2-in-1

Black Formal Zip Front Backpack

Just look at this bag! (excuse the picture quality, using my iPhone) I'm so in love with it. Literally decided to walk into New Look by chance a few days ago, not even looking for anything and within seconds my eyes were fixated on this beauty. I told myself I wouldn't buy another black bag but I just couldn't resist it. I just love how it looks like a handbag but on the flip-side its actually a backpack, and at only £19.99 it's a bargain. The backpack comes in white and green also, check out the website and Get Yours Here!

Mpho x

Music Monday #3

If you didn't know about him before, you sure do now...

Every New Years we are all guilty of saying "this year is my year," and we make resolutions and goals that we forget all about the next day. Not Pharrell Williams! 2013 was undoubtedly the singer/rappers best year of his career. The success of French duo Datf Punk's album where the "immortal" star provided vocals for various tracks including "Get Lucky," and his No.1 hit "Happy" thrusted him into the spotlight.

2014 is set to be an even better year. Pharrell's new album "GIRL" has finally hit the shelves, his famous Grammy's hat had the world in awe with some people (including myself) laughing and branding it ridiculous, but the joke is on us because Pharrell is running all the way to the bank after fast-food chain, Arby's bought the iconic Vivienne Westwood creation on eBay for a whopping £26,444). And if that wasn't enough, Williams has now teamed up with fashion designer Rei Kawakubo's Comme des Garçons Parfums to create his own custom unisex scent, named GIRL. 


G I R L is the second studio album by Pharrell and comes eight years after his 2006 debut album, In My Mind (who still remembers 'That Girl"?. The album has Funk, Neo-Soul and Pop references and catchy, playful beats. Guest features including Justin Timberlake, Kelly Osbourne, Timbaland, Miley Cyrus, Daft Punk, Jojo, Alicia Keys, Tori Kelly and Leah LaBelle. This album is definitely a "feel good album" and with the sun finally coming out to play it's the perfect combination. However, with that being said, I don't think it will be everyone's cup of tea. Comment and tell me what you think :)

The latest single from the album is "Marilyn Monroe" listen below:

Have you had the chance to listen to any of the albums i've talked about so far? What do you think? 

R. Kelly - Black Panties | Rick Ross - Mastermind | PartNextDoor - PARTYNEXTDOOR

Mpho x 

On the Come UP: Kenke Danmole

With the fashion week saga well and truly behind us, I managed to snatch ELLE’s latest intern away from the glamorous offices a stone throw into the bustling streets of the popular entertainment district, Soho.

We’ve arranged to meet at a quiet bar, Zebrano. I wonder aimlessly about pre-ordering drinks; however, the idea is pushed to the back of my head by the questions I’m about to bombard her with. “Why are you even nervous” my subconscious mind confronts me. It’s a few short minutes before Kenke joins me at the table, and it’s instantly clear that no matter where she works or who she brushes shoulders with, she’s one of the most humble people I’ve ever met! She has her feet planted firmly on the ground.

Kenke Danmole is a 23 year old, headstrong girl born and bred on the streets of Hackney. Sipping away on our drinks, the ice is long broken, as she lets me in on what her name means. “God looks after me” she says with a smile, “It’s Nigerian. Kenkey is a staple dish from Ghana served with stew, so it’s a very peculiar name. Even Nigerians will sometimes be perplexed with my name, but it’s short for Olukenke and it does mean God looks after me.”

Kenke laughs as she reminisces about her childhood. She remembers her mischievous ways that set her apart from her older siblings. And recalls the time her mother uprooted the whole family to Milton Keynes at the age of 15. Kenke spent a few years in what she refers to as “keeping myself to myself,” which a few people often mistook for arrogance. However, she stresses that wasn’t the case at all.

From an early age, Kenke has always dreamed big. At just 10 years old her “cylinders with flicks at the bottom” were the envy of the aspiring fashion designer’s friends. When it came to her future she had no qualms about finding her place in the world; she has always had a clear vision of what she wants to get out of life. Kenke is a firm believer in helping others. Whilst in Brunel University she saw an opportunity and brought together a group of motivated volunteers to create an active committee called Fashion Society. “There were so many people that I spoke to in and around University that were interested in fashion, so I created an environment where we could get together and develop things. We put together photo-shoots, workshops and fashion shows. It was very homegrown,” she laughs. “But it created such a buzz on campus we even raised money for AIDS awareness week.”

It has only been four months, and already Kenke has forged a reputation as a go-getter and a force to be reckoned with in the offices at ELLE. She is not your typical tea-fetching intern, nor does she file paperwork, she is part of a team working tirelessly to give us a “fly-on-the-wall” insight, granting us privileged access to the day-to-day workings of the fashion team, new-in products to buy now and looks straight from the catwalk into their rails.

