Africa Fashion Week: Intisaar's sassy colorful collection brings back 80s punch of color

photo credit:  Simon Deiner / SDR Photo



Zimbabwean born designer Intisaar Mukadam brought the eighties sexy back with her colorful Spring/Summer 2012 collection at Africa Fashion Week in Johannesburg.

Showcasing beautiful African Java and Zimbabwe batik prints, this collection featured flirty, simple and chic bright, bold yellow, purple, pink and blue pieces.  The easy to wear separates are a great addition to any spring or summer wardrobe.  Whether you pair the colorful tops with structured slacks, skinny jeans or pencil skirts, this versatile collection goes from fun to sophisticated in one easy switch.

What a fun, playful way to end what was a luxe visual collage of Africa Fashion week 2011!

Who should rock this collection?  Rihanna and Solange Knowles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

photo credit: Simon Deiner / SDR Photo

Africa Fashion Week: Tart shows that once you go black you never go back (PHOTOS)

photo credit:  Simon Deiner / SDR Photo



Once you go black, you never go back!  Rocking the Africa Fashion Week stage in Johannesburg, Tart showed the fashion world that black is the new black.

Everything about the Tart Spring/Summer 2012 collection screams simple and easy to wear.  We are so used to seeing designers show dreamy, comical and over-the-top runway collections that have a 2% chance of runway to real street appeal.  We can all breathe a collective sigh of chic relief with Tart's designs.  While we are huge fans of color, we appreciate Tart's appeal to our modern career woman angle.  Each and every one of these designs are daily wardrobe staples for the modern woman on the go.

Each piece oozes sophistication, classic chic and allure.  From the form-fitting maxi dresses to the sexy leather pieces, work day, cocktail hour and evening soirees have never looked better.  While black is the focus of the collection, it doesn't straddle the line between chic and goth..... It's just chic. 

Fashion designers know that a burst of color adds a stylish touch to any collection.  Tart shows us why less is more with  one gorgeous green/black print maxi.  Tart knows that most women have curves and Tart knows how to dress those clothes.  With that in mind, this collection is versatile, sexy and contemporary.

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 photo credit: Simon Deiner / SDR Photo

Africa Fashion Week: Gloria Wavamunno shows off her contemporary side (PHOTOS)

photo credit:  Simon Deiner / SDR Photo

Following a somewhat lukewarm start in 2009, Ugandan designer Gloria Wavamunno brought her A-game to the Johanesburg runway during Africa Fashion Week.  From uber thigh-high slits to edgy batik jackets and tops, Wavamunno is carving a new niche in the fashion world.

From long flowy skirts and a myriad of dark leather shilhouettes, Wavamunno's ready to wear collection featured exposed zippers, jersey pieces and structured looks.  We notice that Wavamunno departed from the usual Africa Fashion Week tribal prints and focused more on chic jersey fabric styles.  That brings up the issue of whether African designers should stick to the tried and true ankara, batik, tribal print styles or find their niche in contemporary fabric designs.  We think Wavamunno manages to infuse enough batik elements into her collection to give off that Africana vibe.

We're rooting for the Wavamunno line and loving this new collection with its edgy, somewhat defiant and sexy messages. 

Who should rock this collection?  We see Chanel Iman, Nicole Scherzinger , Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

photo credit: Simon Deiner / SDR Photo