Angela Simmons Dazzles in Jewel By Lisa & Kanayo Ebi rocks Virgos Lounge Clutch at ARISE African Icons NYFW SS 2013 Runway Show!

What Angela Simmons wore to the event caught my eye instantly. Angela Simmons continues her love for Jewel By Lisa. She was spotted at front row with her stylist Kanayo Ebi rocking the embellished jacket from Lisa Folawiyo’s critically-acclaimed  Jewel By Lisa Autumn/Winter 2012 collection.

Angela’s Jewel By Lisa jacket is a style favorite! Who else wore Angela’s JBL jacket:  African models Millen Magese and Ediomi Utuk wore this jacket for a photo session with Jewel By Lisa Autumn/Winter 2012 lookbook and Munaluchi Bride Magazine respectively.  In Style National Style Correspondent Tai Beauchamp’s Jewel By Lisa Autumn/Winter 2011 jeweled jacket was amazing at the 2012 pre-Grammys event! Model Georgie Badiel walked down the runway for ARISE magazine Autumn 2012 runway show in Lagos last March.

Just imagine it was during NYFW Autumn/Winter 2012 shows this past September that Angela was seen rocking Jewel By Lisa designs. Great to see Angela continue to show love to JBL. Stylist Kanayo Ebi also donned a yummy yellow and black Virgos Lounge BEE clutch for her ARISE African Icons front row appearance. Kanayo and Angela are definitely great supporters of the African fashion initiative!

image credits – Chioma for CulturalToast.com, Kanayo Ebi, Jewel By Lisa, AdoreAngela.Tumblr.com, Virgos Lounge x Getty Images

Angela Simmons Wears Virgos Lounge Bee Clutch to Vanessa Simmons’ 29th BDay Bash

Angela Simmons attended her older sister Vanessa’s 29th birthday bash rocking a lime green mustard, gold and black Virgos Lounge “Bee” beaded clutch. Vanessa’s birthday celebration was held at the Sugar Factory in Las Vegas! Virgos Lounge needs to seriously consider making Angela Simmons a.) their spokesmodel for their new collection or b.) named one of their style items after her. Angela simply adores Virgos Lounge and CulturalToast.com is eager to see what Virgos Lounge red carpet worthy style item that her Nigerian-American stylist Kanayo Ebi*  will pick out for her next!

*Kanayo Ebi with her clients and close friends Angela and Vanessa

Unfortunately for the fashion-forward shopaholics who aspired to have this yummy accessory in their closet out there this clutch is currently sold out! (Damn it! There goes my birthday wish from me to me, lol!) Angela’s love for Virgos Lounge continues to grow. Love this support of celebrities embracing African fashion labels!

Angela’s ensemble consists of a white sheer lace Edwing D’Angelo dress and black Christian Louboutin daffodil pumps! Work it out, Angela!

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

Image credits – Adore Angela. Virgos Lounge. Getty Images

Cultural Loop: Angela & Vanessa Simmons in Virgos Lounge, Eve wears African Wax Print Jumpsuit, Christie Brown’s New Xutra LookBook & NBA Mavericks Player Dirk & girlfriend Jessica Weds in Traditional Kenyan Wedding

Plenty of newsworthy buzz has heated up the African fashion & entertainment blogosphere. From two Virgos Lounge sighting to a NBA All-Star wedding, CulturalToast.com presents Cultural Loop!

The Simmons sisters Angela and Vanessa were photographed wearing Virgos Lounge on and off the red carpet recently at the Art for Life Benefit event. Angela was seen in this Zaina dress with a funky fringe beaded bottom which you can purchase here.

Angela’s big sister Vanessa was also seen in Virgos Lounge at the launch of her new business venture Rose by Vanessa Jean clothing line at Miami Beach Fashion Week. Vanessa wore a stunning floral printed “Mollie Coral” wrap Skirt which you can purchase here.

