"More Material" by Duro Olowu

Duro Olowu launched his second group show and pop-up boutique recently at Salon 94 Bowery…

Titled “More Materials,” the installation is a continuation of the work he started back in February 2012 with his first pop-up shop and exhibit during New York Fashion Week, an eye-catching collection of objet trouvés from the designer’s personal archive. “You grow, and like most things, you find more things, you discover more things. But what is really relevant now is just this concept of fashion, art, and objects, and really showing how women are perceived,” he says. “And how they perceive themselves.”

The designer Duro Olowu photographed in front of an installation in “More Material,” a new art show he curated at Salon 94 Bowery.

Duro Olowu talks more about the exhibition in an interview with  NY TIMES

There is more!

A Fashion & Retail Conversation - Reni Folawiyo, Omoyemi Akerele, Jennifer Obayuwana & Amaka Osakwe Discuss

 {L-R} Amaka Osakwe - Maki Oh; Jennifer Obayunwana – Polo Luxury; Omoyemi Akerele – Style House Files & LFDW; Reni Folawiyo – Alara and (Moderator) Lola Ogunnaike – Presenter & Writer 

WIE Symposium - fashion, Retail panel

This post took quite a while, something about it seemed unfinished but after careful considering I thought better to post than save it for that 'appropriate time'. Good information is always good anytime..my conclusion.

During W:IE symposium last month, I had the privileged of listening to some of the leading women in Nigeria fashion industry - quite an enlightening panel they were. They discussed fashion - the creative and business aspect & Retail - the marketing, advertising and publicity aspect of it.

These women;

Reni Folawiyo - Founder, Alara

Amaka Osakwe - Designer & Founder, Maki Oh

Jennifer Obayunwana - Executive Director, Polo Luxury

Omoyemi Akerele - Founder, StyleHouseFiles & LFDW

 Moderator: Lola Ogunnaike

Share some fascinating points...

Reni Folawiyo on ALARA:

Alara will be about everything real  - heritage, tradition, in relation to today. It will also be a platform to celebrate our lifestyle, who we are, how we are...celebrating culture and what we feel they (people here) want to buy.

Omoyemi Akerele on LFDW:

Lfdw is not about the publicity, it's about positioning brands and the idea of fashion - "what goes on behind the wall".  Some feel fashion is for the elitist, it's not - often. That's the idea LFDW is trying to share, the idea to let people, sponsors understand fashion is more than parties and all the fancy nature around it.

Moderator: asks about the relationship between the government & the fashion industry - how to  promote fashion or bring art initiative alive?

Omoyemi & Reni: They'll make life much easier if they support, also they can help with infrastructure - it's one main issue that's yet to be resolved. So for us to gain that good standard the government needs to support with labour, infrastructure and more.

#METBALL 2014: Charles James – Beyond Fashion

Tonight, 5^th May 2014, world’s most extravagant fashion – Met Ball will be the first at the newly reopened Anna Wintour Costume Centre.

This year’s theme is “Charles James: Beyond Fashion” - a retrospective of the 20th-century British-born, American-based couturier.

Everyone is looking forward to red carpet moments of their favourite style stars so I thought to share mine because they never disappoint. Top on my list is the unfailing Sarah Jessica Parker, followed by Rooney Mara {she definitely grunge and weird so cool}, then there’s Iman, Katy Perry, Beyonce, Madonna. New comers I’m looking forward to include; Lupita Nyong’o, Allison Williams and maybe Mandy Kaling. Meanwhile, I’ll take to Instagram for the #BRC {before red carpet}.

Here is Guardian’s feature on Charles James

Some of Charles James' designs below the cut.

Beauty Is... Lupita Nyong'o

People Magazine 

TOP LOOKS: MTV Movie Awards

Nicki Minaj

Ariyike Akinbobola x IAFL

APRIL INSPIRATION

     Arm Charm | Accessories | Lace | Denim | Blue | White | Collars

Beauty Through the Ages: Osas Ighodaro, Taiwo Ajay-Lycett and Modupe Ozolua for Genevieve Magazine {March 2014}

Photography: Ty BelloStyling: Dimeji AlaraMake-up: Bimpe OnakoyaHair: Ola

A

African Fashion Week Nigeria (AFWN) - 17th & 18th May 2014

For the first time in history, Nigeria will be hit with the biggest platform dedicated to African inspired fashion, African Fashion Week Nigeria (AFWN). The two-day spectacular show which will be held between Saturday, 17th and Sunday, 18th May 2014 at Intercontinental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos will showcase everything that defines fashion from an African point of view.

Top Picks: #MFW - Stella Jean

Stella Jean Fall/Winter 2014 Runway

Elle Style Awards 2014 - Winners

Rita Ora, Tinie Tempah and Elie Goulding

Complete list of the 2014 Elle Style Awards winners is below. My favorite wins are; Pharrell Williams, Christopher Kane, Tinie Tempah and David Bailey.

