Who Wore What + Shop For Less: Mrs O in Duro Olowu

There must be something pretty special about Duro Olowu's Spring/Summer 2010 collection for Michelle Obama to have worn pieces from it 6 times. She is pictured here wearing a tank (same motif as the sleeves in the photo on the left) at the Washington Nationals vs. Chicago Cubs baseball game Wednesday last week. This brings Michelle Obama's Duro Olowu count to 10 (and one accessory).

Need a piece of Duro in your closet? Quite a few of his pieces are available in the Net-a-Porter and Barneys sales. Shop here and here.

- SLiq

Pictures courtesy of Style and Mrs. O

Collage by Shop Liquorice

Who Wore What: Michelle Obama in Duro Olowu

We speculated yesterday that there could be yet more Duro Olowu appearances in South Africa, courtesy of Mrs. Obama, and here we are again. Mrs. O has clearly taken a liking to Duro Olowu's Spring 2010 collection (notice the blue motif in the look on the right corresponds with Mrs. O's shirt). This is her 5th look from the collection and her 9th Duro Olowu piece. She is pictured here speaking to high school students at the University of Cape Town.

- SLiq

Image credit: The Associated Press

Collage by Shop Liquorice

Who Wore What: Michelle Obama in Duro Olowu & ASOS Africa

Since we've been gone, Michelle Obama has had three notable Africa-related moments, two of which have brought her Duro Olowu count to 8 pieces (5 of which she has worn in 2011 alone). We spotted the first look from Duro Olowu's Spring '11 collection on the set of iCarly (above). Her silk knit shirt is currently available in Net-a-Porter's ongoing sale for $392 (down from $980). See a clip of her appearance on iCarly below:

Next up, Michelle Obama arrived in South Africa (she'll also visit Botswana on this trip) wearing Duro Olowu again, this time a piece from his Fall 2010 collection. Naturally, there had been much speculation about whether or not Michelle Obama would support African designers on this trip, and she turns to a tried and tested favourite to end the speculation.

Today, Michelle Obama supported made-in-Kenya label, ASOS Africa, wearing a piece from their Spring 2011 (available here for a little over $60) collection. Regular readers may recall that SOKO Kenya is responsible for the sourcing and production of the ASOS Africa collection, so we can't imagine how wonderful this must be for them. What makes this especially remarkable for us is that we always harp on about how there are many ways to support Africa and Africans, and Michelle Obama shows us that if we can't go high-end, we can certainly go high street. A wonderful testament to Michelle's versatility, and Africa's.

Of course, now we really can't wait to see what she'll wear next. Perhaps one or two more Duro Olowu looks? Suno NY, maybe? A local South African designer? Time will tell.

Shop Duro Olowu online:

Couture Lab

Barneys

Net-a-Porter

- SLiq

Photos:

Mrs. O

Huffington Post

Collages by Shop Liquorice

Who Wore What: Kadaria Ahmed x Ituen Basi

The May issue of TW Magazine features Kadaria Ahmed, Editor of NEXT Newspapers, decked out in a colourful array of distinctly Ituen Basi accessories. Needless to say, very few designers have the balance of traditional and contemporary down pat like Ituen Basi, whose work ranges from elaborate and intricately detailed frocks to multi-purpose bows.

Kadaria Ahmed won many hearts when she moderated Nigeria's NN24 Vice-Presidential and Presidential debates. She wore Ituen Basi both times, so the choices for her TW cover shouldn't be much of a surprise.

Each piece Kadaria wears is available online courtesy of our friends at My Asho, so your  first or next Ituen Basi purchase is just a few clicks away. Happy shopping here.

- SLiq

TW Photo courtesy of TW Magazine

Photos and descriptions in collage courtesy of My Asho

Collage by Shop Liquorice

Who Wore What: Suno & Duro Olowu @ Ikram Boutique's 10th Anniv. Celebration

Ikram Boutique (probably most famously known as Michelle Obama's favourite style hunt) recently celebrated ten years of being in business. Being a well-known stockist of Duro Olowu and Suno, we expected to see one or two looks from them -- we got FOUR.

