DOVETAIL by Orange Culture

Orange Culture presents DOVETAIL collection inspired by uneven and unlevelled wooden staircases in Lagos Nigeria. 

The imperfection of staircases in Lagos Nigeria doesn’t necessarily take away from its beauty as the imperfect lines, joints and dimensions make each step an exciting adventure, a step into an airy discovery. These staircases have a rustic appearance that reinterprets the natural structure of wood and inspired the prints developed for the collection. 

The collection is filled with oversized “Agbada” Tunic, Wrapper Skirts, roped loose pants, sheer shirts, as well as some new shapes as the brand continues to push the boundaries on traditional African Menswear. 

Christian Dior Resort 2015 - Cuts, Layers & Flares

Tomas Maier Resort 2015 - French Chic Assessment

       

Ariyike Akinbobola x IAFL

Top Picks : Maki Oh - Fall 2014 + Short Film for RTW

                                         Maki Oh Fall 2014 

Maki Oh: Fall 2014 Video Fashion Week

Ready-to-Wear concept film shorts from Video Fashion Week.

Full video HERE

TOP PICKS: Dkny Pre-Fall 2014

Beautiful collection in all, but these are my favorites. Talk of too easy to wear, girly-mature and sexy looks...this is it! 

More photos below!

Christian Louboutin’s Baroque Fall 2013 Lookbook

Christian Louboutin Fall 2013 Lookbook by Peter Lippman

Speechless...

Loza Maleombho Spring/Summer 2014

New York based African designer, Loza Maleombho continues to stay true to her style of using local fabrics while creating structured relevant pieces.

For its Spring Summer 201 collection, the designer features few trends spotted lately; from the abs-revealing type, cringed silhouettes to volume and craftmanship. The collection also features patterns and emphasized cuts like the highlighted-breast, detailed layering and simple architectural cuts that somewhat add simplicity to the designs.

This label remains consistent with its style; one thing I appreciate about it.

LOOKBOOK: Trick & Treat - 3.1 Phillip Lim x Target Fall '13

Looks to Check: 

Desk to Dinner look

Corporate to Casual

Runway to Red Carpet

School to Street Style

.... All these and more in this collection! 

"Ordelia" - The Woman in You

 

This collection is beautifully feminine; the designs sit well with body basics, character type, gait the right mood.

 

Ordelia creates  classic. chic, afrocentric, retro and ethnic fusion pieces that stand out.  From casual, beautiful, multi functional day wears, swanky office apparels, evening gowns to in-the-room night wears...The pictures say more about Ordelia!

FALL FANTASY: Alexander McQueen A/W '13

Three words to describe Alexander McQueen autumn/winter 2013 collection; surreal, classy, feminine. 

Sarah Burton just knows how to keep the versatile, daring feminine look fresh and cool...with lots of white, black, high slits, gold touches, etc I'm especially loving the high necks, long sleeves with extra cuts, the slim pants (even for a bootcut/flare pants loving person), the chunky shoes, velvet, fur, the leather pencil skirts.

More photos below!!

'The Sahara Summer Collection' by ADE BAKARE

Ade Bakare remains one of my favourite Nigerian designer so when I discovered his latest collection – ‘The Sahara Summer’ Collection I jumped for joy….literally.

Liquid Tones, Deliberate Cuts = EKINEYO Spring '13

'DESERT HORIZON' Eki Orleans A/W 13 Lookbook

Speak colour, beautiful calm colours, fun cuts, mix-match print and patterns, defined details – peplum, hemlines, shoulders, etc Eki Orleans A/W 13 collection is nothing short of appealing, the collection tells a story of fabric .... Like a goddess, the woman here is portrayed as a style queen who knows her style, her heritage and is willing to even explore more....

As gathered,  The AW13 is a continuation of the last SS13 ‘Butterflies’ collection. It narrates a story of a journey from West Africa to the Sahara, taking form in the migration of butterflies towards the desert horizon. The journey starts in West Africa and on the prints you will see patterns reminiscent of the river Niger taking you up towards the Sahara desert to its north. The butterflies are strategically placed so they all gravitate towards the sun.

