The May issue of L’Uomo Vogue is out and is entirely dedicated to Africa. The issue aims at potraying Africa in a positive light as opposed to an image the media usually conveys reporting on wars and famines that,although occuring are not the only side to show.

L’Uomo Vogue decided to underline the positive side of this young continent from all points of view that is showing the willingness to succeed in fields such as the textile and oil industry, from agriculture to the growing cotton, coffee, cocoa, to tourism and cinema, as shown by Nollywood in Nigeria that produces 200 films every year. Education and health are the two main points the various governments are founding their battle on, building new schools, universities and well-equipped hospitals.

The whole issue is a string of potraits of local personalities: Presidents, First Ladies, Queens, but also artists, singers, musicians, actors, fashion designers, writers, models, always portrayed in a positive, joyful way. They have all accepted to be featured in this issue because conveying a positive of this Continent means bringing everyone’s attention on a world that so far has been ‘left out” , with the exception of a few African Countries that have become a tourist destination.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon who appears on the cover states “ Africa does not need charity. Africa needs investment and charity“. Other spotlights include multi-platinum award winning South African vocalist Lira who has already achieved mass success in her homeland and is ready to be introduced to the international market.

Rihanna in Mimi Plange

Mimi Plange needs little to no explanation, I mean her designs are on the likes of Rihanna, she is mentored by Andre Leon Talley and her designs are amazing. What else is to be said?

Telfar Clemens

Telfar Clemens – I initially thought this was a menswear label but it’s actually unisex. He says “Anyone can put it on, female or male, and everything is adjustable so you can tie it in a different way for a different body type.”

Marga Weimans

Marga Weimans -  Never ever heard of this designer but I am in love, she is based in the Netherlands and her designs are works of art. She has been hailed as the ‘saviour of Dutch couture’ She dropped out of her MPA program and took a course in fashion drawing, then went to do a foundation course in fashion.  Before the end of her course she won the i-D styling award and has gone from strength to strength.

Loza Maléombho

Her clothes featured in the Arise show in 2012, after a bit of online research I found out that her line is only 3 years old and has already had her designs on the front cover of VIBE magazine.

Want Les essentiels de la vie trudeau bag

Dextar and Byron Peart – twin brothers run an accessory line called WANT Les Essentiels de la Vie. I am not that interested because it’s for men but I must admit that their designs are slick and very much for the corporate man. I must hand it to them they are stocked in luxury department stores like barneys and bergdoff.

The last two are Jewel By Lisa and Maki Oh who need no introduction

Maki Oh

Jewel By Lisa

Sources: Africastyledaily.com, the fader, alistair1958.blogspot.com, frillr.com, ebony.com, tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com

Jenna Lyons, J. Crew‘s creative director is our poster girl for masculine chic. She knows how to create layers and depth with typically masculine pieces, but a feminine know-how is injected and that’s what I love the most. Here, she’s seen at the Net-a-porter.com party in New York last week. I love the perfectly strict man trouser in the dark cement tone complemented with a sheer lace peasant blouse. It is beautifully finished off with metallic point courts, the Proenza Schoeler neon PS1 and a woman’s dream – the fur coat.

Photo courtsey www.whowhatwear.com

Tiffany Amber for yoox

Lanre Da Silva Ajayi and Tiffany Amber will now be available at prestigious online retail giant yoox.com along with 8 other designers from Ghana and other parts of Africa. This is part of the Fashion4Development’s Goodwill Ambassador Franca Sozzani (editor of Vogue Italia’s) work to create distribution and retail avenues for select designers working on the continent.  Federico Marchetti CEO of yoox expressed excitement and enthusiasm to include African designers on yoox.com, apart from the obvious CSR factor he said that participating in this initiative, is also a good way to surprise yoox customers. Word of this initiative has spread quite fast so much so that Olivia Firth tweeted about it.  I am excited to see what other avenues and surprises Franca Sozzani has in store for these African designers.

Sources: Vogue Italia, Yoox.com

The Metropolitan Museum of Art opens an exhibition in New York this Thursday featuring Elsa Schiaparelli, the famed fashion designer from the 30′s and Miuccia Prada, one of fashion’s most influential designers of today. The exhibition, “Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations” features a series of videos representing the works of both designers. Both designers were/are known for pushing the envelope in the most unconventional ways.

To launch the exhibition at the Costume Institute Gala, the who’s who in fashion, the designers and their muses, actresses and socialites were out in full force, dressed to impress in more than Sunday’s best.

We rounded up our best dressed of the night…and it just goes to show, when in doubt, go with Prada.

Best Dressed of the night was Diane Kruger in Prada. I love a tank dress any day – its the simplicity of the neckline, but let’s focus on that rich Indigo color and the ostrich feather hemline which is just divine. The drop necklace is a perfect addition to the most stunning dress at the MET!

Solange Knowles in Rachel Roy. Solange is fashion’s IT girl at the moment, and she’s enjoying every minute of it. I thought this look was quite safe, but she STILL looks quite amazing. There’s something about that yellow that’s quite magical on black skin. I love how she kept it quite classic, with an elegant cuff and the subtle rings.

Rooney Mara in Givenchy Couture. She’s worn quite a lot of Givenchy on the red carpet, which is great because there’s that elegant edge to the brand that works well for her. I love how dark and sensual the dress is – the lace forms such a beautiful base and the leather accents are key. I also love that asymmetric neckline with the lace edges.

