Selfie Esteem

So like, the selfie, we all do it, no matter how hard we try not to turn the front camera on and become self employed as a model and photographer, we all do it. I didn't realise till the other day how conditioned I was to seeing selfies (it's not like I don't see about ten different selfies on Instagram a day), until someone who I don't know followed me and I had to start searching through their pictures for a selfie just so I could see.

I'm not opposed to the selfie, sometimes we really do have a fabulous lip colour or hairstyle that we would like to show off our friends to see. I do it all the time too. I may not post all of them to social networks but anybody going through my phone is going to think I am absolutely obsessed with myself. It's fun.. camera on, lift, pout, flash, next one; camera on, lift, smile, flash, next one; camera on, lift, stare into nothingness, flash. 

At first every time I even thought of taking a selfie I felt like a vampire trying to walk in the sun. Felt like I was going to get burned for it, because we've all heard what they had to say about the selfie. Don't do it. They say that this (especially posting them online in lure of getting above 10 likes, just me?) is pure narcissism. And I realise that after saying the whole 10 likes thing, maybe just maybe they have point. But also when we completely ignore this point they are trying to make, they really don't have a point. When I take a selfie, I am either completely bored out of my mind, I have no one to take this photo of me and I have just GOT to show you my new bangs (I really don't) or I honestly just like the way I look and my Instagram is my Instagram after all, so naturally I just upload it, crop it, filter it, caption it and post it. How does this make me a narcissist? It's basically just a whole bunch of, it's my account, I can do whatever I want with it, it's for me not you anyway.

But at the same time

I don't really believe this whole, I'm posting this for myself stuff that we like to feed ourselves sometimes. Yes I'm posting up the picture because I want to, the application does say 'upload picture' any way but ultimately the I-don't-care-what-no-one-thinks thing is a little hmm. My logic is, if we put anything online it becomes everybody's, it's not just for ourselves otherwise it wouldn't be up there.Would you put up your latest diary entry online, you know, the one about the boy, your secret crush, the one who is dating your friend? No, I didn't think so. So this stuff online, is not just for ourselves. So we care a little what people think, because you had to think about it. You had to think about the right angles, filters, photo tricks and captions to be able to put your best self face forward.

But we have heard all this before right? blah blah blah selfie, blah blah blah, social approval, blah blah blah vain. And to that I say.....

Lu3Lu

Xx

House of Nwocha

I love the internet.
If not for the vast number of things you can do on there, also for the fact (which I think is so cool) how one link can take you to another link which will lead you to another link and then another and another AND another (you get the point). So while I was doing my sexy link to link dance I came across this Nigerian designer who owns the fashion label 'House of Nwocha'. One word: WOW!

What I'm wondering is why it took me googling random words to notice this brilliant stuff. Which rock have I been hiding under?

Fashion in Africa is being taken to a whole new level, and I will be dammed if I miss this train, bus, flight, ship, donkey cart or whatever. I'm riding with this one. Someone once said to me "support the great things that can come from the place you represent the most", that person was right.
As much as I love Valentino, Gucci, Prada, Baby Phat, Chanel,
And all those other to die for labels, its important for me to appreciate FIRST what is bred at home. Now, I'm not Nigerian, but I am African and we are one home so to speak, so to all those beautiful labels out there, I add to my list 'House of Nwocha'.

This collection is called 'Zion', and in the words of designer Ugonna Omeruo herself it is 'a zionic paradise with a combination of edgy and sexy'. The spring\summer collection was "inspired by an Asian samurai painting" and reveals an arrangement of long classic dresses, edgy short pieces and chic style suits all for a younger and flirtier look.












Images from BellaNaija.com

I'm loving the mix of fuchsia, royal blue, black, green and orange.

The thing is, (and I have to be really honest here) when it came to African attire I had nothing against it but at the same time would never wear it. Let me explain, you know how something will look totally gorgeous on a mannequin or the person next to you but once you try it on not so much? Well yes, that's the theory I had with African wear. It looks nice yes, but on my mum and people her age. That's what I love about 'House of Nwocha' I feel like I could rock these clothes like I rock my face. I'm loving the youngness and difference it brings.

Ten gold stars to Ugonna Omeruo. Now, to find her address, phone number and stalk her.

Toodles

Lu3Lu
Xx