I’m definitely loving the support the Simmons sisters is giving to Virgos Lounge. Angela’s a HUGE fan of the London-based Nigerian-run fashion line and I love the fact that Angela’s Virgos Lounge support is rubbing off on Vanessa. If you’re wondering about the Simmons sisters’ obsession with Virgos Lounge, credit goes to Angela’s Nigerian-American stylist Kanayo Ebi for hooking Angela up with Virgos Lounge yet again! I can definitely see Angela wearing this orange Virgos Lounge Tanya gown next on or off the red carpet next time…

I couldn’t help but fall in love with Eve’s wax print jumpsuit that she wore to the Intimately You Summit event in Philly. I also couldn’t help but notice that this jumpsuit is quite similar to the one Nadia Buari wore recently. It’s a cute look especially thanks to the lace detailing on the shoulder. Isn’t this a daring Aso Ebi inspiration, anyone?

Ghanaian fashion designer Christie Brown recently unveiled her latest lookbook – Xutra with chic wax print motifs. Christie debuted her collection at ARISE Fashion Week in Lagos earlier this year to great fan appreciation and rave. Shot by C.Asara Photography with hair and makeup by Maamess, model Amanda Hilaire definitely bought Christie Brown’s Xutra from design to stunning imagery! Connect with Christie Brown Online – facebook.com/ChristieBrownGH & christiebrownonline.com

 

CulturalToast.com is sending a huge congratulations to Dallas Mavericks NBA star Dirk Nowitzki and his new wife Jessica Olsson who got married over the July 15th weekend in a traditional Kenyan wedding! Dirk’s wife Jessica Olsson is of Kenyan and Swedish descent and Dirk is German professional basketball player! How cute and amazing are their traditional wedding outfits?!

Here’s Dirk & Jessica’s wedding details via Jambon News Sport:

It was a traditional kikuyu wedding ceremony commonly referred to as Ngurario.

The short version of the Kikuyu wedding, that is meant to announce to the community that the daughter is engaged, provided relatives from both sides with an opportunity to get to know each other and conclude ruracio (dowry payments) discussions.

When a couple goes through the ruracio phase, their wedding is officially recognized by customary laws.

There was plenty of fun and and plenty to eat and drink. The bride, Jessica was wearing a traditional Kikuyu garment and Dirk was in a dark brown traditional outfit with orange hues. Jessica was also presented with a kiondo by elederly kikuyu women. She had to demonstrate how she would go to the market and shop for her husband.

The NBA Star and Jessica Olsson held the ceremony over the July15th  weekend.  Jessica is born of a Kenyan mother and a Swedish father.

Munaluchi Bride magazine has the scoop on why Dirk and Jessica decided to have a traditional Kenyan wedding ceremony! Love that Dirk and Jessica are embracing their multicultural heritage!

image credits – Virgos Lounge Facebook. Getty Images. Jambon News Sports

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

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.

Best of 2011: 12 Fashion-Forward Designer Labels To Watch

2011 is over and done with but let’s look back at what a great year in fashion it has been for several notable African-run labels. Bridget Awosika, Suno, Jewel By Lisa, Anita Quansah London, Virgos Lounge, Burberry, Bunmi Koko, Mimi Plange, LemLem, Kiki Clothing, Suno and Thakoon ruled the red carpet with classy innovative sleek designs. A winning factor for each designer was of course the loyal support of their high-profile clients.

Jewel By Lisa

Lisa Folawiyo, creative director and founder of Jewel By Lisa, has solidified her fashion stance. From her well accepted approval at Arise Made in Africa New York Fashion Week presentation to her newly launched diffusion line, The J Label, Lisa’s JBL has proved she’s truly a houshold name in fashion. Her biggest milestone in 2011 came courtesy of E News Correspondent Catt Sadler wearing her designs three times on air. JBL has gone Hollywood! Jewel By Lisa went on to become a red carpet fan favorite as seen on Eku Edewor, Solange Knowles, Kendall Jenner, Genevieve Nnaji, and many more. Currently Lisa has announced plans to release a coffee table book which CulturalToast.com previewed at NYFW SS 2012 and it’s definitely worth the wait! We’re eager to see what Lisa has planned for 2012!

