Spread Love: Alek Wek//Bullett Magazine

Been a while since we've seen Alek Wek in her (beauti-)full glory, but here she is again doing what she does in the Spring issue of Bullett Magazine.

And in case, like us, you haven't had enough, here she is dancing her heart out for Bullett TV:

We love Alek, we love Alek, we love...

- SLiq

Model Watch: The Life Rhapsodic, CK One, and Alek Wek

THE LIFE RHAPSODIC [MARCH 2011 VOGUE US EDITORIAL]

 A March US Vogue Editorial, The Life Rhapsodic, features models of the moment Ajak Deng, Joan Smalls, Jourdan Dunn, Anais Mali, Arlenis Sosa, and Chanel Iman. All-black casts have been a strong Vogue theme so far this year, as seen in editorials like Gangs of New York and Black Allure. Styled by Edward Enninful.

Who Wore What: Solange in Jewel by Lisa and Boxing Kitten

We stumbled on sneak peeks from the next edition of Fashizblack Magazine, featuring the very cool Solange and some very cool signature pieces from two designers we've featured over and over again - Jewel by Lisa and Boxing Kitten. In the first look (above), Solange wears a pair of embellished Jewel by Lisa shorts similar to a pair we first saw on the Arise Africa Fashion Week runway last year. In the second photo (below), Solange wears a Boxing Kitten piece from the brand's recent Resort 2010 collection. Many of you will recall that Solange loves her some Boxing Kitten so no surprise here! Oh, we hear Poodle Pusher styled this shoot, which makes us all the more eager to see the full spread in its full glory. Stay tuned!

XO

Photos courtesy of Fashizblack and Poodle Pusher.

Who Wore What: Duro Olowu//T Magazine

Lots of "tribal"-centred editorials have come and gone, and there will be yet more. One thing some of the most recent ones have had in common? A nod to Duro Olowu. First, it was the March 2009 Time Magazine spread featuring Arlenis Sosa, followed by New York Times Magazine's homage to Malick Sidibe, and more recently, Alek Wek wore a Duro Olowu cardigan in a Financial Times spread. 

Today, we spotted Mr. Olowu yet again in the New York Times' T Magazine's "Going Places" feature [see above]. The model wears a Duro Olowu skirt around her neck, which some of you may remember seeing in Duro Olowu's Fall 2010 Presentation.

Talented as he is, we wonder if there are other reasons why he's getting all the love. Tremendous crossover appeal? A powerful brand? His ability to re-invent himself? Laziness on the parts of magazine editors who would rather feature a familiar brand than give others a chance?

We wonder. 

What do you think?

 

XO

Spread Love: Maki Oh//Arise Magazine

We're enthralled by Maki Oh's ability to turn Africa's rich history into pieces of wearable art. Their spread in the latest Arise Magazine features one piece that's a great representation of what Maki Oh does - pieces of broken calabash are stitched together to create something we haven't quite seen before. While her feature (below) says something to the effect of Maki Oh looking to make more ready-to-wear pieces, we hope she doesn't tone it down too much because we're certain she's on to something.

[Click to enlarge and read the story]

XO

Many thanks to Divine from Maki Oh for these photos :-)

Spread Love: Jewel by Lisa//Jewel Afrique

It's no secret that we love Jewel by Lisa, and there's nothing quite as thrilling as seeing the sophistication and beauty of her pieces captured in editorials. We stumbled on a "Jewel Afrique" spread shot by Lyndah Wells and simply had to share. From the mandatory bling, to rich variety of embellishments on basic but refreshing shapes, JBL is one brand we'll never tire of. Enjoy :-)

Many, many thanks to Lyndah Wells [lyndahwellsphoto@gmail.com] for graciously sharing these photos with us. If you wish to re-blog these photos, please be sure to link back to us and to properly credit Lyndah. Thanks :-)

XO

Who Wore What: Nneka in Deola Sagoe//German Vogue

[See larger version here.]

The very beautiful Nigerian/German songstress Nneka is in this month's German Vogue! Our German is more than a little shaky but we did make out that she's wearing a Deola Sagoe piece in her spread and we think it's the one below, as seen in Deola Sagoe's "Naija Rocks" Collection:

Love how it was styled - very earthy, natural and organic - and we're very excited about Deola Sagoe's Vogue debut! 

XO

Spread Love: Gossip Girls//Pride Magazine June 2010

'Tis the summer of all tribal any and everything but amidst the flurry of editorials set to the backdrop of  typically Africa-inspired aesthetics, Pride magazine offers something a little different this June - different because:

i) no one's chasing lions

ii) the setting is fun and believable

iii) it features the work of young, upcoming and of-the-moment designers (shoutout to Zed Eye, Tina Atiemo, Ituen Basi and Afromania by Nkwo)

iv) said designers are actually African (...)

v) there's lots of African Print but it doesn't smack you in the face and give you motion sickness :-)

Here's a glimpse into the world of ultra modern vintage-lovin' "Gossip Girls" who wear pieces from some of Africa's hottest designers like they should be worn: pieces that fit right into our everyday lives, not fanciful tribal costumes that don't always translate easily from editorials into real life -

A bloomin' brilliant effort. For information on the Creative Team behind the shoot and the pieces featured, visit Pride Magazine online.

XO

Spread Love: Alek Wek//Financial Times, "Global Gathering"//May 2010

Summer 2010 sees many editorials taking a tribal, global and/or Africa-inspired direction. The latest offerings come from a Financial Times spread ("Global Gathering") and features SLiq favorite Alek Wek in an assortment of prints. We especially love the strong geometric shapes, colors, Alek's versatility and the rustic backdrop, but we're not in love with every image. That said, see what you make of the shoot:

What do we think?

XO

Photos from:

Atelier Management

Spread Love: Teen Vogue//March 2010

[Dress by Naana B, $300//Purse by Loaded Trunk]

o o o

The outpouring of love for African Print/the "tribal" trend has been overwhelming...and spring 2010 isn't even underway yet! Here are some photos from a March 2010 Teen Vogue spread called "Global Citizen":

[Shorts by T-bags//$150, Skirt by Loaded Trunk]

o o o

Love that the print pieces are incorporated with other contemporary pieces - don't they work with just about anything? Also love that they're the default focal point by reason of their brightness :-) We're happy that a Ghanaian designer's [Naana B] work was featured and we hope future spreads will include a wide range of designers of African descent.

What say you?

XO

throwback: liya kebede for the new york times [2007]

absolutely love these images of liya kebede from a 2007 new york times style spread titled "african queen". while the use of outstanding statement jewelry and print is how africa-inspired fashion is now often portrayed, we can't help but adore the charm liya lends to these photos.

have a great weekend!

xo

spread love: arise magazine//ajuma nasenyana

we're loving these scans from the october edition of arise magazine, featuring kenyan model ajuma nasenyana:

[click to enlarge]

she's SO stunning! GOSH! side note: we wish more arise magazine spreads would feature pieces from african designers. african models wearing clothes from african designers? win-win.

xo

source

spread love: vogue paris nov 2009

stumbled on this recent interpretation of the "tribal trend". there are endless (and endlessly fascinating) ways to incorporate africa:

also, some photos in this spread include pieces from prada's resort collection, which we dubbed "tribal meets twiggy" here. good to know we were right in calling the fabric africa-inspired :-)

see more here.

xo