Fashion Sense: VOGUE Italia's EIC Franca Sozzani Visits Ghana

In Accra,Ghana Franca Sozzani met both with Ghanaian fashion designer Kofi Ansah and other emerging fashion designers of The WEB-Young Designers Hub, an association of local young fashion designers who presented a runway showing of their collections.


Source: VOGUE Italia and Fashionista Ghana

There's Everyone Else and Then There's Azzedine Alaïa

Azzedine Alaïa Returns To Paris Fashion Week

One of the biggest names in the fashion, Azzedine Alaïa is set to show at Paris Fashion Week after previously showing his collections to only a select few fashion insiders in recent years. The Tunisian born, Paris based fashion designer said he plans to show a series of semi-couture pieces during the start of Parisian haute couture fashion shows which takes place between 4 and 8 July of this year.

Alaïa has dressed many of worlds most stylish and high-profile women, from Grace Jones, Tina Turner, Naomi Campbell and Michelle Obama, to name a few. His clothes highlight the body, like a second skin that emphasizes a womans curves. Azzedine Alaïa never disappoints the women who love him with his ever changing array of clothing and accessories. I can't wait to see this collection.

Azzedine Alaïa Celebrates The Body Beautiful

Two Looks From Azzedine Alaïa's 2011/12 Fall-Winter RTW Collection

  

Ruffles usually signal softness or a feminine aesthetic when it comes to a woman's clothes, but count on Azzedine Alaïa, "The King of Cling"  to create dreamy and sexy confections that hug the body in just the right places. Azzedine Alaïa continues to glorify the female silhouette with his beautifully designed pieces.

For his highly anticipated 2011-2012 Autumn/Winter Collection, he held an exclusive viewing only to a select few of the worlds fashion editors. Known for his use of knits and innovative techniques which sheathe the body by creating an outline that follows a woman's curves and flatters the silhouette, Alaïa presented this beautiful collection.

Anything Alaïa creates makes a woman know that she doesn't have to try too hard to be dazzling while wearing it. 

Photos: Le Figaro/WWD

Afrolista's Get Ready For The 2011 Arise Fashion Week!

We've seen them all, from NYC to Milano and back to Paris and onto to Johannesburg, now see the best that Lagos, Nigeria and Arise Magazine has to offer in African style, which is the true leader in global style! Tomorrow starts the first day of the Arise Magazine Fashion Week, so be sure to check out the fabulous runway photos and cultural events never seen before at this prestigious event. Click on the links to see the full schedule and daily posts at the website.

Photo: Arise Magazine

THREE LOOKS:PRINTASTIC DURO OLOWU 2011-2012 FALL/WINTER RTW

"My clothes are about joy" ~ Duro Olowu

From abstract florals to psychedelic graphics, patterns are everywhere and no one can mix patterns like Duro Olowu can and I see a few things that I like. Check out additional inspiration from Duro here.

THREE LOOKS









Photos: Alessandro Garofalo

Objet de beauté: Azzedine Alaïa's Wedge Sandal

These are so worth the money or can a woman find something similar at a lower price? The search is now on to find a bargain on these fab shoes. 

Ajak Deng For Lanvin H&M

Fabulous Ajak!

Last nights Lanvin for H &M fashion show at New York's Pierre Hotel had been the talk of the web ever since we found out about this fabulous collaboration between the two fashion powerhouses. The fabulousness and the drama displayed at last night's show must have been one fabulous night out for those lucky enough to view it in person.

The glamor and beauty from what I've seen was to literally die for because they said Alber Elbaz and his crew put on a phenomenal show. I had to pick my favorite from the bunch and give it to Supermodel Ajak Deng because the woman rocked her entire outfit from head to toe.
Photo:Tommy Ton

Blog Love: UZURI

Of course you know I had to choose the photo with the

beautiful Ethiopian model, Nazri Segaro's Afro.

While reading the Houston Chronicle today, I came across the wonderful blog UZURI. For me it was love at first click. I was supposed to be writing a comment about the new Houston based magazine called  JONES and couldn't finish quick enough to browse this website. UZURI is a Houston, Texas based international fashion magazine that focuses on western fashion with African and African-American influences. This is a fabulous magazine and I need to get my hands on a copy of it. Be sure to check out their magnificent website as they are now featuring several collections by African designers.

Hottest, Newest, Latest: Azzedine Alaïa's Homage To Africa

Azzedine Alaïa has something for us Afrolista's who have a serious love affair with shoes, that's right ...we love our shoes! But this time he's paying homage to Africa, and yes he is an African... Tunisian to be exact! We've been letting society divide up the continent with this Sub-Saharan mess for far too long, and Africans are Africans regardless of what part of the continent we originate from!

Now, let's get back to the fabulous shoes that he has designed with cowrie shells, raffia and other natural embellishments that will have us "shoeaholics" drooling for days. So many designers have offered up their versions of the "exotic and ethnic," but  this master can truly say his shoes are authentic to the core in their design aesthetic. Check them out below and decide which ones you love!

How about these perfect flats with a long flowing, voluminous sheath or sundress?

What women wouldn't want to rock these bada@#$... wedges?

Or these with a fierce African print or Western designed garment?

Or these with the perfect "nuevo style" Little Black Dress?

South Africa's Design Indaba Expo 2010

A Model From One Of The Design Indaba Fashion Shows

(Love The Hair!)

The Design Indaba Expo is a celebration of South Africa’s wealth of creativity. Which includes advertising, architecture, craft, décor, film, fashion, graphic design, interior design, jewellery, new media, publishing, product design and visual media, are all presented together. Each of the over 260 exhibitors is evaluated and endorsed by an advisory panel of top South African designers, stylists, critics and industry experts. Setting a high curatorial standard, all products are original, contemporary and innovative, not to mention conceived and manufactured in South Africa.

The Design Indaba Expo 2010 was open to the public and was held from Friday 26 February to Sunday 28 February.A chock-a-block daily programme of additional activities will fuel the buzz. All-day fashion shows, a short-film festival, the new Design Indaba Kids workshops, a suave designer bar, tantalising designer food and daily Pecha Kucha presentations by leading local creative artist are just some of the highlights to look forward to. Check out some of the fabulous photos below:

International Design All Stars from every discipline under the sun have been showing off their inventive prowess at the Design Indaba Conference since 1995. Drawing fans from creative, corporate and educational sectors alike, the conference has become the playing field for the imaginative at heart. Even one of my favorite entrepreneurs do-it-yourself mavens Martha Stewart was there and I'm sure she will feature the event on her television show.
(Photos:Michelly Rall)