Trusting and letting go are very powerful energies. Whatever your goals/desires, trusting and acknowledging that the Universe will work with you in providing the necessary tools and resources- absolutely powerful stuff.
I believe we each have a purpose on earth and it's up to each of us to discover It and share It with the world. Sometimes our purpose may seem too large and we can't see a way to make money out of it. The best thing to do is to believe and trust that, somehow, someway your goals will come to reality.
Change starts with you, believe and succeed!
I will leave you with this powerful poem I came across early this year;
Maboneng, Johanessburg is beautiful. Popularly known for it's artsy vibe, It is a highly recommended area for tourist visits. Best time to go is over the weekend when it's lively and various markets are ongoing. I had the pleasure of collaborating with Bulbulia Threads, a South African fashion magnate. Her line consists of modest yet trendy pieces that can be elegantly styled with wardrobe essentials. Her clothes are worn by celebrities and have graced catwalks and magazines around the continent.
Love the how the prints blend with the blue on this jacket, this can be styled with jeans to skirts or even dresses, see the runway looks here: @Bulbulia Threads Instagram. For a newbie, one of the easiest ways to style heritage pieces with a printed outfit is to style it with a neckpiece matching the dominant color in the print or simply wear a plain colored piece such as our plain white choker. (shop here)
I learnt a lot from the Bulbulia Atelier visit. There is great power in collaboration between fashion industry players. While making money is important, setting guidelines, fashion councils and well managed events is key for the growth of the fashion industry.
For this bright lime yellow bomber jacket, I opted to style it with a grey on grey outfit, to bring out the fit and color of the jacket.
I added matching color choker from my OwnYourCulture collection. The beauty of beaded chokers, one can style them by matching the outfit color to the choker or vice versa- pretty simple stuff :)
They save the best for last! On this last night I opted for a red jumpsuit from Coloured sugar, I felt so sexy and fierce in it, check out the fun moments in it on my Instagram feed
Legendary model turned designer Ephymol closed fashion week with a spectacular collection of mesh, sports-luxe pieces, just the right amount of ruffle detailing on the shirts. Despite facing personal tragedies, the show went on. This was also in commemoration of his late friend and popular musician Mandoza. Everything about this was just right. See more below.
To see the rest of the shows check out my Instagram feed @missvavavum
Day 4 marked the beginning of the menswear collections showcase. This day also happened to be Heritage Day, where everyone gets to dress up in traditional regalia as a celebration of South African culture. See the dope street style.
In line with these two themes, I opted for an oversize, man-style denim jacket and as homage to Kenyan heritage- a leso dress and Malkia choker designed for my OwnYourCulture collection.
The menswear collections were nothing short of amazing. Present were bold prints, unique cuts and designs. One such collection was by AfrikanSwiss, that presented an interesting twist to everyday wear. This collection had fringe detailing on pants, unexpected designs for zippers, fun restyling of the ordinary button-up shirt. The coolest of this was the one shoulder styling of fabric common with many African communities. Again so very #OwnYourCulture! It's great to see the addition of heritage in today's trends.
I find it quite fascinating , the evolution of menswear fashion today. This next collection presented flowing , loose cuts and patterns. Very much today's menstyle by Rogue
Showcasing a fresh way of incorporating prints this next collection by D.O.P.E cool and dope just like the acronym for this fashion house.
To see the rest of the shows check out my Instagram feed @missvavavum
I actually had nothing to wear on this particular day. Thankfully I got this pieces from STITCH&STEEL in Maboneng.
Given It's unique cut and print- all of my colorful jewelry would be swallowed up- I opted to princess It out in a shingled head piece. Brushed my hair into a bun and this was the final result. My perfect way of African Unity- South African made dress x Kenyan jewelry ;) so very #OwnYourCulture
To give me an illusion of height and long legs(best suited for such a dress, to avoid looking frumpy) I wore black lace-up high heels.
