by ivis | Jan 5, 2021 | Fashion
I was never really into sneakers like that until 2020, I wouldn’t call myself a sneakerhead but I can appreciate a nice pair of trainers. And over time I’ve come to learn that no sneaker is ugly, it all depends on how you style it – there is a sneaker out there for everyone and everyone’s unique style, so just because it’s not for you, it doesn’t mean it’s not for anyone else!
Everyone these days is a so-called sneaker-head thanks to the rise in streetwear culture over the last 6 years. Collecting, loving, buying and wearing trainers is so different from what it used to be. We’re living in a new world where sneakers like Jordans reign supreme and are taking the industry by storm because unlike designer items such as your Chanels and Guccis, sneakers are accessible to a lot more people. Although sneaker collecting has long been trending thanks to resell sites like StockX and GOAT I really believe that it hit its peak in 2020, it’s so hard to get a pair of Jordans these days! I remember when there was a time that only American rap artists cared about sneakers like Jordans and low dunks, now it seems like EVERYONE cares. But how long will this last? Is this a trend or is it something that will continue on for generations to come?
There’s a lot of great sneakers from the past twelve months but these are my personal faves, I’m not saying they’re the best or that they’re most historically important, these are just my PERSONAL faves;
Nike SB x Ben & Jerry’s Dunk Low “Chunky Dunky” sneaker
Dior x Air Jordan 1 Retro High sneaker
Grateful Dead Bears Nike SB Dunk Low
Comme des Garçons Homme Plus x Nike Air Max 95
Air Jordan 4 Retro “Black Cat”
Air Jordan 4 Retro “Fire Red”
Nike Dunk Low “Syracuse”
Travis Scott x Dunk Low Premium QS SB “Cactus Jack”
Off-White™ x Wmns Air Jordan 4 SP “Sail”
Adidas Yeezy Foam RNNR
by ivis | Jan 1, 2021 | Fashion
I don’t think anything can compare or will ever compare to 2020, it has been a year that I will never forget, that’s for sure, it’s been a whirlwind, to say the least, and I am so happy it’s finally over. It’s so weird but in my head, I honestly thought that on the 1st of January (which is today) that COVID would magically disappear and that I would be able to go back to enjoying my prime years but unfortunately, that is not the case.
Almost nothing about 2020 was at all expected. It was the year of surprises and I think one of the biggest lessons I learnt this past year was to just enjoy life and live in the moment because tomorrow really isn’t promised, 2020 taught us that the hard way – life can be taken away from us at any moment so why should we sweat over the small things? This year we all survived and I am forever grateful but in the year 2021, I want us all to actually LIVE life, stop waiting for the right moment and just go for it!
This was the fastest yet shortest year of my life, and while a majority of us might not have dressed up as much as we thought that we would have or got a chance to wear or holiday outfits for obvious reasons there were still some very great trends that came out of this year and ones that we can probably wear into 2021! The fashion trends from the past 12 months felt normal or predictable, loungewear became not just acceptable but fashionable as it has been over the last 3 years, and multiple ‘90s styles made their triumphant return to our closets as they have been for the last 5 years but this year these trends really made their mark, hence why I said that they were predictable and felt normal and I envision that over the next 5 years we’ll see the rise of 2000s fashion. No one can even argue with me on this one because every trend in this list I have been rocking since 2018, I am ahead of my time when it comes to fashion hence why I still blog. Here are my top trends of 2020;
Maxi Faux Leather Coats
Grunge was the new normal this year and maxi leather jackets were leading the wave – high fashion or funky with a grunge twist, these long-line pieces are perfect all year round, after all, we do live in the UK. This is another ’90s staple that just got a fresh upgrade!
