REDEFINITION -RALPH AND RUSSO

Locus amoenus is a literary term which generally refers to an idealized place of safety or comfort. A locus amoenus is usually a beautiful, shady lawn or open woodland, or a group of idyllic islands, sometimes with connotations of Eden or Elysium and comprising typically of trees, grass and water. It is no wonder that Ralph and Russo Autumn Winter 20I5/2016 footwear collection breeds this in every piece. Finished in satin, suede and patent materials with ornamental filigree leaves spiralling naturally up the heel, the Eden Heel pump harks back to the beauty and perfection of a lost paradise. As if from an enchanted fairy-tale, entangled in the dense foliage of the forest and claimed by a wandering damsel, the Eden Heel pump is celestial, refined and romantic. The Eden Heel pump is easily transformed from day to night. The Eden pump is the locus amoenus of the shoe world. 

 

R&R Autumn Winter 2016/107 footwear collection raises the bar on the dynamism the pair unleashes in the redefinition of what pumps and footwear in general represents. I am mostly intrigued by the rebranded image of the pump heel, easily thought as the piece for simplicity and corporate elegance. But then, with this collection, Ralph and Russo create timeless elegance with the detailing of the heels, marrying them to the image of Greece and all things ethereal. The flowers and well placed leaves incorporated on the heels gives each piece  flexibility  and diversity on occasion and event. Love the shoes, I can literally sleep in them-never take them off.

Dismissing the elegance of each creation is beyond impossible (I have tagged them the vision for my bridal story….the vision lol). Ralph and Russo are likened to the Lebanese who I   categorized Indubitably Masters of Detailing

 

“Sometimes comfort doesn't matter. When a shoe is freakin' fabulous, it may be worth a subsequent day of misery. Soak in Epsom salts and take comfort in the fact that you're better than everyone else.” ― Clinton Kelly

 

“It doesn't matter how great your shoes are if you don't accomplish anything in them.” ― Martina Boone, Compulsion

 

“The stiletto is a feminine weapon that men just don't have.” ― Christian Louboutin

 

“There are women who only look at another woman's shoes and never at her face.
And others who always look women in the face and only occasionally at their shoes.” 
― Nina George, The Little Paris Bookshop

 

The fan pump according to the designers official website is, “Inspired by the spatial elegies of Massimo Listri, the Fan pump is a masterful composition of symmetry and elegance. The curve of the fan, flattering and flawless, revisits the alabaster arches and the sculptured ceilings of ancient castello’s captured by Listri’s artistic perspectives. Available in a variety of satin finishes and exotic skins, from deep burgundy to gold tipped pink python skin, the beautifully structured Fan pump encapsulates the dramatic yet delicate equilibrium of Ralph & Russo’s designs.” These shoe are not overly embellished but radiates elegance and would be undeniably, faithful lovers to the feet of any lady of class.

 

Can't go wrong in these...

In the spirit of the ethereal theme that glows around the designers’ collections, the Alina clutch-The swan feather featuring an ornate metallic feather handle is an undebatable personification of elegance and sophistication. Inspired by the same regal swan that roused the melodies of Tchaikovsky, the fluid jeté of Swan Lake’s Princess and the elegiac prose of W.B Yeats, an intricately carved feather sits majestically atop the clutch, perfectly arched to adorn one’s hand.

It is without doubt that the pair have created a dynasty distinct for the reinvention things thought simple and stereotypic.

 

 

“Adornment, what a science! Beauty, what a weapon! Modesty, what elegance!” 
― Coco Chanel

Live in the light of elegance. Simplicity is more..

SOURCES: https://www.pinterest.com

                    https://ralphandrusso.com/

                    https://www.goodreads.com/

THE AISLE AND THE RED CARPET

Something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a silver sixpence in her shoe- in this case, let’s say something extra spicy- The Second Dress. The famous saying dates back to Victorian times as many brides try to arrange their wedding attire accordingly. Something old represents the link with the bride's family and the past. Many brides choose to wear a piece of antique family jewelry or a mother's or grandmother’s wedding gown. Something new represents good fortune and success in the bride's new life. The wedding gown is often chosen as the new item. Something borrowed is to remind the bride that friends and family will be there for her when help is needed. The borrowed object might be something such as a lace handkerchief. Something blue is the symbol of faithfulness and loyalty. Often the blue item is the garter. A silver sixpence in her shoe is to wish the bride wealth. And now, something extra spicy represents the audacious diva in the bride.

