Top five events for 2011: I like events with purpose and substance at this age I don’t attend events with no real purpose:

Austrian Lace Nigerian Fashion.

MTN Lagos Fashion and Design Week

Arise fashion week.

TW Phoenix gala: Matriarch and protege

Elite model Look 2011.

Top brands for 2011: I like classic cut clothing with a twist:

Rachel Roy

Chloe

JBL

Tiffany Amber

Zara.

Top 5 individuals who make your best dressed list for 2011 and why?

I love women with distinctive styles and a classic laid back approach to dressing.

Didi Ocheja: epitomizes the style of Katherine Hepburn to me. She’s a classic dresser with a modern approach and she’s never boring.

Tracey Ross: She’sthe perfect mix of classic and edge with a dose of Glamour(she must have gotten that from her mom Diana Ross)

Mrs Betty Irabor: Mrs Irabor is a woman in her 50′s that is always well put together. Her style is mixed with sophistication and elegance and shes always dressed age appropriately.

Nike Oshinowo Soleye: Nike’s style is interesting to me because she infuses simplicity with glamour perfectly on all occasions.

Zara Opakra: Zara’s style is also classic but she knows how to add the latest trend for a youthful but sophisticated look.

Last but definitely not least is Mrs Nkiru Anumudu. Even though I tend to like classic dressers with a twist,Mrs Anumudu’s love for fashion is undeniable. She’s a fashion original to me, she’s a mix of aristocratic, rock and roll and contemporary all in one. I just love her bold style choices. She’s never afraid to stand out.

What will you be wearing on New year’s eve?

New year”s eve is the day to reflect on the past year and prepare for the new year with my family. New year’s eve will be spent at a barbecue at my sister’s home with family. I will be wearing white Mih cigarette jeans, classic Ferragamo flats and yellow equipment shirt with tons of colorful bangles. Later at night we will attend the church service and I will be wearing a white Stella McCartney blazer and green Chloe bellbottom trousers.

If you could make one last wish for the year 2011,what would it be?

I wish the favour of God on myself, family and friends and a blessed year for our country Nigeria.

SHF photo credits: Bella Naija.

I loove these pictures of Arieta taken by Cookie Caven of the 4aces during NYFW.

Top 5 fashion brands for 2011
Marc Jacobs
Isabel Marant
Mary Katrantzou
Tsemaye Binitie
Bridget Awosika

Top 5 events for 2011
Arise Fashion Week Lagos
Brit Awards
British Fashion Awards
NYFW
Mulberry 40TH anniversary Party in NYC

Top 5 individuals who make your best dressed list for 2011 and why?

Rea Kwakubo : Every year, she tops my list .. Rei Kawakubo’s style is against the normal trends of fashion, using austere and deconstructed fabrics for her cloths. Sticking to black, grey and white, she is known for sticking to a series of basic ideals that usually provide draping over the body with asymmetrical shapes.

Nicole Ritchie: Over the last few years she has become one of my favourite people, her effortless chic I totally admire. If I wasn’t so tom boyish, I would be feminine and ethereal just like her.

Alexa Chung : Represents LONDON all over the world. She also does androgyny really well too.

Keith Richards : He is just the DADDY! For 40th years he has delighted us with his versatile fashion style, now in his 70’s he isn’t about to conform or change and I LOVE it!

EKU EDEWOR : Closer to home, she is the only person I am intrigued by what they were. She just looks good in everything! Her style is classic and she always makes a statement. She also flies the flag for Nigerian Fashion Designers which I adore, I would love TO Grunge her up a little bit, she has the most gorgeous face ever so it will work. Eku is always WEARING THE CLOTHES, THE CLOTHES NEVER WEAR HER!

IFEANYI DIKE JR: Just seen a picture of this dude on Bella naija and I am wearing a very similar outfit so he has to go up as one of my favs for 2011. As I cant nominate myself, I would like to commend him on his denim jacket / skinny tie combo!

What will you be wearing and doing on newyear’s eve?

