Thandie Newton Supports Jewel By Lisa

Thandie Newton was spotted wearing a Jewel By Lisa Spring/Summer 2012 jumpsuit and chrome Jimmy Choo “Anouk” heels at the Hope Rising Benefit concert in Toronto. Another red carpet superstar wearing JBL is always a breath of fresh air. Congrats to the JBL brand and its founder Lisa Folawiyo on this achievement. This is yet another step in JBL global red carpet take over.

In fact Thandie and her Half of A Yellow Sun co-star Anika Noni Rose paid a visit to Lisa Folawiyo’s showroom in Lagos. What a great moment for African fashion, isn’t it? This particular print that Thandie wore has also been seen on red carpet style stars Eku Edewor, Lola Ogunnaike, Catt Sadler, and June Ambrose.

The JBL Print That They All Have in Common

In related news, Thandie filmed Half Of A Yellow Sun and here she is with her co-stars Anika Noni Rose, Genevieve Nnaji and Chiwetel Ejiofor. A couple of years ago I made a dream cast for the film adaption of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s best-selling novel and I’m glad to see that my dream cast became reality. I’m eager to see this film when it gets its theatrical release in 2013.

image credits: tumblr & getty images

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

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

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.

Cultural Loop: Black Models Dominates NYFW, Joy Adaeze’s Jewel By Lisa Style Moment, Nyasha Matonhodze for 10 Crosby Derek Lam & Liya Kebede for Bottega Veneta & H&M

This new edition of Cultural Loop highlights New York Fashion Week Fall 2012 wrap-up featuring two top black models, a high-profile online campaign, the buzz on Jewel By Lisa beaded clutches at NYFW and of course a department franchise’s new boutique.

Black models Nnenna Agba and Nyasha Matonhodze dominated New York Fashion Week Fall 2012 at Lincoln Center. Nyasha walked down the runway for Carolina Herrera, Tory Burch, Rodarte, Oscar de la Renta, Altzarrera, Cushnie et Ochs, Zac Posen, Prabal Gurung, DKNY, and Richard Chai. Next up for Nyasha, who Telegraph Fashion called model of the year, is London Fashion Week.

America’s Next Top Model Cycle 6 alum and current Munaluchi Bridal Magazine celebrity blogger Nnenna Agba was seen working it at the Rubin Chapelle Fall 2012 presentation. We definitely recommend you reading Nnenna’s relationship columns at MBM!

Liya Kebede has kept busy with three new modeling gigs. She recently did the early Spring 2012 ad campaign for H&M. Bottega Veneta also made her their brand face for their Spring/Summer 2012 print AD campaign which was shot by Jack Pierson. She also pose alongside Kanye West for the March 2012 edition of US Vogue.

Jewel By Lisa has experienced sidewalk praise yet again thanks to Nigerian fashion editor and stylist Joy Adaeze! Several online publications captured Joy at Lincoln Center rocking a gorgeous beaded Jewel By Lisa clutch. This will mark the third time a beaded Jewel By Lisa clutch has been seen at New York Fashion Week! Joy rocked two different pattern JBL clutches while at NYFW. (Check out this close-up snapshot of Joy’s Jewel By Lisa beaded clutch.) Joy Adaeze re-tweeted a twitpic of herself wearing a green ankara Jewel By Lisa top that was first seen on model Ediomi Utuk at her Munaluchi Bridal Magazine Fall/Winter 2011 photo shoot.

Zimbabwean beauty Nyasha Matonhodze, who you can see in the Evening Standard, is one of the leading models that worked with Neiman Marcus’s Fashion Director Ken Downing for the department store’s 10 Crosby Derek Lam online campaign. She’s wearing Striped One-Button Jacket, Floral-Print Blouse & Indigo Carpenter Jeans. Nyasha’s previous online campaign work included Topshop and Louis Vuitton.

image credits – twitter, WGSN, NYTimes, Fashion Indie, Munaluchi Bridal Magazine, Bottega Veneta, Joy Adaeze, getty, style.com, and vogue

Cultural Loop is a must-read news rundown within the fashion 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.

