Belgian model Hanne Gaby Odiele shows off her street look in New York. Photograph: Rex
In Fashion | Roomy Carryalls That Are Ready for Takeoff - New York Times (blog)
Photograph by Julia Noni. Styled by Jason Rider.Calvin Klein Collection top, $995; (212) 292-9000. Comme des Garçons shirt (under), $500; (212) 604-9200. Ann Demeulemeester pants, $1,360; saksfifthavenue.com. Bottega Veneta bag (front), $3,150; bottegaveneta.com. Saint Laurent by Hedi Slimane bag, $1,495; (212) 980-2970. Left hand: Ana Khouri bracelet, $27,600; Barneys New York, (212) 826-8900. Right hand: Bulgari watch, $29,600; bulgari.com. David Yurman ring (pinkie), $1,850; (212) 752-4255. Ralph Lauren Fine Jewelry ring, $12,400; ralphlaurenjewelry.com. All it takes for an easy, breezy getaway is a classic carryall — so roomy you can take it with you.
Slide Show: Have Bag, Will Travel
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Paris fashion is sometimes cruel, always fun - The Mercury
PARIS — The fashion world can be a cruel place.
No one knows this better than veteran Jean Paul Gaultier who decided to turn his spring-summer 2014 collection on its head and do the criticizing for himself.
With a tongue in his cheek, the irreverent designer turned his catwalk collection, one of Saturday’s most popular tickets, into a high-octane pastiche of “So You Think You Can Dance” — the U.S. dance competition show.
Rossy de Palma, the muse of filmmaker Pedro Almodovar, sat on a panel inside the cabaret theater venue holding up signs such as “boring” and “no thanks” to auditioning models such as Karly Kloss who vogued in vain to energizing music.
A theatrical Almodovar-esque scene of wife-beating interrupted the presentation, with de Palma striking the assailant down — a moment of pure pantomime drawing whoops from the crowd.
Such was the audacity that even the normally poised Catherine Deneuve, who sat in the front row, was clapping in time and laughing by the end.
In other shows of the day, presentations were distinctly more restrained — such as that of Belgian designer Veronique Leroy, whose delicately constructed clothes in black and white did the talking for themselves. Monochrome was also seen in a surreal collection by Comme des Garcons.
Elsewhere, Vivienne Westwood stayed true to her natural eccentricities and channeled medieval peasants, whereas Viktor & Rolf’s collection disappointed by losing the creative energy achieved in their last, abstract couture show.
JEAN PAUL GAULTIER
Such was the creative mayhem of the Gaultier presentation, it seemed as if the clothes took second place.
The collection opened with several looks in black lace, studs and leather with asymmetrical paneling.
They seemed to channel the movie “Grease,” with the reference brought home loud and clear when two models danced like Sandy and Danny on the podium to the sound of “You’re the One That I Want.”
The best of the rather confusing collection were the parts to not use gimmicks.
A series of stones colored coats cut a stylish look, one hanging over the torso in circular, diagonal strips as if ripe for the peeling. Elsewhere, an on-trend metallic jacket and baggy pants came in a great burnt bronze, with a complementary dark orange top.
But the late ‘70s punk looks and floral sections were harder to reconcile with the collection as a whole.
VIKTOR & ROLF
Viktor and Rolf are going back to school.
At least, it appeared so in the Dutch design duo spring-summer 2014 show in Paris which had a vibe of fictional girls’ boarding school St Trinian’s.
Blazers with badges came in scholarly navy and knee-length double skirts featured knife pleats (layering is the duo’s forte), as well as several looks in a black and white plaid, reminiscent of English boarding school uniforms.
Since designers Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren returned to the couture stage this July after a 13-year hiatus, there was an optimistic sense that they were trying to revitalize themselves after playing it safe in recent seasons.
Sadly, instead of moving on their couture musings, Saturday’s show not only went back to school, but brought them back to where they were last year.
The best look in the show was one that captured this abstract mood they excel at: A deceptively-simple white bustier dress, with folded, almost origami-like pleats giving it a shard-like jagged silhouette.
VIVIENNE WESTWOOD
Medieval pilgrims that Vivienne Westwood imagined during a visit to Canterbury Cathedral were the unlikely muses for the British designer’s collection.
Muddy faces, colored earth-splashed knees, hanging girdles and earthy brown canvas cotton and yarn upon yarn of glamorous flowing rags provided the peasant-inspired wardrobe.
