Category Archives: Ankara
African-Inspired Looks at Moschino Cheap & Chic Spring 2013 London Fashion Week
Just when I thought the fashion industry’s obsession with African-inspired wax prints was just for a season or two, Moschino Cheap & Chic designed stunning looks for their Spring 2013 collection at London Fashion Week.
Maybe Moschino’s creative director, Rossella Jardini and Cheap And Chic’s designer, Francesca Rubino is just as obsessed with African batik prints as we are all?
I do however love the tropical, pineapple prints!
Much of this collection I can definitely see on who I call – the industry’s prints ambassador fashionista Solange Knowles. Speaking of Miss Knowles, she was spotted at New York Fashion Week rocking a wax print hat by South African fashion label Babatunde.
Moschino Cheap & Chic Spring 2013 Runway Video
Thoughts on Moschino Cheap & Chic African-Inspired runway look?
Image credits – Imaxtree
Cultural Runway is a style feature focusing on runway looks inspired by African aesthetics & designed by African fashion designers presented at various international Fashion Week events.
African fashion designers at New York Fashion Week Spring 2013
Spring 2013 saw creativity pouring in from African fashion designers from the iconic ARISE magazine runway show to Mimi Plange’s Manolo Blahnik shoe collaboration. Spring 2013 was truly a celebration of the brilliancy African fashion designers pour into their womenswear and menswear lines. Here’s a brief rundown on favorite looks seen on the catwalk.
Arise African Icons – Tiffany Amber, Tsemaye Binitie, Gavin Rajah, Ozwald Boateng
“I have a special place in my heart for the ARISE shows. It felt surreal to walk down the runway again. It was like we were at a party thrown by the world. I loved it and can’t wait to do it again…”
Tsemaye Binitie
“From the backstage production and calibre of models, to working with world-class stylists and make-up artists – and being at the Lincoln Center… It was all wow!”
Gavin Rajah
“My US clients appreciate my craftsmanship and meticulous attention to detail. By showing my luxe pret-a-porter collection last night, it was great to fly the flag for South Africa.”
Ozwald Boateng
“I wanted to support the important work ARISE is doing for African fashion. It’s good to help bring the stylistic messages of the AMFW experience of Lagos to New York. I have a good following in the States and have showed solo at NYFW three times…If you’re interested in the American consumer. NYFW is where it’s at.”
Maki Oh
“I have put my ‘AMFW Designer of the Year’ Award on my dining table, beside an amethyst candle holder and other awards I’ve won. I was excited about the whole line-up ARISE had chosen. Great times ahead…”
BCBG Max Azria Spring 2013
Suno
Washington Roberts
Mataano
Duro Olowu
Complete runway reviews coming up!
image credits – imaxtree, wwd.com & style.com
Wax Print Moments: Solange’s Wax Print Dottman + Vlisco’s Funky Grooves Collection
These are just a few fashion worthy wax print obsessions that caught my attention. Inspired by Bola Obileye’s self-proclaimation Ankaranista, here are a few of my favorite things that I’m loving right now.
1. Solange Knowles’ wax print ottoman, napkins + matching pillows
Solange’s personal style is very much own and it reflected in her home decor as well. She invited Elle magazine into her Brooklyn home where I fell in love with her wax print napkins, pillows, and equally, irresistable ottoman. Her lastest modeling for Madewell Fall 2012 catalog is very chic and very much HER! #Obsessed! (See Solange’s Brooklyn style home over at ELLE!)
2. Vlisco Funky Grooves Collection
There is a reason why Vlisco continues to be the leader in wax print craftsmanship. Their recently released Funky Grooves collection oozes style, class and versatility! #Obsessed (See the full collection over at Munaluchi Bride magazine!)
Honorable mentions goes to …
Dannijo “Cocoki Bleu”
Have. Want. Need. Wishlist. Piggy Bank Worthy!
Zoe Saldana’s Jonathan Saunder dress!
