I Designed Christmas Jumpers!

Outfit

TO PURCHASE JUMPER CLICK HERE>> sharaxmas.bigcartel.com

Jumper: Shara (designed by me)

Skirt: Shara (designed by me)

Shoes: Aldo

Turtle Neck: Primark

Hey all!

It's that time of year again where we get all festive and I start panicking about finding the Christmas lights in the loft, it being only one month till my birthday (yikes I'm getting older) and contemplating what on earth I'm going to get my family for Christmas. Luckily I have decided to not get caught up in running out and spontaneously buying random gifts, and design my own Christmas jumpers YAS!

I thought to myself hang on Shara, you're a fabulous designer but you are not taking advantage of the Christmas season, so I put my skills to good use and got some of my illustrations  printed onto jumpers, and I am pleased with how this one in particular has turned out. I did this illustration because I always wondered what santa would look like as a black woman with a fro - so meet Nicole a general bad ass who delivers shoes to all the boss women around the world. :)

I would really love to sell these, so if any of you fabulous readers would like to purchase one then contact me on sharajjohnson@gmail.com and I will get one out to you asap.

Like the fashionista I am of course I had to dress the jumper up with a turtle neck and this gorgeous double layered tutu skirt which I also designed and made, who said Christmas jumpers have to be boring? No dear it is time to elevate the Christmas jumper and make it fab!

This jumper is great for wearing at a Christmas party with a pair of jeans and heels or just for being with your loved ones on Christmas day.

My shoes from Aldo are Ah - mazing! OMG they're so lovely, I love the bright metallic purple and they are leather so my feet are comfortable in them and are perfect for the party season.

xx

TBT Being a Wardrobe Assistant on BBC Tv Game show 'Letter Box'

Hey my lovelies!

It's official, Winter is here and it is taking no prisoners! Fortunately for me I am currently wrapped up in my daffy duck onsie and blanket while I write this drinking a glass of red wine (ahhh good times). Today I thought I'd post something other than my usual style post and do a throw back Thursday to when I had the fabulous opportunity to be a wardrobe assistant on a BBC Tv series called 'Letter Box'.

Letter Box is a game show in which contestants essentially have to guess letters to fill in a word and whoever gets it right goes through a series of rounds and can win up to £2000, not bad!

I was excited to be involved, the production and wardrobe team had to get to set early to choose outfit options for contestants which were then taken into the studio to be screen tested and make sure they were appropriate for day time tv. Clothing that has a lot of prints or stripes on them can cause the cameras to strobe so where possible items like this are avoided for Tv.

Camera Testing outfits before the show

After clothing options have been confirmed, the wardrobe team steams and irons them, and they are organised into their correct rails for each show with the contestants. After contestants dressed final checks are done on the outfits at which point they are badged up and they are ready to start the show!

Options Rail

While filming is happening the wardrobe team were able to sit in the audience and in between filming if we notice that anything that is of place with an outfit we can do outfit checks and quickly fix it.

Wardrobe Team :)

Overall assisting on this show was great, the production team was welcoming and lovely and the head stylist and the other wardrobe assistants I was working with were just amazing, it was so much fun and I would definitely do it again :) xx

Polka DOTs & Thoughts

Outfit

Top: New Look

Jeans - Top shop

Boots - Aldo

Coat - Mom's wardrobe

Hi all!

Yet again it's been a while since I updated the blog, but life happens sometimes and every now and again I just like to completely remove myself from social media and get on with it without seeing what everyone else is doing - sometimes you need to focus on your own thing without any noise or distractions.

To be honest I'm kind of introvert and sometimes don't feel like I fit in with the bigger bloggers, stylists or fashionistas in the industry and everything seems pretty cliquey - and that's ok. It doesn't matter if I don't fit in, it doesn't matter if my following isn't huge, all that matters is that I'm happy with the content I'm producing and the designs I'm doing.

