NEW VIDEO! CLOSET CONFIDENTIAL TAG - CHIT CHAT!

I missed you guys soooooo much! So first things first. I know you're probably wondering what in the world I've been up to. As I said previously, this is my busiest Summer yet; however, I have found myself writing poems in the form of spoken word recently... I know!

It really helps to lift the weight off my chest. gladly. A lot of them center around my personal struggles (obviously) and society's standards. Is any of you into open mic/spoken word? 

On the note of speaking from the heart, I decided to do the popular 'Closet Confidential Tag' on my YouTube. I had a blast recording it. Step by step I'm getting less awkward in front of the camera and personality is shining through. Haha. Editing and uploading was a nightmare but I'm glad I finally got through with it. :) You can click here to watch it bigger on YouTube.

I hope you guys enjoy. See you soon!

Xo

Kike.

How To Build A Stylish Closet On A Low Budget + VIDEO

So, guys I know I've been away for a while but I'm back with some important tips and tricks for you guys. This is a long ass post so grab some tea or something. One of the most popular questions I get is how often I shop and how I'm able to afford so many things. Well, today, I will address these questions and more!

You will be surprised at how versatile your closet can be if you follow these simple tips. And of course, I recorded a short video to show you guys a couple of my basic wardrobe essentials. [Watch in HD]

Depending on your definition of 'shop', I really don't make style purchases as often as people think. I acknowledge that I have a huge closet, but it's not because of frequent shopping but because of the way I have built my closet. Let me explain. 

So about 2 years ago, I had this huge amount of stuff sitting in my closet; however, I never found anything to wear. This is a problem that most girls can relate to -right? Well, I got sick of them and I made the decision to change my entire closet, which I have accomplished quite beautifully. 

THE PROBLEM: I had a lot of individual items that didn't go together. They were great individual pieces, but I was never able to match them up properly. Also, the fit on a lot of them was totally off- thanks to my pear body shape.

THE VERDICT: I donated 80% of the items and left only the pieces that I absolutely loved. I built my new closet around these pieces. I also decided never to buy anything with the following issues: odd fit, weird colors for my skin tone, low waist jeans (How I hate those), Black shoes. Yes, I put black shoes as an issue. I hate Black shoes. I have a bunch of them. I never wear them. Don't gift them to me. Thank you.

MY NEW CLOSET

These were my resolutions for my new closet
1. No Black shoes
2. Buy a shoe in every color (I know!!!)
3. Buy more bold colors
4. Buy more bold prints without Black.
5. Maxi dresses. No shorts. I realized I never wore the shorts I had during the Summer time. I love maxi dresses

6. Stop focusing on size. Focus on fit. (These has helped me A LOT). No matter what, sizing is always different according to brands and location.

These resolutions offered a guideline to creating my dream  versatile closet. Then came the shopping. Back to the note of my huge closet and shopping habits. You guys should know that I am a bargain hunter. I don't do this because I'm trying to be cheap, but because I know that quality is not always equal to cost. First off, most people think that an expensive item will always be better than a less expensive one. This is untrue. Regardless of price, there are numerous variables that affect how you FEEL about your purchase.

Have you ever asked yourself how brands come up with their prices? What's the difference between a pair of $1000 Chanel loafers, $50 Zara flats, and $20 or $10 Ardene sandals? Most people will say quality. Now obviously, you can't compare a Chanel item with something from Ardene. What I am trying to say is you should always find the perfect balance between quality and cost. This is what I do. 

Moving on. I tend to make purchases of sale items in 'bulk'. So to speak. Like I could get 5 pairs of shoes at once vs. buy them individually. How can I afford that many shoes at once? Well, I stalk each item for a while to study the price and buying pattern of consumers. (This is sounding too technical *sigh*). For some reason, when I see an item, I can tell if it will sell out quickly or not. Mastering this is a whole other topic that I won't get into right now.

