Diary of a Broke Kampala Fashionista is a new series on Satisfashion UG. Kampala born Kirabo has a knack for fashion and in another life, she was born in New York City. She dreams of going there but is too broke to even live alone. She lives with her elder sister Mutesi, who treats her like a child because she spends and acts like one. The weekly struggles are all (unintentionally) fashion related. She narrates her story of trying to realize her dreams while sliding in tips of how she gets by looking like a million bucks on a very slim wallet. She interns at a law firm in Kampala.
See part 1 here, part 2 here and part 3 here.
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Today was so hectic, I can barely catch my breath. I stare into the mirror and think back at all I had to do, soft music plays in the background, it’s something like Celine Dion and the like on the playlist. Calming! If the whole day had been this calm…
Well, I had no work today so thank goodness I didn’t have to deal with the office. But staying home wasn’t an option, Mutesi had to carry me along with her to run her errands. I am her unofficial bag carrier. Lazy cow! Well, we started from the market, looking for veggies and other groceries for the house. After beating watermelons on the side (whoever told Ugandans that that’s how you can tell if they are ripe!) we lugged everything to the car boot and continued.
I had a dress that was a little too small on the sides but noticed that it had enough space to be altered (my tummy does not quit, has me looking like a fat chicken, smh), so I took it to my tailor. Then I ran to the video library to buy Black Panther (you don’t really think I was about to pay 10k to watch it in the cinema right?), I got that and a few more series to get me going through the Sunday.
Picked up my dress and it fit perfectly! All I need is to add some embellishments on the collar and it will be out of this world. I must wear it when that fine guy I saw at the office eventually asks me out… he was looking at me like he wanted a thick snack, I got some that’s almost overdue.
When I got home I thought I’d have time to go to Wakanda, “Noooo please!” Mutesi started yelling instructions at me like I’m getting paid to do all the manual labour. Manya start the sigiri, clean the bathroom, bring me this, take that there. I’m going to hand in an application to be a part-time maid, people are paid to have this kind of stress, imagine! She has a husband, he’s just there watching football like a log, can’t he fetch her the bottle of Vim, his team is going to lose again anyway.
And while I was at this, my hair was giving me a hard time; I had put it into cornrows last night but it has been itchy all day, and I noticed since I tinted it, the normal hair moisture routine just can’t cut it, I need a stronger moisturizer.
I am low-key regretting why I did it, but the hair looks cute once I have it tamed, and the curls are going to be so hot when I take these cornrows out, Monday morning I see you. (mental note: ask the salon lady how to deal with this hair long term)
Right now I’m looking at my line of products in the mirror and it is getting me even more tired. I know I can’t sleep without going through all the motions but it’s such a process! At least I’m done removing the makeup and washing my face with the cleanser. I have to have this really soft type cleanser it’s almost like a lotion. Apparently, I have dry skin, so I have to be a little patient with it. Well, now I have this huge bottle of toner which cost an arm and a leg but is likely to take me until like November. Worth it! I put a bit of it on a cotton pad and go over my face until it stings (the lady at the shop says it stings so that it can dry out pimples, even those thinking about forming) when it’s all dry I add this ka oil, oba serum, to add nutrients to my face by force. Then I put this ‘super-duper added moisture moisturizer’ type of lotion to top it all off and I’m finally ready to go to bed.
These things for women, we can never let things happen the natural way, we must catalyze matters. A man will be there, clear skin and long lashes and only use that blue soap for saucepans to wash his face. While me here I have all these special formulas and mixtures, each with a special use. A lotion for every section of my body; hands, face, body, tummy, inner thighs, feet… added lashes, added eyebrows, added ka shino (like, why do I wipe away ka shino and apply highlighter in the same place?) and more. I wouldn’t have it any other way though. It’s like a playground on my face. Anyway, these beauty matters will not do themselves, so I will check in later when I’m probably not as tired as I am now. My arms are WWE wrestling level now.
Good night.
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Look out for part 4 next week
Cover photo by William Stitt on Unsplash
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