by ivis | Apr 9, 2020 | Fashion
So as you all know, last week I did a blog post entitled ‘Throwback Thursday’, here I gave you guys a number of urban wear brands from the late 90s and 2000s that dominated black culture, however, I didn’t give you any background information on those brands so this is where this series comes in. I am going to educate you on these brands and show you why they should never be forgotten starting with pastry shoes!
Launched in March 2007 Pastry came at a time when sneakers weren’t a big thing among girls/ women. Pastry Shoes was founded by Vanessa and Angela Simmons in order to allow young girls to create unique looks in order to express themselves. Pastry Shoes were designed to be “sweet, chic, and unique”.
At the time of their launch, people were dressing like Serena and Blair from Gossip girl and our favourite 90210 characters. Sneakers were a thing for boys/men, they were not worn for fashion but for sport and dancing hence why Pastry marketed themselves as the number one dancing shoe in the US at the time. Sisters Vanessa and Angela Simmons were the faces and designers of the brand which is one of the reasons why the brand excelled so much in its time – having two famous founders gave the brand the kind of built-in marketing engine no amount of advertising could buy. In a way, they opened the way for influencer marketing, these two started their brand on their father’s reality TV show – runs house and fans were able to follow their entire journey, from the initial idea to their actual shoe launch garnering a huge fan base. In addition to this, the brand utilised social networking sites like Facebook and myspace to push their brand, here they would post video blogs of the sisters and new ads/ promotions. This brand was clearly ahead of its time and it breaks my heart to know that pastry is no longer what it used to be, it hardly even exists.
As mentioned before, the brand launched when customers wanted something loud and fresh. “From the bold colours to the fresh silhouettes, Pastry is right where it needs to be,”. The shoes came into the market at a good time because no other brands were doing what they brought to the market. People recognised this and that’s why fashion enthusiasts like myself fell in love with the brand. I remember these were all that I ever used to talk about and then my brother got me them in 2011 (literally just before they died out) and I wore them everywhere I went, from that point no other shoe mattered, even if it didn’t go with my outfit I still wore them. These were the first pair of trainers I adored and probably the start of my sneaker addiction! But now looking back on these shoes I cringe a little because I could never imagine my ever wearing these with my sense of style now, they’re what you call a true ugly sneaker, however at the time I was a child so if they were ever to come back into fashion I think they’d be great as a children’s shoe. The bright colours and patterns just make sense for children.
by ivis | Apr 8, 2020 | Beauty
Can you believe that we’re still in quarantine and it’s spring???? This is definitely not how I imagined 2020 would turn out but I mean things can’t really get any worse, can they? But I just want to ask God one question, why did you have to bring the U.K. nice weather during a PANDEMIC, as in you chose now to show us sunshine??? I can’t wear my summer outfits in my own house, they need to be shown off along with my beautiful face, this is not my portion!
The only good thing about this whole situation is the fact that it’s given me some extra time to perfect my makeup skills. I kid you not, I am the laziest person when it comes to makeup. When I first started getting into blogging, makeup was one of my biggest decisions and for a while, all that ever spent my money on but somewhere down the line I just wasn’t feeling it anymore and my makeup skills completely went out of the window which was not good because I’m one of those people who like to be good at everything they try and me and a full face of makeup have not vibed together since 2018. For years I have been a less is more girl as I mention every year when I post beauty trends on my blog, I just love the look I get when I do a no foundation look and only do concealer, powder and highlighter. That is one makeup look I can say I have perfected. It’s my signature look – dewy natural skin. For the years I have confused people when I tell you the number of people that believe that it’s my natural complexion, the only person that can tell I have makeup on is my mother (but what do mums not know). However, I am an adult now, I’m a whole 19 so it’ probably time I grew to up and got a grip and started practising a full face. I am telling you by the end of this year I will be Jackie Aina. I will have this whole makeup thing in the bag and who knows I might even end up giving you guys some tutorials.
When you see the trends of this spring/summer you’ll completely understand where I am coming from when I say that I need to relocate my passion for makeup and actually do it properly this time around because the days of no-makeup makeup looks seem to be over! It’s time for makeup enthusiasts to shine and I will not be left behind!