THE BASICS

I filled up my closet with the following basics. You should have at least one item in your closet of each these:

1. White tops. (Peasants tops, white long sleeve button ups-loose, white tees, white tanks)

2. Denim in different washes (Denim shirts, dresses, shorts, jeans)

3. Neutral colored shoes (Nudes, Tans, Whites)

4. A go-to dress for when you don't have time to brainstorm an outfit

5. Statement necklaces with color. Add some glam.

6. An everyday Gold wristwatch

 Hope this was helpful.

Xo

Kike.

I Am Beautiful - Brenda

 1. What is your Name?  

Brenda G Chuinkam

2. What is your Nationality and Where do you currently live? 

I am a Cameroonian living in Canada

3. Which age group do you belong to? 0-17, 18-25, 26-40, 40 and above. 

I'm in the 18-25 age group (YAYY!)

4. Describe your personal style. 

My style is color meets print meets curves! Haha I like to show my curves off without being overly sexual. I also love trendy pieces that are versatile.

5. What makes you feel beautiful? 

To be honest, lots of things make me feel beautiful-a well-fitted dress, a certain "look" from a guy that instantly lets you know they're interested, an honest complement, a good workout...those are the ones that come to mind immediately.

6. What do you think of the current issues concerning body image and race?  

I think our society has turned into a "bashing" and "who can bring you down the most" fest. People have found courage behind anonymity behind their keyboards and focus too much on what they think are other people's flaws. People are so narrow-minded when it comes to images of beauty and what they think is beautiful to the point where a girl like Jennifer Lawrence is considered thick and Mindy Kaling is considered plus sized? I can relate to so many young women out there when it comes to body image  issues-having been made fun of because of my thick legs and thicker frame. When it comes to race, that's a whole other  story but what I will say is this- as a black person in North America, you CANNOT do mediocre and expect anything PERIOD. You have to work 10 times as hard to get 1/10th the recognition others may get.

  7. Do you think the media has had a negative or positive influence on these issues? Why? 

Media has had both a negative and positive influence but the negative has overcome the positive influences. The constant shoving down our throats of "beautiful" celebs and lack of coverage on curvier/more normal celebs as well as the free bashing of everyone on sites like TMZ are just examples, in my opinion, of the negative influence.

 8. What do you think of the current fashion industry and trends?

I think the fashion industry gets confused at times and no one should follow trends to the T because you're going to wake up one day thinking that it's okay to wear a hat with a shoe in it to a job interview for  a law firm, haha. Trends should be worn according to how they simulate with your personal style (in my humble opinion).

9. What advice would you like to give? 

All I will say is: life is short, try new foods, try new styles of clothes, travel when and where you can and save a little. Also, listen to your parents' advise, bearing in mind that they have lived their lives, now you go live yours!

10. Share a fun fact about you.

 I could probably fix your TV for you if it's currently not working, Lol.    XOXO

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Well spoken Brenda. I couldn't agree with you more! One thing I like that you mentioned is following trends religiously. It's important to consider your personal style and body type first before diving in. 

 I'm sure many of you recognize Brenda of Can Never Be a Skinny Bish. Thank you Brenda for taking the time out to answer these questions. Check out Brenda's Fashion Blog HERE.

Chip in your views. Until next time, remain blessed!

Xo

Kike.

Valentine's Day | Date Night Lookbook

What's up guys? Remember I spoke about creating a new YouTube fashion channel
  as a substitute for my blog during our extremely cold winter temperatures here in Canada? (I'm talking as cold as -32C) 

Well, I've done that now! Yaay! I have always hated not posting frequently on this blog and putting up low-quality posts, 
so I'm excited that I can now deliver more content to you guys without relying on anyone. :)

I have uploaded this look book video called '5 Valentine's Day | Date Outfits' on my new channel. 
 Please watch it and let me know your thoughts, comments , and suggestions.
 Also, what other kind of videos do you guys what me to do?

I'm a little nervous because this is the first outfit video I have ever shot and edited all by myself.
 I know it's probably not perfect yet, but as I post more videos, I will strive for perfection in terms of lighting, etc. 
All the outfit details are in the description box of the video.
 

