HOLLYWOOD CELEBRITIES ROCKING AFRICAN “Ankara” PRINTS

It’s no news that the African print is globally accepted and is been use in so many creative ways by top Designers and Fashion House, And there is no limit to is usage and design even the top Hollywood diva has also caught the buzz and below is the many Hollywood stars that has embrace the African Ankara Prints Fabric.

Rihanna, Solange Knowles and Lydia hearts in Nigerian Deola Sagoe Collection

• Gwen Steffani: An icon in music and fashion, Gwen Steffani is known to make bold statements in African prints at events worldwide.

• Beyoncé Knowles-Carter

• Both Kanye West past and present girl Amber Rose and Kim kardarshian in Same fabric – African Wax Print

• Draya Michele’s Preme Houston African Printed Top and Short Set

• Thandie Newton in Jewel By Lisa

ANKARA TREND IN 2017: THE COLOURFUL FABRIC REVOLUTIONIZING INTERNATIONAL FASHION

From the streets of Lagos, to countless boardrooms, to catwalks all over the world, the Ankara fabric has proven to be so versatile that it is now recognized on the global fashion scene. A number of celebrities have been spotted in Ankara ensembles on red carpets globally. To many, the Ankara fabric has become a wardrobe staple already.

The fabric is used to make a growing number of fashion items; bags, shoes, dresses, jewellery and countless accessories. This development has led to a change in the general perception of the Ankara fabric worldwide. According the article Fashion Reborn: Blends of African outfits from Ankara, by fibre2fashion “Destiny of the ‘once before’ cheap Ankara fabrics, have undergone a magical transformation. Elegant creativity of the designers has made it a preferred choice of the rich and celebrities.” The African print fabric has metamorphosed from cultural attire to a glamorous wardrobe must-have and right now the spotlight is on Africa.

This Ankara trend has impacted the West African economy in a lot of ways and thus, the Nigerian economy. In the mid- 1980s, there were around 180 functional textile mills in Nigeria. The mills employed approximately a million people, this accounted for more than 60 percent of the textile industry capacity in West Africa, empowering millions of households across all geopolitical zones of Nigeria. This however changed shortly as the sector crashed into an industrial abyss. During this period, the number of textile companies dropped from about 180 to almost zero. This was revealed by an article on Nigeria’s textile economy titled: Nigeria’s Textile Industry on a Rebound?.

However, in recent times, the sector has rebounded. The number of functioning textile companies has risen once more to 25. While the industry may not be at its former place of glory, a steady incline can be noted in the growth of the industry which is largely due to the current global Ankara trend.

The rise in the demand of the fabric which was not too long ago considered to be a fabric for the poor or restricted to cultural festivities due to its brightly coloured patterns and relative low cost, has led to a corresponding rise in the production of the material. Also, aside from the lower priced brands, a lot more textile factories have started producing the Ankara fabric in more appealing and sophisticated designs.

Furthermore, due to the ready availability of Ankara in the local market, it has become the preferred choice of fabric when making custom designed outfits. What was once considered to be a local market has grown exponentially to meet the increasing demands for the fabric worldwide. African designers and their Ankara designs are now sought out in all the echelons of the global society. The Ankara fashion industry has proven to be a veritable goldmine in these ways and many more.

A lot of Ankara fashion shows spring up daily all over the global fashion scene. One of the more noteworthy ones is the annual Ankara Festival hosted yearly in Los Angeles, California. The festival or AFLA as it is commonly known was created in 2010 with the goal of increasing the visibility of African Culture through fashion, Arts, music, dance, and food. The festival aims to showcase Modern African Designs in African Print (Ankara), established African and African inspired designers, young up and coming designers, providing them a venue to showcase their abilities, and develop their entrepreneurial ambition in the international fashion arena. Another notable development is the Ankara Invasion. This has been adopted as the collective name for the current global Ankara trend. Different items fashioned out of the Ankara fabric are now spotted in places where it was once viewed as unsuitable.

As Jasper Dorey Chukwuebuka -a Nigerian fashion designer- said, “For a long time, there was a sense that this was limited to Africa but now it has become global. Combined with an awareness of social responsibility, it makes for a powerful statement.” Countless international designers have launched various new designs revolving around the Ankara fabric. Marc Jacobs, Givenchy, Eley Kishimoto, Jean Paul Gaultier, Diane Von Furstenberg, Gwen Stefani, Dries van Noten, Kenzo and Paul Smith among others have included items fashioned out of Ankara fabric in their recent collections.

