Despite following the Covid-19 protocols, the stars of Hollywood shone so bright as they sported trends such as metallics, frills and feathers. Here are some of the top looks from the red carpet.

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To reinforce the minimalistic aesthetics of its sister brand, Dearcurves, The Curvy Side of Lagos, will feature intricate fashion designs, accessories, artwork and crafts aimed at its target audience; women who luxuriate in streamlined aesthetics. All fashion products will be available in UK sizes 14-30.

The marketplace is designed to create scaling opportunities for fashion brands of African origin, by introducing them to the western audience. It bridges the fashion retail gap between the West and Africa; while concurrently, curating the vast wealth of arts related cultures Nigeria presents – as a way of – introducing and promoting cultural enlightenment to its target audience.

Be the first to know once the marketplace becomes available by visiting The Curvy Side of Lagos to sign up!

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Each designer has their own identity – through the use of fine leathers, traditional hand-woven fabrics and carefully selected hardware and accessories – all beautifully combined to create a vibrant array of products.

Acclaimed for the unique silhouettes of their stitch-less bags, AABOUX statement leather accessories embody elegance and timeless chic. A perfect blend of beauty, style and functionality created from various combinations of special leathers and exotic skins.

Shoes, bags and accessories created with an infusion of locally-sourced leather and traditional aso-oke and akwete cloth, with the incorporation of wood, brass, and silver. SHEKUDO pieces are all mindfully-crafted to promote a sense of empowerment and celebration of women across the globe.

K.ASPEN is a reflection of Pan-African vibrancy, inspired by various colour palettes, bold textures along with earthy and vivid tones; all of which are incorporated into products designed as inspirational heritage pieces to reflect a dignified and contemporary Africa.

Footwear design that strikes a balance between opposing themes – eccentric and familiar, feminine and masculine, perfection and distortion, vintage and modern. Each of KKERELE’s limited-edition piece is created with a sustainability ethos, centered around longevity and mindful production.

FEMIHANDBAGS aims to capture a spirit of individuality which does not adhere to seasonal trends and are made from the finest leathers. Inspired by simple, classic, yet vintage-styled silhouettes, artisanal, handcrafted touches such as whip-stitched sides, hand-stitched, rolled handles, and hand sewn straps have become synonymous with the FemiHandbags aesthetic.

The virtual exhibition will go live on the Lagos Leather Fair website on Thursday 19th November at 10am and will be on through to Sunday, 22nd November 2020.

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How would you describe the April & Alex brand?

April & Alex is a London based contemporary womenswear brand founded by British/Nigerian award-winning journalist and Creative Director, Didi Akinyelure. The brand is driven by a mission to create contemporary womenswear that emphasizes boldness in women. April & Alex offer high-quality designs at more reasonable prices.

What were you looking to achieve with your recent collection?

The SS21 ‘Audax’ collection is inspired by women who are bold, daring, fearless. We have dramatic pieces – exaggerated sleeves, exaggerated silhouettes, shoulder pads, a stunning headdress etc. I want to create clothes that turn heads when a confident woman walks into a room.

Describe the conceptualization process…. 

Fashion to me is an art and I have always had a very unique sense of style and this is what I wanted to portray through this collection. I want to create clothes that are interesting and different. I like the drama of it all. I have never been a simple fashion girl. So the sketches had to be dramatic, the fabric had to be edgy. At the same time, I wanted to strike the right balance between creativity, accessibility and affordability.

Who is the April & Alex woman?

The April & Alex woman is bold, edgy, independent, fearless, daringly innovative, creative, extroverted, outré. She is the woman who pushes beyond boundaries. The woman who is not afraid to be unconventional. She is unapologetic.

How can you spot an April & Alex design in the sea of many designs?

Think Bold, Edgy, Dramatic, Sculptural pieces. Yet affordable.

How were you able to stay creative and produce a collection through the pandemic?

The pandemic actually gave me the time to do the things I have always wanted to do. We had big plans for 2020 – launching a pop-up store in London and we were gearing to go until the lockdown happened. At the start it was tough, but the lockdown also provided an opportunity to rethink, re-strategize, focus and create. And it has been quite interesting having to plan everything virtually. There have been challenges but I have thoroughly enjoyed the process of finding new ways of getting things done. And in May (this year), I took a decision to make a bold move and relaunch the brand at London Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week.

With everything going on, has your creativity been challenged? If so, how?

I would say that it’s been a different way of creating. For our LFW debut, we may have preferred a physical show because naturally, it’s a more comfortable idea. But at the same time, with a digital presentation (lookbook and film) and with a virtual showroom for buyers, we were able to reach a wider range of people who traditionally may not have been able to attend our presentation or showroom; so that in itself has been exciting.

How were you able to metamorphose from Chemical Engineering to Journalism and now Fashion Design?

The core of who I am has never changed. I have always been Entrepreneurial. I studied but never practised Engineering but I am still the same passionate girl who was attending investment seminars in between lectures at age 19. I am still the same girl who became a property investor at 24. Like Chadwick Boseman once said, Purpose crosses Disciplines. So far, I’ve had a 20-year working life and I have achieved remarkable things, and God willing, I still have many more working years ahead. I want to look back and see that I never wasted my talents. I want to be all that I was made to be. Fashion is in my genes. I grew up around sewing machines, pattern makers, tailors, seamstresses. My Mum set up a ready-to-wear store and tailoring outfit in Lagos when I was 8, and today she still has this business. My Grandmother managed this business literally until the day she passed away. I am very much inspired by my Mum and Gran. I feel like I am carrying on their legacy in my own way. But this does not mean that I have given up other talents.

How are you able to maintain a level head whilst balancing all of your businesses? 

It is crazy. Besides running this business, I also run my own media consulting firm. I also moderate panel discussions all over the world and still freelance as a Journalist. Add the most important job of Wife and Mother to the mix and it is crazy. But I thrive under pressure and I love every single thing about my schedule. I also get a lot of help and support from my wonderful family and I work with amazing teams of people.

What is your favourite part of the design process?

I love it all! I still look at my sketches for SS21 and recall the feeling of satisfaction knowing that – what’s in your head is beginning to make sense. And then, there’s also the excitement that comes with fabric sourcing. All in all, there’s nothing better than seeing everything come together. With dramatic pieces and ideas, picking the right fabric is so important. It’s one thing to sketch but it’s another thing for your sketches to come alive and for the fabric to work the way you assumed it will. And when it all works, it’s a beautiful feeling.

Which design you’ve created is your favourite so far?

I love the Edgy Shirt. A friend of mine said to me that it’s the sort of piece you would still wear even if your sense of style was much more simple. It is fabulous. When I initially sketched it, the sleeves were not as exaggerated as they are now. But I kept pushing for the sample to be more! And it worked. If I could pick another I’d go for the Show Dress. It comes with a detachable hood inspired by the Ghonnella, a traditional Maltese headdress. It’s the over-the-top dress that I cannot wait to wear to events in 2021. 

How do your designs appeal to the everyday African fashionista?

The brand aesthetic and my designs are very much influenced by the African woman. I am part Nigerian, Ghanaian and Sierra Leonean. I would probably not see fashion the way I see it, if I didn’t grow up in West Africa. We love our fashion bold and dramatic. We have our Gele, our Coral Beads, our Aso Oke, our Kente – it’s all very out-there, colourful, and bold. And as African women, we are confident and fearless and very business savvy and powerful. And this is my kind of woman.

How can interested buyers in Africa lay hands on their favourite April & Alex piece?

The collection is now available to pre-order on www.aprilandalex.co.uk, and we ship worldwide. We are also looking to have a Lagos-based pop-up store at some point early next year (fingers crossed).

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See our selection of favourite celebrity looks from the ongoing film festival:

Who: Italian singer, Elodie

Wearing: A liquid silver strapless gown by Versace

Who: Frida Aasen

Wearing: Denim cut-off shorts, a blazer jacket and Dior sliders

Who: Gia Coppola

Wearing: Candy-coloured Gucci dress

Who: Gia Coppola

Wearing: Prada black velvet dress with wide fringes and suede shoes

Who: Maty Fall Diba

Wearing: Etro dress and Pomellato jewellery

Who: Nathalie Emmanuel

Wearing: Tartan trousers with a delicate white lace top

Who: Stacy Martin

Wearing: Printed Louis Vuitton dress and ankle-strap heels

Who: Tilda Swinton

Wearing: White lace Chanel Couture coat-dress and printed shoes

Who: Vanessa Kirby

Wearing: Backless Valentino gown

Who: Maya Hawke

Wearing: Shimmering Versace gown

Who: Cate Blanchett

Wearing: Embroidered Alexander McQueen top and smart trousers, worn with Pomellato jewels and Stuart Weitzman heels

Who: Arizona Muse

Wearing: Ruffled Alberta Ferretti dress

Who: Cate Blanchett

Wearing: Giorgio Armani ensemble with Pomellato jewels

Who: Georgina Rodriguez

Wearing: Silk strapless gown

Who: Vanessa Kirby

Wearing: Black Giorgio Armani suit

Who: Taylor Hill

Wearing: Dressing-gown style mini-dress by Etro, worn with Chopard jewels and Gianvito Rossi for Etro

Who: Rocio Munoz Morales

Wearing: Shimmering pleated gown

Who: Frida Aasen

Wearing: Halter-neck wide-leg jumpsuit

Who: Frida Aasen

Wearing: Dramatic layered white gown

SCHICK Magazine’s ‘Love Yourself’ Issue is on sale NOW!

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Largely inspired by daily Lagos life experiences and experiments, the OB70 Lagos team creates unique collections to tell stories that are relatable to Nigerian and African youth – including the Smiley Collection, the Lagos Collection and most recently, the Fearless collection, to mention a few. 

To properly relay the story of the Nigerian youth to the world, OB70 Lagos releases a microfilm, featuring the new collection titled Fearless. The purpose is to highlight the courage of the new African generation with emphasis on their ‘show up and show out’ attitudes in their various fields. 

OB70 Lagos has captured the attention of several Nigerian influencers and fashion enthusiasts, including Zlatan and DJ Consequence.

Find out more about the brand.

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The post MEET THE URBAN LABEL MAKING STREETWEAR FASHION MORE ACCESSIBLE TO YOUNG AFRICANS appeared first on SCHICK.

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We’re loadinggggg!!!!! guess the drop date below , person who gets it right gets a hug Styled by @sweetbabybeth Hair by @larochellecreations

A post shared by JADE| Law.Fashion.Life&Shoes. (@jademacj) on Jul 22, 2020 at 6:18am PDT

Announcing the collaboration, the designer wrote on Instagram, “Honestly this has been such a journey And INC. is so much more than a shoe to me it’s been an experience. This shoe is for everyone but it’s specifically dedicated my black sisters, a group who are undermined, underrepresented but still push themselves to be great and show up and stand up for what they believe in!”

It’s also for a good cause, which is always a huge plus. Jaja announced that a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Black Minds Matter UK, a platform which seeks to support Black people, through therapy and mental health resources. 

Limited to 350 pairs, the Air Max 95 features shades of pastel pink, cream, white and black throughout the sneaker.

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Can’t believe I’m really typing this but my sneaker ‘INC.’ that I co created with @nike and @nikebyyouworkshop goes live tomorrow at 9AM For me this sneaker is a way for me to share my journey and my story and is a way for me to raise further awareness of the necessity for true diversity, inclusion and equal opportunities for people who look like me not just in the creative field or the legal industry but across all industries. As black women many of us have always been told we would have to work twice as hard but yet we still push the boundaries and achieve greatness! 9AM Link in my bio! Thank you so much for all the support in advance! I love you all so much I will be donating a portion of the proceeds of this drop to @blackmindsmatter so please do support and cop if you can! Keep speaking up for black people, keep speaking up for justice. Black lives still matter, true change starts with unity Video: @shootashwin Creative direction: @rubensmoda Photography: @_alejandra27 @yaw.shoots Styling: @sweetbabybeth Hair: @larochellecreations #nike #sneaker #nikedrop #newnikesneaker #newsneakers #video #videography #nikevideo #sneakervideo #sneakerhead #sneakers #sneakershoot #freshdrop #sneakers #photoshoot #videoshoot #behindthescenes

A post shared by JADE| Law.Fashion.Life&Shoes. (@jademacj) on Jul 30, 2020 at 1:33am PDT

“For me this sneaker is a way for me to share my journey and my story and is a way for me to raise further awareness of the necessity for true diversity, inclusion and equal opportunities for people who look like me not just in the creative field or the legal industry but across all industries.”

Jade Macpepple-Jaja’s Nike By You Air Max 95 “INC.” retails for £154.95 GBP and is only available to purchase from July 31 to August 10 via Nike UK’s website.

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With globalisation and social change over the last eighty years, fashion has adapted to suit itself to the times. And, while trends still dictate the fashion world, modern designers have often drawn inspiration from the past and modified classic looks from the years past. Some designers focus on breaking ground in the industry, while others pay more attention to adapting popular styles to fit all purposes and body shapes.

Acceptance is a tool that every woman needs to exploit. No matter the size and shape of a woman’s body, she has the right to feel comfortable in it. Designers like Andrea Iyamah, Rihanna, Style Temple and so many others have shown us – over and over – the kind of clothing that can make a woman feel powerful, sexual and independent.

COURTESY OF SAVAGE X FENTY

Should sexy lingerie make women feel confident or less in charge? Rihanna’s Savage Fenty lingerie line shows us why women should feel sexy for themselves. In Rihanna’s words, “Savage X is about respect. Do what you do. Be unapologetically you. Embrace your individuality.” It’s clear this lingerie is made for every woman regardless of their shape or size.

Nigerian designer, Andrea Iyamah’s fashion line is another example, focused on empowering women and encouraging them to own their sexuality. Andrea has broadened the essence of figure-flattering in every outfit and every woman who puts them on can feel confident and beautiful.

Acceptance is a tool that every woman needs to exploit. No matter the size and shape of a woman’s body, she has the right to feel comfortable in it

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Guess what?! The Raffe dress just restocked in select sizes! www.andreaiyamah.com #andreaiyamah

A post shared by A N D R E A I Y A M A H (@andreaiyamah) on May 31, 2020 at 6:05am PDT

Style Temple’s elaborate, contemporary designs bridge the gap between feminine and edgy. With this designer, we get to see longer skirts and dresses, boxy blazer tops and broad-shouldered fittings. One could say Style Temple is focused on the styles and intricate trimmings that compliment a woman’s body.

Women are sexy and powerful creatures who deserve to feel that way. Women need to claim their space – and being feminine and feeling feminine are ways to harness that power in every outfit she puts on.

Being that today’s fashion offers an impressive range of styles, more than ever before, every woman should choose an outfit that doesn’t just make her look beautiful but one that gives her reassurance and confidence.

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A large part of that history, beauty and storytelling includes contemporary African fashion. In between powerful scenes and captivating footage, viewers all around the world see Beyoncé in pieces from Loza Maléombho (the Ivorian-American fashion designer), Tongoro Studio (a favourite of the global star) and Lafalaise Dion, the Queen of Cowries from Côte d’Ivoire – some of the continent’s most talented artists.

Big names like Balmain, Valentino, and Burberry were prominently featured in the film, but the creative team behind Black Is King ensured to tap into a pool of talented independent Black designers.

“With this visual album, I wanted to present elements of Black history and African tradition, with a modern twist and a universal message, and what it truly means to find your self-identity and build a legacy.”

See below some of the most notable looks:

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As the Coronavirus pandemic forces fashion brands to scale back on the number of collections, and the pivot towards digital presentations waxing ever stronger, Oke-Lawal takes us to Milan Digital Fashion Week for Orange Culture’s Spring/Summer 2021, which kicked off on Tuesday, July 14th. Titled, ‘The Faces in the Cloud’, the collection draws inspiration from the fringes of history through the gender-bending icon, Area Scatter in 70’s Igboland, memorialising their existence as a notable pioneer in destabilising gender conventions and what it means to be different.

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Look 1 Worn by Samuel (@90smodelmgmt ) #milanodigitalweek @cameramoda #internationalfashionhubmarket #newgeneration #mfw

A post shared by Orange Culture Nigeria (@orangecultureng) on Jul 14, 2020 at 7:52am PDT

The Orange Culture-verse is populated with influences and contexts often tethered to Oke-Lawal’s personal experiences, such as his seminal ‘School of Rejects’ for Spring/Summer 2017, seen through his own teenage ostracisation and refusal to assimilate into stereotypes, and parades quite anorexically thin male models in colourful diaphanous pieces (organza prints and chiffon tunics, belted jumpsuits further constricting silhouettes into leaner shapes and cotton shorts riding above the knees).

This new collection finds thematic resonance with those personalised narratives but uses gender anthropology to excavate the past for precursors and models, to embolden its manifesto. A ribbed jersey top with lateral cutouts is paired with denim, while a flouncy top is patterned with summery pastels. Models, male and female, are rendered in flaming orange pixie cut wigs and adorned with Anu Oyedele’s jewellery debut, Orange Culture’s new head of accessories design.

Orange Culture Spring/Summer ’21 collection

Releasing a collection inspired by a historical figure such as Area Scatter would require a more tactile and panoramic approach – that is an exhibition that fully saturates the senses, and unfortunately, this is where Orange Culture falls shorts. It settles for smaller conceptual executions with the celestial backdrop painted by artist Dricky Stickman and curation of photo looks that limit what otherwise could have been a fluid experience. In this bleak climate of the Coronavirus outbreak, the most interesting collections from fashion brands arguably have come through short films and videos, even though they fall into the same hazy trappings of perfume commercials.

At the time of writing this review, Orange Culture didn’t have any videos posted on its social media. One of the problems with Oke-Lawal is that he often gets tunnel-visioned, over-conceptualising his ideas so that they are more reliant on larger meaningful contexts to succeed. Sometimes, clothes don’t need to be anchored by symbolisms and political metaphors to be considered legitimate. And while Orange Culture merges its political mission statement with ravenous capitalism, always keenly aware of the world it inhabits, the brand is far too enamoured with its own mystique to realise its blind spots.

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The post WHY ORANGE CULTURE’S SPRING/SUMMER ’21 COLLECTION DOESN’T QUITE HIT THE MARK appeared first on SCHICK.