Inspired: Of Eric Raisina and YSL

YSL, Eric Raisina-style. 

Fashion is usually a re-interpretation of something that exists; a re-imagining that goes around in circles and cycles, drawing inspiration from an original and making it something new. At Africa Fashion Week in Dublin a few weeks ago, several of Eric Raisina's dresses took inspiration from Yves Saint Laurent's iconic Mondrian dress, which was itself inspired by the composition of some of Piet Mondrian's paintings:

Raisina's pieces brought YSL's invention to life, presenting it with layers of texture, detail and in a variety of lengths and styles. Following a similar color scheme to the late great Yves Saint Laurent, Raisina elevated the iconic piece, giving it life, movement and energy. A classic is a classic, but Raisina has brought something to the table that has stolen our hearts.

XO

Photos courtesy of google and Africa Fashion Week, Dublin

ShopAfrica/Spotlight: TAN by Tiffany Amber

[The Patch Pocket Tunic from Tiffany Amber's TAN diffusion line; $56.95]

o o o

We've got to admit something - very often, we spy pieces from African or Africa-inspired designers we love and their price tags make our hearts lurch. We're young, fresh-out-of-college girls and certified members of the ballers on a budget club (*smiles*), so while we're prepared to save for pieces we really, REALLY like, several price tags still give us pause. However, diffusion lines from some of our favorite designers are making it that much easier for us to connect with them.

Last year, we read about Tiffany Amber's upcoming diffusion life TAN and we're very excited to report that a few pieces from said line are now available online and the prices get along just fine with our wallets. It's a win-win! We hope more designers follow suit so we can at least support them while we're negotiating bigger salaries :-)

See more pieces here and happy shopping! If you're in Lagos, visit one of Tiffany Amber's stores. More info. here.

XO

spotlight: korto momolu's statement necklaces

we're biiiiig suckers for statement necklaces, so it was with copious amounts of joy that we looked through korto momolu's e-store and found some of the most beautiful necklaces...of all-time!

about the collection//in korto's words:

"I use a lot of African beads as well as a lot of things made out of resin because my necklaces tend to be chunky and bulky, so I try to use materials that are not as heavy as using the actual stones and metals. A lot of glass beads. Some of the beads are from Ghana, Kenya, and Tanzania. I love texture, there’s a lot of texture, my variation of textures, in all the pieces. I love turquoise. I also used feathers in some of the designs, I’ve always loved feathers and there are many different variations of feather earrings, so I thought “How can I make mine different?” I like the chains and the feathers. It has a soft and a hard feel to it. They’re made out of silver." [source]

to purchase, visit korto momolu's e-store, where she also has tees and purses for sale.

xo

ARISE AFRICA FASHION WEEK PHOTO UPDATES: LANRE DA SILVA-AJAYI and TIFFANY AMBER

[a model wearing LDA @ africa fashion week 2009)

we've added a few more photos from lanre da silva-ajayi and tiffany amber's collections. see them here!



[a model wearing tiffany amber  [*edit* jan 25, 2010 - the model's actually wearing a piece by THULA SINDI] at arise africa fashion week 2009)

xo

ARISE AFRICA FASHION WEEK: DAY 6 - - TINA ATIEMO (GHANA)

tina atiemo's collection seemed guided by the principles of "simple, laidback, and chic" with a dash of daring. from her combination of dressy and casual, to her use of yellows + golds, brights, and black+white, her range as designer is evident and her collection was inclusive without being too busy. throwing some accessories into the mix may have added more spark, but her crisp, white pieces in particular look set to stand alone and make a statement in and of themselves. it's also worth mentioning that her pieces are better appreciated when you see larger photos and observe the charming details, including her use of cowries and beading. so click the photos above and below to enlarge and enjoy.

see the full collection here.

xo

ARISE AFRICA FASHION WEEK: DAY 5 - - ASCHOBI DESIGNS by ADAMA KAI (SIERRA LEONE)

we had a tough time selecting our favorite aschobi pieces but there's nothing wrong with that - - the most well-executed collections tend to have that effect on us. spunky, young, fresh, and cool are the first words that came to mind when we spotted her delicious minis, complete with zippers, ruffles, and a dash of bling. very rihanna, very "made you look", very now, and we're totally digging it.

more here!

xo