Friday, December 27, 2013
Fashion Week Las Vegas 2014!
We are thrilled to announce that we are going to be participating in the Fashion Weekly Las Vegas 2014show!!
This past year has been full of blessings and amazing opportunities, and we feel so fortunate that Afriq Expressions will be opening the new year with such a powerful, positive experience.
To everyone who's helped us this past year: Thank you!! You've made 2013 a year of growth, progress, and incredible joy. We hope we have brightened this past year for you, as well!
As for 2014--we are looking forward with hearts full of hope and ideas for how to take Afriq Expressions to the next level.
Thank you for a beautiful year--now, let's make 2014 even better!!
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Fall Is Boot Season!
We’re big fans of cute, strappy sandals, flats and slip-ons,
but there is something oh-so fun about the weather turning colder…it means you
can dig out your favorite boots and strut your stuff!
But with so many different styles of boots, and so many
different ways to wear them, it can get a little confusing. Here are some ideas!!
With styles like ours at AfriqExpressions, boots don’t seem
like the natural choice for pairing with our outfits, but that’s just not
true! Our philosophy is about mixing,
matching, and finding a combo that perfectly expresses YOU.
For example…
Boots With Skirts
& Dresses
Check out this look!
Fall colors, ankle boots…throw on some leggings and a shawl
to keep warm, and you’ve got an adorable autumn look you can wear anywhere!
Boots look adorable with dresses or skirts, and they’re a
fun way to capture a more feminine look while keeping warm in the colder
months! They go great under longer
dresses, but are also a fun way to make
a shorter dress fit for fall!
Knee-high boots are particularly cute (and warm!) with
dresses in the fall. Use leggings,
shawls, scarves, hats, and gloves to complete the look and keep toasty as the
temperature drops.
Style Tip: Match your browns, blacks, greys, and navys—try
not to mix these base colors. Instead,
pick one (brown is GREAT for fall) and use that as your primary color, while
accessorizing with accenting colors, like burnt varieties of orange, red,
yellow, or green. Don’t mix light and
brown darks, or brown and black, as they can clash!
Boots With Jeans
& Pants
We’re not always going to be slipping into dresses, though,
so what about with jeans or slacks? Both
ankle boots and knee boots look excellent with pants of any kind!
Like here:
This style outfit also works perfectly with ankle
boots! Something like this, featuring an
autumn palate, would be a perfect, statement-making wardrobe for the cooling
season!
With knee-high boots, while they look fine under pants, it’s
always a little more exciting (and stylish!) to see pants tucked into
boots. Even pants that aren’t “skinny”
can be effectively tucked into boots, simply follow these steps:
2. Pull the cuff so it’s taut against your leg, then fold the excess material back against your leg
so it’s snug.
3. Roll up the cuff again so the jeans are containing the extra material you’ve folded over
(again, make it a big cuff, to avoid bulkiness—about 5 inches).
4. Pull a pair of long, snug socks up over the cuff of the jeans.
And voila! You can
tuck any pants into your boots and rock that classic look.
If you want to keep your look unique (and let’s face it—who
doesn’t??) pair your boots and jeans with a stimulating top, something bearing
patterns that capitalize on that gorgeous fall palate. Just like that, you’ll be rocking a simple
yet daring look that’s totally you!
Are you a boot junkie? How many
pairs do you own, and which is your absolute favorite??
Sunday, October 20, 2013
How to Dress for Your Body Type
We all want to dress our best, but we don’t always know how
to do that. While the wrong combination
can make ANY body—no matter how tall or short, thin or curvy—look bad, the good
news is, whatever your body type, there is a way for you to look absolutely
stunning, too. You just have to know
HOW.
Your body type is determined by your shape, usually called either
pear, apple, rectangle, wedge, or hourglass.
There are many guides online to figuring out what your body
type is, but we also feature descriptions which should help you identify what
category you fall under.
So, how do you dress for success and compliment your
body? Read on to find out!
Pear (Wider hips
and smaller upper-body)
Emphasize your waist and arms while drawing attention away from
your wider hips by wearing the following:
Tops:
Ruffles, jackets that stop above the waist, boat neck,
square, or cowl necklines, lighter colors.
You want to draw more attention to your narrower shoulders
and smaller waist, so accent your upper body more, and let anything “wild” or
“loud” you wear be on top!
Bottoms:
A-line skirts, darker colors, wide-hem pants, pointy heels
(to elongate legs).
These styles can help camouflage wider hips and balance them
out against your smaller top. Avoid
prints and keep things simple!
Apple (Narrow
hips, broader upper body)
Create the illusion of a longer torso while showing off
those sexy legs you have!
Tops:
V-necks, bras that offer good lift, belts at the waist,
empire tops (and dresses).
Bottoms:
Boot-cut and flared jeans, shorter skirts and dresses.
Monochromatic styles look great on apples, so pick your best color and deck yourself out in
it to help create a longer, leaner silhouette.