Printed tights
I have a love-hate relationship with tights, I wore them for 5 years straight during high school so for me I can appreciate the printed tights trend, however, I don’t tink you’ll ever see me rocking them, they’re cute but they’re not for me
Square-Toed Heels
We call it the Bottega Effect, Bottega’s influence in terms of trends is astonishes me every single season – after so many seasons of pointed-toe shoes reigning supreme, the square toe is making a triumphant comeback thanks to Bottega Veneta!
Oversized Gold Chain Necklaces
If you’re looking for just one jewellery trend to magically make your outfit no matter how simple it is – it is a chunky necklace. It is an accessory that has risen above the rest thanks to our Scandinavian fashionistas.
Chunky Boots
My favourite trend of 2020 and one that I will rock until the day I die, Chunky boots are just that BITCH in terms of fashion. If you ask me they are a staple piece, they go with anything and almost everything!
TIE DYE
A trend I’ve hated from the get-go, to me it’s just so tacky and I just don’t understand the hype, I really hope we leave this 60’s throwback in 2020
SWEATSUITS
I have literally been posting about tracksuits and athleisure wear every year since i started this series but this year, it really hit its peak during quarantine. SO many of us got so used to being comfortable that we completely forgot that jeans and other forms of bottoms existed!
BIKE SHORTS
I’m so over biker shorts, they’re just unflattering and belong in the gym and the gym only or as loungewear
Fringe
Although this trend didn’t pop as expected this year, I have a feeling we’ll be seeing everyone this summer rocking fringe. Mark my words, hop onto this trend before the rest of the world!
Harnesses
My problem with harnesses is that my generation don’t appreciate them as much as I do and just think that they can pair it with every outfit they wear so even though i still love them, I also hate them. It all depends on how it’s worn
by ivis | Sep 4, 2020 | Lifestyle
So……. I have a confession to make. Surprisingly enough, I have never tried sushi. I know, I’m shocked too, it’s one of those things that I’ve always wanted to try but just never built up the guts to do – I just don’t understand how people can say that raw fish is THAT good. I’m African so everything we eat has to be cooked and when I say cooked I mean well done. I think if I took my mom to a sushi restaurant she’d actually kill me because this woman hates prawns, so I don’t even want to try feeding her sushi before she accuses me of trying to poison her lol. African mums are so dramatic. However, I couldn’t really think of a better opportunity to try sushi than to actually go behind the scenes and make it myself, that way I actually know what’s going into what I’m eating and then if I ever crave it I can make it at home. it’s a win-win situation really.
My choice of sushi making is none other than the infamous Nobu, loved by literally every celebrity and their mom, Nobu London remains the most celebrated global sushi brand, as well as a destination restaurant for exquisite Japanese dining. With this experience, you get to learn from the best of the best Nobu sushi chefs and discover the secrets to perfecting the art of making sushi making. Take part in a public sushi masterclass at Nobu here!
What is included;
- Two tickets to join an interactive group sushi masterclass with the experts at Nobu London
- A 150ml bamboo vessel of Onikoroshi Sake each
- Lunch will include a selection of signature dishes, as well as the sushi made in the class
- Take home a Nobu Sushi Kit each to practice your new-found skills
- Service charge on the listed food and beverages is already included in the cost of this experience
https://trulyexperiences.com/nobu-masterclass.html
by ivis | Sep 2, 2020 | Fashion
Apparently, this whole mesh has been around for the last 7 years – since 2013. Either I haven’t been paying attention or I’m not the fashion connoisseur I thought I was. Personally, for me, I saw mesh become mainstream in 2015 after I discovered Coachella and it was always based around the idea of festival fashion but you never really saw people wear it as a ‘normal’ fashion piece until maybe late 2017 when underwear became the new outerwear. And now I think mesh has hit its peak within mainstream fashion and I am LIVING for it. I don’t what it is but mesh and I are spiritually bonded to one another, everything mesh that I see I instantly need it in my life!
