Cultural Remembrance: Donna Summer, You Will Be Missed!

The world just lost the queen of disco. Growing up, every Nigerian function wasn’t popping until Donna Summer’s classic cut, “Last Dance.” Even if you couldn’t feel your toes or you were so tired, everyone got up on their feet to boogie down to “Last Dance.” I spent many nights on top of my mom’s dresser as a kid jamming to this song thinking to myself “I’m Donna Summer!” Oh the memories this one song gave me. “On The Radio” was my second favorite Donna Summer cut. I enjoyed her last album, Crayons! The fact that she wasn’t inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame disgusts me but we wouldn’t dwell on that right now. So I’m extremely saddened to learn about her passing. She (born: LaDonna Adrian Gaines) will be missed!

Summer is survived by her husband Bruce Sudano, their daughters Brooklyn and Amanda, as well as her daughter Mimi from her previous marriage. source

Here’s are my favorite Donna Summer classics:

“Last Dance”

“On the Radio”

“Bad Girls”

“She Works Hard for the Money”

“Hot Stuff”

“I Feel Love”

“MacArthur Park”

With Barbra Streisand: No More Tears (Enough is Enough)

“Love To Love You Baby”

“TOOT TOOT, HEYYYYYYYY BEEP BEEP!” Get Your Donna Summer Fix on YouTube & VEVO!

Cultural Remembrance is a feature honoring the dearly departed.

Solange Knowles, Leelee Sobieski & Oroma Elewa Wears Maki Oh

Nigerian fashion designer Maki Oh’s designs gain a joyous Cultural Presence when fashionistas Solange Knowles, Leelee Sobieski and Oroma Elewa were photographed on the red carpet wearing her designs.

Solange wore Maki Oh twice recently for her two DJ gigs. Solange attended the Ferragamo store re-opening wearing a Maki Oh Autumn/Winter 2012 silk chiffon adire shirt which she paired with her signature curls, a satin purple Ferragamo jacket and red disco cigarette pants.

For her DJ gig at the Splendid store opening, Solange looked regal in a black Maki Oh Autumn Winter 2012 silk velvet and chantilly lace skirt.

Pop’Africana editor Oroma Elewa donned a Maki Oh design for a private dinner hosted by Dom Pérignon.

Actress Leelee Sobieski worked it in Maki Oh Spring/Summer 2012 silk charmeuse adire cutout shirt and skirt at NYC premiere of NYC 22.

Speaking of LeeLee, I love this skirt she wore at the Soho House And Cecconi’s At Frieze New York In Partnership With Bombay Sapphire Gin event.

Learn more about Maki Oh via her social media platforms: website//facebook//pintererst//twitter

image credits- getty, neks2u

Alicia Keys Wears Tsemaye Binitie, Christie Brown, & Anita Quansah London for Her Vibe April May 2012 Cover Feature

What Alicia Keys wore for her VIBE April/May 2012 took away from that eye-catching headline
“Her First Real Interview.” Although curious minds want to know what that headline implies, Twitter was abuzz with excitement when it was revealed that Alicia wore not one but THREE designs from African fashion designers – Tsemaye Binitie (Nigeria), Anita Quansah London (Nigeria/Ghana) and Christie Brown (Ghana). Alicia wore two stunning jackets from Tsemaye Binitie Autumn 2011 collection and she completed her look with strand and fringe necklaces by Christie Brown. This is not the first time Alicia Keys has embraced African fashion. Remember her stunning Boxing Kitten outfits on the set of her “Put It In A Love Song” music video awhile ago? Perhaps her son Egypt and her influential trip to Africa has motivated Alicia to wear designs straight from the motherland? Nonetheless it’s always great to see African fashion designers featured in mainstream media. Kudos to Tsemaye, Anita and Christie!  Getting a nod from Vibe is a well-deserved honor!

Alicia Keys in Tsemaye Binite Autumn 2011

Alicia Keys in Christie Brown Fringe & Strand Necklaces

Alicia Keys in Anita Quansah London Sieva & Dian Neckpieces

Follow Tsemaye Binitie on Twitter: @TsemayeBinitie, Christie Brown @ChristieBrownCL, and Anita Quansah London @AnitaQuansahLon for additional shopping details!

