Dressing for Travel

It's the Christmas season. The time when most people go on holiday. But getting your dressing all wrong from the time you leave the house could be a headache for you.

How do you dress up for the journey itself? 

1. Be fresh in the morning. 

A good night's rest means a lot on a traveling day and it has to be part of the preparation for the travel. Get your caffeine if that's what you do every morning as a change of routine will be bad for you. 

2. Light/Simple make up

 Go easy on the make up. You don't want to be feeling all uncomfortable as this could be a long and sweaty affair and minimal to zero visits to the bathroom to powder your nose, touch up the lipstick et cetera. Keep it easy and comfortable.

3. Light dressing

Forget the trench coats(in rain or in cold). Otherwise layer up on light sweaters and scarves that you take off easily ones it's hot. Light outfits occupy less space as well so if you are taking them off, they could easily fit into your handbag or carry on bag. Now envision trying to force a trench coat into a handbag.. Get the picture? Good.

Also let the clothing be loose. Tight ones get  a little uncomfortable after a while and our goal is to travel in as much comfort as we can.
Stick to dark colors when traveling. Black is especially good as it will hide spillages of any kind or marks or any crumbled spot. 

4. Low and light shoes

Go for ballet flats. Or better, go for sneakers. These will give your feet comfort as you wear them with socks to ensure minimum strain to your feet. They are also good in case you have to stand for a long time or have to wait at the terminus for hours (you never know. It's better to be prepared).

5. Accessories

Go easy on the earrings. If possible go for studs as opposed to dangling ones. These could get caught in your hair, clothes and will be a distraction and maybe a bother while you are trying to carry your bags. 

6. Hair

It would be best to keep your hair off your face. And tie it up if possible. Just to minimize interference. 

7. Essentials

Keep your essential stuff (phone, passport-if international, ticket, diary and other miscellaneous stuff) in your handbag. This is for easy and fast access in case those things are needed .You can keep your lip balm in here as well and leave space for the scarf and sweater mentioned up there.

Hope this is of help. Now done your sunglasses and walk with your head high. Wish you are relaxing Holiday.

As always,

MDA

Stock Take - December - 03

Diving right in :
Reading : Since last post, I've read Seven up and Notorious Nineteen by Janet Evanovich, Then 'E' is for Evidence by Sue Grafton and today I've finished Remember me by Sophie Kinsella. I feel that Janet and Sue Grafton have a common writing style and their characters are really alike. A bounty hunter vs a private investigator. Both live in sorry apartments. Don't have much. They eat sandwiches for dinner. Don't shop groceries. Etc. Got to do a book review soon.

MerilynReverie 01 - Discovering Me

"You will either step forward into growth , or you will step backward into safety." - Abraham Maslow

In the journey of self discovery, things change, and interests as well. We embrace diversity, the want for global appeal, etc.

In my case, I thought I could have a blog (mylynmoulds) that showed my personal style but I was not satisfied with that. 

I took that blog down. I then started another one (D'Africanmama) which was going well but I felt like

MS03 - Tie Colors, Their Meaning and Your Personality(2)

”A well-tied tie is the first serious step in life.” – Oscar Wilde

This is a continuation of the previous post on ties.

7. Orange tie

 This is a happy color. Almost a wild card. Shows you are enthusiastic,energetic, open-minded and adventurous. But could also be read as egocentricity and dominance. It's the perfect tie for creating a memorable first impression. 

MS02 - Tie Colors, Their Meanings and Your Personality

"Neck ties satisfy the modern man's desire to dress in art" 

- Harry Anderson 

Most professional men wear ties. In some offices it is mandatory to wear a tie. Most men stick to the same color or different shades of the same color. Others wear different colors depending on occasion. 

What does this all mean?

1. Red Tie

This is referred to as the power tie. It means business!!! It's a reaffirmation of strength, authority and dominance in the professional world. It is associated with passion, love and it is attention -grabbing. 

It is a bold look that will make you the center of attention so if that is not what you are going for, tone it down to a darker shade of red. It is best paired with a light shirt and a dark suit.

SS03 - Types of Flats

"I cannot concentrate in flat shoes" - Victoria Beckham

Ahem!! We can. So ;

"I always wear flats because I can't walk in anything else" - Sadie Frost

Most of us love a good pair of flats.. Anything flat. Ballet, sandals, boots, as long as it is flat. Sigh, getting used to the comfort.

We will see the different types of flats we have:

1. Loafers: These are shoes that do not have lacing or any fastening system.

SS02 - Types of Heels

     “If you haven’t got it, fake it! Too short? Wear big high heels, but do practice walking!”

Victoria Beckham

Heels are a wardrobe essential. Most of y'all own a pair, pairs, many pairs or a loooott of pairs. Create that mental picture with me. 

On Victoria's quote, I say too tall, wear heels too. The walking bit is subject for another day. lol.

Let's see the different types of heels we have:

1. Kitten heels: These are low heeled shoes that provide comfort on top of fashion. They are great for occasions where you have to walk around a lot and for days when you don't need the extra height. 

2. Pumps : The most common for of heels hence being referred to as just high heels. They are narrow to the front and about 3 inches high.