Ill be at Church ( I believe ive got 364 days in the year to party) so ill be in Jeans, filthy Dr Martens and a fur coat! Its gonna be freezing!!

If you could make one last wish for the year 2011 what would it be?

PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST!

SHF Photo credits: www.4acesdate.com

It was an eye-opening experience for me. I auditioned for the MTN British Council Young Designer Of The Year Competiton in Port-Harcourt and got shortlisted as one of the 12 finalists,it was amazing. I got to learn so many things about dress making at the workshops and seminars facilitated by The British Council (which by the way was my favorite part of the MTN LFDW because I achieved a lot). It was challenging as all the twelve finalists had a strong sense of style and were passionate about fashion and certainly very good at what they do. The runway shows were great; lots of fun and experience. I would like to thank Style House,Mtn and the British Council for giving us the opportunity to show-case our talents and meet amazing people in the fashion industry. I am ready to go for  it all the way now  having MTN LFDW under my belt! Thank you so much!

Photo Credit: Kola Oshalusi.

Bubu Ogisi.

I applied for the MTN BRITISH COUNCIL Young Designer of the Year Competition just for fun actually. The MTN LFDW was a great experience and also a great opportunity for any growing designer. We had the Fashion Design workshop at the British Council with our lecturer from University of East London. It was truly an eye opener for not just me but for all of us. We learnt so much about fashion forecasting, trends, pattern drafting, draping and the list goes on. On the last day we had a special guest lecturer who was the famous Nigerian Designer Ituen Basi, which was really amazing because she told us all we needed to know about the Nigerian Fashion Industry.The workshop brought all 12 of us young designers closer, we all helped each other in different ways. Then finally the MTN LFDW began, it was crazy trying to organise everything, and
finish up the pieces for the exhibition and for the pret-a-porter but I got through it. On the day of our show, it was chaos central, only God knows how we got through itall, with fittings and styling our collections, all in all it was an amazing success. For me it was more than a competition,it was an experience.
I’m greatful to the MTN LFDW team and happy for the winner Vintage Colette.

Bubu Ogisi
iamISIGO

Photo Credit: Kola Oshalusi.

SHF- You recently launched a book called, ‘Styling Stripped Bare’, what was your inspiration to write this book?

Tanesha- My inspiration was so many women getting it wrong, I walked on the streets and saw lots of women exuberating a style that was obviously incongruent with who they are.  I really believe that style comes from within and in order to use clothes to portray who you are, you first need to know who you are and then you need to get some style education, because no one really teaches you how to be stylish, what body shape you are, what style personality you have.  So as a result of seeing so many people get it wrong and because  I own an image consultancy company, I thought the book would be a great way to tackle these common issues.

SHF- What do you hope the fashion clueless reader gets out of this book?

Tanesha- I want them to become their own style master and I want their confidence to shine from the inside out and I want them to literally find who they are and use style as their microphone.

SHF- I like that phrase- Use style as their microphone- what obstacles did you have writing this book?

Tanesha- Getting a creative team together who understood my vision and what I wanted.  I wanted to make high fashion accessible to the real woman in her own language and something that she could go home with and put in her wardrobe.  So getting a creative team to see that vision and not being too high fashion but being in between- I think that the hardest part was translating that vision to the creative team.

SHF- When you say you are trying to make high fashion more accessible, does your book cover fashion as a whole, or is it broken into the types of fashions like High Street, High fashion etc?

Tanesha- No, the book does not cover fashion as a whole.  The book has 13 chapters- the first three chapters deal with self discovery, so it focuses on who you are, how to become the best that you can be, what you want to say and how to translate that to your audience.  And then the other ten chapters are more based on style and deal with how you portray your personality to your audience.

Tanesha at book launch party

SHF- What kind of research did you do to write this book?

Tanesha- I used a lot of my clients experiences and common problems they had with fashion, I read  a lot of self-help books, I read from the style guru’s of today like Gok Wan and general media like the Metro- I really tried to soak up all the relevant information that I could.