Last year on the runway we saw A LOT of mesh, this material is a great transitional piece for summer to autumn to winter because you can layer it! There are so many ways to wear this trend – those bold enough can even go completely braless and rock mesh in all of its glory but odds are most women who aren’t Rihanna wouldn’t dream of leaving the house in a full mesh or sheer top with her breasts totally exposed, especially in the U.K because the people here are super bad vibes sometimes lol. But I promise you, one day I’m gonna rock mesh the way its meant to be worn, like a true 90s supermodel, it’ll be a true moment!
Like I say all the time Fashion trends are cyclical, they’re always coming in and out of fashion and I’m sure that you can all guess that this trend is in fact from the 90s – slightly transparent, lightweight and majorly sexy, it’s a look that is largely associated with the iconic fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier, whose slinky, tattooed meshes first sauntered down the runway back in the early ’90s.
There are also many ways of wearing it and you can shop some of my fave mesh pieces here;
Asos
PLT
OH POLLY
I SAW IT FIRST
HOUSE OF CB
net- a- porter
FARFETCH
BROWNS FASHION
matchesfashion
LUISA VIAROMA
MODA OPERANDI
by ivis | Sep 1, 2020 | Beauty
If you’re a skincare junkie like myself then you have probably heard of vitamin c and live by it, ever since I implemented it in my routine back in 2016, I literally can no longer live without it. I’m not even exaggerating when I say its life-changing. In terms of science, vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid and ascorbate, is a vitamin found in various foods and sold as a dietary supplement. It is used to prevent and treat scurvy. Vitamin C is an essential nutrient involved in the repair of tissue and the enzymatic production of certain neurotransmitters but at the same time, it is also known to be one of the best anti-ageing ingredients and the key to maintaining a smooth, even, and glowy complexion.
Although you’re probably getting vitamin C in your diet, there’s no way to guarantee that it’s going straight to your skin, in fact, very little vitamin C ever makes it to the skin so using serums and other topical products is the most direct way to reap these benefits.
So why should you add vitamin C serum to your routine?
Vitamin C serum is typically applied once or twice per day. I usually of cleanse, tone, apply vitamin C serum, moisturise, then apply my eye cream. The best thing to due in terms of skin is to apply the thinnest products first so generally a serum is more watery hence it’s the first thing I apply after toner.
by ivis | Jul 24, 2020 | Lifestyle
I hope all my friends and family are paying close attention to all of these “what I would buy if I won the lottery” blog posts because this is basically a wishlist for me at this point – everything I write about every single Friday I would really appreciate as gifts. This one, I think is my favourite experience yet, imagine being able to combine the love of fine dining as well as the love of travelling all in one on a vacation! Food as everyone knows it is a universal language, the cure to everything in life, well my life anyway. When I’m happy, I eat. When I’m sad, I eat. When I’m celebrating, I eat. No matter what mood I am in I am always in the mood for food, especially if I’m travelling. Eating local foods is one of the best ways to submerse yourself in another culture, especially if you try traditional foods as you can also educate yourself on the dishes and why they eat them – for example in most restaurants in zimbabwe they serve sadza/ pap and that is our staple food. Therefore we can all establish that food in a sense is an expression of cultural identity. So imagine how incredible a journey around the globe for the best food the world has to offer; with stops at six of the ‘World’s 50 Best Restaurants.’ Traverse six continents, dining at the best restaurant on each, and encounter the true diversity of global fine dining would be. A ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE.
The restaurants;
1st – El Celler de Can Roca
4th – Central
8th – Narisawa
32nd – Attica
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48th – The Test Kitchen
50th – The French Laundry
You would spend 4 days in each city, with a personalised itinerary from your TRULY Concierge. In Cape Town, discover theatrical Nouvelle-Latin cuisine at The Test Kitchen. Your next stop will be an exploration of Peruvian culture at Central in the magnificent city of Lima. From here you will savour refined French fare in California’s Wine Country at Thomas Keller’s The French Laundry in San Francisco. Dive into the bounty of the nature of Japan at Tokyo’s Narisawa. Finally, polish off a whirlwind experience feasting on native Australian fare at perhaps the world’s most extravagant dining experience, Melbourne’s Attica.
