Christinia Jones Archive

Summer is finally here, and the long beautiful days seem to call for a new wardrobe to be put together to celebrate the sun. This year, the gurus of fashion continue to lean toward the casually put together look, reminiscent of the boho look in the past years. While some staples seem here to stay, there have been some changes to the way they are dressed up, especially with bags and shoes. With the addition of a few chic accessories, you are ready to hit a summertime barbeque or dance the evening away at a music festival.

Dresses are all the rage. Ruffled dresses that seem to belong to a modern fairytale with dramatic, cascading ruffles are a must-have for those craving a little drama and luxury. Speaking of luxury, the trending of wearing underwear as outerwear continues to run strong this season. The chemise-like slip dress is an effortless way to keep things cool, understated and naturally sensual. For the music festival goers, the look for the next summer musical has been set in stone – the prairie-inspired, drop-waisted, floral dress. Teamed with ankle boots to keep your toes safe and a denim jacket, this is the look of the season.

Keeping with the boho-esque theme, the humble rucksack has become one of the staples accessories of this summer, taking on a chic leather look. Chunky-heeled sandals (especially the light-up ones from Chanel) are also on top of the shopping list. For a more casual, everyday look, invest in logo shirts from Vetements or FCUK and dig out your denim mini skirt from the 90’s. Cutouts are here to stay and the off-shoulder look is no exception. Shoulder-baring is barely considered inappropriate, though it does grab your attendance in a nonchalant way. The topping on the cake, the crème de la crème, is the reboot of the tiara. No longer just for birthday parties or Swan Lake but for everything; you deserve to feel like a princess.

More and more people are taking up a musical instrument, not only because it offers them a great party trick but also because of the physical and mental benefits studying an instrument has. It allows for greater dexterity, mental focus and provides a sense of euphoria when done right. If you are short on time but still want to learn an instrument, here are a few easy choices.

Often confused with a little guitar, the ukulele was first used in Hawaiian songs, but it has found its way into pop music recently. With only four strings and a sweeter sound, it is more uncomplicated and you will quickly be strumming to a catchy tune. Another string instrument to keep an eye out for is the autoharp. It has a sequence of bars joined to its body and when these are pressed down, they play a chord. It was initially used in folk music.

Moving onto reed instruments, the pianica and harmonica are two of the easiest to master. Also known as a melodica, the pianica is looks like a piano but does not require the two hand coordination of a piano, making it easier to learn. The harmonica has been widely used across a variety of genres from jazz and folk to rock and pop. It is a great instrument choice for solo and group performances.

For a folksier tune, the penny whistle or Irish tin whistle is a wind instrument that has a unique sweet metallic sound, instantly recognizable from Irish and Celtic folk music. The penny whistle can be learnt in a week or two, making it an attractive choice for many people. Across the ocean, the bongos present an easy to learn percussion instrument. This Afro-Cuban instrument is widely found in Cuban music. If genres like Afro-Cuban Jazz and salsa float your boat, this is your instrument of choice. However, the world is a wide place with many choices so do your research before settling on an instrument.