Posing On The Red Carpet Like Lea Michele

Bellanaija.com

 

A lot of people tease the Lea Micheles and the J.Los of the world. The women who pose for a photo like they’re being shot for a Vogue cover. Until the photo comes out and they always look good while your ass looks ten types of fug in every photo you take (by you I mean me).

Arise Magazine Fashion Week is coming up in March. Last year I was photographed. I look constipated in the photo.

Should I start practicing my poses?

Q&A: Designer Alexander Amosu

Hey guys! I had the opportunity to chat with designer Alexander Amosu during AMFW. Check out the interview here!

That is all : )

AMFW: Good Times

Hello my lovelies! I'm still working on updating my blog with my posts from Nigeria but I wanted to share my quick review of Arise Magazine Fashion Week that's currently on AOL's BV on Style site. I had a lot of fun covering the event and even more fun meeting the amazing women and men taking creativity to a completely different level.

So check out my post and feel free to be brutally honest if I mistook ankara for adire. I, myself am still learning about different fabrics.

Here's the post.

: )

ARISE Magazine Fashion Week: Day Two

While it was the second day of AMFW, it was the last day for me. I cut my trip early to go to my dad's village before heading back to the states.

If you'd like to read my review of the shows, click here.

I don't want to make this post too long but I will say this: these were events organized by a magazine that celebrates Africa’s accomplishments as well as discussing their issues and features designers that create looks that compliment ALL types of women and all types of beauty.

I am so glad I attended the shows during AMFW. I met some amazing people and I'm just really excited about the talent that continues to come out of Africa.

Here are some more pics:

This is my favorite photo. Period. I love trad so...

Agbani
Tsemaye Binitie show. I loved the messy updos some of the models had their hair in.

Nice : )

I snapped Dare Art-Alade with his cousin (a photographer and my new hair idol) and Hephzibah Hart.

I loved the outfits the ushers wore that day.

Twin designers behind Maatano. I'm pretty sure this was my favorite collection. I'd wear everything from that collection.

Jo Black Craze.

Hello little boys, little toys...

Mercy.

ARISE Magazine Fashion Week: Day One.

So March 11th was the first real day of Arise Magazine Fashion Week (check out my review). I got up that morning and got ready.

I can't tell you how many times I changed in an hour. You want to talk about anxiety?

I'm not clueless but I wouldn't call myself a trendy dresser. And the women here can put any fashionista to shame let alone me, the girl who refuses to wear anything she can't run in.

So yeah, I was worried I was going to look like a dork.

I finally decided on the dress below. It's very similar to a white dress I bought in Williamsburg a couple of years ago. My mom's tailor basically copied it in a different fabric which is ankara by the way.

Funny story: I wanted to be a fashion designer when I was younger so while I was in secondary school, I would design all of these outfits and my mom's tailor would sew them. But she would always tweak it to make the outfit less revealing. If it was a skirt that was supposed to reach mid-thigh, she would make it knee-length. If it was supposed to be a form fitting dress, it became a freaking caftan.

I would get so frustrated with her! But that was then. I guess now that I'm older, I can look like a ho if I want to : )

I love the dress and I think my mom's tailor did a great job.

Anyway, I took a taxi again that morning and an overnight bag because I was planning on staying in VI overnight.

That's the skyline.

The red carpet and the photographers getting ready to assault some celebrity.

Here are some of my thoughts on AMFW Day 1 (from my notebook):

• What time is this show starting?
• Dude, people are getting agitated.
• There are more beautiful people in this room than should be allowed.
• I haven't sat front row at a fashion show since I covered Winter Park Fashion week in College.
• Show was supposed to start at 11:00 am. It's 1:45 pm.
• Aww, Penny McDonald is a real trooper.
• House of Nwocha: Must have that green dress with the ruffles.
• Wish I wasn't broke.
• Christie Brown: A perfect balance between traditional and modern.
• Looks like sequins, greens, ruffles are going to be trends.
• I'm hungry.
• Oooooh, I love the makeup (Toju Foyeh show).
• Maki Oh's show is delayed. Who are we waiting for?
• Maki Oh: first designer whose collection felt right for Fall imo.
• Simple hair dos for all the models so far today.
• AGBANI DAREGO!!!!
• Color blocking a trend in this country too.
• Are people really leaving before the designer comes out?
• Korto Momolu is gorgeous.
• Someone's clapping like a lunatic during this show. We get it; you like the clothes.
• Okunoren Twins: most entertaining show so far?
• Wearing sunglasses at night: hot or not?
• Jewel by Lisa: perfection.
• Tiffany Amber: Medley of Prince songs. Orange for Fall?
• Oh snap! A model just became fashion road kill.
• I'm hungry.

