by ivis | May 21, 2018 | Fashion
So the wedding of the decade happened yesterday and the nation as well as the entire world fell in love with Meghan Markle – I am in absolute awe of this woman. Before yesterday I kept telling everyone that I could careless about the royal wedding but please tell me why I spent the majority of the day retweeting photos and memes from the big day? I literally became obsessed and adored everything about the day.
Besides the dress what I loved most about their wedding was the way that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex mad Princess Diana a part of their day – it brought tears to my eyes. The wedding was full of subtle tributes to Harry’s late mother; Meghan walked down the aisle of St. George’s Chapel holding a small bouquet of flowers that included Diana’s favorite flower, forget-me-nots, picked from a private garden at Kensington Palace, where Harry grew up; her engagement ring included two diamonds from Diana’s collection; during the Windsor Castle ceremony, Meghan and Harry picked a hymn that was sung at Diana’s funeral in 1997 ― eliciting a tear from the groom; her incredibly beautiful long veil, a lace number including the flowers of all 53 countries in the British Commonwealth, yet another salute to Diana, whose train at her 1981 wedding to Prince Charles appeared equally long; lastly, Instead of gifts, the couple asked guests to make charitable donations to organizations close to their hearts, including the Children’s HIV Association, the anti-homelessness group Crisis, and The Myna Mahlia Foundation, an Indian women’s group. Diana was famously generous with her time and remained actively involved in charity work until her death; she was particularly involved in AIDS-related causes. They even left an empty seat beside Prince William to honour Princess Diana.
Now onto the fashion of the wedding, I have to say most of the guests looked amazing but there was the occasional guest who didn’t really bring their A game which was very disappointing – how can you come to a royal wedding looking ordinary?
Victoria and David Beckham did not disappoint! I mean is there ever a time where the pair didn’t look amazing? They know how to dress for an occasion thats for sure – I cannot get over just how stunning they both looked! That red shoe adds so much of a statement to Victorias outfit and is a clear example of how simple goes a long way.
Amal and George Clooney. Yellow is most definitely Amals colour, omg doesn’t she look like an absolute dream! And come on lets be honest George Clooney looks good in anything – he is ageing well .
Idris Elba and Sabrina Dhowre. Idris you’re doing amazing baby but your fiancee on the other hand, wow, how can someone dress ordinary to the wedding of the decade – just because you added a fancy hat to your Gucci outfit, it doesn’t make it royal wedding appropriate b.
Oprah Winfrey. The Queen of America looked utterly stunning if I do say so myself. Oprah didn’t come to play when she chose this outfit – I love everything about it, the colour on her, the way it fits her body and just how beautiful it is.
Abigail Spencer and Priyanka Chopra. Now this is how you dress to a royal wedding! Priyanaka KILLED IT! There is nothing more to say!
Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian. This dress fits her in all the right places an d just look at the way that colour compliments her complexion!
Lady Kitty Spencer. Have you ever seen someone look so GOOD in green because I haven’t. This look on Lady Spencer is EVERYTHING for me – I absolutely adore it on her.
Cressida Bonas. In all honesty I’m not sure whether I love or hate this outfit – but it looks good on her, on anyone else I think I would probably hate it.
Caroline Greenwood and Will Greenwood. LOVE LOVE LOVE.
Patrick J. Adams and wife Troian Bellisario. Does Troian not look like an absolute angel? so effortlessly beautiful!
by ivis | Apr 30, 2018 | Fashion
This is not a drill! An African- American man is now the artistic director of one of the worlds biggest most iconic brands of all time. Virgil Abloh is the first black designer to hold such a high profile position at Louis Vuitton. I know I’m a little late in posting this but I couldn’t not blog about it. This is a moment in fashion history that I will never forget. This is a huge accomplishment, considering how underrepresented black names are in the luxury European world of fashion. Everyday we are seeing noticeable changes towards a more ethnically diverse industry and I couldn’t be happier and more proud to witness these changes. I feel as though moments like these give the next generation of black fashion enthusiasts hope that they too can make an impact in the industry and put a stamp on their name.
Mr Abloh will continue with Off White after taking up his position at Louis Vuitton, however Abloh will solely focus on the design of menswear for the luxury fashion house. HIs first collection for Louis Vuitton men’s will debut at Paris Fashion Week this June and I am so excited to see what he’s going to bring to the table. I have so many questions about his first collection; how will it differ from Kim Jones’ last collection? How much of an influence will streetwear and pop culture have on the collection? Who is going to be his muse behind the collection? What kind of vibe is going to be? Most importantly am I going to like the collection? And is it going to be bigger than Louis Vuittons collaboration with Supreme – one of the most talked about collaboration of all time?