These features — sometimes minimalist, sometimes festive — combined with colorful page’s stripes, medieval short tabard coats and Juliette sleeves to produce a veritable display from yesteryear.
There was even a saintly halo hat.
But collections from eccentric Westwood elude definition — and indeed to define her would be to limit her art.
So, breaking out of the medieval shackles the designer also included a Latin colored headdress, a gaucho look in yellow ochre and an ode to punk in bright blue — plus her famed peaked shoulders for good measure.
Bags in the show, for example, were made in Kenya in a project organized by the U.N.-supported “Ethical Fashion Initiative.”
But Westwood flits between the serious and the gay.
After describing the origins of the fabrics, the designer chuckled that she’d created a style she referred to as “sexy nun.”
VERONIQUE LEROY
Like in previous seasons, Veronique Leroy went to the silver screen for inspiration.
For spring-summer — it was award-winning French film “Black and White” by Claire Devers.
But the designer should know she doesn’t need to rest on creative references for her show, as her clothes speak for themselves.
Demure looks in black and white, as well as rippling stripes defined the vibe, and delicate construction defined the aesthetic.
Though there were no huge creative leaps here, the first look — a white and ultra pale peach look which hung in pleats and ruffles with a quiet majesty — was possibly one of the most beautiful constructed creations seen all day. Delicate ripples and curves snuck out from waists and shoulders.
But this wasn’t just poetical musing: With some of the striped ensembles it was clear this Belgian designer also had her eye on an older clientele.
Thomas Adamson can be followed at Twitter.com/ThomasAdamsonAP
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Uniqlo's Fast Fashion Comes Late to Australia - Businessweek
Fast Retailing (9983:JT) is finding its way down under.
The Tokyo company behind Uniqlo said today it will open its first store in Australia this spring, a massive four-story beachhead of cheap clothes in a Melbourne mall. Hennes & Mauritz (HMB:SS)will be opening its own Australian flagship at about the same time Fast Retailing is cutting the ribbon.
For Uniqlo, the latest expansion is another in a plan to become the biggest apparel retailer in the world. But it also shows that the company has a bit of a Godzilla problem: undeniable power matched by a pace that is, well, lumbering. Gap (GPS) has been in Australia since 2010. Zara, an Inditex (ITX:SM) brand and the world’s largest apparel retailer, opened a store down under in mid-2011.
Australian retailers are already cutting prices to compete with the influx of international giants, suggesting that the first-mover advantage for international retail companies may already be gone.
From a population perspective, Australia isn’t incredibly attractive. It has about one-sixth as many people as Japan spread over an area 20 times larger. Those aren’t the kind of ratios that add up in the increasingly slim bricks-and-mortar retail game. But Australia is a relatively affluent place, with GDP per capita at $43,300 coming slightly behind that of the U.S. ($50,700) but well ahead of Japan’s ($36,900).
If Uniqlo is savvy, however, it won’t need to dot the Outback with sleek stores. The Melbourne flagship will act as a billboard—a kind of brand embassy—fueling website sales far and wide.
Meanwhile, Fast Retailing plods on. It plans to open 10 new U.S. stores this fall and its first German store in Berlin in the spring. Australia, the company says, will be its “first step into markets in the Southern Hemisphere.”
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No Makeup? No Problem, Says Fashion Week's Beauty Forecast (PHOTOS) - Huffington Post
Put down the mascara, ladies. No really. It's officially a trend.
Fashion Week runways aren't usually where we pick up low-maintenance beauty tricks, but this season has been ripe with easygoing inspiration. Nowhere was this more apparent than at yesterday's Spring 2014 Balmain show during Paris Fashion Week. Top models like Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Georgia May Jagger sauntered down the runway wearing little more than a dab of concealer. Cue the collective gasps of joy.
Makeup artist Tom Pecheux's strategically applied concealer ("under the eyes, inner corners and beginning of the brow bone") was complemented with a mere curling of the eyelashes and a dusting of powder. As for the hair? It was just as relaxed, if not a bit disheveled.
We had an inkling this was coming, though. At the beginning of the month, some of New York Fashion Week's top shows sent models down the runway sporting the elusive "no makeup" look. Alexander Wang's catwalk was a parade of ladies rocking deliberately unconcealed under-eyes and tousled hair that was the result of little more than a spritz of dry shampoo. Then there was Proenza Schouler, which also went for the dewy, unfinished look and "Sissy Spacek hair.”