Zoe Saldana’s Jonathan Saunders dress at the 2012 Teen Choice Awards
Everything about this look is win, win, win from head to toe! Love the prints!
Liya Kebede for Donna Karan Woman
The stunning Ethiopian model & LemLem founder is one of Donna Karan’s newly release fragrance – Woman brand spokes-models. She shares the gig with Christy Turlington & Karoliina Kurkova. #Obsessed
Liya Kebede brings traditional Ethiopian weavers and her brand LemLem to New York’s hottest boutiques!
Liya in her own words describes bringing traditional Ethiopian craftsmanship to New York. Great video. #Obsessed
Check out this LemLem suit (pictured on the left) featured in a Harper’s Bazaar September 2012 editorial.
image credits – Getty Images, Vlisco, Dannijo, Donna Karan, Madewell, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, & Fashionista
Cultural Wax Print Moments is a feature focus on ankara, wax print fashionable items that I’m currently obsessed with!
Fall in Love With QuellyRue Designs
CulturalToast.com readers prepare to fall in love with QuellyRue Designs created by New Yorker, self-taught handbag and accessories designer Racquel Dwomoh. I stumbled across QuellyRue Designs via Tumblr and I was instantly amazed by her creativity to showcase natural black beauty on a tote bag. From her Janelle Monae tote to her successful and fan favorite Naturally Tote bag, these tote bags are must for any Ankaranista who appreciates Etsy’s creative African fashion designers! I love the Afro Woman tote for the simple fact that her natural hair is in the shape of Africa. Etsy is a treasure chest for Ankaranista! Oh did I mention that I’m addicted to Etsy? (Shout out to Noah’s Crew!) Priced at an affordable price point between $36 to $40, QuellyRue Designs has something for every Ankaranista on the go!
QuellyRee Designs – Naturally Me Totes
QuellyRae Designs – Tote Bags
Afro Woman
Natural Hair Beauty
Ode to Grace
J.Monae
I am African
As you can see QuellyRue Designs incorporates traditional Ghanaian and West African textures and felt to show her appreciation for Africa. Who doesn’t like the tote bag with a wink? How about that trendy Fulani gold earrings?
Learn more about QuellyRue Designs:
QuellyRue Designs is a collection of handmade crafts, art, and accessories that is full of bohemian flare, whimsical, yet refined and reminiscent of a love for Africa. QuellyRue Designs was born out of a passion for handmade crafts and a vision for extracting beauty from objects that are seemingly ordinary, creating beautifully handcrafted merchandise to complement all occasions.
Racquel Dwomoh (pronounced Ju-moh), the self-taught designer behind QuellyRue Designs, prides herself on her chic, quirky, imaginative, super cute accessories bursting with color, texture, print and intricate patterns. These reflect her colorful memories growing up as a child in the buzzing city of Accra, Ghana.
In 2008, QuellyRue Designs was launched producing a spectacular range of handmade tote bags, hair accessories, jewelry, crocheted hats and scarves, brooches, and tech accessories, crafted from the finest fabrics, fibers, and materials from around the world.
For Racquel, the creative direction of QuellyRue Designs is to express all the creative wanderings in her mind, her art, and her personal style through luxurious designs that are artistic, whimsical, and necessary.
“I am a strong believer that the truest expression of love is art. The purest part of you is that which is created, born and nourished in your heart. My hands live to create…so I create.” – Racquel Dwomoh
Shop QuellyRue Designs Only on Etsy: etsy.com/shop/QuellyRueDesigns?page=1
image credits – QuellyRue Designs
Cultural Shop highlights African fashion garments sold via upscale online boutiques.
Shop Jewel By Lisa Resort 2013 Collection at Moda Operandi
Lisa Folawiyo’s successful fashion brand Jewel By Lisa continues grow to new professional heights. Her newly release Resort 2013 collection can now be purchased at upscale retail boutique, Moda Operandi. (Jewel By Lisa is also sold at Heritage1960.com and Agnes & Lola.com.)
