Who Wore What: ASA in Kemkemstudio

Asa wears 3 looks from Kemkesmstudio's F/W 2011 collection

Fashion and music go hand-in-hand not least because artistes tend to wear their sounds quite literally, so when Nigerian-born Asa revamped her image from tomboy to girly girl with a dash of sexy, touches of make-up crept in more prominently and her wardrobe underwent quite the overhaul. One Nigerian-owned brand, Kemkemstudio, has been with her for the ride.

When Asa shows up on stage or at shoots these days, it's not uncommon to see her in  a Kemkemstudio piece - a firm nod to her Nigerian heritage with a fine blend of contemporary sensibilities. In Kemkemstudio's hands, the traditionally stiff aso-oke typically reserved for social gatherings takes on a more relaxed appeal, but that's not all there is to Kemkemstudio. Creative Director Kemmy Solomon talks of the 'internationalism' intrinsic to her work, and a 'worldly sense of style'. A perfect choice, then, for Asa, whose music takes her everywhere.

3 looks from Kemkemstudio's A/W 2011 collection as seen at Arise Magazine Fashion Week in Lagos. [Photos courtesy of Haute Fashion Africa]

LOOKBOOK: Kemkemstudio//Survival of the Fittest

Set against the backdrop of rustic surroundings, Kemkemstudio's "Survival of the fittest" look book for her aso-oke [woven cloth] and ankara [African Print] pieces certainly made us stop and stare. There's nothing quite like a designer who can pre-empt what you're in the mood for and execute it so brilliantly. We love her fun edgy pieces, classic clean lines, and her penchant for scrumptious details. We officially can't get enough of Kemkemstudio's pandora box of treasures. We desperately hope she'll include detail shots in her upcoming look books, but while we wait, here's a closer look at the pieces in this one:

Mini crumpled shorts with an aso-oke waistband and a hand painted jacket:

A classic dress done in aso-oke with an embellished neckline:

Love the cute peter pan collar, the pockets and the artful combination of prints:

A very innovative aso-oke [bodice and waist] + ankara shorts make up Kemkemstuido's fusion romper:

Classic Kemkemstudio embellished print dresses:

The invasion of ruffled chiffon:

Oh, did we mention that we LOVE the styling and the photography? Because we certainly do. That said, we'll take the green and purple pieces to go, please.

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CONNECT WITH KEMKEMSTUDIO:

Facebook Group

Phone [Lagos, Nigeria]: 0807 293 3179

E-mail: oguntosin_k (at) yahoo.com

XO

LOOKBOOK: Kemkemstudio//The Great Gatsby

Borrowing inspiration from the 1920s  - the era of fabulous flapper dresses designed to swish and sway - Kemkemstudio's "The Great Gatsby" collection is a stunning modern re-interpretation. While there are clear nods to the era (hair, socks + pumps, shape), each piece is ultra modern, capturing the essence of  sophistication and playfulness in turn. Detail shots would've made this lookbook that much more stunning but from what we can see, the netting, embellished necklines, sheer panels, print, and lace make this collection fit for what Kemmy Oguntosin of Kemkemstudio calls "the new woman of the millennium" - the embodiment of strength, beauty and femininity.

Brilliant, BRILLIANT work! Kemkemstudio has certainly spiced things up in Lagos' fashion scene and has everything it takes to maintain a commendable brand. We're definitely in LOVE! We blogged about the debut of this limited edition collection for Temple Muse here, as some of you may recall. Be sure to head on over to Temple Muse to get your fix!

Which is your favorite piece?

XO

Photos:

Many thanks to Kemmy Oguntosin for sending them to us.

Event Love: Kemkemstudio @ Temple Muse [Sat., June 26, 2010]

This past weekend, Kemmy Oguntosin of Kemkemstudio unveiled her exclusively for Temple Muse collection, "The Great Gatsby." Featuring dresses and separates done mostly in black and white print, the pieces are at once delicate and strong, playful and sophisticated, and abounding in the most charming details, including lace + sheer panels, ruching and netting.

This brand is certainly one to watch as Kemmy proves she's as fluent in aso-oke and ankara as she is in contemporary ready-to-wear. Enjoy these photos from the event:

Kemmy and Marylee Matucci of Momo

Model wears a piece from the Great Gatsby collection