#OOTD – A GUIDE ON HOW TO STYLE AN EASY DAY TIME LOOK

Ever wondered how to put together a casual, yet stylish outfit-of-the-day (ootd)? We’ll then you’re in luck, cause today’s post is a guide on how to effortlessly slay this look. Before I get into the post, can I just take a moment to brag on God for helping me take yet another leap of faith this year. I finally released the second item under my clothing brand This is BS (Busisiwe Shandu) – which is the statement tee worn in this shoot ‘BLACK PRIDE’. I’ve had this graphic now for over a year and after some trial and error with a few horrendous suppliers, I’m finally happy with the quality and service I’ve received from my current supplier. So now that that’s out-of-the-way, let’s get into today’s look.

Where are you going?

Knowing your destination is of utmost importance when putting a look together, it has the potential to make or break your look. This is the one thing that can stop you from being over/ under dressed and looking and feeling out-of-place. There’s nothing worse than finding yourself at a mall for three hours in sky scraper heels, it’s not only uncomfortable but it’s also extremely unnecessary. If you don’t really have a plan for the day, then dress the part, by that I don’t mean look directionless. I literally mean, wear a look that has the ability to transition from an errand run to a lunch time date. This is definitely a look that I’d wear on a busy day running errands at a mall or on a breakfast date with a friend downtown in Maboneng, or even a day out with the family. However, this is obviously not the type of outfit I’d like to find myself in at a high tea lunch at some posh restaurant. BUT, what’s great about this look is that it serves as a canvas for inspiration, where you can pull out some pieces and replace them with what works for you. For example, if a more lady like approach appeals to you, you could easily just swap out the track pants and ankle boots for an a-lined skirt and a pair of straw wedges or flat espadrilles. For a casual Friday at work, you could replace the track pants with a pair of khaki fitted chinos and leather brown loafers. And because this look has a lot of accessories, it gives you the freedom to exchange the neck scarf for a simple neck piece or the abstract face earrings for bold tassel earrings.

Build around one piece

This is one of the simplest ways to style a look, and it’s also advice I like to share with people who don’t like to experiment with the clothes they already possess. Building a look around one piece is a total game changer, it not only sets a great challenge, but it also helps to see the clothing in front of you in a different light. Sometimes you need to scrap the idea of having a full picture of what you want to wear and work with what you have. I knew that I wanted the hero item of this look to be the ‘Black Pride’ Tee, so from there I needed to decide what kind of look I wanted to portray using the t-shirt as my canvas. Thankfully a t-shirt can be an extremely versatile item. I could’ve chosen to pair it under a slip dress, with a skirt and jacket, layered over a shirt with a pair of denim jeans, or even attempt to give a formal look a toned down feel. I had so many options, but I decided to go with an effortless, yet edgy errand run look, so I knew I needed my add-on pieces to be comfortable but also look the part. Comfort is key with the type of look I had in mind, so I decided to pair it with a relaxed pair of track suit pants that resemble a military type feel. Just remember that whatever you choose to be the focal point of your look, must not be overshadowed by the additional items you choose to pair it with, they must merely enhance the hero item.

Balance out your accessories

With this look I might have gone a little overboard with my accessory choices and yes, of course I’m encouraging you to follow suit. The only rule you need to apply when pairing a bunch of accessories at one go is; cohesiveness. I made sure the look was cohesive by sticking to the colour scheme, if you’ll notice, my colour palette consists of white, black and green, therefore my add-on pieces needed to match and work well with the default colours at hand, hence the slight nuances of gold and small introduction of varying shades of green with the scarf.

Summer scarf- This is definitely one of the most undermined accessories in my opinion, and yet nothing says expensive like a silk number! It has a level of sophistication which instantaneously transforms an outfit from a regular one to a damn great look. What’s great is that it’s an inexpensive addition and you can find them at low-end stores. Remember that cheaper items can look high-end, and expensive pieces can look super cheap too! Play around with how to tie a neck scarf, cause there are quite a few ways to do it which will also result in a very different look. Also, can we just give it up for my mother-in-love cause both the scarf and the boots are from her, she has such great taste!

Fanny pack- This item right here is life for a mom, actually let me say for the kind of son I’m mothering. For most of you that don’t know my son, let me just say I need my arms and hands free at all times cause I never know what to expect with him. One minute I’ll be chasing after him through every aisle and the next I’m holding all the 50 million cars that he decided not to leave in the car when I asked him to. A fanny pack is a total investment for a mom on the go! I’m not a handbag person at all, I think I own a total of three or four, so this will now definitely replace all three or four of them. Seriously no shame in my game!

Sunglasses- If you know me you’ll know that I’m not an accessory buyer, in actual fact I actually suck at picking them out which is why I’ve been so reserved about my purchases. Last year I decided to work on my earring collection and this year it seems it might be sunglasses. I stumbled upon At Vanity Loves’s page on Instagram and completely fell in love with all her shades, but more than anything I was inspired by her hustle. From one sister trying to make it to another, I had to support her business. This retro frame just seemed to tie in so well with the fanny pack and more especially with the overall look. I’m totally obsessed with the gold detail around the edge of the frame!

Earrings- Gold and silver abstract face earrings are the current buzz on social media streets these days and I finally got myself a pair. Please be warned, these babies can go for crazy prices but obviously your girl B will hustle till she finds the most affordable pricing aka under R100. These earrings were an investment purchase, knowing that they would come in handy for other looks I need to style. When buying trendy items, make sure it’s not a once-off purchase.

Please let me know if you’re enjoying these style posts that consist of tips/ guide. I’d love to hear from you!

If you’d like to shop the Black Pride t-shirt from my clothing brand, you can click the shop tab on the website.

T-shirt is R200 and please do tag me if you do purchase one!

Photography by Mikayla Birkholtz