Friday 19th, March 2009 was the night South Africans in the US awaited eagerly.  This was the event that generated a buzz for months and with good reason. You see, four of South Africa’s hottest DJ’s at the height of their game were set to invade New York City with sounds that vary from House music, Kwaito, Afro pop, Hip hop and everything in between.  Not even the New York Fire Marshall could shut this event down- no seriously, the [...]]]>

Friday 19th, March 2009 was the night South Africans in the US awaited eagerly.  This was the event that generated a buzz for months and with good reason. You see, four of South Africa’s hottest DJ’s at the height of their game were set to invade New York City with sounds that vary from House music, Kwaito, Afro pop, Hip hop and everything in between.  Not even the New York Fire Marshall could shut this event down- no seriously, the NYFD tried.  However after two grueling hours of thorough inspections they couldn’t find a reason to shut New York’s hot spot Rebel located in the heart of Manhattans mid town.

After patiently waiting for almost three hours in the semi cold weather a minimum of 250 house music fans were  ushered inside the 3 story dimly lit minimal decorated dance/lounge venue. What stood out to me most is the space, Rebel is fairly huge inside, all the distinguished floors over a different genre in music.   and in true South African history. This was fair playing ground for all the visiting DJ’s as the games of vynil scratching began. DJ Fresh, Euphonik DJ, Fistaz and DJ Milkshake were ready to flex their muscles and show the world why they are a force to be reckoned with. In my own opinion these guys delivered. They were genius in their mixing skills. Never in my wildest dreams have I imagined music with tribal and ethnic themes be infused with house beats. The result was MAGIC! It blew my mind away and by the looks of the other patriots dancing like there was no tomorrow I now know my thoughts are being echoed.

Conclusively it was an amazing night. All the disk jockey’s showed no signs of fatigue after having traveled 20hrs prior. I was particularly impressed by their super friendly and professional attitude. They greeted their supporters kindly and photographed with them between sets. I have to thank the host and event coordinator Lerato Love for a job well done. This young lady is a mogul in the making, stay tuned for her story.

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More info on CD’s and other products contact the following through twitter:
@leratom
@djfresh
@djmilkshake
@euphonik
@fistaz

The shoes may not make the woman, but they can totally transform the rest of your look. The right shoe can elongate and slim your legs, dress your gown up or down, make you flirty, business-like or vampy, and basically make or break your entire look. I’ve gathered a few looks that are casual chic (in this Fall season muted tones) to illustrate how you at home can find inspiration is a shoe and can tie your entire outfit around it.

Ultimately anytime [...]]]>

The shoes may not make the woman, but they can totally transform the rest of your look. The right shoe can elongate and slim your legs, dress your gown up or down, make you flirty, business-like or vampy, and basically make or break your entire look. I’ve gathered a few looks that are casual chic (in this Fall season muted tones) to illustrate how you at home can find inspiration is a shoe and can tie your entire outfit around it.

Ultimately anytime you get dressed always remember that the easiest way to feel put together and stylish is to know how to create the perfect outfit. A perfect outfit results from 4 elements—a key item (in this case a pair of beautiful shoes.), a supporting item, a completer piece, and an element of pizzazz. Follow these steps when getting dressed to create the perfect outfit every time.

The Grammy Awards is the biggest night of the year on the music calendar when the A-listers pull out all the stops on the red carpet.  This year as expected the star-studded bash in Los Angeles didn’t disappoint with stars including Beyonce Knowles, Lady GaGa, Pink and Taylor Swift making an impression (both good and bad) as they arrived at the bash.  Lady GaGa, who opened the awards with a performance of her mega-hit [...]]]>

