Gimbia Woji

IMAN: Iman Lauches her Iman Home Collection at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week

2010-09-10T06:28:00.000-07:00

The international supermodel of all times launched “IMAN Home” today at the Mercedes Benz NYC Spring 2011 Fashion Week. The entire VIP Star lounge was decorated by “IMAN Home”. we are delighted to see her African heritage all over the collection...

“Influenced by global culture and contemporary design, the IMAN Home mission is to create elegant, affordable items that mix exotic elements with a new degree of sophistication. In conjunction with P/K lifestyles, IMAN Home will take inspiration from international locales and traditional crafts incorporating modern design elements that create a beautiful blend of cultural richness.”

New Vlisco Collection: Amazing! Amazing!! Amazing!!!

2010-08-02T10:31:00.000-07:00

Hollywood Stars rocks African Ankara: Who is Inspiring who?

2010-08-02T04:51:00.000-07:00

Alicia Keys & Beyonce in "Put it in a love song"

Afrochic look is vibrant, daring, original, colourful, sexy and different, and is taking the world by storm. It has been described as "just so colourful and make-you-happy kind of designs". While some say it is not a trend but a long part of a lifestyle and culture of Africans, we say its okay to see people all over the world embrace these amazing prints especially African desents. Now that celebrities such as Beyonce, Victoria Beckham and more are wearing our fabrics, are Africans Designers inspired to go Ready-to-Wear and also commercialise their designs to a level of export? or Do we wait for foreign designers to take up the opportunity? All we have in Africa are street tailors and Wonderful designers who only do couture designs. How do we take our fabrics and prints and designs to the international ready-to-wear level? Like i always say "you have to be full of yourself before other can be full of you".

Gorgeous Ankara Street-Styles at the African Fashion Week New York

2010-08-02T02:57:00.000-07:00

Be inspired and recreate your own Ankara Style... Comeback for more ankara styles around the globe here... If you have your own Ankara Style and you want to showcase your style, email me(view my profile for my email) and be sure to see your ankara style inspire others.

Kosibah African Couture Collection

2010-07-30T05:34:00.000-07:00

Kosibah has shown his creativity again in the recent concluded African Fashion Week in New York. His clientele is truly worldwide, although particularly represented in the UK, Nigeria and USA. Kosibah Creations specialise in contemporary and elegant couture bridal, evening and formal daywear using luxurious fabrics and sumptuous embellishments. We take a look at some of his collections.

Sudanese Models and Fashion Crew all Arrested After Fashion Show

2010-07-29T05:59:00.000-07:00

About twenty models, make-up artists and designers were arrested after last Thursday's in the sudanese Next Top Model Fashion Show in Khartoum, Reuters reports. The public event became contentious after both female and male models walked the runway.

An anonymous participant said, "There was nothing bad about the clothes. There were wedding dresses, traditional Sudanese clothes, suits, clothes from local shops and tobs (traditional Sudanese wraparound dresses)."

All those taken into custody were released on Friday but six of them were told to report back to the police on Sunday "to face unspecified charges."

Africa Fashion Week - David Tlale's Collection

2010-07-26T11:39:00.000-07:00

This year, South African Designer David Tlale brought African Fashion to a whole new level. From shinny sequins to silky colourful prints and everthing wonderful in between. Here is a look at some of his collection:

White Play: Tlale's collection we had drapes and lace and frills and ruffles puffed and bare hands all in play. He used different texture to make this monochromatic dress interesting.

Sequin Splash: David Tlale used sequins to display elegance and blodness in his dresses. From the entire garment to pieces of concentration in some areas.

All in the fabric: From multi-colour silky-satin fabrics to organza, in tops, skirts, pants and lovely maxi dresses. He left nothing unturned.

Bright colour: Bright colours wasn't left out of he's collection. Orange and shades of pink were seen all over his collection.

When i saw the first picture of this collection, i was taken by the Hair and Makeup. The messy big hair was beautifully done. The dark lip Makeup was adorned with butterfly to complete the entire look. Well done Tlale!!!

Armani Prive's Fall 2010 Couture Collection

2010-07-15T03:06:00.000-07:00

“A Play on Amber” is the theme of Armani Privé’s designs which was remarkably restrained and businesslike, with a subtle monochrome feel that was underscored by the many shades of brown and neutral on display.
We have the draped jacket and skirt combination, where he emphasized fluidity, exaggerating and softening the drape, extending one scarf collar over a shoulder and fastening it with a large wood and amber brooch. This is an Armani Classic
He also had coats as alternatives, one as soft as a cardigan in cashmere and belted at the throat, another studded with crystals, and a third in camel to be worn over a broad-shouldered, belted crocodile jacket that exemplified Armani luxe.

For evening, he elaborated on the drape still further, with cascading folds of silk satin. And he made his amber theme sparkle, ladling sequins over goddess and mermaid dresses.
Celebrities like Kim Cantrell (Fashioned Authority), Jennifer Lopez, Cameron Diaz, Taylor Swift (All that Glitters), Nicole Richie (All that \glitters ), Beyonce (All that Glitters). Would look amazing in Armani Prive’s A play on Amber’s collection.

Alexis Mabille Fall 2010 Couture Collection

2010-07-14T06:46:00.000-07:00

Last week we saw top designers reveal their fall 2010 couture collection in Paris. We will take turn to review each designer’s and know what we expect to see on the red carpet next season.
Alexis Mabille new couture maintained a ready-to-wear fundamental by building his collection from mix-and-match separates.
His collection consists of a basic eight top-and-bottom combinations which he mixed and match to create and maintain different looks by exchanging a skirt for a pair of pants, or removing a dressy outer layer, showing you can wear them more than once and have a completely different look.

However some see Mabille’s craftsmanship as sly and disposable. Alexis Mabille did a good job to show that expensive couture could be worn more than once. It is beautiful and brilliant to see that someone has the guts to introduce such designs for high profile events for the life of the modern professional woman.
Celebrity such as Kim Kardashian (Lace &Elegance), January Jones (Lace &Elegance), Sarah Jessica Parker (Pure Fashion), Jessica Alba(Lace &Elegance), Nicole Kidman(Power and Class) and Eva Mendes(Lace &Elegance) would look amazing in this collection.
Tomorrow,s review Armani Prive Fall 2010 Couture Collection.

The power in the clothes you wear - relationship between how you dress and how you behave By Gimbia Woji

2010-07-12T02:36:00.000-07:00

I recall a Saturday in 2007; a friend (who was also my colleague) and I decided to accompany each other to our individual planned activity. I was to go shop for groceries at The Palms and he was going to attend a friend’s birthday party at one of the beaches. To shop groceries was the last thing on his mind and to go for an unknown beach party was also the last thing on my mind that weekend, but hey, that’s what friends do some time, we reluctantly accompanied each other.
We drove to the beach by 4pm after my shopping. We were quite early but the celebrant and about 5 others were there already. As the only lady present at that time, each of them took turns to say hi and have small talks with me.
Each and all of them where all in baggy jeans, big blink-blink chains with or without glitters, and their oversize T-shirts or singlet tops where tucked at the front to reveal their large belt buckle (it was a big trend that year). They all had large tattoos on their body and jewelry on their pierced ears.
As they spoke to me, some were uncomfortable, as if something wasn’t just right. My friend came back and we continued talking, he joked they were his old friends and he was accustomed to hang out with them and was an unserious person like them (he’s words in italic) before he got a job and his work has kept him away from them, that’s why you can see me all responsible now he said laughing.
By now more people had arrived so my friend had to go say hello to more friends and my earlier acquaintances were back, this time around with more to say and more comfortable with themselves; They had questions and topics for me, one in particular had a radio program and was almost upset about me not knowing about him or he’s program. At a point I had to excuse myself, looked for my friend and pulled him back to stay with me.
At that point I began to ask myself what changed with those guys. So I began to look around again, all the crowd and guest, I was the only one dressed different, just a pair of boot cut jeans and a top with my sandals in my hands, I then noticed my friend was dressed like them, but in a more casual and relaxed way. I knew he had a pierced ear but never wore jewelry because of work he says; he was wearing a T-shirt, a ¾ pair of trousers and a pair of flip flops. The female guest where dressed like wise but in women clothing of course, many had tattoos too and more accessories than the guys. I noticed my acquaintance where high on marijuana when they came back the second time.
I said to myself, is this a gang party? Nah! These guys seem nice beneath all the façade, besides I won’t be invited if it was one.
Was there a dress code? Nah! My friend would have told me.
Is this peer pressure? More like it, some guest looked good and glamorous, while others looked confused and uncomfortable. They were right to look and feel that way because they had dressed in a way contrary to who they are or how they feel.
Now they might be aware or as in most cases not aware that the way you dress carries moods or spirits that reflects who you are both inside and outside. What you might not also be aware of is that if you dress your outside contrary to your inner self, the spirits in your clothes most time take control of you. How you dress has the tendency to enhance or change your mood completely, it encourages you to act in a certain way, in line with the theme you have chosen to clothe yourself.
You find people dress like aristocrats or rock stars and are forced to speak and behave in certain ways that requires their effort, which makes them uncomfortable and unnatural. It might be the same reason my acquaintances had to take marijuana to get high and fit into character, why you see people are sometime forced to talk, walk and act in certain manner without even being aware of it.
But bear in mind that if you find the clothing that reflects your spirit, you need no marijuana or anything to get you high. You will be high on yourself, and if dress contrary you’ll be gloomy and wish no one you know sees you.
On our way back from the party I asked my friend to show me he’s tattoo, he went all defensive but laughing “who told me he had a tattoo”, long story short, he had on his left shoulder… it turned out to be a memorable weekend for us.

Africa Inspired Outfits - Summer 2010

2010-06-11T21:41:00.000-07:00

It's the beginning of a new season, its time to stand out and distinguish yourself from the rest... I have put together ways to go ethnic with inspiration and concept from Africa in this photo shoot.