Anita Quansah London

2011 was Anita Quansah London’s year of success! Public admiration for Anita Quansah London’s handcrafted jewelry collection ignited when Keisha Buchanan stepped out in a neckpiece at Naomi Campbell’s Fashion for Relief launch. Nigerian singing sensation Tiwa Savage was obsessed with Anita Quansah London designs whenever she had a red carpet event to attend. Shortly after Anita Quansah London announced her collaboration with fellow Nigerian fashion label Jewel By Lisa for their new diffusion line, The J Label. Currently Anita Quansah London is working on a new diffusion line due to launch soon!

Kiki Clothing

When actress Nicole Ari Parker visited her husband’s paternal home of Ghana, she fell in love with Ghanaian, Nigerian fashion house Kiki Clothing. Nicole wore not one but two dresses from Kiki Clothing to major high-profile red carpet events this past year. Back in October, Kiki Clothing presented their latest collection at Africa Fashion International Week in Cape Town, South Africa. Kiki Clothing’s founder Titi Ademola is sure to bring IT in 2012!

Bridget Awosika


A well deserved recognition from Vogue Italia was just a perfect way to sum up rising Nigerian fashion label Bridget Awosika’s 2011. Nigerian TV personality Eku Edewor became Bridget Awosika’s most vocal, loyal supporter. Beloved by top Nigerian red carpet beauty queens like Funmi Iyanda, Tiwa Savage, Eku Edewor, EMLN 2011 winner EMLN 2011 winner Chika Chinwe, Nigerian model Makida Moda, and Adora Oleh. Bridget Awosika has bloosom to a high ranking contemporary womenswear line. 2012 will of course bring the Bridget Awosika name to red carpet fever heights!

Virgos Lounge

When Nigerian stylist Kanayo Ebi pick out a silver sequin one-shoulder jumpsuit for her client Angela Simmons, all wanted to know who design it Nigerian, London-based label Virgos Lounge has provided women with contemporary, vintage-inspired designs since its 2008 launch. Currently the label just release their Party Collection featuring their favorite model Omowunmi Gbadamosi. Angela has since bought the glamour of Virgos Lounge to Betsey Johnson’s runway presentation at New York Fashion Week.

Suno

First Lady Michelle Obama, Esperanza Spalding, Solange Knowles, Heidi Klum and Tai Beauchamp all wore the bold prints from the New York-based fashion label in 2011. Whether it’ll be Tai’s Suno x Loefller Randall canvas printed wedges or Michelle’s s silk pleated skirt, Suno produced classy design that will make every fashion-forward girl splurge a little! Suno currently re-launched their e-commerce site, where fashionistas can either window shop or shop ’til they drop!

Thakoon

Two Kardashian sisters (Kim & Khloe), Solange Knowles, First Lady Michelle Obama, and supermodel Iman sworn by Thakoon in 2011. Thakoon also created a limited edition Massai print scarf that sends all proceeds to famine-torn countries within the Horn of Africa – Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti. Although Thakoon’s pre-Fall 2012 collection is a slight departure from their print heavy, Kenya-inspired Fall 2011 collection, we’re eager to see what else they have in store for 2012!

Burberry

Burberry was definitely inspired by rich African textiles for their 2012’s Resort and Spring collections. Lady Gaga, Anna Wintour, Solange Knowles, Kate Bosworth and Transformers star Rosie Huntington-Whiteley were faithful to Burberry’s prints in 2011. The hoopla on all things African fashion intensified, hasn’t it?

Mimi Plange

2011 produced Mimi Plange’s biggest accomplishment thanks to her collaboration with Manolo Blahnik which she revealed at her A Flower in the Desert Spring/Summer 2012 presentation during New York Fashion Week in front of her fellow fashion supporters Duro Olowu, Bethann Hardison, Rachel Zoe and Andre Leon Talley. Kat Graham, Vanessa Hudgens, Rihanna, Kristen Cavallari, Mary Birdsong, and Estelle were all seen in Mimi Plange designs.

Bunmi Koko

Before Bunmi Koko’s founder Bunmi Olaye stepped down as the lead designer from her label, she provided classy eccentric designs as seen on Omotola, Melanie Brown, Michelle Williams, and Keisha Buchanan in 2011. (FYI: Omotola was the first to wear the lime pleated dress from Bunmi Koko’s Spring/Summer 2012 Allure of The Sirens collection. Currently Bunmi Koko presented a revamped website or a droolworthy e-commerce site. As for any explanation why Bunmi departed her label, she only had the following to offer: I have not giving up on my dream, however the time has come for me to pursue a vision that is entirely my own.