SHF- Which was your most satisfying chapter to write?

Tanesha- Definitely, chapter  3 which is entitled, ‘Raising your standards’ because that was a chapter of transition between the first and second half of the book and for me if I imagine being one of the women reading this book, it would be like ‘this is the point of discovery, now I know who I am, I’m not going to beat myself up, I can go out in to the world and be who I am’.  Because so many people are unhappy with who they are and they don’t strip bare and find out who they are. So chapters 1 and 2 deal with stripping bare and taking of the layers, makeup and insecurities and chapter 3 is about taking control of who you are and being happy with who you are and that to me, is the most powerful part of the book.

SHF- How long did this book take you from conception to realization?

Tanesha- Conception took 3 months and writing took 1 month.

SHF- Where can this book be found?

Tanesha- you can find the book on Amazon, and on the website- stylingstrippedbare.com, it will also be sold in WH Smith and you can order it through major book stores like Borders, Waterstones etc

SHF- How would you want your book to be summarized?

Tanesha- ‘Styling Stripped Bare’ will change your life from the inside out, and can be used as a tool for self-discovery.  It will give you the confidence to get out there and use your style as a microphone.

Pictures courtesy of Tanesha Westcarr

For more information on Tanesha Westcarr and her services, please go to www.stylingsays.com

www.bikijohn.com  

My First………… is an honest and nostalgic snippet about a Fashion Celebrity’s life. It takes us into their first memorable moments in fashion.

ANITA QUANSAH, a Fashion, Interiors and Accessories Designer extraordinaire and creative director of Anita Quansah London (AQL) takes us back in time to her firsts….

My First……..

……………………… thought about the fashion industry when I decided design accessories was that there was a huge gap in the market for exotic, over-the-top statement jewellery which I loved but couldn’t get anywhere. I started to experiment   in 2006 with recycled and vintage materials, pearls, chains and shells to design one-of-a-kind pieces that get women excited and noticed. My rich cultural heritage (half Nigerian and Ghanaian) has also been a huge influence and inspiration and can be seen in the rich colours, textures and textiles in my collections.

…………………..day at Design school (Chelsea College of Art and Design) was a memorable one. It is an experience I still refer to in my present design field because I was exposed to a lot of resources and exhibitions that enabled me broaden my design skills and discover my area of expertise. Chelsea College is highly recommended to anyone considering Textiles and Design.

…………………….. job in fashion was in 2003 as a textile designer for Yellow minnow in Milan, producing textiles and handmade fabrics for clients.

…………………..client was haute couturier Christian Lacroix. I had won a competition and the prize was an exhibition stand at Premier Vision & Indigo (a big textile show) in Paris. A buyer from Christian Lacroix at the exhibition saw my collection, liked it and invited me to come to Paris with my portfolio. In Paris, Monsieur Lacroix loved my collection and commissioned me to design a haute couture jacket for their Haute Couture 2004 collection. It was a surreal experience for me to see the jacket on the runway.

………………….piece of jewellery ever sold was to an American socialite in 2006.

Designer Kemmy Solomon and Model in Kem Kem and AQL at Arise Magazine Fashion Week

…………………..  fashion week (major one) was Arise Fashion Week 2011 in Lagos and I collaborated with some amazing designers; Kem Kem Studio and Nkwo.

.…………………… celebrity client is Keisha Buchanan of Sugababes. She wore a ‘Samia’ necklace for Naomi Campbell’s Fashion For Relief April 2011 Pop up store launch in the UK. I love the way she rocked it. Fierce!!

………………………award win was at Fashion’s Finest in July 2011 in the UK. I won ‘Accessories Designer of the year’. Fabulous!

…………………… fashion show was Christian Lacroix Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 2004 show in Paris. It was intense and scary (little o’l girl from Yorkshire) on a Haute Couture runway in Paris. Totally Sick!!!!

…………………… magazine spread was in Dare 2 (an ethical UK magazine). They were impressed that jewellery could be made from recycled materials.