Cultural Loop: Julia Sarr-Jamois for Tibi, BCBG MaxAzria Fall 2012 NYFW, Duro Olowu’s Pop-Up Art, Gabrielle Union Wears Amsale + Liya Kebede, Nyasha Matonhodze, Tolula, Marian, FashionJunkii, and Fatima Siad dominates NYFW

Introducing a new segment to CulturalToast.com, we proudly present Cultural Loop. This feature provides our readers with the latest news within the fashion world. Wonderland UK Editor Julia Sarr-Jamois is the celebrity brand face for Tibi Spring 2012 AD Campaign. Julia was styled by Tibi’s Amy Smilovic and swedish blogger Elin King. Her confidence simply radiates in these photographs and she also gives us all hair envy with her natural Afro. Julia shared with Vogue about what she calls her statement hair.

 “I’ve had my hair like this since I was about fourteen,” Sarr-Jamois says. “When I was at school, I had it in plaits, which were quite tedious, and I thought, ‘I’m going to take it out for a bit.’ I remember feeling like it looked really big at first but then I ended up keeping it. I wash it with Bumble and Bumble Tonic shampoo, which smells so good. And a more intense Bumble and Bumble conditioner called Creme de Coco Masque. Then I let it air-dry and maybe play around with it for a bit with my hands. That’s it. People are always asking about it, though. And everyone wants to touch it.”

Last night in Hollywood, actress Gabrielle Union stepped out in a strapless silk chiffon black cocktail dress by Ethiopian designer Amsale at the premiere of Think Like A Man.  Her red carpet style has always been effortless. Gabrielle said to Style Watch her trick to wearing sparkle is play down the rest of your outfit. “My rule for sparkle is that there’s no such thing as too sparkly of a dress! It makes you feel like a princess. Just play down the rest.” She definitely stuck to her fashion trick!

New York Fashion Week just kicked off with a huge bang. Max Azria of BCBG MAXAZRIA presented his color-block caftan Fall 2012 collection.

African models rule on and off the runway for Lincoln Center’s biggest fashion extravaganza. Ethiopian model Liya Kebede stepped out in a black and white tuxedo-inspired Lanvin outfit at amFAR gala. Somali-Ethiopian model Fatima Siad walked for Chadwick Bell Fall 2012 runway show. Zimbabwean model Nyasha Matonhodze was seen at the Richard Chai Love show.

Not to be outdone but African stylists took in the shows in style and a huge entourage. Nigerian blogger and stylist Joy Adaeze (spotted by Daily Candy) wore a Jewel By Lisa. This NYFW candid of Nigerian magazine editor-in-chief for Pop’Africana Oroma Elewa with Joan Smalls was spotted by Teen Vogue. Blogger Rosemary of FashionJunkii.com pose with her entourage of industry friends – model Tolula Adeyemi, stylist Marian Kihogo and Tanzanian model Miriam Odemba.

African fashion and art collaborated with stunning results. Head wraps -a trend that jumpstarted last season by stylist June Ambrose – made it into this African-inspired L’Officiel Mode photo shoot. Nigerian, London-based fashion designer Duro Olowu has pop-up art show that he curated which is on display at Salon’s 94 Freeman Alley Gallery from now to early March. Duro Olowu’s exhibit features vintage and contemporary assortment of photography, textiles, art, furniture, music, books, and objects. You can check out from February 8 to March 10. Duro’s wife Thelma Golden, Studio Museum of Harlem Director and Chief Curator, must be proud of him! Will we see Thelma launching a clothing line in the future?

image credits – fashionjunkii.com, vogue.com, style.com, tibi.com, and getty.

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

Tai Beauchamp Wears Jewel By Lisa To Grammy Glam

The Cultural Look has never look fierce thanks in part to Tai Beauchamp’s Jewel By Lisa Autumn/Winter 2011 jeweled jacket. For her 2012 Grammy Glam hosting gig, Tai completed her look with Rubin Chapelle black low-cut halter jumper and gold hoop statement earrings. I think this look is completely fab!

African models Millen Magese and Ediomi Utuk wore this jacket for a photo session with Jewel By Lisa and Munaluchi Bride Magazine. Ediomi wore her JBL jacket with a Toriola Custom Designs* gold lace dress, a gold H&M necklace and L.A.M.B. shoes. Tanzanian model Millen wore her look for the Jewel By Lisa Winter/Autumn 2011 official print AD campaign. This is however not the first time Tai’s fashion statement has embraced African Fashion. She wore a Suno x Loeffler Randall Spring/Summer 2011 wedges last year at the 2nd Annual Diversity Affluence Brunch.