Anyway, I'm very happy to finally share the finished product (as I said on my instagram HERE),
 so I hope you enjoy. Please don't forget to share the video, 
thumbs up, comment, and SUBSCRIBE to my new channel.  This is just the beginning.

Thanks for your support! :)

Xo

Kike.

10 Unconventional Outfits To Try For Valentine's Day

ASOS playsuit in Luxe Jacquard

TFNC Cami Dress with Metallic Skirt.

 Coco's Fortune Fringe Strap Dress

How To Layer Necklaces

I purchased this gorgeous dress from Forever 21 a while back. You guys, the material is so freaking soft! I danced around in it for about 15 minutes when I first tried it on! Anyway,  I was thinking of a way to style it that would be different. Normally, you would pair a print dress with bold color accessories. So, I decicded to pair this gorgeous beaded necklace from Ghana with this Orange necklace from Mandee boutique with the dress. It gives the outfit a little bit more of an edge and keeps the neckline busy. 

(Sorry about the many 'sos' and 'prettys' in the video lol.) I was so tired because just got back from an event and decided to film real quick. I was a little bit shaky, but I'll do better next time, I promise! ^_^ Watch in FULL HD.

Necklace 1 | Necklace 2

Hopefully you guys enjoyed the video. If you would like to see more videos, please let me know and post your suggestions in the comments. 

Xo

Kike.

Tales From New York

My Summer Must-Haves... And Why

Grab your coffee: This is gonna be a long post. I couldn't stop typing.

It's quite difficult knowing exactly what to bring out for the Summer season until you experience the heat on your skin yourself, at least that's what it is for me. For me, the most important factor I consider whenever I get ready to go out in this huge microwave is comfort. I could care less about what I look like when I'm indoors, so I just lounge around in my nighty (YES!) or some t-shirt and huge sweatpants plus a pair of different coloured/patterned ankle socks.

So, now that we've experienced some of the hot Summer weather even though it's not very stable, I can confidently pin-point some items that are definite must-haves for the crazy weather.

1. Maxi Skirt

I'm not the kind of girl who likes to show off legs/thighs/skin. As a matter of fact, if you ever see me in anything that does not cover up to my knee or a couple of inches above, then best know that I had to stir up a lot of confidence and have a lecture/counselling session with myself before making that decision, so please don't kill that vibe. As a result, I love anything maxi. I prefer maxi skirts to maxi dresses because they are obviously more versatile. You could play around with maxi dresses too but you would have to layer, but in this 40 degree heat, layering isn't exactly what I would love to be engaging in.

2. Loose Fitted Tank Top/Any Tank Top

Honestly, these tops have been saving me all summer long. Just pair them with something more comfy like shorts/skinnies on the bottom, and you're set. They can also be very versatile. For example: You could wear a very loose low cut tank and have on a stylish bandeau beneath it, then pair it with a flowy maxi skirt/shorts/boyfriend jeans. They come in all sorts of styles, lengths and colors, so it's always fun trying to mix and match them.

3. Single Sole Heels

Be it sandals or pumps, single sole heels are a definite must have for Summer - trust me.  I know wedges are the rage for Summer but honestly, I'd rather have something light on my feet that some heavy block because I barely have any energy to even lift up my feet to walk in all this heat.

Apart from the fact that single soles are on trend, they can also be very comfy and make a simple outfit look so chic in the blink of an eye. These shoes can be very tricky to shop for. These days, there's so many of them. I can't even stress the 'so' much. There's the ones that look so cheap and tacky, there are the stripper looking ones, there are the really high scary leg-breaking looking ones, then there's the normal acceptable looking ones, and then the fancy/creative looking ones which tend to be annoyingly super-expensive. There's a whole range of styles to choose from plus they go with everything. Just make sure you try 'em one and walk around in them or read lots of reviews before you purchase one.

