How-To Style a Multi-Coloured Top

I woke up a lot earlier than I usually do this morning but it's all good!

I am using that extra time to do some blog posts and then publish for days when I am rushing out of the house.

Speaking of rushing out of the house, the other day, I had to make some quick last-minute decisions because I changed my mind last minute as to what to wear.

I eventually reached out for this multi-coloured top and the next challenge was how to style it.

Naturally busy, one must be careful not to end up looking over the top.

After trying a couple of things, I went with this look- Multicoloured top with shorts, red hat and white shoes.

What I learnt while styling include:

Pick a Colour

Pick a colour or two from the item and work with that. In this case, I picked green and played around with that.

Be careful though not to throw on every single colour on the outfit.

Accessorise

Naturally with accessories you want to go quiet because the top itself is the statement.

If you do have a statement piece you absolutely must wear, stick to just that one piece.

When in doubt, go Neutral

(And remember, Pink is a neutral).

On the real though, reach out for our favourite neutrals to help complement your look perfectly.

I am super partial to white shoes these days but black and nude would work as well.

What's your own tip for styling a multi coloured tip?

#MondayMotivation In all your Building, Build Confidence!

My 'Quote of the Day' was from tennis player, Sloane Stephens and it is up on my Instagram now.
She basically says if you have confidence you can do anything and I have to concur!

I was thinking the other day of how sometimes even when it comes to fashion, confidence is key. I mean, how does Rihanna get away with her experimental sense of style? Because she is bad ass, and because she is confidence.

Confidence, where not innate, can be difficult to build. It requires a good blend of 'F what they say' and learning to listen. Confidence is being stubborn enough to not give up on what you believe, turning stumbling blocks into stepping stones and never staying down nor stagnant.

If like me, you struggle sometimes, there are some things that help
- Look good!
This is not about being shallow. If what you wear fits you well and you put your head up straight, you will automatically be more assured than if your clothes are loose fitting.

- Replace negative thoughts with the positive.
Instead of what you can't do or should not have done, think of the great things you do! When you have doubts, be realistic but think happy thoughts.

- Talk to yourself
Not on a bus o! Ehen.
When you can, just speak to yourself with your confidence confessions. A lot of battles are mental, give yourself that mental boost!

- Prepare
Research and read up on what you have to do so that when you do do it, it is with confidence.
If you are not well prepared say to present in your class or office, your confidence will go down the drains. When you feel 100 percent ready, you will be more confident already.

I hope this helps and do s.h.a.r.e what you do to boost your confidence with me in the comments.

#ShopTheLook Blue playsuit and Blue heels

I remember when i got this playsuit. It was on a Saturday and was one of those, 'I don't know what i am looking for but when i find it i will know" type buys. I had a budget and in the end, it came down to a white play suit and this one. Unfortunately, the smallest size they had the white in was medium.

Odd fact? The two times i wore the playsuit, my hair choices were all wrong.. Ever had that kind of bad hair-outfit day?

Blue Playsuit from Mango store, Ikeja City Mall, Ikeja Lagos.

Blue shoes by Red Kiss from Sekinah Shoe Gallery in Yaba, Lagos.

#FashionFriday 4 ways to Style it like a Soul Chic

Okay let’s be honest, it’s not easy being a soul chic here because we do more classic styles and everyone is afraid of breaking out of the norm.

But, if you find yourself drawn to a certain style, here’s a guide on how.

Earthy Colours
Soul sisters know that browns, leaf green, leaf yellow and other shades of earthy colours transform you immediately.
If you want to try the soul chic look, start with some earthy colours.

Skirts must flare
What is it with soul and skirts? Skirts are great for loads of looks including gypsy, corporate and even edgy but on a soul sister, a flared skirt makes you look instantly stylish.

Accessorise
When it comes to accessorising like a soul chic, more is more.
One bangle is never enough. Pile it on. One neck piece? Who are you? A minimalist?
Soul is about the layers, especially when it comes to accessories so go crazy.

Don’t neglect your hair
From headwraps to bows and buns, the soul chic’s style mantra is “I must, I must, I must not forget my hair”.

I hope these four tips help you.

Where all else fails, ask yourself, would Aramide, asa or India Arie wear this? Lol

We all have that one hair style...

We all have that one hair style that we fall back to because it is reliable. It is the style that is both easy to style and yet, is so flattering for our face that we go from 'everyday' beauty to va va voom in a blink!

For me, the style is a bun and its' variations.



When i have my hair in a bun, it is quite flattering for my face. I also like it because with some styles, i always have to remember to only take pictures from one angle but with the bun, i can do straight, left or right angles and not worry.