Rectangle
(Usually slender; shoulders, waist, and hips all relatively similar)
The goal with a rectangular body is to create the illusion
of curves that aren’t really there, and to accentuate your slender legs and
arms.
Tops:
Scoop neck, sweetheart tops, collars, ruffles, long coats.
Bottoms:
Colorful, fun, dresses with ruching.
Avoid styles that are too overwhelming, but don’t be afraid
to have fun with your look!
Wedge (Broad
shoulders that narrow to small hips)
You want to draw attention away from your broader shoulders
while simultaneously showing off your legs, which are your best asset! (Not
that WE needed to tell you that)
Tops:
AVOID spaghetti-straps and boat necklines, choose tops that accentuate
your waist.
Bottoms:
Bright colors, wide-leg pants, full skirts, high-waited
styles.
Create the illusion of a waist and show off those lovely
legs of yours to look your absolute best!
Hourglass
(Shoulders and hips similar, with narrow waist)
You are a curvy, sexy mama, and while it’s good to show that
off, we want to make sure you don’t go overboard with these tips!
Tops:
Wrap tops, belts at the waist, a good bra.
Bottoms:
Skinny or straight-leg jeans, high-waisted skirts.
Don’t hide those curves with baggy clothes—show off by
wearing fitted dresses, lightweight fabrics, and other clothes that accentuate
your lovely curves and tiny waist.
The truth is that any woman can look completely incredible
in her outfits—as long as she knows what she’s doing! Pair this with our color guide and you’ll be
in business!
What’s your body type, and what’s your favorite way to show it off?
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Color Me Fabulous! A Simple Yet Effective Color Guide
One of the best ways to show off your own personal style is
to mix and match with fabulous colors!
It can get tricky, though—how do you know which colors work
together, and which look awful together?
Some people have an eye for it, but if you’re just learning,
or if you don’t trust your judgment yet, then luckily, there are simple ways to
combine colors so you look like a fashion pro—all without breaking a sweat!
First, let’s talk about how colors are categorized in
clothes:
Neutral Colors
These are often used
as the base color in an outfit, and make a good foundation for building your
look. They are not always necessary, but
they are a nice fall back, and they always work!
Black
White
Grey
Cream
Beige
Tan
Brown
Navy blue (sometimes)
Cold Colors
Blue
Green
Purples with blue tones
Warm Colors
Red
Orange
Yellow
Pink
Purples with red tones
Now, take a look at the color wheel (pictured below)
(Thank you,
tigercolor.com!)
Pick a color you like, and want to dress in—the colors
directly next to that original color are its analogue colors.
A good way to dress for success is to pick a color, and
limit yourself to three analogues (that is, three colors in a row). Match them
with a neutral color that is part of that same family, or is a good fit for
your analogues.
Follow this simple rule and voila! You will be styling in no time.
What are your favorite tips and tricks for looking your best?
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Ankara Fest 2013—It’s Was Amazing!!
All good things must come to an end, and so it is with the Ankara Festival . Something that was so eagerly anticipated and
prepared for has come and gone in a flurry of beautiful designs, fascinating
people, and wonderful experiences. Now,
it is only a lovely memory.
But what an incredible memory it is! We were lucky enough to make the
acquaintances of designers who blew audiences away with their gorgeous fashions. Here are some links to our new fashion
friends!!
These are some fabulous designers, and if you are looking to
spice up your wardrobe (or just be inspired a bit!), then we highly recommend
checking them out and giving them some love!
Even though we are sad to see it end, we are so grateful for
the opportunity to have attended Ankara Fest
2013.
What an amazing show—and what an amazing chance! We met some incredible people there, and we
had some incredible experiences. There
are many talented designers out there who are promoting African culture, and we
are so proud of all of them…and so glad to have connected with them!
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
The Art of The Accessory
Fashion
does not need to be complicated to be stylish. Sometimes, simpler is better! Especially when using accent
pieces—rather than your attire—to make a bold statement.
Jewelry is one of the best ways to spice up a
simpler outfit, making for a daring yet elegant look. If your attire for the day is a bit
more quiet, even understated, then a pair of outrageous earrings, or a chunky
necklace can be worn to take your look to a new level!
Check out these great finds from GoJane—one
of our favorite resources for stylish pieces, as well as our go-too jeweler for
the 2013 Ankara Fest!
There’s much more on the website—be sure to check
them out! And while you’re
at it, take a look at this video from the Ankara Fest! Pretty stylish designs,
don’t you think?
We can’t wait to be there!
Sunday, June 23, 2013
The Evolution of Style
Style is all about evolution. Just like nature changes and grows over time, adapting to the world around it, so too does fashion.
But we can still see bits of the past shining through. While ever ushering in the new, we always carry with us our roots.
And it is this union of the traditional and modern that Afriq Expressions celebrates. While we are inspired by traditional African styles and culture, our designs incorporate the newness of the future. The western spirit, the look and feel of the modern.
When you wear one of our pieces, you are carrying a piece of history with you as you march boldly into the future. And you’ll look fabulous as you do so.
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