The Grammy Awards is the biggest night of the year on the music calendar when the A-listers pull out all the stops on the red carpet.  This year as expected the star-studded bash in Los Angeles didn’t disappoint with stars including Beyonce Knowles, Lady GaGa, Pink and Taylor Swift making an impression (both good and bad) as they arrived at the bash.  Lady GaGa, who opened the awards with a performance of her mega-hit Poker Face, wore a jaw-dropping, celestial Armani Prive lilac gown with bejewelled platform heels. There was also Pink, who is already a three-time Grammy winner started the performance with a silk robe on, then suddenly stripped down to reveal a sexy bodysuit  then turned in a fiercely-rousing performance of “Glitter In The Air” at Sunday’s 2010 Grammy Awards.  It wouldn’t be true Grammy’s if there was not slight hiccups like, Eminem, Lil Wayne and Drake who gave a very profane, highly-bleeped performance that kept the CBS censors busy and almost rendered the music unintelligible (SMH)

Fashion-wise, the Grammys are so much more fun than movie awards. For whatever reason, musicians don’t play by the same red carpet rules as movie stars; instead they just let their freak flags fly. I commend the most innovative and inventive–and in some cases, just plain pretty–looks. While many stars were going for typical floor-length couture, some famous females crossed the red carpet boundaries with their extremely high hemlines.  Jennifer Lopez managed to accomplish both floor-length and a mini with her bizarre Versace gold dress with a white panelled front and side, giving the photographers a glimpse of only one of her toned legs. And of course, given the title of her latest single ‘Louboutins’, she was wearing a pair of white Christian Louboutin peep-toe heels.

The Highlight- Michael Jackson’s kids accepting a Lifetime Achievement award on behalf of their father.  This was their first public appearance since Jackson’s memorial service, Prince, 12, and Paris, 11, dressed in black suits with red armbands, an outfit which Jackson often wore.  Although nervous, they spoke clearly and with great composure as they paid tribute to their father, who died last June.

Prince said: “We are proud to be here to accept this award on behalf of our father, Michael Jackson.

“First of all, we would like to thank God for watching over us for these past seven months, and our grandma and grandpa for their love and support.

“We would also like to thank the fans – our father loved you so much because you were always there for him.

“Our father was always concerned about the planet and humanity. Through all his hard work and dedication he has helped many charities and donated to all of them.

“Through all his songs, his message was simple – love. We will continue to spread his message and help the world. Thank you.”

The siblings were surrounded by their cousins on stage at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, where Jackson was in final rehearsals for his tour when he died.  Paris followed her brother to the podium and said simply: “Daddy was supposed to be here. Daddy was going to perform this year. He couldn’t perform last year.

“Thank you, we love you, Daddy.”

An Earth Song video which Jackson intended to show during his tour was played at the awards as a backdrop to a tribute performance by Jennifer Hudson, Celine Dion, Smokey Robinson, Usher and Carrie Underwood.

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The very eclectic well known musician Kelis showed up to the First Annual Data Awards in Hollywood last night looking like a human mare.  Although I  command her creativity and pushing style barriers I have to say this look is plain outrageous.  I personally blame Alexander Mcqueen for those 50 inch footies, I also dont understand the bull ring with connecting earrings, and the braided horse tail?  So fashionistas talk to me, do we love. HauteNess or HauteMess?

For those who don’t know Chanel Iman, she took part and won third place in Ford Model’s Supermodel of the World 2006, and ended up signing with the agency. Iman walked down the runway for the first time in the Fall/Winter 2006 season for high-end brands like DKNY; since then she has modelled for many top designers, including Dolce & Gabbana, Issey Miyake, Marc Jacobs, Valentino, Dsquared, Hermès,Michael Kors, Oscar de la Renta, Ralph Lauren, Anna Sui, Diane von Fürstenberg, Vera [...]]]>

For those who don’t know Chanel Iman, she took part and won third place in Ford Model’s Supermodel of the World 2006, and ended up signing with the agency. Iman walked down the runway for the first time in the Fall/Winter 2006 season for high-end brands like DKNY; since then she has modelled for many top designers, including Dolce & Gabbana, Issey Miyake, Marc Jacobs, Valentino, Dsquared, Hermès,Michael Kors, Oscar de la Renta, Ralph Lauren, Anna Sui, Diane von Fürstenberg, Vera Wang, Jean Paul Gaultier and Stella McCartney. She has appeared in advertising campaigns for Bottega Veneta, GAP, Victoria’s Secret Pink, and United Colors of Benetton.

