FLASHBACK FASHION FRIDAY: YSL's Four "African" Dresses S/S 1967

Personally, there was nothing that Yves Saint Laurent couldn't do. He was a true pioneer, visionary and trendsetter. Nothing embodies his innovative spirit more than his 1967 Four "African" Dresses collection.

BEAUTY FOR A CAUSE: ALAFFIA

Now that the weather is getting colder and my skin is getting drier, I am having a major love affair with coconut. Coconut is very hydrating for the skin, so I use it externally and take it internally, as well. I have a coconut body butter, I use coconut oil on my body, as well as to cook with. I drink coconut milk and water, daily; and  most recently, I started using a coconut face toner from the brand EverDay Coconut, which is  a part of Alaffia Sustainable Skin Care and EveryDay Shea.

Founded by Togolese native,Olowo-n’djo Tchala, Alaffia is all about empowering West African communities by focusing on fair trade, alleviating poverty, and gender equality. 

FASHION FRIDAY: LUPITA NYONG'O

2013 has been a great year for TDB fave Lupita Nyong'o. Not only is she killing it with her performance in the critically acclaimed film 12 Years A Slave, but she is also killing it on the red carpet. I cannot wait to see what she wears this award season. Here are my TOP TEN favorite looks of hers. 

2013 BAFTA LA Jaguar Britannia  Awards

LANVIN

 Bungalow 8 and Worldview Party 

ANOTNIO BERADI 

CUP OF BEAU-TEA

Personally, I think you must enjoy the little pleasures in life, it's the true key to happiness. That being said, one of the little life pleasures I enjoy is having a nice cup of tea,  or a cuppa, as they say in England. What I love about tea is that that it's good for your health, can be had hot or cold, so you can enjoy it all-year long, and, most importantly, there are so many great beauty benefits. Of course I kid, the health benefits are way more important, but, hey, if I can feel good and look good, then that's just fantastic. I alternate between a few teas, Earl Grey, ginger, lavender, and even chocolate, just to name a few. Right now, though, I am really into Rooibos tea.

FLASHBACK FRIDAY: MENOGU DESIGNS

Last Spring, ASHA and myself had the pleasure of modeling for one of our faves, Menogu Designs. After months of anticipation, her Fall look-book is finally here! 

FASHION FRIDAY: AFWLA 2013

THE CROWD RIGHT BEFORE SHOWTIME

As you know, I am a lover of fashion. Not only is it truly my passion, but it is my obsession. That's why I am so grateful to be able to attend the fashion events I go to, and sometimes have the privilege to participate in. Of all of the amazing shows I go to, Africa Fashion Week L.A.,is still the one closest to my heart. It was the first event that TDB ever attended, and was where we met so many amazing people that we've profiled on the blog, had a pleasure of working with on different projects, and have become friends with. So many amazing things have happened to TDB, and it all started with AFWLA.

TDB'S ASHA AND DIVA

I loved everything about this year's fashion week. From the location, this year's show was held at 525 DTLA, an art gallery where Chris Brown's work is featured....yes, that Chris Brown; to the designers, 2 African Girls and Tina Summers slayed, and I want/need everything from those collections; to the music, the deejay played a good mix of African and American music that kept the crowd hyped.  

FRONT ROW FABULOUSNESS

I'd been waiting for this show all year long, and I'm so glad that it didn't disappoint. Normally, I'd post pics of the actual collections, but I was so impressed with the looks of the attendees, that I wanted to give them some love. Of course I died for the collections  as well, and you can check out all the designers  on our YouTube page.

FASHION FRIDAY: COLIN COWIE

Like most women, I've dreamed of my wedding day, since I was a little girl. Unlike most women, though, I've even dreamed of my wedding planner! Yes, since I was a little girl, I've always known that I wanted Colin Cowie to be my wedding planner.

FASHION FRIDAY: A LOOK BACK

So, tomorrow  marks our one-year anniversary! I swear, time really flies; it's crazy to think of all the amazing things we've done over the past year.

FLASHBACK FRIDAY: THE DOSHA BRAND

This week we thought it would be fun to show some pics of us from back in the day. Happy Friday. Enjoy! 

Farida & Diva

WAYBACK WEDNESDAY: INDEPENDENCE CHA CHA

June 30th marks the 53rd Independence Day of the Congo! In honor of this special occasion, I thought I'd share the song,"Indépendance Cha Cha", from Joseph Kabasele a.k.a. Le Grand Kallé. This song was written, prior to the actual Independence, as a plea for unity and became the anthem for the nationalist movement.