LemLem

LemLem ‘s founder Liya Kebede put her supermodel skills to the test in 2011 when she stepped out on numerous occasions wearing her Ethiopia-based womenswear line. We fell in love with Liya’s handkerchief-styled handwoven tunic when she attended the Tribute to the Models of Versailles 1973 at MET back in January. Who could resist her scarf, too? Liya continued to be her label’s best spokesmodel when she wore Lem Lem to two high-profile New York City film screenings. Currently LemLem has launched a Tumblr and of course a hip new Resort 2012 collection. Liya started LemLem in 2007 “inspire economic independence in her native country and to preserve the art of weaving.” We’re eager to see what else Lem Lem has to offer!

Wrapping up the very best moments in African fashion were Gwen Stefani’s L.A.M.B collection, Chayla’s Deola Sagoe stunner at New York Fashion Week, Eku Edewor’s Republic of Foreigner embellished top, Teyana Taylor’s Vibe Vixen African-inspired shoot, Jackie Appiah’s Jil F.A.C.E. List Awards dress, Genevieve Nnaji showing loyalty to Zed Eye & Jewel by Lisa time and time again, and Gregory Parkinson’s African-inspired totes. These designer labels are THE ones to watch in 2012 as we predict more groundbreaking milestones to come for each one. Out of the 11, which one has you wanting to know what’s their next move in 2012?

image credits – Getty, Splash, WENN, Wireimage, Twitter, Facebook

Cultural Annual Review takes a look back in the previous year in film, fashion, entertainment and much more!

African Fashion at New York Fashion Spring 2012

New York Fashion Week saw plenty of African fashion designs lifted straight from the runway to the coveted front row. African fashion was worn on notable fashionable mavens like Georgie Badiel, Angela Simmons, Lisa Folawiyo, Joy Adaeze, Zara Okpara, and Mimi Plange during New York Fashion Week. CulturalToast.com takes a look back at how the runway looks were translated on our favorite celebrities and designers.

Georgie Badiel, one of the African fashion industry’s favorite IT girl, was seen in this avant-garde spiked ombre Pierre Antoine Veterello SS 2012 dress.

Georgie Badiel in Pierre Antoine Veterello SS 2012

To attend the Betsey Johnson NYFW show, Angela Simmons, co-owner of footwear and apparel line Pastry, was styled by Nigerian celebrity stylist Kanayo Ebi in this gorgeous yellow and turquoise beaded, silk dress from Virgos Lounge’s newly release Resort 2012 collection.

Angela Simmons in Virgos Lounge Resort 2012

Buy Angela’s “Opal” dress, virgoslounge.com

To present her A Flower in The Desert Spring/Summer 2012 collection, Mimi Plange of Ghana wore a hot pink Victorian-inspired button blouse with a pair of Manolo Blahnik for Mimi Plange booties.

Mimi Plange in Mimi Plange SS 2012

Mimi’s draped bloouse with folded collar and pearl buttons shirt is look #17 from the collection named “Norah.” 

Lisa Folawiyo wore a modifed silk printed Jewel By Lisa Spring/Summer 2012 shirt dress to unveil her Arise Made in Africa runway collection.

Lisa Folawiyo in Jewel By Lisa SS 2012

Publicist to Jewel By Lisa, Zara Okpara wore a multi-printed silk blouse (worn backwards) with a black feather skirt from JBL’s newly release Spring/Summer 2012 collection. We love her Chanel flap bag!

Zara Okpara in Jewel By Lisa SS 2012

Executive assistant to Essence Magazine’s Online Editor-in-Chief and celebrity stylist Joy Adaeze wore a Jewel By Lisa Spring 2011 dress with floral printed Topshop platform heels and Me Char chain bag to attend the Arise Made in Africa SS 2012 show.

Joy Adaeze in Jewel By Lisa Spring 2011

Vote for your favorite African Fashion Look at NYFW below…

getty. culturaltoast.com. elle

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