Camouflage invasion X XcessP

Comfort wise, this is not my favorite part of the year. I mean what do you expect from a kid raised in the heart of Africa? Well on the brighter side, I can be more expressive with my outfits so no worries. This post gives you a feel of the city I reside in most of the time, Athens. These pictures and clips in the video at the end of the post were shot downtown Athens, Georgia. I thought I will accompany this post with a video as a means of starting up something new and creating a more interactive atmosphere.

As you will see this is a green themed outfit. These camouflage pants happen to be one of my favorites in my wardrobe this season. I just can't seem to get enough of its dynamic layout. The prints on the pants are busy enough so I complemented them with non-printed pieces to establish an eye catching contrast.

The beauty in the green briefcase lies in the tangelo orange outline and handle. Definitely adds an accent to ones outfit.

The grey chesterfield coat made out of wool is pretty neat. It provides great warmth and it is a chic complementing piece to a variety of outfits. At least one of this should be in everyone's wardrobe so long as one finds it affordable.

Meet my friend, Teniola who is both a singer and a comedian. Check out her YouTube page here. We are cooking up a lot of things that I can't wait to bring into fruition. Lookout for her in the video at the end of the post as well.

If you follow me on Instagram, you probably would have come across this but for the sake of those who haven't, a few weeks ago I was interviewed by Russel Abbad from The Red and Black on my views on fashion, and I am humbled to have been put on a list of 3 individuals pushing the limits of fashion in Athens, Georgia. If you will like to watch the video, search for 'Athens fashion passions documentary' on YouTube or just click here.

Lately one of the life lessons that have practically manifested in my life is that every dream needs a detailed plan of attainment and daily hard work in bettering ones craft to achieve that dream. A detailed plan includes a schedule that lays out ones ultimate goal in a decomposed form which means that the ultimate goal is broken down into smaller parts.  Each component has its individual deadline to be achieved. The deadline date also serves as a check point to measure ones success thus far. I recently started to put this into practice and I am liking the result. You might want to try it out if you haven't.

Like I said earlier, I chose to include a video to create a more interactive atmosphere so please you are more than welcomed to comment, share, subscribe, like etc. Stay XcessPified.

Photography: Jasmine Gainous

Videography: Russel Abbad

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Summer Wear Essentials x XcessP

I am finally back from this blogging hiatus that seemed like it will never come to an end. Honestly, I can say in the past 5 months I have been the busiest I have ever been in my entire life. I am thankful for new opportunities, but we know often than not opportunities come with responsibilities. So in short, that is the synopsis of why the blog hasn't been updated in a minute.

After a much needed meal, these pictures were taken by my good friend, Teni. Myself and Teni had our usual random, witty, and substance filled talk over a good old Waffle House breakfast. It's always refreshing and encouraging to chat with positive minded people who have a similar mindset to yourself. Well let's get to business. I believe comfort is very vital in any outfit. Under the scorching sun and blazing heat that accompany the summer weather, one has to wear less clothes in order to remain comfortable right? For some of you, in the process of trying to wear less, it may pose as a conundrum for you to make statements with your outfit. Well I will let you in on what works for me. 

5 essential tips on how to get your wardrobe right for the summer while maintaining comfort

1. Invest in shirts, tanks, shorts e.t.c that are embellished with interesting prints and bright colors (Preferably made out of cotton or linen to ensure comfort)

2. If you insist on wearing pants, buy those made in linen (could be costly, but ever trendy and classy. Very much comfortble too)

3. Stack up on accessories (bracelets, necklaces, wrist watches, rings, anklets, sun glasses e.t.c)

4. Ensure smart fit while purchasing any of these clothing items

5. Do the previous 4 over again.

Garbs with bold and aesthetic prints go a long way to add an accent to your outfit and leave a statement. Even though one is wearing less, one can make up for it by wearing garbs that are literally blatant pieces of art. I love floral prints, but I am particularly intrigued by tribal prints and think they are the best kind of prints. Well maybe I am a little biased because of my African origin, but really I don't think so. Tribal prints are just so vibrant and edgy. Everyone with a good eye for details can testify to this.

You can't go wrong with a bag. It always finds a way to spice up your outfit, and there is always a type of bag for any look you are going for. You have backpacks, tote bags, messenger bags e.t.c. Several to pick from. This backpack has a fine leather finish with a total of 4 compartments. It happens to accommodate more than it appears to. Pretty decent accessory for a casual look.

I hope you have learned a thing or two, and you are ready to go conquer the summer looking as dapper as you possibly can. Well if so, then mission accomplished on my part.

My birthday is in a week from now. I know so long as one lives, one will get older by the day, but I don't want to be conscious of it. Though it seems like a battle one can never win, but really my reason for this is that I realize the older you become, the more you feel the need to act "your age" which I feel is just a snare. Rather than act like how one truly is or how one truly feels, one feels the need to conform to what society expects of a 25 year old, 40 year old or whatever age one may be. Don't get me wrong, I believe every individual should be responsible at all times and should display maturity where needed, but don't be too hard on yourself because you don't fit into peoples description of what one of your age should act like, look like, be like, whatever like. It's a mere social construct that doesn't need to be adhered to. It is better for one to be hated for what they truly are than to be loved for what they are not. Personally, so long as my actions are within the confines of my religious beliefs, I am fine. All other things are as useless as a used baby diaper. When we leave this planet called earth, we are going to be accountable to no other but God. So why are people's opinions so relevant? I guess we may never know.