I began blogging 3 years ago and I thought my blog would be bigger - I thought my fashion design career would be further along than it is, and at times it can get disheartening. Life doesn't always work out the way we think it will - and that's ok too. We can get caught up in the rat race and not realise that the journey to anything you really want is never smooth or a straight route, but your goals are achievable and the journey is necessary to build character.

My friend said to me the other day 'Shara you know you're your own biggest enemy sometimes, you're too hard on yourself', and she was right - I have done some amazing things and had great some amazing opportunities. As we get older especially when you get into your late twenties we can focus on what we haven't done, instead of the things we have done. It's never too late to do anything, and every ones path in life is different. I truly believe that God has a plan and things will fall into place when they are supposed to, and what you sew you will reap, so if you put out good, work hard and put God first, it will come back to you.

With that being said, it is cold as heck! No seriously I stepped outside my house today and the way the wind snatched me up was ridiculous, so of course it was time to bring out the over sized cocoon coat. Aside from the fabulous polka dot pattern that matches my suede boots, this coat is incredibly warm, and if you want to be a cool kid you can wear it just slightly off your shoulder.

  

I kept it simple underneath the coat with this v neck top and some staple joni jeans which I now live in. 

These boots are my absolute fav OMG! The colour is perfect for winter and I got them at a bargain price of £8, YES £8 from the Aldo outlet store in Wood Green, needless to say I was gagging when I saw the price and swooped them up in all 3 colours loool, you guys already know I don't play when it comes to my shoes.

All in all guys, I'm feeling much better, I've come out of my feelings and I'm going to continue to sew good seeds and do my best in what ever I'm doing, without comparing myself or my life to others, I'm on my own journey, and anything worth having takes time to build if you want it to have longevity and substance.

Have a good week everyone! :) xx

My Eventful Weekend: Wedding, Food, Camden, Comedy Show

Hi all!

I have literally just come back from an event filled weekend which has left me me feeling all happy and warm on the inside because, it was my Mr man's birthday and I also went to a beautiful wedding on Saturday. African weddings are so amazing I love all the traditional clothing and all the dancing, but due to me not wanting to spend any more money on a new dress, I went into my wardrobe archive and opted for one of my favourite ocassions pieces - the faaaabulous red dress.

Admittedly it's slightly daring for a wedding but I've never been one to shy away from showing a bit of thigh as long as its done tastefully. I decided to make the outfit a truly red affair with red shoes from Just Fab and the ultimate red power lipstick 'Ruby Woo'.

Inside the wedding reception was just beautiful from the centre pieces, the table layout, the dance floor the cake, the food, it truly was a great evening. I didn't vlog or take many pictures while I was there because to be honest I just wanted to enjoy the evening in the moment instead of recording it BUT one thing I do know is when those bashment songs came on I danced until my feet hurt wooii.

On Sunday I went to church but needed an outfit that I could wear and go straight from church, out to dinner, and then to a comdey show in the evening. I opted for my plain figure hugging turtle neck and my midi pencil skirt, nothing fussy just a simple ensemble with some statement sunglasses and a red lip.

I absolutely adore these shoes BUT, the heels on them are completely rubbish to my disappointment. I wore them with this outfit for the first time and within two hours of wearing them BOTH of the heel tips completely broke! It was just completely bizzare I was so annoyed, luckily I have a spare pare of heel tips so fingers crossed they'll be ok.

After church me and my Mr headed to a lovely little restaurant in Covent Garden called the 'Flat Iron', it was essentially just a steak burger and chips and tbh TGI's would probably have been a much better choice, but I think it's good to switch it up every now and again.

After a lovely meal me and my Mr headed over to Camden where we walked through the markets on the cobble stones looking at all the different clothes and trinkets, it was actually quite romantic. We found the most amazing shop with these beautiful colourful canvas prints and incense (I wanted to buy all of them lol), and I found the most gorgeous leather jacket.