Recently, Modupe of Mogizzie did this up do for me and i loved it so much that i had to take a thousand pictures!

#OOTD Monochrome Magic for Day 1 of #YoutubeNG

When i got the first set of emails about the Youtube Creator sessions, i saw Day 1 was scheduled to be a long day- 9am to 7pm.
I didn't focus on what they would be teaching for that long, just on the most comfortable thing to wear for it.

Truth is, when it comes to clothing and styling, different things dictate what we wear. For me, i like to be comfortable, and if it is going to be a long day, i like to wear things that won't look great at 9am but be rumpled and dirty by 7pm.

Obviously white would be a no no, no? Not if it is a comfy white shirt that looks good crisp or slightly weathered. Watch on youtube

Top: Sisley
Shorts: Random Buy
Shoes: Tash

#StyleTo Life is a beach... Style It!

Heyyyy!

How is it going with you this lovely Wednesday afternoon?

I am just here, chilling with Wendy Williams and eating a doughnut.

Or five.

(Word i'm going to get fat!)

Lol.

So today i wanted to look at beach style.

I don't mind going to the beach. Infact, i think it is one of the best ways of healing your mind, catching up with friends and a book and just being serene.

And i am all about my serenity! Yes please!

Head on over to @SHOPTOSYN or my instagram page to get details

I think the beach is one of the easiest things to style for. Unless you are off for a video or photoshoot, fun fun and sand are key words and what's best for that?

My favourite thing to rock... SHORTS!

So grab your shorts or short skirt and remember to work with cotton and other light fabric because sand WILL get everywhere and wear you out!

Now they say black people don't swim but for the longest time i have known my friends and family to love the beach and safe waves. Emphasis on safe. No i will not be randomly surfing (even if it is on my bucket list), but i will stand by the water and let it come all the way to my ankles if i please.

And i usually please!

That is where the shorts come in. If you do plan to swim, whether in the sea or the pool (most beach houses have pools as well), throw on a bikini or suit under your clothes.

I tend to pair my shorts with teeshirts but chiffon dresses like the type in my pictures here are also a great addition. They cover up all that needs covering but still give room for movement. 

Shoes to wear give me a headache as most of my shoes are either flats that will 'eat' sand, or some not-water-friendly fabric. Luckily, my friend Preye gave me these sandals in my picture and i love them! Easy to walk in and safe for the beach.

To finish, throw on your best beach hat and protect your eyes with fabulous shades.

Simple

Chic

Good to go!

P.S, if you can get a handsome instagram husband to go with, even better!

I love this man! Lol

Mission: Take a million pictures before frolicking in the sand and messing things up!

#ThrowbackStyleThursday My Little Black Judging Dress

It is #ThrowbackThursday and a perfect opportunity for a style throwback.

I remember i had two versions of the dress in this picture. One was more of a peach colour but i loved the black one because it was simple but then has that pizzazz brought on by the glittery top half. If you know me and my mantra, you know that is what describes my style- simple but dramatic.

I took this picture on the red carpet for the talent show, 'God's Children Great Talent' where i was a regional judge. It was fun to see kids of between 3 and 18 dancing, drawing, singing and more.

Judging is never easy but i always try to be firm and fair.

#Style One Outfit Three Ways

For today's 'one three ways' feature, i am talking about my #unitedcoloursofbenetton top.

Getting a top that can be styled in different ways and with multiple colours is always a great idea. You can wear it for years and make it look different each time.

My first instinct with this top as shown in Picture 1 and 4, is to accessorise with contrasts to make it even brighter. The secret is to tone down in other areas.

AND, you may not be able to see it properly here, in picture 1, i actually wore the top the wrong way (on purpose o) with the front to the back.

As for the middle pictures, i went with navy blue / a shade of purple because while not as bright, they still give a good contrast.

As always, i love my hats or scarves.

I'm still going to try this with black. I think that will be pretty cool too.

#FashionFriday Style it like a Soul Chic

Okay let’s be honest, it’s not easy being a soul chick here because we do more classic styles and everyone is afraid of breaking out of the norm.

But, if you find yourself drawn to a certain style, here’s a guide on how.

Earthy Colours
Soul sisters know that browns, leaf green, leaf yellow and other shades of earthy colours transform you immediately.
If you want to try the soul chic look, start with some earthy colours.

Skirts must flare
What is it with soul and skirts? Skirts are great for loads of looks including gypsy, corporate and even edgy but on a soul sister, a flared skirt makes you look instantly stylish.

