Lookbook: Lola Faturoti A/W 2011 [Ethnic Modernism]

Regular readers may have caught our sneak peek early last month and had their appetites whet in preparation for the main course - which itself makes us wish Lola Faturoti would hurry up and give us e-commerce already. She always brings a distinct sophistication and mastery to her treatment of print and her Fall 2011 Ethnic Modernism collection juggles everything from 60s Op Art to leopard print and polka dots. Silhouettes are at once relaxed and fitted, giving ample room juxtaposition and movement. Other highlights include her toughening it up with leather and fringe (our alter egos would totally wear the Maureen Jacket), the darling bows and pleats, and her use of coral, which we wish we got a little more of.

Thoughts? Any pieces in particular calling out to you?

- SLiq

Photos c/o White Noise Showroom

FIRST LOOK: Omer Asim A/W '11 [Sudan/UK]

Passionate as we are about Africa's blooming fashion scene, there have been few moments when we've been moved to tears (well, almost) and such irrational bouts of extraordinary excitement that we thought we'd explode. Sudanese designer Omer Asim accounts for a great percentage of those moments - his boundless creativity, his keen eye for detail in the most unexpected places, and the lingering sense that he brings something no one else does to the table make him the object of our obsessions season after season.

Omer Asim's A/W '11 takes it back to black with touches of sheerness and velvet as well as his signature take on pleats and draping. As expected, Omer Asim once again tows the line between perfect and imperfect - while each creation is exquisite, we often oscillate between feeling each piece is perfectly incomplete. A certain wordlessness abounds when one attempts to describe the most beautiful things, so allow the pictures to take on a life of their own for you:

Also worthy of mention is Omer Asim's collaboration with fellow Sudanese jewelry designer, Maya Antoun, whose work we'll explore in more detail shortly.

- SLiq

Spotlight: Omer Asim Spring/Summer 2011

When we saw Omer Asim's spring/summer 2011 collection, we gasped and then gasped some more. Read a summary of his influences above and feed your eyes on his execution below.

We're certainly keeping tabs and this brand and all going according to plan, we'll be able to lay our paws on an Omer Asim original soon.

Enjoy!

XO

Photos courtesy of Omer Asim PR