3. Stilettos : Have a staggering heel heading to almost 7". Some have an added platform to aid in walking.. Leave this to the experts. 

JS03 - Jewellery and Personality

"I always accessorize with jewelry. I am a bit of  a magpie; I love sparkles, and so wearing jewellery makes me feel more exciting and confident too!" - Amber Le Bon
 
The jewellery you wear says a lot about you. Someone will b comfortable wearing just studs while another will want very detailed dangling earrings. These show different personalities. 
 1. Statement Seeker

Big. Bold. Lots of metal. No one notices anything else apart from your jewellery. It shows that you want to make a statement in a different way but you don't know how just yet and this is the best way to do as per now.

2. Classic Elegance

Pearls. Tennis bracelets. Small earrings. Never gone near large earrings. You are a classic. Confident in your skin. You carry yourself with elegance. 

3. It's All About Me

 You wear necklaces and rings with your initials or full names. You could have been part of the cheer-leading squad. Maybe at one time you wear mean and a bully. You want people to know who you are. You want to go to places where people will notice you. But you dress well. 

JS02 - Necklaces for Necklines

          "I'm a big believer that accessories can make or break a look" - Nina Garcia

Hello everybody,

Necklaces are great accessories that most people throw on without a second thought. Have you asked yourself why we have pendants, chokers, bibs, chains, etc?

It's because each has it's purpose and time to be worn.

Below is an image of the different necklines that come with most outfits.

To accessorize each neckline,

Stock Take - September - 01

            "Change can be scary, but you know what's scarier? Allowing Fear to stop you from Growing, Evolving and Progressing"  - Mandy Hale

A lot of change is about to happen in my life and my routine and a lot of things. I am scared of all the changes and this quote is all I needed to pick myself up and inject a triple dose of confidence to ensure that I grow, evolve and progress.

Kicking off this week's series:

Reading: The Cousins by Rona Jaffe. A book that focuses on cousins and their families and how their parents always emphasized on them living together an running family businesses and how the children finally married and scattered all over getting together only when necessary mostly during funerals. It also touches slightly on a spouse cheating on their partner and the partner retaliating on the same and realizing it's not worth it.

MDA WISHLIST

Everyone has those things that they really want and other people can't seem to really understand the obsession. BUT ... Never apologize for your obsessions.   As long as they hurt nobody.

Here are mine..

1. Speed Bike

This has been an obsession for a very long time. I can picture myself cruising at top speed all 'armored'  then stop and remove my helmet and flip my hair. Yes. That's my motivation towards achieving this goal.

I want a Kawasaki in green, grey or black and white. Can't choose. Can someone buy several 'bodies' of it and be changing once in a while?

Don't forget about the gear!!! Classic!!!!

2. Designer Bags

My love for handbags surpasses my love for any other accessory. A few years ago jewellery would have been taking this position; but after having lots of it and not feeling like all chunky this time, handbags win big time.

It takes a lot of saving for some of us to be able to afford the bags in designer(knock offs are plenty in the market) but we got to deal with the 'inspired' versions of the real stuff.

Looking to owning the YSL, LV, CC, Chloe, Givenchy, Dior, the list is endless.

JS01 - Types of Jewellery

     "Jewellery has the power to be this one little thing that makes you feel unique"   -    

                                                    Jennie Kwon

Most of us love jewellery. Be it a simple pair of stud earrings or a chunky attention grabbing piece, we all own a piece of jewelry.

We will look at different types of jewelry so that the next time you go looking for something you like, you will know it's name. Not calling it 'that thing worn here(pointing to a body part)'.

Kick off!

 Anklet

This is worn around the ankle. It is mostly a basic strand but you can go all chunky if you want it to be the statement piece.

Band

This is a ring that you wear on you finger. eg. A wedding ring. 

Bangle

A stiff circular bracelet.

Bracelet

 A piece of jewellery that you wear around your wrist.

Brooch

A piece of jewellery with a pin on the back that you fasten to your clothes.Brooch is British. American name is pin.

Cameo

A piece of jewellery with a raised  design, usually in the shape of a woman's head, on a background of a different color.

HS05 - Handbag Carrying Styles

Apparently, the way you carry your bag says a lot about you and your personality. We will look at the different styles and what they say about people and you can see where you lie

The Twofer 

 You hold your strapless bag in front of you coyly and cross your legs. You’re shy and defensive.

The Schlepper 

 You have tons of bags hanging off of you randomly stuffed with belongings. You’re disorganized, spaced out, and exhausted.

The Hands-Free

You wear a purse with a long strap and let it hang in front of what you’re wearing. Apparently, you’re youthful and nerdy.

HS04 - Handbag Storage

Keeping on with the handbag series, we now talking about how to store your handbags.

Some of you might have seen that handbags lose shape or seem old while in storage. Apparently, this is because you store them wrongly.

The best method is where the bag will not be strained or come into contact with dust.

A cabinet divided into sections which can hold between one and three bags(horizontally) is the perfect method. This ensures that the bag is sitting well and the straps are not strained. You can also put the bag inside the wrapper it came in to prevent it from dust.

