The Wedding Season: Something new...

...symbolises optimism for the future and the new life the bride will have with her husband...

I hate last minute changes. If there is a plan, stick to it and everybody walks away happy. But alas life is never so straight forward. So I myself have learnt to handle changes in a professional and dignified manner. There should always be a plan B. No Diva should EVER be caught out. 

For the next wedding in the wedding season I have to say it completely caught me by surprise. Not a surprise like the couple decided to elope at the last minute and needed me as a witness, but rather that the couple pulled a fast one and brought the wedding forward by a few months. Really guys??? Really?? You just gonna throw a curve ball in this mother... Woo Sah...

As you know, in the Wedding Season series, I'm trying to create wedding looks using African designs and prints in a non-traditional way of wearing it. In the old days finding outfits made from African prints in the high street was a complete myth. If by chance you found a shop which sold anything, the styles were very dated and choice was limited. So for those that don't know, the only way to get what you want is to go to Petite coat lane market (near Liverpool street station) on a Sunday, check the material shops to find a pattern that tickles your fancy and take it to a seamstress to put together in a style of your choice. (All African families that I know have that one go-to "seamstress aunty" that makes clothes in her kitchen). A few weeks later your outfit is ready. Done and done. 

No time to stick to normal protocol with this wedding. A new plan was needed. I decided to do something I had never done before. Buy an off-the-rack dress....*cue Hitchcock suspense music* 

Where to start though? I had no go-to store to start with or even what brands to investigate. Time was ticking away. First stop was the good ol' Google search. So not helpful especially when millions of hits come up and you cant really tell the quality of the clothes. Most of the available options seemed to only be online based and I wanted to go in and try before I bought anything. I had to give up using the internet for the sake of my eyes. Lucky for me I'm blessed with friends in the know and it was suggested SIKA boutique would hold the answers for me. Annoyingly by the time I reviewed this life-saving info, it was late Thursday night. The wedding was Saturday morning so I'd only have Friday to get hair, shoes and dress sorted. A plan was needed. There is no room for error. I mean the time allocated for my hair would be at least 6 hours and I needed time for find a back-up outfit if SIKA didn't work out...the pressure!

The plan was:

• Wake up early Friday 
• Pack overnight bag
• Get dress from SIKA
• Go to hairdressers 
• Then make my way to South where I would chill overnight ready for the wedding the next day

Easy.

What actually happened was:

• Woke up late
• Skipped packing
• Went to make my way to SIKA boutique in Greenwich. Got to Greenwich station only to realise I'd left my purse at home.
• Had to go back home to retrieve purse

Let's pause right there... *breathe* 

By this point (if you can't tell) my stress level was through the roof. Now it was a race against the clock to make sure I make it for my hair appointment. Oh God, and I still have to choose a dress..?!?! Will this stress never end??? 

After getting back to Greenwich and barrelling through the crowds of tourists on their way to see the Cutty Sark, think Uma Thurman slicing through all the assassins to get to Lucy Lu in Kill Bill, I finally made it. 

Within minutes found my dress. Four to be exact. Just like that. I astounded myself at how easy it was. But looking back at the clothes in the store it was always going to be easy. Designer Phyllis Taylor has beautifully taken specially selected prints and materials from markets in Ghana and flawlessly designed them into clothing which is not only stunning but beautifully made. I love that the designs are not overpowering but still make you stand out from the crowd. Not like some of the outfits my "seamstress aunty" would create. 

"No aunty I don't need another bow on my dress. You have given me an extra 12 already!"

I connected with a Mint and Chocolate one-shoulder maxi dress and to me this is perfect for any wedding. 

"Looking good like a bag of money"

Makeup was kept simple. I let my lips do all the talking *mwah*

Lips: Russian Red by MAC

"Smile"

Hair by Divas by Claudia

She makes it easy to bring a slice of West Africa into your everyday closet. Since that day I have become a huge fan of the brand. I left the store a VERY happy woman.Too see more amazing outfits from SIKA, visit the website www.sikadesigns.co.uk or pop into the Greenwich store. 

SIKA Boutique, 4 College approach, London,SE10 9HY

ASOS also understands how fab SIKA is and the two fashion forces have teamed up to give us a limited edition collection known as SIKA X ASOS which includes the following beauties

GET THEM WHILE YOU STILL CAN!

Until next time...

Stay MsChiVious xoxoxo