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We love the look above from Duro Olowu's Spring 2011 collection - an exquisite silk floral dress with voluminous sleeves for effect.

The second look we spotted (below) took it way back to Suno's debut collection in 2009 when kanga print was all we knew the brand for.

Below, Suno co-designer Erin Beatty wears an adapted S/S 2011 look, featuring a beaded bodice and a ruffled printed skirt.

And, finally, here's Thelma Golden wearing a see-through printed dress from Duro Olowu's Spring 2010 collection. You may remember seeing a similar look on Caroline Issa about a year ago ago.

As for our favourite piece, we'll go with the white and floral maxi - two of Spring 2011's biggest trends very elegantly tackled in one look. Which look most appeals to you? Any you would've worn differently?

- SLiq

Collection photos courtesy of Style and Suno

Party photos courtesy of Paper Mag

Who Wore What: Oroma Elewa in Maki Oh F/W 2011

Oroma Elewa - Editor-in-Chief of Pop'Africana & Maki Oh muse - is pictured here at a dj'ing gig wearing a sheer shirt from Maki Oh's F/W 2011 collection. Trust Maki Oh to make pieces that are anything but standard. If anyone captures the spirit of Maki Oh, it's Oroma, and it's always a delight to see her wear her support. In case you missed photos from Maki Oh's F/W 2011 show at Arise Magazine Fashion Week in Lagos, enjoy the coverage on Fab Magazine's blog and One Nigerian Boy. It'll do your soul some good.

- SLiq

Photo of Oroma: Pop'Africana

Maki Oh Runway Photo: Fab Magazine

Who Wore What: Lisa Folawiyo in Jewel by Lisa

Between collections and look books, the most discerning brands have the important job of keeping their fans and customers interested and loyal. We love Jewel by Lisa's most recent approach - Lisa Folawiyo (Creative Director of Jewel by Lisa) packed a case full of JBL pieces for her New York trip and will showcase 10 of them over the next 10 days. For DAY 1 (yesterday), Lisa went to her most recent collection (A/W 2011 - Africa's Definition of Global Luxury) and picked a graphic shirt dress and gilet. We can't not mention the Chanel boots - JBL has always oozed luxury, so it's only fitting to see their pieces alongside the world's finest. In a nutshell? Very chic, very creative modern working woman.

DAY 2

For Day 2, Lisa went to her S/S '11 Global Minimalism collection and chose a gorgeous pleated mini skirt in a custom JBL print paired with a belted Fulster Mac, LNA shirt and gold strappy sandals. A delightful summer day look from head-to-toe. We're inspired!

Which look is your favourite so far? Stay tuned for 8 more looks over the next 8 days!

- SLiq

Photos of Lisa courtesy of Zara Okpara/Jewel by Lisa PR

Who Wore What: Michelle Obama wears Duro Olowu on the Oprah Show

Just earlier today, we remarked that Michelle Obama's Duro Olowu count was now up to 5, and 3 of those looks were from his Spring 2010 collection. Well, make that 6 total and 4 from Spring '10. Of all the designers she could've chosen for her appearance on Oprah's show (taped today, to air on Monday), Michelle Obama chose Duro Olowu once again. What a phenomenal, breathtaking moment for us at Shop Liquorice and for many of you, no doubt. We're four months into 2011 and it's very, very clear indeed that it's shaping up to be The Year of Duro, and, needless to say, we're exceedingly proud and overjoyed.

Michelle's dress retails for $1,436 at Couture Lab. You can also shop Duro Olowu at Barneys, Net-a-Porter and Yoox.

*edit*

Video footage from The Oprah Show, courtesy of NBC:

View more videos at: http://nbcchicago.com.

- SLiq

Photo:

Huffington Post

Who Wore What: Duro Olowu, 2 Springs Apart

There's a certain woman that wears Duro Olowu convincingly, and Thelma Golden (Director and Chief Curator at the Studio Museum, Harlem, NY and Mr. Olowu's wife of 3 years) ranks pretty high on that list. Here she is at the Art Production's Good & Plenty Benefit (April 11, 2011) wearing a Spring 2008 piece. She almost always wears Duro Olowu, and most certainly wears him well.

