The quilted back section and unusual zip feature make my beautiful Bromley’s my special occasion boot and the suede and glitter combo on the second pair look great paired with a LBD and bare legs or even with a shirt and chinos for work also. 

Whatever style of ankle takes your fancy this year, revel in the knowledge that as our boot lengths shorten, the day’s lengthen and we are one step closer to the big reveal – summer = sandals (cue happy dance.) 😀

Until next week, take care

Keya X

Sale shopping smart

Posted on by Keya

Hello 2016 and all my lovely followers, 

Firstly I would like to you wish you all a very Happy New Year and I hope you had a wonderful Christmas break with your families. 

I had a super time spent with all of my loved ones laughing, visiting relatives, playing board games and of course overdoing it on the food and wine 😀

  
As I am sure like most of the capital I returned back to work this week and one of the few perks to stave off the major January blues is the sales are still on! Yay! Over the Christmas break I managed to hit the West End a few times and if you haven’t done so already, here are a few of my tips to ensure you snap up some major bargains not bungled purchases.  

When I was in New York just before Christmas I searched high and low for some plain leather Chelsea boots. I have tasseled and buckled ones already so just wanted a simple every day pair to add to my collection. I came away empty handed whilst there but was delighted to find a beautiful Russell and Bromley pair under our Christmas tree this year. I also nabbed a black and tan pair of ankle boots from Jones the Bootmakers in the sales. They really are just what I was looking for and I know they are going to see me through the rest of winter.

  

Also on my list was a new leather jacket this year. My current black biker I have had since I was sixteen and although I still love it and wear it all the time, I wanted to invest in a navy one subsequently. I found some amazing designs in Reiss, All Saints and Massimo Dutti although none seemed to fit my shape perfectly so I am going to keep my eyes peeled for the “it” one over the next few months. One great thing about the sales is you can find a leather as soft as butter jacket for such a reasonable price and as mine will confirm, they really far outlive the test of time and cost per wear ten fold.

  
For Christmas I was lucky enough to be bought a wonderful Dior red lipstick and mascara which I just fell in love with instantly. The packaging is so chic and elegant. So much so, that after Christmas we headed to the wonderful Selfridges and I purchased the pressed powder and blusher to match so my makeup bag is now complete 😀

   (Photo courtesy of google images)

I feel so grateful and happy that I was bought so many beautiful gifts but watching the faces of my loved ones when they opened the gifts I had got for them meant more to me than anything. It really is priceless seeing their faces light up when that wrapping paper and bow we’re ripped off.

If there are any gifts which were less than perfect for you,there is no shame in returning them and picking something which you will be able to wear or utilise either. One year I was bought a pandora charm bracelet which didn’t fit with my current jewellery so I returned it and got a watch instead which is still in my jewellery box now.

When it comes to navigating the shops, I always recommend to invest in good quality, classic items. Fashion comes and goes but timeless pieces will last forever and if you can get £100 off of that Armani coat you had been eyeing up in December then you know you have bagged a bargain and got your dream item in the process. The sales are extremely seasonal too so you will get better value for your money if you buy winter items now and save them for next year. I did that one year with my Ralph Lauren overcoat which still comes out every cold winter without fail. 

With that said, get your fabulous fur trimmed coat on, new boots and armed with your wallet go and hit those sales HARD – race you there 😀

Until next week, take care

Keya X

Every cloud has a silver lining.

Posted on by Keya

Good day my wind blown wonders, 

Unless we were all living under a rock in the last week, we would have been unable to avoid the awful news of the multiple attacks around the world which just breaks my heart. It almost seems wrong of I to post an upbeat blog entry but I guess to show solidarity and strength when faced with adversity – ‘the show must go on’ and I personally do not want to look as though we have been beaten. I have close friends and colleagues who live in Paris and I know they are being wholeheartedly British and stubborn at this time, not living their lives in fear as us Londoners did also during 7/7. 

  
(Photo courtesy of Google images)

Onto lighter matters now and I am sure what with the clocks changing a few weeks ago you will have noticed how much darker it is getting earlier in the evenings and how although unseasonably mild still, the cold brisk mornings have returned to us once more.

