Awesome Sample Sales at Gwyneth Shoes: Shoes at $20-$50!!

Ladybrille shoe lovers, you are so gonna love this AWESOME sample sale our friends at Gwyneth Shoes are having! Their beautiful designer shoes which go up to size 14 will be sold from $20 - $50! That's less than wholesale prices! Why? It's their warehouse clearance sale so everything must go as they prepare for Spring. WOW! Just perfect for the holidays. Check out the details below and happy shopping & gifting!
What: SAMPLE SALE
Date/time: SAT, DEC. 13th, 11 am-6pm & SUN, DEC. 14th, 11 am-5 pm
What you get? Up to 50% OFF WHOLESALE PRICES ($20-$50)
Method of Payment: Cash & Credit/Debit Cards Only
LOCATION: The Mocada Museum, 80 Hanson Place (between S. Elliot Pl & S. Portland Ave) 4th Floor Brooklyn, NY 11217. For more information, call (646) 330-1440, http://www.gwynethshoes.com/.

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Brilliant Posts of the Week

like twiggy by LolaHaze
Enjoy our weekly collection of brilliant articles/posts from our Web Snob online media partners.

1. A Few Goody GumDrops is cuffing her wrists with Red Crocodile Cuffs from Nancy Gonzalez especially for the holidays.
2. Stiletto Jungle features the best eyeliner and how to wear it.
   
3. Allie is Wired fashion face off: Rihanna vs. Kourtney Kardashian.
4. Bag Snob picks the best of Oscar de la Renta Pre-Fall '09 bags.
   
5. Beauty Snob has the perfect gift for the jet setting girl!
6. Christina Loves... luxury cosmetics bags from Give.
7. Coquette gets ready for the cold with winter cords.
8. Fashion Pulse is definitely obsessed with the exposed zipper trend. See how to get the look on a budget.
9. The Fashionable Housewife is really digging the Kitten Heel Trend that Michelle Obama has brought back to life!
10. KRISTOPHER is wanting, wearing, hating Tory Burch Holiday Collection, 2008.
11. Quinta Trends presents the lovely collection of Chilean designer Karina Latorre.
12. It's time for Second City Style's annual 12 Days of Christmas (Shopping). See what we want from Santa!
13. Shopping and Info found great black strapless dresses for your holiday parties.
14. StyleBakery wants you to give green with eco-friendly presents for everyone on your list.
15. Sxy Fashion Queen invites you to Gareth Pugh Celebrity Fanclub.
16. The Beauty Stop shows off the brand new Ellen DeGeneres for CoverGirl ads.
17. The Fashion Bomb gets your wardrobe party ready for the holidays with 20 New Years outfit ideas.
18. The Shoe Goddess is obsessed with these delicate, pale pink Christian Louboutin Petal Sandals

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Zebra Ball 2008, 8 Questions With Zebra Living's Ugoma Ebilah

Zebra ball 2008 is in its second year and the brains behind the event, Ugomah Ebilah of Zebra Living promises it would be loads of fun with a chance to win brilliant prizes, gift bags full of goodies, canapes, cocktails, great music, a fantastic crowd, and a chance to give back--some proceeds from the event will be donated to charity. We happen to really like the Zebra Living line with its use of in creating some very sexy and elegant silhouettes. We caught up with Ugoma to find out what the fuss is all about and when she will get her website ready for folks like us in the West to shop our hearts out!
To purchase tickets contact ugoma (at) zebraliving.com.

LADYBRILLE.com: What is the Zebra Ball 2008 all about?
Zebra Living:The annual Zebra Ball series is about giving back and having a jolly good time whilst doing so! [It is] inspired by life, fashion and community. . . the pillars of Zebra Living. Each year we select a charitable organization to support based on the merits of their projects and the trickle-down effect those projects have on the community's development. The Zebra Ball is a great way to celebrate our achievements as a label and a lifestyle concept and to end the year on a wholesome fun note!

LADYBRILLE.com: Why did you create it?
Zebra Living:I created it because I wanted to do 'more'. I was eager to start putting some of my mad plans of healing my land into action and zebra living has paved the way for me to start 'doing'. I ultimately believe in doing good and doing well. . . and I believe the two go hand in hand. The zebra ball and the community initiatives we promote are my way of doing good. . . and ultimately positioning zebra, her customers and my African Community to do well-truly well!