Cultural Presence looks at how celebrities and everyday people wear African fashion straight from the runway.

photo credits: Anita Quansah London, Tsemaye Binitie, Christie Brown, Vibe.com

Naima Adedapo Reveals Album Cover Shoot

American Idol Seaosn 10 finalist Naima Adedapo recently revealed her highly-anticipated album cover shoot on Facebook earlier today. Naima tweeted back in January that she signed a record deal with Peak Records.  According to published reports, Naima will first release a 3-song EP this month (produced by Warryn Campbell) followed by her debut album release later on this year.

Much of the look is close-up shots of the Milwaukee, WI Nigerian vocalist Naima wearing, presumably,  designs from her close Senegalese friend Adama Bah. Naima has from her time on the popular singing talent show been a huge supporter of African wax print fabrics so it comes as no surprise that these designs are featured front and center for this new album cover portraits.

*UPDATE: Naima just confirmed to CulturalToast.com that Adama Bah, a tailor in Chicago owner of Goree Shop, did her West African outfits for this shoot! Awesome, isn’t it?

Follow Naima on  (@Naima_Adedapo) for additional music updates!

image credits – Naima Adedapo’s Facebook Page

Cultural Music is a feature highlighting musical superstars past and present!

Cultural Loop: Adepero Oduye’s Oscar Moment, King Peggy’s Book Release, Omotola Goes Glam for StyleMania, Keke Palmer’s in Loza for Vibe Vixen & Alek Wek’s Deola Sagoe MFW Stunner

This new edition of Cultural Loop highlights Adepero’s Post-Oscar moment, King Peggy’s Book release, Omotola’s glam StyleMania Magazine cover, Keke Palmer’s wearing Loza Maléombho on the cover of Vibe Vixen and Sudanese model Alek Wek bringing Aso-Oke to Milan Fashion Week!

Pariah breakthrough star Adepero Oduye shined at the 2012 Vanity Fair Post-Oscar party. Adepero joined Oscar nominee Viola Davis and Oscar’s In Memoriam performance star Esperanza Spalding in celebrating natural hair. Prior to her Oscar appearance, Adepero as CulturalToast.com first published on Tumblr stepped out in a two-piece yellow and blue ankara paint suit at the 2012 Independent Spirit Awards.

Food for thought: Wouldn’t it be great to see Macy AND H&M collaobrating with Jewel By Lisa and prominent African fashion designers like Washington Roberts, Maki Oh, Tsemaye Binitie, Lanre Da Silva, Virgos Lounge and Chichia London for their in-store designer collaborative initiatives???

During my weekly peruse of Barnes & Noble, I check out a hot new recommendation called King Peggy: An American Secretary, Her Royal Destiny, and the Inspiring Story of How She Changed An African Village. The book chronicles how Peggielene Bartels went from being a secretary at Ghana’s Embassy in Washington, D.C to becoming African royalty of her late uncle’s village Otuam. Visit her official website on where to buy her book and to see her book tour dates.

This clip highlights the accomplishments King Peggy made during her month-long Fall 2012 trip to Ghana. She not only distributed food to needy families but open a new well. What a class act!

Nollywood starlet Omotola Jolade-Ekeinde shot a stunning cover shoot for StyleMania March 2012 Magazine. This is by far her best looking cover feature. Follow Omotola on Twitter (@realomosexy) to keep up her latest Nollywood projects. See the full shoot over at OnoBello.com!

Actress Keke Palmer stuck a pose in a Loza Maléombho printed ruffle blouse from her Spring/Summer 2012 collection for the new digitial Vibe Vixen December 2011/January 2012 issue. You can check out Loza’s SS 2012 collection via Facebook. Loza, born in Brazil and raised in Abidjan and Cote D’Ivoire, is a womenswear designer based in New York with a strong mission of women empowerment, social and economic trades in West Africa. Loza’s fly and social conscious – gotta love it!