…………………………love is my 6 year-old daughter. Quite the diva, she designs jewellery (bracelets, earrings) for herself and friends and is becoming a mini-mogul. Her line of jewellery is in the works, so watch this space!

Maureen Okogwu Ikokwu’s accessory brand Sunny Rose has consistently produced handbags delicately crafted from top of the range luxury materials since the brand’s launch in 2006. Maureen discovered her passion for accessories as a child while rummaging through her mother’s wardrobe and trinket cases and this passion has fully developed into a name that discerning people have come to associate with quality craftsmanship. The quality of Sunny Rose products has earned the brand a place in several shopping destinations worldwide – Europe, Asia and Africa. A Temple Muse Nigeria favourite, Sunny Rose can also be found at the luxury retail concept known as CoutureLab – online destination and store located in London’s Mayfair, committed to enhancing the clients’ individuality, as well as inspiring them by featuring the most creative products by global designers and artists.  Maureen shares her tip for shopping for the perfect handbag and 5 must have handbag styles for every woman..

Where did the name Sunny Rose come from?

Sunny Rose is the combination of the first names of my parents, my father is Sunny and my mother is Rose.

Have you always designed handbags? Please describe the journey so far..

I graduated with a MBA and an Msc in Information systems and mass communication. I then became an international model for over 10 years and this is where my passion which I always had as a child watching my mother, father and auntie’s who are all style icons, got fuelled and refined working with all the great design house helped my attention to detail.

What inspires your handbag designs?

I find talent inspiring.  My collections are inspired by my surroundings and passion of the moment.

Are your handbags season, trend, style or functionality led?

Sunny Rose is a multi functional, trendy, classy, timeless, pieces of art.

How do your source your materials?
I source materials from all corners of different countries I visit regularly for fairs and vacation as well as working as a model.

What inspires the final product? Material, design or muse?

The final product is inspired by my dream designs.

Where can we shop Sunny Rose?
Sunny Rose can be found in stores such as Couture Lab in London, Gassmann in Zurich, Duty Free Airport, Malta, Erthee in St-Tropez, Couture Lab in London, Annacaffe Milan, Central World Zen in Thailand, Takashimaya in Singapore, Etoile Boutique in Dubai and Temple Muse in Lagos.

What handbag designers or labels do you find inspiring at the moment?

Bottega Veneta, Jasmin Puech, Balenciaga and Valentino handbags

Who would you love to see carrying one of your handbags?

Well my icon Oprah already has a bag, would love Michelle Obama to have one too.

Describe Sunny Rose in 3 words?

Stylish, glamorous, couture.

What’s your evaluation of the Nigerian fashion industry?
I am truly amazed at the rapid growth in which the industry has undergone. It’s very inspirational that we are finding creative and innovative ways and techniques to use our local fabrics and native textiles.

What do you find interesting or are you passionate about apart from designing handbags?

Deep sea diving.

Can you share Sunny Rose’s SS 2011 2012 expectations with SHF?

A brand new addition. A clothing line, coming soon.

What is style according to Maureen Okogwu?

Timeless elegance

Please share Sunny Rose tips on shopping for the perfect handbag

When shopping for a bag look out for something you don’t already have, something to compliment your wardrobe, be bold and daring.

Five must have handbags styles every woman should have in her wardrobe

A clutch, a hobo, an evening bedazzled bag, a practical carry all and an eye catching show stopper.

Edward Enninful’s had an extraordinary life in the fashion world, starting off in front of the camera as a model and shifting to the editorial side as the fashion director of i-D magazine at 18. Now, with Vogue Italia and American Vogue under his belt, he’s settling down at W magazine, and will reportedly replace Alex White as the glossy’s fashion and style director as of April next year.