At Milan Fashion Week Spring 2010 (held in September 2009) Chanel was in high demand and booked 9 shows, including big names like Gucci, Versace, and Dolce & Gabbana, Her frequent appearance on the catwalks was part of what some called a resurgence of black models featured in Italian shows. ^{She walked the 2009 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in New York City.}

Below is her spread Spanish Vouge Titled “Happy Face”

Photographer: Michelle Ferrara.
Stylist: María Aguilar.

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If you have not seen this budding 21 year old around then you need to peel your eyes wide open.  David Agbodji is a French born model has proved to have all it takes to be featured is two editorials in the current GQ Style (UK.)  All the fashion followers have probably spotted this man who was hand picked by Calvin Klein’s designer Italo Zucchelli on the new Calvin Klein’s Spring/Summer Campain.  There’s no doubt that this young man’s career [...]]]>

If you have not seen this budding 21 year old around then you need to peel your eyes wide open.  David Agbodji is a French born model has proved to have all it takes to be featured is two editorials in the current GQ Style (UK.)  All the fashion followers have probably spotted this man who was hand picked by Calvin Klein’s designer Italo Zucchelli on the new Calvin Klein’s Spring/Summer Campain.  There’s no doubt that this young man’s career is on super speed since he nabbed the opening and closing slots at the SS10 Calvin show in Milan.  Thats no all the rage about Mr Agbodji, he happens to be an amazing fashion photographer which sets him apart from any other high fashion models.  We will be posting images from his personal behind the lens portfolio at a later time… but for the meanwhile feast your eyes on this hot chocolate of a man. Ladies feel free to thank me.

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If you’re looking for handbags that offer sophisticated styles sleek enough for the red carpet, along with styles suitable for everyday, look no further than this Nigerian born and raised Onna Ehrlich’s handbag line. This young lady’s blueprint began when she came to the States and studied at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. There she met her husband and partner Joel Bell, who is an industrial designer and a vital part of the design process in their line.

Jessica Alba

The [...]]]>

If you’re looking for handbags that offer sophisticated styles sleek enough for the red carpet, along with styles suitable for everyday, look no further than this Nigerian born and raised Onna Ehrlich’s handbag line. This young lady’s blueprint began when she came to the States and studied at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. There she met her husband and partner Joel Bell, who is an industrial designer and a vital part of the design process in their line.

Jessica Alba

The Onna Ehrlich handbag collection was launched in 2004.  The many beautiful handbags come in different styles and variety to choose from.  All bags possess an edge that can’t be ignored, with super lux textures and colors that are rich and regal. Perhaps the inspiration behind this young designer’s are her African roots.  The handbags that have graced Hollywood’s elite like Halle Berry, Sophia Bush, Eva Longoria, Rihanna to name a few can be found in fine stores such as Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Henri Bendel, and Kitson.

http://www.onnaehrlich.com

Twitter: @OnnaEhrlichBags

“The graduate of the prestigious Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California is also concerned about her homeland and donates a portion of the proceeds from the Onna Ehrlich collection to Breast Cancer Research Foundation and AIDS projects.”

