Cover Girls: Angela Simmons for VIBE Magazine

 While she might not be on the cover, fashionista & footwear designer Angela Simmons is heating up the digital pages of VIBE.com with a new fall fashion spread. With NY Fashion Week under way, I'll be looking forward to bumping into Angela under the tents. Check out some of the super chic looks she rocked for VIBE:

Fierce or Foolish: Queen Bey & Princess Sol

I've got a good one for you guys today! The Knowles sisters were spotted all over this weekend at the Coachella Music Festival in Cali. I caught a glance at these pics over at Fashion Bomb. This actually has me stumped. I can't decide if I love or hate! So this one's a double whammy:

 Beyonce has been switching it up lately. Instead of her over-the top extra glam ensembles, she's been very low key and dare I say "downtown hipster". I was shocked but I think I'm falling in love with this outfit. Cropped tops are in this season, so if you've got it right and tight, by all means flaunt it! I'm even digging the soft curls and the Native-American style headgear...

This just goes to show how drastically different the two sisters are. I'm not mad at it though. Solange's ensemble is very original and eclectic, just like she is. Soundoff! 

Fierce or Foolish?

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Confessions of a Shopaholic: Junkprints

 Ever so often I stumble upon a brand that stops me in my tracks. The other day I went giddy over new urban brand Junkprints - I absolutely love it. Created and inspired by graphic designer Chanel Kennebrew, the line features funky tees, accessories, shoes and more.

 I'm always a proponent of cool prints and unique accessories, so I immediately jumped on the Junkprints bandwagon as a fan. I'm not usually big on graphic tees but I thought this one was so cute. What better way to make light of the recession than with a "Laid Off" tee...

Hey, if you can't do anything about it, you mights as well laugh at it right? Now as much as I love my hobo bags and dainty purses, I might consider changing up my steaze to rock a backpack like this one...

I'm also huge on rings. I've seen some amazing multi-finger wide rings with text on them (a la Erykah Badu's on the left). Junkprints makes a chic and funky pair labeled "This" and "That" (on the right).

For more information on Junkprints and for purchase, visit Junkprints.com.

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Fashion Week Special Report: ARISE Fashion Collective

 This post is dedicated completely to the Arise Fashion Collective as I believe they need special recognition and placement on LoveBrownSugar. Let me start by saying that the three collections shown - Black Coffee, Loin Cloth & Ashes, and Deola Sagoe were all innovative, intriguing and beautifully done. The Tent at Bryant Park was buzzing with smells of incense-touched kente, greetings in african languages & dialects, and exhaustive shades of beautiful brown faces surrounding the runway. I was in heaven. Here's my recap of the collections:

Black Coffee Fall 2010

The Black Coffee collection was a great collection of structured dresses and coats in muted pastel colors. I loved the cocoon-like shapes and layering of the pieces. (Peep Chanel Iman serving face on the left!)

Loin Cloth & Ashes Fall 2010

The Loin Cloth & Ashes collection was less structured and featured some really great traditional fabrics. I adored her funky slim-fitted trousers. She also had some beautiful draped dresses.

Deola Sagoe Fall 2010

Deola Sagoe's designs were delightfully fitted and feminine for her Fall collection. The shapes were varied and eclectic and I loved the unexpected cutouts and exaggerated shapes in so many of her dresses. Very chic pieces with an ethnic twist.

 

 

 For more pics from Arise Fashion collective, browse through my album HERE.

Dare I say the Arise after-party was the highlight of my weekend? Yes, I said it. It was quite possibly the best industry event I've ever been to. Held at the Plaza hotel, the open bar and people-watching would've been enough for me. But add to that menu - surprise mini-concert by Ciara! It made my night. I was front row center and enjoyed every minute. That girl has abs...she works for that money honey.

  Be sure to keep updated with Arise Magazine. I've done some posts on how awesome they are! And for more pictures from the after-party, visit my album HERE.

Sick Site Spotlight: MyAsho.com

So I finally got around to reading this copy of Arise Magazine I snagged during Fashion Week. They were giving copies out in the lobby under the tents. Considering I'd blogged about Arise and Africa Fashion Week, you know I couldn't leave without a copy!

While flipping through the glossy pages, I stumbled upon an article about a really great new website. It's called MyAsho.com. MyAsho is actually a Nigerian online fashion emporium that premieres local African designers and makes their designs available to the global market. Asho is the Yoruba word for cloth, and Dolapo Shobanjo (the sites's creator) founded this site with the intent of giving African designers more accesibility to the world outside of Africa.

Screenshot from MyAsho.com

There's something so regal about designs straight from Africa. The rich fabrics, the cultural influence, the amazing prints; they all make each piece that much special. And now us urban fashionistas without family there can stop hounding our African friends to bring back fabric and accessories when they go home for family vacay!

Here are some of my favorites from the site:

Panya Dress, $62.86 On Sale

Orange Ayinke Clutch by Jezreel Designs, $143.44

Elegant Cape by YouMeWe, $95.63

Check out MyAsho.com for the more of the latest in African designer fashions.

Arise Africa Fashion Week: Well, it's about TIME!

We're making moves!! Last year - we got the first ever all-black issue of Italian Vogue. This January - America voted in it's first-ever African-American President. And NOW, Africa has its own Fashion Week! Although those 3 things are definitely not on the same scale of importance (Obama trumps them all), this new wave of recognition for the black community in all aspects of pop culture gets me excited. Arise Africa Fashion Week took place last month from June 12th - June 19th. The organization responsible for the event is African Fashion International in conjuction with Arise Magazine.

Arise is the first global magazine dedicated to achievements in African fashion, music, culture and politics. I didn't even know it existed until today!


While the Africa Fashion Week culminated in Johannesburg, South Africa, the shows took place in all different African countries that week including: Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Ethipia, Mozambique, and many more. This year's Africa Fashion Week marked the inaugural beginning of an annual event which will feature African designers from around the Continent, showcasing their talent:

Love the vibrant colors on this peice.

Yellow & floor-length: such a cool combination

This looks so well-crafted...like it took months to make

I guarantee you nobody will be walking into the ball with this dress on...so unique. Look at those sleeves!

Needless to say, I'm just ecstatic about Africa Fashion Week. ESPECIALLY considering how so many of today's designers take their inspiration, in terms of shapes and concepts as well as prints and patterns, from the Motherland. I only hope that one day I, too,will have the opportunity to sit front row and center at one of these amazing shows! Click here to find out more about Africa Fashion Week and Arise Magazine