High Teas And The Fascinator Glam

I’VE been invited to attend a High Tea next Saturday.

The invitation said to wear my prettiest dress, killer heels and a glamorous fascinator. I’ve never been to one of these but from what I’ve seen from different social media platforms, High Teas are all about the glitz and the glam. They’re all about embracing femininity and looking pretty. And nothing says “womanly” like a pretty dress and heels. But, my first problem is that I don’t own a fascinator. I’ve never worn one let alone own one but I’m told they cost about $15 for a basic one and the price goes up as you go for something fancier. 

If you’re lost, a fascinator is a headpiece, a style of hat. They come in lots of different colours and I’ve noticed how many women like to match them with their shoes and bags. It’s the right thing to do actually. Problem number two is that I don’t have a High Tea pretty dress. Well, I’ve got a black number but I’m not quite convinced this will work. It could, with a red fascinator and matching shoes but it seems the British are a little more elaborate than that. I’m thinking maybe floral, polka dot or a pattern of some sort and then pick out one dominant colour for the fascinator and shoes. This would surely say glam! 

Of course going elaborate could go either way but I think every woman has the right to try out more feminine pieces aside from the subtle black, navy blues and greys. In case you’re wondering, in Britain, the drinking of tea not only became a social event for the upper classes, it altered the time and manner in which they took tea. Afternoon Tea became the bridge between meals because many wouldn’t eat their evening meal until maybe 8PM. As such, Afternoon Tea became a “mini meal” in itself. This was all well and good for the upper classes, but the working classes ran to a different schedule and a different budget. 

Tea was still quite expensive at the time and the working classes could not afford to waste it on anything other than necessities. A wearied factory worker wouldn’t arrive home until 6PM, and when he did, he was famished! So, in the industrial areas of the United Kingdom (northern England and southern Scotland), the working classes evening meal evolved and became “High Tea”. English High Tea usually involved a mug of tea, bread, vegetables, cheese and occasionally meat. Variations on High Tea could include the addition of pies, potatoes and crackers.

 

So, while Afternoon Tea was largely a social event for their upper class counterparts, High Tea was a necessary meal in the 18th and 19th centuries. This traditional High Tea still exists in some parts of the North and Scotland. So, what else can you wear to this fancy meal? You can still have fun with bold prints and bright colours, but maybe keep the shape and style of your frock more traditional. A High Tea is a fun, feminine way to spend your afternoon, so even if you’re not normally a girly-girl, an invitation to a High Tea gives you an excuse to bring out the inner “lady”.

 

Be sure your dress is not too short or too revealing. If you choose to wear pants, a nice blouse with a simple cardigan would work well. Avoid wearing T-shirts, ripped jeans and shorts. Avoid wearing flip-flops, open-toed sandals or running shoes. Where these might be perfectly acceptable in other informal meal situations, general conventions and sensibilities dictate that these are inappropriate for functions that aren’t taking place on a beach or at the gym. For High Tea, women should wear flats or heels.

Whatever you decide to wear, be sure your outfit is clean and free of any stains or wrinkles. Where some may overlook a creased skirt or a cardigan missing a button, these things can be interpreted as poor etiquette to those who attend such events. Be sure your outfit is neatly put together and your accessories are not too loud. For most such gatherings, conservative outfits with tasteful accessories are appropriate to wear.

Too old for make-up? Never!

Photo Credit: Online

 I was at the airport to see my brother off the other day. Just as I was saying my final goodbyes, two ladies, probably in their 50s stood at the entrance of the international departures section. I couldn’t help overhearing one of them saying working for the National Handling Service for 31 years was no joke so my assumption that they could be in their 50s is not far-fetched. Of course I was listening to what my brother was saying and also still trying to get him to leave me a few Benjamin’s but I couldn’t help staring at these women. One of them had on bright red lipstick, blush, shimmer, eye liner, eye shadow and her face was set quite nicely with foundation.

I was way out of my wits. I couldn’t believe it. Even I don’t wear that much make-up and I’m not even 30 yet! So the lady stood there, talking to her colleague who also had her face done to the nines. The eyebrows were on fleek and I’m pretty sure they also had some mascara on. These women were looking fresher than fresh. But why wouldn’t they? I mean, there’re no rules about older women not being allowed to wear make-up. I was reminded of my mother’s aunt, who’s my grandmother. She’s probably in her late 70s but still rocks red lipstick like a boss lady. Aunty Susan, as we all call her, still has her swag in check although she has several grandchildren now.

