Ready to wear
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This is from Alexander McQueen’s Autumn/Winter 09-10 ready to wear collection, … if you would dare ….
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Reverse Engineering
By Nwinkus,
Reverse engineering is a term more suited to the sciences, and in some instances it refers to working backwards in order to find the solution to a puzzle, this is one of those instances. The Junya Watanabe summer/spring ready to wear collection 2009 featured the use of Nigerian Ankara prints in a way that was quite different from the norm, hence he like a lot of designers put the spotlight on African prints and African fashion. The more
important aspect of these designs though is how a designer from a totally different culture and country, in this case Japan, see’s the dexterity and applicability of this type of material, and the blend or contrast of the prints in relation to his designs. If you know anything about the texture of this material you will understand that its supple but though. More intrestingly though is his combination of denim(with its working class origins) and ankara (the denim of the nigerian working classes), they are worlds apart, but he has combined them in a way that any one who has lived in nigeria will understand but might not have seen before.
The MAGAZINE OF CHOICE
By Nwinkus, July 27, 2009 4:24 pm
I first stumbled on Arise at my local news agent 3 months ago, now you will say what is so new about that, well it was a totally different experience seeing a magazine solely dedicated to African fashion, with African designers was unheard off at least in the west, but what was more striking was the breadth of the articles and the quality of the imagery, i am a photography enthusiast so to see pictures taken properly was a thrill non the less i had not come across any magazine yet that was solely dedicated to Africa in this way before. My love affair with this magazine seems to grow from strength to strength, because, not only are they providing journalistic diversity but have also taken to showcasing the designers they write about within their pages by sponsoring the African fashion week 2009 in Johanesburg. The menu reveals a cross section of what the magazine is about, it covers all sorts from an interview with Akon, to Sway chatting about stuff, African WAGS and of course pictures from the African fashion show and loads more. MODEL OLUCHI ONWEAGBA takes center stage
Pearls Unstrung
By Nwinkus, July 25, 2009 12:50 pm
Pearls have made a resurgence this year in different locations one such place was at Commes des Garçons they were buried beneath layers of tulle. In addition to this they decorated shoes at Louis Vuitton, were given a tough edge within metal neckpieces at Lanvin, were slung low among pleated ribbon at Phillip Lim and worn high on the neck and oversized at Moschino Cheap & Chic. The precious and the semi precious jewellery will always be in demand but to see pearls used in these refreshingly new ways seems to give them a lift and introduce them to a whole new generation.
Louis Vuitton Autumn/Winter 09-10 Ready To Wear Pearl decorated shoes.
Fashion bride
By Nwinkus, July 24, 2009 1:17 pm
Who says brides can’t be edgy? Givenchy’s richly embroidered gown and studded headpiece set the stage for an untraditional affair. This is from a recent couture collection, it is not that many people that will have the style or the panache, not to talk of the guts to pull this off but if you do then shop around and do things your way.
Roman Sandals
By funmi, July 21, 2009 3:36 pm
The new trend for this summer appears to this ankle high roman sandal, they work extremely well with shorter skirts and skinny jeans, they come in different styles and colours and some trendy fashionistas have been known to have as many as 4 at one time you wonder how many other pairs of shoes they have.
Arise Africa Fashion Week 2009
By Nwinkus, July 20, 2009 2:55 pm
Africa has long been a muse for the arts throughout the world, most recently in fashion, with the world’s top designers choosing to look towards African techniques, designs and materials to ensure that their collections appeal to a wider global audience. Many great international designer houses have borrowed from Africa in creating their most recent collections, including Louis Vuitton, Lanvin, Oscar de la Renta and Christian Louboutin. There appears to be a new excitement around the African aesthetic.
African Fashion International hosted the inaugural Africa Fashion Week , at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg South Africa, the designers on show where not the most well known African designers to succeed in the international fashion industry, such as Azzedine Alaia from Tunisia, Ozwald Boateng from Ghana, Deola Sagoe from Nigeria and Marc Bouwer from South Africa who have all worked hard to create incredible careers that many of the current designers seek to emulate. But an elite of less well known but equally talented set of the designers from the continent where assembled in the first of what will become an annual showcase. The eight-day fashion spectacular culminated in the African Fashion Awards, which recognized the very best of the best in African fashion.
Fashion Weeks around the world have historically been responsible for successfully putting designers on the map, resulting in the development of their fashion enterprises. This continued support has inspired fashion entrepreneurs to become economically successful and make a contribution to the developing economy. Fashion contributes. Fashion transcends culture and ethnicity. And the ethos behind the Africa Fashion Week is to continue to work toward the celebration of the African identity and unique creative signature.
where art meets design
By Nwinkus, July 19, 2009 3:10 pm
long and flowing is how i would describe this look from designer matthew williamson, it epitomises what i would call an artistic design, the prints are very light and seem to have a floral influence, it looks like an unfinished sketch but its highly engaging this from his spring ready to wear 2009 collection
young designers for London Fashion Week catwalk
By Nwinkus, July 17, 2009 2:40 pm
The BBC has recruited a team of 10 young people to create a collection that will be shown at London Fashion Week (LFW).
The BBC Your Label project will give the young people, aged between 15 and 22, funding to develop their first fashion collection. Their progress will be filmed for the BBC’s website and for the BBC2 on demand channel.
The collection will show on the catwalk at the next LFW, which runs from September 18-23 at Somerset House in central London. There will also be a diffusion line of T-shirts sold, with sales going to the BBC’s Children In Need charity.
The young team is being mentored by experienced commercial designers.
There will be separate collections for men and women, both taking the same direction and showing under the WO/MAN label. Both are influenced by vintage clothing and extreme tailoring with a youthful edge.
Fashion Week sees Amanda Wakeley relaunch
By Nwinkus, July 16, 2009 8:45 am
Leading British celebrity designer Amanda Wakeley is set to relaunch her label in one of the highlights of this year’s autumn London Fashion Week.
Ruth Bloomfield
16.07.09
Leading British celebrity designer Amanda Wakeley is set to relaunch her label in one of the highlights of this year’s autumn London Fashion Week.
Ms Wakeley, pictured, reclaimed control of her eponymous brand in April after it was sold by her former husband and business partner Neil Gillon. In April she secured a £1million deal to buy back the label, saving more than 50 jobs in the process.
Wakeley, winner of three British Fashion Awards, launched her career at London Fashion Week in 1990 and became the go-to designer for royals and Hollywood actresses, such as Demi Moore and Scarlett Johansson. Wakeley’s return will be one of the big talking points.
She is among a record number of designers -Matthew Williamson, Burberry Prorsum, Pringle of Scotland and Clements Ribeiro – returning after absences. She will relaunch her brand with a catwalk show on 22 September at Somerset House, the event’s new home after many years in Chelsea.
This year’s Fashion Week marks its 25th anniversary and is set to be the biggest yet, with more than 50 catwalk shows over six days, and at least 20 “presentations” in which designers explore unusual ways of displaying spring/summer 2010 collections.