the african fashion collective: tiffany amber by folake folarin-coker

tiffany amber's collection featured simple, embellished dresses in stunning hues:

the embellished





lots of bling bling and beading transforms these pieces from run-of-the-mill to memorable. strategically and thoughtfully placed, the embellishments add doses of razzle and dazzle in a way that isn't gaudy or offensive.

the ankara pieces







keeping it simple but clever is transforming a staple piece like a trench-style coat dress into something more by fashioning it entirely out of ankara. stepping it up a notch is mixing and matching ankara with other fabrics a la the classic brown trench with its ankara belt, beaded pockets, and contrast ankara cuff detailing. don't even get us started on the back.

misc

this piece fits right in with some others because of its color but it's also a stand-alone piece because it's a simple, draped silk jersey (?) dress with a belt in place of the bling.

our verdict?

granted, none of this is ground-breaking or avant-garde...but avant-garde doth not fabulous make. we'd wear every piece in a heartbeat, that much we know. that said, a clear "tiffany amber" stamp on each piece would have been refreshing. folake folarin-coker knows that ankara and embellishments are the keys to many, many hearts, so she focuses almost exclusively on them without really doing anything new. she did play around a little with lengths and shapes but overall, one gets the sense these are pieces from a designer who didn't quite break free from her comfort zone.