Traditionally, white weddings have the bride glammed up in her Cinderella dress to meet her prince charming by the altar with friends and family as love struck spectators. It is famously said, 'it is all about the bride' and Nigerian wedding these days are making it 200% about the bride than was originally thought. From the extra effort put into pre-wedding shots, the outfit for the day, brides maids, shoes, make up, nails, even the food (Party rice and the tradition swallow just got a face lift as wedding now incorporate intercontinental dishes and desserts from cakes to ice cream to small chops and sometimes breakfast for an early engagement-talk about re-branding) .

With the wave of wedding renaissance, the concept of a reception dress stands out as a striking fascination. I for one attend weddings to feast on the bride’s wedding dress as well as her bride’s maids. With the incorporation of the second dress, you can be assured of two times the thrill and two times the wow, depending on what the bride presents. In line with the booming trend, how best can one achieve two looks and why?

The second dress is a cheat platform for a bride to indulge her sassy side and walk in her spot light. Reception dresses vary from  length to silhouette- virtually anything in any colour and silhouette that strikes the bride’s fancy. In the field of presenting two statement looks, I would advise to have two different silhouette for the big day( what better way to indulge your inner glam gal…lol) I recently crashed a wedding and the bride while taking her vows, walked away with a globe award for her smashing taste in sexy conservative fashion.

Though she slayed on all grounds, putting out the same mermaid silhouette for both the ceremony and the reception may not have been the smartest idea. A wise woman once told me, “make sure to wear a ball room dress for your wedding, you only have one day to look like Cinderella and not be criticized for it.”

I am of the school of thought that the second dress is a blank check for the bride to explore more than one silhouette on her big day, thus, eliminating the stress of what should and what shouldn’t be. Two in on wedding dresses are also easy cards to explore more than one look for your big day, who says a skirt on a gown cannot make a difference?

Whether it is a whole new dress in a rootless affair with colours, lenght and texture or even a jumpsuit, make it worth the glam; engage in an affair with more than one silhouette on your big day after all, it is your spot light.

SOURCE: http://www.brideandgroom.com/

                   https://www.paulagearanconnected.com

                   https://www.delii.dvrlists.com

                   https://www.nigerianweddingsguide.com

                   https://www.nigerianwedding.tumblr.com

                   https://www.bellanaija.com

BOUQUETS AND BRIDES...

Brace up, the end of the year approaches faster than a comet and the rave for uniqueness and class is on the all-time high. Amidst the madness of wedding dress shopping, bridal train, hair, make up, food, venue and all the other things that makes the crowd go yay or nay at a wedding, there in lies a spectacular bride of the bride. Most significant in Nigeria wedding preparations is the Aso ebi (making same material available to a particular set of persons for easy identification and unison) which some people are beginning to find over rated and stressful. Why not just wear the colour of the day in any material and style? But then, when executed, it could be the most spectacular sight. Did I fail to mention the cake? That is the silent mistress; trust me when I say we love to see how she is dressed as she too can make a huge impact of the wedding review. But then, we have to give the stage to the beautiful fragrant flower girl, the traditional queen that ordains her next bride-The Bouquet. Ever wonder why she is placed specially on the turn of events? CATCH THE BOUQUET!!!

The bouquet catching tradition started back in medieval Europe, when single wedding guests viewed the bride’s dress a symbol of good luck, so they would chase her and rip a piece off a piece of her dress. When wedding dresses became something that brides spent more money on, they would throw other objects as a distraction. The bouquet, later on, became the traditionally thrown object, since flowers symbolize fertility. Another version is in France in the 1300's the bride tossed her bouquet before she left on her honeymoon. The tradition began with the bride tossing a garter or stocking. The bouquet symbolized a bride's good fortune being passed to the maiden who caught it. (Imagine ripping apart a dress in these days? I can bet you the bride would forget it's her wedding day and go all Jackie Chan on her fellow sisters…lol) Anyway, the bouquet can be an object of artistic presentation as it can be a form of expression either within the theme of the wedding or the vibe of the bride. My opinion? Be audacious with your craft. 