The good news was published on Jewel By Lisa’s Tumblr Page (jewelbylisa.tumblr.com) by Head of Brand Development & Communications – Zara Okpara.
Sold at a affordable price range between $528 to $960, Jewel By Lisa Resort 2013 has a look perfect for any special occasion! Celebrity Jewelettes of Jewel By Lisa includes Kendall Jenner, LaLa Anthony, Eku Edewor, Genevieve Nnaji, Kate Henshaw, Joy Adaeze, Angela Simmons, June Ambrose, Kelis, Catt Sadler, and Giuliana Ranic. I’m eager to see Solange Knowles in this new collection! Pre-order for Jewel By Lisa at Moda Operandi kicked off on July 7th!
Look 1 – The Classic Shirtdress
Look 2 - The Party Shift Dress
Look 3 – The Classic Cocktail Dress
Look 4 - The Michelle in Ankara Dress
Look 5 - The Party Shift I Dress
Look 6 – The Lady Skirt + The Double Frill Tank
Look 7 - The Jumper Peplum Blouse + The Thandie Organza Pant
Look 8 – The Blue Ameoba Peplum Blouse
Look 9 – The Blue Check Classic Cocktail Dress
Look 10 – The Michelle Dress
Look 11 – The Classic City Short
My favorite look from this collection is the blue and gold printed peplum blouse. The tag line that accompanies this collection is Jewel by Lisa A/W 2012 …”There’s something about a lady..” I couldn’t agree more. This collection is sexy, modern and feminine.
Shop Jewel By Lisa Resort 2013 Collection At Moda Operandi
Which look is your favorite?
image credits – Moda Operandi
Cultural Shop highlights African fashion garments sold via upscale online boutiques.
Lira Wears Sylvester Falata & Maria McCloy at the 2012 BET Awards
South African artist Lira looked stunning at the 2012 BET Awards. She wore a beautiful handcrafted dashiki clutch by Maria McCloy, red peep-toe slingbacks by Errol Arendz, and a red one-sleeve sequin gown by South African fashion designer Sylvester Falata. She was the only female artist from Africa to be nominated at this year’s musical event! I love that she (who Glamour South Africa called Woman of the Year) showcase her pride for South African designs! Lira shared several red carpet moments on her Twitter and Facebook pages for her fans. If you’re not following Lira on Twitter, I strongly suggest you do so! @Miss_Lira
Lira with Kerry Washington
Lira’s Sylvester Falata dress has a beautiful Ndebele beading on the shoulder!
This is not the first time nor will it be the last time that Lira has supported Sylvester Falata. it’s no wonder that Sylvester handpicked Lira to close his South Africa Fashion Week 2010 presentation. Support Sylvester’s craft – sylvesterfalata.tumblr.com Here’s a quick revisit on Lira wearing SF on and off the red carpet…
—Lira in Sylvester Falata designs past and present—
Lira stepped out in a beautiful handcrafted wax print clutch by Maria McCloy. She worked it! Support Maria’s collection of stunning African flavored clutches – rage.co.za and @MariaPodesta! Take a look at Maria’s stunning clutches below. I got my eyes on that lime green one!
–Maria McCloy clutches—
Lira’s shoes are made by Cape Town designer Errol Arendz (@ErrolArendz1)! Support Errol’s couture line - errolarendz.com
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- Lira with Kerry Washington
Cultural Presence looks at how celebrities and everyday people wear African fashion straight from the runway.
Jewel By Lisa Heats Up New York Fashion Week Fall 2012 Thanks to June Ambrose & Angela Simmons!
Jewel By Lisa has officially taken over New York Fashion Week Fall 2012 catwalk scene thanks to June Ambrose and Angela Simmons. February has seen LaLa Vasquez, Tai Beauchamp, and Joy Adeze photographed in stunning handcrafted jeweled JBL designs. CulturalToast.com shares the joy of the label’s founder/designer Lisa Folawiyo and her publicist Zara Okpara! Angela and June both paired their Jewel By Lisa designs with black. Would we see another celebrity wearing Jewel By Lisa again before February wraps up?! In the meantime, it’s safe to say that Jewel By Lisa is in-demand for this NYFW season!