More photos after the cut

Being Chic in CHiCHiA

This isn't exactly a collection I’d wear but I’ll like to credit the creativity beautifully … in words of course.

It’s not London here, so I can’t picture any of this fabric around here especially now that the weather is crazily hottt! I mean, I almost went to work naked today (not exactly). I wore a sheer top with just my brassiere and realized all the men I interacted with looked at nowhere put my chest, their pain I thought *wink*.

Thanks to AfricanFashionGuide, I stumbled upon CHiCHiA London’s A/W 13/14 collection and oh dear is it brilliant or what? The choice of fabric is obvious but the designs are what I am not quite convinced of. Questions I’ve asking include; who is the CHiCHiA woman? What does she do? Where does she go and who are her friends?

"The Feeling" isn't Exactly Mutual...

Except Orange Culture's F/W '13 collection is about breaking boundaries *which I'd really love* then there're few tailoring ethics that shouldn't be in this collection. While I totally get the idea of mix-matching, layering, contrasting etc here, I believe there should be a limit to standards - perfect layering isn't over-layering.

Layer, mix-match, pull-over, disguise and do every thing (editorial or styling) to pieces but please don't over emphasize points that should speak themselves ..the right people (the fashion/style conscious and experienced in this light) understand you, so personally I don't think a designer or stylist at that should put too much effort in emphasizing the obvious. It somehow speaks weakness.

This collection is brilliant, the styling is nice but overly emphasized in some areas, tailoring as said earlier will pass if the idea was to break boundaries.

I love the conjunction of art, patterns and all...very creative.

March MANGO, March!

Mango Summer 'March' collection is everything girly, playful, chic yet mature...

Virtual Verdict - Virgo Lounge S/S ‘13

I love the playful ‘glam-ness’ of this collection; it’s fun, elegant, glamorous yet playful at the same time. The models too definitely know how to work before the camera  no rigidity sensed, no serious per say and their looks are just befitting for the looks portrayed.

I’ve not really been a fan of the Virgo Lounge brand perhaps because of the shimmery, shiny, sparkling nature of their designs or the symmetrical accessorizing of each design piece which often seen cliché to me but I think am gradually getting converted  - it happens that Virgo Lounge’s S/S collection has just opened my eyes to a whole new view of their flexibility or perhaps they actually did put in more effort and structure to create a different collection from the usual  - one full of surprises any woman can wear from morning to night.

More after the cut!!

Deola Sagoe Throws Back at the Future with 'KOMOLE' 2013

I love this collection, it's really Komole just like in the 60's. Reminds me of those old photos of my parents except the styling here is different. 

See; instead of the huge head styles or head gears, here the models adorn a rather more modern look almost as seen in Mad Men (on the women now); instead of the very big chunky heels, wedges worn then, here the models were very chic shoes ; lastly rather than double layers wrappers or heavy fabric, the fabric here is simple yet classic, vintage yet modern, cool yet mature, looking back yet fashion forward.

Each look is a perfect representation of future inspired vintage love of African fashion sense even in a very conventional way...It's beautiful, and graceful in a way.

With the right styling and accessorizing, each piece in this collection can be well dressed up for any occasion. Yes, from formal, corporate, casual, glam, 'Komole' can be rocked!

With wonderful photography impact by Kelechi Amadi-Obi and beautiful styling by the lovely Ifeoma Williams, this collection brings back the long desired sweetness of master designer and inspiration, Deola Sagoe.

More photos after the cut!

Colour Sensation: Henri Bendel Summer Collection

Bags to love, bags to covet. Henri Bendel's summer '13 bag collection is simply colourful...featuring handbags, clutches, purses, totes in different shapes, sizes and colours, these collection will compliment any look.  

More photos of beautiful bags after the cut!