I will wholeheartedly admit I am NOT a winter or cold person (give me a hot climate where I can wear my flip flops and bikini please) but one thing I do love about this time of year is being able to explore my winter wardrobe again. 

I am a huge fan of cosy cable knits,thick tights and awesome overcoats. Each year I always return to my fail safe favourites although usually I do try to update my collection as styles vary slightly each year. 

For the office I love wearing a fitted woolen polo neck with a high waisted skirt and my knee high leather boots from Dune or one of my amazing knitted jumper dresses paired with black 80 deniers and my Russell and Bromley Chelsea boots. 

  
For casual attire at the weekends I usually turn to my array of Massimo Dutti and Gap oversized jumpers which I usually team with my skinny wet look jeans and leather high tops.

For evenings out in winter when you cannot bare the thought of going out with bare legs, a great over the knee pair of boots look fab with an evening dress or even tights and heeled ankle boots work a charm. The goose pimple leg look is seriously not worth the bother in my opinion. 

Believe me, you do not need to forego your style just because the dark nights are setting in. There are some incredible winter overcoats on the market which are chic in their own right.The one below which I invested in recently, really looks great no matter what you are wearing  underneath.  

  
The joy of wearing a great overcoat is being able to do the “big reveal” too. It seriously adds to the surprise for your special other when you take your coat off at your chosen destination and they can see the gorgeous outfit you have hidden underneath. 

For me, winter really is the time to hibernate, my grey marl lounge pants and soft jumpers become my staple and I love nothing more than being cuddled up warm at home watching series and being with those I love ❤️

Until next week take care, 

Keya X

Trans seasonal footwear

Posted on by Keya

Good day my Autumnal artisans, 

As summer has officially finished in London (much to my dismay – I love the warm weather) I thought I would dedicate this entry to the most appropriate footwear to wear in this unpredictable weather period.

The weekend just gone, I attended my last festival of the season, SW4. Although rain was forecast I remained optimistic and wore my black retro Nike high top trainers. The sunshine fought valiantly to stay out but the rain hit in the early afternoon. After mud skating for most of the day, you can imagine the state of my shoes when I checked out the damage in the morning. They were not even machine washable, they just went straight in the bin. Needless to say, if in doubt always go with your trusty wellies. My Hunter pair have kept me dry footed on many occasions and are so easy to wipe clean. 

  

With the intermittent showers and ever changeable weather at the moment I really dislike when I am wearing pumps and my feet get wet whilst trying to avoid the mammoth puddles. My solution is the trusty ankle boot, they are cooler than the knee high version but also protect your tootsies when that sudden downpour hits. I have several pairs in various shades and fabrics. My current favourites are my black brogue pair from Russell and Bromley and my chocolate brown snakeskin pair from my trip to Spain over the winter. 

  
Another shoe style which is perfect for Autumn is the trusty loafer. The leather and closed in style protects your feet better than the more summer appropriate espadrille or sandal and you can be really adventurous with the colours especially if the weather is chilly but blue skied. I recently bought the below pair which I love. The rich burgandy hue is warming and can be worn with skinny chinos for work or paired with a little black dress if you are hitting the town at the weekend. 

   

For nights out, in the autumn I do not feel comfortable wearing strappy stillettos. That is really one of my pet peeves when you see women walking around on a cold evening in a small dress and shoes which are like torture devices of straps and buckles. Wearing a chic coat will not ruin your outfit and you can do the big reveal when you reach your desired destination. Surely that is much more appealing than uncontrollably shivering! 

   
The key to autumnal dressing is layering. It is much easier to take off a cardigan or light knit sweater then it is to be cold in the office. Ankle boots or closed in heels are the perfect transition from day to evening. Lastly imagine how chic you will look rocking that amazing pair of sunnies in the crisp September afternoon! After all the world looks better when you are hidden behind your latest glamorous eyewear 😀

  
Until next week, take care 

Keya x

 

Colour Champions.

