Cultural Shop: Tsemaye Binitie Revamps Website + Anita Quansah London Jewlery Now Available on LuisaViaroma.com & Personal Online Boutique

Fresh off the heels of his successful Spring 2013 collection runway presentation at ARISE African Icons during New York Fashion Week, Tsemaye Binitie revamped his personal website to include his Autumn/Winter 2012/2013 lookbook: http://www.tsemayebinitie.com/. One look from Tsemaye’s new collection has already become a fan favorite to Vampire Diaries star Kat Graham.

 

Anita Quansah London opened up a new brand-new online boutique hosting her stunning hand-crafted jeweled neckpieces. There’s currently 8 looks available on her personal website: http://www.anitaquansahlondon.com/shop.html To top that good news off, Anita also announced on her Facebook page her that LuisaViaroma.com has been included as a stocklist for her statement jewelry. Tiwa Savage, Nneka, Alicia Keys and Keisha Buchanan are celebrity fans of her line!

Congrats to Tsemaye and Anita!

Noteworthy Online African Fashion Boutique: Malakh & Sco where you can purchase pieces from Republic of Foreigner, Toju Foyeh, Grey, House 38, and Andrea Iyahmah! http://www.malakhandsco.com/shop.php (The company joins the growing online boutiques catering to African fashion designers which include MyAsho.com, Agnes & Lola, Moda Operandi, Hertiage1960, Eve’s Apple, ASOS, and many others!) Shout-out to Terence Sambo!

Image credits – TsemayeBinitie.com & Anita Quansah London

Cultural Shop highlights African fashion garments sold via upscale online boutiques.

Maya Samuelsson & Manolo Blahnik for Mimi Plange Spring 2013

Manolo Blahnik continues its collaboration with Ghanaian-American fashion designer Mimi Plange who recently unveiled her Spring/Summer “Tea With Mother” 2013 collection during New York Fashion Week with model Maya Samuelsson featured in her new AD campaign. Maya Samuelsson, wife to world renowned chef Marcus Samuelsson of Harlem’s Red Rooster restaurant, worked IT in a Mimi Plange Spring/Summer 2013 custom printed lambskin leather combo pencil skirt. “Tea With Mother”, Mimi Plange’s Spring/Summer 2013 collection was inspired by the refined elegance of aspirational adult style, and the fragile beauty of modern porcelain art.

 

 

Simply gorgeous!

image credits – Mimi Plange Facebook, WWD & 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!

Chanel Iman Rocks Wax Print Head Gear & Scarf for Vogue Italia July 2012

Chanel Iman pose for Vogue Italia July 2012 issue wearing handmade West African and Ghanaian kente textile garments as head wraps. Inspired by the African continent, Rushka Bergman styled Chanel Iman for her latest Vogue Italia editorial.

I love how the fabric prints were used to give her editorial a pop of color against her teal Miu Miu Fall 2012 power suit! I could see Chanel rocking any piece from Jewel By Lisa’s Resort 2013 collection in place of wearing the scarf and head gear for this photo session! I do  however love her Marc Jacobs skirt in the gif below…

It’s great to see West African wax print fabric being used in a high fashion setting. It continues to amaze me the growing trend of “African fashion fabric prints” in mainstream media. Influential African superstars are also embracing the trend of wearing textile prints on and off the red carpet. Ghanaian actress Nadia Buari just last month was seen in a cute jumpsuit at the red carpet premiere of Shackles and Secret Burden alongside Jackie Appiah and John Dumelo. What would blow my mind is when Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, or Nordstrom follows suit with H&M and do a designer collaborative collection with high profile African designers for their retail chains! A girl can only dream!

What are your thoughts on Chanel Iman and Nadia Buari wearing wax prints?

image credits – Ameyaw Debrah,Vogue Italia via Hell Yeah Chanel Iman

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!

Elle Varner Wears African Kente Cloth Dress for Her Only Wanna Give It To You Music Video

Neo-soul singer, songwriter Elle Varner wore a haute Ghanaian Kente cloth strapless dress for her music video, Only Wanna Give It to You featuring J. Cole. CulturalToast.com loves how Elle added a bright orange blazer to her look. Her stylist, @Wourivice did a excellent job styling her for the video shoot. The Asante Kente is often linked to the people of Ghana. CulturalToast.com loves that rich African cultural heritage is pouring into mainstream media! Gotta love that support! The Kente cloth is handmade fabric woven of silk and cotton and was once made for official Royal wear of the Asante Kingdom of Ghana. Today the Kente cloth is native to the Akan people of Ghana and Ivory Coast. Check out the video treatment for Elle’s new single, Only Wanna Give It To You below…

*UPDATE: Thanks to the e-mails received we discovered that Elle Varner is wearing a Patricia Field teacup, priced at $148.

image credits – Tumblr

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

Fatima Samad and Feyisola Ogunfemi in Toriola Custom Designs

The very first feature on CulturalToast.com was on New York-based Nigerian fashion designer Tori Famuyiwa. At the Afripreneur of Tomorrrow Scholarship Ball on Friday September 30th, his designs appeared on the event’s Nigerian-American host and CEO of Statuesque Events Feyisola Ogunfemi and Design By U Ghanaian jewelry designer Fatima Samad. CulturalToast.com was on the scene to capture two kodak moments of Fey and Fatima in Toriola Custom Designs. Check it out…

Connect with Design By U online: Facebook//Blog//Website
Connect with Statuesque Events online: Facebook//Website//Twitter
Connect with Tori Famuyiwa Online: Facebook//Tumblr//Twitter

Check out a sneak preview of Tori’s Fall/Winter 2012 collection:

images taken by culturaltoast.com

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

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.

Cultural Influence: Jennifer Hudson

As seen at the 12th Annual Art of Benefit event, singer Jennifer Hudson’s white cut-out crochet Lela Rose look bares a striking resemblance to this white Twiggy Dress by Coccolily. Both dresses are cut-out, a popular trend for the Summer.

The cut-out trend as seen on Kelly Rowland and Tika Sumpter. While Jennifer’s cutout look is dominant in the legs, Kelly and Tika’s trend is focus on the abs and arms. -cue Kanye West’s Workout Plan–

The white “Twiggy” lace and fringe dress by Coccolily was seen at the Spring/Summer 2011 presentation at Montreal Fashion Week 2010. Coccolily is a Ghanaian fashion label created by Naana Tennachie Yankey. Online African fashion boutique, MyAsho, currently sells Coccolily garments including the Twiggy dress which is now on sale.

As you can see, this look is for the fashion brave and not for the fashion curious!

Cultural Statement Links: @Coccolily, coccolily.com, Coccolily Facebook, Tumblr

wireimage. myasho

Cultural influence breaks down similarities between Western fashion and African fashion.

Tori Famuyiwa Introduces Age of Decadence

Famed Nigerian, New York-based fashion designer and stylist Tori Famuyiwa has just release a sneak preview of his upcoming collection, Age of Decadence.

The six glamorous snapshots showcases Tori’s true aesthetic to African prints and elegance. We love the stitching and bold use of prints!

Accessories used in the photo shoot was by upcoming Ghanaian accessories it girl Designs by U.

Tori just wrapped up Africa Fashion Week New York where he worked as the executive stylist. He also can be found as a stylist for Munaluchi Bridal Magazine. We salute Tori Famuyiwa!

Tori Famuyiwa on Facebook//Designs by U on Facebook

photo credit: Tori Famuyiwa

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