The High Street Handbag Label Our Editor Wants to Keep a Secret

The High Street Handbag Label Our Editor Wants to Keep a Secret

The high street excels in so many areas, however we find that handbags can be harder to shop for on a budget. It can be difficult to find affordable leather handbags that don't look cheap and won't fall to pieces the minute you put a laptop in them. But there is one under-the-radar high street label which creates on-trend, expensive-looking handbags all for under N 16,000.

Singaporean label Charles and Keith is the Zara of the accessories world, and although you can order its bags online, it remains an insider name here in the UK. This is the place to go for minimal, pared-back designs, with a selection of tan, black and navy bucket bags, backpacks and top handle bags. As well as practical everyday totes, they also have nailed the micro-bag trend with velvet wristlets and sparkling circular box clutches.

 The store launched back in 1996, originally specialising in shoes, but then later expanded its accessories offering. The brand has however only recently upped its profile here in the UK, partly due to Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams carrying its £40 triangular pouch bag on the red carpet several times, and mega bloggers such as Tine Andrea loving the brand.

 

The #1 Trend to Invest in Now, According to Rihanna

The #1 Trend to Invest in Now, According to Rihanna

 

Whenever our style game is in need of a little sprucing, we know we can always count on our girl RiRi to have our backs. With her confident and bold style, Rihanna never fails to show us that, in the words of Iris Apfel, "More is more and less is a bore." This season, the fashion icon is making it very known (at least seven times over) that oversize puffer jackets are the trend of all trends to be seen in this winter.
As winter has now well and truly arrived, this jacket is an answer to your prayers, as you can finally feel warm while looking fashion-forward. Whether you're going down the street for a cup of coffee or want to add an unexpected element to a more formal look, puffer jackets ensure an eye-catching look no matter what. And it's a trend that is really catching on, as according to Lyst, the world's biggest online fashion site, searches for puffer coats increased by 280% in October, even though it wasn't especially cold for the time of year.
Since designers and fast-fashion retailers alike are churning out amazing versions of this trend, we decided to shop out our favourites across the board for you here.
Keep reading to see all the times Rihanna stepped out in a puffer jacket and shop the trend for yourself…

 

Kim Kardashian West Brings Back ’80s Hip-Hop Style

Kim Kardashian West Brings Back ’80s Hip-Hop Style

It’s been a moment since Kim Kardashian West has been spied in the airport, but earlier today in Los Angeles, the social media powerhouse jetted out of Los Angeles en route to Dubai to present a master class with makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic. Kardashian West has slowly been re-emerging on Twitter, Snapchat, and Instagram, where earlier today, she hinted at her Calabasas outfit, a look that channels a throwback hip-hop vibe with a coordinating Pony jacket.

Taking a page from Run-D.M.C. during the ’80s, Kardashian West slipped into a cozy tracksuit for her long-haul flight. A coordinating, plunging tee added a slick spin, while lace-up booties amped up the fashion quotient. However, what set Kardashian West’s look apart from her other frequent fliers were the details. Futuristic shield shades, a lip ring, and a subtle gold ring on her finger completed the look for a first-class finish.

 

HOLLYWOOD CELEBRITIES ROCKING AFRICAN “Ankara” PRINTS

It’s no news that the African print is globally accepted and is been use in so many creative ways by top Designers and Fashion House, And there is no limit to is usage and design even the top Hollywood diva has also caught the buzz and below is the many Hollywood stars that has embrace the African Ankara Prints Fabric.

Rihanna, Solange Knowles and Lydia hearts in Nigerian Deola Sagoe Collection

• Gwen Steffani: An icon in music and fashion, Gwen Steffani is known to make bold statements in African prints at events worldwide.

• Beyoncé Knowles-Carter

• Both Kanye West past and present girl Amber Rose and Kim kardarshian in Same fabric – African Wax Print

• Draya Michele’s Preme Houston African Printed Top and Short Set

• Thandie Newton in Jewel By Lisa

ANKARA TREND IN 2017: THE COLOURFUL FABRIC REVOLUTIONIZING INTERNATIONAL FASHION

From the streets of Lagos, to countless boardrooms, to catwalks all over the world, the Ankara fabric has proven to be so versatile that it is now recognized on the global fashion scene. A number of celebrities have been spotted in Ankara ensembles on red carpets globally. To many, the Ankara fabric has become a wardrobe staple already.