LADYBRILLE.com: Who attends?
Zebra Living:My wonderfully supportive clients, customers, friends, and family. Other attendees include sponsors, fashionistas, journalists, artists, fashion writers, magazine editors, pr and media consultants, lifestyle business owners, . . .progressive people in general.

LADYBRILLE.com: Tell us a bit more about the Zebra Living Woman?
Zebra Living: She is well rounded, with diverse interests and is truly dynamic. She is active in all spheres of her life-home, health, work and play. . . She is a vibrant, colorful, confident and very feminine [woman].

LADYBRILLE.com: You are really into Yoga, did that have a play on your selection of logo and name for your brand?
Zebra Living: Health and well being are very important to me and I enjoy yoga immensely. Zebra Living is rooted in a philosophy which fuses both inner and outer beauty, thus we promote wellness as much as we do waisted skirts. However my brand name and logo are inspired by other distinct loves - Africa, the Wild, Color, and freedom. The zebra living woman. . . is every woman.

LADYBRILLE.com: When do you plan to launch your online website?
Zebra Living: The website is very much work in progress. It will be live sooner rather than later.

LADYBRILLE.com: Do you plan to have a store front on your website to process orders for the fashion-forward in the diaspora who love your clothes?
Zebra Living: Yes. The website will have e-shopping facilities. . . and women all over the world can get their very own treasured zebra piece ordered and delivered to their doorstep at the click of a button.

LADYBRILLE.com: What is your very Ladybrille fashion philosophy?
Zebra Living: [B]e yourself, dress to reflect the woman within and make no apologies for being fabulous. Right now pretty, feminine colourful summer dresses are all I live in . . . It is great to live in the tropics. . . and you can see that from our latest collection.

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Ladybrille's 10 African Inspired Gifts for the Holidays!

The festivities for the holidays are just around the corner! As we prepare to celebrate Christmas, Kwanzaa and a brand New 2009 it can be nerve racking deciding what to gift your friends and loved ones. We've tried to take a little stress out of the process by presenting to you what we think are awesome African inspired gift ideas.

#10: A vacation to the White Sands Beach Club in Ghana. This gift is perfect for newly weds, singles, family with children, basically ALL. The location is less than an hour from Accra, the capital city of Ghana. Indulge in the best in water sports, enjoy delicious meals from the hotel's restaurants, relax, sunbath

and take it all in! It is simply GORGEOUS!Check out the beauty of White Sands at their website HERE. Contact Roger Streefkerk, the General Manager at White Sands: whsands@ighmail.comTel. 233-21- 303889 Fax. 233-21- 550707. Also, read a review of other fun things to do in Ghana while you are there here.

#9: Dinner at Aquavit: Aquavit restaurant is co-owned by Ethiopia's Marcus Samuelsson with branches in Tokyo, Japan and Stockholm, Sweden. This young chef extra-ordinaire is known to keep things flavorful and tantalizing. For the holidays, let Aquavit wait on you! They've got some Christmas and New Year's specials with prices ranging from $65.00 to $95.00, per person. Get all the details here.

#8: YoloDesign Table Wear: We know this beautiful handcrafted pewter and glass beaded handle with a high quality stainless steel serving spoon will make a great gift. There are so many other brilliant options by Yolo design. Yolo design retails in Namibia, Swaziland, UK & USA. Visit them here and be sure to click on the 'Stockists' tab so you can find the specific stores near you.

# 7 LETTERS TO MY SISTERS: What is life without health? Nothing. For many women and especially African women, we are not as tuned into our bodies as we'd like to think. Letters to My Sisters by Gynecologist Dr. Ngozi Osuagwu is just the perfect gift for your mother, girlfriend, sister, aunt, niece and cousin. It cost only $16.95 and you can purchase it directly on Amazon.

#6: AFRICAN STYLE DAIRY BY SHOP MOSIAC ONLINE: Life is such an interesting journey with so many highs and lows as we travel its highways. There is no better place to store the memories and inevitable life lessons than in this beautiful African inspired African Style Dairy. The Dairy is by Taschen. It is 124 pages long and you can purchase it at Shop Mosaic Online for only $20.00. Be sure to ask for the 2009 version. Shop Mosaic Online also has some great sale at 30-60% off items like shoes, accessories and more! Contact: mosaic@shopmosaiconline.com.

#5: AFRICA HOTEL BOOK: Travels brilliant destinations for tranquility, fun and rejuvenation are a must to create balance. To fufil your need to get away, it is essential you research carefully and discover the best in African organic luxurious getaway and hotels. Africa Hotel book with 400 pages of brilliant vacation destinations does all the work for you. Cost? Only $40.00. It is also by Taschen. Head on to Shop Mosaic online to purchase it.

#4: ASA CD: What would the holidays be without music, great music at that? Whether you are sampling African artists for the first time or gifting African inspired music to your family or friends, we know you can't go wrong with Asa's [pronounced Asha] Album. This Nigerian artist is highly gifted. She sings mostly in English fusing her Western and Yoruba influences in her music. Her music is soothing and has a very laid back feel to it; and you just can't go wrong purchasing this for self, friends or family. Cost: $18.42. Purchase here or here.

#3: DAMASK CLUTCH/HANDBAGS WITH LIGHTS!: Ladies how many times do you search, search, and search for your keys in that big o bag, atimes compromising your safety because you concentrate so hard you miss the crazy folks around you. Well, Sade Popoola got tired of searching as much as we do so she came up with an answer! Just have a super cute stylish clutch, tote or bag made with African damask fabric and strategically place lights in it so it lights up in that big o bag whenever women retrieve their keys etc. Voila! That is what she did! Now men you can purchase this for the brilliant ladies in your lives to assure her double safety, and of course ladies you can get one for yourselves also. Head to Quute Ilumina for details and other styles.

#2 AKAWELLE NECKLACE:
Fifteen year old Lovetta Conto has a compelling story as a Liberian in Liberia and later fleeing to a refugee camp in Ghana. Her story, however, is not the only compelling thing about her. She also wants to be a designer and in fact has been designing. We love her leaf pendant and bullet bead on a leathernecklace with adjustable slip knot she has designed. The cost $75.00. Some of the proceeds goes to Strongheart Fellowship program. Strongheart House - to be opened in early 2009- is a home and center of healing, learning, and excellence for exceptional young people either displaced or orphaned by war or other circumstances. Buy here.

#1 PHASES OF AFRICA FURNITURE: We like the furniture collection from Phases of Africa and think you will too. Noleen the SA native based in the USA imports some really creative and modern African furniture for sale. She can be reached at info@phasesofafrica.com for direct purchases. Also be sure to check out the wide variety of furniture collection at http://www.phasesofafrica.com/. We think this reclining chair would make a sexy memorable gift for Christmas.

Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa and happy shopping!

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AngloGold Ashanti Limited

AngloGold Ashanti Limited one of the largest and at times controversial gold producers in Africa [it is headquartered in South Africa and listed on the Ghanaian, New York, London and Johannesburg Stock Exchanges], has been quite active in the South African Fashion industry.This year, the company partnered with South Africa's fashion production team to show

a jewelry gold collection in China designed by South African designers. This has been part of AngloGold's marketing campaign to amplify and renew the demand for gold. In the clip below, AngloGold's CEO Mark Cutifani addresses the current economic crises and its impact on gold.

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Ghana Votes in Rare Example of African Democracy

ACCRA, Ghana (AP) — Election officials began counting ballots late Sunday in one of Africa's rare democracies, where voters are painfully aware of the example they are setting on a continent better known for coups, rigged elections and one-man rule.
In courtyards throughout the capital, election officials put police tape around the plywood tables where they began sorting ballots. Hundreds of onlookers formed walls around the counting tables, standing on chairs to get a view and whooping as the stack of their candidate of choice grew taller.

The count capped a long day in this humid capital. The election began the night before, as hundreds of voters slept on the pavement outside their polling stations in an effort to be first. Voters spoke of carrying the burden of the continent's numerous failures as they waited to vote.
"We will never disgrace our country. We know that the whole world is watching us," said Beatrice Mantey, a retired school teacher who spent the night on the concrete outside her polling station. ~By RUKMINI CALLIMACHI

Read the rest here.

Watch the video here.