 
Hand Tied Bouquet

Back when I was much younger, bouquets were so well rounded I though it a criminal offence to have a flower set out of place. Most of all that I saw, (and I must say they were quite a few, weddings were not among my favourite hang out spots-Weird?), were made with organza or satin-to think about it now, Lord have mercy. Thank God for the evolution of wedding ceremonies and interpretations, the little Queen has taken up a new look, more vibrate and colourful in the right shades; She flows, runs free, even dangles when she knights the next bride to be...lol

To the beautiful sisters who would make it to the aisle in the traditional, unconventional, audacious way,whatever way, spice up you day with more colours; your bouquet (round, pageant, Nosegay, Posy cascade, pomander) experience can be more exciting when you dare her petals…

 
Round Bouquet

 
Posy Bouquet

 
Nosegay Bouquet

 
Cascade Bouquet

 
Composite Bouquet

 
Pomander Bouquet

 
Pageant Bouquet
SOURCES:http://bridesmaidforhire.com/

                   https://answers.yahoo.com

                   https://www.pinterest.com

REVOLUTIONARY THREADS...

Once upon a time, my father came back from the village bearing gifts of African prints I termed Pattern Abominations. Not only did they look like what old people wore, they had the dullest colours the colour wheel could produce- talk about a deliberate threat to my youthfulness…lol. I eventually tailored the dress in the most age appropriate style I could fine. In my opinion, it still did nothing to uplift the ancient-ness of the fabric. So, that was a good 9 years ago, what has change between then and now? Is it me or are these once thought dull fabrics now becoming the most sort after pieces for making revolutionary fashion statements both in Africa and beyond her boards?

In Nigeria, we have the weirdest names for some African prints; most famous, ‘Back of Fish’, Jumping Horse’, ‘Scattered keys’, ‘Moon and Star’, ‘Oga Madam’, ‘Star’, ‘ABC’, ‘One thousand Blocks’, ‘Television’, ‘Palm kernel’, to name a few. My mother and 99.9% of the women I knew as a child and till date have this emblems of motherhood (or so I thought they were) I had a love-hate affair with the back of fish and Jumping Horse material, but now, my mind is literary bursting with what I could do with this once thought old print-the endless possibilities.

 (from let) Jumping Horse, One thousand Blocks, Star

These materials and more not necessarily named have so much potential in the hands of the right fairy godmother or father. Creativity now goes beyond what the material is suited for to how the patterns can be manipulate to suite the style (even if it means cut out).

 

The Ankara print has gained so much revolutionary fame, a far cry from the stereotypical  Iro and Buba (Traditional wrapper and Blouse) and safe skirt and blouse. Ankara prints are so divers they are incorporated in virtually every and any style of fashion from couture to sports wears, swim wear, casuals, corporate for both genders.

Though the concept of an Ankara wedding dress is still an unsettled trend, some brides have dared to take the controversial concept to the aisle. Its emergence as Africa’s next corporate sweetheart is no new take as the renaissance of the fabric has fitted unapologetically with the office appropriate silhouettes. 

Couple and her Bridesmaids in Ankara inspired outfits

Penciled skirts, jackets, gowns, pants and trousers in the African print makes the fabric earn more prestige than once allotted to it. I remember when my dad, again gave me 6 yards of the spectacular fabric and put it plain that I would need tailor something that was more traditional rather than the sheer Mutilation we put out in the name of fashion. His use of the mutilation in a fabric related speech was both hilarious and interesting. But then I would rather say it is a Beautiful mutilation (if such exist….lol)

 

The perfectly tailored Jacket...#eyecandy 

 

...and it gets even more interesting...

 

It is no surprise that designers both local and international are exploring the strength and diversity of the African prints. Christe Brow, Stella Jean, Rose Palhares among a whole sea of designers play creatively with the Ankara fabric to fit into the fast revolving fashion industry. Whether it’s in matching prints or mix and match, cuts outs or patterns and plain mix, the Ankara prints is indubitably exceptional

 

 Corporate ideas anyone?

#swimwear

 Care for something more audacious? Dear Ankara would you like to play...lol

SOURCES: https://www.pinterest.com