10 Things Every Fashionable Woman Should Own By 30

Hello everyone,

I am super duper excited today because it's my 23rd birthday.. woop woop..

So I came across this list yesterday and even though I have 7 years to go before I get to 30, I need to start now and not be caught off guard...

So all fashionable sisters, take this ride with me!!!

1. A Classic Shoe

Whether it's pumps, stilettos or flats, the key is that your go-to shoe is well-designed, versatile and timeless.

2. A Great Suit

Irrespective of whether or not your daily work requires you to wear a suit, a suit that's tailored like it was made just for you will become a go-to for work meetings, interviews and anywhere else where you're meant to look chic and professional.

HS03 - Handbag Hygiene

Well, we all know how much clatter, dust and other little things assemble at the bottom of our handbags. Research shows that 20% of handbags are contaminated with more bacteria than a toilet seat. Therefore, we need to de-clutter, clean, wipe and do all that is necessary to ensure that your handbag is not a habitat to unwanted bacteria.

It might be ink stains, gum wrappers, pieces of Kleenex, cake crumbs, etc, you got to clean it and do it right while at it.

•  Cleaning the Inside

a) Debris

1. Empty all contents out and turn the bag inside out(if the lining is not fixed to the bag) and shake out all debris into the dust bin.
2. Make a mixture of hot water and vinegar. Equal parts.
3. Take a soft cloth and rub the inside of the bag, including all compartments with the mixture.
4. Let the inside air dry before putting it back.

HS02 - Handbags And Body Types

                        "To me accessorizing is the most fun part of an outfit. While I don't think you can rely on accessories to make a dress that isn't working work, I do love jewellery and handbags more than anything." - Anna Kendrick

Most people spot a bag, like it and dash for it without consideration .. Consideration on whether it will be perfect for your body type or carrying it to the office or whatever other occasion you have in mind for it.

Not all handbags suit all people. Read on to see where you fall.

1. Petite

The most important factor is the size of the bag you carry if you are this size.
Petite women should choose bags that are neither too bulky nor too big.  Big bags tend to overpower the small frame so they need to go for longer bags such as a rectangular tote to give the appearance of a longer torso. Petite women should also avoid over sized hobo bags as it tends to weigh down their small frame.  The best is to go for longer rather than wider. They should avoid huge prints on the bag as well and opt for vertical stripes and monochromatic colors. Cross body bags and Sling bags are also not a good idea because they overwhelm the frame. 

HS01 - Types of Handbags

      " I want my handbags and my shoes to be stylish but I want to make sure that they are versatile. I travel and I have to make sure the pieces I put into my bag can go with a dress or with shorts or jeans." - Maria Sharapova

Kicking off the handbag series (HS) with the first post 01 hence HS01.

Handbags are a crucial item when it comes to an outfit. Different handbags go with different outfits and for different occasions. The right pairing comes in handy in nailing the style game. You will not be caught dead carrying a tote to an evening party. The saying that image the world is your runway should come to mind.. Getting dressed and imagining that there will be cameras on the streets and your outfit will be dissected by one or more columnists of various magazines. This is what I do everyday.

Kicking off with the basics:

1. The Backpack

This is a bag that lies on the wearer's back and is supported by the shoulders. It is a perfect bag to take along to school, a walk, or a picnic.

2. The Tote bag

This is a large structured bag with two straps and an open top. The straps can be short or a bit long in length. This can be carried to the office where the dress code is not too strict(ensure the colors are not too popping), it can also be carried to a meet up with the girls or an outdoor event.

3. The bucket bag

This is a deep bag with an open top and a long strap. It can be carried for an outdoor and laid back meet up/event.

4. Hobo bag

Accessories 101

   "I love accessories. I'm a girl. I love shoes. I love handbags." - Petra Stunt
 

An accessory in general terms is a thing that can be added to something else in order to make it more useful, versatile, or attractive.

In fashion we define it as something that accentuates an outfit. Makes it look better, stand out.

Most people have the belief that accessories are just jewellery but this is not the case. An accessory can be jewellery, shoes, handbag, coat, blazer, anything that will make your outfit pop and be noticed.

Men mostly accessorize with watches and shoes.

Ladies can accessorize with more stuff. I like quoting handbags and shoes. And a blazer. These will most likely get you noticed if paired properly.

I am super duper excited on getting on this one. We will be kicking off with handbags. I soooo love handbags. I love bags bags and more bags. Yes to good handbags.

Keep it here to learn more.

As always,

MDA.

To New Beginnings!!

Hello everyone,

It has taken me a while to finally push myself to pull down my previous blog and kick off with what I really wanted to do. I did not feel like it was taking the course I really wanted and I had to stop and think about it.

After a lot of soul searching, I decided to go the way I really wanted.

The Image Art is a blog where I will give overall image advice. On how to dress for occasions (must be easiest), carry yourself during occasions, what to wear with what, when etc.

I will also share a little about myself every now and then.

Keep it here as we are about to discover amazing things together.

PS: We can interact on social media and you can ask me any question fashion/style/overall-image-related and I will be glad to answer you.