That Model

Let me introduce you to Salieu Jalloh, or should I say "re-introduce" because you might have seen his face on many editorials, ad campaigns, runways or on BET's reality show Model City (where I discovered him).

180 Mag - By Shaugn Crawford

Dear New York City readers..

Visit the current exhibition about Africa through photography, Africolor, at Danziger Projects, including works from Malian Malick Sidibe, South African Lolo Veleko, Italian Daniele Tamagni, Dutch Ruud Van Empel, or American Mickalene Thomas.

You can drop by until September 10th, 2011.

By Mickalene Thomas

Danziger Projects
527 West 23rd Street
NYC
Tel- 212 629 6778

"Africa's definition of global luxury"

I haven't checked out Jewel By Lisa in a minute. This is their Autumn/Winter 2012 collection, which they presented during the Arise Fashion Week in Lagos, back in March. The title says everything about Ms Lisa Folawiyo's work; she is just too high-fashioned.

Make sure you visit the website and discover the "Global Minimalism Collection 2011" (another name for Summer Collection I believe). Marvelous.

BKFW '11

Take a look at Boxing Kitten's Fall/Winter collection for this year 2011, modeled by the beautiful Naima Mora (what a nice first name, isn't it ? :p), and photographed by the talented Kwesi Abbensetts.

(Ohema) Ohene - Simple as a button

Talking about details, ladies, get your man one his these Ohema Ohene Kente cufflinks ! Well, I know there are lots of trendy fellas out there so yeah, you won't need your lady to get them for you.
They should make a whole difference on an ordinary shirt.





 www.ohemaohene.com

Adjoa Osei

New designer in town: Adjoa Osei.
A few weeks ago, the London based released an 8-piece collection, Adapt, featuring loose tops and colorful maxi skirts. The aim of this collection is to "explore the different ways that smart/casual wear can be enhanced with African prints".
I've always said that when it comes to fashion, the details make a whole outfit work. And that's precisely what's interesting here: the handwoven elements on each piece.

I'm looking forward to see what Ms Osei has prepared for her winter collection.

Photos by Agata Preyss

M.E. Studio / The Plastics

I already stated in one of my very first posts that Melody Ehsani might be my favorite jewelry designer in the game. Check out the lookbook for her Spring 2011 collection. Dopeness.

Burberry it is.

I just read a french article where they said Burberry paved the way for a new trend that involves Africa and its wax printed clothes, probably driven by the recent uprisings in Arabic countries. *BLANK-FACE* Whoever wrote that either lives in a cave without no Internet nor TV, or just didn't have a clue about what to write.

Zebra Living

A modern urbanite, (Zebra woman) celebrates her unique style with Zebra's versatile and affordable 'fashion art' infused with African Spirit. -.

I think this one sentence epitomizes so well Nigerian Ugoma Adegoke's label, that I don't even need to go further with it. Take a look at these two collections and their very simple yet sophisticated pieces, and make sure you visit the website.

The Lagos Dynamo Collection

That Editorial

The June 2011 issue of Vibe Vixen Magazine features model Eva Marcille and her platinum blond ponytail in the desert. She displays Topshop, Prada, American Apparel and YSL. Kudos to those Pierre Hardy Striped Wedges. Gorgeous !

By Robert Hector for Taylor Hector Studios

That Model

As he is coupled with Jourdan Dunn in the latest Burberry ads, shot by Mario Testino, here is Sacha Mbaye.
I think he is one name we'll hear about on some regular basis from now on.

M I A

Well... Just because of the subtitle of this blog, I cannot stop blogging like that.

Thula Sindi - London Fashion Week

Thula Sindi, one of the most noted designer out there in South Africa, also presented his new collection for the eponymous label.
Here is some tiny reminder of his past one.

Bunmi Koko - London Fashion Week

Ohww I thought I did publish this one...

'Kaleidoscopia', Nigerian Bunmi Koko's A/W 2011 collection, was all about bright colors and a multiplicity of fabrics, from leather to feather and suede to plastic with plastic masks at times, creating some sort of futuristic Alexander McQueen collection.

Gloria W. - London Fashion Week

African designers were very well represented this year in London.
Take Ugandan Gloria Wavamunno, who presented her A/W '11 collection title "Not A Dream, My Soulmate", during "À La Mode" event.
She sticked to wax print, as usual, and worked it out beautifully, as usual. It was also the occasion to spread some message about solidarity and fight against aids.

(Afro) Queen Bee

When rumors about bleaching her skin are buzzing all over the internet, Beyonce darkens her face for the March issue of L'Officiel Magazine, its 90th birthday issue by the way.

Sass & Bide - London Fashion Week

Back in September, I introduced you to this label HERE. Ms Clarke and Ms Middleton presented their collection for this year's Autumn/Winter, during the first day of the promising London Fashion Week.
The ideas are the same, lots of prints, but very colorful this time.

Love Angel Music Baby

Yesterday Feb 17th, Gwen Stefani presented L.A.M.B.'s Fall/Winter '11 collection during Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York.

Sabali - Damian Marley x Nas x Amadou & Mariam

I just had to put this video in here. It has its place in this blog. Definition of MASTERPIECE.

Paris Fashion Week 2011 - Julien Fournié

Raise your hands if you have not seen any highlights from that amazing show ?! Well, shame on you !


Julien Fournié gave us, what to me was, the most bold and beautiful runway show of this year's Haute Couture Fashion Week in Paris.
And with good cause: the young designer paid a colorful tribute to the Black woman. Fluid shapes, brightness, afros everywhere, exclusively presented by black models.
It was worthy of the last African Fashion Week in Jo'burg.

So dear Mr Fournié, THANK YOU.

Gangs of New York

In the February '11 issue of Vogue US, there is a fabulous editorial by Mario Testino, noted Peruvian fashion photographer, with 30 goregous models styled with Dona Karan, Ralph Lauren and Proenza Schouler.
There are the 'gangs' of brunettes, the blonds, the red-haired, the asian girls, the 'sexy' girls, the Renaissance ones, and of course the Black girls.

The last ones feature Joan Smalls, Ajak Deng, Arlenis Sosa, Chanel Iman, Anais Mali, Jourdan Dunn and Sessilee Lopez. Now if you don't know them all, you might keep their names in mind, because they are the new faces of that growing community of black models.

Art Minute

Africa is not only 'wearable'. Many artists have expressed their love for the Motherland and their own roots through art. I will introduce you, now and then, to extraordinary people with extraordinary imagination and skills.

That cover: it's Barbie !

Your new top female emcee brought her wildness to another level for the cover of V Magazine. I'm diggin the picture, the whole spread in general. 

She is wearing a dress from the fly SS11 collection of Versace, with a make-up by Peter Philips, creative director for Chanel.

Never too hot for some knitwear

You might have already gone through this shoot from English designer Derek Lawlor. It was shot in Uganda, by photographer A.J Hamilton, and I absolutely adore the contrast made between knitwear and heat.

Boxing Kitten's new season

Maya Lake is back with her mixed-prints signature creations for Boxing Kitten's Spring/Summer 2011 collection. The vintage cuts are still on point ! I'm sure B.K's top clientele, including the Knowles sisters, Kelis and Rihanna to name a few, will know how to rock these new pieces properly.

In an article from the October '10 issue of 19th Hole Magazine, Miss Lake announced her will to create a menswear collection. I'm pretty impatient to see that !