Travel chic and comfy

A bus trip is way different from flying to your destination. But in both cases it is easy to tell who is the frequent traveller and who is not.

When travelling, comfort should be number one priority. When you are comfortable in your clothes and shoes, not only will you have a smooth trip, the people seated next to you will have no reason to complain.

Some fashionable people you may follow such as Kim Kardashian can dress in certain ways because they expect to find paparazzi at the airport and don’t want to appear in the tabloids looking anything but hot.

But have you ever wondered what is in her carry-on luggage?

You do not expect her to wear those heels throughout the flight, plus the inconvenience they can cause if she has to make her way to the lavatory.

Since there may be unexpected changes in the temperatures, it is better to wear layers so that you can shed off the scarf or cardigan when it gets warmer or put them on when temperatures drop.

The shorts, sandals and chiffon top may look cute before takeoff but after 10 hours of a cold flight, you will feel and look horrible to your receiving party.

Do not count on the inflight blankets. You will be disappointed.

So wear something that covers your legs, comfortable shoes and keep a simple sweater or scarf within reach.

If you still want to look super elegant for whoever is receiving you upon arrival, there is an option of visiting the ‘ladies’ and getting your swagg on before exiting.

Whatever you do, do not compromise your comfort.

(Internet pics)

Judith Heard rocks Kigali Fashion Week

Judith Heard doing her thing

 

The fourth edition of the annual Kigali Fashion Week has been taking place in Rwanda’s capital Kigali with 15 fashion houses showcasing their collections on the runway. The event took place between 3rd to 8th of this month.  Designers from Kenya, Burundi and Uganda took part, while Rwanda was represented by 12 designers, including Patrick Muhire of Inkanda House, Colombe Ituze, Kevine & Ysolde of Uzuri K&Y, and Teta Isibo of Inzuki Designs. The theme for this year’s KFW was “Disability is not Inability” in a bid to create awareness on intellectual disability in Rwanda. Uganda was represented by Santa Anzo. Judith Heard was one of the models that hit the runway to showcase Arapapa by Santa Anzo. Here are more photos from the event courtesy of Allan Atulinda of Atulinda Images in Kigali.

 

Miss Uganda’s Brenda delivers Baby Girl

 

 

 

 

Join us to congratulate the CEO of Miss Uganda franchise, Brenda Nanyonjo upon delivering a baby girl this morning. Baby and mother are in good condition. Welcome to the world  baby Zarah!

Unveiling of Miss Uganda 2014

We were at the unveiling of the top 20 contestants for Miss Uganda 2014/15. Here are a few photos. No words. Just photos! Enjoy!

Fashion from the Zzina Awards

Tinah looks lavishing in a custom-made dress

Dolimbo is a comedian but this look wasn’t funny at all. Aaarrgh!

Hellen Lukoma and Leila Kayondo. Our verdict; two thumbs up. You looked awesome!

Judith Heard. We voted her the best dressed lady of the night in this LBD

MC of the night, Mariat of Urban TV and Galaxy FM looked smashing in this yellow dress. See how it accentuates her curves!

Song-bird Fille seems to have found her comfort zone. Whoever is styling her these days is doing a good job. It looks like she can only get better. 

Irene Ntale another contender for best dressed of the evening. This high slit on the red dress, she must have risen tempereatures of a some men because she was Hot (with a capital H)

Try not to be distracted by the legs. Stellah Nantumbwe and Phiona Bizzu (Miss Uganda 2013/14 and Miss Uganda 2012/13)

 

Wear that suit right

No matter how cool and expensive that suit looks, if you ignore this simple rule. You risk looking trashy instead of classy. Something as simple as how you button up should not be ignored. Let us assume that you have buttoned up the pants (wink) so let us concentrate on the jacket.

What are the rules on buttoning a suit? Why are there even rules on buttoning suits?
Well – the rules are easy enough to learn. I’ve laid them out in the suit buttoning infographic above.
But why do we do this? Why even care about suit buttoning rules?

