P is for Pilotto

Spring Calling

The Busy Bee

Wow! I am so so sorry for the lack of posts for such a long time, beauties, I've just been extremely busy as of late. Between planning my next few collaborations and styling projects, and my actual job I've just not had the time to blog. It's been a really busy start to the year but I assure you that you'll definitely be seeing the fruits of all my hard work on the blog pretty soon. 

The Vintage Point

Vintage has always been a style that I've admired, and this is just one of my interpretations of it. I think the detail and texture of this lace number is what adds such opulence to this outfit. It's so beautiful!

Getting to The Greek

 Hi everyone! So this is just a quick post on what I wore to church on Sunday. I was going for the Grecian look with this beautiful maxi dress I got from Zara a while ago. I decided to add a bit of flare to my look by wearing this gorgeous statement necklace, also from Zara, as my sole accessory. I didn't think I needed earrings as I didn't want too much happening with my overall look. Anyway, enjoy the photos *kisses*

The IT Sweater

Wow you guys! I wish you knew how excited I am about this post simply because of this beautiful sweater! This is my IT SWEATER and it is such a statement piece! I first saw this sweater in the white (here) and was so drawn to it, but it was not until I saw it in this blue and black print that I was totally convinced about it. It was like love at first sight! I particularly love this sweater because it is so unique with its bizarre and ornamental floral print that is somewhat reminiscent of Baroque Art.

Style Feature: Hats

One thing I'm looking forward to wearing a lot more of this season is hats. A stylish hat is definitely one of Autumn/Winter's must have pieces. Not only are they this season's key trending pieces, they're also necessary for covering up bad hair days when they come and protecting our tresses from those bitterly cold days. 

SnapBack - Brian Lichtenberg, Fedora - Eugenia Kim, Beanie - Asos, Floppy Hat - Maison Michel

My personal favourite this season is the felt fedora!! I managed to bag myself a gorgeous floppy, wide-brimmed one from H&M last week but it's not due to be delivered until early November :-(. But still itching to have one in my closet I purchased another fedora when my Mum and I went shopping the other day; this one was from Primark and it is so stunning, I couldn't believe that it was at Primark that I found such a beauty! 

Fedora - H&M, Beanie - River Island, Homies SnapBack - Asos

 

Ways To Style

 

Fedora - H&M, Belt - H&M, Boots - Kurt Geiger, Coat - New Look, Sweater - Zara,
Leather Trousers - River Island, Nail Polish - Rimmel London, Lipstick - Mac Ruby Woo

Highlight this dark colour palette with a tan pair of boots and a tan belt. For a more feminine look, wrap the belt around your waist to cinch in the over-sized coat and top this off with bold, red lipstick. I can't wait to style my own fedora with an over-sized coat!  

Sweater - River Island, Jeans - H&M, Chain Necklace - River Island,
Chain Bracelets - River Island, Beanie - Asos, Bag - Asos, Sneakers - Nike 

Beanies are quite easy to style, you can almost wear them with anything. For a simple look such as this one add a flare of edginess with bold accessories and a cool pair of sneakers.

SnapBack - Brian Lichtenberg, Clutch - Alexander McQueen, Heels - Alaïa

Lipstick - Ilia, Sweater - River Island, Skirt - Givenchy

This season it's all about placing a feminine spin on the SnapBack. Wear yours with an over-sized sweater, a pencil skirt, the highest of heels and a clutch bag for a fun evening out. A dark lipstick colour adds a touch of boldness and completes your look.

Hope you ladies find your favourite hat this season.

Thanks for reading.
xo, K.O.

Rounding Up the Summer With Autumn Tones

Hey everyone! Long time no blog, right??! I've actually missed blogging and sharing my style with you guys! Hope you all have been good too! Well, it's clear that the summer is coming to a sharp end so I decided to get one last wear out of my favourite pair of shorts on what was probably the last day of some decent sunshine in Sheffield!

Jungle Fever

Hi guys!! Do you remember when I blogged about My 'Traditional' Style? Well, I've made outfits out of most of those Ankara fabric in that post and this is one of the outfits I made. I decided to go for a casual and simple top and shorts that I could wear around the house or to run quick errands. I love the fact that printed outfits are still such a big trend and a lot of prints look like Ankara. 

Pretty Wild

Hi lovelies!!! Here's another custom made dress I made from one of my Ankara fabrics. I love baby doll dresses and I was really looking forward to making one out of Ankara. I think my tailor did such an excellent job with this dress. I paired the dress with a pair of contrasting Ankara shorts (see it here in a previous post) just to add variation to the overall look. 

Read Between The Lines

Hi guys. This was the second look shot for the My Style Journal and E-F Media collaboration. I decided to restyle this skirt (see previous post here) with its matching top because 1. It's my favourite skirt right now and 2. I love these bold stripes and also really wanted to do another monochrome look.