Here are my faves from this year;
Double Decker Falsies
Neon Lips
Accentuated Inner Corners
Wet Look Lips
Less is More
60s Winged Liner
Embellished eyes
Ombre Eyeshadow
by ivis | Apr 6, 2020 | Travel
When I tell you the law of attraction is so real, I cannot express to you how powerful words are! Essentially, the law of attraction states that whatever consumes your thoughts is what you will eventually get in life. So, if you think of all the things you don’t want in your life, you’ll only get the things you don’t want. In other words, “thoughts can become things” and we have the ability to create our own realities. Therefore positive affirmations will 99% of the time result in the life you want to live. However what most people don’t understand when it comes to speaking things into existence (I think I have mentioned this in one of my decade posts) is the fact that you need to work towards your affirmations, you can not say that you will be a millionaire and just sit at home expecting the universe to deliver. As much as life is about luck, it is also about hard work! But another thing that people also need to understand is that the universe may not give you exactly what you want or deliver in the way you expected but in the end, you will eventually be where you’re meant to be, things that “don’t go to plan” often end up being the things that change your life for the better, help you find happiness and move you away from things that were never really right for you. Rejection is the best redirection!
Sorry for the spiritual waffle but I had to give you guys some context on my trip. I remember from the minute I started high school I had always said that I would interracial across Europe with my friends when I turn 18 but as you can tell by the title that didn’t happen, instead I got to road trip across Europe with my cousin and it has to be the best experience of my entire life and I am so grateful every day that I got to do that! We spent 2 weeks travelling in a range rover like the bouijee bitches that we are lol (the two of us would not last an hour on an interracial train because we’re high maintenance af) – we went to Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Itlay and ended our trip in the south of France. Anyone who has ever thought of going on a road trip I would 100% recommend it, it’s a memory that I will treasure for my entire life and definitely something I wanna do when I have a family of my own. Imagine how amazing it would be to go on an adventure full of culture with your husband and children! I can’t wait!!!
I remember at the start of the year I had proclaimed that I had wanted to travel a lot in 2019 but God delivered in ways I could never have imagined and I am forever grateful that I went to so many places last year and I cannot wait to give you guys more of an insight into my personal life because I feel like I never really let you in on my life as an individual, I just voice my opinions on the things I blog about. But I mean there’s no better time to start a new blog series than RN, after all, we have all the time in the world in this self-isolation period. And who knows, I might give you guys a little inspiration on where to go when all of this is over! Stay safe and keep hoping!
Stop One – Luxembourg
So my cousin actually lives in Luxembourg and this is where I started my journey. I had always thought that Luxembourg was in the South of France but it turns out that it’s actually surrounded by Belgium, France and Germany. This is one of the world smallest countries and without a doubt the cleanest and safest country I have ever been to as well! This girl told me she lived in the ghetto, so being from England I was expecting the worst, but I soon realised that what I would refer to as ghetto is completely different to what Luxembourgers refer to as a ghetto. – there was literally a cute bakery across the road and a Sephora less than 15ft away. Literally everyone in this country is the definition of class – from the way they live to their etiquette to where they shop to where they eat and what eat. I felt like I had entered a completely new world and I loved it! If I was to ever become a country it would be Luxembourg, it is me in so many ways; everything in that city/country is luxurious, stylish, classy, clean and just wow.
I was only here for about a day and a half but can I just say how expensive McDonalds in that country is loool – when I saw the prices best believe I almost had a heart attack. It’s quite a small city so I spent my day touring and entering luxury boutiques and this has to be my favourite thing about Luxembourg; their customer service is undefeated. Have you noticed that when you walk into the likes of Gucci, Chanel and YSL etc here in the U.K. the workers look at you as if you can’t afford the items their selling, over there it’s the complete opposite and they treat you with the uttermost respect, they treat everyone who walks in the same, they do not discriminate which is why you will never catch me at Champs-Élysées, Luxembourg is my number one when it comes to luxury shopping!