So are we to take this as our cue to ditch the color cosmetics and blowouts? Perhaps. Considering the $426 billion we spend a year on beauty products, it might just be a good idea to follow the fashion industry's lead on this one. Plus, with glossy magazine covers championing the unfussy, raw look, it's only a matter of time before the trend-loving crowd hops on board.
We certainly can get behind the idea of eschewing the reliance on makeup and owning one's natural beauty. But what do you think of the look?
The look at Balmain:
...and at Alexander Wang:
...and at Proenza Schouler:
Even celebs try it out:
Loading Slideshow
Want more? Be sure to check out HuffPost Style on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest and Instagram at @HuffPostStyle.
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Kim Kardashian Dines With Andre Leon Talley At Paris Fashion Week (PHOTOS) - Huffington Post
Is Kim Kardashian finally worming her way into Vogue's good graces? The reality TV star was spotted dining with none other than Andre Leon Talley today, hanging out at L'Avenue in Paris.
Kim and Andre, Vogue's contributing editor, are both in town for Paris Fashion Week -- in fact, Kim sat pretty in the Givenchy front row just yesterday. But we never anticipated these two to actually cross paths, much less dine together like pals. As Vogue's outspoken representative and Anna Wintour's right-hand man, Andre has not cozied up to the likes of Kim Kardashian. In fact, after the Met Gala 2012, he told an audience, "I don't think any celebrity can take away from fashion. Not even Kim Kardashian could take away from fashion..."
But it looks like slowly but surely, Kim has won over even the toughest critics at Vogue. After her conspicuous absence at the 2012 Met Gala, she earned herself an invite in 2013. Now she's dining with Andre Leon Talley during Paris Fashion Week. What's next, a front row seat next to Anna and a Vogue cover?
At this rate, nothing could surprise us. Check out the photographic evidence below and see a clearer pic here.
Witness just how stylish Kim has become:
Loading Slideshow
Want more? Be sure to check out HuffPost Style on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest and Instagram at @HuffPostStyle.
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No Makeup? No Problem, Says Fashion Week's Beauty Forecast (PHOTOS) - Huffington Post
Put down the mascara, ladies. No really. It's officially a trend.
Fashion Week runways aren't usually where we pick up low-maintenance beauty tricks, but this season has been ripe with easygoing inspiration. Nowhere was this more apparent than at yesterday's Spring 2014 Balmain show during Paris Fashion Week. Top models like Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Georgia May Jagger sauntered down the runway wearing little more than a dab of concealer. Cue the collective gasps of joy.
Makeup artist Tom Pecheux's strategically applied concealer ("under the eyes, inner corners and beginning of the brow bone") was complemented with a mere curling of the eyelashes and a dusting of powder. As for the hair? It was just as relaxed, if not a bit disheveled.
We had an inkling this was coming, though. At the beginning of the month, some of New York Fashion Week's top shows sent models down the runway sporting the elusive "no makeup" look. Alexander Wang's catwalk was a parade of ladies rocking deliberately unconcealed under-eyes and tousled hair that was the result of little more than a spritz of dry shampoo. Then there was Proenza Schouler, which also went for the dewy, unfinished look and "Sissy Spacek hair.”
So are we to take this as our cue to ditch the color cosmetics and blowouts? Perhaps. Considering the $426 billion we spend a year on beauty products, it might just be a good idea to follow the fashion industry's lead on this one. Plus, with glossy magazine covers championing the unfussy, raw look, it's only a matter of time before the trend-loving crowd hops on board.
We certainly can get behind the idea of eschewing the reliance on makeup and owning one's natural beauty. But what do you think of the look?
The look at Balmain:
...and at Alexander Wang:
...and at Proenza Schouler:
Even celebs try it out:
Loading Slideshow
Want more? Be sure to check out HuffPost Style on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest and Instagram at @HuffPostStyle.
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Africa's hottest new fashion designers - CNN (blog)
Jennifer Obiuwevbi, of BellaNaija.com, presents her pick of Africa's best new designers. This design is by label Shakara Couture, created by Nigerian Ewemade Erhabor-Emokpae.