Like previous days, the collections were chic, trendy and glamorous. First off was Keys Fashion whose collection embodies feminine elegance and gracefulness while offering trendy, statement pieces.
Another collection that stood out was Erre, these pieces were magnificently structured, from flowy dresses, flattering cuts to leather ruffled crop tops.
To see the rest of the shows check out my Instagram feed @missvavavum
For DAY 2 of fashion week, I wanted to try out a playful feminine outfit. I have a thing for monochrome and on this particular night, I was feeling the blues. I paired a layered flouncy top with a trumpet skirt( Carrie Bradshaw inspired, SATC movie 1) and a pair of block sandal heels. Completed the look with my malkia choker and beaded necklace.
Patted and laid down my Afro with gel , held It up in a bun. Is it just me or there is something ultra-feminine about a mid-part bun hairstyle?
A couple of designers stood out for me on this night. First was Mantsho, this collection offered quirky embroidered cuts and styles for fall. Also spotted the seasons hottest trends- cold shoulder dresses, muted color prints, flouncy cuts, top-over-dress styling and fringe detailing.
I have heard, seen, stalked Rubicon's for a while now. I was excited to see what was in store for the coming season and everything was above expectation. The new collection- all black, featured their signature elegant and dreamy cuts and styles.
This last showcase by Sun Goddesswas the epitome of my fashion week. The combination of predominantly tradtional jewelry with contemporary clothing designs- so very #OWNYOURCULTURE
To see the rest of the shows check out my Instagram feed @missvavavum
This has been a dream post for a while now, to attend, reside in and write about South African fashion. You can see the pure excitement in my face in the photos. I landed in Johannesburg earlier in the day, having pre-planned all my outfits before. As I was here solely because of the work I do with OwnYourCulture, It was only befitting to wear and represent my brand 100%
The shows were inspirational and creative, with hints of what is to come in a few months. While the seasons we experience here in Nairobi are very different, Fall outfits are great wardrobe additions when transitioning to colder months. The purpose of such shows is to showcase what trends to expect in six months.
First up, Clive Rundle a legendary, Zimbabwe-born, South African raised designer, rather, constructionist as he prefers. He is known for his luxurious, well-made pieces. My first time seeing his work live on the run way, one could feel the luxe from the chic, silky, flowy silhouettes of this A/W17 collection. I loved the layering of the pieces, the captivating prints, the structured coats and the unexpected details on the mesh skirts.
Next up was Judith Atelier, known for their feminine styles and cutting edge use of technology in her designs. The skirts were fun with a playful twist- such as unexpected side ruffles and fringe-like detail. There was lots of printed silky pieces- a current major trend in the fashion world. Another outstanding trend was the embroidery patterns in particular garments in the collection.
And finally Greerkyle whose collection featured dramatic sleeves and cowl neck dresses - trendy and essential for fall weather. Most fascinating; the dress-over-shirt styling- a huge trend in the fashion-sphere. In addition to that was the elastic bands detailing on the bottom of the dresses- sports functionality meets feminine glamour. The collection also featured chic monochrome essential styles for the everyday woman while offering a different twist to the plaid coats. Also dominantly present in the collection were colorful feminine dresses reminiscent of the early 2000s.
Next up was Somerset Jane whose designer , one could immediately identify as having a unique, authentic fashion flair. Her collection featured modern cuts and style with her own unique twist, like the sweatpants cropped at the knee. There were structured dresses in muted pastels, dramatic sleeves with an overall feel of gracefulness and trendy.
Presenting strong earth colors in different textures and styles, the last designer SOBER's collection was a wardrobe must-have. Outstanding in this collection was the the creative incorporation of bold geometric prints, reminiscent of the Ndebele art work, into her outfits.( So very #OwnYourCulture)
The above videos featured current and upcoming fashion trends in the world over. There is so much to fashion in Africa beyond prints, I loved these collections as you could feel the authenticity, the design process and passion put to work. Kenyan designers, create from your soul and watch the magic unfold!
