In creating my 1st fashion collection back in 2015 for the Q.A.C. Webstore, my love of art and history came to the life when I had the chance to sit with an elder of the Dogon tribe. Found primarily in Mali, W. Africa, this tribe is known for their wooden masked dances, incredible architecture, and wooden artistic sculptures. However, they are most noted for their mud cloth fabric, often showcasing their ancient knowledge of the stars / universe.
Wrapped in Love
Hey Royal Fam,
Welcome back to another fun "Daily Fashion Fix" post! This week, I'm sharing a super quick tutorial answering the question I receive the most all over my Instagram feed ... How do I create the beautiful headwrap styles that have become a fashion staple in my everyday look? After an overwhelming yes response to a recent Instastory poll, how could I say no?
In the last Fashion Fix post, I talked about my journey to fully embracing my African heritage. Way back when, one of the 1st ways I began to reflect my Ghanaian culture was through adopting West African fabrics and incorporating unique headwraps into my look.
Not long after, and with a bit of practice, these simple headwraped styles grew in their uniqueness ... From basic notted styles
To full wraps styles reminiscent of traditional West African geles (Nigerian wraps worn particularly on special occasions). These big gorgeous wraps not only help celebrate this part of my culture
... But they have become such a part of my life and self-identity, that I can't imagine ever going back to not wearing them at all. It's with incredible pride that I share just some of my favorite headwrap styles with you. This video, was made especially with beginners in mind ... In the hopes that you grow to love them as much as I do!
'Till next time, as always, The Journey Continues!
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Ghanaian Greetings
Anywho, in last week's Fashion Fix post, I talked about the need to wear modest clothing when in public spaces here in Qatar. That said, back when I was in the packing stage, I had the hard job of going through literally every item of clothing I owned and deciding whether it would make the cut and make it into my luggage ... Or end up in the trash / donation bin.
It was in this "toss it" or "take it" phase that I came across this beauty greeting me from the back of my closet. 100% West African wax print fabric ... Hand embroidered ... 20+ year old vintage dress straight from my dad home country of Ghana, West Africa.
Gimmie Shuka
Greetings culture lovers!
It's 65° degrees here in NYC today, so you know what that means ... Either global warming is going into overdrive this week, or Spring is almost here!! .. I'm going to think positively and go with Spring LOL. That said, I took advantage of the amazeballs weather by grabbing my camera and shooting downtown! .. Hope you enjoy!
This week's Daily Fashion Fix feature is another super cool cultural piece from Kenya called "shuka cloth." Seen in the nomadic Maasai Tribe of East Africa, the shuka is worn as a protective garment while out in the in the field, either tending to cattle or on the hunt.
While original shuka wraps were crafted with sheepskin or calf / animal hides, around the 1960's the Maasai people replaced traditional shuka with modern fabrics created from cotton woven in various tartan-like (think Scottish plaid) patterns. Additionally, in keeping with tradition, the modern fabric now used still maintains the overall vibrant red coloring found in the first shuka capes
Originally, created by taking and processing red ochre clay from the earth, historically, the red coloring in shukas held important significance in not only helping tribesmen camouflage from wild animals by blending into the terrain .. But also serving as a warning signal to aggressive animals when discovered (warding them off) as warriors set out on the hunt.
Today, shukas can be wrapped and worn in countless ways, as its style often varies by the creativity of the wearer. For a bit of style inspiration, check out my modern take on rocking shuka cloth in this week's post! As you all know, I love all things vintage. For this look, I brought together a plush butter leather 1980's crop jacket ... A simple body-suit .. And a pair of super distressed high-waisted vintage mom jeans. Can you tell I wear these a lot?
No seriously, they're probably going to fall apart any minute with all the fraying, but I can't let them go .. LOL! Shoes included these gold booties I was gifted by my mom, practically unworn from last winter. They honestly had to grow on me style wise, because I wasn't originally a fan (sorry mom!) .. But I'm so glad I decided to keep them. LOL .. And there there you have it! A few classic basics paired up with a unique statement piece and you have a really cool look all your own.
Interested in learning how I created some of these folded fabric looks? Tap HERE to view my Q.A.C tutorial, where I show you how to replicate my top five favorite wrap styles! ... Thanks for stopping by. ~ xo
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Luxe Eco-Fashion: feat. JORD Watches
Hey culture lovers! This week on the “Daily Fashion Fix” I have a very special treat for you, so get excited : )]
As always, we know the foundation of quintessential Q.A.C style is the beautiful marriage between quality vintage pieces juxtaposed with amazing global selections … And this week, is no exception! Today’s look inspired by luxe style for the global and environmentally conscious, young creative. Like so many, as I grow into my own personal style and self-discovery, I’m moving away from trendy, “style of the moment” pieces and toward a more timeless aesthetic. Nothing’s worse than spending your hard-earned money on the coveted fast fashion “must haves” … Only to have it be deemed “out of fashion” the following season. Listen, I don’t know about you, but my coins are far too precious for that! … LOL! Instead, now more than ever, I’m all about investing in unique conversation pieces with longevity. My wardrobe consists of selections that not only lessen my impact on the environment, but also communicate my close connection to global culture. This week I chose a few select pieces from opposite ends of the globe, which highlight these concepts … Proving once again, that quality is always better than quantity.