In a recent interview with Huffington Post’s Style Editor – Hilary Moss, Edward Enninful shares the three things foremost on his mind for W magazine. “The first is reflection, and reflection to me is expressing the idea of looking back with a history,” he says. “Sort of the bygone movies, bygone times, to create multiple inspiration boards for the W reader. And there’s the projections, which to me means showing something new and being a projector of what’s to come in a forward-thinking way. And then, W’s documentation, that to me, is to collect what is going on in fashion and finding out how different designers respond to the mood of our times and how we want to dress contemporary women. Read the rest of the interview HERE …

SHF credits Huffington Post

What’s Dirndl Africaine all about?

Dirndl á l’Africaine is a tribute to the African Women.

We want to show and make it visible that African prints, normally used in the traditional way as “pagne”, can be absolutely transformed into worldwide designer pieces.

How long have you been around for?

Around 1 year as NOH NEE – Dirndl á l´Africaine

What is the Dirndl Africaine approach to design? Retail or Made to measure?

Due to the environment we work in at the moment, we do both retail and made to measure. Nevertheless, all our pieces are unique due to our use of African prints with the original Bavarian Dirndl cut.

What is the Bavarian Dirndl cut?

The Dirndl is a traditional dress in Bavaria and some parts of Austria, with many varieties that show regional origin and social class of the woman wearing it; but recently, we have re-invented this old-fashioned technique into a more hi fashion and modern version of the Dirndl.

Why do you work predominantly with print textiles?

My sister and I are from Cameroun, we grew up with African prints and textiles. Our mother still sews for us, the family and friends, so we have been surrounded with African prints and textiles all our lives.

We are very interested in the, “color mix” not to be interpreted in the sense of color but in the sense of various influences. In this case, it is quite exciting to create a fusion between the African Wax print and a Bavarian Dirndl cut – modern and inspiring.

What’s your design aesthetic? signature elements that we can always find in a Dirndl Africaine piece.

Authenticity

Love for Africa, love for details

High degree of professionalism and precision of details on all garments

Using only quality products, from suppliers we personally know and visit from time to time

Notice that some of the clothes have a 50′s feel to it very feminine – nipped in waists and flared skirts. Is this a constant feature or just the direction for your current collection?

For the current collection we use original traditional Bavarian Dirndl cuts. It retains all the elements and feel of the 50′s because of its original cut. For the future, we will retain our Bavarian Dirndl cuts and change our choice of textiles and other materials used according to our inspiration at the time.

How do you source the fabrics for your collection? Where, what and who designs the textiles you use?

We source our fabrics personally around the globe (Africa, Paris, Italy, Lustenau) always bearing in mind that it has to be original African prints and/or high quality fabrics from known suppliers. This means the textiles are not especially made for us because we want to buy the same as the African customer. Although, we sometimes request for a change in color or reorder a limited print design.

What comes first in your design process? The design or the choice of textile to use? Why?

For the dirndl design, the choice of the fabric comes first because the design of the traditional Bavarian cut already exists, but the prints give you the inspiration for the right designs.

What’s it like working with your sister?

I am a professional interior designer and stylist who works predominantly with fabrics. My sister has worked in fashion as a tailor her whole life. This combination of the skillful eye of a stylist and a tailor who has a knack for precision, is the secret of our success.

I learn a lot when I´m working with my sister. The work with my sister is enriching and supplements all my skills and vice versa.

What’s your view of the African fashion industry? Any favourites?

Our soul and heart stays African, although we lived in Germany for more than 30 years, we love to encourage African designers because we believe in their potential and creativity and we are a part of that growing industry. We observe all that happens on the African fashion scene and in diaspora.

My favourite designers at the moment are Eki Orleans, JewelByLisa and Mataano.

Do you have plans to collaborate with anyone soon?

Not at the moment but we are always open to new ideas.

Where can we shop Dirndl Africaine?

You are of course all invited to visit our shop in Munich (Türkenstrasse 52) or you place an order via our website

Contact details:

NOH NEE – Dirndl á l´Africaine

Rahmée Wetterich & Marie Darouiche

Türkenstrasse 52

80799 – München, Germany

Mobile: +49 179 5038175

rahmee@rahmee-wetterich.de

www.dirndlalafricaine.com

Suzaan Heyns launched her label in 2008 and has since established herself as one of South Africa’s most progressive young design talent. Her trademark “conceptual androgyny and steel-edged femininity” has earned her several awards in the South African fashion industry. She opened her first store in Johannesburg in April 2011, a conceptual store that’s a true reflection of her love for the sculptural and avant garde elements of design. Suzaan shares her favourite shopping spots in Johannesburg with SHF and we look forward to exploring….