-DIVA

FASHION FRIDAY: YSL & IMAN

Yves Saint Laurent is the definition of a trailblazer. He was innovative, daring, experimental, and at the forefront of the latest fashion trends, which he was usually setting. Nothing embodies his genius more, in my opinion, than his 1967African Queen collection.

This collection definitely shook up the fashion industry and many designers there after began to look at Africa for fashion inspiration. You can still see the influence of this collection int the world of fashion: caftans and safari jackets can still be seen on the runway as well as in glossy fashion mags.

Fun fact, this collection was actually inspired by Monsieur Laurent's muse, super model Iman.

-DIVA

THEY DAHOMEY

THE DAHOMEY AMAZONS

Girl Power. This phrase is pretty synonymous with one of my all-time favorite girl groups, the Spice Girls. However, in this instance girl power isn't just a  mantra; it's more so about actual power and  physical strength. No other group of women, in my opinion, have embodied power and physical strength like the Dahomey Amazons.

FASHION FRIDAY: BEST OF THE WEEK

Here are my top 3  fashion picks from the past week! 

Liya Kebede

FASHION FRIDAY: JACKIE BURGER

The 2006 hit movie, The Devil Wears Prada, put a spotlight on the fashion world, especially Vogue editor Anna Wintour. Since the success of that film, and the emergence of fashion bloggers, i.e. The Fab Glam Diva, fashion editors are just as popular, and sought after as the models and actresses that grace the covers of their glossy magazines.

FASHION FRIDAY: HOW BAZAAAAR

Last week, ASHA and I attended the launch of BAZAAAAR, a pop-up shop at Space 15 Twenty, in Hollywood. The month-long pop-up, May 27th will be its last day, is designed to make you feel like you're shopping in an ancient marketplace. Just like in a marketplace, this shop includes fashion, jewelry and art for sale. All the designs use sustainable goods, as well as infuse traditional prints and fabrics. The designers and artists hail from all over the world, from Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. 

This event is the brain child of Urban Outfitters and Dossier Journal.Their goal is to promote global fashion; 10% of the proceeds will go to Studio One Eighty Nine and Fashion Rising to help end the global violence against women.

BEAUTY SECRETS OF CLEOPATRA

I am really, really excited to be sharing these beauty secrets with you guys. Cleopatra was a true pioneer in the world of beauty. Some of her beloved ingredients she used in her routine can be found in products we use today. The best part is, all the things she used are natural, and  a lot of the treatments and ingredients she used are still available today.  Below are just a few of her favorite beauty treatments. No other woman in history,in my opinion, has influenced the world of beauty more than Cleopatra.

FASHION FRIDAY: SPRING PICKS

YOURS TRULY. YOU CAN SEE THE DETAILS OF MY LOOK HERE.

Warm weather. Birds singing. Flowers blooming. Yes my friends, Spring is in full effect. One of the great things about this season is that it's a breath of fresh air from the layered, structured, and confined feel of Winter. Though not as relaxed as Summer, Spring fashion is still carefree and fun.

Usually floral prints are incorporated into wardrobes during this season; don't get me wrong, I love a floral print as much as the next gal, I rock a floral print head wrap all the time, but I think there are so many more bold, interesting and different options out there. Fortunately, many designers agree with me, and have incorporated bright, bold, fun colors and prints into their Spring collections. As I looked through each collection more closely, I realized there's definitely strong African influences,whether intentional or not. That being said, I wanted to share some of my favorite pieces that, for me, were a nod to my Motherland, and a  great alternative to floral.

FASHION FRIDAY: VICTORIA'S SECRET ANGELS

As well as being an actress, one of my life-long dreams was to be a Victoria's Secret Angel. Blame it on the angel wings. While I wait for the call that I'll be walking down the runway in this year's show, I thought I'd share with you guys some of the fab, fellow African chicas who've shimmied down the glittery runway:


Ajuma Nasenyana-KENYA

Alek Wek- SUDAN

Aminata Niaria-SENEGAL

Anais Mali-CHAD

FITNESS FRIDAY: YOGA FOR AFRICA

FARIDA, ASHA and myself, had the pleasure of attending the Beach Yoga for Africa event last weekend. The event was held by Indego Africa, and yoga was led by Brad Keimach.

FASHION FRIDAY: THE MAASAI PROJECT

The Maasai Project was founded from the partnership between Spanish footwear company Pikolinos and the non profit ADCAM. The project helps the women of the Maasai tribe, of Kenya, design sandals and bags, which are then finished in Spain.