A few days earlier (April 7), Michelle Obama wore her 5th Duro Olowu piece and her 3rd from his Spring 2010 collection. Mrs. O is a good lesson on how to approach a Duro Olowu piece if you're colour or pattern shy: contrast with a solid!

- SLiq

Photos:

Billy Farrell Agency
Mrs. O
Style
Vogue

Who Wore What: Michelle Obama in Duro Olowu

Late last year, we were quick to spot Michelle Obama in a floaty Duro Olowu dress (top right). Far from being an isolated occurrence, it turns out Mrs O has been wearing Duro Olowu since 2008 (at leaast) when she addressed an Obama rally in a Spring 2008 green safari jacket (below) - a jacket she has worn at least twice since then.

In 2010,  Michelle chose a piece from Duro Olowu's spring 2010 collection for her Let's Move PSA:

 A few days ago, yet another Duro Olowu Spring 2010 piece (complete with adinkra symbols like in the piece above) made an appearance:

This piece currently retails for $880 at Couture Lab.

 Which of these four Duro moments is your favourite? And which of these do you suppose'll happen first - Michelle Obama in Jewel by Lisa or an African First Lady who does for African Fashion what Michelle Obama does for American Fashion?

XO

Who Wore What: Liya Kebede in LemLem

Liya Kebede at A Tribute To The Models Of Versailles wearing Lem Lem Poncho

The first thing that probably comes to mind when one thinks about Liya Kebede is super model - and perhaps all-round super woman comes a very close second. Following a trip back home to Ethiopia in 2007, Liya founded Lem Lem - a label of ethically-produced pieces that keep the tradition of weaving alive in Ethiopia:

Supermodel / actress and World Health Organisation's Goodwill Ambassador for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, Liya Kebede discovered that traditional weavers in her native country of Ethiopia were losing their jobs due to a decline in local demand for their goods and wanted to do something about it. Recognizing the beauty, quality and historic significance of their work, Liya started Lemlem in 2007 as a way to inspire economic independence in her native country and to preserve the art of weaving...[Lem Lem]

The Handmade Process

Today, Lem Lem's handmade goodness has made its way all over the world and is stocked in several stores and online at Barneys, J.Crew, Les Nouvelles, Lem Lem and Net-a-Porter (coming soon).

Lem Lem's Kalkidan Poncho

At Shop Liquorice, there's a special place in our hearts reserved for brands than not only reference Africa in their work and produce their pieces in Africa, but also brands that preserve traditions and cultures unique to the continent. We're excited about Lem Lem -- are you?

XO

Photos courtesy of:

YBF

Lem Lem

Who Wore What: Eku Edewor and Dolapo Oni in Tiffany Amber + Lanre Da-Silva Ajayi [TW Magazine, Dec. 2010]

The December issue of TW features two of Nigeria's hottest rising stars - Eku Edewor and Dolapo Oni, hosts of MNET's Studio 53. Eku wears a knockout silk print jumpsuit from Tiffany Amber's Autumn/Winter 2010 collection, while Dolapo wears an ultra chic dress by Lanre Da-Silva Ajayi. Screen sirens indeed.

--

XO

Photos courtesy of TW Magazine + Tiffany Amber

Look Here: Deola Sagoe @ Just Before Christmas

Who: Deola Sagoe

Where: Just Before Christmas event @ Deola Sagoe's boutique [Sun, Dec. 19, 2010]

Why: We love the mix of high and low - a Deola Sagoe military-style jacket from her Fall 2010 Above the Fray collection and a pair of skinny jeans from her popular polo and denim range. 3 snaps for simplicity and fabulousness!

