Why A Hoodie Doesn't Have To Be Boring

I absolutely LOVE a good statement piece in an outfit. Something that just stands out and takes the stage. I makes me feel powerful, strong and independent - like I've really got something to show off...something unique. I never used to be one to show off an outfit because I never really felt good in the clothes I wore; mostly because I was dressing for other people rather than for myself. Now, I take so much pleasure in wearing pieces that stand out and make me feel confident. They don't even need to be flattering! As long as I feel comfortable I'm happy.

Over the past few years my style has consistently changed, moving with the times and maturing the older I got. Stepping out of your style comfort zone can be a tricky process for anyone. Taking the reins and 'just doing you' is MUCH easier said than done, but it's a must if you're ever going to feel comfortable in the style you wear. I think that I've finally come to a point in my life where I know what 'my' style is, and I'm enjoying every moment of it.

Now, I'm the kind of person who will happily walk around in a hoodie and a pair of jeans/leggings forever. I find the combination so easy and comfy and it's just an timeless pairing, one that I'll probably stick to forever because you can't really go wrong with a casual outfit like that. It's convenient, it's simple and you really don't have to think too much about it - but lets be honest, the usual combo can get a little bit old sometimes. Why not switch it up with a completely different style of hoodie?

I found this little number on ASOS in the mens section (spoiler, all the best hoodies are in the mens section) and I have been wearing it ever since. In fact, I am sat wearing this exact hoodie as I type this in front of the fire and the telly watching Nigella Lawson. It's the perfect lazy day hoodie, the perfect statement piece and it's one of the comfiest hoodie's I've ever worn! You can buy this jumper here. Go on, treat yourself, it's nearly Christmas...

All photography by Nicole Shola.

Dressing For Herself

I feel like a lot of emphasis is put on what a woman wears. Whether that be in the media or the every day life of a woman of the public, what a woman wears seems to have a huge effect on what society thinks of her. Why? I have no idea. Growing up I've felt a lot of pressure to look a certain way, behave a certain way and to dress a certain way. Recently my reaction to all of this has been...fuck it.

 

Whoever you are, whatever size you are, whatever skin colour you have, whatever gender you identify as - don't allow society to tell you what you can and can't wear. Wear what makes YOU feel comfortable and what makes you happy. Don't restrict yourself for the sake of other people feeling more 'comfortable'. I've spent years of my life conforming to things that are supposedly more 'flattering' for my figure. Not any more.

It's such a liberating thing to wear clothes you love with confidence; without thinking about what other people might feel about the way your body looks in them, because really...what has it got to do with them?

A year or so ago, my first thought when I put on an outfit would be "what will other people think of me in this?" or "how can I change this so it will look more flattering when people see me?" - I was 100% dressing for other people rather than myself because I was so preoccupied with wanting to create a look that would be accepted by both strangers and my friendship group. I would even wear things I didn't like or felt extremely uncomfortable in because I thought it meant that I would fit in more.

What I've learnt from this is that stepping out of your comfort zone and dressing for yourself can actually make you feel more comfortable in who you are.

It takes bravery and confidence, but if I can learn to dress for myself, so can you. 

All photography by Nicole-Shola.

So...What Happens Next?

Today, I thought I'd do a little life-update for you guys. Where I'm at, where I'm planning to go, and what I hope the future holds for me. 

I'll start by saying that this year is absolutely not ending the way I thought it would be, but that's okay. I'm a very organised person, so I like to think that I can plan my life step by step and that everything will automatically go to plan. Oh no, no, no...That has definitely not been the case for me in recent years. Saying that, you would've thought that I'd learnt that I can't control everything in my life by now. 

Apparently not. 

I began my year working part-time in a cafe (I job I adored) that I'd been working in for the past 3 years through school. It was a lovely little job and I enjoyed it until the very end, but in September of this year I decided that I needed a change. I was seeing the same faces every day and I was falling out of love with the work I was doing. It was becoming repetitive and I knew that if I stayed, I might never leave. I quit and decided to move onto something else. At this point I was also beginning my degree at The Open University, studying English Literature and Creative Writing (which I am LOVING). 

I then began another job, but I was beginning to feel extremely sad. I felt like I was just hopping from one part time job to another, and it just wasn't feeding my creativity or benefitting my future. I tried to see if I could face it if I adjusted my hours, but that didn't help at all. I felt down all the time and I was so upset that I couldn't even focus on my studies or the things that I loved, because I was so preoccupied with the things I didn't want to do. Needless to say, I quit that job quite recently. There was nothing wrong with the place itself whatsoever, the people were lovely and the environment was nice. It just wasn't right for me. 

