1MsShayDivine: 2016

Friday 11 November 2016

Petite & Curvy: Winter Coats

Winter is definitely here and I seriously not happy about feeling all of it!

Time to put away the bomber and biker jackets and get the blanket scarves out of storage with the quickness!

I just want to stay home in bed with a blanket, slippers and an orange hot chocolate but I can't, I have a job and a life and winter can be quite pretty if you have the right clothing and accessories.

Image result for lenny kravitz wearing huge scarf

From around Oct I usually start moaning to my friends about coats and what style, lengths and warmth issues I have when buying a simple coat for my 5ft curvy frame.

I used to love a padded coat but there were a few problems for me...

Length- Being 5ft tall coats that come up to most people's knees usually reach me at my shins and I can look like I have no clothes on if I am not wearing jeans or trouser.

Style- Some coats, especially padded, can have us funsized folk looking a bit like Michelin man...not a cute look!

Most of these padded coats don't come in petite but on the rare occasion they do, they are definitely not made for the petite and curvy.

Quality- I have lost count of the amount of padded coats I have bought which have either lost all it's feathers within a few months or burst open at the most random seem...

Long story short, I am on the hunt for a winter coat which I can wear for at least 2yrs without my voluptuous frame spilling over and leaving my booty out in cold!

Going shopping this weekend to see what the high street can offer...update to follow!

@MsShayDivine

Monday 10 October 2016

Petite & Curvy: Jeans

I've been shopping for a pair of plain black jeans for about 6 months, yes 6 months!

Why...because it seems since everyone went "Skinny", "SuperSkinny" and 'Might as well wear tights or leggings' jeans in almost every shop, it's almost impossible to find the classic straight cut or even slim fit jeans when you're petite and curvy...I mean it's hard enough!

Yes, I know they're 'on trend' and yes I know the majority of people like the 'I can't breathe' look but what about the rest of us?

Do we not buy jeans too?

Personally I do not appreciate the skinny or super skinny jean. I think they make my legs look like turkey drummers.

Nice thick thighs, with a small waist and small calves is not a great look in the skinny jean...for me. Not flattering, not happening!

I mean come on, these look like leggings or jeggings on me and they show....everything! If you get my drift lol & why do they need to hug my ankles, let them breathe too!

Image result for super skinny jeans cameltoe

3 classic jeans, perfect for the petite and curvy girl...

The Classic straight leg

Image result for classic straight jeans women

The original slim fit

Image result for classic slim fit jeans women

The petite bootcut fit

Image result for bootcut jeans for women

Please can we bring these back fashion industry....please!?...

This may be the perfect opportunity to go Vintage shopping...hmmm

@MsShayDivine

Thursday 6 October 2016

Hair: Black Hair Care

***Black Hair Care***

Over the past few years I have lost count of the amount of new products, herbs or methods for all kinds of Black hair care issues. #Productjunkies

It seems everyone has something, uses something or is about to try something new but the one thing that a lot of people forget or fail to realise, is that WE'RE ALL DIFFERENT!

What works for one person, their climate, their texture, their routine etc may not be right for you!

People seriously need to look at their hair, know their hair and understand how their hair responds to climate, diet etc and what works best for them.

That being said there are three things which are vital for everyone's hair care....

Water
Diet
Climate

Water- Drinking water is great for the whole body . When it comes to hair care water intake is important to hydrate from the inside out. Hydration is a must for Black hair!

Another note on water is water quality, hard water can have negative effects on Black hair. You can find out if you live in a soft or hard water are by checking links like the one below (UK).

http://www.bristan.com/watermap

Diet- Yes, you can do protein treatments, ACV washes, baking soda treatments etc but ultimately whatever you put into your body comes out in your pores and yes this does include your scalp.

Eating a healthy balanced diet is also key to healthy hair, skin and nails.

Climate- This is never in your control but being aware of how your climate affects your hair, is also an important part of Black hair care.

For example, I know my hair can get quite dry in the autumn and winter months so I use extra moisturising products and do low manipulation styling.

Knowing your hair is the first step to beautiful, healthy Black hair. Period!

@MsShayDivine

Monday 19 September 2016

Food: Cassia Bark

Munching on some seriously good Indian food and I bit into something that looked like tree bark, I was about to start cursing the chef when I decided to smell the item in question to see if in fact it was a herb or spice. It smelt like a sweet cinnamon...but I wasn't sure if that was another herb or spice.

I headed over to google and found out my tree bark was actually Cassia Bark or Cinnamomum Cassia which is said to have originated in south China but is widely used in southern and east Asian cooking, including; Indian, Indonesian and Thai.

I was right from the first unexpected bite, it was bark!

(what did we do before google?)

Cinnamon is said to have some great health benefits.

Image result for cinnamon health benefits

@MsShayDivine

Fashion: Choker necklaces

Image result for black and gold choker necklace

Image result for cold shoulder denim top

Image result for leather trousers womens

The 19century choker is back in stores.

At first ,I wasn't into it as I remembered the plastic black beaded choker I used to wear when I was around 14 or 15.

I loved it until one day it snapped and the beads bounced off my neck into my ex-boyfriend's face. lol

Anyway, I am over that now and I'm loving the choker trend all over again, especially as they have come a long way since the black plastic chokers of the 90's.

I recently was given a lovely black velvet one as a gift. I was so excited to wear it that I didn't try it on, I mean one size fits all, right?

NO! lol

One size does not fit all!

The day came to wear my new choker and instantly I felt like someone had me in a choke hold (pun intended). I checked the clasp and tried again...nope, it was not happening...Do I have a fat neck? I know it's short but I had never thought of my neck as fat...Oh lord please make it fit!

I was determined to wear this choker, so I used my creative skills and decided to add a few extra links to the chain, it was perfect.

Check me out!