Celebrity stylist June Ambrose shared her Jewel By Lisa fashion moment with her Twitter followers (@juneambrose). She paired her bejeweled pink, white, and black printed Jewel By Lisa Spring/Summer 2011 shirt with a black origami-like Ferre Skirt, a matching pink Adrienne Landau coat, and her style staple – blush pink Yves Saint Laurent pumps at Kim Hicks Couture Fall 2012 runway presentation. June’s handcrafted shirt made its runway debut last season during Arise Made in Africa fashion show. Just the idea of June – someone who has styled Alicia Keys, Jay-Z, and countless others supporting African fashion is simply amazing! I think she became a Jewelette when she saw Jewel By Lisa’s Spring/Summer 2011 Vintage Love collection last season. Gotta.love.it!
Pastry co-founder Angela Simmons was styled by her good friend Nigerian-American stylist Kanayo Ebi for her New York Fashion Week Fall 2012 appearances. Angela was seen in not one but three Jewel By Lisa style pieces. She’s also one of the first celebrities to wear Jewel By Lisa Spring/Summer 2011 beaded clutches. For her front row appearance at the Bebe Black Collection Fall 2012 fashion show, she wore a velvet Jewel By Lisa Autumn/Winter 2011 printed jacket. I love the way Angela made her Jewel By Lisa style items her statement piece by wearing all black each time. Kudos to Kanayo!
Also we recommend visiting the official Jewel By Lisa website to check out the new print AD campaign - http://jewelbylisa.com.ng
image credits – twitter. jewel by lisa. getty.
Cultural Presence looks at how celebrities and everyday people wear African fashion straight from the runway.
This Or That Edition Featuring Kaisa Struss, Solange Knowles, Ashley Madekwe, Nyasha Matonhodze, Kerry Washington, Lady Gaga & Yaya DaCosta
This or That Edition on CulturalToast.com examines style trends on and off the red carpet. Sometimes it’s a fashion face-off or two looks that’s quite similar. There’s plenty of great features such as this and much more published daily on the Tumblr page. This or That has quickly become a hot commodity on CulturalToast.com. Join us in discovering a few fashionable style shows we couldn’t resist sharing with our readers. Origami, ankara, lace and ombre all made it into our latest This or That edition.
First up, there’s THE coveted Burberry Prorsum SS 2012 ankara jacket that appeared on the February 2012 cover of Harper’s Bazaar Spain featuring Kasia Struss and was also seen on Lady Gaga. This ankara print jacket first made its runway appearance during London Fashion Week before it was later seen on Lady Gaga.
Lady Gaga vs. Kaisa Struss in Burberry Prorsum SS 2012
Actress YaYa DaCosta and Solange Knowles are into this season’s trend of the moment – lace. Don’t you love Solange’s green lace Dolce & Gabbana Aso Oke-esqe dress during Milan Fashion Week? YaYa added green accessories to her black off the shoulder lace dress when she attended W Magazine’s 69th Annual Golden Globes award celebration in New York City. Natural curls and bold red lipsticks completed both fashionista’s red carpet looks.
YaYa DaCosta vs. Solange Knowles in lace
Editorial to real life has never looked glamorous thanks in part to Nyasha Matonhodze and Kerry Washington’s origami white Donna Karan frock. Kerry was seen in this lovely get-up from Donna Karan’s Resort 2011 collection at the 8th Annual Keep A Child Alive Black Ball. Nyasha wore this look for her Vogue Japan November 2011 editorial.
Nyasha Matonhodze vs. Kerry Washington in Donna Karan
Zimbabwe’s it girl and Louis Vuitton’s it model Nyasha Matonhodze wraps up our fun This or That edition thanks to her high-profile Topshop Fall 2011 print AD campaign. ABC’s Revenge Ashley Madekwe is also a fan of this ombre look when she attended the Forevermark and InStyle Golden Globe event.