Here are some pictures from my day in Luxembourg;
LUXEMBOURG 2019
by ivis | Apr 2, 2020 | Fashion
I think you can all agree with me when I say Hip hop and fashion have always been intertwined, I mean where do you think streetwear came from? In my opinion, Black Hip Hop artists invented streetwear! No one can ever tell me they didn’t. The Notorious B.I.G. and Puff Daddy literally put Versace on the map for so many black youths back in the day. Then we have Aaliyah who pretty much made Tommy Hilfiger a household name after posing in heavily rotated commercials and advertisements for the brand in the ‘90s and let’s not forget the fact that whenever anyone ever dresses like Aaliyah they always incorporate Tommy Hilfiger. However, many of these signs of affection often went unreciprocated and to be fair today, still do. Look at the number of black artists that wear/ rap about these brands yet how many of them cast black models for their shows/ invite rappers to their shows. These brands don’t appreciate us as much as we appreciate them which is why we see rappers like Jhus and singers like Rihanna starting their own luxury brands. Just like back then these lines are our answer to the corporate white world that wants so desperately to shut us out.
As of now streetwear is at its peak and stronger than ever which is why I thought why not do a Throwback Thursday. In today’s blog post we’re going back down memory lane and checking out some of the Urban brands that defined the late 90s/ early 2000s because before the Migos rapped about “Versace” or Lil Yachty linked up with Nautica, hip hop fashion looked a lot different! LL Cool J was always seen in FUBU, Jay-Z had a closet filled with RocaWear, and everyone wore Sean John. Anyone who grew up in that era knows that those were the brands to be seen in!! Fuck Gucci belts and LV bags, it was all about AUTHENTIC URBAN WEAR. Think Phat Farm polos and apple bottom jeans (yes that was an actual brand, not just a catchy song). Sadly, more than 20 years these clothing lines have all but vanished from the public consciousness.
If you’re wondering where I got this inspiration from, I was basically cleaning our attic (or loft) the other day when I came across a bunch of my brothers’ old clothes and I just instantly felt so nostalgic. I know I was too young to apart of that culture, however, I remember being 5 and I used to take pictures of my brother in these brands, he would literally wear them from head to toe. If I could show you the pictures I would because he was honestly the epitome of a 90s black child – he had it all – the baggy jeans, sweatshirts etc but I’m 100% he’d kill me ahaha. Back then never could I have imagined me writing a blog post about how much I miss those brands and how I would be stealing them to wear for myself as part of my summer wardrobe.
The 90s and early 2000s witnessed the rise of the “for us, by us” mentality, an era of innovation and entrepreneurship within the hip-hop community. By staking a claim in the fashion world and turning their labels into multi-million dollar companies, black business owners and rappers rivalled the Ralph Laurens and Tommy Hilfigers of the world by creating label-based clothing we could relate to. But somewhere down the line the baggy jeans, oversized sweatshirts, and label-ridden clothing fell off the fashion radar, rappers stopped sporting FUBU hats and started looking back to Paris and Milan, to a legacy that was not created with them in mind.
Pastry
Baby Phat
Phat Farm
Fubu
Akademiks
Rocawear
Billionaire Boys Club
Sean John
Pelle Pelle
Karl Karni
Cross Colours
Enyce
by ivis | Apr 1, 2020 | Beauty
Am I the only one that has a different scent for every season of the year? I smell different every spring, summer, autumn and winter! Please, someone, tell me I’m not weird for doing this??? For me summer weather calls for a lighter and fresher take on perfume, why should I smell like the musks and the ouds that is so dark and so ghetto for summer?? There is literally no better time to embrace the best of citrus, fruity-florals, and sheer takes on new perfume than spring/ summer. This didn’t start intentionally, It was just a tradition in high school for me to go to VS every summer and get their 3 for £24 deal so each bottle would last me a season and It took me a good 6 years to realise this loool. But the older I have gotten the more I have shied away from body sprays and moved onto perfumes. My mum got me proper perfume in year 9 before we went on holiday and I think it was Gucci bamboo and to this day it remains to be one of my favourite scents.
I’m not saying you should change your scent during summer, it’s not exactly mandatory but personally, I like it when certain smells or perfumes bring me back to certain moments in my life or bring back certain memories when I spray them, hence the fact that I switch it up. I like spraying something and being reminded of winter 2018 or summer 2019, you feel me?
