Spotted: The Iconic Lauryn Hill

Thanks to Tiffany over at Ebony Intuition for the wonderful photo of the beautiful Lauren Hill. She's an Afrolista of the year for that matter! I miss Lauryn's music and her style and it's great to see her out and about for a worthy cause. Check out the link to Tiffany's site to read the rest of the story. There's nothing drab about Lauryn so don't even try to compare her! She looks great!!!!

Afrolista: Julia Sarr-Jamois Channels The Men of Style "Le Sapeurs"

If you haven't seen or read Daniele Tamagni's book, Gentlemen of Bakongo then you really need to add this magnificent and beautifully photographed book to your collection of fashion books.

Julia Sarr-Jamois and Sir Paul Smith

JuliaSarr-Jamois and Rahma Muhamed on the cover of D la Repubblica Magazine
 
Fashion's newest "It Girl" Julia-Sarr Jamois and Rahma Mahamed pay homage to the Sapeurs in an editorial that was shot by Sir Paul Smith for D-Magazine which was inspired by the images from Gentlemen of Bakongo by Daniele Tamagni.

"Le Sapeurs"

Here's a little history of Le Sapeurs: The arrival of the French and Belgians to the Congo at the beginning of the 20th Century brought along the myth of Parisian elegance among the Congolese youth working for the colonialists. In 1922, G. A. Matsoua was the first-ever Congolese to return from Paris fully clad as an authentic French gentleman, which caused great uproar and much admiration amongst his fellow countrymen. He was the first Grand Sapeur.

Julia and Rahma Mahamed

The Sapeurs today belong to 'Le SAPE' (Societe des Smbianceurs et des PErsonnes Elegantes) (The Society for the Advancement of People of Elegance) - one of the world's most exclusive clubs. Members have their own code of honour, codes of professional conduct and strict notions of morality. It is a world within a world within a city. Respected and admired in their communities, today's Sapeurs see themselves as artists.

"Fellow Sapeur- Rapper Baloji

Each one has his own repertoire of gestures that distinguishes him from the others. They are also after their own great dream: to travel to Paris and return to Bakongo as lords of elegance. Designer brands of suit and accessories are of the utmost importance to Sapeurs - Pierre Cardin, Roberto Cavalli, Dior, Fendi, Gaultier, Gucci, Issy Miyake, Prada, Yves Saint Laurent, Versace, Yohji Yamamoto - are their patron saints. Unlike some US hip-hop gangs who are dressed in similar fine threads, there is no bloodshed here - here your clothes do all the fighting for you, otherwise you are not fit to be called a Sapeur.
(Source:The publisher)

Julia and Rahma

To learn more about Congolese rapper, Baloji click here.   
Thanks to Tamu McPherson of All The Pretty Birds for the link.
(All Photos:D la Repubblica Magazine.)

Men Of Style: Designers Kevan Hall and B.Micheal

Fashion designer, B. Micheal and one of his favorites muses, business woman Pamela Joyner at her annual Black Tie Affair.


This year I decided to start off on a more positive note and pay homage to two designers that I greatly admire, but whose story has been languishing in my lap tops hard drive because I've been too busy to edit what I wrote about them. I want to give credit to these two designers because we give more credit to others, when these men are just as good, if not better and they greatly deserve the attention. Sure, they've maintained their success without the attention from the mainstream fashion press, but I think they deserve the same accolades given to other more popular fashion designers.

Some of my favorites designs from B. Michael's 2010 Spring/Summer Collection.

I first heard of B. Micheal after reading about him in earlier copies of Essence Magazine and saw his designs quite frequently on my favorite actress, Cicely Tyson and other fashionable ladies. I first noticed Kevan Hall designs while watching the annual Academy Awards pre-shows and like most people, I had to find out more about him.




Another one of B.Michael's favorite muses, or shall I say fashion ambassadors, actress Cicely Tyson looking breath taking in red.

A spectacular gown from Kevan's 2010 Spring/Summer Collection.

Kevan Hall and B. Micheal knows it's not about you wearing the dress, but more about the dress wearing you in a transforming way. Their gowns and dresses are all about glamour, which today means modern glamour worn with a heavy dose of confidence. From their first collections to their present collections, they have never strayed from their true passion of making women look mutely elegant. Who she is and what she is speaks volumes when wearing their creations.


It doesn't matter if it's in their manipulation of the various fabrics that they use in their interpretations or the billowing of silk and organza of their gowns whose construction often rivals those found in nature.


Their collections for Spring/2010 tells the story of both of their influences for the ethereal sophistication and intricacy that their customers crave when wearing their designs. Kevan Hall's statement making pieces rival the boundaries between fashion and art with their vivid colors in which they both courageously use in their collections.

My favorite looks from Kevan Hall's 2010 Spring/Summer Collection and Mr. Hall himself.


It's no wonder that both of them are inspiring a new generation of designers to go where many of them are afraid to go. Bold, in living color!


Actress Vanessa Williams is a true supporter of Kevan Hall.

Regardless of the lack of media coverage they hardly receive, both men have their feet firmly planted on the boundaries of fashion in their own way. Their clothes are for women who exude confidence and are infused with the elegance to wear them, you won't see any unlikely combinations of street inclinations in any of their collections.

Kevan Hall and B. Micheal are not only known for their elegant gowns and the "ladies who lunch" suits, but the "women who launch" empires. I can't wait to see what Cicely Tyson, Susan Fales-Hill, Pamela Joyner, Alice Blythewood, Vanessa Williams, Crystal McCrary-Anthony and others will be wearing of their designs from the runway to the boardroom and to the ballroom.

For more info on both designers check out their web sites here: Kevan Hall and B.Micheal.
(Photos:SF Luxe/Getty Images)