Ashley Madekwe vs. Nyasha Matonhodze in Topshop
Has any of these looks inspired your next evening out on the town?
getty. pacific coast news. baufer griffin. style.
This Or That examines style trends on and off the red carpet. Sometimes it’s a fashion face-off or two looks that’s quite similar.
Lady Gaga Tackles Cultural Pulse in Burberry Prorsum Ankara Jacket
Lady Gaga, one of pop music’s biggest superstar, was spotted out and about in a Burberry Prorsum Spring/Summer 2012 Ankara jacket in London. We love her Christian Louboutin Daffodil suede purple heels! CulturalToast.com always appreciates seeing how celebrities put their own personal funk on African fashion fabric straight from the runway.
Lady Gaga however is the not the first celebrity to seen wearing an “African-inspired” design from Burberry Prorsum. Gaga joins the ranks of Solange, Kate Bosworth and Anna Wintour who’s obsessed with African fashion fabric-inspired Burberry designs on and off the red carpet. As you can tell Gaga’s jacket print is the same pattern as Kate Bosworth’s dress. Gotta love the globalization of African fashion? CulturalToast.com does NOT think it’s a fad but a lifestyle.
bauer griffin // getty // wireimage // splash
Cultural Presence looks at how celebrities and everyday people wear African fashion straight from the runway.
African Fashion Spotlight: Estelle’s Mimi Plange to Solange, Anna Wintour & Kate Bosworth in Burberry’s Ankara
The appreciation for African Fashion fever has never looked radiant as it has in the past few weeks! From Estelle’s red Mimi Plange arrival dress at the 2011 Black Girls Rock event in New York City to Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour wearing a Burberry Prorsum ankara trench coat at Paris Fashion Week, the spotlight on African fashion has once again intensified! Let’s take a look back on some of our favorite African fashion red carpet stunners…
Spotlight #1 – Estelle in Mimi Plange
When Estelle stepped out in this fire engine red satin ruffle Mimi Plange dress at the 2011 Black Girls Rock event, a collective round of applause was heard within the African fashion circuit. After all the dress was picked from the very collection that Vogue Editor at Large Andre Leon Talley physically co-signed when it was first unveiled during New York Fashion Week. Mimi Plange’s a fab Ghanaian fashion designer who CulturalToast.com had the pleasure of meeting at her private NYFW show. Estelle looked simply divine in this Mimi Plange “Scarred Perfection” Fall 2011 dress!
Spotlight #2 – Anna Wintour in Burberry
The Queen of fashion wore a stunning ankara trench coat lifted from the much-talked about Burberry SS 2011 collection. Who would thought or imagine the words Anna Wintour and ankara in sentence? Burberry made it happened! Take notice the appreciation for African fashion has heated up the mainstream media and we predict it’ll be here long after the frenzy “shimmers” down.
Spotlight #3 – Solange Knowles in Burberry
The ever talented younger Knowles sibling has been consistent with wearing ankara and bold prints courtesy of Boxing Kitten and Opening Ceremony. So it comes as no surprise to see Solange in another exquiste Ankara creation (Burberry Prorsum Resort 2012 shoes) at the recent Burberry Body Event. We love Solange’s high-waisted knotted, ruched skirt! We can’t help but notice how Burberry Prorsum Resort 2012 chunky heels made another noteworthy appearance for its Spring 2012 London Fashion Week presentation as wedges!
Spotlight #4 – Kate Bosworth in Burberry
Also at the private Burberry Body bash hosted by Christopher Bailey was actress Kate Bosworth who wore a stunning ankara halter dress from the label’s Spring 2012 ready to wear collection. Do you prefer the runway look or Kate’s way?
photo credits – Getty, Style.com, Burberry Prorsum & Mimi Plange
Cultural Presence looks at how celebrities and everyday people wear African fashion straight from the runway.
