Gele: The Other Crown

When a West African Bride dons her traditional wear, it would not be complete without her Gele. It is the equivalent of a wedding cake without a topper (or some other ornate piece) and just seems…Incomplete. On the Bride, the Gele is worn during her engagement ceremony/ Traditional wedding and during the second introduction of the Bride and Groom (In traditional attire) at the reception. The New couple are royalty of the day and the Gele is her crown.

 

So What Is A Gele?

Gele is the Yoruba word for (A woman’s) Head wrap.  In the Igbo culture it is called Ichafu.

It is a large rectangular cloth tied on a woman’s head in a variety of fashions.  The material used to make the gele is usually of a stiff, but flexible, nature e.g. Aso-oke (thickly woven silk), Brocade (cotton) and Damask. These materials come in a wide array of colors, patterns and textures.  The bigger the cloth (and the greater the skill) the more elaborate the look.

Gele tying is an Art form that takes practice, patience and often times a well-toned arm, but once tied, a Gele can make any woman look regal. Every Gele is unique and there is no true formula to achieve the exact look twice. If you take a closer look, you will see that no two Geles (once tied) are alike.

We absolutely love Gele’s because not only are they tied in various styles but they are an aspect of culture that make women feel beautiful no matter the occasion. The style and color of the Gele can be a reflection of your mood, style or personality. Creativity is key ;-)

TIPS:

1. Since Geles are such glamorous statement pieces, the should be complemented (not over shadowed) with the right amount of jewelry and make up. TOO much of either can be overwhelming.

2. Gele tend to draw attention to the face, expecially the eyes, so having well groomed/shaped eyebrows, and flawless makeup are a huge plus.

3. If you cannot tie the piece yourself, ask a friend to help. 

4. Make use of Bobby and Safety pins to achieve a desired style. 

Here are a few breath taking Gele looks…

 Photos Courtesy of 

Ade Adetayo Photography 

Weddingtrendy

Pink Diamonds

The Bridesmaids Dress Revamped

A few years ago, if you were asked to be a bridesmaid, a few things you would expect are:

1. To wear an unflattering dress.

2. To wear an unflattering dress, in an unflattering color.

3. To wear that unflattering dress, in that unflattering color, at an UNFLATTERING PRICE and

4.To do all these afore mentioned things with 3-10 other ladies.

Thankfully, times have changed. Now bridesmaids’ dresses come in an array of colors, designs AND price ranges. These dresses are ordered off-the-rack in department stores, boutiques and bridal shops. We love the fact that brides and bridesmaids are daring to say NO to these traditions and letting their creative side see some sunshine.

Bridesmaids are trading in their usual satin ball-gown dresses for lace and traditional (African) materials (e.g. Ankara, Brocade, aso-oke). It’s the BM dress revamped.

Another trend making waves, customized dresses. This is where the bride picks/approves the basic dress design and her BM’s are allowed to make certain alterations to make each dress unique to each person. This idea works well because now BMs can alter their dresses to a more flattering fit or style.

Here are a few tips to make it work:

1. Pick a basic length, fit and style of the top or skirt. This is what cannot be changed e.g. bubble skirt, a-line, mini etc.

2. Allow BMs to add elements that are unique to their style and personality e.g. a bow, puffy sleeves, extra fabric, buttons etc. Use pictures from magazines or online for inspiration.

3. Make sure that the additions are not overwhelming and match the theme and/or season of the wedding.

4. Once you have decided on your styles find a seamstress that will be able to bring the designs to life. This should be done months in advanced so that the seamstress has enough time to work.Don’t forget your example photos.

5. As a bride, be open minded to whatever styles your BMs pick. Remember happy BMs make your day even more special. Who wants to see a frown in their wedding album and

6. Just have fun with it.

ALTERNATIVE: If you don't have adequate time for custom sewn dresses, BMs can wear off-the-rack dresses that are in the same material and color group. The Twist is that Bridesmaids choose their different styles. This trend works best if the differences in the dresses are more subtle i.e length, sleeves bows etc.