The fabric is used to make a growing number of fashion items; bags, shoes, dresses, jewellery and countless accessories. This development has led to a change in the general perception of the Ankara fabric worldwide. According the article Fashion Reborn: Blends of African outfits from Ankara, by fibre2fashion “Destiny of the ‘once before’ cheap Ankara fabrics, have undergone a magical transformation. Elegant creativity of the designers has made it a preferred choice of the rich and celebrities.” The African print fabric has metamorphosed from cultural attire to a glamorous wardrobe must-have and right now the spotlight is on Africa.

This Ankara trend has impacted the West African economy in a lot of ways and thus, the Nigerian economy. In the mid- 1980s, there were around 180 functional textile mills in Nigeria. The mills employed approximately a million people, this accounted for more than 60 percent of the textile industry capacity in West Africa, empowering millions of households across all geopolitical zones of Nigeria. This however changed shortly as the sector crashed into an industrial abyss. During this period, the number of textile companies dropped from about 180 to almost zero. This was revealed by an article on Nigeria’s textile economy titled: Nigeria’s Textile Industry on a Rebound?.

However, in recent times, the sector has rebounded. The number of functioning textile companies has risen once more to 25. While the industry may not be at its former place of glory, a steady incline can be noted in the growth of the industry which is largely due to the current global Ankara trend.

The rise in the demand of the fabric which was not too long ago considered to be a fabric for the poor or restricted to cultural festivities due to its brightly coloured patterns and relative low cost, has led to a corresponding rise in the production of the material. Also, aside from the lower priced brands, a lot more textile factories have started producing the Ankara fabric in more appealing and sophisticated designs.

Furthermore, due to the ready availability of Ankara in the local market, it has become the preferred choice of fabric when making custom designed outfits. What was once considered to be a local market has grown exponentially to meet the increasing demands for the fabric worldwide. African designers and their Ankara designs are now sought out in all the echelons of the global society. The Ankara fashion industry has proven to be a veritable goldmine in these ways and many more.

A lot of Ankara fashion shows spring up daily all over the global fashion scene. One of the more noteworthy ones is the annual Ankara Festival hosted yearly in Los Angeles, California. The festival or AFLA as it is commonly known was created in 2010 with the goal of increasing the visibility of African Culture through fashion, Arts, music, dance, and food. The festival aims to showcase Modern African Designs in African Print (Ankara), established African and African inspired designers, young up and coming designers, providing them a venue to showcase their abilities, and develop their entrepreneurial ambition in the international fashion arena. Another notable development is the Ankara Invasion. This has been adopted as the collective name for the current global Ankara trend. Different items fashioned out of the Ankara fabric are now spotted in places where it was once viewed as unsuitable.

As Jasper Dorey Chukwuebuka -a Nigerian fashion designer- said, “For a long time, there was a sense that this was limited to Africa but now it has become global. Combined with an awareness of social responsibility, it makes for a powerful statement.” Countless international designers have launched various new designs revolving around the Ankara fabric. Marc Jacobs, Givenchy, Eley Kishimoto, Jean Paul Gaultier, Diane Von Furstenberg, Gwen Stefani, Dries van Noten, Kenzo and Paul Smith among others have included items fashioned out of Ankara fabric in their recent collections.

A lot of renowned celebrities have also taken to this fashion trend. Beyoncé Knowles, Rihanna, Fergie and Kim Kardashian to name a few, have adopted the Ankara fabric and have been spotted in daring designs using one or more fabrics. The rise on the trend isn’t restricted to celebrities alone. A lot of foreigners who have seen the designs at work, on TV or even at school have joined the movement. It is not uncommon to find people wearing the fabric who may not even know the traditional name. The fabric is commonly referred to in these circles as “African Print”.

The overnight explosion of the use of Ankara fabric on the global fashion scene is perhaps one of the most notable fashion trends to have emerged from Africa over the last couple of years. The Ankara fabric is one that is very versatile and constantly evolving to meet today’s fashion fads. Hence, one may go as far as saying that the fabric and the trend have come to stay on the global fashion market.

