Designers – Bonita Valli

Ladies…Frrrrost Yourselves!

I think I’m a little late to the party.

I missed the Oscars. Not intentionally….. not unintentionally either. My interests snoozed comfortably round the spectrum of indifference. I’m not bummed about missing it, like I said, I’m just “a little late to the party”. And not late in the cool, “fashionably late” kinda way…. the Nigerian kinda late when you miss the whole damn thing… and then some!

At some point over the past week, Sky News showed their typical 30 second or so entertainment news highlight/s and I came across Lady GaGa’s Oscars outfit. I haven’t had an “OH MY GOD!” moment in a long time, particularly concerning the red carpet, but this…..! This was definitely one!

The Dress

Image result for lady gaga necklace 2019 oscars — Source: eonline.com

Black dresses are always a classic but the contrast against The GaGa’s [monotone] pale skin and bleached blonde hair was ordained by the fashion gods. The exaggerated hips were an instant reflection of McQueen’s quirkiness and the pleated skirt that expanded to floor length was breath taking, but the opera gloves and Tiffany’s necklace screamed classic Hepburn from about a mile and a half off. We all know nothing screams classy like Audrey.

Now that we’ve got that dress out of the way, let’s take a minute to appreciate that necklace shall we?

The Necklace

Taiwo and I (and secretly Wura) are forever fans of How to Lose a Guy in 10days. It’s like… our go to movie. We’ve reached the point at which we recite the lines! So as much as I did/do appreciate the Alexander McQ dress, the real game changer was in fact that US$30mn Tiffany’s gem that had Wura pretty much scream (via whatsapp of course) “She’s wearing the Isadora!” LOL! That’s right, the Tiffany’s necklace had me 99.99% convinced GaGa was wearing the Harry Winston Isadora! (You can’t say/write that name without the exclamation mark. It would be criminal.)

The rock sized canary yellow gem, supported by “miniature” white gems delicately laid between both of Lady GaGa’s collar bones and had my jaw on the floor for the best part of the next 5 mins. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a rock that big, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a rock that worthy! It was breathtaking, spectacular, literally jaw dropping. It just dazzles!

Hair & Makeup

You don’t wear a necklace like that then decide to show off beach waves or silky straight hair do you? It’s got to be an up do… you know… to show off the master piece. Oh and as for the make up, gotta keep it natural looking and simple. The Oscars is no carnival!

Since I saw the Gaga’s outfit, I haven’t bothered googling any other star’s outfit. It would be unjust!

Source: GetYarn.io

This is the part where I usually ask who/what was your favourite look of the night, but today, I won’t even lie, I’m not interested. LOL

xXx

Ps: I’ve been lusting over a yellow dress very much like Andie Anderson’s on How to Lose a guy. But the price… my goodness the price!

PPs: Why was Andie carrying that horrible bag?

PPPs: I’ve always been a fan of Harry Winston. When I lived in a bubble I often fantasized that bae would propose with a Harry Winston… *sigh*

Jacquemus

[Un]Popular Opinion: cliché as it may sound, I think Pablo Picasso is a friggn LEGEND! And while we’re at it…. Cubism is in fact my favourite Art Movement.

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Jacquemus is a young, talented, French, modern designer. His take on fashion is almost architectural in execution. He deconstructs objects, rebuilding sculpted masterpieces.

Jacquemus footwear was launched two years ago. His creative ingenuity in my opinion, borders on modern day Cubism. He leverages basic shapes and cleverly balances them to curate whimsical shoe perfection.

You see, the thing I love about Cubism is its ability to produce a conceptual image as opposed to the perceptual form. After all, I consider vision to be reassembled shapes built up to create depth and manipulated in form.

Jacquemus is only 29 and already pushing fashion boundaries. It’s a shame he’s put a stop to his quirky shoes. Regardless, I’m curious as to what he will unfold as he continues to rebuild, reinvent and rediscover.

Image result for jacquemus shoes — Les Mules Sao Mule
Source: Net-a-Porter

Pisa Mismatched Heels (my current favourites)
Source: Matches Fashion

Image result for cubism picasso — Picasso’s Weeping Woman
Source: The Tate

Who’s your designer of the moment?

What’s your favorite Art Movement?

xXx

Ps: Take my posts as they come and don’t question the [ir]regularity. After all, I’d like to think of myself as a creative 🙃

PPs: I’ve had my Nikon D3100 for 8years and only just decided to properly learn photography. So far, so fun!