A lot of renowned celebrities have also taken to this fashion trend. Beyoncé Knowles, Rihanna, Fergie and Kim Kardashian to name a few, have adopted the Ankara fabric and have been spotted in daring designs using one or more fabrics. The rise on the trend isn’t restricted to celebrities alone. A lot of foreigners who have seen the designs at work, on TV or even at school have joined the movement. It is not uncommon to find people wearing the fabric who may not even know the traditional name. The fabric is commonly referred to in these circles as “African Print”.

The overnight explosion of the use of Ankara fabric on the global fashion scene is perhaps one of the most notable fashion trends to have emerged from Africa over the last couple of years. The Ankara fabric is one that is very versatile and constantly evolving to meet today’s fashion fads. Hence, one may go as far as saying that the fabric and the trend have come to stay on the global fashion market.

How To Match A Watch With Your Outfit | 5 Tips On Matching Watches With Clothes

How To Match A Watch With Your Outfit | 5 Tips On Matching Watches With Clothes

Rules to match your watch with your outfit?
Sounds a little too much?
Imagine a man in a tuxedo at a black-tie event.
He has poise, style and a posture that grabs everyone’s attention.
He casually turns his wrist to check the time… a Casio calculator wristwatch with a rubber strap…
FAIL!!
This is the power of a wristwatch, gentlemen – it can either break or build an outfit!
Since men wear limited jewelry, a watch is an expression of their personality. The best wristwatches are simple, versatile, sophisticated and classic.
Most men prefer to own more than one watch so they can wear the appropriate timepiece to complement their outfit.
The style of watch you choose to wear needs to match the formality of your outfit.
What are the 5 watch-matching rules that are timeless and relevant in any situation?

#1 – Match The Formality Of Your Watch With The Formality Of Your Outfit

Digital or analog watches?
Dress or casual?
What’s the difference?
Analog watches have a face with hour and minute hands and either markers or numbers that display a 12-hour day. These watches are considered classic and more formal, making them suitable for business, formal events or a date.
Digital watches have a LCD display or LED face that shows time in numeric form. These watches are considered casual.

Watch Categories

The recent developments in wearable technology has allowed watchmakers to make nifty gadgets that are far advanced than simple timepieces. You can make calls, track your GPS co-ordinates and check your calendar through gadget watches.
Leaving exclusive gadget watches out of the equation, there are five categories of watches that most men own…

• Dress Watches – A watch with a plain white face and no complications and a black leather band is as formal as it gets. The most formal dress watch are the ones that only show hours, minutes, seconds and maybe the date. Complications in dress watches are simpler and not related to sport.
• Diver’s watches – Also referred to as a diving watch, these were originally worn as work/tool watches. Designed for underwater diving, these watches feature a minimum water resistance up to 100 meters.
  Don’t be inspired by James Bond movies and wear a divers watch with a suit. That’s the equivalent of wearing a suit with work boots.
• Chrono / Sports Watches – Not a true dress watch, but can be quite dressy especially in the higher brands. Sports watches are durable, sleek and made from high-quality plastic composites. Expect compasses, odometers, altimeters, GPS technology, pulse monitors, and a range of other functions for the guy leading an active lifestyle.
• Pilot or flyer watches – Featuring a simple dial design and a rather large (over 50mm) diameter, these watches were made to be accurate and easy to read. Originally worn over the pilot’s jacket – they were made with a large crown that could be operated while wearing gloves.
• Field Watches – During World War I, the hacking character of a field watch allowed infantrymen to stop the seconds hand on their timepieces in order to synchronize their watches. Field watches are versatile timepieces that are tough enough for active duty. The simple design improves legibility of the numerals. Typically, these watches are moderately sized, with a white or green numerals against a black dial and work on a hand winding mechanism.
  
  
  

  Levels Of Formality

  Watches are made for a specific purpose. Avoid common fashion blunders by matching your watch style with the formality of the occasion.
  