Posted on by Keya

Good afternoon my colourful chameleons, 

I believe I would be correct in saying that those who know me personally, would say I am a happy go lucky kind of person and I love incorporating bright colours and patterns into my day to day wardrobe. Today’s post I am dedicating to some of my favourite colourful outfits I have worn and I also want to give you some advice on how to incorporate brighter shades into your own wardrobe if it all seems a tad daunting.

  
The above outfit I wore for an fashion party in the city which is one of my favourites. The dress is by Hoss Intropia, the snap back is by Fort Riu and the shoes are Jimmy Choo. I love the quilted material and flared skirt of this dress and the cut away detail on the top flatters my broad shoulders. 

  
This red dress from Massimo Dutti I wore whilst on holiday in Portugal. The red hue really compliments my olive complexion and as the dress was a statement on its own I teamed it with my black Kurt Geiger wedges and a Chanel bag.

  
This is another outfit I wore whilst on my vacation. As soon as I saw this print in the shop I was drawn to the bright colours and the fitted shape suits my athletic frame. I just threw on some sandals with it so the dress could do the talking. 

  
I wore the above outfit to a party in Newcastle at the end of last year. The dress is a vintage lace one which I wore with my Valentino tan shoes and Michael Kors snakeskin bag. I really like the navy colour of this dress with the sequin detail, it looked chic and elegant on the night and really sparkled under the dance floor lights. 

  

  
  For my fathers 60th birthday dinner I wore the above embellished grey dress that I found in TK Maxx and the shoes are from Kurt Geiger. The A-line style of this dress was really comfortable especially when sat down for dinner and the colour was really appropriate for the winter setting of the celebrations. 
Brighter prints do not need to only be worn on nights out, they can be appropriate for the office too. I love this jazzy shirt from Ralph Lauren which I wear with black skinny chinos and pumps. 

 If the idea of wearing a bright colour brings you out in hives I would suggest starting really small perhaps with colourful bracelets or a patterned scarf which will immediately brighten up a plain outfit. You can then start introducing colour block shoes or a pastel bag. You will amaze yourself at how quickly you will love having brighter items in your wardrobe and you can go as bold or as muted as you wish! I am probably at the extreme end of wearing colour but when I am having a bad day or the weather is miserable, it’s amazing what a bright red pair of suede moccasins or printed dress will do for your mood 😀

Most of all, the reaction you will get from friends and colleagues is amazing – if you can bring out a huge smile or start a conversation because your outfit, what’s not to love ❤️

Until next week, 

Take care, Keya x

Sensational shoes 

Posted on by Keya

Good evening my shoe aficionados,

From a very young age I have had a huge LOVE for shoes. Even as a child if we had visitors come over who were wearing high heels, the minute they came off our guests feet in the hallway, they would be on mine clomping up the passage or garden path 😀 As I have gotten older, this love has not waned and I now own so many pairs I have lost count. The storage of said shoes has now even spilled out of my own bedroom, into every spare space in our house but I still always peruse my favourite shoe shops in the end of season sales in the hopes I can bag a bargain. 

For smart court shoes or peep toes I love my wonderful collection of Jimmy Choos and Christian Louboutins. I wear them with fitted shift dresses for work, tailored trousers or paired with one of my favourite evening ensembles for nights out. 
 (The ones above are my lovely nude Christian Louboutins) ( These are my black peep toe Jimmy Choos which I wore to my office Christmas party)

For days when I know I am going to be on my feet all day, I love brogues and coloured moccasin lace up shoes from either Dune, Diesel or Massimo Dutti. They are so comfortable if you are running around the city and look uber chic with rolled up chinos or summer dresses. 

I pair these leopard tasselled loafers with a black dress or white shirt.  

  
And these two pairs of slip on loafers I usually wear with skinny jeans and a crop top or fitted t-shirt at weekends.

 

When the weather is warm, I live in my Haviana flip flops and jewelled sandals which are so inexpensive but look so laid back cool when worn with a pair of jean shorts and a vest top. The huge variety of colours means you can find a pair which matches every outfit and the brighter shades look even better when you have that golden summer tan. 