Two Reasons

1) It sends a signal that you pay attention to the details.

The vast majority of men who violate these rules do so because they do not wear a suit regularly.  These small rules are used by “those in the know” to identify other men “in the the know.”  It’s like a secret knock!

Childish? Illogical? Perhaps, but it’s the reality.

2) In most situations, this makes a suit look better on a man.  

A buttoned suit when standing cuts a cleaner silhouette – when seated unbuttoning allows you to sit more comfortable and prevent wrinkles and button stress/popping. In addition – many 3 button suits re not made to be buttoned on the top (called 2 1/2 suits) and the lower button is almost always in a position where it restricts movement (and provides no added silhouette forming features vs. a single button buttoned!).

Important to note that we’re talking about SUITS here. Sports jackets are usually buttoned the same way but the rules are much more relaxed because it’s a more casual style.

Single-Breasted Jackets

Most modern suits have a single-breasted jacket. How to button it depends on two factors: the number of buttons the jacket has and where the buttons are in relation to your waist. A jacket with a high stance has buttons at and above the natural waist, while a jacket with a low stance (more common these days) has its buttons at and below the waist.

One-button jackets

Single-breasted one-button jackets are becoming more common (and the classic choice for Black Tie) , and should always be buttoned when standing. You may unbutton when seated.

Two-button jackets

Conventional way to button a two-button jacket is to button the top button and leave the lower undone.  A few possible exceptions:

Men who like a very long lapel sometimes button the lower button and fold the lapel all the way down past the top buttonhole. An unusually high-stance jacket might look more proportional buttoned at the lower button. Very tall men may need to use the lower button rather than the upper to keep the jacket from spreading out above their waist and exposing the trouser-front and belt buckle (looks unsightly with a buttoned jacket).

 

Double-Breasted Jackets

Double-breasted jackets are almost always worn buttoned.  It’s very unusual to unbutton one.

Double-breasted jackets are described with the total number of buttons on the suit front followed by the number of working buttons — so a “six-on-four” jacket has six buttons but only four buttonholes.

Generally speaking you want to button all the buttons that have working buttonholes.

If you plan to leave some buttons undone, it is most traditional to fasten the top button.  However, men who prefer a longer line have been leaving the lowest button undone instead for quite a few years now, including members of the British royal family, so you’re probably safe either way.

Three-button jackets

Conventional method is to always button the middle button and to button the top button if desired, while always leaving the bottom button undone.

Fastening all three buttons at once looks stiff and should be avoided!

OUCH!!

Awesome!

Go home. You are ‘tired’

http://www.businessinsider.com

 

 

 

Blankets and Wine Dress Code.

The Fifth Edition of Blankets & Wine Kampala is on this weekend (Sunday afternoon) at The Uganda Museum Gardens. So get ready, pack those picnic drinks with your favorite wine bottle or any other drink and come have unwind. Better still, different brands of wine will be on sale courtesy of Wine Garage. There will also be food stalls. Its fine laid back weekend plot to hang out with friends and family, share jokes over food and drink with The Afro-urban music forming the soundtrack. Oliver Mtukudzi, Maurice Kirya,Naava Gray and Milege Band will be performing. But Blankets and wine is not a kind of event where you just turn up. Its time to run through your wardrobe to see what attire will suite the event. Here are some photos we took during during B&W IV. Browse through them and maybe you can come out with an idea. You are welcome.

Martha Jabo; representing Uganda fashionably

Martha Jabo with her designs displayed in BOLD

Martha Jabo may come off as a reserved young woman until you bring up her favourite topic, fashion.

At 24, Jabo, who grew around art and fashion, could be the next big thing in Uganda’s fashion industry. Jabo drew her inspiration from her mother, who was into art and fashion.

Unfortunately, mum is not around to see her daughter represent Uganda at international fashion shows. She died when Jabo was six.

The last born among six brothers and a sister, Jabo was raised by her father, Henry Obbo, a former minister, politician and head of the civil service.