She never leaves the house without her red lipstick and eyeliner, even if it’s to attend a funeral in the rural areas. She’ll even show up in pantyhose and heels – you can never be ready! So I looked at those women working at the airport and thought this should be me one day. Aging is unavoidable but I may as well age gracefully. We sometimes put up unnecessary restrictions for ourselves. Tell ourselves because we’ve reached a certain age we can’t wear or do certain things. Of course you can’t go wild and be a granny walking around the house in bum shorts but surely a little make-up and a few hip clothes wouldn’t hurt anybody. Everyone deserves to look and feel good.

The secret is in ensuring you remain age appropriate. The airport ladies wore their elaborate make-up with skirts below the knees, shirts and branded cardigans and I’m pretty sure they still dress decently even when they’re outside work. That’s really all that matters. If you’re going to hold on to your make-up for a few more years to come, make sure you maintain good personal hygiene practices and take good care of your skin. Don’t use the same towel on your face as the rest of your body. In fact, don’t use a towel at all on your face. It’s bizarre, I know. It took me a while to adjust but I’m enjoying the benefits now. The reason why your body towel shouldn’t go onto your face is pretty simple. Towels retain some bacteria after washes so you don’t want to take the bacteria on the rest of the body to your face. Secondly, the soap you use on your body is probably harsher than what you use on your face.

Again, because towels don’t wash as clean as we think they do, the two products mix on the towel and clash, which may cause an allergic reaction to your skin. It may seem unnecessary to mention but always wash your face first before the rest of the body, when the water is still clean and untainted by other products, unless if you’re using a shower.

Find a good scrub that will help clean your skin further. It’ll take away the extra oils and unclog your pores. Clogged pores cause pimples and black heads. At least twice a week, make sure you scrub your skin gently. Because my skin is on the sensitive side, I prefer using a mixture of mealie-meal and water as a scrub, it works just fine! NEVER go to bed with make-up on because make-up is dirt. If left on, it clogs your pores and may cause you skin problems.

#BAAzw Red Carpet . . . Someone give Sandy a Bells!

Sandra Ndebele

I MUST say I’m quite chuffed. Despite the chilly weather, my people showed up for the Bulawayo Arts Awards dressed to the nines last Friday. The bar was set pretty high and it’s heartwarming how not one, not two, but scores of people went out of their way to look their best for the red carpet at the black tie event. There were luxurious shades of green, blue and red fabrics as well as bold African prints and the subtle but rich black and white on the red carpet. It was a vibrant mix of different fabric colours and textures – quite a fashion fete.

Sithandazile Dube

 One of my favourite looks was by Sithandazile Dube, the poet, one of the hosts of the awards ceremony.  

She has a curvaceous body and clearly understands this perfectly well. Sithandazile had a couple of changes and both her gowns accentuated her figure very well – she quite frankly achieved a perfect silhouette each time. Life would be so much easier for all of us if we understood our body types and what works well with them as opposed to just wearing what we like.

Sarah Mpofu

I think we all need to accept that Sarah Mpofu is a diva. She’s diva fire! I’m still trying to find words to describe her outfit but she sure is the epitome of confidence. With her, there’s no box at all – she keeps breaking all the rules of fashion. I’m not sure if this is a good thing but it’s probably time you and I agree to let her be. After a National Arts and Merit Awards wardrobe malfunction a few years back, Mr Albert Nyathi got the memo and stuck it on his fridge with a magnet! Now, he slays and looks like a perfect gentleman each time. Although he decided to pair his look with traditional Ndebele head gear, he still looked pretty sleek in his suit. 

Morris Touch and Cde Phil

 I was underwhelmed by the hosts of the red carpet – Morris Touch, Bathabile Dlamini and Cde Phil. I’m not sure if they were dressed by a particular clothing retailer but each of their outfits were a complete miss for me. Cde Phil should have started by getting his suit size right before we talk about how plain he looked. I mean, if he’s going to be asking me about the Givenchy I’m wearing, he might as well be in a well-fitted and elegantly accessorised Hugo Boss suit himself!

