I Found Love in…Monochrome

ALL PHOTOS TAKEN BY LEILA #SHOTBYLEILS

So I’m that girl that loves to keep her closet colour coordinated at all times and so my eyes immediately light up when I see the opportunity to put an outfit together that shows love to one specific colour/tone. There’s just something about a monochromatic outfit. The same colour only in varying shades? They just go together - real bad. 

As an earth tone, brown is considered to symbolise ‘steadfastness, simplicity and dependability.’ And so with that sense of simplicity in mind, I decided to delve deep into my love for nostalgia and return back to a part of London I have always enjoyed exploring. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s none other than Camden Town. 

Camden is a part of London that means a lot to me because it reminds me of when I first moved here and was introduced to the art of thrifting. Living on a student budget meant we had to get creative and Camden was always the place where we were encouraged to do so. Now I know as an outsider, this may sound naive but at the time I genuinely felt like all the cool kids lived in Camden because it just seemed so vibrant and alive - filled with an eclectic mix of people from various walks of life. And though it’s definitely changed over the years, there is still something so special about it for me.

I’m so happy I got the chance to get re-acquainted and to do so behind the lens of such an incredibly talented photographer, Leila. First and foremost lemme give a special shout-out to my angel of a friend, Camilla who connected us! Immediately I got the privilege of seeing her portfolio, I knew it would be a match made in heaven. Leila’s work is beautifully timeless with every single shot telling a unique story. I had such a great time working with her and cannot wait till the next time…👀 

Now I feel it’s only right I give individual shout-outs to various parts of this ‘fit: 

The Puffer

Jacket: Zara

Are you really a Londoner if you don’t own a puffer jacket? It’s become synonymous with the city and for good reason - it’s durable yet lightweight and is the simplest thing to throw on on a day where you really don’t want to overthink it. Premium outerwear imo. I chose to wear this brown one I got from Zara and loved how it helped to elevate my outfit while still keeping things chill and simple. 

The Dress

Dress: Boohoo

So it’s my second time wearing this dress and it’s simply the gift that keeps on giving. It’s made of such comfortable fabric that stretches beautifully while the detailing on it gives an illusion of it being a knitted/woollen dress. It’s cool like that. I love the length as well and think I’ve become a fan of the knitted(-ish) maxi - especially during this winter season (that I hope ends soon) as it’s just so much easier to throw on one thing. Sometimes, keep it simple.  

The Pop Of Colour

Bag: Charles & Keith

Now I know this outfit is all about the brown, earthy tones but omo, I couldn’t resist offsetting it with a lil pop of colour through this gorgeous Charles & Keith bag that was a gift from my amazing friend, Kesina. I love that it’s a mini-bag because it’s so perfect for days where I’m not trying to do too much in terms of what I carry. 

The Earrings

Earrings: Vinted

I love a good gold hoop, especially when there’s a twist on the classic style. I was so excited to wear this because I bought it from my co-worker who has such a quirky collection of earrings and candles on her vinted shop. She’s also a working mum and I found her hustle so inspiring; I also LOVED these earrings and just had to patronise her. So if you see me wearing these multiple times in future posts, remember their cute origin story, kay?

The Sneakers

I just love a good platform shoe and after getting to a point where my 8-year old pair of converse literally had holes in them (I meaaan..if it’s not broke, don’t fix it), it was high time I upgraded. I’m really happy with that decision because I wear these all.the.time. If it looks like it just might go well with an outfit, I’m wearing them! They’re comfortable, chic and oh-so-classic. We love a good Chuck Taylor. 

Shoes: Converse

All in all, I love how this ‘fit came together - there was something so effortless about it all that as a bonafide planner, made me happy to experience. I kept it simple and as a result didn’t feel the need to overstyle it, which truthfully I’ve had my fair share of doing in the past but forward ever!  

S I C K L E S E C R E T S

[ pictured: myself and the incomparable, Leila ]

So it was a cloudy day with a few fleeting moments of sunshine here and there. That didn’t make a huge difference sha because last last, it was still cold. 

And so, I didn’t take any chances and made sure I was well-fortified underneath my dress by wearing my leg thermals, a long-sleeved thermal, and a sleeveless thermal vest. 

On top of that, my jacket kept me quite warm and so I’d say this was a successful day in the intentional dressing department.