Arise Magazine Fashion Week: Tsemaye Binitie

I love this collection. Its so modern, the color palette included black, white, pink and a surprise pop of royal purple. The use of different textures including leather, sheer organza, chiffon and cotton brought diversity to the collection.

Arise Magazine Fashion Week : Odio Mimonet

Hey people,

            

Its been too long, i miss my life, sewing  and blogging. I have been locked away (literally) at the NYSC (National Youth Service Corp) camp for the past two weeks. Its been very hard adjusting to life at camp. Its a compulsory programme that all college graduates in Nigeria have to go through (like a rite of passage into employment). Its more like boot camp, complete with Military personnel, exercises, drills, khaki clothing and waking up at 3 a.m, that's right 3 a.m. Usually when going through situations like this one, there are 3 stages; separation, transition, and reincorporation but i cant seem to get past the transition stage.

Separating from my life and family was very difficult, withdrawing from that current status and adjusting to the military lifestyle is next to impossible; not that i'm not a hard worker, i strive to be the best at everything i do but there is just no motivation here; no electricity, good plumbing, Wi-fi, magazines, freedom, NOTHING. Its like prison but worse because you are getting punished for getting an education. Cutting away my former self: the civilian, is harder than i thought but its all good because we are serving our Country.

I'm stuck in the transition (liminal) phase, cant seem to get out of it and i still have 1 week left; just thinking about it makes me tired but what can i do?..... Thank God for Blackberry Smart Phones, I just had to steal a moment to find out what was happening in the world and realized that i missed the Arise magazine fashion week. I got the chance to see the various designers and their collections and i must say, they were beautiful. From Phunk Afrique to Vonne Couture, it was an array of stylish and innovative designs. Will try to post as many as i can.

Odio Mimonet :

Her collection consisted mostly of embellished designs and presented a vibrant and varied collection. Odio Mimonet won the Innovative Designer of the Year award and i think she deserved it. i love all her designs and very ladylike dresses.

11 Trends To Try in 2012

There's nothing like a trend report to get your fashion juices pumping. As we say goodbye to last year’s '70s mania and welcome the return of the '60s and '20s, made modern with sporty silhouettes, brilliant sheens, and super sized prints,  remember that real style is about taking a trend and giving it a personal spin. Rather than undergoing a complete wardrobe makeover, mix and match your fave pieces with a few new and hip ones, and you’ll have the latest trends down to the art.

ORANGE AND TANGERINE

Hail the It-colors for 2012; they exude a beachy feel. For striking effect, pair them with burgundy or turquoise.

 BIG PRINTS

Bright, bold, and unabashed, this year’s prints come in only large. Whether tribal, floral, digital, or animal, pile the prints on top of each other or put one over neutral separates as a focal point.

PASTELS

Sweet sorbets and powder hues reveal the softer side of 2012. Wear one pale shade all throughout or play with two or three pastels in a color blocking look. For a mod, minimalist feel, opt for solid garments.

METALLIC BASICS

Metallics feature the usual gold, silver, and bronze but also incorporates shiny jewel tones. The trick to pulling off metallics is to just wear one piece at a time.

PEPLUM

With this year’s attention to body shape, rather than skin-show, peplum tops, skirts, and dresses are going stronger than ever. Highlight your best curves with that short, pleated flare sitting right on the natural waist.

DROP-WAISTS

The waist du jour falls from high to hip in a definitive homage to the flapper era. Create shape by adding a sleek medium or wide belt over the seam which separates the torso from the pleated bottom.

MULLET CUT

The mullet cut features a hem that is short in the front and long in the back. Also called “high-low” or “hi-lo,” this asymmetrical trend is taking over tops, skirts, and dresses with a vengeance, whether loose, carefree daywear or more sophisticated party attire.

TRANSPARENT SHOES

From Lucite soles to vinyl straps, transparency reigns over this year’s footwear. An ideal trend for all the upcoming summer freshness.

POINTED TOES

Rounded toes take a backseat as pointy shoes gear up for a full comeback. Pumps, mules, and ballet flats will all feature the arrowhead toe. A particular favorite is the Pointy shoes capped with silver or gold (metallic shoe trend, check here )

TRIBAL TOUCHES

Handbags and jewelry with Afro-Asian influences add irresistible contrast. The effect is earthy yet modern.

SHORT SUITS
 

Switch a crisp buttondown for a sheer blouse when going from day to night, and add stockings as you please. Also, wear the jacket and shorts separately to maximize closet potential.

 


  


 
 





 

One Cute dress

Ok,  the story behind this is, my little cousin came to my house while i was sewing one day and i guess she liked what she saw because she immediately started asking me to make the dress i had pinned to the mannequin for her. At the time i was so busy and kept procrastinating (also partly because i always put things off till the last minute, forcive habit). She was very specific, loooool; she told me she wanted it for her birthday and it should be a dress with pink flowers on it, something a bit sparkly and beaded somewhere. I laughed so hard i almost passed out ( She is 8, you cant imagine the facial expression she had). I couldn't start the dress because i didn't have any fabric that fit her description, this gave me the perfect excuse to go shopping (which i have been doing a lot of, i need help). I was lucky, found something close to perfect; I just had to turn it into the dress she wanted, I really tried to impress her and I know I did. The big smile on her face when I handed her the dress was enough reward; apart from the fact that I enjoy sewing a lot. Its my thing.