Finally we went to the 'Mash Up' game show which was hosted by Mo the comedian who is soooo hilarious its actually ridiculous, I laughed so hard my stomach hurt. Over all I had a lovely weekend and I can't wait to have one like it again :) xx

The Autumn Edit!

Hi all!

In the spirit of all things London Fashion week it seems only fitting that I do a post on some of my favourite pieces that I've seen around for the AW17 season. Of course on the high-street 'Zara' is always my favourite choice because I'm obsessed with long coats and 'Zara' always seems have great quality garments with an impeccable finish at an accessible price point.

 Orange appeared to dominate on the AW17 runway in collections like the Fenty x Puma collection which I just thought was incredible. Classic Autumn Winter pieces like polo necks from powerhouse brands like Valentino and Victoria Beckham flooded the runway, and beautifully embroidered biker jackets from one of my favourite brands Elie Saab were paired with his tantalizing heavily embellished lace dresses, but David Korma with his basket weaving techniques was the designer that really got my attention.

Whilst I love the fashion on the runway, those prices are not my friend, and getting a look a like  outfit in my opinion is just as good. I truly believe that you don't need to spend a fortune to look stylish, you just need to know how and where to shop. For outerwear, places like Coast, Reiss and Zara are great. If you just want a cheap and cheerful bodysuit, then 'Prettly little Thing' or 'Missguided' have almost every style you can think of, and if you want shoes 'Aldo' recently has been my go to for shoes.

In conclusion my dears, make your Autumn count, it doesn't have to be expensive, just a few staple basic pieces like a white shirt, white t -shirt and black jeans goes a long way with different coat options. xx :)

The Autumn Look: The Fuchsia Coat

Outfit

Coat - Zara

Turtle Neck - Primark

Jeans - Topshop

Shoes - Zara

Hi all!

The wind is actually rude - no seriously it has no manners! I was minding my business walking back from church having my photos taken and it decided it wanted to fight me in the street lol. My hair was flying all over the place and I could just about walk forwards. Luckily my outfit was weather appropriate.

Before I left the house I was going to wear a skirt and then I thought nah I'll go with jeans - and what a good job I did. My black jeans are what I call my multi purpose wardrobe staple because they go with everything, and provided a great base for this outfit.

My turtle neck was the perfect choice to protect the wind from whipping around my neck, and a complimentary combination with jeans to create an effortless sexy casual look.

This coat, this coat, giiirrrrlll THIS COAT! I adore the colour, there's nothing like a sharp pop of pink to make an outfit exciting. My favourite design detail of this coat is the curved arms and sleeve hems which elevates it from being the standard boyfriend / overcoat.

My shoes are once again from Zara, but being the bargain queen I am I bought them brand new on Ebay for £9.99 instead of the full price of £29.99, I don't believe you need to spend a mountain of money to look stylish, you just need to shop smart and know where to shop.

Have a good week my lovelies! :) xx

The Junior Fashion Network Welcome Brunch at 'Smashbox' Studios

Hi All!

I have a spring in my step, feeling energised, inspired and ready to work! Thanks to the 'Junior Network' welcome brunch that took  place at the gorgeous 'SmashBox Studios' on Saturday 9th September, I can certainly say that if I didn't feel like part of a fashion community before, I most certainly do now.

With the objective to bring junior fashion professionals together, with monthly events of networking and panel discussions etc, this first event set the standard for what networking should be like - friendly, warm, relaxed - not nervous smiling, avoiding eye contact, or attempting to do the moonwalk to get out of an icy interaction with someone who has an air of arrogance about them lool.

The wonderful day began with all of us sitting in a circle introducing ourselves doing fun ice breakers with prosecco in hand of course. We worked in small groups, socialised, did a mini photoshoot, got our make up done by the fabulous Smash box makeup artists, and most importantly we did our manifestos expressing what our expectations were of the network and what we would like to gain from it.