XO

Photos of Deola Sagoe courtesy of Maestro Media

Who Wore What: Vanessa Mdee @ the MTV Mamas

Great to see Tanzanian MTV VJ Vanessa Mdee wearing one of Tanzania's finest exports, Chichia London, at the MTV MAMAs. Vanessa wears a custom majesty dress from Chichia London's Insomnia Luxe collection. Love it? Buy it here from Agnes and Lola.

XO

Photo on the left courtesy of Twitter (@MTVbaseAfrica)

Who Wore What: Nneka Egbuna in Deola Sagoe @ the MTV MAMAs

Truth be told, Nneka's one artiste that consistently rocks Africa like there's no tomorrow. From her bright ankara scarves and skirts to her Kayobi and Africa is the Future tees to Jewel by Lisa and Tiffany Amber, Nneka has made quite a few stylish rounds in her career. We brought you her Vogue Germany feature earlier this year, for which she wore Deola Sagoe. And now, here she is again (above) wearing a piece from Deola Sagoe's Vintage collection at the MTV MAMAs. Organic and glamorous in one breath. Absolutely love -- do you?

XO

Who Wore What: Arise Issue 11 Cover Girls in Deola Sagoe

Earlier this year, the May cover of Marie Claire South Africa featured 3 models all dressed in pieces from Deola Sagoe's Fall 2009 collection, Above the Fray. Now, after a significant hiatus (the last we heard from them was June!), Arise Magazine's 11th issue features a quartet of models all dressed in pieces from Deola Sagoe's S/S 2010 collection, Vintage:



Absolutely gorgeous! Can't wait to get our hands on a copy of Arise come Dec. 18. What to expect from Arise's "global fashion" issue? Fashion spreads shot "on location in Johannesburg, Paris, London and the Kenyan plains"! If that's not enough to get us all excited...

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Marie Claire South Africa May 2010 cover:

 Runway:

Look book:

Sigh. We truly can't get enough of Ms. Sagoe! Which cover do you prefer?

XO

Who Wore What: Folake Kuye Hutton in Ituen Basi

We'll confess: we spend an unhealthy amount of time on the webternets seeking "inspiration" (*coughs*) and a particular corner of it has had our hearts a-flutter this week. Folake Kuye Hutoon - super blogger & brains behind WeWe Clothing - started her week in faraway LA with an ultra cool Ituen Basi iro and buba. Since then, it has been one Ituen Basi look after another and it really shouldn't come as a surprise that we secretly wish this could go on forever. In any case, we'll take what we can get and we'll keep visiting her blog to see what she wears next and how she wears it. Are you smitten yet?

XO

Who Wore What: Oroma Elewa in Maki Oh

Oroma Elewa - editor of Pop'Africana and Maki Oh muse - wore a piece from Maki Oh's Fall/Winter 2010 collection recently. Trust her to rock the heck out of it with spark and spunk for days in tow. Love it. Love her.

  

Are you feeling it?

XO

Photos of Oroma:

Pop'Africana

Who Wore What: Michelle Obama in Duro Olowu

We spotted this photo over at Mrs. O (no designer was identified) and thought to ourselves, "hmmm, that's probably Duro Olowu", but since we weren't sure, we sent an e-mail to Duro's team and got a YES! 

It's not hard to see Duro's ethos perfectly encapsulated in the floaty, easy breezy piece with its multiple prints co-existing in harmony. The man is a true maestro and Michelle wears him well!

XO

Who Wore What: Beyonce in Boxing Kitten's "Kitt" Shorts

Beyonce's vacation in St. Tropez has been the toast of the Press over the last few days and has given bloggers much fodder to dissect. Today, we spotted Beyonce mixing and matching quite a few prints but it was her Boxing Kitten "Kitt" shorts that caught our eyes. The style's from BK's Spring 2009 debut collection. Notice the fabric-covered buttons on the sides? Nice touch!

Some of you will remember Beyonce wore Boxing Kitten on the set of Alicia Keys' "Put it in a Love Song" video this summer.

Want some Kitt shorts? Get them here!

See our other Boxing Kitten sightings here.

XO

Photo of Beyonce courtesy of Daily Mail