B. Akerlund: She Styled Beyonce's Visual Album & Her Vybe Is Real

Image courtesy of The New York Times

“It’s not that serious,” she said of her styling work. “At the end of the day, it’s just a music video, or it’s just a photo shoot, or it’s just a movie. It’s not going to change the world.”

                               

                                                                                              - B. Akerlund, The New York Times

Read the story here.

TRIBAL CHIC 2013: What Went Down

"Tribe represents the new, true image of Nairobi; a sophisticated, hip, cool and creative city. Events organized by Tribe showcase the best local and international talent, while supporting causes that care for the less fortunate. Proceeds from this fashion show are in aid of Sasa Designs by the Deaf."

                                                                                                    -TRIBE

Image courtesy of Mia Collis

Image courtesy of Mia Collis

Image courtesy of Mia Collis

Image courtesy of Mia Collis

Image courtesy of Mia Collis

Image courtesy of Mia Collis

Jewellery designer Niku Singh. Image courtesy of Cultured Ego.

Image courtesy of Cultured Ego

Accessories designer Adele Dejak. Image courtesy of Cultured Ego.

Image courtesy of Cultured Ego

Image courtesy of Cultured Ego

Image courtesy of Cultured Ego

Image courtesy of Cultured Ego

Image courtesy of Cultured Ego

Designers of Mille Collines. Image courtesy of Cultured Ego. 

Image courtesy of Cultured Ego

Designer Penny Winter (right). Image courtesy of Cultured Ego.

Image courtesy of Cultured Ego

Image courtesy of Cultured Ego

Image courtesy of Cultured Ego

Image courtesy of Cultured Ego

Image courtesy of Cultured Ego

Me, Olivia Otieno, & Tribal Chic collaborator & Stylist Sunny Dolat. Image courtesy of Nick Klaus.

Images courtesy of Mia Collis Photography and Sinitta Awuor for Cultured Ego, and Nick Klaus.

"Fashion Africa" by Jacquline Shaw

AFRICA Fashion Guide Founder and Director Jacqueline Shaw is authoring a new book Fashion Africa. Through specially commissioned photographs and revealing interviews, the book showcases 40 designers who are sourcing and manufacturing their work in Africa and selling them in local and international markets.

The cover shot features The Rogo Collection by luxury accessories designer (and hands down one of my faves!) Adele Dejak shot by photographer Damiano Rossi.

Badu for GIVENCHY Spring 2014

Image courtesy of The Mail Online

So it seems that all the shenanigans between Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, and Riccardo Tisci (Creative Director at GIVENCHY) have actually paid off to make the world a better place! Who knew.

"R&B singer Erykah Badu has been signed as the face of Givenchy’s spring 2014 campaign in reaction to a fashion industry tendency to use predominantly white models on the runway.

The label’s creative director Riccardo Tisci said that, though unexpected, Badu’s casting in the campaign makes perfect sense since she was one of the inspirations behind the collection it features.

Tisci called her an 'icon' and told Style.com that Badu, 42, is ‘one of the most stylish women I’ve met in my life.'

                                                                                                                  - Mail Online

I have love for Erykah Badu, not just because she looks great all the time in her own uniquely Badu way, but also because she played in Nairobi this year (story here) and it was like all her hits were speaking directly to me. What a diva. This GIVENCHY collaboration is an odd choice (not because she's black - we celebrate this coup!) because Badu has never struck me as a high-fashion sort of girl. But it's a dope choice because the parameters of what's acceptable in fashion these days is shifting, and that's good news for the rest of us.

Read the rest of the story here.

Africa's Next Top Model: My Episode!

That was A LOT of fun to shoot, with a super cast and crew to work with in breathtaking Cape Town. The feedback and good wishes from everyone has quite frankly been overwhelming. Bless you all.

Here is a close-up look at the stunning headpieces from the episode designed for the girls by Alwijn Burger, photographed by Jonathan Taylor:

Joyce Zi Chidebe, Nigeria

Opeyemi Awoyemi, Nigeria

Rhulani Kubayi, South Africa

Cheandre van Blerk, South Africa

Aamito, Uganda

 Michelle Allen, South Africa

Michaela Pinto, Angola

Roselyn Ashkar, Ghana

We wish the remaining contestants nothing but the best of luck for the rest of the competition. Being in the first season of the African version of this hit franchise is making history, and from where I stand, they're all stars!

Watch the show Sundays on AfricaMagic at 20.00 EAT.

#ANTMAfrica

DRUM MAGAZINE Fashion Dec2013/Jan2014

PHOTOGRAPHS Riz Mehar

STYLING Annabel Onyango

MAKEUP Wacuka Thimba

HAIR Shiro Wanyoike

MODEL Hivita Rogato

VENDORS:

Adele Dejak

Jey Jey's

Juvel Kollection

Laddia

Miss Kerre Fashions 

Mocca

Office Diva

#drum_eamagazine

Guest-Judging #ANTMAfrica: I Had THE BEST Time!

Last night was Episode 5 of the much-anticipated model search Africa's Next Top Model  (#ANTMAfrica). I had the extreme pleasure of being a guest-judge alongside the principle judging panel comprised of former supermodel and Photographer Josie Borain, Creative Director Remi Adetiba, and formidable model mentor and host Oluchi. 

The model hopefuls from all over the continent are beautiful and diverse, and the show is exactly what's needed to boost the perception of the African fashion industry as credible, edgy, competitive and very, very real.

With principle judges Josie Borain and Remi Adetiba. These two look normal, but they're actually cray. The gorgeous Oluchi on top in red.

Screen shot!

ANTMA host Oluchi Onweagba-Orlandi

If you missed the show last night, catch the repeats Monday at 18.30 EAT, Wednesday at 00.30 EAT, and Saturday at 20.30 EAT on AfricaMagic Entertainment (MNET). For new episodes of Africa's Next Top Model watch Sunday nights at 20.00 EAT. True to form, there's a lot of model drama, great styling, cool creative guests, and stunning South African cityscapes.  

Support home-grown African fashion and entertainment!


@ANTMAfrica