End of february look

I tried to keep every item in the [ under 50$ or between 50$ and 100$] bracket.

I picked the shorts for the print ...and because this winter i have a short short craze on top of my usual print craze.

Shorts in winter allows me to be playful with geometrically patterned socks and tights.

The overal comfort of this look is perfect for someone who takes the subway on rush hours in the busy city.

And the backpack for everything a girl from africa in new york needs to carry daily.

Xoxo

///highlights///

- petite unicorn sweat TOPSHOP $52

- indego Africa short NICOLEMILLER $65

- superdry polar puffer jacket SUPERDRY $100

- mid shoe SUPRASOCIETY $50

- leopard gold twosome ring ERICA ANNENBERG $98

Print pasteques

Memphis // Nathalie du pasquier // Was poppin'  stays poppin'

E- lectricity // by Miklas Manneke // South Africa

Sort of like... something jeunet would ve done... if he was south african... 

My favorite charachter is the market lady with the bucket of goods glued to her head.

The story of a young african kid trying to figure out a way to advance his town and help his people.

Butterflies, flowers, pastels, knitted hats and quirky moments... love love love 

Congolaise (the movie ~ 1950)

Grab some pop corn and stay for a while.

Congolaise is 60 years old?

As I was typing this post, the meaning and usage of the word NATIVE or even LOCALS hit me. It is used to designate the people who are found on the discovered land and who will be soon wiped out in order to make room for the rightful owners of the land who have received the permission from God himself to go and conquer. Who is that? oh that? that's just.. the natives. NATIVE also contains a weird disdain for the people who haven't or seemingly haven't tried to travel and take over the world. Most likely if you are unfortunate enough to be in the 80 % natives groups of the world, you poor and meek wheat skirt wearing individual. What were you thinking, sitting here, waiting to be found in a naked and awkward satisfaction of your sedentary existence. Who finds the native, uses the native anf KEEPS the land bande d'imbeciles. You never heard that? Now dance for me. 

In these crazed times we (all of us) are starting to feel the immense importance these population and their traditions had. The power and the art. Who is going to teach us how to thread the ether now 

For its defense this movie wasn't racist or anything. These amazing images ... thank God for the person who shot them. 

Queens

A post is definitely overdue and I have a lot to tell you. But I need to sit and write. As I do so I m listening to this track non stop. Vivian Ndour is a fulani singer, queen of Mbalax, a traditional senegalese style of music. I met her yesterday. I m in love with this song of her. The video is amazing, in it she talks about the pride of being african and natural royalty. i am mad I couldn't find the lyrics translated but I feel it so.. guess its all that matter. Can u spell DOPE?!

AES*THE*TICS aesthetics aesthetics #CREATIVE CONTENT I LIKE

"A film by Champagne Valentine and Petrovsky & Ramone for new Aura essence brand Aureola. Using color, light, rare botanical essences and crystals, Aureola rebalances the human energy field when applied to body pulse points. To be released in 2012, just in time for the spiritual transformation of the universe."

Aureola from Champagne Valentine on Vimeo.

I am curious at how much a manufactured external product can influence the change of your energy field or even the Universe.. I see the whole 2012 marketing blooming full force .but at least there is awareness :P

BUT, however, tout de meme, malgre tout, this video is a blazing energy field by itself!!!!

I think this is Miss Jodie, one of my favorite model out there... and the graphics and feel and everything about this is just very cool. I think Miss Jodie energy field has a lot to do with that.. she just gets involved with the coolest stuf out there, visually and I love her for that sooo much.#Coolestontheblockaward.

I wish all commercials were this artistic and unique.They got me and maybe i will try it out.. lol ...change your energy field...

I think Beyonce should make her next video something like this, and I think she will.

Enjoy

http://www.petrovskyramone.com/

(: That June Girl from Africa ): Nyasa Matonhodze

The 16 year old Zimbabwean is the new Face of Louis Vie :)
I can see so much natural beauty in her face.

Another perfect flower in the equilibrium of the variety of human plants on this earth.

I love Nyasa I do I do .