• Black tie / White Tie – For formal events, simplicity is key. Historically – it would be considered rude if you were to refer to your watch at such an event. A simple dress watch in a classic style and black leather band will mute any objections from conservative observers.
• Business dress – For business – go with a simple and classic styled gold or silver watch with a thin dial with limited or no complications. A dark conservative suit is best paired with a classic dress watch or a diver watch with a leather strap.
• Business Casual – A light colored suit with no necktie is best complimented with a high-end chrono, a pilot or even a smart field watch.
• Casual – If a watch has a metal band, it is considered less formal. A metal band is generally suitable for casual wear while a leather band is suitable for any purpose. Any of the watch categories can be worn with a jeans, chambray shirt and dress boots combination. Digital watches should only be worn with casual clothes or workout attire.
• Sports – For activities that involve unpredictable physical movements, such as sports, a dress watch would be inappropriate. The strap, case and watch dial are protected with materials that allow you to focus on the activity – no need to worry about your watch snapping off your wrist or the glass shattering mid-game.

  #2 Leather Complements Leather

  The material and color of your shoes is a suitable reference for the choice of watchband. You should start by matching your belts and shoes.
  A black watchband should be worn with black shoes and belt; a brown band with brown belt and shoes. A silver or gold band suits either color.
  
  
  Interchangeable bands are an excellent option for men who own shoes in different colors. The watchbands don’t have to be the exact same color as your shoes, but a similar tone (light vs medium vs dark).
• Don’t wear a black band watch with a brown tone shoe. Or a brown band with black shoes.
• A watch with a rubber band is strictly for casual or sporting occasions.
• A chronometer is made for sport and styled for sport. It should generally be worn for sport.
• Plastic bands are used for more casual digital watches.
• In analog timepieces, the watchband is either made of leather or the same kind of metal used on the case.
• Rough, worn-in leather straps work better with jeans. Such a watch would not be appropriate at a fine-dining event.
• A good leather strap is the classic choice, but gold or silver bands are appropriate when they complement the rest of your outfit.
  

  #3 Metal Complements Metal

  

  The metal case of the watch (the frame around the face) should complement the metal accents of your other accessories. The case can be square, rectangular, round, and polygonal. The finish on the case can be matte, shiny, matte, patterned, or inlaid with crystals or other jewels.
  The metals used to make the case include steel, gold, silver, platinum and titanium.
  A rose gold watch can be worn with a gold belt buckle – it’s close enough.
  What if the metal casing on the watch is blacked out? Then you can go with either gold or silver.
  You want to coordinate the metal color with your watch and ring, so that all your accessories, for example, are gold.
  The other accessories you will need to pay attention to include cuff links, shoe buckles, buckles on the side adjusters of trousers or on the back of your waistcoats and any other piece of jewelry on your outfit.
  A gold-plated watch is best-suited to clothes and shoes in earthy tones, while silver goes with grey, blue and black.
  

  #4 Heirloom Watches Bend The Rules

  

  Heirloom pieces represent a legacy.
  They are usually worn as a good-luck charm or as a memory of original owner. An heirloom watch is an item that cannot be subjected to the rules of matching watches with clothes.
  For a simple reason – they are great conversation pieces and they make you memorable. Heirlooms allow you to bend and even violate the rules mentioned here.
  An heirloom watch is not worn based on the latest trends or fashions, it is a reminder of family history and culture.
  Men who fought in World War I passed on their wristwatches to their sons and grandsons as a memory of the sacrifices made by that generation. Though the function of these watches is not as a timekeeper these heirlooms are meant to be cherished and passed on through the generations.
  
  

  #5 When In Doubt Match Your Watch To Your Shoes

  Black is generally dressier, but that doesn’t make it the default right choice. Sometimes brown shoes are just a better choice. Interchangeable leather bands are useful here – one in brown and one in black for each watch. Or another color for more variety.
  
• Black leather is more formal than brown. A black watchband is more suited for formal events.
• Slip-on tassel loafers are considered business casual.
• Not able to decide between a brown or black leather band? Equate the dressiness to the brown shoe versus black shoe category.
• Silver watches match best with shoes in black, gray, silver, and blue shades. Gold watches go with browns, beiges, tans, and other earth tones.
• Wearing Oxford balmoral black shoes with a dark suit? Go with a formal watch.

For the best effect, pick a watch according to your size as well. Watches should be proportionate to your body. Thin men can work slim watches, while bigger guys can carry watches that have boxier and robust watch faces.
Use these tips to ensure a harmony between your clothes and your watch.
Not in the habit of wearing a watch? Click here to read my article – 7 Reasons To Start Wearing A Watch.

What watch company do I recommend if you’re looking for an affordable classic & stylish watch?

Check out The Fifth Watches – a great Australian company making beautiful classically styled watches that are EASY to match thanks to their interchangeable bands!