First up? We take look at the beauty of African nation, The Congo as brought to us from JORD Watches. If you follow me on Instagram, then you might have seen my “Instagram Story” excitedly hinting at a mystery box recently arriving in the mail. As a West African girl myself, and an avid collector of global accessories, I was beyond excited to add this piece to the collection.
y loves? The classically understated navy watch face paired with the rich zebrawood stripped coloring of the wood. If you’ve been reading the Daily Fashion Fix for some time, then you’ll know that pairing of a solid statement color with an engaging print (be it subtle or bold) make for the perfect jumping off point when creating an amazing outfit using my “Color Pop Method.” Additionally, the simplicity of design also makes it easy to build upon if like me, you love accessories and a good arm party! Here, I paired my JORD watch with vintage bangles direct from India and an amber necklacefrom Gambia, W. Africa ... As you can see, I’m entering full eccentric fashion mode and I love it! LOL!
Last, but certainly not least … To know me, is to know that I’m a huge proponent of ethical and sustainable fashion. No amount of style is ever worth owning large amounts of clothing created from factory sweatshop labor or deriving from a company with a large environmental footprint. What I absolutely love and applaud JORD for is the transparency of sourcing. While the sustainability on my Frankie series Zebrawood watch could be a bit more on the eco-friendly side, several of the global wood materials used to create their luxury watches certainly are. Not only do they outline the country of the wood’s origin, but they also indicate the levels to which the tree / wood materials are considered “at risk.” In essence, you’re shopping pieces based on both personal style as well as your level of environmental comfort. Does your fashion fave do that?
Finally, as we head to Europe, Paris specifically, I decided to pair my accessories with this super chic vintage dress from none other than fashion house Lanvin! With a keen eye for vintage shopping, I was able to spot and snag this 50’s styled, A-lined dress from the luxury designer for under $100! ... An amazing deal, when considered many dresses from this designer can start at $1,000 each. In all, by shopping vintage and quality pieces, you’re incorporating pieces with longevity that you’ll literally have for years ... Ultimately reducing the pull on natural resources and impact on the environment ... All while looking amazingly unique in the process! And that always a great look!
Tap HERE to replicate this colorful luxe look!
ALSO? ... As a surprise this week .. *drumrolls* .. I’m partnering with JORD Watches and hosting a free giveaway for all of my Q.A.C fam! This one is for the ladies and the fellas and is just in time for the holidays ...
Tap HERE for details! on how to enter!
This post was sponsored by JORD Wood Watches ... Note: Opinions remain 100% my own. Thanks loves for stoping by! xo ~Angela
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La Santera
Anytime one attempts to talk about religion, there's always hesitation ... especially when the religion in question is one that has so many misconceptions surrounding it. This is undoubtably true when it comes to the practice of Santeria.
Born out of the devastating slave trade, Santeria originates from the large number of Yoruba (Nigerian tribal group) African survivors which ultimately were brought to Cuba and forced to practice Catholicism in leu of their own religion.
Being the survivors that they were, these Afro-descendants, while practicing the new Catholic religion also incorporated several aspects of their african spiritual traditions into the faith. From this co-mingling of traditional worship and colonialism emerged the practice of Santeria.
Within Santeria a peace is made where similarities within both faiths are found. African deities and Catholic saints are prayed to equally without conflict. Within this new community, new initiates, called "Iyawos" wear white and undergo a yearlong rites of passage filled with ceremonies, restrictions, new practices.
The act of wearing all white is a form of rebirth symbolizing purity, peace of mind, and spiritual clarity. Due to the unfavorable feelings at times for all things "Africano" on the island, particularly misunderstood religious practices and rituals from the continent, Santeria was not always welcomed and therefore continues to be practiced quietly within tight communities worldwide.
Like so many of african descent living within the diaspora, there comes a point where a merging of cultures occurs ... The clash of two worlds is never an easy one. In the case of the Santeros/as (Santeria practitioners) in Cuba, they were able to find a home under assimilation, untimely like so many others, creating a beautiful new aspect of their culture ... something uniquely their own.
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Fashion D.I.Y
Quick Fashion Fix post to showcase one of the newest fashion faves for my webstore Queen Adwoa's Closet ... along with this super easy wrap dress you can replicate in seconds!
