n celebrating my recent travels to Bali to source more one of a kind, handmade goodies for the upcoming QAC webstore Fall relaunch ... This week’s Daily Fashion Fix style post is a dope cultural spin on an old classic - "The Fanny Pack."
Too Late to Say Sari
Welcome back to another week of The Daily Fashion Fix. This week's global goodies comes from the vibrant country of India! Long time readers know I absolutely love when vintage style and global history come together in one piece. And this weeks dress? ... A 1970's vintage sari styled dress directly from India is exactly that! Historically saris have been worn in Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka and most famously India for centuries.
Beauty in Batu Bulan
Angela from Queen Adwoa's Closet here! This week on The Daily Fashion Fix, I'm reporting live from Bali, Indonesia! ... As always, you know a really cool blog and video post is coming on my adventures, but in the meantime? Let's get into this chic jungle - ready vacation look!
Peruvian Quechua on the Cliffs
Afternoon Royal Fam,
Angela here, owner of Queen Adwoa’s Closet checking in live from the concrete jungle with, as always, another “globally classic” piece … This time? All the way from Peru! … Quick back story? I decided do a bit of garment hunting in Brooklyn recently in a super hush location (blog post on that next week) when I came across a few cute gems and yet another showstopper piece. Early on in Q.A.C’s launch I wrote a pretty in-depth blog post on the basics of thrift shopping.
If you haven’t read that particular entry yet, I highly recommend it. That write up, in addition to next week’s post, is pretty much my “how-to” bible on scoring really dope vintage in a sea of what are basically toss-outs from other people’s closet ... Or are they??? There's amazing treasures to be found if you know how and where to look!
At any rate, as I’m sifting through a bottomless pit of clothing piles, my friend Rosie hands me what initially looks like a blue blanket. Eyebrows furrowed, I start opening up the fabric thinking, “what the heck is this!?” .. Seeing the puzzled look on my face, she asks, "well, do you want it or not?" Clearly, if it made it to this blog post, I was definitely impressed LOL. What initially looked like a couch throw blanket turned out to actually be a Peruvian poncho, called a “Lliclla” or "manta" by the Quechua people.
In Peru, which was founded by the Inca people, and where the main mode of transportation was (and in some remote locations, still is) by Llama … Both aspects celebrated in the unique design of this particular wool cover-up .. The Lliclla is often worn by women who favor the traditional Quechua style of dress. Culturally a mashup of indigenous dress with colonial Spanish influence, this covering is primarily used to protect the women from the cold as they navigate chilly Andes Mountain air.
For those women with children, it's also used as a body wrap to carry their little ones while completing tasks outdoors. While this traditionally colorful wool is worn around the neck and secured by either tying, a pin, or button .. Even more colorful the mantas are worn for holiday's and festivals.
In short? To say I lucked up on this incredible find is an understatement, LOL! And? .. I just might be adding this beautiful cover-up to the QAC webstore .. Perfect for late spring nights or an evening at the beach. Interested? Awesome! Follow the Q.A.C shop on Instagram for announcements! New items arriving soon!
Till then? As always ... The (fashion) Journey Continues!
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Our Editor in Chief
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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Our Editor in Chief
Indigo Child
The thought of children being born with special gifts isn't a new concept. Cultures all over the globe have acknowledged and celebrated certain individuals or children with "gifts" throughout history. The origins of "Indigo Children" or "Star Children" is no different. Arising in the 1970's, the term has come to identify those with a special connection to psychic and spiritual abilities.
Those who are born with these gifts are often confident, intuitive, clairvoyant, creative, and at times reclusive ... preferring to be around other like minded sensitives.
To know me, is to know that I love all things mystical, spiritual, and otherwise "otherworldly". While there's much speculation as to how factual these indigo claims truly are, for me there's no question that the presence of spiritually inclined ... magically gifted individuals exist. I would even venture to say, I am one ... But that's a post for perhaps another day : ].
This week's fun ensemble is a tribute to my fellow mystics. Deep indigo dress (vintage) with double slits offers a fun way to play with styling .... While the gold accents on the dress, belt, and shoes, are present to represent the illumination of the stars. I also happen to be a fan of this dress for its patterning.
layful pineapples paired with the adinkra symbol of "Bese Saka" (symbolism of affluence) was a great and unexpected surprise as it incorporates both my tropical / caribbean and Ghanaian heritage. This dress is definitely a new fashion staple for my personal closet!
