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What do you think of the logo? I cant stop fussing about it. Just too cool and I looooove it. Thanks to Steve Njogu of DARRELIC ARTS. Muchos muchos gracias.

In Other News, I might be away for a while, about a month or so. School is getting quite taxing, but luckily, its my last semester and I'm almost through (The final Lap *sigh). This doesn't mean that I'm gone away completely, just woun't be blogging as much as I hoped I would.

See you soon, and I love you guys. Thanks so much for your support. :)

4th African Fashion Fair - The Gala Cocktail show

This was the cocktail gala evening of the fair which started on Thursday 27th of October.
I did enjoy the show; was a good break from my busy school life- more like a breath of fresh air. Iddi Achieng provided entertainment with some Luo benga tunes.
What I wore:

For this event, I thought I would try something abit out of the norm for me. I wore a white shirt which was my high-school shirt that I found when cleaning my wardrobe and a plaid skirt, which I had altered. It was really long when I bought it (ankle height), and guess how much? 30ksh from toi market, but with a little imagination and renovation, this is the skirt I ended up with. I used a ribbon and improvised it to make a thin tie. The jacket, is from the U.S (courtesy of my dad), the clutch, a gift from my mum; the ring bought it at FAB (Fashion and Beauty expo) for 1200/-; shoes from Nairobi Stalls at 3000/-; socks were 100/- from toi market; geeks from my sister. Fashion styling and looking good is all about mix and matching, and knowing how to make drab (the skirt) look fab. :)

Any-who, onto the main agenda. Got to see some wonderful pieces both from student designers

Today I went fabric shopping for a dress I've been requested to have made. I love the fabric I chose; a golden-brown kitenge (popular African fabric) with some beautiful embellishments, and a plain black stiff kitenge.

Golden-brown kitenge with silver embellishment

Shiny-stiff black kitenge

The client preferred green and/or brown as a choice of color.

The Language of shoes

Recently as I was reading an article in Vogue.co.uk, where Louboutin was giving his insight as to why women would endure wearing killer heels. "There is an element of seduction in shoes that doesn't exist for men…The language starts with the shoe and radiates over the whole body. A woman can be sexy, charming, witty or shy with her shoes. Shoes for men are about elegance or wealth; they are not playing with the inner character. ...That's why women are happy to wear painful shoes.”

Artistic fashion - John Galliano

Juan Carlos Antonio Galliano-Guillén (best known as John Galliano) is a renowned British fashion designer born in Gibraltar (28th November 1960). You know those designers that you look at their shows/clothes and wonder “where in the world do you wear that?” Yea he’s that kind of designer (honestly I never understood such fashion until recently so don't worry, your not alone).

He has been the head designer for couture houses, Givenchy (July 1995 to October 1996) and Christian Dior (October 1996 to March 2011). He also has his own label John Galliano.

His success is largely attributed to the highly respected fashion trend setter, Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of American Vogue, and Andre Leon Talley, then European Correspondent at Vanity Fair. With their assistance he managed to secure the necessary financial backing and high society stamp needed to give him credibility in Paris, in 1993.

JUST CLICK IT!!

I got a chance to finally do a photo shoot of some of my most recent (and a few old) pieces I have created. Getting someone to kinda put that extra touch on the pics is what I was waiting for, but my mail has been PMS’n for me all this time, so I have decided to just post them without any touch ups.

Turkel

…the turkel fashion show (A.K.A- The Fashionist/ International Fashion Fair) went down 3weeks ago (ma net is such a letdown…this post was supposed to have been up three weeks ago…) at the KICC (Kenyatta International Conference Center), from the 17th-20th march. I had really anticipated this event, however due to numerous loads of last minute assignments (I have been a bit on the low so my psyche for doing anything is just on a downhill), I was only able to attend the fair on the last day, which was on a Sunday. I missed the fashion shows *sob sob*, but recently I’ve been learning about doing important things vs. urgent things n ma assignments were important. Any who, more of that for another blog.

Colour craze!!!

One of the things I am really crazy about is nail colour/nail polish. I don’t know where it came from, but whoever sent it, did something really cool. From pink, black, white yellow, gold green… whatever the colour it’s a must have for me.

If you are going to apply a different colour every week (like I do), ensure the colour you put matches with your dress code for the week.

VALENTINE FASHION

This week, red was the new black as the whole world celebrated the season of love. Personally I think valentines is over rated, and we shouldn’t celebrate love on only one day of an entire 365 days. But to all of you that really feel the valentines vibe, happy valentines. For the record, I never wear or do anything with red on valentines. It’s the only day I detest the colour red.

So yesterday I attended a mini fashion show, at my school.

DESIGNERS OR DESIGN-FRAUDS?!

There has been a thought process that has been lingering my mind for quite some time now, and have been searching and hoping for an answer to come along, but so far no good!
Allow me to first start by giving a few definitions before I get into today’s business.
According to Wikipedia and design.org:

 DESIGN – noun that informally refers to a plan for the construction of an object (in this case clothes)
- Also to create, fashion, execute or construct according to plan
o To conceive and plan out in mind
o To have as a purpose
o To devise for a specific function or end

 FASHION DESIGN – this is the art of application of design and aesthetics or natural beauty to clothing and accessories
 FASHION DESIGNERS – persons who attempt to design clothes which are functional as well as aesthetically pleasing.