How To Match A Watch With Your Outfit | 5 Tips On Matching Watches With Clothes

How To Match A Watch With Your Outfit | 5 Tips On Matching Watches With Clothes

Rules to match your watch with your outfit?
Sounds a little too much?
Imagine a man in a tuxedo at a black-tie event.
He has poise, style and a posture that grabs everyone’s attention.
He casually turns his wrist to check the time… a Casio calculator wristwatch with a rubber strap…
FAIL!!
This is the power of a wristwatch, gentlemen – it can either break or build an outfit!
Since men wear limited jewelry, a watch is an expression of their personality. The best wristwatches are simple, versatile, sophisticated and classic.
Most men prefer to own more than one watch so they can wear the appropriate timepiece to complement their outfit.
The style of watch you choose to wear needs to match the formality of your outfit.
What are the 5 watch-matching rules that are timeless and relevant in any situation?

#1 – Match The Formality Of Your Watch With The Formality Of Your Outfit

Digital or analog watches?
Dress or casual?
What’s the difference?
Analog watches have a face with hour and minute hands and either markers or numbers that display a 12-hour day. These watches are considered classic and more formal, making them suitable for business, formal events or a date.
Digital watches have a LCD display or LED face that shows time in numeric form. These watches are considered casual.

Watch Categories

The recent developments in wearable technology has allowed watchmakers to make nifty gadgets that are far advanced than simple timepieces. You can make calls, track your GPS co-ordinates and check your calendar through gadget watches.
Leaving exclusive gadget watches out of the equation, there are five categories of watches that most men own…

• Dress Watches – A watch with a plain white face and no complications and a black leather band is as formal as it gets. The most formal dress watch are the ones that only show hours, minutes, seconds and maybe the date. Complications in dress watches are simpler and not related to sport.
• Diver’s watches – Also referred to as a diving watch, these were originally worn as work/tool watches. Designed for underwater diving, these watches feature a minimum water resistance up to 100 meters.
  Don’t be inspired by James Bond movies and wear a divers watch with a suit. That’s the equivalent of wearing a suit with work boots.
• Chrono / Sports Watches – Not a true dress watch, but can be quite dressy especially in the higher brands. Sports watches are durable, sleek and made from high-quality plastic composites. Expect compasses, odometers, altimeters, GPS technology, pulse monitors, and a range of other functions for the guy leading an active lifestyle.
• Pilot or flyer watches – Featuring a simple dial design and a rather large (over 50mm) diameter, these watches were made to be accurate and easy to read. Originally worn over the pilot’s jacket – they were made with a large crown that could be operated while wearing gloves.
• Field Watches – During World War I, the hacking character of a field watch allowed infantrymen to stop the seconds hand on their timepieces in order to synchronize their watches. Field watches are versatile timepieces that are tough enough for active duty. The simple design improves legibility of the numerals. Typically, these watches are moderately sized, with a white or green numerals against a black dial and work on a hand winding mechanism.
  
  
  

  Levels Of Formality

  Watches are made for a specific purpose. Avoid common fashion blunders by matching your watch style with the formality of the occasion.
  
• Black tie / White Tie – For formal events, simplicity is key. Historically – it would be considered rude if you were to refer to your watch at such an event. A simple dress watch in a classic style and black leather band will mute any objections from conservative observers.
• Business dress – For business – go with a simple and classic styled gold or silver watch with a thin dial with limited or no complications. A dark conservative suit is best paired with a classic dress watch or a diver watch with a leather strap.
• Business Casual – A light colored suit with no necktie is best complimented with a high-end chrono, a pilot or even a smart field watch.
• Casual – If a watch has a metal band, it is considered less formal. A metal band is generally suitable for casual wear while a leather band is suitable for any purpose. Any of the watch categories can be worn with a jeans, chambray shirt and dress boots combination. Digital watches should only be worn with casual clothes or workout attire.
• Sports – For activities that involve unpredictable physical movements, such as sports, a dress watch would be inappropriate. The strap, case and watch dial are protected with materials that allow you to focus on the activity – no need to worry about your watch snapping off your wrist or the glass shattering mid-game.

