blog/link lovin': edition III

[bundle jazzies by Osborn Design Studios]

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links worth clicking...

a. NSC Fashion Awards features nigerian model Tracy Onyekachukwu

b. StyleChile blogs about Mac Cosmetic's new range for all races, all ages, all sexes

c. Fly Girl loves Osborn Design (see photo above)

d. Face Hunter unveils Face Hunter - The Book

e. iFashion features Lalesso's Fair Trade Fashion

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blogs/sites worth visiting (our new favorites)...

a. rachel zoe

b. prototype for a pop life

c. art of the trench

d. innyvinny

happy reading :-) oh, and please feel free to share your favorite links and blogs (including yours, if you have one!) with us anytime!

xo

pimp my african print: of cards and bows

okay, guys! we have a new feature called "pimp my african print", lol. we all know that african print (especially ankara) has been at the frontline of the explosion in Africa's fashion industry, and while we sometimes get inundated with uninspired ankara pieces, there are tonnes of folks out there doing interesting things with african print. and we're making it our job to showcase them and inspire you! without further ado, here's our first installment of "pimp my african print" :-)

enjoy!

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these african print-inspired blank cards are the perfect way to pass thoughtful notes and sentiments around. they're unique, they're bright, and they're bound to be cherished.

get a pack of 5 here.

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we're also loving this extra large kente bow by one of our favorite etsy sellers, nakimuli. it really is up to you and your imagination to pin it wherever - and however - you like! get yours here.

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...and there you have it! you'll have to keep coming back to see our findings...we can't give them all away in the first post ;-)

thanks for reading - and buying!

xo

shop for less: boxing kitten's nina blazer

we love this african print nina blazer from boxing kitten's new collection. get it now at half off the original price courtesy of pieces boutique here.

xo

africa-inspired: voodoo girls

we're digging this africa-inspired spread from our new-found online love, ghubar magazine, a cutting edge publication devoted to global style.






about the spread: featuring designs from juneshop, as seen in ghubar magazine's june edition. see previous and future editions here.

enjoy!

xo

ShopAfrica: kua (keeping us authentic) designs

we stumbled on this raffia and ankara stunner by KUA designs here and knew we had to share. KUA designs makes some pretty darn spiffy clutches and thankfully, a number are available online for your perusal.

shop here, see past designs here, and visit the designer's blog here!

xo

who wore what: genevieve pink ball '09

genevieve magazine's pink ball has come and gone and here are some runway pieces from nigerian designers that made it to the red carpet:

o o o

- first up, we have the always dazzling funmi iyanda in a Deola Sagoe piece, first seen at her Africa Rising show in DC last year. funmi iyanda definitely gets major cool points for stepping out in such an unexpected but ultra fabulous choice:

ms. iyanda also seems to be wearing the highly coveted satin manolo blahnik pumps that she blogged about here:



super fly!!

- next up, we have a piece from Ituen Basi's ankara and beads collection. we're digging this adapted ankara-style flapper dress and the creative use of beads as straps.

- finally, here's another attendee in an adapted deola sagoe piece, as seen on designer deola sagoe herself, courtesy of elan/234next.com:

loving the mish-mash of iridescent fabric and ankara.

xo

photos courtesy of:

bella naija
elan/234next.com
google
ituen basi
wire image

spotlight: african designers do the kimono!

[wunmi williams in phunkafrique as seen here]

we've been spotting some of the most fabulous african-print kimonos out and about...and advocates that we are of incorporating africa however you can, here are a few pieces from some of our favorite designers to inspire you!

PHUNKAFRIQUE

first up, we have gorgeous metallic print kimono tops from phunkafrique's "phunkafrique evolves" collection:



and if it's kimono-style dresses you're into...



JEWEL BY LISA

next, we have pieces from the first lady of bling, lisa folawiyo (jewel by lisa)



you can't go wrong with exquisite beading and bling done well, can you?

AKPOS OKUDU

if it's batik you're into, get into akpos okudu...



COCOA MACHE

for an indigenous feel to your kimono...



shop online here and take advantage of the ongoing $5 off promotion.

CHOPSTIXWAITS

for african wax print...



shop here!

DURO OLOWU

can't forget ethnic-style kimono dresses from duro olowu...



loving them all! hope you're inspired :-)

xo

order information:

phunkafrique
akpos okudu

photo sources:

bella naija
google

who wore what: urban nectar

we blogged about the unveiling of Zebra Living's new collection, Urban Nectar, last week. while we're waiting on close-up pictures of the pieces, here are a few things that stood out for us:

is that an ankara pocket square MC mr. kelechi odu is wearing?? we've died and gone to fashion heaven! ankara is truly the fabric that keeps giving :-)



pictured above is the super talented Dolapo James of urbanknit rocking one of her supersnap clutches. we want, we want, we need! get yours here!



finally, here's the designer of Zebra herself, ms. ugoma ebilah, wearing one of the most resplendent pieces from that evening. gotta have it! speaking of ms. ebilah, fashionafrica has a wonderful interview with her here...and we LOVEEEE this dress she's wearing:



sigh. MUST.MOVE.BACK.TO.LAGOS. YAY Zebra!!

xo

photos courtesy of:
facebook
carriesbrastrap

the african fashion collective: who wore what

hey there folks! here are some looks from the african fashion collective we knew we'd spotted before...

o o o

agbani darego (miss world 2001) in jewel by lisa, as seen at the Africa Rising fashion show in London last year

agbani (how gorgeous is she?!) wore her stunning embellished ankara dress with pantyhose and pumps (not pictured) and alek wek showed off her legs for days on the runway. jealousy? us? NEVER :-)

o o o

tiffany amber designer folake folarin-coker in tiffany amber, fall 2009 as seen on the runway at the Africa Fashion Collective

folake folarin-coker wore the black version of one of her runway pieces. we're going with the runway look on this one. it's far more interesting and the contrast belting is stunning.

o o o

lola faturoti in her commemorative obama dress at the african fashion collective, NY fashion week



(as also seen here.)

lola faturoti wore her commemorative obama dress and spiced things up with her beads and gele. we LOVE. this dress is available for pre-order at shopcurious.com.

which looks are your favorites?

xo

photos from bellanaija, getty images, and glam

etsy love: africamania :)

ChopstixWaits: african wax print tiered bustle skirt, $52

here's a fabulous etsy find we thought we'd share with you:

if you're into african print/ankara and you love these vibrant, happy colors, you should definitely pay ChopstixWaits a visit here. we're SO in love! here are some other items she's sold:



gorgeous, gorgeous, GORGEOUS. see more sold items here, visit her store here, learn more about the seller/designer here, and feel free to contact her for custom orders. if you're having trouble navigating etsy, feel free to leave us a comment and we'll do our best to help!