(google images)Mariella Taseva


Now that we have that clear, my question therefore comes along, where are the designers in this country? Where are the creative minds that are supposed to make us look stunning? Most people, whom I’ve come across and call themselves “designers”, just leave me in utter disappointment. One thing that I have noticed is that, there is a deficient of creativity. It is my belief that in whatever the aspect of design be it interior, outdoor or whatever, there has to be an element of creativity that is to be seen.
There are about a handful exceptions to this statement though, but as for the rest, my, oh my!!! What we currently have going on is having a tailor with a shop and a couple of designs he/she has collected from a mag or newspaper, and with that, they coil the name designer for themselves. It makes me sick, and I wish they could be fined, and the name could be protected, like the haute couture.

I have attended a couple of fashion shows and all of them except for one leave me begging for more in terms of creativity, freshness and uniqueness. I’d like to see that there was some thought process put into designing the garment, or a theme in a collection. Either that or some well done constructed garments with excellent finishing. Sometimes an outfit isn’t about the uniqueness but also just its finishing, and its detailing. Fashion design is an art and just like a Picasso or Pollock painting, they are to tell a story of the individual wearing it, or the designer who created it. I want to attend shows and feel as if I attended a Milan or Paris show, not in terms of money spent in the show, but the arrangement of garments, the finishing of the garments and the new ideas on the runway.

This is a challenge to all you so called designers out there, as well as myself. Start putting some thought in your work. Don’t just wake up and start hitting the sewing machine.
So if you know you do not develop or come up with your own ideas, please and I beg please, stop calling yourself a designer, because quite frankly you are abusing that name, and the industry. If you sell clothes that are imported, you are not a designer. You are a clothes vendor, and this post goes to you as well. I understand the industry is growing, but that’s even the more reason why we should be doing better than we are.
I am making it my mission to look for that hidden talent; to look for the real designers and expose the design frauds. That’s the only way this industry can grow to the desired unimaginable heights.

2011 yeepee!!!

Soo, its definatley been a while since i was here. Truth be told thoug, i kinda forgot my password, plus a number of other personal stuff that i was dealing with that kept me away, but good news is, im back, and ready to rock this "runway" :)

2010 was a confused year, fashion wise i must say, and i'm glad its gone. Too many inputs and running around that it got me paralysed. I was being a jack of all trades, and it was exhausting! Im however glad that I managed to get some sort of exposure, thanks to a school concert that had a fashion show. Looking forward to more of those this year. I was pleased, considering the positive responses i got. But oh my, this thing called "chedda"!! It can be a real frustration especially if you have so many great ideas, but its hard to implement due to resources. Im not deterrd though. I will still press on.
Enough about the excuses.

2011 is another year/opportunity to make all things fabulous and beautiful. Just like any other begining of the year, most peaople in their new year's resolution list, there is that one resolution to become more fashion forward. The thing it, they remain just that: a resolution to be fashion forward. If this sounds like you, do something about it and don't just bluntantly say you will work on it. Looking good is a key element to a happy healthy lifestyle. Don't belive me, look around you and show me one person that clothes and grooms well and walks around with their head drooping towards the ground all in the name of depression? How you dress, how you look, plays a role in how you feel because when you feel good, your body releases more of those feel good hormones which do good for you in the long run. It's been proven.

That being said, just like all of you, i'll share with you 5 out of my many 2011 resolutions.

1. Buying good durable clothing and accessories - cheap is expensive people and it's really, and i mean really not worth that 100/- bob. I used to be a believer in "ENKANGARA", but of late, they haven't been serving me good. To my fellow ladies, sorry to say but that top for 50 bob wount even last a year, or perhaps a month down the line of buying that top or shoe (specifically), you look at it and wonder why did i even buy this? Please note that i am not completely disregarding 2nd hand clothes. I'm saying, you would rather save some money and invest in good long lasting outsfits that will make you look good and serve you long and well. If you must, and i repeat MUST buy 2nd hand, ( of wich i will once in a while cause i belieive you can mix and match) do it with a keen eye. Avoid just picking anything that looks good. Inspect it critically. This is a story to be continuted another day.

2. Wearing clothes that fit well - please note; this is not necessarilly refering to me, though it wouldn't hurt for me to follow my own advice. This small pieceof advice, works miracles. Wearing clothes that fit your body and that bring out your assets, no matter how big you are for both the ladies and the guys, will get heads turning for sure. NOTE TO EVERYONE: Fitting clothes doesn't mean excruciating tightness!

3.Health and beauty - we always want to loose weight at the begining of the year. Well this time im serious, in im on it as we speak. I must admit, trimming up is one of the hardest things to do. But after being told i'm bodering overweight, child i have to hit that treadmill and aerobics class! So far its been pretty cool, im enjoying it and i believe i can already see results. Plus i got to shape up to look devine in whatever im rocking. 2010 was a somewhat dull yr when it came to beauty and keeping up the fresh look. 2011, i'm going to work my behind off to make sure im looking fresh 247(yes, i do have those day's where i don't feel like keeping up with the fashion and trends. i believe we all do),but this year and those to come, i'm makin it happen. And ladies you don't always have to put makeup to look good. Going natural once in a while proves your human. Besides, guys love natural ;). lol

4. Knowledge! Knowledge! Knowledge! - I believe for you to be fashion forward, you also need to be knowledgable, and not just in one aspect, but several. Looking good and having an empty head doesn't look good in this day and age. Thus, this year is about burying myself in books and websites to learn, learn, learn.

5. Saving - Yes i said it. Saving. not a very fashion friendly word, but like i said, its a new day and age. This fashionista mamasita right here has to keep looking fabulous, and for that to happen i must have enough money to do this. Shopping smart is also key in this area i.e investing in non-second hand clothing.

Whats your resolution(s)?