Day Two // The Rays

Today my only class was 2D Design for Studio Art so it was pretty casual. I got to enjoy this perfectly hot weather for a little while and get ahead in my book club reading. I've done a lot of much needed relaxing and that's perfect. It's always nice when I get that chance since it doesn't happen very often.

To go along with the relaxed attitude of the day, I picked a comfy outfit and a brand new tie. The shorts were made from an old pair of jeans that no longer reached my ankles and a loose top from PINK by Victoria's Secret. I wore the teal straps to add a pop of color, and my floral sunglasses to match.

This tie is one that kind of popped into my head on the way back from classes yesterday. I originally wanted to do a two-color version of it but couldn't quite get it to work (maybe that'll happen soon, though! Keep an eye out!) It took a lot of trial and error to come up with this final product, which I think is a really comfortable and secure fit. That's the cool thing about Ssekos: you can try anything you want and if it doesn't work, just make a few edits and you'll find something great.

The only problem with it is that it can't be taken off and put back on without basically retying the whole thing. Which is a complete bummer, because it's so cute and comfy. So don't wear this tie if you're planning a day of going in and out during which you'll be taking your shoes on and off. I made that mistake today. I wanted to be able to kick off my shoes and relax between dinner and my next meeting, which led to me changing to flip flops towards the end of the day.

The tutorial for this tie and the last will be available Sunday, so make sure to come back and check it out!

Heather

Day One // The Adapted Holly Tie

Hey all!

Today was a beautiful August day for wearing my Ssekos! I got up this morning and had a wonderful workout at the pool and came back with plenty of time to try out a (relatively) new tie.

Today I was very excited to wear one of my favorite (and thrifty) outfits to take advantage of the incredible weather. Later in the day I regretted the skirt, since the wind really took over campus, but I wasn't going to let that stop me from looking and feeling great. I paired a men's white v-neck with a printed skirt I found at a thrift shop over the summer. I topped it off with, of course, my Ssekos and wayfarer style sunglasses.

I chose the black straps to really pull the whole outfit together. You can never go wrong with classic black.

This tie is one I adapted from The Holly Tie. I had tried the original version once this summer and it just didn't stay in place while I walked. I adapted it once, but that change also felt too loose and didn't hold up once I took my feet out. This morning I revamped it a little and instead of weaving the straps all the way down and tying behind the ankle, I crossed over the top of the foot and tied in the back.

This is a very comfortable tie, though not ideal for a lot of heavy walking as it loosens just a bit and is like wearing a pair of normal flip flops.The clean lines of it make for a very nice addition to any outfit, both casual and slightly more formal. One of the great things about this one is that when you take your feet out, the tie holds itself up so you don't have to start from scratch when putting them back on (and you can even tie them the night before and just slip them on in the morning!)

Thanks for reading and keep and eye out for a tying tutorial in the next couple days!

Heather

the start of it all

Not too long ago, a very beautiful and inspiring friend of mine led me to the way of Sseko Designs and I'll never be going back. As a company, Sseko (say-ko) does incredible things. They use fashion to empower and educate women and provide opportunities for these women to end the cycle of poverty. They employ women in Uganda who are in their gap year between high school and university, women who have been marginalized in East African society, and women who wish to be a part of socially conscious fashion.

It is so inspiring to see all of these women and hear about the successes of each of them. It also doesn't hurt that the sandals are cute and perfectly adaptable for every outfit. I have a ever-growing collection of six straps and the possibilities are endless.

The color isn't the only variety that Sseko offers, either. Straps come in cotton, silk, and chiffon. The wedding line will occasionally offer a lace option. The patterns are diverse and they've recently introduced a new Spirit Straps line that's dual-colored (the orange and navy one pictured above is perfect for the upcoming football season at Auburn). I cannot get enough of these.

So now that I've told you all about Sseko and what exactly they do, I'll tell you why I'm here! For the next month I'll be participating in my very own 30 days // 30 ways. I won't be wearing my Ssekos every day (sometimes deciding which tie to wear takes a while, and often I'll be rushing off to class early in the mornings), but for every day that I do wear them, I'll be wearing a different tie and pairing them up with some of my favorite outfits. 

Yours truly,

Heather