IamISIGO Has Finally Come-of-Age in Their Autumn/Winter 2016 Collection

It’s quite striking how the barest of  IamISIGO‘s collection is its most striking and noteworthy, so far. Here, the brand strips away the dark aesthetic that we’ve come to know it for. In its place, something simple and cleansing.

This season, IamISIGO was inspired by “The phenomenon of expression without foresight via reflection, how fashion has become an art form that elevates and celebrates the body making it the ultimate canvas.” It is the secret to this collection; showing  depth and creativity in adequate moderation (in juxtaposition to the past) bearing in mind, that the wearer has the ultimate centrepiece.

The brand is known for making pieces that are absolutely practical while pushing the boundaries of fashion. With the rushing technique that’s predominantly used across the collection and a softening of the stronger edges with pastel hues and slits. We can safely allude to the fact that this quite a new territory for the designer, and it is in this sense that IamISIGO finally comes of age.

Credits:
Website: www.iamisigoonline.com
Photography: Tom Saater www.tomsaater.com
Models: Evein Obunor and Cynthia Lawrence
Set design and Art Direction: BOFC

African Prints With a Dose of Céline, Vogue.com Profiles Omoyemi Akerele’s 9-5 Style

Vogue.com speaks so highly of Omoyemi Akerele, founder of Lagos Fashion and Design Week and how she “has worked tirelessly to put Nigerian fashion on the map… Akerele highlighted the potential impact of fashion and retailing on the country. And she did it all, naturally, with remarkable personal style.” 

Omoyemi on her earliest fashion/style memory,

“If I had an interest in fashion growing up, I’m not sure I was aware of it. However, I have always been conscious of what I wear and how I wear it. When we were toddlers, my mum dressed my sisters and me in matching frocks complete with tie-back details and high-neck ruffles. My first fashion memory would have to be me breaking my dear mum’s heart at age 11 by telling her that the beautiful dresses she’d bought wouldn’t work and I was craving some normal dress-down clothes: jeans, T-shirts, skirts, and shirts. We eventually reached a compromise and shelved the dresses for Sundays and occasionwear. She was happy and I was beyond happy!”

When speaking on her workwear and the need for structure,

“This requires my basic business uniform: tailored shift dresses or my favorite shirt and skirt combo with a blazer. Separates are the backbone of my closet—they create endless opportunities for mixing and matching, which in turn helps to vary my dressing-up choices. Though I love the flexibility and freedom of expression that comes with the job, over the years I’ve come to accept that my foundational years working in a law firm still influence the way I dress to a considerable extent. There’s always a need for an element of structure.”

What’s next for African fashion according to Omoyemi Akerele?

“At Style House, we work tirelessly to position Lagos and Nigeria on the global fashion map as well as grow, nurture, develop, and act as catalysts for building a commercially sustainable industry out of Nigeria. The lack of infrastructure in place makes it a more tedious process—not just for us in the production and execution of our initiatives, but for the designers as well. It makes their creative process very expensive and, in return, the accumulated cost is transferred to the end user. We are currently working with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council to create opportunities for capacity building and skills development, especially for the garmenting sector.”

Model Bella Hadid is the new Face and Ambassador for Dior Makeup

Popular model Bella Hadid recently announced she’s the new face of Dior Makeup on her Instagram with this stunning picture and a caption that read

“So beyond excited to announce that I am the new ambassador and face for @DiorMakeup !!! What a dream come true. Can’t wait for the show today at Blenheim Palace @dior #happiness #cruise”

The supermodel-in-training recently shot to social media fame with the help of her minimalist style and gorgeous features. According to Vogue.com, Hadid, who walked the house’s Cruise show at the historic Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, England, today, will be starring in a series of Web videos (debuting June 6) that seem destined to recast the California native in an honorary French girl light, while offering up a lineup of fresh beauty tricks to followers.

Sources: Bella Hadid | @bellahadid, Vogue

KAFAMO DESIGNS SNEAK PEAK FROM FREEDOM COLLECTIONS

Young creative /award winning designer Aderogba Alqawil just released his SS/16 freedom collections for his luxury urban brand kafamo designs.

Fashion is an imposition, a reign of utmost freedom of expression. Fashion is a lifestyle, fashion is freedom. This exquisite collection titled “freedom” will give you the total liberty to express yourself at superior craftsmanship.
STORY
Freedom collection from kafamo is based on the story of three brothers who had lived most of their lives in the suburban part of the country. They relocated to the city, marveled at the simplicity and comeliness of nature, transpired into a sudden affection for nature. These three brothers are diversely talented, which transcends to their genuine creativity and an unrestricted freedom of expression stemming from their fashion creations. Their sophisticated outfits and fashion dexterity would serve as a platform for fashion designers and lovers to re-invent themselves. A popular quote goes thus “the breadth of life is in the sunlight and the hand of life is in the wind” If to walk the surface of the earth every day on bare feet was an option to incorporate into their lifestyle just to be in tune with feel of urban nature, it implies that in this collection there’s a certain understanding of the concept of “Freedom” which these fashionistas are here to imbibe in us. To live and work alongside nature and not against it.