I  have received numerous compliments when I wear them – they are well made and value priced!  
Click here to check out their classic watch designs and join their VIP early access list which is the ONLY way to get access to these watches.
Their watches are only available for purchase from the 5th to the 10th of the month and this month they have a NEW set of designs plus one limited edition timepiece inspired by the city of Melbourne, Australia. 
They routinely sell out – some styles in a matter of hours!  So Click here to get on the VIP email list for FREE.

 

Women's Sunglasses:

"Fashion Advice on How to Select & Wear Sunglasses"

Need advice on how to buy womens sunglasses? On this page you'll find guidelines to the best sunglass styles for your face shape and personal style - along with tips on how to get the most out of them.

• What sunglasses to invest in
• The best styles for your face shape
• How to ensure UV protection

You want to make sure to place your money on a pair of sunglasses that look fabulous on you and that are safe on your eyes. Read along as we'll go through pointers to have in mind when shopping for the perfect match for you:

What Sunglasses to Invest In?

Make sure to spend some time on hunting for the perfect sunglasses. If you want to get the most out of your money, you need to first secure sunglasses in timeless styles and colors. Examples are: simple square frames, aviator frames oh, and you can never go wrong with Wayfarer sunglasses! And ideally in your best neutrals (eg. black, brown, beige, white, etc.) without any fancy details that draw too much attention and are harder to mix & match with your outfits.

In this way, you'll be able to wear them with the rest of your wardrobe without ever having to think twice about if they match. These classic sunglass styles never go out of style so you never have to worry about looking outdated.

The drawer sunglass essentials, are in my opinion:

• One pair of basic shades in dark neutral
• One pair of fun, but versatile sunglasses

As you can see, your sunglass essentials are almost entirely based on your personal style but they still need to be versatile enough to be worn with the rest of your wardrobe. So start off by securing the essentials and then build on your collection based on your personal taste. For example if your style is Eclectic or a bit artsy add a pair of sunglasses in red.

Here are examples of trendy but versatile sunglasses:

Or if you live in a all-around sunny climate you can make sunglasses your signature pieces that people will remember you by! Learn more about finding and defining your personal style

Womens Sunglasses in Your Best Colors

Colors affect the way you look. It can either make you look drained or give an healthy glow to your face and hair. Look your best by selecting the right colors for your hair and skin complexion.
In general, if you're warm-toned (Spring and Autumn), you'll look fabulous in golden, warm colors such as brown, cream, gold and tomato red.
If you're cool-toned, (Summer and Winter), you'll look best in colors such as black, blue, white and silver.

Check out Cheryl Cole's warm coloring compared to Sarah Harding's:

See how the golden browns bring out a healthy glow in Cheryl's olive skin? Sarah has a much vivid and cool skin tone and looks amazing with black sunglasses. Learn how to find and wear your best colors.

Note: If you're warm-toned and wish to wear black sunglasses then choose ones that have a warm-colored lense in for example brown, yellow, dark charcoal grey, golden red, etc. or some gold decoration.

If you have cool skin and hair, then you might want to choose purple and bluish lenses. 

Sunglasses for your Face Shape

The right sunglass frames will looking flattering on you by balancing out the shape as well as complement the scale of it. For example, if you have a square face then softly rounded frames will help deflect your angular jaw. Or if you have a round face, you need sunglasses that are wide enough to cover the broadest part of your face (cheekbone) and make it look slimmer.
Or for example, oversized sunglasses elongate a narrow and long face shape. A wide and round face will look bigger in narrow and small sunglasses.
Why? Simply because of the obvious difference in size :) Learn more on how to determine your face shape.

Wayfarer Sunglasses

Wayfarer Sunglasses

"Stay Cool with a Pair of Wayfarers"

Since the 1950's the Wayfarer sunglasses have been immortalized by the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn and Madonna. It went out of fashion during the 1970s of hippie 'n disco era of cat eye, round and square shades. But it was the 1983 movie Risky Business with Tom Cruise that revived this sunglass style - and cool and edgy style gained a stronger influence on young fashionistas lives.

 

Similar to Cat Eye Sunglasses, Wayfarers have a horizontally long brow frame - which is a fresh air among the endless sea of squares and round frames. However, what really sets Wayfarer sunglasses apart from the bunch is the very distinctive trapezoidal frame, giving a sturdy and masculine look. Now I know that's a bit off from Classy fashion - but they can perk up your look, creating a chic juxtaposition with Classic and Romantic clothing styles. Think Wayfarer sunnies with a girly floral dress and timeless blazer. Yup, that unexpected twist is chic style at its best!