Perfume shopping can be so overwhelming (and so far, 2020 has been exactly that. but let me not start otherwise I won’t stop), there are so many options to pick from so like most people you’ll probably sample about 4 until they all smell the same or you no longer have space on neither of your arms (lool I know we’ve all been through it) so you choose from those four. And that’s okay because we’re all human. Buty that’s why God brought you here today because I can tell you exactly which 4 to sample so you leave your home smelling luxurious every day of the week! So, how do you pick the best perfume? It sounds obvious, but look out for notes that you’re drawn too. Here are some of my summer faves;
Dsquared2 Wood Pour Femme Eau de Toilette
by ivis | Mar 31, 2020 | Fashion
Is anyone else completely over the Balenciaga Triple S sneakers? I feel like they’re so 2018/2019. They were never going to be a staple shoe, in my opinion, they were forever going to the shoe of that moment aka the shoe of 2018 and 2019. Don’t get me wrong I still love dad trainers, I’m just not a fan of the Triple S’ anymore, they served their time in fashion and now it’s time for another sneaker to take the crown. Any guesses on what it will be? Personally I think this year the show of the moment will for a fact be the Dior B23 sneaker but I could be wrong. It’s just a hunch.
This summer with sneakers it’s all about colours, just as it has been with clothing, the last summers we have seen bright colours take over runways, fashion campaigns, our wardrobes, shop floors and most importantly our hearts. We’re deep into this 80s fashion vibe and I could not be more obsessed. I know coloured trainers are not the most versatile but they are a show that you won’t regret purchasing. If you only own black or white sneakers then you’re boring as hell and need to get a life. But it’s okay because I am here to give you a helping hand by providing you with 10 shoes I am loving this summer and will be purchasing as new editions to my ever-growing sneaker wardrobe.
Here are some of my favourite sneakers atm;
Nike Air Force 1 Shadow SE
Nike Air Force 1 Sage Green Suede Trainers
Adidas Yeezy Boost 700 Inertia
Puma Future Rider
Nike LD Waffle Sacai
B23 DIOR AND DANIEL ARSHAM HIGH-TOP SNEAKER IN “NEWSPAPER” PRINT
Comme des Garçons Play
Puma rs-x 3
Jordan 1 Retro High Zoom White Racer Blue
by ivis | Mar 30, 2020 | Fashion
Is it just me or is Bottega taking over the fashion industry! Last year it was their heeled sandals that were dominating summer and now their clouded clutches (officially known as the pouch) are taking over too. Bottega Veneta is known to be the hothouse of the minute and I could not agree more! The pouch is the bag of the moment, everyone either has one or wants one. It’s nearly impossible to scroll through Instagram without coming across the bag, it’s that popular. Never in a million years did I ever think that that this bag would be as successful as it is with the concurrent trend for structured top-handle totes. Kering, the conglomerate that owns Bottega Veneta, reported that it is the brand’s fastest-selling bag in its history, with hundreds being sold every week!
by ivis | Mar 22, 2020 | Interview
When did you decide to pursue music professionally? What was the driving factor that led you to the decision? Was music always part of the plan?
“Well, it was just a discovery that actually this is one thing that I really excel in and that I am great at. Also, it was like I was looking at the industry and I felt like there was no one like me cause I was always myself growing up and I knew that if I were to ever be in this industry I would fully be myself and that was a good enough reason for me to try it because if there is no one like you then that’s the best shot you can take to pursue your dreams so that was my leading motivation.
Even growing up I never fully was focused on music, I wasn’t a kid that said I was going to be a musician but I always had a love for it, for example, I would never miss any musical film or anything. It was just later on when I was 21 that I was like okay, I think I want to do this. That was it, that was when I had decided that I wanna do it professionally.
I did have a plan b, I did accounting, I didn’t finish it, however, I will go back and finish it but what I wanted to be – anything else on the side, I was fascinated by doctors or psychologists, just being in a space where you can help someone. My family were more supportive of my musical career than me, I was the reluctant one. I was like these people were crazy, they’re supportive over something that they don’t even know will work out. I was the one who never believed in myself, they were always there to push me and be like no Ami you can do this!”
