BEAUTY AND FASHION Archives - The African Mirror Test

Apr

26

2022

Kenyan high-flyer returns to find gold in raw leather

BEAUTY AND FASHION

I approach a woman wearing a floral green short-sleeved kitenge dress and started engaging her. Habari yako (how are you)?” I say. Nzuri sana, asante (I am fine, thank you),” she promptly responds, then enquires whether I am the writer from bird story agency. “I am Chebet Mutai,” she says, stretching her hand to greet me. The 38-year-old Mutai is a former World Bank Economic consultant-turned-fashionista, entrepreneur, and founder of WazaWazi – two Kiswahili words that have been combined to mean, "be open-minded". Mutai ushers me to her WazaWazi shop on the ground floor of the arcade. The shop is adjacent…

Feb

08

2022

By LEOCADIA BONGBEN, BIRD STORY AGENCY

Designer’s lasting imprint on AFCON2022, Cameroon

BEAUTY AND FASHION

ON November 23, 2021, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) publically unveiled the official match ball of the African Cup of Nations. The "new official match ball" was named "Toghu", after traditional garb that is very popular in Cameroon. The ball would be used by the 24 teams during 52 matches to be played in the competition between January 9 and February 6, 2022. “Toghu represents tradition, ornate, glory, heritage, and unity,” CAF tweeted. Perched on a street corner in the Obili neighbourhood of Yaoundé, is a workshop that was set up in 1998 during the World Cup in France…

Jan

28

2022

By The African Mirror

Rich Mnisi expresses South African identity with Adidas collaboration

BEAUTY AND FASHION

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER TAKING on the global stage, South African award-winning fashion designer Rich Mnisi has released a capsule collection with athleisure giant Adidas. The two brands have linked up on a collection of streetwear and athletic pieces that fuse their identities — Adidas' sharp and technical prowess, and Mnisi's bold Tsonga-inspired prints. "My identity comes through in how they all come together in every piece. There are no limits to how we applied the colours. It’s bold and doesn’t follow any rules," Mnisi tells PAPER magazine. Staying close to his heritage and community, Mnisi gives fans and fashion lovers…

Jan

17

2022

By The African Mirror

‘House of Gucci’ and Lady Gaga land SAG award nominations

BEAUTY AND FASHION

LISA RICHWINE HIGH fashion drama "House of Gucci" led the nominations on Wednesday for Hollywood's Screen Actors Guild Awards, scoring nods for the top prize of best cast and for the performances of stars Lady Gaga and Jared Leto. The awards, voted on by members of the SAG-AFTRA acting union, are closely watched as indicators of which movies will fare well at the Oscars ceremony in March. Actors form the largest group that will vote for the Academy Awards. Dark Western "The Power of the Dog" also received three SAG nominations for actors Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst and Kodi Smit-McPhee. But it…

Dec

21

2021

By The African Mirror

Dakar Fashion Week returns to baobab forest to promote ‘inclusive’ fashion

BEAUTY AND FASHION

ELODIE TOTO AT the foot of a towering baobab tree outside Senegal's capital Dakar on Saturday, cameras flashed in the waning dusklight as 20-year old Najeebah Samuel strode down the catwalk to zealous applause. Born with cerebral palsy, Samuel, 20, was the first of two dozen models of all shapes and sizes to take the runway at Dakar's 19th annual Fashion Week event, held at the weekend with the dual themes of inclusiveness and sustainability. "I want to prove to other disabled kids that you're not your disability - you're just you," Samuel said, wearing an orange and blue dress…

Dec

15

2021

By The African Mirror

Kim Jayde shows more sneaker love for Kickin It – Season 2

BEAUTY AND FASHION

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER MULTI-award winning television host and entertainer Kim Jayde returns to Youtube with the newest season of her show 'Kickin' It with Kim Jayde'. The online show created by the Zimbabwean-South African focuses on the latest sneaker trends, speaks to the tastemakers of the community; and connects sneaker lovers and popular industry faces on their love for cultural footwear. The poster for ‘Kickin It with Kim Jayde’. Picture: Supplied Each episode features a guest bringing their own collection of beloved sneakers and sharing memories and fashion tips with Jayde. "It took a year to save up to produce…

Nov

30

2021

By The African Mirror

Wanda Lephoto blurs the lines between the border and fashion in ‘Home Affairs’

BEAUTY AND FASHION

THE AFRICAN MIRROR WANDA Lephoto takes us on a trip to discover and reach out to touch a piece of South African culture through his latest collection ‘All in Line - Home Affairs’. Shown for the first time at Lagos fashion week, Lephoto’s work draws inspiration from the many faces and identities seen at South Africa’s government sector responsible for handling the legal documents of citizens and immigrants, known to South Africans as Home Affairs. Wanda Lephoto’s ‘Home Affairs’ collection. Picture: Instagram/wandalephoto As explained on his Instagram post, “As we continue to explore the essence of who we are, this…

Nov

29

2021

By The African Mirror

Fashion world grieves after death of Louis Vuitton’s Virgil Abloh

BEAUTY AND FASHION

VIRGIL Abloh, fashion's highest-profile Black designer and the creative mind behind Louis Vuitton's menswear collections, died on Sunday of cancer, Vuitton's owner LVMH said. Following are reactions to his death. ZADRIAN SMITH, STYLIST, IN AN INSTAGRAM POST: "Thank you for being such an incredible expander for all of us black boys who thought it would never be possible to exist at the luxury level of the fashion industry. I still remember your first show for @LouisVuitton and how much it shifted the culture, a culture for so many years that was void of colour." TRACEE ELLIS ROSS, ACTRESS, IN AN…

Nov

26

2021

By The African Mirror

Rubicon debuts its Autumn/Winter ‘22 collection with a personal touch

BEAUTY AND FASHION

African Mirror Reporter SOUTH African fashion giants Rubicon shook her audience members in a sold out show with the debut of their Autumn/Winter 22’ collection inspired by men’s clothing and bold palettes. Heavily inspired by Rubicon founder and designer Hangwani Nengovhela’s late father, Dickson Ralusha, it comes to no surprise that the inclusion of a men's line is indeed uncharted territory for the brand, however the looks created show that there is no challenge that Rubicon Clothing cannot face. Rubicon’s autumn/winter ‘22 inspired by Dickson Ralusha. Picture: Supplied Nengovhela plays around with this new collection incorporating bold colours in asymmetric…

Nov

24

2021

By The African Mirror

L’Oreal offers vouchers to end spat with China’s “lipstick brother”

BEAUTY AND FASHION

SOPHIE YU and MIMOSA SPENCER FRENCH cosmetics giant L'Oreal is offering shopping vouchers to some Chinese customers to settle a dispute over discounts that drew the ire of the country's top two livestreaming sales stars, the pair said. Li Jiaqi, known as "lipstick brother", and fellow top influencer Viya gave details of the compensation scheme to followers during a livestreaming event late on Thursday. L'Oreal Paris confirmed the details on its Weibo account in China. The duo this week said they had cut ties with L'Oreal after some followers said facial products the pair had promoted as carrying the biggest…