“Virgil is one of the few designers who truly marries street culture with high fashion – and the first black designer to be given such a position in the gilded halls of LVMH. His appointment is a step in the right direction for diversity.” Edward Enninful, the editor-in-chief at British Vogue, said on the magazine’s website.
Since launching Off- White in 2013, Virgil Abloh’s has only gone from strength to strength and become known for his artistic fusion of streetwear and high fashion! Abloh’s appointment represents a new wave in fashion and demonstrates that the industry is now taking streetwear seriously. Over the last couple of years many luxury brands have began targeting the streetwear scene as it has managed to go from a niche interest to something mainstream. Everyone is now into streetwear – it’s no longer just something worn by the ‘cool kids’ or the RnB wannabes, It’s taking over the fashion world! Style is evolving and people are slowly turning away from the traditional norms of fashion and it’s all thanks to the new generation of consumers – the millenniums. This is why I believe Louis Vuitton made the right decision by appointing Virgil Abloh because he is one of the people behind this new wave of streetwear – he is known for his cutting edge ideas and over the years he has produced some of the greatest collaborations fashion has ever seen, my favourites being his collaborations with jimmy Choo and nike. He is the most relevant designer for this role right now!
As well as being appointed the new Artistic Director of Louis Vuitton Virgil has been named one of 2018’s most influential people by ‘TIME’. This is the year of Virgil Abloh! We’ve most certainly haven’t seen the last of him this year.
“I feel elated,” Abloh told the Times. “This opportunity to think through what the next chapter of design and luxury will mean at a brand that represents the pinnacle of luxury was always a goal in my wildest dreams. And to show a younger generation that there is no one way anyone in this kind of position has to look is a fantastically modern spirit in which to start.”
Takashi Murakami on Virgil Abloh:
“Kids’ fervor for the stripe patterns and arrow marks he created for his fashion label, Off-White™, is not a passing trend; rather, it shows how Virgil’s young followers, with their unclouded eyes, have been seeing right into the core of his creativity all along. With his appointment as artistic director for Louis Vuitton’s men’s wear, his full merit will be understood even more widely around the globe.”
by ivis | Apr 28, 2018 | Fashion
If you haven’t heard about Maxhosa where have you been living for the last couple of years? Worn by the likes of swizz beats, Alicia Keys and cosigned by the Queen B herself – Beyonce, Maxhosa is a popular luxury South African fashion brand founded in 2012 by Laduma Ngxokolo as part of his final project at Nelson Mandela University. When he began his brand Ngxokolo’s initial vision was to create a modern Xhosa-inspired knitwear collection that would be suitable for amakrwala (Xhosa male graduate-initiates), who are prescribed by tradition to dress in new dignified formal clothing for six months after their manhood initiation. 5 years later it has become so much more than that and we can see this through it’s global success – for me Maxhosa is one of the major African brands leading the way to global recognition and appreciation for African fashion and culture.
Earlier this week it emerged that Zara – one of the biggest brands in the entire world had basically copied and pasted Laduma’s signature diamond shaped design for their new sock range – the socks had a striking resemblence to the Mxhosa Khanyisa Collection which launched March 2014 at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Joburg. However it has been reported that the range has been removed from it’s stores as well as the company’s online platform but despite this Laduma is taking legal action over the design and I don’t blame him. Tyatya says MaXhosa by Laduma has a copyright on the design, which it claims has been infringed by Zara.
The South African brand wrote in a press release on their official website:
“Earlier this month (April 2018), we were alerted by our patrons, that ZARA ( INDUSTRIA DE DISEÑO TEXTILE, S.A. (INDITEX S.A. Pty Ltd) company has copied one of our signature patterns. These patterns were appropriated & reproduced in as part of their sock range which they shared as new in their best-sellers on their online store.”
As a result, the brand is taking legal action:
“We consulted with Shane Moore and Muhammad Patel from Moore Attorneys, one of Africa’s leading IP law firms who are handling the matter on our behalf. They have since sent a letter to the parent company alerting them of the copyright infringement and our demands. We have taken such steps so as to avoid our works being appropriated and adapted without our consent or permission. Copyright infringement is a matter that we take seriously and fully aware of our intellectual property rights. We would like to thank the clients who have silently sent us proof of such infringements as they allowed us means to act. The debate as to whether we shall win the case or not remains, we stand by our decision to fight such a case. Thus, we have sent our letter of demand and we await their reply.”