SHF: Tell us about the Susan Heyns brand. How did you start designing?

Suzaan: I have always been drawn to and intrigued by fashion and the arts but initially I wanted to study sculpting. With fashion, I get to sculpt with fabric. It all started when I won a bursary to study at LISOF through ELLE magazine, then I built up contacts by working backstage at Fashion Week, doing fashion illustrations and a couple of internships.

SHF: Can you describe your design aesthetic?

Suzaan: I have always moved away from trends and disposable fashion and more towards longevity in my designs. It is not overtly frilly, feminine and whimsical. However it is considered a fusion of avant-garde with wearable classicism and quite architectural.

SHF: Who do you design for? Your ideal woman/man?

Suzaan: Men and women that are confident in themselves, who are not afraid to experiment a bit and who understand quality and good fit.

SHF: We can’t help but notice the cross as your brand’s signature symbol. What are you inspired by?

Suzaan: The cross is actually the symbol that you used to find when you finished reading a book ­ it means ‘The end’. Inspiration is not tangible but rather more experience based, wherever you are. I am subliminally inspired from my travels abroad to more culturally diverse countries and destinations off the beaten track.

SHF: Is there an international designer you liken your style to? And someone you’d love to work with in the future?

Suzaan: There are so many incredible designers out there, I love the Japanese conceptualism, the sophistication of the French and the way that the English push boundaries.

'Die Vorm' Suzaan Heyns Autumn Winter 2011 Collection

"Die Vorm" Suzaan Heyns Autumn Winter 2011

"Die Vorm" Suzaan Heyns Autumn Winter 2011 Collection

"Die Vorm" Suzaan Heyns Autumn Winter 2011 Collection

SHF: What do you think your greatest achievement is so far?

Suzaan: My interpretation of greatest achievement changes as the brand grows, some memorable ones were my bursary to study fashion, winning the award for the most creative range at Africa Fashion Week 2009, opening my first store, being featured in coffee table books internationally and winning Glamour¹s women of the year 2011 for the most inspiring woman in fashion.

SHF: How important do you think South African fashion, or African fashion in general is to global fashion? What type of influences do you think we can be making as a continent, globally?

Suzaan: All fashion is relevant globally as we look to more unique forms of creativity. Africa is incredibly rich (in creativity). It is such a robust continent in terms of colour, pattern, texture and craft.

SHF: We love your AW 2011 campaign. How does architecture and landscapes influence/ define your work?/ the creation of your garments?

Suzaan: Landscape affects my work in terms of the colour, mood and personality of the collection. Architecture affects it in terms of form, function, structure and severity.

SHF: What do you say to people who think shopping in South Africa is boring? Where are the best places to shop in Joburg?

Suzaan: I would say they are probably shopping in malls. People are moving away from the ‘mall culture’ into tailor-made shopping.   There are some really incredible shopping locations that have popped up around Johannesburg, they have more of a European feel to them ­ walking along the pavement popping in and out of different fashion retailers, interesting book shops, interiors, jewelry and all kinds of lovely things!

Places to shop in Joburg are: 44 Stanley, 70 on Juta, Oriental Plaza, Arts on Main, Bamboo Lifestyle Center, Joburg food market, Parkhurst vintage stores and the antique strip in Newlands. Specific shops to look out for are Dokter and Misses, Superella, Black Coffee and Tinsel.

SHF: You are building a lifestyle brand and your new boutique envisions that. We love that you stock other brands as well.  Where do you see yourself, the brand in 5 – 10 years?

Suzaan: I see a couple more stores being opened and will also have a presence in international markets but I will still be living in Johannesburg!