HIDE CAPTION
Shakara Couture
Shakara Couture
Kaela Kay
Kaela Kay
Kitschai
Kitschai
Love April
Love April
Milq and Honey
Milq and Honey
Ernest Mahomane
Ernest Mahomane
Fenix Couture
Fenix Couture
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- BellaNaija.com writer Jennifer Obiuwevbi charts the change in African fashion design
- Designs from the continent have diversified in shape and style over the years
- African fashion houses now pioneer international catwalk trends, she says
Editor's note: Jennifer Obiuwevbi writes on fashion for BellaNaija.com. Here she writes for CNN about Africa's top up-and-coming designers.
(CNN) -- We have long moved on from the idea of African design being simply Africa centered. In the past couple of years it has made it onto catwalks in Paris, New York, Milan and beyond. And of course, as with any competitive market, there will always be new talent changing the game.
In African fashion today, names like Lanre Da-Silva Ajayi, Thula Sindi, Deola Segoe, Ozwald Boateng and more are praised in the hallways of fashion houses. And now there is a new breed of designers who have caught the attention of fashion enthusiasts in Africa and abroad. So here are seven emerging African designers to watch out for this year.
Shakara Couture
Ewemade Erhabor-Emokpae has had a long obsession with the vintage glamor of the 1920s and 50s. Her design label -- Shakara Couture -- has encompassed the aesthetics, ambiance and essence of the present couture era and added an African flair.
Officially launched in 2012, the design label had its first major debut at the Music Meets Runway 2012 event where African designers clamoured together to unveil their late 2012 collections. Her collection was filled with long luxurious dresses with lace detail, creative fascinators, wide brim hats and satin gloves.
Recently, she released a few photos from her 2013 collection titled "There is No Such Thing As Too Much Glamor." The campaign photos showcased a young housewife carrying about her daily chores dressed to the nines.
Read this: Africa Fashion Week hits London catwalks
Kaela Kay
Courtesy Jennifer Conley Images/Kaela Kay
When I first encountered the Kaela Kay design label I was immediately struck with its big and loud prints and funky designs. Created by Ghanaian designer Catherine Addai the label thrives on its passion to transform bold and extravagant prints into feminine, sexy and modern clothes for the modern woman.
Addai has created the Kaela Kay woman to stand out. The Kaela Kay woman is a refined socialite who walks with her shoulders back and her head held high.
Apart from her label's aesthetics, which always have a professional outlook, another reason why the Kaela Kay brand caught my attention was because of its take on prints. It moves to re-interpret print combinations while still keeping its African foundations.
Kitschai
Courtesy BellaNaija/ Obi Somto
When the 2013 collection "Unicorns and Bullet Wounds" from Kitschai was released, fashion enthusiasts were engulfed by a wave of curiosity. The design label introduced an edgy and risqué collection that wasn't typical of Nigerian designers and has not been seen elsewhere in this year's batch of collections.
Created by London-based Nigerian Andrea Ushedo, she incorporated her punk/retro personality into the designs, making them just dark and edgy enough.
With such an impressive debut, one can only wait in anticipation for what the label will bring out next.
Love April
Whenever I think of the Ghanaian Love April design label, I think of sultry and feminine designs with a hint of African detail.
Nina Barkers-Woode launched the Love April brand in 2011. She started it as a label offering ready-to-wear clothes for women, as well as leather goods and accessories.
Read this: Glorious fashion in the desert
According to her interview with Shadders Africa: "It embodies today's woman with the marriage between sophistication and sexiness which allows her to step into the world, wherever that might be, feeling and looking confident."
She last showcased her 2012/2013 collection at Ghana Fashion Week 2012, where it received a lot of praise.
Milq & Honey
Courtesy Milq & Honey
Dark earthy tones, gold panel details and a twist to every piece are the three qualities that come to mind every time I look at a collection piece from Milq & Honey.
Owned by Gabriella and Kelly Davids, the South African label speaks to the confident woman who is sexy and edgy, yet glamorous and classy. Their clothes are inspired by energetic colors, animals and the natural patterns and shapes of the Earth.
At the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Cape Town 2013 they debuted their 2013 collection, which was a mix of light and dark. They started off with a dark ensemble of typical Milq & Honey garments and then went off into a birth of colors in neon and summer-appropriate casual wear.
Ernest Mahomane
Courtesy SDR
With the experience gathered from being trained by Gavin Rajarh, Ernest Mahomane's eponymous label could easily pass off as one that has been in the business for years. The label opened the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Cape Town 2013 with an amazing combination of white and red dresses with gathered tulle, fitted bustiers and enhanced shoulder cuts that were as daring and serene as its Spring/Summer 2013/14 collection.