Sudanese model Alek Wek wore a blue and gold Deola Sagoe Aso-oke dress to Roberto Cavalli Fall 2012 show during Milan Fashion Week. Alek first wore this dress and the same gold criss-cross heels for the inaugural issue of Arise magazine back in November 2008 and at a JoinRED event. Great to see Alek  continue to support Deola! This is a style repeat offender that I appreciate!

Speaking of Fashion Week, anyone else anticipating ARISE Fashion Week in Lagos? 77 Designers will showcase their latest collections in a fashion extravaganza from March 6 to March 12! Get full details here on when and where! Below is the full list of designers expected at the huge style event:

Adama-Paris (Senegal/France), Amine Bendriouich Couture and BS (Germany/Morocco), Amrapali (India), Angelo Van Mol(Belgium/Ghana), Be-Grey (Nigeria), Bestow Elan (UK/Ghana), Bridget Awosika (Nigeria), Buki Akib (UK/Nigeria), CHICHIA(UK/Tanzania), Christie Brown (Ghana), CLAN (Nigeria), David David London (UK), Davida (Nigeria), Duaba Serwa (Ghana),Ejiro Amos Tafiri (Nigeria), Eki Orleans (UK/Nigeria), Frank Osodi (Nigeria), Funlayo Déri (UK/Nigeria), Gavin Rajah(South Africa), Gloria Wavamuno (Uganda), HOUSE of DIVAS (Nigeria), House of Farrah (Nigeria), House of Nwocha (Nigeria),ICONIC INVANITY (Nigeria), Imane Ayissi (France/Cameroon), Jacob Kimmie (UK/South Africa), Jewel by Lisa (Nigeria), Kastle Designs & Treasure Chest (USA/Ghana), Kaveke (Kenya/UK), Kevan Hall (USA), Kezia Frederick (UK/St.Lucia), Kiki Clothing(Ghana), Kinabuti (Italy), Klûk-CGDT (South Africa), Koke (Botswana/India), Korto Momolu (USA/Liberia), Lanre Da Silva Ajayi(Nigeria), LaQuan Smith (USA), Laurenceairline (France/Ivory Coast), Loza Maléomsho (USA/Ivory Coast), Madam Wokie’s Couture (Sierra Leone), Mai Atafo (Nigeria), Maki-Oh (Nigeria), Mataano (USA/Somalia), Meena (Nigeria), Mustafa Hassanali(Tanzania), NKWO (UK/Nigeria), Odio Mimonet (Nigeria), Okunoren Twins (Nigeria), Osman (UK), Paul Hervé ELISABETH(Martinique), Poisa (Kenya), Re Bahia (UK/Nigeria), Sandra Kennedy (Jamaica), Sandra Muendane (Mozambique/Portugal),Sunny Rose (Nigeria/UK), Taibo Bacar (Mozambique), the Vessel. By Lois (USA/Jamaica), Tiffany Amber (Nigeria), Timo Welland (USA/South Africa), Tsemaye Binitie (UK/Nigeria), U.Mi-1 (UK/Nigeria), Virgos Lounge (UK/Nigeria), Viv La Resistance(Nigeria), William Okpo (USA/Nigeria) and Zekaryas Solomon (Eritrea/UK).

Nice!

image credits – gettyimages.com, KingPeggy.com, Loza Maléombho, StyleMania  &Vibe Vixen

Cultural Loop is a must-read news rundown within the fashion & entertainment industry!

Venus & Serena Williams Wears Christiane King To The 2012 Vanity Fair Post-Oscar Party

Tennis sibling champions Venus & Serena Williams stepped out in stunning custom-made gowns by Christiane King at the 2012 Vanity Fair Post-Oscar bash! Serena wore a curve-hugging mustard yellow mermaid look from the Project Runaway alum’s Atelier while Venus channelled a Grecian-inspired look in a youthful color-block neon pink and purple dress. Venus accessorized with a white and gold clutch while Serena let her emerald green and gold jewelry be her statement pieces. Serena went for a Old Hollywood look with her side-part hairstyle but kept her look current with her open-back dress. Venus’s dress bought out her best features – her legs. Which Christiane King dress did you love more on the Williams sisters – Venus or Serena?