Accessorise
When it comes to accessorising like a soul chic, more is more.
One bangle is never enough. Pile it on. One neck piece? Who are you? A minimalist?
Soul is about the layers, especially when it comes to accessories so go crazy.

Don’t neglect your hair
From headwraps to bows and buns, the soul chic’s style mantra is “I must, I must, I must not forget my hair”.

I hope these four tips help you.

Where all else fails, ask yourself, would Aramide, asa or India Arie wear this? Lol

#TBDaily x My 2017 basic hair care routine

Hi everyone
So since i have had so many enquiries about my hair care routine, here goes.

First off, a word of caution- as with everything else, hair is individual and what works for one may not work for all. While i won't recommend playing too much with your hair as some things may cause irreparable damage, there is nothing wrong with trying things.

For me, i put my hair care down to three things;
- washing
- mosturising
- styling
- letting it breathe!

Okay so when it comes to washing ones hair, there is a big debate about how often you should tdo that. I am from the 'not too often' school of thought because i feel a little dirt and oil is good for it. If you do not have dandruff, it does not smell and you have not been rolling in the sand, your hair should be fine. I wash my hair regularly, but also right before i want it to lose its volume and be more manageable.
( p.s, i washed it with coke once. read about that here- )

I am a fan of baby products. If it is good enough for baby, it can't harm adults right? So i use baby oil on my hair. When my hair was shorter i used a lot of Virgin Hair Fertiliser because i liked the smell, feel and results. I actually will buy some more come Monday. It really helps. I believe in trying things once in a while but i always go back to my oils in whatever shape or brand.

While for a big red carpet event, i get help from hairstylists like Preye of MzPreye Makeovers, i experiment with new styles often. The length of your hair affects the styles you can rock with it and now that my hair is longer, i miss bangs. I do find that styles that involve pulling the hair show off its length a bit more so buns for example.
Quite often though, i will just let it breathe and be as too much manipulation can cause breakage and loss of hair.

And that is one thing i do for my hair and skin- let it breathe.

If i am not working, or won't be taking pictures, i keep my hair and skin easy breezy. Don't stress your hair, especially if you are older than 25. And if you are not yet 25 and reading this, then please do all you can with it now! Lol

#TBDaily x Harmattan Survival Pack- Tosyn Style!

Harmattan is here like the first day of the year!
lol.
It is though. The fog, the smell, the dry skin and more.

So how do i cope with harmattan?

- A lot of oil.
Dry skin and hair are a girl's worst enemy so i stay oiled up!

What Helps
- Orisade Body Butter with Shea Butter
- Baby Oil

- Staying hydrated
I drink it all. Water, Coffee, Tea. I have to admit i might take one or two things not recommended by the doctor as well but i find that staying well hydrated, especially with water, keeps you healthier and more active.

- Get out of the cold!
Some people claim you need to shower with cold water first thing in the morning Err... no thank you. I recommend warm water though not hot water because it makes it harder for your body to adjust to the cold. Also please wear natural warm clothing and have 'robb' handy!

-

#ShopTosyn x #OOTD Casual Chic Conference Style!

What do you do when you have work in the morning and a press conference right after?


You rock clothes that work!

My simple fit for it was this free shirt and a skirt. I cheated though and put a change of shoes in the car.

Shirt: Store bought
Skirt: Store bought
Shoes: Sekinah Gallery (Complimentary)
Make Up: IDazzle (Complimentary)

#ShopTosyn My First Week of Clothes from Vintage Closet

When I began 'A Week of', I wasn't sure anyone was paying attention. But some of you really got into it, even making suggestions.

While I still want to try sporty week and maybe a week of heels (*hides*), I was most challenged by a week of skirts (gosh). Guess what though? I looked into my wardrobe and found my jeans and let's just say, I had weaned myself off them.
Good thing or bad?

'A Week Of' had me challenging myself and dressing to a theme and the exercise was actually therapeutic and exciting. I would think of a theme, check my wardrobe then mix and match. I loved the skirts and the dresses and the clothes. I mean, who doesn't love clothes?

Thankfully, the cool kids at 'Vintage Closet' also noticed and they sent me some stuff from their collection. I follow them on twitter and know they have amazing stuff but to get some to test drive? Ma ma mia!
It was disney of vintage wear.

I started with this floral top that spoke to me first.

What does a tomboy do with a floral top? Mix it up! I threw flats and leggings for a modern day 'joker' feel.

Then I went on to this skirt next.