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Floral statements

This is a floral themed outfit hence the title of the post. It signify's 2 things. First is the happiness I am experiencing as a result of a new beginning in my life. I wont go into much detail with that one so lets leave it at that.  The other I think is pretty obvious; spring season is here. This is probably my favorite season in the year. I love it because mother nature reminds us of how beautiful she could be by springing forth lovely flowers. Also the weather is neither too cold or hot.

It is amazing how the tweed jacket trend never gets old. I am a big fan of the tweed trend ranging from jackets to shoes. Tweed jackets in particular can be quite eclectic when it comes to styling. One can wear them on a professional look, dinner look or even a casual look. It all depends on how the spirit leads.

I opted for mustard yellow pants because I was working with a yellow, green, blue and orange palette. Honestly, I built this outfit around the shirt. I know I can't be the only one guilty of picking one item I know I really want to wear and then build on it to create an entire outfit.

To wrap this up, I will like to bring this to your conscious notice that we all have an insatiable love for self deceit. We deceive ourselves, knowing we are deceiving ourselves, but we somehow successfully convince ourselves that we are not. Reread that if you need to. I am guilty of this as well, and really it is of no good. It is amazing how powerful our minds are. I feel like almost none none of us ever truly actualize our full potential. I am really just trying to find my way around these humanly seeming bondage we cause ourselves. I don't know about you, but I want to be great in life. On a lighter note, this was one fun shoot with a photographer friend of mine, Jasmine. Visit her Tumblr HERE. I have something engaging in plan, and it will be in your faces soon by way of this blog. Stay tuned!

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Faux Leather X XcessP

Lately, I have been having several thoughts about life changing decisions that I have to make in the near future. You see the older you become, the more responsibility you have on your shoulders. The uncertainty of tomorrows outcome is a driving force for us all whether we are aware of it or not. A lot of us are unconscious of this, but the feeling of suspense envelopes us all everyday of our lives. We are all looking forward to what tomorrow has to offer, we hope tomorrow will be a better day or sometimes maybe just as good as today. The moment the feeling of suspense dies in us, life will have little or no essence anymore. We humans love to be challenged, and it is an icing on the cake when we are almost convinced that we will conquer the challenge. It takes a lot of preparation and hard work. A wise man once said, luck is where preparation meets opportunity. Take a second and let that sink in well. A good understanding of that will make you realize that at all times you have to be prepared for what exactly it is you want to become. Make it a habit to envision yourself as what you want to become, and you will see your thoughts, and then your actions, and then your decisions gear towards that direction. I believe that just about anything is attainable. 9 times out of 10, it isn't easy to attain, but it is possible. Don't involve yourself in unnecessary entertainment. While others are having a swell time, put yourself to work and better yourself. That is what puts you ahead of others. It is paramount that we get closer to God and involve him in our journey. These are words coined from me taking time to reflect and speak to myself. They will get me to where I want to be, and I hope they mean more than mere words to you who is reading this. 

I bought my guitar recently. Just as you might guess after seeing a picture of her, I named her Ebony. She accompanied me in this blog post. For this post, I payed close attention to fit. It is amazing how an outfit can look entirely different if the fit is changed. My theory is, a rag with a great fit, is better than an outfit from an A-list designer with a shabby fit. Fit is key. I can't stress this well enough. This studded jacket is one of my priced possessions. It is made out of faux leather which is usually made from synthetic materials.  It is well lined on the inside, and it has an impeccable fit.

I chose to wear a gold chain on a yellow shirt. It kind of blends in together, and the chain is not well visible, but still comes out decent.

The color of the shirt and pants complement each other, and the black jacket crowns it all. I personally believe that when one cuffs their pants, it gives the look a better fit. There goes my reason for the cuffed pants. 

Meet Ebony

I have some interesting ideas that I hope to bring to life very soon God willing. I want to do something more engaging and non cliche using the platform of this blog to actualize it. Really, no really I just want to give you a reason to be on this blog rather than watch TV or whatever else it is you do for fun. You need to follow this journey. Thanks to the old, and new readers. Leave your comments please. Happy MLK day! 

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Vintage Silk Jacket X XcessP

Hello, how is everyone doing? I hope this finds you well, and I hope you all are basking in the love that fills this festive season. For those who care, I am on a 3 weeks break from school, and I am enjoying every bit of it. I just got back from a 1 week vacation to Missouri, and I am very much thankful that I got to spend quality time with family. I have always been fascinated by guitars, so I finally made up my mind to get one. Yes beautiful people, I will be a proud owner of an acoustic guitar very soon. What will I name her? time will tell. Can I play a guitar though? No I cant, but I will learn.