Although there was nothing particularly wrong with Bathabile’s dress – she has a great figure – her hair looked rather undone. It seemed like her hairdresser had removed the hair rollers and forgot to style her hair. Then there was Morris Touch and that red bow-tie. His red and black jacket was elaborate enough; he really didn’t need that pop of colour. Black would have worked just fine. Actually, it wasn’t just Morris Touch. A significant number of men attending the awards ceremony accessorised their blazers with red or pink bow-ties. Big mistake. That was trying too hard.

A good old black bow-tie would’ve been perfectly fine.

Someone needs to get Sandra Ndebele a Bells! She had three outfit changes and slayed in each of them. For the red carpet, she wore a peach gown with lace trimmings. The dress hung perfectly on her body, she looked stunning. She changed into a black jumpsuit for her performance and I’d say this was an appropriate look for the stage. Finally, Sandy changed into a black gown which did her figure equal justice as the peach one. She really thought this through and made sure she slayed at each stage of the ceremony. 

Chelsea Mguni and Nceku

 Then there was comedian Thubelihle “Nceku” Sibanda and gospel singer Chelsea Mguni. They showed up in coordinated African print outfits. I wonder if they’re a couple – I’m sure they are if they’re going to be showing up in matching outfits. Anyway, that’s beside the point. They looked really adorable and getting matching outfits shows they planned their look in good time which should always be the case if you know of an event and the required dress code in advance.

Nceku somehow reminded me of Jidenna with his African print pants and six button beige blazer. It was pretty sleek of Scarless Designs to hook him up with such a dope number. Hip hop artiste Cal_Vin and his bae tried to do the matching outfits’ thing but I think they missed it. They ended up looking like two Michael Jackson’s – not adorable at all!

Easy does it with a hoodie…

IT’S been quite cold of late and to be frank, warmth has often taken precedence over style. Because it’s been so cold, I’ve been concentrating more on my layers than anything else. A lot of us have been. It works out okay sometimes but it’s disastrous at other times. Weekdays are the hardest if your boss is hectic about dressing formally. Of course you want to look professional but sometimes the weather just won’t allow. You just want to slap on sneakers, track bottoms and a hoodie. As long as the work gets done, right? Wrong. Your professional image matters during all seasons. If you haven’t already added a few warm pieces to your work wardrobe, you may want to start doing so.

But, when the setting permits, nothing beats a good old hoodie. I’ve always been a fan of hoodies but have over the years invested more in blazers and coats. It wasn’t until recently that I realised I only had one hoodie. Just one! My mother bought me this hoodie back in 2011 – it’s a miracle it’s still in good condition. I had stopped wearing it in public though. I mean, that would be pushing it. I was sitting at home comfortably one day when I realised absolutely no effort was required to dress that hoodie. My one old hoodie made me realise I was depriving myself of quite a lot of warmth, comfort and convenience.

Nothing is as easy as dressing up a hoodie. You don’t have to think hard about what type of pants or shoes to wear the hoodie with. A pair of jeans or track bottoms and sneakers or chucks will pretty much do the trick. To me, what’s more important is the type of hoodie. I personally prefer one without a zipper at the front. It seems more well put together than one with a zipper. It also sits on your body better. If the winter cravings have started showing on your waist area, a hoodie could do a great job hiding this while also giving you a bit of style. I’ve been of late going for hoodies in neutral colours but with a bit of an elaborate print. Because a hoodie look is simple with likely jeans and chucks, the print on your hoodie will give the look a bit of flare.

It also makes it easier for you to slap on dark coloured pants because the hoodie is after all the star of the outfit. If you pick your hoodies carefully, you could actually wear them with pretty much any colour jeans or track bottoms. I know laundry days are fewer during winter that’s why it’s always important to wear a cotton T-shirt underneath your hoodie. Cotton is a great absorbent and yes, you do sweat during winter. Wearing sleeveless layers will force you to wash your hoodie sooner that you’d like because you’d have sweated directly onto it. This has always been a golden rule of mine. Wear your fragrance directly onto your skin and not on your clothes. Remember, you’re not going to wash your hoodie soon after the first wear and old perfume can stink.

You obviously don’t want to wear your hoodie with formal pants and dress shoes like I sometimes see some men do. Even a skirt and a hoodie. Seriously though! How can you strut the streets in a hoodie and formal bottoms like you’ve just walked straight out of Filly! Once you wear a hoodie, you’re saying your look is casual – why then pair it with formal shoes and pants? Unless it’s casual Friday, you can’t rock a hoodie to work. Well, as long as you’re not in jeans and sneakers.