The clothes have a smooth and classy appearance that isn't overdone and is true to the Ernest Mahomane ethos of transcendent beauty.
Read this: Taking African colors to America's Deep South
Fenix Couture
Courtesy BellaNaija/ Julius Ding
This Nigerian-Canadian design label reminds me a lot of the Jewel By Lisa label. Its well-tailored designs and understanding for the female form are both professional and appealing.
The brand was created by Josephyn Akioyamen, who started her journey into fashion while living in Lagos, Nigeria. She was constantly surrounded by intricate colors and prints and, of course, African culture.
Fenix Couture is a combination of timeless elegance and modern luxury brought to life by stimulating textiles and precision tailoring. With its 2013 Ihotu Collection, the label introduced itself to the world as one not just to watch, but a label that is so transformational that it would last for years to come.
Creating a fashion label begins with the birth of passion, after which the dream is filled with enthusiasm and drive. I have only listed seven African designers that are certain to do great things this year and in the years to come, but there are many others that, just like these, are taking the African fashion industry to new heights.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Jennifer Obiuwevbi.
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Paris fashion week: models' off-duty style in the snappers' spotlight - The Guardian
The clothes that models wear on the catwalk are the bread and butter of any fashion season, but the interest in models' off-duty style is becoming almost as scrutinised – and, indeed, photographed.
At Paris fashion week, which began on Wednesday, the scrum of street-style photographers outside shows is growing by the day. While they snap well-dressed editors in Celine and Prada on their way in, models wearing their own clothes en route to the next show – often on a moped – are becoming the money shots.
The off-duty model look has developed in tandem with the growth of street-style photography. While break-out stars are Hanne Gaby Odiele and Hanneli Mustaparta – who each have a unique personal style – the typical off-duty model look is plainer. It consists of urban basics: grey marl T-shirts, biker jackets, skinny jeans, short shorts and (a must) biker boots. A bit grungy, with a rock'n'roll edge, Freja Beha Erichsen and Erin Wasson epitomise the look.
"They [models] have relaxed, true style," says Daniel Troyse, co-founder of respected blog Stockholm Street Style. "They wear H&M, Zara – like any young woman – for a couple of years, then start to get labels such as Isabel Marant and Acne."
Paris is the capital of this look, with Acne, Swedish of course, leading the way. For its sophomore outing in the city on Saturday, the brand brought a distinctly Swedish flavour. Pelle Almqvist from the Hives opened proceedings by singing the old Swedish song Till Havs and the collection had a maritime theme, with fisherman trousers and anchors featuring. "It was maritime," said creative director Jonny Johansson backstage, "but it had our approach."
The Acne approach is one at the heart of the off-duty model aesthetic. While other Paris brands such as Lanvin and Christian Dior present a very desirable aesthetic, it's definitely dressed up. Acne comes from a different school of thought, one where ease and wearability are paramount and mixed with just a sprinkling of rock'n'roll.
Johansson quipped that models liked the label because "they get it for free", but acknowledged a certain urban real-life quality to his brand that fits with this off-duty look: "I like fantasy, but there is a Swedish functionality, that's why people like it." Slouchy mohair jumpers, shredded white leather biker jackets and blazers are new season pieces likely to be seen on the back of mopeds next summer.
Models wearing your brand's clothes off-duty is a shrewd way of getting targeted endorsements without advertising. Featuring a model's endless legs and ability to pose, these street-style images end up on countless blogs around the world – and non-models emulate them by buying into the brands. Acne posted £70m in revenue for 2012 and various hits for the brand, including the Rita biker jacket and the Pistol boot, can be traced back to models wearing them.
"Models look comfy and cool," says Julia Sarr-Jamois, contributing fashion editor for Pop and an ex-model. "It's quite an accessible look. People want to be the girl who can just get out of bed and pull on a jumper, whether it's the reality or not."
Troyse says the model has motivation for striking a pose off the catwalk, especially in an increasingly digitally minded culture. "If she has her picture taken, it increases her profile," he says. "A model with many Instagram followers will have an advantage over one with zero." Ross Young, head of new faces at Next Models, agrees: "It gets people talking about them. When the girls have a strong online fan base, it can elevate them from model to style icon and supermodel."