When I purchased this skirt I was aware that it had two tops that could potentially coordinate with it. One was a T-blouse and the other this cropped top. I decided to go for the cropped one because the stripes are slightly smaller while the stripes on the skirt are bigger and I thought it would be an excellent match. 

Floral Tribute

Hi guys!!! The past month has been quite a busy one for me. From styling a photo shoot, to preparing for my holiday, and helping out with the young people's group at my church called the Mighty Ones. One of my most recent and exciting projects was My Style Journal's collaboration with a talented photography duo, Isaac and Tayo. Isaac and Tayo run a photography company called E-F Media, check out their Facebook page here and have a look at Tayo's own photography website here. 

I was really excited to work with E-F Media. Both Isaac and Tayo are so passionate about photography and we had so much fun during the shoot. 

Here's the first look we shot together. If you're a regular reader of my blog you'd know how much I adore floral and graphic prints and coordinates. This is an old top and skirt I got from River Island last year summer but I think floral prints are timeless spring/summer pieces. I can almost see myself wearing this again next spring/summer. 

My Style Journal: Six Months On...

Wow guys, it's been exactly six months since I started blogging and I've really enjoyed sharing my outfit looks with you guys - my devoted readers :) I think that I've learnt a lot about fashion and style since I started blogging and one thing I've really enjoyed is playing with trends and adapting them to my own personal style. 

 

To celebrate My Style Journal's six months anniversary I've compiled just few of my favourite style posts on the blog so far:

Relaxed in Uniqlo

As you can probably tell by now, my style is quite laid back. I think comfort is definitely a rule of thumb when considering your personal style; you must be comfortable in what you wear at all times - unless you're rocking 5.5 inch Louboutins, of course :P
 

On a Cold Spring Day 

I just love how edgy this look was! That's the thing about style, it's so versatile. One day you can step out looking as chic and fabulous as Victoria Beckham and the next day as edgy and cool as Miley Cyrus. My favourite part of this outfit was that cape!! I can't thank my brother enough for buying it for me as a Christmas present. 
 

Down in London Town

I remember how much this London trip was such a welcome distraction from my dissertation. I had so much fun with my friends Ellee, Tej and Eman running around London without a care in the world!!

Street Style

I love this post especially because of the photography skills. Big thanks to my good friend Babz who also runs a menswear style and photography blog. Check it out here. 

 

An Afternoon in the Park

 

Monochrome: Polka Dots on Stripes

The monochrome trend is probably one of my favourites of all the Spring/Summer 2013 trends because it is so simple and you can do so much with it. Look out for an upcoming post where I've restyled this skirt. 

My Traditional Style

This was one of my first posts and I really enjoyed sharing a bit of my African background with you all. Look out for upcoming posts on what I've made out of these gorgeous Ankara fabrics. 

I've really enjoyed my blogging journey so far and I sure hope you guys have too. If there's anything in particular you'd like me to blog about please feel free to leave a comment or drop me an email at kikeodeks@googlemail.com. I look forward to sharing more style posts with you all - just don't forget to follow my blog by leaving your email address (see bottom of the screen) OR via bloglovin' to keep updated. Just imagine, My Style Journal will soon be one year old! Woop! 

Thanks for reading and following.

xo, K.O.

Street Style

Hi everyone!! So yesterday I had such a busy day! It started off with an exciting photo shoot that I styled for and then I went for a bowling session with some close friends. What a great mix of work hard, play hard, right?! In the midst of my busy day I took some time out to shoot my street style look with a fantastic photographer and very good friend of mine, Babz. I was extremely impressed with her photography skills and had so much fun shooting with her. Babz also runs a menswear style blog; check it out here. 

Splash of Colour

Hello everyone!! So, here's what I wore to a friend's birthday lunch the other day. I really enjoyed styling this dress because it's so colourful - and I love colour and thought 'I can really do a lot with this.' Anyway, as I normally do, I stuck with the colour palette of the dress and went for my orange blazer and this beautiful vintage purse my Mum got me. 

My Holiday Essentials

'T is the season to jet set and escape the rainy British summer. I am certainly looking forward to my month long trip to Trinidad - not only do I get to see my Dad, my brother and all my friends again but I get to bask in the glorious sunshine! Yess!! So, in anticipation of my holiday, I have compiled key essential items that cannot be left at home as I embark on my journey. 

Much of my holiday essentials are in-keeping with my simple and laid back style; a maxi dress light enough to withstand the Caribbean daytime heat, a tote bag convenient for throwing in little bits and bobs I pick up whilst souvenir shopping, a comfortable pair of sandals and a cool pair of sunglasses (I have an obsession with circular frames) will complete my daytime looks. And how can I go to Trinidad without a bikini??? I can't wait to hit the beach - I'm even looking forward to the long and tiring but scenic drive there. I'll definitely need a floppy hat to protect me from the unforgivable heat and my evening look will be more relaxed, featuring shorts, loose tops and, on occasion  a fun pair of heels for exciting nights out. My iPad will entertain me on days where I have absolutely nothing to do - such days may never exist - or during my flights after I've watched all that British Airways has to offer.  

