Beauty: It is the season for layering up your dressing

I was in town last week on Thursday and had a field day with rain. I left home when the sun was shining; little did I know that one hour later it will rain cats and dogs; we are approaching the season of heavy rains.Having grown up in a coastal town, I was used to wearing light clothes-meaning it’s one piece dress, a top and trousers or a top and a skirt pronto! Anything more than that was overdressing to me, until I came to live in this country of a thousand hills where the cold weather was almost the order of the day.Long time ago when I was a little girl I remember we used to spend most of our holidays in Nairobi with family and friends. Having come up from Mombasa, we used to consider the Nairobi weather as being very harsh because those days when I was growing up in the eighties, Nairobi was always cold. So my mother being scared of my problematic health, made sure that she packed for me very heavy clothes, with very strict instructions to my elder sisters that for the period we are in Nairobi, I have to layer up or overdress so that am well protected from the harsh weather. Now I do the same to my children in a period like this.For some people layering might simply mean over dressing, but that is not the case. Even during such times when we are layering in these times in the hope of protecting ourselves against the cold weather, we have to do it fashionably and in style. When choosing to layer, some simple rules need to be followed so that you do not look like a christmas tree. First, one needs to choose fabrics that are light and breathable. Make sure that your clothes underneath the bulky multiple layers fit well, so that you do not look as if you are carrying something else underneath the layers of clothes. It is also advised that you stick with colours in the same colour group. In fact, dark colours and neutrals work best for most people. In case you want to have some fun with adding bright colours to your ensemble, it is wise to pick one accessory to brighten up your day; adding a thin or wide red belt on top of your layers to cinch in your waist can provide that feminine allure that you so much need. Carrying a bright bag or wearing bright shoes can also do the trick. In all the layerings, never forget to wear a scarf, shawl or cardigan, these accessories complement your dressing and can bring out the best fashion statement of the year. Other accessories that are great for layering are capes and coats, these pieces are classic that you can’t afford not owning one. Something else that one should be careful with is that fabrics should be mixed to break the monotony of having to wear one fabric. Combining cotton with wool, jeans with silk or cudruoy with tweed can be a clever way to mix and match the fabrics.This is the time to also invest in a good pairs of gloves to protect your fingers from the biting cold in the morning. Do not finish layering without pairing with a big tote bag and high heeled boots; while the bag will complement the entire ensemble, high heeled boots will protect you from getting lost in all the layers, especially if you are small bodied. Am looking forward to start layering and looking good in it!

Lifestyle

Beauty: It is the season for layering up your dressing