Young adds that when a new model is signed up to Next, they are advised to adhere to the "model casting" wardrobe: "Skinny jeans, shorts or skirt and a loose top – clothes that show your body's shape but also express your individual style." While he name-checks high street brands such as Topshop and Asos as favourites, he agrees that "Acne defines the traditional model look".
Two other favourites, Isabel Marant and Vanessa Bruno, showed in Paris on Friday. Bruno's was a relaxed take, with unstructured biker jackets, soft dungaree dresses and low-slung skirts all worn with backless boots. To a soundtrack that included the Stooges and Primal Scream, Marant's collection featured shredded jeans cut in a diamond pattern, worn with blazers and pretty peasant blouses.
It's a look that could go instantly from the catwalk to the model wardrobe – sexy, effortless but with a tough edge is Marant's calling card and it gets a lot of business from the models. That includes industry favourites such as Catherine McNeil and Saskia De Brauw and the pin-up for the Instagram generation, Georgia May Jagger, who all featured in her show. With Marant's H&M collection out in November, off-duty model is about to be a look available on the high street.
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Fashion House Schiaparelli Appoints Marco Zanini - ABC News
Designer Marco Zanini has been named creative director of the revived fashion house Schiaparelli.
The revival of the once legendary fashion house is one of the most anticipated Paris fashion events of recent years.
"Schiaparelli symbolizes the capacity to think and create in a different way. My wish is to make this mythical house live again," said Zanini in a statement Monday.
Though Elsa Schiaparelli, the hated rival of Coco Chanel, is no longer a household name — her business folded in 1954, and she died in 1973 — her influential design firsts have lived on: newspaper prints, exposed zippers, perfume bottles in the female form, shocking pink and — arguably — the first woman's power suit.
Zanini will reveal his first collection during Paris couture week in January.
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Africa's hottest new fashion designers - CNN International
Jennifer Obiuwevbi, of BellaNaija.com, presents her pick of Africa's best new designers. This design is by label Shakara Couture, created by Nigerian Ewemade Erhabor-Emokpae.
HIDE CAPTION
Shakara Couture
Shakara Couture
Kaela Kay
Kaela Kay
Kitschai
Kitschai
Love April
Love April
Milq and Honey
Milq and Honey
Ernest Mahomane
Ernest Mahomane
Fenix Couture
Fenix Couture
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- BellaNaija.com writer Jennifer Obiuwevbi charts the change in African fashion design
- Designs from the continent have diversified in shape and style over the years
- African fashion houses now pioneer international catwalk trends, she says
Editor's note: Jennifer Obiuwevbi writes on fashion for BellaNaija.com. Here she writes for CNN about Africa's top up-and-coming designers.
(CNN) -- We have long moved on from the idea of African design being simply Africa centered. In the past couple of years it has transcended to catwalks in Paris, New York, Milan and beyond. And of course, as with any competitive market, there will always be new talent changing the game.
In African fashion today, names like Lanre Da-Silva Ajayi, Thula Sindi, Deola Segoe, Ozwald Boateng and more are praised in the hallways of fashion houses. And now there is a new breed of designers who have caught the attention of fashion enthusiasts in Africa and abroad. So here are seven emerging African designers to watch out for this year.
Shakara Couture
Ewemade Erhabor-Emokpae has had a long obsession with the vintage glamor of the 1920s and 50s. Her design label -- Shakara Couture -- has encompassed the aesthetics, ambiance and essence of the present couture era and added an African flair.
Officially launched in 2012, the design label had its first major debut at the Music Meets Runway 2012 event where African designers clamoured together to unveil their late 2012 collections. Her collection was filled with long luxurious dresses with lace detail, creative fascinators, wide brim hats and satin gloves.
Recently, she released a few photos from her 2013 collection titled "There is No Such Thing As Too Much Glamor." The campaign photos showcased a young housewife carrying about her daily chores dressed to the nines.
Read this: Africa Fashion Week hits London catwalks
Kaela Kay
Courtesy Jennifer Conley Images/Kaela Kay
When I first encountered the Kaela Kay design label I was immediately struck with its big and loud prints and funky designs. Created by Ghanaian designer Catherine Addai the label thrives on its passion to transform bold and extravagant prints into feminine, sexy and modern clothes for the modern woman.
Addai has created the Kaela Kay woman to stand out. The Kaela Kay woman is a refined socialite who walks with her shoulders back and her head held high.
