My 30th Birthday Slaycation!

Man oh man have I waited a long time for this bodysuit! When I first saw it on Fenoel’s Instagram account, I knew I had to have it, but I was pregnant and could not fathom wearing a bodysuit. Once I decided to do my exclusive Buy Black fashion shopping this year, this bodysuit was one of the first things that I purchased. I’ve seen most people style it as a bodysuit, but it’s actually designed to be a swimsuit! Unfortunately (or fortunately), the medium I got is actually a tad big for me, so it looks better on me as a bodysuit than a swimsuit.

Another mix and match look — the bikini is by DiarraBlu, and I’ve worn it several times as a top because it’s just so cute. I actually did go in the pool with this one, but during the day I paired it with some culottes by Imad Eduso. I don’t think they’ve been styled as resort wear yet, because lined satin isn’t exactly the material when you think of vacation, but the hem is just to darn cute I had to pack it with me. Plus it was a super sweet surprise gift that the Imad Eduso team sent me (after I’d already purchased two of their sets), so it felt like a birthday present! The white acrylic earrings I wore with is sold out but by BaubleBar.

Every time I rewatch the 3D rendering of the Hanifa Pink Label Congo collection that launched this summer, I am compelled to let out a yasss. It was SO innovative and well-executed, so I had to support the brand! I wasn’t sure about my ability to pull off the Jolie dress when I ordered it, and to be honest, didn’t plan on wearing it anytime soon. But it fit like a dream when I got it, so I decided to use it as my birthday dress! Mary J Blige recently wore it for a cover shoot, so I felt like a celeb wearing it! The only heels I packed for this trip were by Brother Vellies, and they were part of a limited release she did with Moda Operandi, which included several shades of brown shoes in 3 or 4 classic silhouettes. I didn’t have a nude strappy sandal in my closet so this one is now it!

My last swimwear look was a bikini by Andrea Iyamah, whose pieces I’ve been buying for years! They’re just so expertly made and really flatter all body types. I struggle with bikini hyperpigmentation and sometimes swimsuit designers will make bottoms super high cut, but I like how this set is cut with a bit more coverage. Plus the ruffles on the top can be positioned in multiple ways which makes this suit super versatile! I didn’t photograph it away from the pool, but I wore the Michelle set by Fully Covered Still Fly as my coverup for the day (worn here!).

I don’t have any photos of the last daytime look I wore (but I shot it before I left!), because by the end of the trip I was pretty exhausted and just wanted one dinner where I didn’t have to think about photography (or the baby), but I wore this white blazer dress that I got from the Haentel boutique in Nairobi. It’s definitely a short dress (I wore nude bike shorts by Nubian Skin underneath), but I’m a sucker for a white blazer — I’ve found it on AliExpress and another site, so it’s definitely more of a 20s dress than a 30s dress LOL.