When I kept looking at the skirt, I just knew I had to try something I haven't tried since my first year in uni- clashing patterns.
I think it turned out quite well with the whole styling making me look like a prim and proper tutor.

The school theme continued with this burgundy pants but this time, I became the cool school girl. 

And then I wrapped it up with a very simple casual look on Day 4.

Check out @vintagecloset9ja on instagram

Tosyns Tips
1. If i could i would raid Temi Dollface's wardrobe because she does vintage right.
How is this a tip? Well get inspired! That's the tip

2. Belts, Hats, Gloves, Scarves, Fun
This is the week that lets you dare. Old is in, it never left

3. Mix and Clash
I'm surprised i immediately went for clashing patterns but it worked. The secret to clashing is pairing the patterns right or having a colour theme.

#ShopTosyn My First Week of Black and Blue

My themed week challenge continues. By the way, I set this challenge up for myself and have no clue when it will end.

I still have to try 'traditional outfits', skirts, sporty chic and more as a lot of you have suggested but this week felt random.

Till I noticed a pattern in my randomness- I was wearing a lot of blue and black.

Now blue and black are usually both dark colours, although there are different shades of blue like sky blue that are very bright. One usually doesn't reach for blue after black and vice versa, but as my week shows, it's actually a fun combination.

Check these out.

My Tips

Denim 

We tend to think of blue in terms of anything else but jeans but hey, guess the simplest way to style your black top? With a pair of jeans!!!

Shade

The shade of blue is important. A very dark shade turns the look into a black outfit while a light shade gives a little pop. Either works, but remember my favourite tip- accessorise right.

Colours

Since black is neutral, you really can go crazy with what else you rock this look with. I went comfortable and stuck mostly with brown but try pink and even white.

I hope these tips help.
Let me know what you think

#ShopTosyn My First Week of Cartoon Tops

That should read 'cartoon tees' actually. I mean, what do you do when some of your favourite tees have cartoon and other characters on them?

I'll tell you what! These are my tips

* Toughen up!
Rock your cartoon t shirt with leather, with boots, with anything that makes it feel modern and tough. You'll love it!

* Be cute
Look, cartoon tees are cute so why are trying to be anything else but? Cute hair-styles, a 'Hello Kitty' button or hair pin here and there or even a skirt will make you cute. Don't over-do it though!

* Throw a Jacket on
I just keep extolling the virtue of jackets because they really are the "superman" of outfits. A jacket will transform your cartoon tee into a nice everydayy look, paired with jeans and heels (for work) or flats (for casual stuff).

Cartoon tees tend to be casual though so remember that.

Here's what else I rocked

Rocked my Minnie Mouse tee when Geoffrey and Shola from Project Fame swung by!

#ShopTosyn My First Week of Jackets

Hey guys.

So i don't know you plan your week but me i like to plan ahead. I don't want to risk waiting till the morning to decide what to wear as that has caused me to be late in the past.

For some reason, last week i opened my wardrobe and just saw jackets. I decided on a week of jackets.

Do you know there are different kinds of jackets? There are Blazers,  Denim, Leather, Bomber, Bolero, Capes, etc.
I learnt that recently.

Jackets help you with layering, to give your simple outfit a little extra and to cover up.

My Tips:
* Rock your shorts! Yes! You can get away with shorts and jackets but mind the length to get it right!

* Invest in classic colours like black and dark blue, then go crazy with other colours as you go along.

* I also recommend at least one blazer to start with.

#ShopTosyn My first week of Monochrome

Hello,

So last week I dug up some jackets and rocked a fabulous jacket week.
This week I played with black, and white.

Honestly, I thought it would be fun but it was a bit of a struggle. For one, the way I had the looks in my head didn't play out, and I guess I'm so casual that colour is a saving grace for me.

Nevertheless I stuck with it and had fun.

Monday was a simple black dress in ode to the #LBD. Tuesday I went 'gangster' as a colleague put it while Wednesday saw me with some baggy pants. I wore a skirt on Thursday (shock!horror!) then flipped things with an #LWD (Little White Dress) today (Friday).

My Favourite Day: Friday surprisingly because the one I thought wouldn't work, popped!

Least Favourite Day: Wednesday. The proportions weren't great

What I Learnt: Monochrome looks great but get contrasts right and o, cheat lightly with a dash of colour. Eg, black, white and red.

My Tips

1. Start with one of the colours then layer/offset with the other

2. Break it up in fun way, eg, your hair and neck accessories

3. Use patterns like polka dots, stripes etc for a cute or fun take on the look and keep it plain if it's more for the office or something formal.

Got any votes for what I should try next?