If you’re digging Tai’s style as much as I am now, you can follow her on Twitter: @TaiBeau for all her latest fashion happenings. *We love Tori at CulturalToast.com! As always in good parting, this is my reaction to Tai in a Jewel By Lisa design courtesy of Beyonce.

image credits – twitter. tai beauchamp. jewel by lisa. getty.instant eleation. beyonce gifs.

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

La La Anthony’s Jewel By Lisa Skirt Gets Buzz!

LaLa Anthony collaborated with Loren Ridinger to create her new signature cosmetics line, Motvies for LaLa. What she wore has got the African fashion blogosphere buzzing* with excitement. LaLa Anthony stepped out with close friend Kim Kardashian in a custom-made Jewel By Lisa silk/ankara skirt. (This skirt was also worn in different variations by Eku Edewor and Catt Sadler.) We love how LaLa paired her ankara skirt with a black tank top, pink blazer and sparkle pumps. Judging by the repetitve bandage pattern on the skirt, LaLa’s Jewel By Lisa skirt looks like it’s a varation taken from the Winter-Autumn 2011 collection. Kudos to Lisa Folawiyo for receiving another well-deserved nod from Hollywood!

So, how long are we going to have to wait to see LaLa’s best friend Kim in a Jewel By Lisa design? *Below is my reaction to LaLa in a Jewel by Lisa skirt as demonstrated by M.I.A.:

swag!

image credits – twitter. facebook. getty.

Eku Edewor’s African Fashion Rundown Featuring Bridget Awosika & The J Label

It’s no secret that CulturalToast.com loves Nigerian former model Eku Edewor’s style on and off the red carpet. Eku is a huge supporter of African Fashion. The 53 Xtra TV show host is regularly photographed in designs straight off the runway and look-books by Republic of Foreigner, Jewel By Lisa, Deola Sagoe, and Bridget Awosika.

Republic of Foreigner Resort 2012// Anita Quansah London neckpiece // Jewel By Lisa SS 2011

hosting the 2011 Elite Model Nigeria competition in a Deola Sagoe Ori Oke Fall 2011

For her editorial shoot with Mania Magazine (Issue 3), Eku Edewor wore a printed top and shorts from Jewel By Lisa’s new diffusion line, The J Label. Styled by Dimenji Alara, Eku showcases affordable luxury for the contemporary woman. This marks the first time The J Label has appeared in a major editorial fashion spread. Gotta love it!

Eku Edewor on her J Label look: The short is fun, sexy and easy to wear. The cut on the shoulder makes it very central. They can appeal to quite a number of girls. You can wear them with flip-flops or heels. However you feel comfortable.

Eku Edewor on her second J Label look: This is very easy to wear. I like the detail and the print. I could wear this to lunch with my friends.

For her hosting duties at the 2011 Elite Model Nigeria competition, Eku wore a one shoulder Bridget Awosika Autumn/Winter 2011 black silk jersey Grecian-inspired dress. We love that dress started as a sheer button-up collar long-sleeved shirt but worked its way into a stunning draped one-shoulder look.

If you’re curious about which African fashion label will Eku wear next, follow her on Twitter for the scoop at @eku_g_edewor! What were your favorite African fashion looks on Eku Edewor? Vote…

Mania. The J Label. Twitter. Fab Mag.

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

Lisa Folawiyo, Zara Okpara & 4 Aces Date at Arise Made in Africa SS 2012

Lisa Folawiyo of Nigerian fashion label Jewel By Lisa pose with The 4Aces Date bloggers Kaven, Doreen, Cookie, and Abbey after Arise Made in Africa Spring/Summer 2012 show at New York Fashion Week. The impeccable dressed women caught the attention of many street style photographers. Jewel By Lisa’s stylishly dressed publicist Zara Okpara stepped out head to toe in a Jewel by Lisa Spring/Summer 2012 outfit. (More details to come!) CulturalToast.com was there to capture the moment for their readers!

The 4 Aces Date bloggers with a friend

Zara Okpara, Jewel By Lisa PR

Follow Lisa and the 4 Aces Date Bloggers on Twitter: @4ACESDATE, @LisaFolawiyo, @JewelByLisa, @ZarOkpara

Photos by CulturalToast.com

Cultural Fashion Week is a feature celebrating the very best photos taken from various international fashion week such as New York, Paris, and London.