Me Getting My Makeup done

As the day drew to a close we all wrote down different affirmations on post it notes and stuck them onto a board, some of these affirmations were 'Together we can inspire the girls behind us too', 'I intend to be the BOSS' and 'I know that there is more than enough space for all of us to achieve our fashion industry goals'.

I think my favourite thing about the Junior Network so far is their Motto: No ego, no judgement, just friendly fashion connections!' Over all I had a blast, I met some incredible and ambitious women and I can't wait until the next event, roll on next month! :) xx

Colour Shock!

Outfit

Top - Zara

Skirt - Zara

Shoes - Zara

Bag - Dorothy Perkins

...And just like that summer is over and the grey skies have come to remind us that Autumn is here and Winter is lurking around the corner *sigh* it was fun while it lasted! I don't always like the weather to dictate what I wear e.g grey skies = grey outfit *yawn*, so for me it was bright colours as usual.

This pink turtle neck is a great transitional piece for the Autumn season, It'll keep you warm against the Autmn chill, will look fab with a pair of jeans, and is a great colour for those people who are not quite ready to let summer go just yet.

This A line skirt is not only stylish but more importantly comfortable. I'm not usually a huge advocate for comfort because I always choose fashion first, however today was one of those days where jeans were not an option as I didn't want to wear anything to restrictive and close to the body. This lemon yellow skirt is a marvelous contrast against the pink, and is a great piece to wear to a family event, lunch date, baby shower etc.

I already had on different colours so I thought, what the heck lets throw some purple in there too I may as well! I absolutely love this clutch, largely because it only cost me £3 in the Dorothy Perkins sale, but more importantly I can fit so many things in it, and unlike other clutch bags I don't have to limit myself too only having my bank cards and a lip gloss in it.

Ahhh my shoes! Aren't they just glorious! I saw these in Zara and instantly knew they were meant to be part of my shoe collection. A multi coloured shoe can be almost as effective as a black one, if you have on a simple outfit, then these shoes will create a statement, and if you have on array of colours, then the shoe will most likely have a colour in them that matches - Win Win!

Thanks for reading guys have a great week :) xx

Nottinghill Carnival!!!

Outfit

Bralet - Topshop

Joni Jeans - Topshop

Shoes - Primark

Bumbag - Primark

Sunglasses - Ebay

Good morning all! I am currently writing this from my bed with a thumping headache and sipping some hot lemon and honey tea in the hope of recovering from yesterday's carnival antics, I danced, dropped a wine and sang at the top of my lungs - totally worth it.

I've actually been partying since Saturday evening, my girls invited me out for a girls night and we ended up at some basement Bashment dance on Shoreditch high street which was surprisingly very good, and at around 3:30am me and my Mr went to a friend's to watch the greatly anticipated Mayweather Vs Mcgregor fight.

Actually getting to the Carnival was a myth! We were literally packed into the tube like sardines, and some poor man was literally under my armpit for the whole journey loool. Once we got there the atmosphere was great! It was a hot 26 degrees with the familiar smell of jerk chicken greeting my nose and floats with their booming sound systems were proudly adorned with Caribbean flags.

 Of course me and my homie Stephen went straight to the bashment float and proceeded to bruck it down and drop a wine to Lady Saw, Konshens, Beenie man, and the all time carnival favourite tune 'Palance' woooooiii dah song deh mad!.

I once saw a meme that said 'If you lose your friends at Carnival, only the grace of God can bring you back together' lol and its so true, BUT despite there being so many people there my goodas friend Zara aka my twin found me! I was so happy to see her we've been friends since we were 11 years old.

I honestly have no idea how far we walked yesterday although I'm guessing it was about 3 miles, but when you are having a good time you really don't mind how far you walk. We went right to the end of the procession.

I've come to the conclusion that I want to wear a costume next year. This is my 4th time at Nottinghill Carnival and I absolutely love it, this year it was good vibes all round, next year I will be turning up yet again and shelling it down wooooiii *does nuh linga* :) xx