For me, shoes are an extension of my personality. I always choose styles which are quirky, bright and individual as I do in my own wardrobe choices also. I would advise to pay a bit extra for your shoes as even though the brands I have shown above can be very pricey the cost per wear is justified when you look at the good quality leather and craftsmanship gone into each pair. They also last so much longer than your average high street shoe. 

Shoes, much like perfume or lingerie, can make any woman feel like a million dollars; whether it is the way a fabulous pair of stilettos can make you feel like you are sashaying down a catwalk or that perfect pair of sandals which showcase your fresh pedicure in all its coral glory. After a hard day in the office or when you are going through a hard time in life, if by walking into Selfridges spending an hour perusing the shoe halls makes you feel better then DO IT! Believe me there are worst vices to have 😀

Until next week, take care

Keya x

Birthday suit

Posted on by Keya

Good afternoon my sunshine souls, 

What a wonderful day in the city today, feeling so happy 😀

For this weeks post following on from celebrating my birthday last week,I have decided to dedicate this post to dressing for your special day.

I have been lucky enough over the years to celebrate my birthday in a number of different countries. Below I will reveal some of the more memorable for me and what I wore for the occasion. 

On my 25th birthday I got to enjoy it whilst in Positano on the Amalfi Coast. On my special day my friend and I went out for a wonderful dinner which involved the freshest pasta I have ever tasted and copious amounts of prosecco. We then went to a club called Music on the Rocks which was as the name suggests built into a cave overhanging the ocean. It truly was spectacular. I chose to wear the below dress from a vintage stall I used to frequent in Brick Lane. The nude colour was perfect against my deep sun tan and I just wore classic black wedges and bag to let the dress do the talking.  

  

For my 26th birthday I went to Bali on a yoga and surfing retreat. My day started with a sun rise yoga session overlooking the beautiful rice paddies, I then relaxed by my hotel pool in the afternoon and in the evening my wonderful South African friend (who I had met on the trip) and I jumped on the back of some local scooter taxis to a great restaurant to watch the sunset with exotic cocktails in hand. I chose to wear the below dress as the evening was so beautifully balmy paired with some simple sandals. The bright pattern and metallic accents really made this dress one to remember. 

  
For my 27th birthday I was working overseas in South Africa at the time which was an amazing experience. I am actually half South African so it meant a lot to me that I got to spend my day with my family and friends. Although winter was on the approach on that side of the world, my best friend and I decided to go all out and celebrate in style. We went for a lovely dinner overlooking the harbour, followed by drinks at our favourite watering hole in Long Street and then onto Club 31 which as you may have guessed was on the 31st floor of a skyscraper building. I chose the below navy lace dress with sequin detailing paired with my vivacious Valentino shoes and a Michael Kors snakeskin bag. 

  
For my most recent birthday ( cannot quite believe it but my 29th) I celebrated on the following weekend as my special day fell on a Tuesday this year. On the Saturday morning I did my birthday wod at my Crossfit box which was tough but a lot of fun and then I had my closest girlfriends over to my house for drinks in the garden in the darling dusk of evening. We then went to East London to a few bars where we met my birthday buddy and all of the rest of our friends. Wow what a night. As I knew we were going to be on our feet all evening I went for the comfortable option. My top seen below was vintage lace which I paired with my black wet look jeans from Massimo Dutti, boater hat from the Italian wool company and my espadrilles from Havianas. 

       

 These are just a few of my more recent incredibly memorable birthdays. I think the key to enjoying your special day is to firstly ensure you dress for the venue.  Always research a new place thoroughly before visiting to ensure all guests adhere to the dress code and there are no problems gaining entry. Most important of all though,  as long as you surround yourself with your dearest friends and family, it does not matter if you are turning 21, 30 or 50 you will surely be the belle of the ball and have an amazing evening. 

 Until next time party people,

Take care, Keya x

Shoes out for summer

Posted on by Keya

Good evening my wonderfully well heeled gentlemen,

For this weeks post, due to a request from one of my awesome friends, I have decided to delve into the world of what shoes are appropriate for summer in the city.