PPPs: I made dumplings from SCRATCH yesterday. The result…? Meat pies! LOL

The Met Ball

I love any excuse to dress up, self expression via fashion is my favourite kind. I’d much rather dress the way I feel than talk about it because then, I’m not obliged to admit to anything; it remains open for interpretation with a hint of mystery…. mystery is good, no?

Forget the Oscars, the Met Gala is officially my favourite fashion red carpet! I love how seriously everyone takes the theme and let’s not forget that the proceeds of the fund raising are put towards the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute (I love art).

This year’s Met Gala’s theme was “Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology”. Now I had to do some googling to fully understand what “Manus x Machina” meant so give me a minute while I relish in my new found knowledge.

The Manus x Machina theme explores how fashion designers are reconciling the handmade and the machine-made in the creation of haute couture and avant-garde ready-to-wear. The exhibition addressed the founding of haute couture in the 19th century, when the sewing machine was invented, and the emergence of a distinction between the hand (manus) and the machine (machina) at the onset of mass production. It will explore this ongoing dichotomy, in which hand and machine are presented as discordant tools in the creative process, and question the relationship and distinction between haute couture and ready-to-wear.

Okay, so I just lifted that from the Met website *shrugs*. Moving on swiftly, these are my favourite looks from the 2016 Met Ball. What look was your fave?

Source: Reveal.co.uk

US$2000 manicure… YAS!!! Tommy Hilfiger dress… fantastic!

Kylie Jenner at Met Gala 2016

Balmain!

Source:ibitimes

Claire Danes at Met Gala 2016

I particularly liked Claire Danes outfit because not only was it by Zac Posen, but it was an illuminating dress!

Source:ibitimes

xXx

Ps: Still stuck on that US$2000 manicure….

Pps: I have a very busy weekend ahead of me. I’m exhausted just thinking about it.

Komole Kandids Series 2

*WARNING: This post is highly opinionated. In the event that your view differs from mine, feel free to express yourself in the comments section*

House of Deola is in a class of its own. Yes, I said it and I refuse to take it back! I’m yet to master the art of making culture contemporary, so when I see a designer that fuses the two so effortlessly, elegantly, beautifully, naturally…. I go GaGa! I actually lose it. Staring uncontrollably, drooling helplessly, wide eyed in amusement. It’s a mix between a kid in a candy store and a man that has found that woman that holds his “mumu” button, lol.

Let’s dig into the detail shall we??

One word: Intricacy.

There’s a resonating theme with each piece in the Komole Kandids Series 2. You know the link that new designers fail to grasp…. The underlying theme that undoubtedly links one piece to the next in a beautiful harmony… yeah, that’s the one! There’s beading, there are cut-outs, beautiful prints, appliques… gosh, it’s got the works!

Some background: Research.

Does anyone bother studying anymore? I don’t just mean reading. Studying, absorbing, understanding. House of Deola clearly put in the hours. I understand that over 12 years of research went into the development of the lace and now they weave the fabric themselves. Fantastic!

The Experience: Royalty.

You know when you look so good you’re gliding on air. When the world gazes at you in awe because you’re mingling with the gods. When your smile radiates from the inside at the slightest twitch of your lips. Yeah… that’s what I imagine the Komole Kandids Series 2 feels like. Can’t believe the target audience is wedding guests.

The Styling: Minimal.

When your clothes do all the talking, it’s best to keep the styling simple. Sleek low buns and perfectly pleated geles for the win.

Do I need really need to explicitly state that I love this collection? Or did my write up justify this already? LOL

Imani - One shoulder celadon floor length dress with attached ruched ‘ipele’. Dress patterned with Komole Kandids Forest motif.

Komole Kandids Series 1_House of Deola_Aso Oke_Nigerian Wedding_BellaNaija21

SOPHIA Alice blue Aso-oke, A-line dress patterned with Komole Kandids Nectar motif.

Komole-Kandids-Series-2_House-of-Deola_Aso-Oke_Nigerian-Wedding_BellaNaija_11

Komole-Kandids-Series-2_House-of-Deola_Aso-Oke_Nigerian-Wedding_BellaNaija_10

LEILA Apricot and gold gilded Aso-oke dress patterned with Komole Kandids Forest motif.

FARI X YASMIN Dark raspberry liquid metal corset. Floral A-line skirt.