If  you were roaming around the streets of New York City for this year’s Nigerian Independence Parade then you may remember the massive downpour of rain and the shuffle amongst attendees seeking dry spots.  Admittedly , the chaos that was brought along by mother nature but it didn’t damper the spirit of the celebrations at all.  I remember observing patriots parading their green and white with glee, I also noticed quite a few people wearing t-shirts that boldly stated “naija [...]]]>

If  you were roaming around the streets of New York City for this year’s Nigerian Independence Parade then you may remember the massive downpour of rain and the shuffle amongst attendees seeking dry spots.  Admittedly , the chaos that was brought along by mother nature but it didn’t damper the spirit of the celebrations at all.  I remember observing patriots parading their green and white with glee, I also noticed quite a few people wearing t-shirts that boldly stated “naija boy and naija girl” in white text.  It turns out that I personally know the brains behind this simple but genius concept.  His name Ikenna (Kito) Nwakanma and he is the founder of Legend Couture.    This wear is young and  exuberant, it embodies the type of man Kito is. The reason I especially love this new brand (only  launched this year) is because of its authenticity.  Having the ability to create a stylish apparel and brand it around various cultural phrases is  impressive to me.  The stylist in me will definitely adorn clients in these duds soon.

Mr Nwakanma  has best described his line as “a fusion of art, fashion and culture.”  To view what Legend Couture is about, then check it out for yourself :www.ldcouture.com

Most celebrities as you can imagine get the most flack for their big egos, if you couple that with their impossible demands and hectic schedules trust me when I tell you that is a nightmare waiting to happen if your job entails interviewing them.  Needless to say when the idea struck to approach Ebuka Obi-Uchendu of Big Brother Nigeria for an interview I did not know what to expect, I swear I even wished myself good luck out loud.  I [...]]]>

Most celebrities as you can imagine get the most flack for their big egos, if you couple that with their impossible demands and hectic schedules trust me when I tell you that is a nightmare waiting to happen if your job entails interviewing them.  Needless to say when the idea struck to approach Ebuka Obi-Uchendu of Big Brother Nigeria for an interview I did not know what to expect, I swear I even wished myself good luck out loud.  I mean why wouldn’t I?  After all this man is tall, dark and hugely handsome and the fact that he is witty, intelligent and well educated is enough to make ANY woman melt. So you see in my head the the heebie-jeebies were validated.Frankly I prepared myself for the let down and secretly readied an “I told you so” talk to myself for later as I went in for the dive.  Once I got in contact with him, Ebuka was more than amiable.  He was amazingly easy going, not like I had imagined at all. His professionalism and the fact that he kept to the deadline for the interview has made me gain respect for him.  To me these are all signs that point to a level headed down to earth man, who obviously hasn’t let fame get to his head. My  skepticism has obviously flown out the window and the rest is below for you to read to see how it all went down.

Q:  What did you do before you were  on BBA?

Well, I was on Big Brother Nigeria not Big Brother Africa. It was the first and only edition ever held in 2006. It was broadcast across Africa onDstv 24 hours a day for 3 months.  Before that, I was a practicing lawyer, who was not earning the best salary and needed a break from the financial burden and stereotype that was law practice. But now I am ready to go back to it; and soon.

Q:  How did you get cast for BBN, if a series of interviews were in order were they hard? What was the craziest or most bizarre question/activity you had to participate in.

My elder sister saw the advert for participants in a newspaper and dared me to go on. I thought it was a huge joke but still went on anyways. There were 5 stages of auditions including a 350 question IQ test, a Psychic picking our brains and of course the weirdest being where we had to dip our hands in a box, pick up a prop nd act out a 2 minute drama skit with it.

Q:  What other opportunities have come from this experience? 

The opportunities didn’t come immediately. A lot of us were under the illusion that we would start getting offers to do stuff. But when one week became 2 months, everyone realised we had to hit the streets ourselves.  I walked into the ThisDay office and convinced them to give me a job as a writer. I have since mainatained a weekly column there for 3 years now.  After that I auditioned to host Nigeria’s version of Britain’s ‘Dog Eat Dog’ a reality Tv game show. I hosted that for two seasons. I have also hosted an entertainment weekly show called ‘The Glo Show’ for 2 years as well amongst many other television and stage gigs.

Q:  What are some of the challenges that you have come across as a celebrity?

The challenges are mostly as a result of pressure and expectations of me from people. The need to always be the well dressed, smiling, courteous bouyant Ebuka. Unfortunately that is not a reality and It can never always be that way.  Sadly though a lot of people think otherwise…

Q:  What are other ventures you’d like to embark on?