How was it like being brought up by a father surrounded by six brothers and a sister?

Our dad has been there for us throughout though I must admit it was difficult talking to him about some things. Some issues were not easy; so, I had to teach myself some things or find my way around them.

Growing up with boys is something you get used to. My sister had developed tom-boy tendencies but she outgrew them. Right now, it is hard because my only sister is out of the country for studies.



Your father served as an ambassador to Egypt; how was it spending the early days of your life in Cairo?

We spent three years in Egypt and I loved the country and culture though I was little. It was a nice place and everybody was friendly. I could go back if it was not for the war.

Tell us about your education.

I started at a kindergarten that was located in Heliopolis, a suburb of Cairo, Egypt’s capital. I then went to Namugongo Girls for my primary education then to Trinity College Nabbingo and Gayaza High School for Ordinary and Advanced level, respectively.

That is when I went to Makerere University and graduated in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in Industrial and Fine Art, majoring in Fashion Design, and that is the year my designs were first showcased. It was at the African Walk Fashion awards.

Martha Jabo

 

You have not showcased much in Uganda, especially in clubs where budding fashion designers start out. Why?

Most people who showcase in clubs are boutique owners and not designers; that is why I cannot showcase there because it would be like downgrading myself.

The revellers just look at the models. If you are trying to let your designs speak for themselves, the night clubs are not ideal.

Which international runways have your designs rocked?

I was the first Ugandan to showcase at the recently concluded first edition of Strut It Afrika Fashion Week held in Nairobi. They loved my designs.

They made me close the show, which is the highest honour a fashion designer can get. I also represented Uganda at the Swahili Fashion Week last year. 



How does it feel flying your country’s flag at such events?

It is a challenge because you feel you need to represent your country to the fullest. That comes with a lot of pressure but it’s a great feeling once the mission is successfully accomplished.

Many Ugandan designer’s creations can be found inside BOLD at Kisementi

Who do you look up to?

Locally, no one because I believe and know that I am the best at what I do in this country. Internationally, I look up to Alexander McQueen and French designer Stéphane Rolland.

I work with fabrics like wool, sequin, chiffon, lace, gabardine and kitenge to make both formal and casual wear for both women and men. I also make bridal wear and all kinds of costumes.

How do you define your style?

My style is contemporary heritage; it’s a mixture of different world cultures. I blend Victorian and Edwardian styles with Egyptian history staying in touch with my African heritage.

What is your take on Uganda’s fashion industry?

There is hope. We just need a proper strategy like a fashion week to bring together all the designers. This way, we can get inspiration from each other and the top designers.

We also need to find a solution to the expensive fabric and Ugandans’ love for the cheaper downtown clothes.


Any Ugandan designer we should look out for?

Look out for Raphael because his creations are really nice; their finishing is good. He also uses good material so his work is not substandard. 



Any future plans?

Currently, my studio is in Luzira; so, I plan to set up near town. My clothes are stocked at Bold in Kisementi but I want more stores in Uganda and Kenya soon. I also plan to venture into shoes and bags.

Leave a comment or write to me at at barangasam@gmail.com . This article was also published in The Observer.

Keith Sweat Jets In

This morning we had the pleasure of meeting Keith Sweat and his band as they jetted in for the Nile Gold Jazz Safari. Now these guys know how to dress for long flights. Keith is rocking NY,Nike and Nike Air Force One’s. Cool if you ask me.

Sheila Gashumba: Teenage Fashion Icon

This morning, I was having a discussion with a colleague about how the dress code of some of Uganda’s TV personalities is wanting. That is when the name of Sheila Gashumba came up. This teenager is so styled to the extent that it hurts seeing old women struggling to be like her. She an icon not only for the teens in Uganda and she makes fashion sense-all the time. I will be writing a full blog post about her. But here is a picture from a charity event organised by her NGO “Young Bodies Big Hearts” raise funds for kids in Mulago hospital. She presents a teens’ program on NTV called  T-Nation. 

Sheila Gashumba