We can all thank Ray-Ban (and of course, American optical designer Raymond Stegeman) for designing the Wayfarer sunglasses - giving us fashionistas a reason to "edgify" our look and add casual-cool to our ensembles. And although Wayfarers have been through a couple of slumpy times during the past 60 years, outcompeted by other frame shapes - rest assured, in this new fashion era of self-expression and individuality - these bad babies are here to stay!

Will it Suit My Face Shape?

Like cat eyes, Wayfarers look best with bottom-heavy face shapes (or a face with a wide jawline) such as Triangular, Round and Square. So keep in mind that if you have a wide forehead (a Heart or Inverted Triangle face like Scarlett Johansson) the trapezoidal frame will emphasize your face shape.

However there are several ways to make it work for you regardless of the shape of your face. Look for other details that will help flatter your face shape. For example, the size and style of the brow bar, rim and nose bridge. Clickhere to learn more about styling your face shape

What frame shape to choose?

The classic shape of the Wayfarer is trapezoidal and narrow. But Ray-Ban has done a number of redesigns, creating several Wayfarer frame shapes - so that almost anyone can wear the shades.

Here's a quick round-up on what look looks best for each face shape:

• Inverted Triangle and Heart - Classic Wayfarer with a skinny rim and nose bridge. Translucent frames are good too.
•  

• Square - Slight curved frames
• Round - Straight and angular, square Wayfarers, preferably wide to make the widest point (cheekbones) look slimmer. Accented top brow rim to raise the length of your face shape.
• Oblong - Wayfarer frames that cover the center of the face to shorten the length of the face shape, also rounded frames
• Triangular - Detailed top brow rim to draw attention from jawline, and also frames that are clear on the bottom frame
• Diamond - Classic Wayfarer but with curved frames
• Oval - can pull off plenty of Wayfarer shapes and styles, just make sure to get the scale right

Get the right scale for your face shape

My advice to you when it comes to selecting a pair of flattering Wayfarer sunglasses is to select the right frame scale for your face size. Most Wayfarers are narrow which look best on smaller faces, but you can also find them in bigger, larger sizes that are best suited for wider facial bone structure.

Wearing oversized sunglasses or any large-scaled accessory is in my opinion (and this is a general statement) more of a chic fashion statement - more so than wearing something that's too small. I would compare this fashion blunder to wearing a small bra with your boobs spilling out; a too-small jacket where it looks like it's about to burst open; or a too small skirt that makes your love handles appear like stuffed sausages.

  So to give you an example of how funny small sunglasses look on a wide face shape, here's Beyonce:

Now compare that to this picture where she got the scaling right: 

 

 Neutral or Colored/Printed?

You can find Wayfarer sunglasses in a variety of colors and prints. Black and brown seem to be the norm – and they're super versatile and look good with all color outfit combinations!

If you prefer a neutral color that goes with the rest of your wardrobe I suggest black, browns and dark blues. You can also find the updated version of the classic Wayfarer with gold or silver hardware which can help define a Classic clothing personality.

If you want to turn up the trend-factor, try timeless bold colors such as red or white. And in these days you can find Wayfarers with cool prints such as tribal, floral and houndstooth. How about experimenting with print mixing?

How do I style my outfit with Wayfarer Sunglasses?

I'm definitely all for juxtaposing the shades with a clothing style opposite from its edgy and cool look. For example a floral dress, shift dress combined a blazer or a polkadot blouse with jeans. Look at how Rachel Bilson does classy-chic with a pair of black Wayfarer sunglasses:

  Wayfarers can also look super-stylish with a simple, sporty-preppy outfit. But I would personally amp up the style on the shades to give an interesting oomph to the outfit. Check out how Taylor Swift does it:

Shop Wayfarer Sunglasses Online

There's just something about wearing a pair of original Wayfarers designed by the creators Ray-ban that makes owning a pair extra special. They're affordable (between $100-300 each depending on the style) and you'll sport a pair with history. But if it's still way off your budget and you just want to enjoy in purchasing several pairs without splurging then I suggest going for replicas. If you want something more affordable then you should check out the newest additions at online sunglass stores such as Sunglass warehouse or OC Shades.
Check out the latest cool wayfarer shade styles: