The Language of Yolande x Amani Ya Juu
I recently teamed up with Amani Ya Juu to show you some of my favorite pieces from their collection! For my absolute favorite piece, I decided to show you how to style it. Not only does Amani Ya Juu have a great collection but they believe strongly in social responsibility. Amani Ya Juu (“peace from above” in Swahili) is a sewing and training program for marginalized women in Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, and Liberia. Women at Amani are learning to work together through faith in God who provides a peace that transcends all cultural and ethnic differences. Amani portrays a unique picture of diversity, with women coming from Rwanda, Burundi, Congo, Uganda, South Sudan, Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Mozambique, and other African nations.
This post features Amani's Double Strand Bone Earrings. As you know from reading my blog, I'm all about things that are simple with a twist. These earrings were exactly that! The simplicity of the earring is its color and linear shape. The twist was all in the details. I love the asymmetrical placement of the bone beading because it allowed each bead to stand out. I love the fact that the earrings were handmade because I felt as if they were specially made for me. As you visit Amani's site, you will see that all of their pieces give you that personal feel. To get the updates on Amani's collection and social responsibility, sign up for their newsletter!
Creating the Look
I wanted to create a bold look around the earring but not too bold that the earrings didn't stand out. I also was inspired to give this look an African flare because of the earrings' materials and origin. I started the look with a printed, sleeveless dress and decided to turn it into a peplum top. I love this dress because of it's vibrant colors and print. I wanted to be able to wear this "top" to work so I paired a white button up underneath. Since I'm a city girl at heart, I had to put a city chic spin on the look. The city chic look come from the slim leg slacks and the single sole sandal. I completed the look with one more bold item. I wore a small orange handbag.
Yolande`