Here are some more pics:

Viv la Resistance.

Christie Brown.

Okay, so I saw this pretty lady earlier that day and I was obsessed. So I stopped her and asked if I could take a picture. And be her friend. Kidding.

How cool is her outfit?

The main tent.

Artist Naeto C performing.

Arise Magazine Fashion Week

Hi ya'll,

I'm here for the official start of Fashion Week in Nigeria. Yesterday was a NIGHTMARE (more on that later) but today's a new day!

Stay tuned; I can't wait to gist you guys on all the backstage drama that usually surrounds events like this. I'm going to be hanging out in Victoria Island for the night as well since the drive back to Alagbado (the town we live in) is a headache.

I know it's vapid but I love this kind of stuff. Clothes, models, people who are laughably pretentious: fashion is so camp!

And the fashion industry in Nigeria is very very healthy so it has to be a good time.

Later!

Just Because

Hey guys!

I wanted to share some extra photos from backstage at the Mackage show and the Arise show.

Enjoy and have a great weekend!!!

New York Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2010: The Arise Show

Can I just say I was bursting at the seams with African pride when I attended this show? I was lucky enough to attend with my friend Viviam and it was the best hour of my life! It didn't matter that I could hardly see anything or that someone in my vicinity let one rip.

I've seen Oluchi in person!

It's too much (clutches heart and whimpers).

Yeah, I was ecstatic.

Check out my review of the three lines that were shown at the Arise show : )

Arise magazine’s third runway show took place at the giant tent in Bryant Park on Saturday 8:00 p.m. and I was there to see what three of Africa’s talented designers envisioned for A/W 2010.

Black Coffee: At first glance, the statement coats designers Jacques van der Watt and Danica Lepen of Black Coffee sent down the runway looked like outerwear Lady Gaga would don with a veiled turban while vacationing in Moscow. But another look at the South African designers’ work and those coats were looking more fitting for a daring Park Avenue resident than an outrageous pop superstar. Yes, the duo played with shape using exaggerated ruffles, folds and draping in the majority of their coats. But with subdued neutral colors – matched with equally striking but subdued accessories – the pieces are nowhere near eccentric; the volume could have easily gone into sloppy “hobo” territory if not for the slightly boxy structure. All the same, with the attention grabbing design, these coats definitely are not for everyone. But the woman who believes fashion is wearable art will find much to choose from this collection.

Loins Cloths and Ashes: This line, in my opinion, is most likely to do well commercially. Tanzanian designer, Anisa Mapung’s pieces screamed “wearable” as soon as the models came down the runway. With the collection being made up of basics like pants, skirts, dresses and tops, it seems the designer’s pieces have a good chance of transitioning from the runway to the streets. The colors were fall staples: blacks, greys and browns with some silver thrown in. These neutral colors made for a striking contrast against the cobalt blue accessories the designer paired with the clothes. A nice touch was Mapung’s subtle branding; many of the tops are decorated with her motif in the shape of an origami bird, one of the inspirations behind her collection. It’s unique but understated enough for those who aren’t label whores.

Deola Sagoe: Dripping with attitude. Fierce as hell. Sassy and sexy. Kickass in a glam-rock kind of way. These are just a few of the words and phrases that can be used to describe Deola Sagoe’s fall collection. Shown to a very enthusiastic crowd, the Nigerian designer’s line consisted of rompers, evening dresses, structured jackets and pantless looks. While the designer told The Wall Street Journal she was inspired by the military, her collection felt reminiscent of Michael Jackson’s style circa 1982. The use of gold and black gave the already dramatic silhouettes an almost theatrical look that is definitely not ideal for the day. Yet for the rock-star in all of us, Sagoe designed bold looks that will surely make one feel like a celebrity at the VMAs.