Photo by Kevork Djahsezian Paris Hilton goes to jail and it's this big deal. She gets released and networks are begging to pay her millions for her interview. I saw her on Larry King Live yesterday. I'm glad she wants to change but what oshi [foolishness] both from her and the networks. Before we go on to the rest of our weekly collection of Ladybrille's Africa/Africa related fashion news, there are some really interesting fashion news on both the Western and African front to highlight. On the Western front, the famous Italian fashion designer Gianfranco Ferre known as the "architect of fashion" dies at 62, as a result of a brain hemorrhage. Another death is that of Bristish style Icon Isabella Blow. As of yesterday, fashion icon Liz Claiborne finally lost the fight with cancer. She was 78. In the financial sphere, the luxury specialty retailer Barney's just sold, this past Friday, for $825million in cash to a Dubai-based private equity investment house. Italian designer Roberto Cavalli joins the list of celebrities and designers to form a fashion union with Swedish retailer H &M. The designer is set to produce a women's and men's collection that debuts in November of 2008. Hip-Hop Mogul and fashion icon, Diddy, scent wins "Men's Fragrance of the Year." By the way, America's upcoming 2008 elections looks sizzling hot as the presidential debates continue and we hold our breath in anticipation of America's future. A big issue during the debates has been immigration. Inevitably, Mexico comes up. But, on a fashion end, did you know Gucci opened a flagship store in Mexico back in March? Big statement from Gucci. The big retail department store, Walmart, is shaking things up, again. Walmart is set to enter the financial world, full time, via what some are calling "The National Bank of Walmart." The proposed banking scheme would, unlike other financial institutions, target Americans whose income are below the national average. Extremely interesting how this plays out. In case you are unaware, Walmart has its hands in Africa--Ghana, for example, is reviving its garment industry, at a rapid rate, partly due to over 400 garment workers who are part of the global supply chain to Wal-Mart. Finally, as to the Western front, a big legal victory for manufacturers as the US Supreme Court shifts price fixing power from retailers to manufacturers. On the African front, Nigeria's New York based Supermodel Oluchi Onweagba-Orlandi is allegedly set to launch a music career. Meanwhile, four South African emerging designers will be showing their work, for the first time, at Paris Fashion Week. Also, African-Americans are taking a keen look at investments in Africa. It is particularly nice that some happen to be celebrities using their black power to make Africa look sexier. Jamie Foxx, Herbie Hancock, Chris Tucker, Mos Def, Ghanian-British designer Ozwald Boateng and Isaiah Washington were among Black celebrities who met, this past Friday, in Beverly Hills at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles to promote African-American interest and investments in Africa as part of their preparation for the African Union Summit, now in its ninth year, which takes place next month, in Ghana. By the way, Africa's fashion industry is also interested in big financial moves via the world of mergers and acquisitions. One recent rumble and tumble is when USA Firm Bain Capital, LLC acquired South African big retailer brand Edcon for $3.5 billion. The recent acquisition has generated interesting talks about private equity funds and the number of African companies available for purchase. Check out more Africa/Africa related fashion news. I even managed to slip in some interesting news from prior weeks. Have a brilliant day!
The 90s. What an interesting fashion decade that also saw the sports/health and fitness industries having a say so in what was cool. It was a decade I had my fitness mojo till somehow something/somebody stole it from me. Let me take you there for a moment. I had just relocated from Nigeria to the States. I was a bit thankful because I was literally coming off the shoulder pads era of the 80s. It seemed women around the globe were interested in being like American linebackers. In a freaky way, it was very empowering to have huge squared shoulders that hid your neck. lol! Women felt equal to men, especially in power suits. Think the hit show "Moonlighting" with actors Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis. I was influenced by the trend. It struck a cord with me as it seemed like my desire, especially when I lived in Nigeria, was to feel empowered as a young girl and being "sexy" didn't hurt. ;) I recall my favorite white knee length skirt matched with my pink blouse and of course the inevitably linebacker shoulder pad inserts. I wore it and felt so beautiful, so strong, so confident! The '80s shoulder pad trends ultimately fizzled and ushered in the 90s. This was when I relocated back to the States. The fashion-forward here were still coming off the 80s trends. Now ladies, y'all don't act like you don't know what am talkin' 'bout! Em, multicolored hair, cropped tops, sweater on the waist, spandex? lol! The grunge look was the "in" "thang," especially among punk influenced teens, while lots of black teenagers, especially boys, kept it trendy with colorful baggy jeans, among others. Let's just say hip-hop was making its grand fashion entrance. Flannels? I wore them like it was nobody's business. They were hot on me, seriously. Lol! Shoes such as dockers and platform sneakers