After being in the top 16 of the voice, did you ever think that your career would be where it is today? What did you to after the voice and how did the experience help you as an artist?
I am grateful for the experience because I managed to get context whilst being on the show and it taught me that the industry is very difficult – it’s not only your voice that counts and it taught me a lot of confidence as well. when I got eliminated I was calm because I don’t like to stress or fight so I’m not gonna ball my eyes out and be depressed because at the end of the day these are just normal people, they cannot dictate my life. It’s like a random person telling you, you can’t sing, no this won’t happen, they can’t have so much power over you. I was okay but I was worried about my next step, that’s why made sure I spoke to James, that’s why I visited him in the studio after my elimination just to be in spaces where there we higher chances of people discovering me because I couldn’t keep recording from my home town.
Why did you decide to call your debut album “imali”? Does the world hold any significance in your life?
“It holds a huge significance in everyone’s lives, it’s a tool that we need to function every day. It just sucks that not all of us can have it, I just wanted people to find other ways to be happy, you know and sustain their emotional well being because money can be so depressing, its such a toxic thing but also good at the same time. That is what the song speaks about, I didn’t want people to forever be so hurt and broken because I know that not everyone finally gets a break-in life, not everyone gets to experience everything they want to. I wanted people to appreciate what they have, to try to build something that cannot be taken away and try to promote happiness because for me the music really made a difference in my life in terms of happiness, I found that although life may suck sometimes but going to the studio and recording music was one place where I could be in control and be happy, that’s what I want for people. Even when I wrote the song, I didn’t have money, at all so it’s like I just want people to find happiness.”
What is your favourite song from the album and why?
“All of them are my favourites, they all hold some sort of significance for me, I can choose just one. NEVER! I can’t.
But one song that I began with in my first ever single that I am forever proud of is Ndikethe Wena, I feel like it’s the start of it all and for that reason only it’s my favourite song. When we released it I never imagined that it could lead to this, so for me, it will always be special.”
You have collaborated with some of the best artists SA has to offer over the last year, which of them is your favourite and why. Also, if you could collaborate with any artist dead or alive who would it be and why?
“It’s obviously Sun El Musician, in the studio, we have a connection that is insane, I get ideas that I would not get elsewhere, he’s such a humble being and I learn so much from him. He has this urge to grow as a person and as an artist, I love that about him, nothing is ever enough for him and that’s why I love him – he’s not like those people who think they have made it and have nasty attitudes but personally, I could never work with those types of people anyway.
I am so thankful because he also invited me to the studio when hardly anyone knew me, it was after Ndikethe Wena and for him, no hype matters, you don’t have to prove yourself to him. He sees what you are without needing confirmation from the rest of the world. That is why I am such a fan of his.”
Where do you see yourself in the next 5-10 years? What is the big idea in terms of your career and personal life?
“Uhm 5 years, I don’t know in terms of my personal life, that one is tricky, it’s a hard one to manage, but in terms of work, I would say I just wanna grow more and grow, grow, grow. I want to collaborate more, not necessarily things we put out in the public – I could write more songs for artists and of course travel more, gig more and grow as a writer, performer, collectively as a band and as a person. Also, be able to take the journey of life and put it into music as I did it before because I am adjusting to this new life so I know that it will be more difficult than before but I will do my best to be able to put my life in paper for every song, album and single I do.”
If there is one thing that you want people to remember you for as a musical legend, what would it be?
“I would say my vocal approach in songs, my writing and my melody. I guess those are the three that people will remember me for.”
Lastly, what advice would you give to aspiring musicians who want to make it in this industry? What are the dos and don’ts?
“Try not to be a superstar in your personal life, try to be as normal as possible, that’s important in order to keep your peace because, in the long run, it will mess with you so try to balance both lives. In this industry, you work with your brain and in order for it to work efficiently, you need peace.
Then the dos would be to collaborate more, listen to a lot of artists in order to get your inspiration, let’s say you listen to Rihanna a lot, you will end up creating an album that sounds like Rihanna. There’s so much to learn from taking something from different genres and different artists!”