I command you to stare at those candid candids.!!  

She is nicknamed "Mukwasi" by her grand mother which is the name for a long african elephant bird,

note: In my language Urukwasi means a needle, but why am i telling you this?

Anyway, Nyasa is signed to ELITE and has walked for many already, including Emmanuel Ungaro, Vuitton of course and  JC De Castelbajac

She is my june girl from Africa.

:( Bye bye Poly :(

I can't remember why i fell in love with her, but then again, who wouldn't fall in love with this metal teethed girl screaming "little girls should be seen, not heard... Oh Bondage up your ... in the most nonchalant way.

She died yesterday from this shit called cancer, at 53. She wasn't in the music industry a lot but she definitely follower her heart. Found out she has a daughter who has a band called Debutante disco. Going to check it out.

Rest In Peace Poly Styrene, death isn't really that. 

When I was a kid ~ Rihanna

I lived in the tropics, by the ocean, sun kissed, fresh fruits and water. Life was simple, there were many colors, many textures, I remember, thank god I will never forget, :) ~ Thoughts channeled by Iyadede

That man from ... :p

I can be exentric at times, a free outfit, free as in "I just want to be this person today" is ..how can I say, something i respect! :) But I also love simple lines, few colors and simplicity. Especially for Men's wear.

This is the perfect example of what I like.

Model: AC

Shirt: Army shirt #L33

Pants: Dickies

Shoes: Urban Outfitters

Glasses: Kio Yamato

My Girl Crush

FB friend Claudeen reminded me of my girl crush. Dr Mae Jemison. What else is sexy about her besides her doctorate, the fact that she enrolled in Stanford University at 16 and is a polyglot, including Japanese, Russian and Swahili, and the fact that she went ..to space? Divine floating vision you are oh cosmonaut goddess you!!!

That April girl from Africa: Anisa Mpungwe

i fux wid it

So Anisa doesn't need introduction and shame on you if you don't know the creator and owner of the fantastic brand Loin Cloth & Ashes. I met her last year at her showing at the Mercedes Benz fashion week and it was long distance love ever since. Anisa is Tanzanian and lives, loves, creates and breaks hearts in South Africa.

What do I love the most about LCA, without writing a book?? let's see, it's wearable and elegant, it doesn't really aim to a particular age group, the execution is savant, Anisa is a master cutter obvioulsy,

and she takes risks a lot, with the materials and the the shapes, form fitting is just organic to her and you can see it, and in addition to making wearable clothes, she knows how to infuse a touch of craziness, completely to the left with surprizing accessories, or with a daring mix of patterns.

And she is funny as hell. It was a blessing to know her and I just want to see her rise and rise and rise. Well she is doing just that, don't you worry. Please visit her on www.loinclothandashes.com to learn more, make sure you read her blog, she will tell you more about herself and her adventures. Below you can view some pictures from her newest accomplishments, this should explain why I love her work so much. This is very very very vey well designed clothes. Eventually I will get her to design something only for me, just waiting for pay day because she is well worth it. Perhaps my future big wedding dress who knows?

.

: (DECLARE : )

Everybody knows that if the planet was to sink in a giant tsunami of whipped cream, and I could save one record, it would be Bjork's

This song is soo right now ( thought 3 years old), and she goes straight to the subject. The video is.... well.. she was always able to convey her feeling in very interesting images. So as I watch the middle east fight for freedom ( we will find out later if its the good kind as usual) I just turn the sound of the news off and blast this song.

The protect your language part is primordial.

ps: why is this in Africa mod? because i m not about to reblog images nonetheless superb of dark skin girls in colorful outfits only. I d rather go the the blogs that I follow for that purpose for they do it well.

Here i like to convey ideas and independence darling is the hottest, timeless trend right?

:::Bermuda's triangular twilight zone interlude:::: Klaus Nomi.

Klaus Nomi died before I was 0 years old, my lover that hero pointed that out the other day.

I mean he doesn't need definition, if you like him then you'll do some research. But seriously, his new wave vaudeville genre leaves you perplex and you always ask for more.

