MIXED FEELINGS: Altogether!

I  Love African fabrics! I love European fabrics! I love the fusion of the two!

As far as I can remember, I’ve always preferred adding a touch of one to another- for my ‘Ankara’ fabrics, to give it the western  edge we mostly crave in our clothes and for everything from Europe, not to totally kill the ‘black’ in the outfit.  This is not to say that a westernized look cannot be derived with only  ‘Ankara’, afterall dresses were originally bourne from Europe, so whether or not theres a touch of European things, it becomes westernized.

Naturally, having mixed feelings not only stay put as emotions/thoughts within, but transcends to the creation of things... that should be beautiful. For me, its also trying to create something different, so I started thinking about not just ‘marrying’ two ethnics  but each staying ‘home’ and still be in the mix!

See what I mean…

Here, I have three different  fabrics- white cotton, chiffon polka dot and net. There was no ethnic fusion but I have done some mixing. This isn't unsual...so i thought of doing something quite different, still sticking to European fabrics but mixing patterns and textures and paying close attention to colours and contrasts...

The cool grey with black stripes works well with the polka dots and I've only used pink over jade around the neckline to serve as contrast...

Then I started thinking of  mixing polka dot with 'Ankara'...now that would be a very different mix!

My mixed feelings began to grow deeper and more interesting I would say. I saw this tartan fabric made of hard taffeta as against the usual tweed/wool texture and it hard the same colour combinations with an African fabric a client wanted me to make for her. I thought no further! Another mix was coming forth... 

So I made this blouse making pleats with the tartan over the african fabric ( it sure does mix well don't you think?) and the dress, void of any african fabric. By the way, if you didnt wear something tartan as a little girl, especially a wrap tartan skirt, you need to grow up again! Lol!

 

 

I did more mixing, keeping some in their 'home zone' and still mixing and matching as well. I must say that inasmuchas there's a lot of crase going on in fashion with mixing colours and all, there's a very thing line between being really insane like somebody who just got loose from the left side of the famous Yaba and somebody who's set for the red carpet and not to be arrested by the 'fashion police' with no doubt.

So its not just about mixing and matching, its all in the details!

BLAZING BLAZER: Girly or Boyish?

Blazers have become part of everyone's wardrobe, not just in dark cool colours but bright loud colours as well, ranging from orange, green, yellow, coral, purple, etc. And depending on personal style, we find ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls rocking their blazing piece in different ways...

I've had a few people ask me why I'm not a tom-boy having grown up with boys, not that they were too many though- my brothers were just three in a trillion but they had friends who had friends. Well, it was easy to separate being girly from boyish- the 'roughian' in me only comes forth at play...running a sprint with the boys with no shoes (I wasn't like president Jonathan though, I had shoes), or if I had to climb a tree or the fence of the field just opposite my house, I was equal to the task! And trust me, I av a few scars to show for it. But getting back home and back to reality, once mama calls and it was time for dinner I alone ate from a pink plate, slept in a separate room and if there were new clothes and shoes, of course I alone got the dresses and shoes with little heels and also had hair packed up in a bond...oh so I'm a girl! The only girl! Not just a girl but a very girly girl!

There were times when I had to look quite boyish especially for sports, we all wore the same thing- T.shirts, shorts and canvas. Other times it was just in-between, not boyish, not girly...

Back to the present! I made me this Coral blazer, just like the ones I see around everyday, I designed the sleeves to be turned up with the left over fabric from a leopard prints skirt I made a while ago.

So I'm thinking of ways to leaving a statement with my blazer... either girly or boyish, its should be Blazing hot!

GIRLY...

 BOYISH...

Then, I could have a blend of the two- wearing my brogues with skirt and heels with jeans...

MIX...

You would see that for every time I wore the blazer over the leopard prints, I left the sleeves unturned, to avoid it looking too 'matchy-matchy' with the skirt. I have two skirts here- the slightly pleated one with a bow on the band, made of cotton fabric and the fitted one made from soft damask, out of which I made the turn-up for the hem of the sleeves of the blazer.
You could also try wearing your blazer over nice african prints- skirts or pants, you're good to go!
Happy New month!