First up, let's talk about this dress. Festival season is here and summer is right behind it. One of my "never fail" go to looks is without a doubt the wrap dress. Made famous in the fashion world by designer Diane von Fuerstenberg, the island wrap dress has been worn by stylish women throughout the diaspora for centuries.
Mastering the look a quick D.IY look with fabric is unbelievably simple and can be done in 3 simple steps.
1) Grab your Q.A.C body wrap or favorite piece of material. While in this example, mine has a bit if fringe, it's not crucial to the look. However, if you'd like to add a bit of fringe, using scissors to cut small slits, close together along the width works just as well.
2) Wrap the fabric around your body and tie the ends into a knot around your bust. Tuck the loose ends into the top of your bust.
3) Secure the bottom open ends of the dress by either tying the fringes together or by using safety pins to secure the material. If you decide to use pins, use them to secure from the underside of your dress to hide them.
If you're like me and like a nice cinched waist, you can add a thin belt to highlight your shape ... And that's it! Your done! .... Super cute dress for the cost of approximately 2 yards of fabric.
Whether you're in need an outfit for a special event, work, or weekend escape ... Being able to create what I call a bit of "origami magic" with an amazing piece of fabric can me so clutch. This week's fabric of choice is a kente print body wrap coming soon to the Q.A.C webstore. Quality body wraps have been a long time closet staple of mine, as it allows me to create multiple styles from one great swatch of fabric, including: dresses, tops, blouses, head-wraps, skirts, etc ... Something any budget friendly fashionista would love.
For a fun "how to" tutorial on how I created this dress with ONE piece of fabric, click here!
To top off my look I wanted to showcase the newest addition to my fashion house's accessories collection. In this week's "Cultural Beauty" section, we discussed the heritage of the Wodaabe / Fulani Tribe and the tradition surrounding their beautiful Kwottenai Kanye earrings. In growing my fashion house, I've partnered with artisans from Mali, W. Africa to offer these amazing one of a kind earrings within my shop. Handcrafted in brass then hand-dipped in 14 gold, these earrings are guaranteed to be show stoppers!
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Ghanaian Color Pop
Hi again fashion fiends! I'm back again sporting some of my favorite vintage looks this week, while offering quick advice on how to comfortably incorporate color into your wardrobe.
While scrolling my twitter timeline the other day, I came across women discussing a recent fashion post. More specifically? ... They were admiring the look, but feeling completely helpless on how they could pull off the style.
The picture in question showed a woman confidently posing in an outfit filled with color and looking completely fabulous while doing it. The consensus of the conversation? ... "I could never pull something like that off."
Why? Despite popular thinking, incorporating color into your wardrobe can be really easy. One sure fire way to tackle this mystery is to master the skill of color-blocking. What's "color-blocking?" Simply put, its pulling together a group of solid colors that work well together and using them to create your look. Sounds good, but if you're like me, then you're probably wondering "where do I pull these colors from?" ... "How do I know which colors look great together?" To solve this problem, I advise people to grab one of there favorite accessories and take a look at the color scheme.
Like many African women, I absolutely LOVE incorporating color into my wardrobe. In my case, I decided to use one of my favorite kente headwraps. Not only is it bold and designed with traditional Ghanaian Kente patterns (you know I'm all about repping my culture), but it's also full of color options ... Perfect for pulling a few colors for my color block plan. In this case, I pulled green, burnt orange, blue, and brown.
Now, you might be wondering, why I would pull brown if it wasn't part of the colors directly seen in the wrap? Protip: Brown and "burnt orange" are pretty close on the color wheel and compliment each other very well. If you notice, I also used this tip this by pulling two shades of blue as well. You can pull off this trick too if you're looking to experiment or if you're missing a specific color from your wardrobe at the time. Just think, "what's the next best/ closest color to the one I need" and work from there. You'll be surprised the color combinations you come up with!
Once you have your funky base accessory and your group of solids selected, your new look for the day is ready to go! Ultimately, let's be honest. Stepping out of a fashion comfort zone and trying something new can be a bit of a challenge and somewhat scary. No one wants to leave the house feeling like the whole world is looking at them with a stifled laugh or a confused screw face ... but like the Ghanaian symbol of strength painted on the brick wall behind me ... all it takes is a bit of courage. Fashion and dress should be all about self-expression and like life, part of the fun, is the journey along the way to discovery! Good Luck and happy mixing!
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Ghanaian Glass Beads
"The devil is in the details ..." Today's workware ensemble accentuated by hand-forged brass rings, cowrie shells, and traditional Ghanaian glass beads.
Within my Ashanti / Akan tribal culture, each color and hand-painted design has deep meaning and significance.
To learn more about the history of glass beads, how they are made, and it's renewed popularity in young Ghanaian culture ... view the following video from CNN Africa.