These pieces are urban, Youthful and sophisticated, in which every urban fashionista can relate to. Both in its attributes and effects.

CREDITS
Designer : kafamo designs
photographer ; photokulture
models; segun egberongbe, segun aiyegbiroju, amedonprincewhite.
creative director; aderogba alqawil
location; freedom park
instagram; @kafamodesigns
twitter; @kafamodesigns

THE MANY BAGS OF RIHANNA

The Many Bags of Rihanna, Part one

Before we move forward, you should all know that I have become an irrational Rihanna fangirl. Not of her music, necessarily - I don't own any of her albums - but of Rihanna as a character in the media. I love that she wears (and generally pulls off) outrageous things, I love how well she mixes high fashion and hip hop style, I love that she's not afraid to wear things that will surely bring her plenty of criticism. In a pop culture landscape full of "managed" personalities, I love that Rihanna's not bland. Or at least she doesn't look bland, which is what we're primarily concerned with here.
We first profiled Rihanna's handbag collection a little more than a year ago, and in that time, she's been caught carrying nearly 20 additional bags that are worthy of note. Because of her current world tour, these bags have done more traveling than most people can even imagine, but somehow, Rihanna manages to pull out purse after purse, with a new bag popping up in photos seemingly every few days. Her handbag freight fees alone must be astronomical.

1 / 19 We'll start where Rihanna has been starting lately: with Chanel. She carried this Chanel Vanity Case from Resort 2014 to the brand's recent couture show in Paris and spent most of the time using it to shield her crotch from cameras. Oh, Rihanna. Shop pre-owned and vintage Chanel via Portero.

2 / 19 This full Chanel look, complete with a Chanel Metallic Quilted Backpack, is a little more conservative.

3 / 19 Rihanna's clearly one of Karl Lagerfeld's favorites lately - just check out that $10k Chanel Lego Clutch. With her presence at the brand's show and her wardrobe suddenly full of Chanel, might a campaign be far behind? That's usually how these things progress with Karl.

4 / 19 I have suspicions that this Chanel Quilted Shoulder Bag might be vintage.

5 / 19 Even before Karl Lagerfeld seemed like he was in love with RiRi, she carried the brand - here's Rihanna with a Chanel Logo Tote in her home country of Barbados.

6 / 19 Even though this Juliette Jake Wrap Around Clutch isn't Chanel, Rihanna's still got the brand represented in her outfit. Pick up one of your own via JulietteJake.com.

7 / 19 One of my favorite things about Rihanna is how quickly and easily her look can change. For example, she looks like a member of TLC during the 90s with this JOYRICH Faux Python Backpack.

8 / 19 On the other hand, she looks totally professional and put-together with this Dolce & Gabbana Miss Dolce Top Handle Bag. Shop Dolce & Gabbana via Luisa Via Roma.

9 / 19 Mostly, Rihanna's in the middle, like with this Givenchy Antigona Madone Clutch. (We think it might be the one that comes with the tote.)

10 / 19 The basis of my theory about the smaller Givenchy clutch is that Rihanna also has the big Givenchy Antigona Madone Tote. Get a similar version for $1,095, clutch included, via Bergdorf Goodman.

11 / 19 To round out her recent Givenchy pieces, Rihanna also has a baby pink Givenchy Lucrezia Satchel. Pick up a blue version for $2,140 via Bergdorf Goodman.

12 / 19 Black and white is a huge trend right now, so naturally, Rihanna is on it with an all-black outfit and a white Prada Mini Saffiano Lux Tote Bag. Pick up a taupe version for $1,650 via Neiman Marcus.

13 / 19 Sometimes, admittedly, Rihanna's outfits don't make all that much sense, like this crop-top sweatshirt and her Gucci USA Flag Collection Boston Bag. Shop Gucci via the brand's official site.

14 / 19 Other times, the outfit makes perfect sense, like the hologram sequin top she paired with this Stella McCartney Holographic Clutch. Shop Stella McCartney via Net-a-Porter.

15 / 19 In an Adidas sweatshirt and Pierre Hardy Leopard Suede Backpack, Rihanna looks a bit like an ultra-chic college coed. Shop Pierre Hardy via Net-a-Porter.

16 / 19 Perhaps unsurprisingly, Rihanna carries her fair share of Alexander Wang - his mix of high fashion and streetwear fits her style perfectly. We caught her carrying a pebble-textured Alexander Wang Rocco Duffel last time around, and now she has the smooth leather version as well. Pick up a black Rocco of your own for $895 via Neiman Marcus.

17 / 19 That's a little Alexander Wang Pelican Sling Snakeskin Crossbody Bag, I do believe. Shop Alexander Wang via ShopBop.

18 / 19 We've documented just how much Rihanna loves her Celine Trio Roll Clutch in the past, but it's worth reiterating. Shop pre-owned Celine via Portero.

19 / 19 We're rounding out this roundup with an unknown - is this another Celine clutch? Something different? With the simple shape and natural python material, it's hard to say. Check out that skin-tight velvet Alaia bodysuit, though.