  #2 Leather Complements Leather

  The material and color of your shoes is a suitable reference for the choice of watchband. You should start by matching your belts and shoes.
  A black watchband should be worn with black shoes and belt; a brown band with brown belt and shoes. A silver or gold band suits either color.
  
  
  Interchangeable bands are an excellent option for men who own shoes in different colors. The watchbands don’t have to be the exact same color as your shoes, but a similar tone (light vs medium vs dark).
• Don’t wear a black band watch with a brown tone shoe. Or a brown band with black shoes.
• A watch with a rubber band is strictly for casual or sporting occasions.
• A chronometer is made for sport and styled for sport. It should generally be worn for sport.
• Plastic bands are used for more casual digital watches.
• In analog timepieces, the watchband is either made of leather or the same kind of metal used on the case.
• Rough, worn-in leather straps work better with jeans. Such a watch would not be appropriate at a fine-dining event.
• A good leather strap is the classic choice, but gold or silver bands are appropriate when they complement the rest of your outfit.
  

  #3 Metal Complements Metal

  

  The metal case of the watch (the frame around the face) should complement the metal accents of your other accessories. The case can be square, rectangular, round, and polygonal. The finish on the case can be matte, shiny, matte, patterned, or inlaid with crystals or other jewels.
  The metals used to make the case include steel, gold, silver, platinum and titanium.
  A rose gold watch can be worn with a gold belt buckle – it’s close enough.
  What if the metal casing on the watch is blacked out? Then you can go with either gold or silver.
  You want to coordinate the metal color with your watch and ring, so that all your accessories, for example, are gold.
  The other accessories you will need to pay attention to include cuff links, shoe buckles, buckles on the side adjusters of trousers or on the back of your waistcoats and any other piece of jewelry on your outfit.
  A gold-plated watch is best-suited to clothes and shoes in earthy tones, while silver goes with grey, blue and black.
  

  #4 Heirloom Watches Bend The Rules

  

  Heirloom pieces represent a legacy.
  They are usually worn as a good-luck charm or as a memory of original owner. An heirloom watch is an item that cannot be subjected to the rules of matching watches with clothes.
  For a simple reason – they are great conversation pieces and they make you memorable. Heirlooms allow you to bend and even violate the rules mentioned here.
  An heirloom watch is not worn based on the latest trends or fashions, it is a reminder of family history and culture.
  Men who fought in World War I passed on their wristwatches to their sons and grandsons as a memory of the sacrifices made by that generation. Though the function of these watches is not as a timekeeper these heirlooms are meant to be cherished and passed on through the generations.
  
  

  #5 When In Doubt Match Your Watch To Your Shoes

  Black is generally dressier, but that doesn’t make it the default right choice. Sometimes brown shoes are just a better choice. Interchangeable leather bands are useful here – one in brown and one in black for each watch. Or another color for more variety.
  
• Black leather is more formal than brown. A black watchband is more suited for formal events.
• Slip-on tassel loafers are considered business casual.
• Not able to decide between a brown or black leather band? Equate the dressiness to the brown shoe versus black shoe category.
• Silver watches match best with shoes in black, gray, silver, and blue shades. Gold watches go with browns, beiges, tans, and other earth tones.
• Wearing Oxford balmoral black shoes with a dark suit? Go with a formal watch.

For the best effect, pick a watch according to your size as well. Watches should be proportionate to your body. Thin men can work slim watches, while bigger guys can carry watches that have boxier and robust watch faces.
Use these tips to ensure a harmony between your clothes and your watch.
Not in the habit of wearing a watch? Click here to read my article – 7 Reasons To Start Wearing A Watch.

What watch company do I recommend if you’re looking for an affordable classic & stylish watch?

Check out The Fifth Watches – a great Australian company making beautiful classically styled watches that are EASY to match thanks to their interchangeable bands!

I  have received numerous compliments when I wear them – they are well made and value priced!  
Click here to check out their classic watch designs and join their VIP early access list which is the ONLY way to get access to these watches.
Their watches are only available for purchase from the 5th to the 10th of the month and this month they have a NEW set of designs plus one limited edition timepiece inspired by the city of Melbourne, Australia. 
They routinely sell out – some styles in a matter of hours!  So Click here to get on the VIP email list for FREE.