Kate Bosworth in Prada. Another stunner from Prada! This piece begins with a deep burgundy and instantly expands in a burst of black feathers. Its short, backless, and perfect. I love the continuation of the burgundy in Kate’s  lips and clutch.

Carey Mulligan in Prada. I wouldn’t usually love this dress but there’s something about that subtle evolve of tiny gold to large silver sequins scales… in a perfectly fit and shaped dress. I love that Carey has grown out her hair too!

Gywneth Paltrow in Prada. From the front, this dress look quite simple, but the back is everything! That icy-sky-grey-blue color is sublime. The applique pockets are genious – I mean, its Prada isn’t it? I absolutely love that Gywn chose to go short like Kate!

Camilla Belle in Ralph Lauren. Camilla is one of the most beautiful women in the world. She has that old school Sicilian look-alike beauty that I’m such a huge fan of! She carries off this dress beautifully in that classic shape that just makes sense. The silver stands out nicely against her tanned skin.

Photos courtsey www.style.com

Kerry Washington’s style has rapidly evolved from her early movie days in Save the Last Dance. She’s well on her way to A-List status now and no one’s stopping her because she’s fierce, powerful, and one to watch in ABC’s new television drama series Scandal (I’m five episodes in – it is so GOOD). She makes cool look easy in this week’s Look of the Week in a neon yellow Suno top, Jill Stuart leather skirt, and Nicholas Kirkwood pumps.

Photo courtsey www.whowhatwear.com

Thandie Newton in Asibelua!

Africans are clearly doing something right let’s keep up the creativity and hard work, who knows what else is in store.

“Imagine you could wear really glamorous and stylish clothes jetskiing or wakeboarding…”

“These were perhaps the subconscious thoughts in my mind last December when I spent the best part of my christmas holiday speeding through the creeks of Calabar and Opobo Kingdom. ‘Need for Glam’, the ALALI Boutique A/W 2012 Collection is inspired by surface water sports’ wear and the glamour of the 1950s unsuspectingly fused together to create the most wearable and delectable collection. Think speedy, glamourous and intriguing. For shapes I looked to the 1950s, for detail I looked to the panelling in sportswear and for colour, I looked to the landscape of the South-South of Nigeria.” – Oroma Cookey-Gam

Credits

Photographer: Lolu Osinbanjo

Model: Oghogho Obrutse

Make up: Margarita Egbe

Styling: Bidemi Zakariyau

Accessories: Diva’s House of Accessories, Palms, Lekki.

SHF organized a gathering comprising of some of the best designers in Nigeria.  It is fair to say that everyone was inspired Ruff and Tumble entrepreneur Mrs Nike Ogunlesi who shared her wisdom on how she has sustained her children’s clothing business for 10 years. Many  issues were raised including issues with manufacturing, retail, finance, PR, Marketing, textiles, capacity building and skills acquisition. The main points in pushing the industry forward:

• Nigerian Designers need to position their brands as aspirational brands.
• Constant repositioning and rebranding is key to success.
• Take courses as well as read about leadership, management and finance to positively impact your business.
• Look into getting a financial advisor
• When seeking a business loan always negotiate the interest rate
• Fashion is not a about the fashion shows and the glitz and glamour it is about building a sustainable business.
• Make sure you advertise regularly, don’t just advertise in fashion media but also mainstream media.
• Try not to focus too much on the creative side, it is important to learn about the business.
• We need a fashion report of sorts to show viability to potential investors.
• In order to push the industry forward teamwork is necessary
• BOI and the ministry of trade and commerce need to be more in touch with the needs of designers.
• Will BOI invest in a Garment Manufacturing Unit for Designers? They give out loans for machinery and recently gave out AGOA’s Garment Manufacturing Centre to Mrs Folake Majin.
• As a whole we need to focus on retail avenues.
• FADAN is inactive therefore a new body will be formed

The people present were Myma Belo Osagie,  Omoyemi Akerele, Ego Madueke, Lisa Folawiyo, Nike Ogunlesi, Tola Ayanwale, Isoken Ogiemwonyi, Amaka Osakwe, Folake Coker, Mo Alatise, Lanre Da Silva Ajayi, Ere Dappa, Ronke Adeola, Bola Yinka Obebe, Wana Sambo and Yasmin Belo Osagie

Perspex is back! Who knew it would come back and be Spring’s hottest craze?! Accessories from bags to belts have been hijacked by some translucent detail or another. I find the shoe trend the most exciting. We featured the Christian Louboutin Bis un Bout a couple of weeks ago, but designers like Missoni, Stella McCartney, and high street mavens Topshop and Zara are in on it too! The Zara and Stella Pair below are classically elegant while Missoni is perfect for a Print ensemble. I love that the  Sigerson Morrison wedge incorporates the trend with a hint of the Plexiglas heel, but Donna Karan takes it to the next level with an illusion iceberg.

I am a huge fan because I love that  subtle sensuality and femininity it instantly adds to an outfit.

From Top to Bottom: Missoni, Donna Karan, Charlotte Olympia, Stella McCartney, Sigerson Morrison, Zara

Photos courtsey www.netaporter.com, www.barneys.com, www.zara.com