Apart from her label's aesthetics, which always have a professional outlook, another reason why the Kaela Kay brand caught my attention was because of its take on prints. It moves to re-interpret print combinations while still keeping its African foundations.
Kitschai
Courtesy BellaNaija/ Obi Somto
When the 2013 collection "Unicorns and Bullet Wounds" from Kitschai was released, fashion enthusiasts were engulfed by a wave of curiosity. The design label introduced an edgy and risqué collection that wasn't typical of Nigerian designers and has not been seen elsewhere in this year's batch of collections.
Created by London-based Nigerian Andrea Ushedo, she incorporated her punk/retro personality into the designs, making them just dark and edgy enough.
With such an impressive debut, one can only wait in anticipation for what the label will bring out next.
Love April
Whenever I think of the Ghanaian Love April design label, I think of sultry and feminine designs with a hint of African detail.
Nina Barkers-Woode launched the Love April brand in 2011. She started it as a label offering ready-to-wear clothes for women, as well as leather goods and accessories.
Read this: Glorious fashion in the desert
According to her interview with Shadders Africa: "It embodies today's woman with the marriage between sophistication and sexiness which allows her to step into the world, wherever that might be, feeling and looking confident."
She last showcased her 2012/2013 collection at Ghana Fashion Week 2012, where it received a lot of praise.
Milq & Honey
Courtesy Milq & Honey
Dark earthy tones, gold panel details and a twist to every piece are the three qualities that come to mind every time I look at a collection piece from Milq & Honey.
Owned by Gabriella and Kelly Davids, the South African label speaks to the confident woman who is sexy and edgy, yet glamorous and classy. Their clothes are inspired by energetic colors, animals and the natural patterns and shapes of the Earth.
At the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Cape Town 2013 they debuted their 2013 collection, which was a mix of light and dark. They started off with a dark ensemble of typical Milq & Honey garments and then went off into a birth of colors in neon and summer-appropriate casual wear.
Ernest Mahomane
Courtesy SDR
With the experience gathered from being trained by Gavin Rajarh, Ernest Mahomane's eponymous label could easily pass off as one that has been in the business for years. The label opened the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Cape Town 2013 with an amazing combination of white and red dresses with gathered tulle, fitted bustiers and enhanced shoulder cuts that were as daring and serene as its Spring/Summer 2013/14 collection.
The clothes have a smooth and classy appearance that isn't overdone and is true to the Ernest Mahomane ethos of transcendent beauty.
Read this: Taking African colors to America's Deep South
Fenix Couture
Courtesy BellaNaija/ Julius Ding
This Nigerian-Canadian design label reminds me a lot of the Jewel By Lisa label. Its well-tailored designs and understanding for the female form are both professional and appealing.
The brand was created by Josephyn Akioyamen, who started her journey into fashion while living in Lagos, Nigeria. She was constantly surrounded by intricate colors and prints and, of course, African culture.
Fenix Couture is a combination of timeless elegance and modern luxury brought to life by stimulating textiles and precision tailoring. With its 2013 Ihotu Collection, the label introduced itself to the world as one not just to watch, but a label that is so transformational that it would last for years to come.
Creating a fashion label begins with the birth of passion, after which the dream is filled with enthusiasm and drive. I have only listed seven African designers that are certain to do great things this year and in the years to come, but there are many others that, just like these, are taking the African fashion industry to new heights.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Jennifer Obiuwevbi.
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Paris Fashion Week spring/summer 2014: Kenzo review - Los Angeles Times
By Booth Moore, Los Angeles Times Fashion Critic
4:59 PM PDT, September 29, 2013
The fashion crowd took a field trip to the Paris suburb of St. Denis on Sunday morning for the Kenzo runway show held at director Luc Besson's impressive new film studio complex Cite du Cinema.
The scene: Creative directors Carol Lim and Humberto Leon founded the influential Opening Ceremony boutiques and clothing label before being tapped to lead Kenzo in 2011. No doubt drawing on their retail expertise, they made the show a true experience, with a striking set of burbling bowls of water on the runway and a waterfall from which models emerged.
The inspiration: The ocean (Lim and Leon grew up in California) and L.A.'s underground music scene, according to show notes. There was also a conservation angle, a partnership with the Blue Marine Foundation to combat over fishing with funds from the sale of a line of T-shirts and sweaters available in January.
The look: Urban beach, with wave, water drop and fish prints.
