Bookmark Nigeria’s Stylist to the Stars Bolaji A’s Must-See Tumblr Page – Bolaji’s Stylelist

Creative Fashion stylist to top Nigerian artists and celebrities Bolaji Animashaun has a eye orgasm worthy tumblr that you MUST check out. CulturalToast.com readers already know that we support African fashion stylists making IT in the industry. On her official tumblr page aptly named Bolaji’s Stylelist, Bolaji chronicles her daily styling runs featuring several of Nigeria’s superstars from Eku Edewor to Dolapo Oni to Tiwa Savage to Nike Oshinowo. Most of her styling work on her tumblr page showcase her keen eye of fashion seen on 53 Extra hosts Dolapo Oni and Eku Edewor. (After all Bolaji is the head stylist and Fashion Director for the hit Nigerian-based show 53 Extra. It’s no wonder she’s one of Nigeria’s top 5 fashion stylists!) Dolapo and Eku, hip fashionistas, definitely make African fashion designs POP!

I’m beyond thrilled that she launched this tumblr page to showcase her work. What I love about her work is her love and pride for African fashion designers. Be prepare to see your favorites in Deola Sagoe, Maki Oh, Tiffany Amber, Landre Da Silva Ajayi, Republic of Foreigner, Clan, Re Bahia, Virgos Lounge, Viv La Resistance, and much more. I’m definitely eager to see which top African fashion designer look Bolaji would style next on Eku and Dolapo!

Eku Edewor (@EkuEdewor) in Lanre DaSilva Ajayi

Dolapo Oni  (@marcydolapooni) in Clan, Re Bahia, and Grey

I’ll leave you all with Bolaji’s latest styling gig – Eku Edewor in Huda Couture

Dolapo Oni in Clan

Continued success, Bolaji!

Visit her official tumblr page at: bolajianimashaun.tumblr.com

image credits – @Bolajee

Cultural Spot highlights outstanding, influential Africans in the media showcasing positive images of the Diaspora!

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!

Fashion Consultant Chalya Wears Deola Sagoe Ori Oke Fall 2011

Wearing African Fashion designs during New York Fashion Week  was a major hit among the fashionable mavens. CulturalToast.com also spotted fashion consultant and blogger Chalya at the Arise Made in Africa show wearing a stunning handcrafted Deola Sagoe wrap dress lifted from the Nigerian fashion label’s newly release Ori Oke Fall 2011 collection! Essence magazine also endorsed Chalya’s style at New York Fashion Week for their street style portfolio!

Deola Sagoe incorporated Japanese and Yoruba dress styles for her new Fall/Winter 2011 collection! The name Ori Oke is combination of two names from the Japanese and Yoruba dialects. “Ori” deprived from “Shibori” – a Japanese word. “Oke” is lifted from “Aso-Oke” – a Yoruba term.  Fader TV caught up with Chalya after the Arise Made in Africa SS 2012 show wrapped up. What’s remarkable about the footage is of course what she wore! Fast forward to 3:01 to revel in Chalya’s Deola Sagoe Ori Oke Fall 2011 dress!

Fader TV at Arise Made in Africa SS 2012

Connect with Chalya online: website // twitter

Twitter. Deola Sagoe

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