Okay, I am done with updating you all on my life. Lets get to business. With this outfit, I was going for a  casual yet stylish look, so I gave the simple outfit an entire twist with the jacket. The silk scarf print jacket has a vintage/urban feel to it that will give ones outfit a chic and dainty finish. The prints on it are well pronounced and busy enough so I toned it down with a plain white polo shirt and blue jeans in order not to look out of place  in order to make the jacket stand out in the outfit. Another way of me saying "I know you see my jacket and you wish it was yours". Passing a message across with my mouth shut huh? Haha okay, I am done.

I have on a brown hat, and I will let you in on a little secret. Promise you will keep it between you and I. Yes? Okay deal. Here goes my secret: It was a bad hair day, and I was in critical need of a haircut so I used the hat to hide the rough hair. Sshhh..don't tell anyone I told you that. Enjoy the rest of the pictures below

On a final note, I hope you enjoyed the post. It's never too early or too late to make a resolution. Some people wait until the new year before making changes in their life. For what? who even says tomorrow is promised? Make all changes the very moment you realize you need to make a change. If you didn't get any other thing from this post, I hope you got that, and you hold on to it. I sat down and brainstormed on a few things to make this blog better, and by Gods grace this blog will grow extensively in a few months. I pray the new year welcomes us all with blessings, happiness, and success. Happy new year my friends. Stay XcessPified.

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Clarks X Supreme (Fall/Winter collection 2012)

I will like to describe this as a grandeur aesthetic union between Clarks and Supreme. Supreme is a brand founded in 1994 by Ryan Woods. Supreme is known for its simple, distinct, and youthful garbs. Clarks on the other hand is a british brand founded in 1825, and it is known for its classy and preppy shoes. Both brands teamed up to give us this beautiful offsprings which were released as part of their fall/winter collection this year. Clarks teamed up with Supreme to add a twist to the venerable Clarks wallabees. The upper part of the shoe is made of nubuck and it is embossed with Crocodile patterns. It is amazing how a little change can make such a daint difference. The collection comes in 4 different color ways, and I am absolutely in love with every one. On a lighter note, if you are fan of Clarks, and reggae dance hall music, this might just be your favorite song ever HERE

What are your opinions on this collaboration? 

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Fall wear X Nike X Harris tweed

Its been a very good minute since I last made a post. This is due to different reasons. Well I am back now and that is all that matters right? Yes, I thought so too :). On a slightly chilly/windy 64 degree Celsius day this was an ideal outfit for me. It provided sufficient warmth and style needed. Just so you know, layered outfits have a special place in my heart. Not only because they provide more warmth, but also because one can play a lot more with the pieces one combines together. I am ready for the winter season, are you?

I have on a denim button up shirt on a black t-shirt crowned with a red jacket. An outfit is not complete without accessories so you know I had to have had my rings, necklace, and brooch on.

The collar and tip of the sleeves of the jacket are made out of brown corduroy (The little details make a big difference sometimes). On the other hand, the brooch is made out of ankara African fabric.

The shoes are a product of a collaboration between Harris tweed and Nike. A lot of people may not be familiar with Harris tweed, but Harris tweed is a Scottish brand that specializes in producing well crafted garbs like jackets, bags, and shoes made out of tweed. The shoe is made out of leather and tweed with an embossed Nike tick. Tweed is ideal for a cold weather, and hardly does one ever come across sneakers made out of them, so hey good job Harris.

Instagram? Yea, I have one. Follow me @XcessP

I hope this post made a good come back. If so, then mission accomplished. It is only about to get better from here onward so don't let this be your last visit to the blog. Bookmark it or do whatever will make you visit again soon. Your feedback's are highly appreciated so do not hesitate to leave your comments.

Twitter: @XcessP

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TAFEX 2012

On the sunny afternoon of 27th May, I and my sister along with her friend went to The African Experience Festival. I was hoping to find some African outfits or Jewelries that would excite me, but sadly I didn't. There weren't enough vendors, majority of the things sold at the festival were for women, and also mostly of West African influence. It was quite far from a well rounded event. There were a couple of African snacks sold like puff puff, suya e.t.c. I was able to take a couple of pictures from the event; view below.

This was one of the highlights of the event. Kola Ogunkoya and his band performed Afro beat songs from the  late Nigerian legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti. I was lucky for him to have performed one of my favorites 'Trouble Sleep Yanga Wake Am'

This happened to be my favorite booth at the event. She had her accessories well crafted and they looked beautiful, but as I said earlier, there were nothing for men.

My sister (the one with the hair clip) and her friend

Puff Puff and Suya

This music band called 'Solstar Music' was very impressive. The electric feel to their music was superb. The guy on the violin did a great job, and so did the female dancer. In all, they gave a splendid performance.

The African Experience Festival was a decent outing for me. Definitely could have been better, but it wasn't bad. Summer school is about to start in about a week. Work never ends sigh! I would be travelling tomorrow, so I am off to finish packing. Blessings

@XcessP