Winners: 

Model of the Year – Suki Waterhouse

Actress of the Year – Emma Watson

British Designer of the Year – Christopher Kane

Contemporary Designer of the Year – Isabel Marant

Accessories Designer of the Year – Katie Hillier

UK Recording Artist – Lily Allen

International Recording Artist – Pharrell Williams

Woman of the Year – Katy Perry

Fashion Innovator of the Year – Nicola Formichetti for Diesel

Red Carpet Designer of the Year – Emilia Wickstead

Man of the Year – Tom Hiddleston

UK Recording Artist Male – Tinie Tempah

Lifetime Achievement – David Bailey

Rihanna x Vogue US

Vivienne Westwood African Inspired Handbags

Made using recycled canvas, reused roadside banners and unused leather cut-offs, the bags are made in Nairobi by communities of women who are affected by extreme poverty.

"To change an image, first you destroy it" FT

Excerpt from a brand management article using Miley Cyrus as focus...fine read.

To change an image, first you destroy it. Only then can you rebuild: this is the lesson of fashion, and it is the lesson of Miley Cyrus. Who ever thought those two words would reside in the same sentence? My guess is Cyrus herself or her handlers. I think they figured this out long ago.

For the past few months – since that notorious moment at the MTV Video Music Awards when the former Disney darling from TV’s Hannah Montana shed her teddy bear suit to revel a latex bikini and then performed a raunchy routine with Robin Thicke – Cyrus has been at the centre of an intense debate over just how conscious her bad/embarrassing behaviour is, and its intended effect. Cyrus herself has always asserted of her MTV performance that she was playing a character, and it was all planned. Yet she couldn’t quite convince everyone. There were those (such as actress Kate Winslet) who saw Cyrus as the misguided wrecking ball of her own career: a girl on a public path to ignominy, à la Lindsay Lohan, another former child star.

Full article by Vanessa Friedman HERE

Back to the Matter - 5 Style Essentials for the 9-5 Gal

Lagos Fashion And Design Week 2013  MAI ATAFO #LFDW

Just like the title implies, it's time to get to the main matter - work, life and the career...It took me like five days to come up with this post - why? Because firstly, the title came to me within seconds but I didn't know what exactly to write about. I thought, maybe what it feels like getting back to office, how to set the mind back to work mood and finally closet staples to reconsider for the new year..

I came to conclusion, I'm clear on how I feel for the new work year and also clear on having a resolution or not. But something I'm sure I and most peeps out there are not sure they've cleared for the new year - is their style resolution.

I know my style, I know how I want to be seen/addressed style-wise but I desire a strong change for my work looks. For 2014 I want more strong looks, more like 'power' looks. Casual formal is permitted but in a matured way not girly.

Finally, I summarized it into five essential style items for the working lady *big smile*

The five include;

* The Jacket: No not the regular jacket, a monochrome or boyfriend jacket. Both will be essential for the always-necessary LBD and the tank and pants/pencil skirt looks.

Vogue Australia senior fashion editor Christine Centenera

Closing Party of 2013 : Hennessy x Okunoren Twins Store Launch

On December 24^th 2013, just few hours to Christmas, luxury menswear fashion label, Okunoren Twins with support from world’s finest cognac - Hennessy, officially launched its recently opened store located at 20b Mainland Way, Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos.

The perfect location, sufficiently off the hustle and bustle of Lagos, allows one to feel the solemnness of the space and also to amble the neighborhood in peace. The interior is like a trinket box of burgundy, gold and whites with an expensive, soft minimal and luxury feel surrounded by drawings, sculptures and iconic photographs.

Trend Tracking: ARTPOP

Anita Quansah, KLuK CGDT and More Win at Mercedes-Benz 5th Annual Africa Fashion Awards 2013

Accessories Designer of the Year, Anita Quansah

Few days ago at the 5th annual Africa Fashion Awards, jewelry designer - Anita Quansah, KLuK CGDT, Zandile Blay  won Accessories Designer of the Year, Designer of the Year and Fashion Communicator of the Year respectively.

Also, Eleni Labrou and Grace Boi also won AFI Young Designer of the Year and Model of the Year.

Full list of winners below.

Runway Report: Ghana Fashion and Design Week 2013 - HOUSE OF MARIE

Dashing, Classic and Exquisitely Mannish - The New Okunoren Flagship Store

Okunoren Flagship Store

The Okunoren Twins have opened a flagship store on Mainland way in Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi. The store’s perfect location, sufficiently off the hustle and bustle of Lagos, allows one to feel the solemnness of the space and also to amble the neighborhood in peace.