We are definitely excited to see such exquisite designs from a African fashion designer on the Oscar red carpet. We are not only thrilled and overjoyed for Christiane King but extremely happy! The last time a celebrity worn custom-made Christiane King designs on a major red carpet was when Kendra Wilkinson dazzled in a winter white look during Golden Globes 2012 weekend! Be sure to visit Christiane King’s Facebook page to see what other celebrity can’t resist wearing her designs. Congrats to the entire team at Christiane King for a job well-done!

image credits – getty

Cultural Presence looks at how celebrities and everyday people wear African fashion straight from the runway.

Munaluchi Bride Magazine Introduces Debut Digital Winter 2012 Issue!

Munaluchi Bride Magazine has officially release its debut digital Winter 2012 Issue today! The debut issue provides elegant photo shoots, real wedding stories, tips for brides, bridal fashion & accessories, honeymoon spots, and much more. Munaluchi will publish the digital issues quarterly that will supplement its bi-annual print editions. The next print issue of Munaluchi will be available this July. The digital issue (available exclusively on issuu)  will be provided on your iPADs, iphone, and android devices! (Isn’t the cover beautiful?)

From Munaluchi:
We are truly excited about this next stage and delighted to release the cover of our debut digital issue, the Winter 2012 edition, featuring THE most gorgeous bouquet by the one and only Janie Medley of The Brides Cafe and photographed by Amelia Johnson. In this issue, which is all about planning, you’ll find expert planning tips, the prettiest real weddings, the latest in bridal fashion, and the sweetest editorial shoot put together by Janie Medley (@TheBridesCafe) along with Dana FitzGerald (@danamfitzgerald), Moya Minns (@moyaminns), and photographed beautifully by Amelia Johnson (@ameliagjohnson). Our debut Winter 2012 digital edition will be available on February 21st. In the meantime, we would love for you to subscribe to our digital newsstand to get an instant update once it goes live.

Be sure to visit munaluchibridal.com to check out Munaluchi’s FREE debut digital issue. CulturalToast.com congratulates the entire staff at Munaluchi especially the ever stylish editor in chief Jacqueline Nwobu and creative director Eronmwon Balogun!

image credit – Munaluchi

Cultural Newsstand highlights the cover stories seen on international newsstands.

Robin Roberts Wears Burberry Prorsum Spring/Summer 2012 Cashmere Scarf

Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts was spotted outside ABC Studios in Times Square wearing a Burberry Prorsum Spring/Summer 2012 wax print cashmere scarf. According to Burberry.com, Robin’s scarf retails for -drumrolls please- $1,095.00. It comes as no surprise that CulturalToast.com embraces African wax print fashion. I absolutely love it! If you’re following CulturalToast.com’s Tumblr page, there’s plenty more African wax print looks to drool over. The print of Robin’s scarf is very similar to a dress actress Kate Bosworth wore this past October.

Robin’s scarf as you can see is a variation of a skirt seen on the runway during London Fashion Week Spring 2012 and the print was also used as dress as seen on Kate Bosworth. Burberry’s online boutique has a handful of scarves similar to Robin’s which can check out here. I’m definitely loving that appreciation for wax print fashion.

Cultural Presence looks at how celebrities and everyday people wear African fashion straight from the runway.

Marni for H&M’s Inspired by African Wax Print

L.A.M.B., Burberry Prorsum, Gregory Parkinson, Boxing Kitten, and countless others in recent years has looked to African Wax Print fabric to add that extra essence to their collections. So it comes as no surprise that the latest designer-collaborative effort at H&M, Marni has also followed suit. Marni and its creative director Consuelo Castiglioni just held a red carpet celebration for their collaboration with H&M. Attendees Imogen Potts, Milla Jovovitch, Mena Suvari, Sofia Coppola, and Jessica Chastain caught our attention wearing traditional West African fashion dresses. We love the attention West African fabric is getting on a global scale. If these red carpet worthy looks are any indication, Marni for H&M will definitely be a huge hit which follows suit with last season’s success Versace. Check out the entire Marni for H&M lookbook here which includes not only womenswear but accessories and menswear.  Expect plenty of patterns for this new high-fashion H&M line.