4. A Lightweight White T-shirt/Long Sleeve Blouse

I love to wear loose clothing. I'm a firm believer that you can wear anything loose and look good instantly by adding a pair of high heels and making a few adjustments on your body. So, I'm loving loose white shirts for the summer. They're comfy, fresh, and most of all, they go with everything! Just think about it. All you need would be some minimal accessories, and an optional statement necklace. For example: Imagine a loose fitted white long sleeve blouse paired with denim skinnies + a nice pair of single sole sandals/pumps + some nice sunglasses. So simple and yet so chic.

5. A Gold Wristwatch

I read somewhere that every lady should have a gorgeous everyday gold wristwatch, and I couldn't agree more. No, no, no. I was not influenced by the writing. I have always seen the huge difference a gold wristwatch makes to every outfit. For me, it's not just wristwatches, it's gold everything. Anytime I try to shop for jewellery, I always end up picking all the gold ones. Even though I manage to get something with colour, majority of it would still be gold. I have two major gold wristwatches. One is lady-like and fitted to my wrist and the other is loose and chunky. I interchange these two more often than any other piece of jewellery I own. Actually, most times, they're the only pieces of jewellery I wear. The rest just sit there and pile up.

6. A Pair Of Cat-Eye Sunglasses

Last but definitely not least is a pair of sunglasses. Duh! This is not just any ordinary pair, but it's cat-eye. Yes, we need to protect our eyes from the scorching hot sun, but thankfully there's a more modern and fun way to look even more stylish while doing this. You can take a pair of cat-eye sunglasses to the next level buy playing with size, frame colour, and even lens colour. It definitely adds that little extra something, only this time, it's not little. It serves very much like the single sole sandals to me.

What items have you found to be your definite summer must-haves?

Xo

Kike.

The Boyfriend

Shop this look

Sweater: Urban Planet

Belt: Ardene

Jeans: Thrifted (Value Village)

Rings: Ardene

Wristwatch: Avon

Boots: Shoedazzle

Makeup box: Shoppers Drug Mart

It's so freaking cold outside, so I decided to shoot indoors! Anyhoo, sometime ago I was telling you guys about how I don't know what my style is... well, I still don't! I decided to try something different (the boyfriend jeans). Under normal circumstances, I would have NEVER put this on, but I decided to experiment a little! 

Also, these ankle boots I have on are life savers! You know how there's one item in your closet that just seems to match with everything else, it's these boots for me! What item does that for you? One of my new year's resolutions is to invest in such items, but I'll make another post about my resolutions so I'll tell you more then!

I hope you had a very Merry Christmas and an awesome shopping experience on boxing day 'cos I did! ^_^. I got myself that makeup box for Christmas (above) - it was 50% off!

Thanks for stopping by! :)

Xo

Kike.

A Glimpse of the African Pride

totes

totes

slippers

bangles

dozens of jewelry

Statement piece

beaded necklaces

fierce

dozens of necklaces

bracelets

jewelry boxes

DIY necklace. If you'd like to see a tutorial, please let me know in the comments below!

 Some of you may know that I spent some part of my summer in Ghana, West Africa. I went home to visit my wonderful family after close to a year of being away. These pictures were taken at the Arts and Crafts Centre, Accra, Ghana. 

For so long, I had wanted to visit this place, but I never had the chance to. Finally, I got to visit this summer!!!

All these items are hand made by craftsmen, and brought here directly to be sold. This place is one of the major tourist attractions in Accra, so if you ever visit make sure you go see this place and get some goodies!

Did any piece catch your eye? My favorite items are the totes and necklaces!!

Thanks for reading my blog. Don't forget to comment and follow if you like.

Xo

Kike.

MINT INSPIRATION

Hey guys, How's it going?

Mint is one of my favorite colors and one of the hottest colors of this season! So, I decided to put together a few pictures!! :)

Here are different ways to enjoy the mint trend and I hope you get inspired in some way too!!

Please click through :)

[gallery link="file" orderby="rand"]

Have a great week. God bless :)