Now, here we are. I decided after quitting that job that I wouldn't apply for anything that didn't feed me creatively or benefit my future. At the moment, my main focus is university (part time) and finding a full time job that really benefits me. One that makes me happy. Life is way to short to spend it doing something that doesn't benefit you or make you happy.

Alongside my studies, I'm contributing to my mum's furniture business which is where my income is coming from currently. I'm writing and shooting for this blog which is where the rest of my effort goes. I'm also planning to start making YouTube videos again because it's something I used to love doing - the only reason I stopped was because I felt embarrassed about what other people thought, but now that I'm in the mindset of 'fuck it', I'mma get back to it. You can subscribe to my Channel here - I'll be uploading twice a week! My first video back will be up on Sunday at 6pm.

The truth is, I'm not where I thought I would be at the beginning of the year. I'm in an even better place because none of it was planned. I am the happiest I've been in years because I'm working for myself (and my mum..), I'm studying a subject I love, I'm investing more time into the people I love and the things I love doing, and I'm really starting to feel like myself again. 

I guess the moral of the story is that things don't have to go to plan for them to be amazing, and life doesn't have to be perfect for it to be wonderful x

All photography by Nicole-Shola.

By God, I Think I've Done It || Ultimate Curly Hair Routine

I used to hate my curly hair when I was in secondary school. I was called things like ‘Hagrid’, in reference to the well-known and beloved Harry Potter character whenever I chose to brave it at school, and I once heard a boy say “It looks like she’s been electrocuted…”. This had a huge knock on my self-confidence because I thought that something that was naturally my own, was something that made me undesirable. Since I've left school I've realised that this wasn’t the case at all. I had spent the last 3 years straightening the life out of my hair every single day, due to the opinions of small-minded individuals. Now, I celebrate my curls, and these are some of the products I use to help me achieve the looks I love.

1. Aussie ‘Miracle Moist’ Shampoo and Conditioner:

I love washing my hair using these products because they help me create a really silky texture, which is sometimes a task to achieve with curly hair like mine. I wash my hair hanging my head upside down because I find it drags the curls out more and gives me the loose-curl look that I LOVE. I always try to leave the normal conditioner in for as long as I can (sometimes for the whole day if I know I’m not going out anywhere), and then brush my hair with it still in, letting it settle in for anywhere between 30 minutes to an entire day will make a huge difference. Wash it out after you feel it's done enough!

2.  Mixed Chicks Leave In Conditioner:

This is my absolute go-to hair product for my kind of hair. It’s a complete lifesaver for me and I use it every single time I was my hair. It’s a leave-in conditioner so you don’t wash it out, and the moisturiser within it just settles into your hair creating a really lovely, smooth look and texture. It reduces frizz completely for me and I love it. Used once after every hair wash, my bottle lasts for about 2 months. Depending on the amount of hair you have of course. For example, my hair requires about a 50p sized coin amount per wash which is a tiny amount in comparison to the bucket of normal conditioner I use prior to this stage...   

3. Hair Therapy with Argan Oil:

After putting leave in conditioner in my hair, I always use Superdrugs own ‘Hair Therapy with Argan Oil’. This comes in quite a small container, and because I use so much of it (about 15-20 squirts after washing my hair), it does become slightly pricy. For this reason, I also always have a pot of coconut oil to use in case I run out – you can buy a small pot of coconut oil which should last about a month if you use it sparingly for as little as 95p, so it’s definitely worth a try if you want to create a slightly shiny look.

4. Hawaiian Silky Miracle Worker 14-in-1:

You know those products you stumble across one day and never look back? This is one of them for me. I would honestly go as far as saying it's my favourite product I have ever used on my curls, plus it's cheap as hell for the size of the bottle. As well as a moisturiser, it's a leave in conditioner, a styler and a hair protecter so it's also brilliant for anyone thinking about going natural! I use this during my full-wash routine at the very end, as well as during the week when all I have time for is to wet my curls and then use this because it honestly still looks like I've freshly washed my hair. When using this product I recommend air drying for best results (that said, I ALWAYS air dry my hair because I find that even when I use a diffuser my hair goes frizzier than I'd like it to). 

Shop The Products

Buy Aussie Miracle Moist Shampoo & Conditioner HERE

Buy Mixed Chicks Leave In Conditioner HERE

Buy Hair Therapy with Argan Oil HERE

Buy Hawaiian Silky Miracle Worker HERE

These are just a few products I love to use on my hair throughout the week – if you’re interested in any of the other products I use or just want to know more about my beauty routines such as skincare, just let me know! I'll be starting my YouTube channel up again towards the middle of the month so I'll be posting a lot of information there too!

All photography by Nicole-Shola.