The entertainment industry in Nigeria is growing tremendously and talents continue to be exposed almost on a daily basis. But issues like piracy and poor copyright laws have been one of the biggest setbacks to its growth. I hope to soon use my background in law, to plug into that loophole and also tap it well for my pocket.  I have also come to fall in love with television and hope to grow even bigger on that front beyond the national platform which I currently enjoy.

Q: Are you involved in any charity work?

After BBN, we launched ‘The Housemates Foundation,’ which we tried to use as a channel for helping orphanages. While that has suffered considerably because most of us have tight schedules, I have continued to be a part of other charities as much as I can. Also, I’m a part of my church’s community that supports inmates in overcrowded Nigerian prisons. Not all of them there are guilty but because the judicial system is slow, a lot of them spend years without trial and are neglected s a result.

I also belong to a group of friends called ‘The UnRulieS’. The name may seem weird but it’s just a fun group. We have made it duty to support the Lagos State Old People’s Home as often as we can.

Q:  If there was one person you’d love to meet , who would it be and why?

As a young boy I had three people on my to meet list.  Sadly Mother Teresa died before I could meet her. On the other hand I thankfully got to meet Pope John Paul II before he passed on.  The third is everyone’s living hero, Nelson mandela. I’m hoping you know the right people to help me fulfill that one real soon!

Q:  The most interesting person you’ve met to date.

Mhhh… For some reason it has to be somewhere between my mother and elder brother. It’s very unhealthy to hang around either one of them. Rib cracking stuff, they are both intensely hilarious!!!

Q: Are you a fan of  fashion? Maybe favorite designers?

I am more a fan of style than fashion. Like they say, fashion comes in seasons, but style is forever. I like to where what suits me as against what is fashionable or has a label. But I also love bespoke tailoring so I do admire bespoke tailors like Michael Andrews and Anderson & Shephard. Nigerian designers are starting to make a name for themselves too with people like Clothsense and Emmy Collins topping my list.

Q: Favorite  foods, drinks, vacation spots.

Anyone who knows me, knows my favourite food is yam. I love my yams with anything, pounded, fried, boiled or made into a porridge! Nothing beats it. Favorite vacation spot is still my village, Okija. Nothing beats the peace and quiet I get when I’m there.

Q: What type of music do you listen to?

A lot of Nigerian music is topping my list these days but I still love my soft rock from artists like Athlete, ColdPlay & Keane.  I also enjoy hip hop artists like Kanye West, Kid CuDi and Jay Z.

Q: What are some of the places you’ve been that you never thought you’d go and your celebrity has afforded.

I’m a true Guinness fan and never thought i’d be able to visit St. James’ Gate in Dublin, the home of Guinness. It was an awesome experience etched seriosuly in my memory. Loved it!

Q: Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years.

If I could see the future, of course I would change it so I really can’t say. Hopefully, doing bigger better things. Perhaps a family and a whole lot of money!!!

Twitter: @ebukka

On a side note: Ebuka I’ll see what I can do about introducing you to Madiba in the meantime I’ll catch you around Jozi in ’10 for the World Cup.

If you observe the fashion circuits really closely you will realize that there is a shoe trend that is emerging.  It will leave you speechless, LITERALLY.  The fashion forward and savvy call this new footwear that’s gracing all the run ways funky, gritty, and even avant-garde.

However not everyone is a fan of these super-fab artistic creations, some people blatantly call them hideous, but you be the judge.  Over the next few weeks I’ll be posting [...]]]>

If you observe the fashion circuits really closely you will realize that there is a shoe trend that is emerging.  It will leave you speechless, LITERALLY.  The fashion forward and savvy call this new footwear that’s gracing all the run ways funky, gritty, and even avant-garde.