Photos Courtesy of

Deji OkeOwo Photography

& Rebecca Davidson

Fashion Afrique: OCO BAGS

OCO BAGS was founded by Cynthia Osueke. She had the idea of creating durable handbags that combine Ankara with modern materials as she purchased fabric handbags from local vendors alongside a coastal resort in Mozambique. Though delighted by her purchases, she was later disappointed when the handbags fell apart after short usage. She took the concept of making durable bags to a bag maker in Nigeria who produced the first round. Upon returning to the USA, Cynthia shared her products and the news spread.

Cynthia holds a Bachelors degree in Government with an African Studies Certificate from Georgetown University. She is currently pursing a Masters in Public Policy from the University of Maryland with hopes of pursing a career in International Development with a focus on poverty eradication in Africa. Her parents immigrated from eastern Nigeria. She is native of Houston and a lover of all things fruit.

OCO BAGS combine beautiful African Ankara fabrics with modern materials to create distinctive handbags. All of our products are custom made. No two of our bags are exactly the same. No one else has these exact products. Our array of products are constantly changing and evolving. Many of our styles will not repeated. OCO BAGS brings affordable, custom made, top quality handbags to the world. It takes a tradition material, reshapes it and reinvents its usages.

OCO BAGS is more than simply another retailer of handbags. We hope to futher the appreciation of Africa around hte world while positively impacting lives of people in Africa as a course of business.

To that end, OCO BAGS are produced by small scale artisans in West Africa. Everything from the Ankara fabrics to the zippers is bought in African markets. The involvement of Africans in the creation of our products and supply chain directly ties our business to small businesses in Africa. Thus, we hope to provide additional streams of income from these African ventures.

Additionally, a portion of our proceeds will be donated to charities benefiting vulnerable children operating in Africa. Our first line of charities will be Operation Bobby Bear in Durban, South Africa, Children of Fire in Johannesburg, South Africa and Sons of Mary, Mother of Mercy in Abia State, Nigeria.

Be part of the journey. Witness the artistry and allure of Africa.

THE FIT-AND-FLARE

Summer is almost upon us and as the temperature begins to rise, so does the glam factor for this year’s wedding gowns.  When we say glam we don’t mean tons of jewels and sparkles. No, this season, Glam is defined in the texture, structure and body of your wedding dress.  Today we will be highlighting a wedding gown silhouette that is definitely appropriate not just for summer, but for all year long (with the right adjustments).

Whether you’re a simple bride or you want to shine like platinum there is a dress for everyone.

Silhouette: THE FIT-AND-FLARE (A.K.A.Mermaid, Trumpet)

Description: The Fit-And-Flare fits closely from the chest to the knee (or mid thigh) and flares out to the hem.

Why It Works: The dress speaks for itself. No accessories needed (but a few are ok if you so wish).  The top of the dress allows you to focus on the beauty and glow of the new bride. The bottom of the dress can be as dramatic or as romantic as you so desire without being overwhelming. Because of its form fitting nature, it hugs and accentuates your natural curves allowing you to be sexy without being inappropriate.

Who It Works For: It not only works for hour-glass (or X-Shaped) figures, it works for pear-shaped and straight-shaped brides to be as well.

We loved this dress from The Priscilla of Boston PLATINUM Collection, a perfect combination of elegance and drama.

This is another FIT AND FLARE called The Arabella by Melissa Sweet.

We call this, the in-between dress because it has something for the simple bride as well as an appeal of uniqueness for the daring bride.

  

Here is a unique Fit-and-Flare Wedding gown by Designer Tara Keely.

we love the bustier ;-)

This is a dress we found a few weeks ago while web surfing. This is in fact a real bride.

And yes this is a FIT-AND-FLARE. We loved not only the dress but also the look over all. This is truly a dress for the summer season and definitely reminds us of a warm summer night!