were the order of the day. I could not resist the platform sneakers and doc military styled boots, too cute. It was sort of my way of hanging on to the memories of going to a military grade/high school and the interesting experiences that are only fitting for a book. But, the key trends for me were never the fashion styles or the fact that I also got my flannel craze on. It was an intense obsession and craze for sports and staying fit, like six-pack fit. The fitness world influenced and made its mark and even celebs were talking Atkins diet, vegetable diet, step aerobics, kick-boxing, pilates, yoga, medicine balls, ab-master, Taebo and more. I enjoyed sports. Playing basketball was an all time favroite, not for any team, just pick up games. The only girl, for the most part, on the courts, armed with a healthy dose of trash talking and insisting I play otherwise, no one else got to play, seriously. "Fellas" ranging from 5ft to 6ft 11inch tried to intimidate yours truly thinking they could steal my ability to say it clearly and loudly "I got next!" and choose my team. But, they got it all twisted because when I was through with them, they knew it was not that kind of party and we weren't going to make it that type. lol! By then, within the African communities I observed neither the "brodas" or sistas were into fitness. You'd catch them maybe in the club and on a weekend at the soccer field but definitely not hiking, mountain climbing or pumping weights in the gym. In fact, for the longest time, an African guy with a 4/6 pack was not considered sexy to a lot of my African girlfriends in the West and it was worse when you visited Africa. I don't blame them, the fitness industry went crazy and even women walked around like they were on steroids.lol! Another attempt at interpreting the 80s American linebacker trend? How times have changed, especially when I look at African male entertainers who have such fit bodies. Anyway, my obsession with fitness ultimately led me to become a certified personal trainer. For five years, helping people stay fit motivated me to maintain my intense fitness level. I felt like I was on cloud 9 whenever I saw and could help people achieve their fitness goals. My obsession extended from the 90s well into '00s. So, it is a wonder that I ask myself these days how I got to here. "Here" being a state of minimal exercise. My nutrition is an upgrade from back in the days but my exercise game, not so hot! Although, late last month into early this month found me a bit rejuvenated and gradually getting back into my work out routine. A true Ladybrille fashion-forward woman knows you can't begin to talk about looking great in clothes without a healthy assessment of the body you are putting the clothes on.
There is a sweet euphoria of knowing you look and feel great in and outwardly. From my intense workouts, playing basketball on so many courts, atimes till midnight, carrying one in the trunk of my car so I could catch the next game whenever and where-ever it may be and doing some more trash talking--I backed it up though :), to dance classes, spinning classes and helping clients lose weight and/gain muscle, what happened? Life got busier? Nope. My life was actually busier before. I think it was when I sprained an ankle a while back and that sort of sent me down the tube. Trainers will tell you that when you lose your workout mojo, it can be like a death sentence. While you might go to the gym or do the outdoor stuff, it is not quite the same. Anyways, I am determined to get my fitness mojo back! My ankle is much better and I am about to put the "F" back in fitness,although I'm not so sure it will be on that level again--I am getting old. lol! There you have it. The confession of an ex- personal trainer! But,to kick off my celebration into a re-commitment to staying fit for life, I could not resist these funny clips of comedian Jim Carrey in "Living Color." One is an impersonation of Vanilla Ice complete with exercise moves. I remember one of my African "brodas" who thought he was Vanilla Ice and did these moves like wow! RI, sorry. I am calling you out bruh! lol! The other is Jim Carrey showing ladies self defense skills. Have a healthy and brilliant day! I'll be back b/4 u know it :) JIM CARREY-- "White," "White" Baby!
It's been a roller coaster these past couple of weeks. I got super busy with the Nollywood Foundation Inc. , helping with producing the 2007 convention. I am glad it is over because it was so much work! I am also glad some wonderfully fierce women agreed to present at the event's Fashion & Beauty workshop. Although I was unable to attend, I hear they brought their A-game and might as well have had their own Nollywood movie which I would aptly title "Fashionwood!" The Fashion & Beauty workshop team consisted of clothing stylist Nana Danquaah Osafo who is also a corporate attorney soon to be fashion designer, watch out for her! Congolese hair stylist Edie Fungula, and Make-up artists Andrea Kobus and Toni Payne . I have to say thanks to Sam Fine because although he was unable to make this year's event, he was so eager and interested in contributing to help upgrade Nollywood's fashion image. A fabulous woman that helped me with media co-ordination and workshops was Lakisha Holliman. Sitting on one of the many panels that the event had was Amabel Niba of African Vibes magazine who is intelligent, beautiful and passionate about helping advance the positive image of Africans, especially in media.
Excerpts from the Nollywood Foundation Convention 2007