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Nigeria Fashion Awards 2008

The first ever Nigeria Fashion Awards recognizing the work of fashion industry members and pushing them to achieve higher recently took place in Abuja, Nigeria. Awards were presented to five women considered Nigeria's style icons: Chief Mrs Opral Benson, Dr. Mrs Maryam Babangida, Erelu Abiola Dosumu, Mrs Folorunsho Alakija and Hajia Abbah Folawiyo. In attendance was also Paco De Jaimes, President of the World Fashion Council.
Winners of nominated categories were as follows:
Designer of the year, Deola Sagoe
Fashion Photographer of the year, Kelechi Amadi Obi
Hair Stylist of the year, Make Me Beauty Place
Make Up Artist of the year, Modela
Fashion Editor of the year, Vanguar's Allure Remi Diagbare
Fashion writer of the year, Yemisi Abah
Fashion page of the year, ThisDay Style
Male and female models of the year, Yerima and Lynda Ezike
Best dressed Newscasters of the year, Eugenia Abu and Cyril Stober
Best dressed Senators, Grace Bent and Teslim Kolawole Folarin
Best dressed female and male head of govt. parastatal, Mrs Dora Akunyili and OtunbaSegun Runsewe
Best dressed minister, Prince Adetokunboh Kayo

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Nigeria Fashion Week: Designers Modela, Mon-Ami, Ogodor, Pepita D, V-Gold, Elizabeth Philips

We found the works of Nigerian designers Modela, Mon-Ami,Ogodor, Pepita D, V-Gold and Elizabeth Phillips intelligently creative at the recently completed Nigeria Fashion Week.

Modela definitely wowed us with designer Bayo Adegbe's extreme attention to detail and creation of one of a kind pieces.

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Nigeria Fashion Week 2008 Gets An Upgrade

Nigeria Fashion Week has definitely seen an upgrade. The producer of the show Lexy Mojo Eyes must have heard our criticism from Nigeria Fashion Week 2007 because they definitely stepped up their game this year. The event and the designers who showed give us hope that Nigeria can be competitive both locally and internationally on the fashion scene.

We make no apologies for our strong stance that Nigeria MUST and needs to lead the pack as far as we are concerned when it comes to African Fashions.Nigeria, the heart of Africa, MUST be a force to be reckoned with in fashion locally, intercontinentally and globally. No "ifs," "buts," "ands". It MUST be 1) the #1 spot in Africa for fashions, 2) the #1 trading partner with the world's larger fashion markets, with an eye towards making sure there is substantial export of the works of its industry; and 3) the government must make it its #1 priority to stay highly committed in action, investments etc. in creating jobs and opportunities for its citizens through its fashion industry.

We applaud the hard work Lexy Mojo Eyes continues to do for Nigeria. Several things though: Lexy consider switching the name to "Lagos" Fashion Week. Beyond the obvious branding for Lagos, with its millions of inhabitants, most fashion hubs New York, Milan, Paris, London etc. name the fashion weeks after the city not necessarily the country. It also makes sense when you think how big the country is and the many fashion hubs emerging within the country including Calabar.

Also, can the divisiveness that is so glaring within the industry stop, already?! It continues to make no sense why the big names like Deola Sagoe, Tiffany Amber, JD7 Couture etc. show at the many South African Fashion Week events but not Nigeria's Fashion Week. It is indeed amazing the overwhelming number of individual efforts with no one willing to work collectively for a common goal. If South African designers, during their ten years plus history of fashion, stayed very divisive and ran to Nigeria or other countries to show rather than putting their differences aside, to work together, we doubt very much they'd be where they are to even provide the platform for Nigerian designers. How can Nigeria ever lead the way if all do not come together with the goal of improving their industry?

In any event, enjoy the pics of some of the brilliant fashion-forward at the event and we will bring some of the looks we adored at the recently completed event. Photos courtesy of Pure Foto.

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London's Leading Stylist, Gabrielle Teare, Features Ladybrille

The brilliant Gabrielle Teare, London's leading personal and celebrity fashion stylist and international fashion writer did a little feature on us on her fashion site. We are flattered, thank you! Click here to read the feature. Gabrielle Teare herself is fabulous at what she does. Teare has done everything from designing to styling. She styles both men, women and offers corporate styling services to some of London's prestigious firms. Some of her articles we think you should check out:
How to Start Your Own Fashion Empire
Ho Ho Ho! It's Off to London's Xmas Shopping We Do
What’s in Your Wardrobe? A Fashionista’s Guide to Having a Wearable Wardrobe

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Why Do People Fail?

Why do people fail? Why do you fail? What patterns have you noticed that causes you to fail? Procrastination? Fear? Self doubt, lack of confidence that you can achieve?Are you like me where you want the details spelt out it can sometimes hinder you from achieving? Les Brown, one of the top motivational speakers in the USA, lets us in on the secret of why people fail.Pay close attention to what he says about not worrying about the "how."



Have a brilliant week ahead

Cheers,
editor(at)ladybrille.com
Uduak
Editor In Chief

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