If like many of us young professionals you work in an office, those fabulous Italian leather Chelsea boots or laced up buckskin brogues are just a tad too warm for these humid days we are experiencing. You need a combination of smart footwear but also ones that keep your toes perfectly cool and comfortable. Below I have chosen a selection of my favourite shoe styles for men to wear this salubrious summer 😀 

Firstly the slip on loafer. This style reminds me of holidays in the Amalfi Coast – well dressed gentleman in open necked shirts, slim fit chinos and tasseled loafers in a range of pastel shades. With the warmer climes upon us, suede and lighter leather varieties are more wearable (no one likes the risk of a sudden downpour of rain whilst in red suede moccasins) and they compliment a great fitting pair of trousers that nip in neatly at the ankle bone perfectly. 

I love this pair below from Louis Vuitton, the tassels are understated but chic and the chocolate brown leather looks amazing with a matching skinny belt. Other cheaper alternatives can be sourced at Gant, Massimo Dutti, Russell and Bromley or Tods. 

  

Next there is the lace up brogue. This style is unisex (much to my own delight) with unbelievable designs at the quintessentially English, Church’s or on the high street Dune is a great quick stop shop for high quality leather choices. This style looks great either dressed up with smart trousers or down with tailored shorts and a buttoned up Polo shirt. 

  
Aha, now I hear you ask, so that is the work shoe wardrobe covered, what style do I need for the more casual garden BBQ or a relatives birthday celebration? Well, my chiselled companions, look no further than the desert boot. This suede, lace up style looks great in the standard camel colour or be even more adventurous with navy or plum to act as a contrast to your chosen shirt or rolled up pair of chinos. You can find some great selections at Penguin, Dune or Tommy Hilfiger. The great thing about these shoes too is because some styles come with an incredible laser cut out design on the toe, they maintain a cool environment for your feet no matter how high the temperature gauge goes up in your car or on public transport. 


For that impending summer vacation looming, my number one choice for flip flops is Havaianas. I first discovered this brand when I was in Brazil for Carnevale and I was so excited when they opened stores in the UK. These rubber sandals are ideal for that hot walk up the sandy beach from the sea and come in such a wide range of colour combinations you are sure to find a pair to match every swim shorts variety.

  
My top tip for shoe choices in the summer is be adventurous! When the sun is out, you can get away with wearing brighter colours on your footwear. What’s not too love about matching your shoe colour to your sunny disposition? If everytime you glance down at your feet, a huge smile steals across your face then believe me, colleagues, friends and complete strangers will want a slice of your happy pie there is no doubt 😀

Until next week, take care

Keya x

Sudden downpour -no problem!

Posted on by Keya

Good evening to my savvy shoppers, 

Anyone who has lived in London knows that our weather is somewhat unpredictable at the best of times, so it’s always worth being one step ahead with your wardrobe to ensure a dampener (see what I did there) isn’t put on your outfit as well as your hair! 

As we are gradually moving into summer, the early sunrises and balmy evenings can cause many to result in a frenzy about what on earth do I wear? My friends will agree that I am the queen of layering, my wardrobe is like a rainbow of cardigans and light knit wear! (I knew that bright orange jumper would come in handy when paired with a LBD for work I promise) 😀 The good thing about cardigans as well is that you can throw them over a shift dress in the morning and when the haze has burnt off by lunch you can slip it off into your work tote and instantly have that easy, breezy city look. The below outfit was whilst on a game drive in South Africa. My light weight cotton jumper kept the morning chill at bay and protected me from the hungry Mosquitos at the same time. 

  
I also love my skinny chinos from Pull and Bear in the summer. I usually roll them up at the ankle paired with one of my awesome Russell and Bromley brogues or loafers. With a floaty, chiffon sleeveless shirt from Massimo Dutti or Uniqlo it looks effortlessly chic and will keep you cool on that train commute home.

  
With the festival season fast approaching, my number one rule of thumb is never leave home without your pac-a-Mac. My daisy motif parka always comes with me in case of that surprise shower (they aren’t really up to scratch in terms of keeping you completely dry but at least they look better than a soggy hoody or second skin t-shirt!) Festivals for me are all about the music, a bit of mud on your hunter wellies is a small price to pay for an awesome day or weekend out 😀

  

Until next week, take care 
Keya x