Busy! Busy! Busy! is the best way to describe Marain Kihogo’s hectic schedule. She juggles her roles as Celebrity Personal Stylist, Creative Consultant, Fashion Editor of Glossy Magazine and Editor of www.mariankihogo.com seamlessly and makes us long for the security and excitement of working in a Fashion Industry where everything works like clockwork the way it is actually meant to be! Sure sounds like fun! Read on…
5:00am
My day starts super early with a client call to wake me up. There are days when ‘Old Faithful’ (that is my nickname for my Blackberry by the way!) just never stops ringing.
5:30am
Half an hour later, the client wardrobe emergency is sorted and I decide to wake up and get on with my day. I jump into the shower where I proceed to sing all my favourite Aretha Franklin songs.
6:00am
I am still feeling a little drowsy, so I apply my makeup. I usually only wear foundation, mascara and lipstick. The lip colour for the day is L’Oreal Color Sensational in ‘Fatal Red’. I also put on my wrist wear. I feel naked without my cuffs and rings.
6:30am
I check my email inbox, there is a million emails to deal with. From issues concerning upcoming shoots and interviews for Glossy magazine, which I fashion edit to responses from PR contacts in reference to garment requests for clients’ red carpet engagements.
I also update my blog, Mariankihogo.com (www.mariankihogo.com). It has just been shortlisted for a Cosmopolitan Blog Award 2010 in the fashion & style category.
7:30am
I shimmy into a vintage Wim Hemmink couture dress. It was a birthday present a few years ago, I customised it and so it is shorter now. With the dress I pair of faux leather pants, open toe booties, a sequin crop jacket and a Gucci belt.
8:00am
It feels too early for breakfast, so instead I grab a banana on my way out. I have only ten minutes to catch my train. Running in heels is oh so fun!
9:00
I get to my first appointment. It is a wardrobe consultation with a client I have worked with for years. She has incredible taste and a shoe closet to drool over. She has just moved to a much smaller apartment and has nowhere to put even 10% of her garments and accessories. They are currently all still in boxes. My task today is to help her edit it down to fit her new closet space. She decides she is going to put the rest in storage.
12:00pm
I love a great Cafe. Patisserie Valerie is one of my very favourites. The mini chain is like a mini slice of Paris in London. I meet a prospective new client at one. She has a piece of cake and a coffee. I have my usual, a delicious toasted cheese and tomato sandwich.
2:00pm
I stop by BLOW PR for a PR appointment. I am pulling some pieces for an editorial shoot and an upcoming fashion film that I am styling. While I am at BLOW, my blackberry beeps with two styling emergencies. I sort them as I finish my sample pulling session.
3:00pm
I walk down Regent Street and it hits me yet again how much I love London. I am headed to Aubaine, a French cafe. I am meeting one of my icons there. She is presently a fashion consultant who used to be an editor at major magazines. I meet her at Aubaine with her publicist.
4:30pm
The interview went well. I kiss her goodbye and muse on how graceful, inspiring and knowledgeable she was. To interview her was an honour.
5:00pm
I am checking out luggage in Selfridges. A client needs a new set for her weekend trips. She is thinking Longchamp.
I have a weakness for a great coffee table book and so wander check out Selfridge’s array of fashion books. I am almost tempted to buy ‘Stylist: The Interpreters of Fashion’ but luckily my phone rings with a magazine issue which distracts me.
5:45pm
I meet a jewellery designer in Topshop’s Eat cafe. Apart from my styling work, I also have worked as a creative consultant for years. The designer wants me to consult with her on her upcoming collection.
6:30pm
I meet my friend, fashion writer Joel Dash of The Dash Empire in front of Topshop. We are headed to two events we need to cover. Our first stop is a product preview at Coty Inc. Coty is the world’s largest fragrance company. At the preview I go gaga over ‘Bang’; Marc Jacobs newly launched male fragrance. I adore the innovative bottle.
I make sure to nibble on some mini tartlets. They look almost too good to eat, almost that is!
7:30pm
We get on the underground headed for event number two. Soon we get to Kings Road. I’ve been invited to attend jewellery chain, Azendi’s new shop opening. It is a mix of cupcakes, high heels and jewellery to drool over. Azendi stock Shaun Leane’s jewellery, he is in attendance at the launch. I proceed to drool over his designs.
9:00pm
A tired Joel and I head towards Sloane street underground station. At the station to my amusement, I get a thigh stuck in the ticket barrier. Joel and I have to catch separate trains so we say our goodbyes.
9:30pm
I am tempted to get some fast food as I walk past a Burger King. I settle in a train seat and check my Blackberry for email. On the train one of my assistants calls me with a query.
10:00pm
My husband kindly picks me up from the station. He says he is taking me out to a late dinner and we stop at home briefly where I change. I slink into a beloved Ana Šekularac scarlet red dress with a pair of leopard print patent heels. It was a Christmas gift from the designer and I never tire of its beautiful structure. I call it my ‘Little Red Dress’ (LRD). Who needs a Little Black Dress with this scarlet number?
12:00am
Back home, dinner was divine. After a quick shower I plan my diary for the next day. After painting my nails a cherry like shade, I then climb into bed with my laptop where I proceed to tweet till I fall asleep.
SHF credits Marain Kihogo text and images www.mariankihogo.com
what a day, she is beautiful. I love her site