From London to Girona, Cape Town, Lima, San Francisco, Tokyo and Melbourne. This is what you call an EXPERIENCE.
Book the experience;
https://trulyexperiences.com/uk/dine-around-the-world-for-two.html
by ivis | Jul 20, 2020 | Travel
Oslo, the capital of Norway, known for its green spaces and museums according to my research, Oslo is the number one most expensive country to travel to – tourist industries that charge about 20% more than anywhere else in Western Europe and a whopping 70% higher than world averages. Norway is notoriously known as Scandinavia’s—and Northern Europe’s—most expensive country. Originally I thought Switzerland was expensive but compared to Norway, it’s nothing! I always used to see these rows of colourful houses but I never actually knew where it was until today – Oslo is a scenic city filled with Scandinavian charm and hints of the Norwegians’ Viking history. Oslo tends to be clean and safe, and most of the population speaks almost fluent English, which can make it easy for you to get around.
Plan your visit;
https://www.visitnorway.com/places-to-go/eastern-norway/oslo/
by ivis | Jul 17, 2020 | Interview
Do you guys remember those perfume sciency kits that Argos used to sell back in the day? For a good 3 years I begged my entire family for one very Christmas and birthday, but did I ever get it? NO, because for some reason they thought A; I’d never use and B; I ‘d mess up the house. So I think you can all imagine how excited I was when I found out that I can, in fact, make my perfume as an adult, FINALLY.
I have always wanted my own unique scent, that way when people smell an item of mine they can recognise that it’s Ivis’ or when I walk past/ into a room people can know it’s me. Imagine just having your one smell, that’s unique to you, that when people smell it, it reminds them of you and only you! Since I started getting buying perfume in high school, the goal for me has always been to discover my own scent and I still haven’t yet found mine, so clearly when I found this it was a sign from God telling me that my expensive ass needs to make my very own fragrance.
Floris London is the world’s oldest perfumery, founded by Juan Floris in 1730 and provides you with the unique opportunity to create a completely bespoke fragrance over the period of three consultations with an experienced Floris perfumer in the secluded privacy of their perfumery. Tell me this doesn’t sound amazing? I dare you to tell me you don’t want this experience? With hundreds of years of knowledge and expertise have been passed through the company, with his descendants – now in the 8th and 9th generation – still running the shop you’re bound to find the perfect scent for you! And to top of the experience, your name will be forever recorded next to famous Floris clients, and your fragrance formula recorded for future re-orders
What is included?
- Create your own signature fragrance from scratch with royal perfumers Floris
- Design your scent over a minimum of three private consultations with the Floris perfumer
- Enjoy a glass of champagne at each two-hour consultation
- Take home 100ml of your Bespoke Eau de Parfum, with Certificate of Provenance
- You will have five repeat orders of your bespoke perfume
Book the experience;
https://trulyexperiences.com/uk/london-bespoke-perfume-gift-floris.html
by ivis | Jul 15, 2020 | Fashion
Cropped jackets have been around since winter of 2017 and I don’t think they’re going anytime soon, they’re the perfect layering item and my favourite type of jacket to wear. For one, they keep you somewhat warm but at the same time you can still show off your outfit! A cropped jacket is the perfect outerwear piece to have during the summer, in all honesty, it should be one of your wardrobe staples.
The evolution of the cropped jackets over the last 3 years is one of my favourites – we’ve seen it go from being just cropped denim jackets to now cropped blazers (which I am LIVING FOR), cropped tweed jackets and cropped leather too! The item has been given a much-needed touch of elegance and we really love to see it.
Shortened to hit right at the waistline, this cut is seriously flattering too and here are my faves atm;
PLT
ASOS
FARFETCH
NET- A- PORTER
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