However not everyone is a fan of these super-fab artistic creations, some people blatantly call them hideous, but you be the judge.  Over the next few weeks I’ll be posting images of the most imaginative shoes you have ever seen.  All you have to do is leave a comment below and tell us if you think these shoes are HAUTENESS OR HAUTEMESS.

]]> http://amebor.com/shoe-bizness/feed/ 9 http://amebor.com/minding-fashion/ http://amebor.com/minding-fashion/#comments Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:23:34 +0000 GuguLethu http://amebor.com/?p=4324

Name: Toye Adedipe

Age: 27

Occupation: Wardrobe and Fashion Stylist

Twitter: @toyeadedipe

How did you start in the industry?

I read an article on a Fashion Stylist that worked and lived in LA. It talked about the type of lifestyle they lived and all that entails in being a stylist- I Loved it! I started a brief internship with this stylist, but when it didn’t work out, I was devastated. So rather than give up, I committed myself to working in the [...]]]>

Name: Toye Adedipe

Age: 27

Occupation: Wardrobe and Fashion Stylist

Twitter: @toyeadedipe

How did you start in the industry?

I read an article on a Fashion Stylist that worked and lived in LA. It talked about the type of lifestyle they lived and all that entails in being a stylist- I Loved it! I started a brief internship with this stylist, but when it didn’t work out, I was devastated. So rather than give up, I committed myself to working in the industry and being the best Stylist I could be.

From there, I started to test shoot on my own, finding other behind-the-scene-talents that were as passionate and built my portfolio from scratch. Shortly after, I started working in Miami with Photographer and mentor, Tommy Chung on Editorials for Six Degrees and other Magazines. About a year or two later, I started booking celebrities :O)

Whom/what magazines have you worked for?

Some of The Folks I’ve “Swagged” included, but are not limited to;

Six Degrees Magazine, Keyshia Cole, (Eva Pigford, Bre, and Dominique) of ANTM, Upscale Magazine, Mary Mary, Scratch Magazine, Chilli of TLC, The New Season of The Real House Wives of Atlanta, Algebra Blesset, Niche Media, and Jezebel Magazine, to name a few.

What is your take on fashion?

A Few years ago it seemed as though fashion was very Heavy. It was like, the bigger the better, but now I see it becoming more simple with splashes of color and architectural details. I am really into the 90’s right now and I love seeing the “mens” look on women (it’s very modern and shows you how sexy women can be without showing everything).

Also, Fashion is going digital. There are a ton of blogs and outlets online that can help keep you up to date on what’s new. Every other day, I answer questions on twitter, @toyeadedipe, on how to maximize your look and shop for less. I give people sneak peeks of what’s going on behind the scene of my photo shoots; and show them ways to expand on their budget by giving them showroom alternatives on looks they may otherwise not be able to afford.

What do you love about being a fashion stylist?

I love the people I’ve met. From celebrities to interns. I truly value people and relationships, so it makes it fun whenever i work with new possibilities. In addition, I care! There are tons of stylists who simply don’t, or just see this work as a “check” or way to be around the industry. At the end of the day, you have to possess authenticity and passion- you only go further when you do!!!
What advice do you have for someone new who is trying to break into the industry and wanting to work with celebrities?

Study your craft and incorporate a signature style of your own into it. Don’t be afraid to let the “Art” of your work have a presence- You are a “co-creator” of style and the competition is steep, so keep in mind that BRANDING your work will help you have a competitive edge over the next!
Also try to find a mentor or someone you feel has similar skill set to you and observe them. Notice what they do right and most importantly notice what can be improved upon.

I’m learning just how powerful and important it is to keep your thoughts shifted to positive outcomes even if you haven’t quit reached the place you want to be yet. Thoughts of success are so much more powerful then thoughts of spiraling turmoil so shift the way you think into the way you want to become and I PROMISE YOU … it will come! And if you need me, I’m here…Shine!

Although Toye Adedipe screams TALENTED… he’s quiet and humble. His six-word bio simply reads: “I’m a Fashion + Wardrobe Stylist… Happily”