Thank you so much Ami! I urge you all to go and listen to her debut album IMALI available EVERYWHERE
Follow her on social media;
Insta – https://www.instagram.com/ami_faku/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/Ami_Faku
by ivis | Mar 22, 2020 | Interview
There’s something so incredibly beautiful about listening to music in your own language. For me I never really deep lyrics when it comes to songs, I just listen because I vibe with the song but listening to SA soul just does something to me, I feel every single word and so much more! So it’s no surprise that I adore Ami Faku’s voice.
I first discovered Ami in June last year whilst watching an episode of Uzalo (my favourite SA soap), her song Ubuhle Bakho played as Lindiwe walked down the aisle. It was at that moment that I knew I had found my first dance song! Regardless of where my husband is from, this will be our song, forever and always. You truly have to listen to it to understand where I’m coming from! This was the first time in a very long time that a song had brought me to tears. Her voice, the lyrics, her sound, the melodies, everything about it was just breathtaking. To this day I can’t go a week without playing the song, it’s on repeat none stop. I’m probably one of the huge reasons why she’s SA’s most streamed female artist of 2019, she’s without a doubt my most played SA female artist!
Ms Faku has collaborated with some of SA’s biggest and greatest musicians I.e Amanda Black, Sun el Musician and Prince Kaybee just to name a few! She released her debut album in September and the more I listened to the album the more I fall in love with her, I kid you not, this woman will probably go down as one of SA’s greatest and I honestly cannot wait for her to get the global recognition she deserves. Within the first day of her album being released, it hit #1 on Apple Music, her album was #1 in physical sales of music for 4 weeks, she had 5 songs in the Top 50 of Radiomonitor Top 200 chart of 2019 and she was the ONLY newcomer on Spotify’s top 10 most streamed female artist. Imagine all of this was achieved within the space of a few months, so imagine what she could achieve In the next 5-10 years!
I had the privilege of interviewing this incredible woman on Monday and here is what she had to say;
How does it feel to be named SA’s most streamed female artist by Deezer? How did you hear the news?
“It feels great, I keep saying all of these things are a blessing because at first, I did not think that all of this was possible so I’m very happy and grateful.
I found out whilst I was alone at my place and I called to confirm because I was like there should be a mistake but thankfully it was an actual thing and there was no mistake.”
How would you describe your music in 5 words and why have you chosen these particular words?
“Modern, Soulful, Truthful, an Experience and Quality music. Every time I think about it I would say those are the elements that my music has.”
Obviously, as an artist, you take inspiration from so many things, for example; your surroundings, life experiences and other artists. How did you discover your sound, how long did it take you and what advice would you give to other artists looking to find their own sound?
“It took time because if I look back to when I was 18 I wouldn’t have done this, I was not exposed/ around people who played live instruments but I always knew that I had this deep love for instruments and soulful music but unfortunately I couldn’t – It was just this experience of doing all these other genres to actually make this decision to say, no this is the music that I really love the most. It was just experiencing and looking at the music I connect with the most – afro soul and RnB but mostly very youthful, nothing old or anything, that’s why I incorporate youthfulness in my afro soul because it’s part of what I like so it had to be part of my music and sound.
To new artists, I would say just be sure that this is the sound that you want because it’s not easy to write on, it’s not easy to create a melody on because it sort of has to compliment cause the production is always so great so it’s quite intimidating, you have to really work hard into making sure that your delivery is just as good. Make sure you know what you want, don’t do it because everyone says you should do it and stick through what you believe in and just always be you because I am me in my writing and everything about this journey. I am fully 100% myself so I would encourage them to do the same.”
Most of your songs are related to the idea of love, is this romantic love? Have you yourself ever been in love, or are you in love right now?
“My music involves platonic love as well as romantic love, because I myself am such a lover. I express love even in songs I dedicate to friends and family so It can be however you interpret it.
I was definitely in love at some point, it’s always so weird when people ask me this, I’m like no why??? but I am grateful for the experience as it helped me to create songs that people love, so I guess it was worth something in the end, I got something out of it at least, so yeah I have been in love! My experience is very limited tho, so in order to broaden my audience I always also write in other peoples perspectives and tell their stories too.”
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