“It’s crazy,” she says. “We have samples coming in, we have things going out. No one has a specific role; everyone knits into one team to make everything flow better. Everyone’s presence is crucial. If the cupboard is out of control, then it will potentially have a domino effect on everything else, but I just love being there and having so much responsibility this soon.”

Talk soon changes to Kenke’s everyday life. With such a hectic new job I can’t help but wonder what she gets up to outside of ELLE Magazine. My suspicions are confirmed. “It’s really sad,” she says with a huge smile on her face. “I’m coming to terms with the fact that I need to start living. So spending time with my family and friends is something I really cherish right now.” It might seem like it’s all “work and no play” for the average person, but for a self-proclaimed extrovert like herself, ELLE surely is the perfect place to be to feed her gregarious personality. The girl who kept to herself as a teenager is dead and buried.

One thing is for sure, God is an essential part of her life, and always has been. Talking about the recent ELLE Style Awards, one of the most glamorous nights on the calendar, she recalls bumping into the likes of Pharrell Williams and Rita Ora. “I’m not a fanatic sort of person, I guess you can say that I am not fazed by celebrities. I just can’t, nope! We are both human beings. I mean, I may appreciate what you do, for example someone influential in some way, but I can’t knowingly put myself below someone. God is above all.”

She has stayed grounded through her strong Christian faith and humbly gives God all the credit for what she has achieved so far. “Being a God-fearing woman is the driving force behind who I am today. It’s constantly my attitude check, and one of my main reasons behind making sure I think about others in a sticky situation. It also contributes to me being self-assured and confident in any environment, both professional and personal. God looks after me.”

This rising star has even bigger plans for her bright future. In five years time she hopes to own her own business as a Creative Consultant, just like the good old days in Brunel. “I want to carry on what I’ve been doing from day one, helping others around me and giving them the same platform to be creative outside of school curriculum that a charity called Creative Access specialising in finding internships in the creative industry for talented young people from under-represented black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds did for me.” With an attitude like that, there is no denying we will be seeing more of Kenke in the near future.

Nearly an hour has whizzed by, and Kenke looking down on her watch reminds me that her lunch is over, and that she has to dash back to her “crazy world.”

 Words by: Mpho Sishuta 

Music Monday #2

Imagine blending Drake, The Weeknd, and Miguel into one person. What would you get? Well… meet  Jahron Anthony Brathwaite, better known under the stage name PartyNextDoor. The Canadian singer  is living the ultimate dream, he is currently signed to Drake's OVO Sound record label. 

A friend of mine introduced the 20 year old to me early last year, and I was impressed. There is no denying who has inspired the young singer musically, his influences are obvious, however, most importantly he doesn't come across as an imitator. His voice has such an uncanny sound to Drake's that I only realised quite recently that he even performed background vocals on "Own It' and "Come Thru" from Drake's third studio album 'Nothing Was the Same'. 

The emerging R&B vocalist is definitely one to watch. He's definitely in the right hands with Drake as his mentor. I'm one of those people that take their time listening to an album and making my mind up about it, but I can honestly say I can listen to this EP from start to finish. The beats are on point and his lyrical content and delivery reminds me of the Weeknd who I equally love I would describe the EP as "fresh" with intricate lyrics that make you think, it's very sexy too. Over the weekend, I was driving around with my girl, music blasting out the windows, felt like it was summer, that's the vibe this EP gives you.  He needs more publicity, I really see him going far. His self-titled EP has been described as EDM (Electronic Dance Music and also contains elements of R&B fusion. Check out one of my favourite tracks from the EP below (not official video): 

Mpho x 

Better Late Than Never..

That's how the saying goes. The outfits below are from last week, however due to such a busy schedule *sarcasm* I haven't had time until today. Surprisingly, the sun has been coming out to play this past week or so, and I have also noticed that it's getting darker much later in the evenings which is a good sign. I could've sworn I read in a newspaper that snow was on it's way, but after the horrific floods that have ravaged thousands of homes across the country, I couldn't be happier that the climates had a change of heart.

Anyway, last thursday, the weather was alright so I took advantage of it. Teamed my striped high-neck cropped top with a pair of leggings, leather boots and jacket and tied a plaid shirt around my waist. I wasn't the only one with that idea it seems as Libby and another friend of mine and fellow blogger Vanessa wore plaid shirts around the waist too haha. Great minds think alike eh?

Leather Jacket - TopShop 

Leather Cut-Out Boots - TopShop 

Basic Leggings - H&M

Striped Top - Primark 

Leather Bag - Miss Selfridge 

Red Plaid Shirt - H&M 

The following day (friday) I had the wonderful opportunity to interview a young lady by the name of Kenke Danmole, who's currently interning at Elle Magazine. I will post the interview up in a few days. Once again, the weather wasn't too bad, so I decided to wear my latest purchase, this gorgeous trench coat. I fell in love with it instantly and to make things even better it was only £24.99 and of course 25% cheaper for me with my staff discount (makes it so hard not to spend in there :( ). I just love how light the matieral is. I'm sick and tired of wearing big, heavy jackets. I thought about wearing some heeled boots, but opted to wear my Vans instead as I was planning on galavanting around London, and as you all know by now I'm sure, I am all about comfort.