Sofia Coppola

Milla Jovovitch

Jessica Chastain

Imogen Potts

Mena Suvari

My two cents: Lady Gaga, Kate Bosworth, Solange Knowles, Anna Wintour, June Ambrose, Tai Beauchamp, Angela Simmons, LaLa Vasquez, Khloe Kardashian, Nicole Ari Parker, Heidi Klum, Esperanza Spalding, Catt Sadler, Elle Varner, First Lady Michelle Obama, and many more have all embraced a trend that’s been in vogue for centuries. It’s a trend worth looking at it and it’s certainly not a fad. The fascination with African wax print fashion is the originality and creativity that comes with it. The endless possibilities on how to wear it has birth many designs and tumblr pages. Marni for H&M hits stores March 8th!

Marni for H&M Official Launch Party Video

getty.

Cultural Presence looks at how celebrities and everyday people wear African fashion straight from the runway.

Cultural Loop: Black Models Dominates NYFW, Joy Adaeze’s Jewel By Lisa Style Moment, Nyasha Matonhodze for 10 Crosby Derek Lam & Liya Kebede for Bottega Veneta & H&M

This new edition of Cultural Loop highlights New York Fashion Week Fall 2012 wrap-up featuring two top black models, a high-profile online campaign, the buzz on Jewel By Lisa beaded clutches at NYFW and of course a department franchise’s new boutique.

Black models Nnenna Agba and Nyasha Matonhodze dominated New York Fashion Week Fall 2012 at Lincoln Center. Nyasha walked down the runway for Carolina Herrera, Tory Burch, Rodarte, Oscar de la Renta, Altzarrera, Cushnie et Ochs, Zac Posen, Prabal Gurung, DKNY, and Richard Chai. Next up for Nyasha, who Telegraph Fashion called model of the year, is London Fashion Week.

America’s Next Top Model Cycle 6 alum and current Munaluchi Bridal Magazine celebrity blogger Nnenna Agba was seen working it at the Rubin Chapelle Fall 2012 presentation. We definitely recommend you reading Nnenna’s relationship columns at MBM!

Liya Kebede has kept busy with three new modeling gigs. She recently did the early Spring 2012 ad campaign for H&M. Bottega Veneta also made her their brand face for their Spring/Summer 2012 print AD campaign which was shot by Jack Pierson. She also pose alongside Kanye West for the March 2012 edition of US Vogue.

Jewel By Lisa has experienced sidewalk praise yet again thanks to Nigerian fashion editor and stylist Joy Adaeze! Several online publications captured Joy at Lincoln Center rocking a gorgeous beaded Jewel By Lisa clutch. This will mark the third time a beaded Jewel By Lisa clutch has been seen at New York Fashion Week! Joy rocked two different pattern JBL clutches while at NYFW. (Check out this close-up snapshot of Joy’s Jewel By Lisa beaded clutch.) Joy Adaeze re-tweeted a twitpic of herself wearing a green ankara Jewel By Lisa top that was first seen on model Ediomi Utuk at her Munaluchi Bridal Magazine Fall/Winter 2011 photo shoot.

Zimbabwean beauty Nyasha Matonhodze, who you can see in the Evening Standard, is one of the leading models that worked with Neiman Marcus’s Fashion Director Ken Downing for the department store’s 10 Crosby Derek Lam online campaign. She’s wearing Striped One-Button Jacket, Floral-Print Blouse & Indigo Carpenter Jeans. Nyasha’s previous online campaign work included Topshop and Louis Vuitton.

image credits – twitter, WGSN, NYTimes, Fashion Indie, Munaluchi Bridal Magazine, Bottega Veneta, Joy Adaeze, getty, style.com, and vogue

Cultural Loop is a must-read news rundown within the fashion industry!