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.

Omotola’s Bunmi Koko Moment + Gwen Stefani Rocks Batik at Harajuku Mini Target Launch

Two of the global’s biggest stars – Omotola and Gwen Stefani – put their own funky spin on cultural red carpet style. Gwen opted for the African fashion fabric prints while Omotola channeled a classic, Grecian-inspired look.

Nollywood superstar Omotola was seen in a yummy yellow Bunmi Koko low-cut pleated creation alongside the dress’s creative director Bunmi Olaye. Bunmi Koko as CulturalToast.com first reported just wrapped up their appearance at New York Fashion Week to fave praise! For those that recognize Bunmi’s lavender and yellow caftan, it made its runway debut via her Allure of the Sirens presentation at this past NYFW! It’s always great to see Nollywood embracing the African fashion scene!

Gwen Stefani wears a black and white batik-inspired pantsuit from her L.A.M.B Spring/Summer 2012 collection at the launch of her new Target children line, Harajuku Mini. It’s no secret that Gwen loves prints. Her past two collections was heavily influenced by African fashion fabrics from ankara to batik. We love that Gwen kept the same hair and the outfit as the runway look.

style// wireimage // bunmi koko // getty

Cultural Pose is a look at red carpet events!

Ashley Madekwe Seen at The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Pt. 1 L.A. Premiere with Revenge Co-Stars

Nigerian-British actress Ashley Madekwe, star of ABC primetime juicy soap Revenge, was seen in a fire engine red BCBG dress and her favorite Prada heels with her TV co-stars Gabriel Mann and Christa B. Allen at the LA Premiere of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part. 1. Ashley tweeted her red carpet outfit details to her Twitter followers last night. If you’re in love with Ashley’s red carpet outfit, you need to tune in Wednesday nights to see what her character, event planner Ashley Davenport, wears each episode! It’s to die for!

Earlier Ashley was seen in a black and white bod-con dress with a purple quilted, chain bag at the Ermenegildo Zegna and Vanity Fair Event to Benefit the Art of Elysium’s documentary film project. Love her outfit here? Read her blog for daily style inspirations, Ring My Bell!

In related news, Tyler Shields photographed the cast of Revenge in a hip photo-shoot with an accompanying short trailer. The pillow fight-themed photo shoot features Christa B. Allen, Emily Van Camp, Gabriel Mann, Joshua Bowman, Nick Wechsler and Connor Paulo.

TYLER SHIELDS – REVENGE SHOOT

Follow Ashley on Twitter: @smashleybell. Reads Ashley’s blog: Ring My Bell

wireimage. getty

Cultural Pose is a look at red carpet events!

Naana B’s New Spring/Summer 2012 Lookbook

Shot by Melinda DiMauro Photography, rising Ghanaian fashion designer Naana B unveiled her bright, colorful Spring/Summer 2012 collection that she handcrafted using rich Ghanaian Kente fabric accents. Yes CulturalToast.com readers, the wait is finally over! For those who fell in love with Naana B’s collection when it appeared in Teen Vogue or when Oluchi wore her designs for a Nigerian high-fashion shoot, Naana B is back with a huge bang…and it’s just in time for the festive holiday season!

This collection provides much of the same aesethic that Naana is known for – fitted silhouttees, vibrant prints, and glamourous womenswear that take the ideal Naana B customer from day to night. The collection offers something chic and classic for every woman. Celebrities also shares CulturalToast.com’s enthusiam for Naana B!  R&B singer Mya was also seen rocking a Naana B python clutch from the Vixen Collection at the  2010 International Dance Music Awards! Supermodel Oluchi wore a Naana B Prine of the Valley Cocktail dress for a FLARE Magazine cover and editorial shoot!

Georgia NY welcomed Naana B last year for her sample sale as CulturalToast.com reported on. We’re keeping our fingers crossed for another swanky sample sale in the city from Naana! Check out the new lookbook featuring model Shirley Tan which also features the famous python snakeskin leather clutch from the Vixen Collection. What’s your favorite style pick from Naana B’s Spring/Summer 2012 collection?

>>>LookBook: Naana B Spring/Summer 2012<<< 

Connect with Naana B Online: Facebook + Twitter + Official Website

images courtesy of Melinda DiMauro Photography

Cultural Look examines fashion’s latest lookbooks and looks lifted from the runway!

Ebbe Bassey, star of Ties That Bind, Poses in New Photo Shoot

Nollywood superstar Ebbe Bassey-Mazczuk who can be seen up next in the film Ties That Bind co-starring Kimberly Elise and Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde poses in a new photo shoot done by Yinka Ajaikaiye of Chocolate Photography NYC. Ties that Binds, as the happily married Ebbe proudly proclaimed on her official Facebook fanpage that her new Nollywood film is set for a release this December. Visit Yinka’s blog, C.H.O.C.O.L.A.T.E. Photography NYC for the complete shoot!

 

Ties That Bind Trailer

 

Cultural statement is a feature celebrating positive imagery of African professionals which includes fashion photo shoots and print AD campaigns.

Couples On The Go: Nia Long & Ime Udoka + Tracee Ellis Ross & Bu Thiam

Halloween just wrapped up this past Monday but prior to that day nine-months-pregnant Nia Long was seen with her boyfriend Ime Udoka (Nigerian-American San Antonio Spurs basketball player) and her son Massai Jr at Hollywood’s hot spot, Mr. Bones. The bundle of joy will be Nia’s second child and Ime’s first. Nia and Ime expressed their happiness for the November 2011 issue of Ebony Magazine.

Tracee Ellis Ross celebrated her 39th birthday with boyfriend Bu Thiam (Akon’s brother & Senior VP of A&R at Def Jam) in Altanta. As you can recalled Tracee and Bu have been under the radar for awhile now. We first reported on these two when Tracee was in town filming her hit BET series, Reed The Lines.

We of course are drawn to what Tracee worn for her b’day bash/Watch The Throne After Party as evident by our Tumblr page! This black and white animal print mini was first worn by Keisha Buchanan at the D&G Party hosted by Net-A-Porter and Mr. Porter back in July. For her birthday celebration in Atlanta, Tracee paired the same get-up with droolworthy Azzedine Alaia lace-up calf hair platform boots. FYI: Tracee wore the same dress way back in July 2011 at Club Mansion.  We love that Tracee re-wore what she has in her closet! Shop the dress here!

photo credits: Splash, Ebony Magazine, ATLPICS.NET

Cultural Romance is dedicated to the romantic lives of high-powered celebrities. 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.