Trench Coat - H&M 

Black Jumpsuit - H&M

Chunky Chain Bracelet - H&M

White Crop Top - TopShop 

Large Clutch - Accessorize 

Studded Vans - Office 

Faux Fur Scarf - Charity Shop

Mpho x 

Making A Statement

Since the Swingin' 60s, the T-shirt has long been a means of getting something off your chest, and telling the world what we cared about. The Groovy 70s saw shock tactics triumph, with the likes of Vivienne Westwood making political and controversial t-shirts such as the most popular design which featured a swastika and an inverted crucifix under the word 'Destroy". Then came Katherine Hamnett in the 80s, an English fashion designer who's best known for her oversized t-shirts with large block letter slogans. Her designs were adopted by pop bands, and her t-shits could be seen everywhere from music videos to the streets. At one point, Hamnett was photographed shaking hands with then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, dressed in her own t-shirt with the slogan "58% DON'T WANT PERSHING", a reference to polls showing public opposition in the United Kingdom against the basing of Pershing missiles in the country. 

Hamnetts designs were copied all over, which brings me to a man by the name of Henry Holland (shop here). Holland gained attention with his bold, 1980s-inspired t-shirts that displayed catchphrases such as  "Flick yer bean for Agyness Deyn" and were modelled by his model friends and fellow designers. 

His tongue-in-cheek t-shirts were a massive hit and we have since saw high-street giants such as Topshop and River Island coming out with there copy-cat editions, re-introducing the slogan t-shirt to the mainstream fashion scene. Recently, they have become celebrities weapon of choice in order to make a statement too, making their feelings clear. 

I personally love slogan t-shirts. Why? Well simply because they are the best way to get something off your chest without even saying a word. It's a way of expressing your viewpoint. Slogans work on so many different levels, they're almost subliminal too. They are a great way to convey your thoughts, opinions and even your personality to the world. And most importantly, they make any outfit FUN, 'coz that's what fashion is all about right?

Mpho x

Music Monday

A friend of mine, Libby from http://libbyroselondon.blogspot.co.uk has started this thing on her blog called 'Music Monday', where she posts new music, or song she is currently loving at the moment (on mondays, obviously) and I thought it was such a great idea, so great that I've stolen it!

First up is Rick Ross *grunts* Today was the release of his sixth studio album 'Mastermind' which features the likes of Jeezy, The Weeknd, Kanye West, Big Sean, Meek Mill, Lil Wayne, French Montana, Diddy, and Jay-Z (to name a few). I'm yet to listen to the album, however, given the big names he's pulled out the bag, I'm pretty sure there will be a few club bangers.

The first single to come out from the album is 'The Devil Is A Lie' which features Jay-Z. He explained that song saying, "We’re pushing the envelope once again and it’s just one of those records I can’t wait to hit the streets. We went in another direction but it’s just one of those records that’s gonna speak for itself and everybody’s gonna have their opinion of it, but it’s most definitely what the streets need."

Last but certainly not least is none other than the man himself… R.Kelly. Where do I even start? 'Black Panties' is the twelfth studio album by the R&B singer, 12 ALBUMS!!! In my opinion, R.Kelly is undeniably one of the best male vocalists of our time. This man can sing anything from Pop to Gospel. And he has stood the test of time. 

Now, when I saw what R.Kelly was wearing for his performance for last year's BET Awards (spikes galore) I was like "oh no, he's going through a mid-life crisis, blah blah" and to be honest I was reluctant to even listen to the album. Then came the song with Lady Gaga which saw the two dancing all over each other, I was so confused as to how that collaboration even came about, but I must say the song grew on me. Black Panties is not R.Kelly's best album, but I am loving it nonetheless.

Don't expect to hear songs like "I believe I Can Fly", "I Wish" or "U Saved Me"… Oh no, "Kells" has gone back to his 'Bump N' Grind' roots. Guest features include Ludacris, 2 Chainz, kelly Rowland, Young Jeezy, Future, Migos and Juicy J which give the album a contemporary sound. The cover has the classic 'parental advisory' logo and believe me when no person under the age of 18 should be listening to it. It's basically all about sex and the woman's lower region. I will never look at an Oreo in the same way again after listening to 'Cookies'.

My other favourites on the album include, "Legs Shakin'", "You Deserve Better", "My Story", "All The Way" and "Every Position". (Basically the whole album) And for all of you haters out there, R.Kelly has something for you in "Shut Up". He shuts down critics and ex-friends who declared his career dead.