TALLULAH. Aquamarine Aso-oke top and skirt patterned with Komole Kandids Fractal motif.

xXx

Ps: I need a holiday.

Afternoon Tea anyone?

I’ve got work to do. A lot of work. It’s got to be done this evening and yet, here I am sitting at my desk at 6:50pm thinking about what I like to call “Afternoon Tea”.

Anya Hindmarch recently designed a whole line of delicious clutches, hold-alls and Ebury bags. She’s included Bourbon, Custard Cream and even crisps, you know…. just a few divine pastries you’d find stacked on your Afternoon Tea cake stand.

Now I know there are no scones or gateauxs featured in the collection, but you have to admit, the craftmanship of these bags are pretty sweet (okay, okay, I’ll stop with the food references, it’s getting cheesy… Lol)!

What are your thoughts on Anya’s Autumn/Winter 2014 collection? Does it go down quite the treat or is it not your cup of tea? (Sorry, I couldn’t help myself!)

Crisp Packet clutch, main

Source: AnyaHindmarch.com

She’s also got a refreshing line of breakfast cereals including Cornflakes, Frosties and Coco-pops so really this blog post could have gone either way…. “Breakfast is served” or “Afternoon Tea Anyone?”

Anya Hindmarch Imperial Coco Pops Snakeskin Clutch

Source: Purseblog.com

Frosties Maxi Featherweight Ebury

Source: AnyaHindmarch.com

xXx

Ps: I think I had too much fun with the food references in my description.

PPs: Happy Democracy Day to all my Nigerian Followers…. Let’s hope this Change will be for the better.

Viktor & Rolf: BonBon

BonBon! I could say it all day…. “BonBon”.

BonBon is French for “Candy” (I never knew until I googled it on Sunday and Wura gave me the – You’re an idiot but I’ll let you off seeing as you’re supposed to be my older sister-look). Thanks to a very kind Mister, Viktor & Rolf’s BonBon has been my scent for the past couple of months and I am crazy, stupid in love with the sweet fragrance. Let me explain why…..

BonBon is the right amount of sweet with a very subtle sexy undertone. She glides with a feminine flair subconsciously flirting with passers by. BonBon is rich yet subtle; juvenile but still sophisticated. She’s my perfection if ever perfection was confined to a single fragrance.

The BonBon bottle is an orchid coloured sweet wrapper (I didn’t realise this until my googling exercise on Sunday, I thought it was a bow!) and mine came in the most exquisitely wrapped sweet package.

BonBon is my scent of the season (I lie, it’s my scent till it’s finished) it might be a while till I find a fragrance to top this one!

Have you tried BonBon? What are your thoughts?

xXx

Ps: My next review should be on Prada Candy. I’ve noticed that people often compare Viktor & Rolf’s BonBon with Prada’s Candy. Well, they definitely have more than the name in common so I just might be headed there next.

Afrochristic

A couple of Fridays ago, I stopped by at Taiwo’s office after work and to no surprise, I found her office relatively empty. I know about 90% of the staff at her office so was a little surprised to come across an unfamiliar face. Okey had just joined that week and I could tell from the look on his face that he was just as surprised to meet a “Taiwo look-alike” as I was to see a new face on the team.

In line with your typical Friday “dress down” Okey had on no tie, but a white shirt, smart blazer and one of my favourite men’s accessories, a pocket square. Naturally, it instantly caught my attention and rude as it may be, I had him take it out for my close inspection.

The fabric was tightly woven in a torquoise blue and complementary gold weft stitch accompanied by a black undertone. It was effortlessly folded in a loose pyramid and stuck out with all the flair of a pretentious aristocrat, I loved it! It reminded me a lot of a contemporary take on the “aso-oke” often worn at Yoruba traditional weddings.

After my close (and somewhat rude) inspection, I quickly got to know that Okey’s pocket square was actually made by his own brand (side hustle as we like to call in in Nigeria), Afrochristic. It turns out Afrochristic is not just a one-trick pony, they do a few male and female accessories. Can’t wait to find out what else they have in store.

Below are pictures of Okey’s Afrochristic pocket square, isn’t it just handsome!

For orders/enquiries, contact Okey: BAOkere[at]gmail.com

xXx

Ps: Please forgive the picture quality, I don’t exactly carry an SLR to work lol.

PPs: I love how I’m getting into men’s fashion, was never really my thing.