I look forward to telling you all about my holiday!!

Featured Products: River Island Maxi Dress, Radley Chiltern Tote, River Island Bikini Set (here & here), Zara Top, Miss Selfridge Cross Body Bag, Miss Selfridge Hat, H&M Shorts, River Island Sunglasses (here & here), Apple iPad Mini, Kurt Geiger Sandals, River Island Sunglasses Case and Zara Heeled Sandals. 

Thanks for reading girls and guys.

xo, K.O.

Item Of the Week: River Island Varsity Dress

So, walking into shops like Topshop and River Island I've noticed that the all-American varsity inspired look has become increasingly popular this year with mannequins styled in cool varsity bomber jackets, ribbed beanie hats and crazy pencil skirts in cartoon prints, evoking that streetwise '90s inspired look. I love it!

Anyway, this week I have chosen River Island's Varsity T-Shirt Dress as the Item Of the Week. This dress comes in two different colours (white and lime) and I think it's such a chic and luxe way to pull off a varsity look, especially for us girly girls. Lol. 

Don this dress with a pair of plimsolls and a cross-body bag for a relaxed  day look, and for a fun evening out swap your flats for a cool pair of heeled sandals if you feel daring enough to wear this sporty look. 

Dress - River Island, Sunglasses - Asos, Messenger Bag - Zara, Plimsolls - River Island

Dress - River Island, Sunglasses - Asos, Cuff - Kurt Geiger, Heeled Sandals - Zara

I know I've been styling items of the week with sunglasses but that's because sunglasses are a definite necessity this summer, as the rainy days become less and less, and the sun rises super early and with such intensity and sets extra late! *takes a deep breath of summer air*  

Thanks for reading,

xo, K.O.

Item Of the Week: Radley Rydall Handbag

This week's Item Of the Week is Radley's Rydall bucket tote bag. This bag comes in two sizes, medium and large, and is perfect for a summer time stroll or a picnic in the park. The wicker basket bag is a classic piece that has evolved over time; from formerly being used  to hold supermarket shopping and fruit and vegetables freshly picked from a garden, to being a stylish and versatile fashion piece - one of this summer's favourites - perfect for holding your summer essentials.    

Find the Rydall bags here and here 

Don't worry about your contents falling out of your Rydall basket bag because it is conveniently lined with Radley's eye-catching Rory Crichton Thames print, complete with a drawstring closure.

I initially thought about styling this bag with a floral dress or a skirt, but I thought that might be a bit cliche. So, I've styled it with a simple, neon tunic and sandals. Optionally, use a belt to cinch in your waist, and the Topshop necklace is just a gorgeous compliment to the wicker basket. I think a statement necklace is always necessary on a simple dress. Hide behind these retro sunglasses on super sunny days or even on dull, rainy days as the lenses can flip open. How cool!   

Tunic - Zara, Bag - Radley, Belt - Asos, Sunglasses - River Island, Necklace - Topshop, Sandals - Asos / Steve Madden

Thanks for reading.

xo, K.O.

New Segment: Item Of the Week

Hey guys. I'm going to start new segment on my blog titled "Item Of the Week." I'll be selecting an eye-catching fashion accessory or clothing item, high-street or designer, to blog about weekly and I'll also show how the item can be styled. 

This week's Item[s] Of the Week are these gorgeous Ted Baker scarves. These scarves are so soft and silky and they're perfect for summer because they're not too thick.

Find these scarves here, here and here

The scarves are also quite versatile; they can go with anything from a simple vest or t-shirt, to a vibrant coloured blazer, or even with a maxi dress. Throw either of these scarves whimsically around your neck on a plain and simple white or black dress so that all the focus is given to the scarf. Further accentuate your look with vibrant accessories, but not with colours that stray too far away from your palette, as I've styled below. 

Dress - H&M, Sunglasses - Topshop, Mini Tote Bag - Zara, Clutch - Zara, Heeled Sandals - River Island, Flat Sandals - Asos

Convert your look from day time to night time by simply swapping your tote bag and sandals for a little clutch bag and high heels, and your Ted Baker scarf will be perfect as a wrap for the cool night time breeze. This is the perfect holiday look. 

Style tip: Be creative with how you style your scarves. Don't be afraid to wrap your scarf on the handle of your handbag, or even wrap them elegantly around your head Grace Kelly style (as worn by Rachel Mcadams in The Notebook, pictured left). 

Monochrome: Polka Dots on Stripes

Hello, lovely readers! Monochrome is definitely this season's top trend and can be pulled off with such ease and minimal effort. For my personal styling of this trend, I decided to put a spin on things by matching a striped pencil skirt with this lovely over-sized polka dot blouse I found at Primark.