Then I find out he covers Summer's I feel love? Are you kidding me? OUT THERE. They had fun before us, TRUST ME. 

Listen to the "Lightning striking" drums in the very first bars and tell me who used it afterwards.

I want to be evillllll

I admire Ertha Kitt. This close up video of her swinging from sweet to cruel is just purrrrfect. 

That March girl from Africa : Alice + Sister

I have decided to elect a cool girl from Africa every month for thatgirlfromafrica.com. After all africaMOD section is dedicated to everyone and everything I find inspiring, beautiful or straight up stylish, or all tree. The selection criteria shall be the natural aura and energy + happy feeling the picture inspires. Then i will get into knowing the winner a little more by asking a few questions. The idea here is to simply show beauty and inspire, and give you a little glance at style in the south, why not? NOT a dating site :) For the coming months, feel free to submit pictures of real people you feel should be highlighted also tell us why you love the picture

 This month's girls from Africa are 2! Alice + Sister

I am in awe with this picture, the look, the pose, the lines.

And it reminds me that in Rwanda, good friends hold hands.

I asked Alice a few questions:

Where do you live? I live in Rwanda

What is your dream in life? My dream is to see this world in peace

What makes you happy? To be with my friends

What makes you sad? To be very poor

What do you want to say to the world? Protect each other with all our forces

*Alice apologized for her english that she called poor, but I told her there was no reason, it was perfect

Trends vs Real Love

I woke up yesterday morning (well more like 1pm in the afternoon.. hey its Sunday!) to beautiful Beyonce gracing the cover of the French Magazine "L'Officiel" to celebrate it's 90th Birthday.

I love the idea of Beyonce going back to her African roots and portraying an African Queen, and I do appreciate that she is publicly waking up to that part of herself. 

The black face on some of the frames became a subject of intense discussion on Twitter among the afropolitan and afro conscious /afro centric crowd.

I did not mind the "exoticism" part of it, I mean, It's beautiful and if people want to paint their faces darker to resemble me, I am flattered! However the way it was done here is disturbing.. but artistic expression is personal so.. hey.. (Note that because I grew up in Africa, I haven't experienced the history of humiliation attached to the black face, but respect how anyone may feel about this)

But as an homage to Fela the activist, the fighter, the philosopher, I think it's cool to remember him for the style, the music AND the message.

And I do hope that l' Officiel gets "the layers below"

I d' love to know that they've hired some African designers to dress Beyonce for this shoot for example highlighting emerging African designers...

As the buzz for Africa is growing and buzzing, I want to say this: Make the Afro chic look a trend and match that with the fight for equality and the diversity of the black beauty and a true love and understanding for Africa.

By the way here are pictures of Fela's Queens, taken by French photographer Bernard Matussiere in 1983.

If you remember Bob Marley for his long dreads and weed smoking, you've missed the prophet.

If you remember Fela for his underpants and his many wives, you've missed the message. 

FuckyeahFelaandBob

Vlisco since 1846

Since 1846, Vlisco has been designing and producing colorful fashion fabrics that form an essential part of the lively West and Central African culture.

I felt like pointing out this brand for a few reasons:

They have been in this business way before it was trendy

They use brown models in their campaign, in majority, unapologetically and as one myself, I need a brand out there that strikes my ego too eh?

Their ad campaigns are timeless (if I was alive in the 17th century, this is how I' d dress), so worthy of a Vogue spread and other couture publications.

They have cool stores in Major African capital cities, CREATING LOCAL JOBS!

Vlisco is a Dutch company, so yeah, Africa still doesn't profit from its striking identity as much as it could but, they have been at this forever and we love them for that.

PS: there was a whole debate about "how African" Dutch Wax Fabric really is and I came to the conclusion that it totally is. I can see how savvy business men from Holland started to create heavily patterned fabric after seeing it done in Ivory Coast or... in Indonesia...

FuckyeahVlisco :) 

 

High level of lovability

Inspired by Mengly Her. 

This is where I will show love to all the wonderful creators of beauty ( in my eyes) that I meet.

So come back often