So this whole situation brings to light the argument of was this cultural appropriation or was it appreciation? In my opinion, Zara could have dealt with this issue in so many other ways, for example they could have approached Laduma and collaborated with him on the range, they could have even asked for his permission as well as state where they got the inspiration for the range or they could have just simply used a different design and colour scheme but because they didn’t do any of this, it is appropriation. I am not one to throw around the term cultural appropriation because I believe that everyone is free to explore different cultures and express their ideas as they please but in this case its undeniable – Zara stole another designers work, it’s as simple as that.
Since news broke out Laduma has also cut ties with Zara and stopped purchasing from the retailer, but he says it’s up to customers to decide what they want to do about the situation.
“I think that it is the peoples’ choice as to what they would want to do, as a form of support. I do think my ultimate form of support is that our loyal clients continue to support and share what we stand for to others. It is up to them whether they continue to buy from Zara or not. But as a normal consumer, not as Maxhosa and not as Laduma, I have taken the choice to discontinue putting my money up to support them and raising their revenue.”
Its so sad to know that we live in a society where African Designers are not given enough credit or recognition for their work and it is becoming so incredibly frustrating to see designers consistently working hard and pushing boundaries only for their work to be copied and stolen by much bigger global brands. But I can guarantee you that very soon Africa is going to take over the world and I ensure you I will have a front row seat in the changing of history in this thing we call the fashion industry.
by ivis | Apr 22, 2018 | Fashion
Welcome back to my Summer Wedding Extravaganza. So sorry I missed a post last week, I just needed some time to rest and focus on my studies but I promise you that from now onwards I will try my absolute best to be as consistent as I can because I’ve realised that since June last year I have been slacking on this whole blogging thing and I apologise for that. So back to my post, today we’re are focusing on Tuxes, this is a very different post for me because I usually only focus on women as I myself am a young woman and thats what I know best, however I also know what looks good on men and what doesn’t so I thought why not?
When planning a wedding what most couples forget is that the wedding is for the both of them and that the groom needs to look just as good as the bride because its THEIR day not just hers! As we come further into this new generation I feel like men are starting to care a lot more about their wedding and are now taking more of an interest in helping to plan it – we’re slowly becoming less “traditional’ and it’s no longer a thing of the groom just turning up on the day and I think this is amazing.
From my point of view the most important aspect of the day to the groom has to be the tuxedo- it’s the one thing that they will be wearing all day, in every single photo and it needs to be PERFECT. It needs to be classy, the correct fit, material, comfortable but most importantly it needs to be the perfect colour and go with the colour scheme otherwise everything will just look off. My advise is that you can never go wrong with a black or navy tux and the occasional Burgundy tux but it all depends on your colour palette. The way I despise grey or white tuxes for weddings – they are kind of pushing the boundary for me – grey isn’t everyones colour and its way too casual to wear on your wedding day, white is super tacky you don’t want to blend into the background of your wife’s dress – you want to standout too after all it’s your day as well. Another piece of advice would be to keep it as simple as you can, in a situation like this less is more, you don’t want to be doing the absolute most that you photos end up looking bad because you wanted go all out. Remember these are the photos you children and grandchildren will see so you need to look your best. However, by keeping your suit simple it means that you can choose whatever waistcoat you please (as long as it goes with there colour scheme – you don’t want a bridezilla on your hands).
by ivis | Apr 14, 2018 | Fashion
Will my obsession with bags ever stop? No I don’t think so, one day I will without a doubt have an entire walk in closet just to keep my bag collection! I am speaking it into existence! 2018 has had me obsessing over cross body bags, their small, convenient and more importantly you can run if need be with them. They’re perfect for everyday But of course my love for the classic tote will never stop! This summer we all need to embrace colour, no more keeping it boring with black and brown bags – go out of your comfort zone – who cares if the colour of your bag doesn’t match your outfit, with a bag as expensive as these I will wear them to their death.
Here are the designer bags I think you should invest in this summer.
by ivis | Apr 1, 2018 | Fashion, Lifestyle
I may only be 17 but I cannot wait for the day that I get married! I have always dreamed of having the perfect wedding; so much that I plan on having 2 and wearing 6 dresses. I know it sounds ridiculous but being the fashionista I am I need a dress for each stage of my wedding; one for the ceremony, reception and after party. Secondly the reason for me wanting 2 weddings is because I want all of my loved ones to see me get married meaning that I need to have a wedding here in the UK and one in Africa, that way everyone I love gets to share the happiest day of my life with me and I get to do it twice! I envision it to be one of the happiest moments of my life and a part of my life that I will cherish for a lifetime.
The most important thing for me and all most every woman out there who dreams of getting married has to be the dress- we all want the perfect dress or in my case dresses. And for some of us money will not be an object when it comes to purchasing that dress. Although it’s not quiet the same process, what I found last year when trying on prom dresses is that our minds can change on what we perceive to be our ‘dream’ dress and that at times we end up picking a design that had never even crossed our minds. I guess what I’m trying to say is that visit as many stores as you possibly can, try on every style you can to get as much variation as possible – don’t just go on pictures because your ideal dress may not be what you expected. I remember last year before even visiting the first prom dress shop, I had already picked out my dress but when I got there it wasn’t the perfect fit I had pictured in my head, so DO NOT rule anything out – every dress is a possible candidate, but more importantly don’t stress, have fun with it and in time you’ll find the right dress for you!
If you really want to make your special day even more special I would recommend getting your dress custom made that way you know that no one else will have worn the same dress as you making your wedding day that little bit more unique! But if you don’t know where you would even start with the design process or you’re just simply a lazy bride here are some of my favourite couture gowns from my top 10 favourite bridal designers to help you in your search for your dream dress;
Marchesa
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Zuhair Murad
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Monique Lhuillier
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Oscar De La Renta
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Elie Saab
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Vera Wang
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Alex Perry
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Viktor and Rolf
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Georges Hobeika
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Mira Zwillinger
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by ivis | Mar 16, 2018 | Fashion
Incase you missed it, during PFW last year in October Stella McCartney unveild her SS18 collection and there was a lot of controversy around it, the brand incorporated Ankara designs into their new collection to create dresses, jumpsuits and tops and people were pretty angry. Ankara, which is also known as wax print, is a popular pattern in West African countries like Nigeria, according to All Things Ankara. The print is distinguished by bright colors, tribal designs, and cotton material. It’s frequently used on dresses and is popular for everyday and formal outfits.
“Are we going to talk about Stella McCartney using Ankara prints, meanwhile there was only ONE African model on her runway?!” asked writer Amarachi Nwosu on Twitter, while OkayAfrica accused the designer of “fashion colonialism,” requesting that Western designers “please stop taking designs that Africans have been wearing for years, calling them your own, and charging people out the ass for them.”
As someone who is African I completely get where people were coming from, first of all they could have at least have had the decency to hire more black models to represent the culture behind the designs rather than have white models wearing them, this is where I believe Stella McCartney went wrong. Secondly, anyone of sound mind would never spend £3000 on an Ankara style item when there are so many amazing and underrated African style designers out there that sell great quality pieces for less 2% of the price. Last year during my annual trip back to Zimbabwe I had my local tailor make me 3 Ankara style tops for £4 each and yet Stella McCartney are out here trying to rip off by putting £3000 on a piece of cotton I can buy back home.
“The prints were about celebrating a unique textile craftsmanship, its culture and highlighting its heritage,” Stella McCartney chief marketing officer Stephane Jaspar told Fashionista via email.
by ivis | Mar 12, 2018 | Fashion
Just over a year after leaving his position as creative director of Givenchy, Riccardo Tisci effective March 12 is now the chief creative officer of the very traditional British brand Burberry. The appointment of the former Givenchy designer means that the two top jobs at Burberry are now held by Italians — Marco Gobbetti took over from Mr Bailey as chief executive in October. Mr Gobbetti said Mr Tisci is “one of the most talented designers of our time”, describing his creations as having “an elegance that is contemporary”. This is something that I totally agree with, in my eyes during his years at Givenchy Riccardo reinvented the brand without it completely losing it’s brand image, he took a Parisian house best known for its links with Audrey Hepburn and modernised it by putting smoking, burnt-out wrecks of cars on the catwalk, Kardashians in the front row, and emeralds dangling from the septums of models. He was a man that was not afraid to try new things and I can’t wait to see what he has on the cards for Burberry.
Kim Kardashian West with North front row at Givenchy during PFW 2014
Marco also added that his fellow Italian had a “skill in blending streetwear with high fashion” that is “highly relevant to today’s luxury consumer”. Everything now revolves around streetwear, it’s the now and although traditional British brands like Burberry are still very relevant, in my opinion I feel as though if they don’t catch up with the times they may be left behind. There is now a new generation of consumers that need catering to and they love edge and all things cool. Tisci’s Burberry is likely to look different than Bailey’s – I predict he will bring a huge twist to this classical brand making it more up market. Burberry is best known for its classic trenchcoats, it champions British heritage. Tisci is known for darkly subversive, unapologetically sexual, deeply urban, boundary-pushing fashion, we can’t forget that he’s the man that talked Kanye West into wearing a black leather kilt during his 2011 Watch the Thrones tour. Where Bailey valued British values and traditions , Tisci celebrates hedonism. Having produced haute couture at Givenchy, Tisci also has a great deal of expertise (and red carpet exposure) for eveningwear, a category that Burberry hasn’t really invested in. I cannot even describe how excited I am about this. I need it to be September!
Burberry Spring 2017 Runway
Mr Tisci “I am honoured and delighted to be joining Burberry as its new Chief Creative Officer and reuniting with Marco Gobbetti. I have an enormous respect for Burberry’s British heritage and global appeal and I am excited about the potential of this exceptional brand.”
Tisci will bring a mass audience, and a youthful following, to Burberry. I am so excited to see what the future has to hold for Burberry and to see it’s transformation this September when Mr Tisci presents his very first collection with the brand.
by ivis | Feb 18, 2018 | Fashion
Fashion month is here meaning 2018 can officially begin! What is there not to love about fashion month? It’s so good that it happens twice a year. I mean I can’t get enough of it, every season my love for fashion grows deeper and deeper.
I have said it a million times before and I will say it again and again, no season is ever the same! This years NYFW took a lot of inspiration from the 80s, we saw bright colours, nipped in waists, oversized everything and huge shoulder pads. It doesn’t get any more 80s than that. But what is the reasoning behind it? Over the last few months there has been a huge cultural shift and movement focusing on women and the way that we are treated within the workplace, the 80s was the first time that women really began to emerge into the workforce therefore designers in a way are celebrating women and how far we’ve come since then. If anything it is empowering and shows just how big of a statement fashion can make – it’s more than just clothing, it’s art and a form of expression!
Another key thing we can take from this years NYFW is the level of diversity, designers are starting to care less and less about having the perfect uniformed look, they are starting to embrace models of all sizes and ethnicities more than ever and I’m loving it!
NYFW is over and incase you missed I’m here to give you my top 10 favourite shows:
Tom Ford
Animal prints were the dominating factor in this years tom for fall 18 collection. Am I a fan? Hell yes! Us Africans love animal prints and Tom Ford has given the trend the glamour that it has needed! It’s sparkly, bright and bold – a little too much but who cares! View more here.
Camilla and Marc
This is the first time I have ever come across this brand and I am in absolute awe! This collection is clean, effortless and everything the modern woman needs this fall! I love everything about it! Make the perfect statement at work this fall. View more here
Brandon Maxwell
Can we just talk about how gorgeous the colour scheme is. The way the yellow brings out the black models’ complexions – I love it!! Also how amazing is the knitwear, I am obsessed with it! Fall is not ready for Brandon Maxwell. View more here.
Diane Von Furstenburg
This collection honestly speaks for itself. It’s beautiful in every way. The colours and patterns show so much youth and fun, it shows that winter doesn’t always have to be dull and boring! View more here.
Alice and Olivia
This is the brand that every teenager and young woman should know! It brings all sorts of badass vibes with inspiration from different eras within fashion. View more here.
Alexander Wang
Alexander’s ‘boss lady’ collection is empowering af. It’s mini skirts on mini skirts, it’s the 80s meets 2018! View more here.
Oscar De La Renta
Elegant, tasteful and classic are the only words needed to describe this beautiful collection! View more here.
Michael Kors Collection
If there’s one collection you buy this fall, it will have to be Michael Kors, it’s preppy school girl meets the modern it girl. I am loving the winter coasts, hints of camo and animal print and the plaid is EVERYTHING – it is sure to be one of the biggest trends this coming fall! View more here.
Calvin Klein
Not to be cheesy or anything but this show was honestly out of this world! This collection isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea but it’s a little bit of me, everyone knows I love oversized items and it’s something different and I’d love to experiment with some of these pieces! View more here.
Marc Jacobs
If this collection doesn’t remind you of the 80s then please get your eyes checked. I freaking love this, it’s so over the top and extravagant! Believe me when I say if you purchase anything from this collection all eyes will be on you. View more here.
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