First Look: Lanre da Silva Ajayi S/S 2012 Lookbook

Fresh off an appearance at Arise Magazine's Made in Africa Collective in New York, Lanre da Silva Ajayi presents a closer look at their offerings for Spring/Summer 2012, featuring America's Next Top Model alum, Aminat Ayinde. A thrilling melange of lace and layers and brights set the stage for a summer worth looking forward to.

Lookbook: Lola Faturoti A/W 2011 [Ethnic Modernism]

Regular readers may have caught our sneak peek early last month and had their appetites whet in preparation for the main course - which itself makes us wish Lola Faturoti would hurry up and give us e-commerce already. She always brings a distinct sophistication and mastery to her treatment of print and her Fall 2011 Ethnic Modernism collection juggles everything from 60s Op Art to leopard print and polka dots. Silhouettes are at once relaxed and fitted, giving ample room juxtaposition and movement. Other highlights include her toughening it up with leather and fringe (our alter egos would totally wear the Maureen Jacket), the darling bows and pleats, and her use of coral, which we wish we got a little more of.

Thoughts? Any pieces in particular calling out to you?

FIRST LOOK: Omer Asim A/W '11 [Sudan/UK]

Passionate as we are about Africa's blooming fashion scene, there have been few moments when we've been moved to tears (well, almost) and such irrational bouts of extraordinary excitement that we thought we'd explode. Sudanese designer Omer Asim accounts for a great percentage of those moments - his boundless creativity, his keen eye for detail in the most unexpected places, and the lingering sense that he brings something no one else does to the table make him the object of our obsessions season after season.

Omer Asim's A/W '11 takes it back to black with touches of sheerness and velvet as well as his signature take on pleats and draping. As expected, Omer Asim once again tows the line between perfect and imperfect - while each creation is exquisite, we often oscillate between feeling each piece is perfectly incomplete. A certain wordlessness abounds when one attempts to describe the most beautiful things, so allow the pictures to take on a life of their own for you:

Spotlight: Omer Asim Spring/Summer 2011

When we saw Omer Asim's spring/summer 2011 collection, we gasped and then gasped some more. Read a summary of his influences above and feed your eyes on his execution below.

We're certainly keeping tabs and this brand and all going according to plan, we'll be able to lay our paws on an Omer Asim original soon.

Enjoy!

XO

Photos courtesy of Omer Asim PR

Spotlight: William Okpo Spring/Summer 2011

Seems like just yesterday we introduced WilliamOkpo to you in the first installment of our Discover Series. And now, they're back with a Spring/Summer 2011 collection that's light, sheer, two-tone, easy and has us longing for warmer days. Here are our five top picks:

a) This look reminds us a little of Alexander Wang's once ubiquitous leather/denim jackets. We love the contrast between heavy and light and we especially love that the sleeves are sheer.

b) Same as above but this look is particularly unpretentious, unfussy and good-to-go.

c) We've been obsessed with sleeveless collared shirts for a minute. Love the effect.

d)  The perfect maxi dress. Well, almost perfect -- we'd like one with long sleeves too, please. GORGEOUS.

e) We're digging this boho chic dress. Very modern flower child.

f) BONUS: Okay, we know we said 5, but we just couldn't leave this one out. What's Spring without a trench, and this particular trench for that matter?

See the entire collection here and shop their first collection at Opening Ceremony here (ongoing sale!).

XO

Spotlight: Boxing Kitten S/S 2011

We've always been fans of the Boxing Kitten aesthetic. Print on print done in a way that's instantly recognizable is what most thrills us about them and their latest collection tows the same line but shakes things up a little. For spring 2011, there's an assortment of cutout pieces, leopard trims, rompers, dresses...heck, even pedal pushers make the cut! What most stands out, however, is their incorporation of kente & the way it works so well side-by-side ankara -- definitely unique and charming.

See the entire collection here. Any guesses which one Solange'll wear first?

XO

Lookbook: Black Coffee//Counterpoint, Fall 2010

 

As summer winds down and fall slowly tiptoes into our consciousness, our hearts certainly hurt a little at the thought of stowing our bikinis away for safe-keeping. Nonetheless, the prospect of trudging through snow and sleet just got all the more bearable. Enter stage left Black Coffee's Lookbook for their Fall 2010 "Counterpoint" collection. Cocooned, ruffled jackets with the most insane shapes and contours just might make this fall our most stylish yet. The details are absolutely magnificent and are surely bound to see us through most anything. We LOVE. 

XO

Photos courtesy of Black Coffee