Key pieces: Sleeveless cotton tops and minidresses with airy back vents. Crop top and skirt with drip embroidery resembling waves, blue pants suit with black bandeau worn over the jacket. Sweatshirt with "No Fish, No Nothing" slogan. The new "Kalifornia" envelope clutch with zipper details. Wave-printed running shoes. Neoprene sandals with metal heels. "Planet" earrings.
The verdict: Lim and Leon have found a winning formula for Kenzo, focusing on whimsical color and print to create youthful Japanese street fashion with a Paris-by-way-of-LA twist.
ALSO:
Paris Fashion Week spring 2014: Maison Martin Margiela review
Paris Fashion Week spring 2014: Isabel Marant review
Paris Fashion Week spring 2014: Lanvin review
Copyright © 2013, Los Angeles Times
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Channeling Change Through Fashion - Wall Street Journal
![[image]](http://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/NY-CP473_NYDEVE_G_20130929190605.jpg)
A model on the runway.
The mostly female crowd at the third Annual First Ladies and Fashion 4 Development luncheon seemed to all have three things in common: An interest in fashion, a passion for international and economic reform issues and Evie Evangelou.
"Evie is a powerhouse," Tina Brown said on Thursday afternoon at the Pierre after posing with the F4D founder, along with Vogue Italia editor Franca Sozzani, the organization's global ambassador. "She came at me and said she'd like to do this and I think it's a great idea to harness the first ladies when they're here."
Evie Evangelou and Livia Firth
The third year the luncheon has been held during the United Nations General Assembly, Ms. Evangelou said the number of prominent attendees, from fashion designers to actual First Ladies, has grown. This year, more than 30 first ladies were in attendance, as well as designers Donna Karan and Reem Acra.
The first lady of Iceland, Dorrit Moussaieff, attends every year. "Evie called and asked if I could help her and I do think anything that can help women and children, especially in countries that are developing, must be commended, and she needs all the help that she can get," said Ms. Moussaieff, who added that she hopes to see a focus on designers in "conflict areas" such as Palestine and Syria.
For others, such as Princess Ameerah Al-Taweel of Saudi Arabia, dressed head to toe in designer duds from Jimmy Choo, Tom Ford and Cartier, it was their first time in attendance.
![[image]](http://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/NY-CP474_NYDEVE_DV_20130929190647.jpg)
Princess Ameerah Al-Taweel with models at the Fashion 4 Development lunch.
Ms. Evangelou has high hopes for the event. "The bigger vision is we're using fashion to make changes in water and sanitation, to make changes in health care. We'll capture the attention to make these goals happen. We're a global platform that supports all eight of the United Nations millennium development goals utilizing fashion as the voice."
Channeling change through fashion is a goal that Ms. Brown also believes will work with women. "Fashion speaks to women where they live, there's not a person—high, low, poor, rich—who is not interested in looking good when they get out of bed in the morning and as a result, you know fashion focuses the mind for women," she said.
Livia Firth, philanthropist, wife of actor Colin Firth, and another honoree along with Ms. Brown at the sit down dinner and fashion show featuring designers from across the globe, feels the same way.
"Putting fashion and development together and reaping the ethical effects of fashion is an incredible thing," she said, before sitting down to lunch, in a room packed bodyguards with earpieces, where a video was played between courses of Anna Wintour and Tom Ford lauding her for her philanthropic efforts with the Green Carpet Challenge. "I've been working with [the organization] for two years. It's…amazing."
A version of this article appeared September 29, 2013, on page A23 in the U.S. edition of The Wall Street Journal, with the headline: Change Through Fashion.
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Jean Paul Gaultier Puts On 'Dancing With The Stars' Fashion Show In Paris ... - Huffington Post
"Dancing With The Stars" isn't the most fashionable of TV shows (the pounds of sequins and bronzer permanently prevent it from being so). But Jean Paul Gaultier took inspiration from the dance competition anyway, turning his Spring 2014 runway show into a zany, high-energy replica of the "DWTS" format.
Three "judges" were seated at a table at the hed of the runway: Rossy de Palma, Tanel Bedrossiantz and choreorapher Blanca Li. The models came out swinging... and tangoing, voguing and sambaing, all while showing off Gaultier's latest collection of slick clothes.
Thankfully, there were no cutout sequin dresses in the mix. Check out pics from a fashion show like only Gaultier could put on.
PHOTOS:
More wild looks we saw at Fashion Week this season:
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