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Friday, February 27, 2015

ETHNIC AFRICAN CLOTHING GOES MAINSTREAM WITH ANKARA DESIGNS










Bold, vibrant and vivacious… These three words encapsulate the life and spirit of Africa and its people. And, their zest for life shows in everything associated with their culture be it food, art and music. So is the Ankara print! It is less of a fabric and more of a gorgeous artwork. It showcases the African continent to the world. This traditional and ethnic design fabric is making its presence felt on the global fashion scene. It is everywhere and promoting it further are the countless celebrities who have made it their personal fashion choice.
Many of you might ask what Ankara is. Well, it is a type of fabric inspired by African fashion. It is brightly colored. It has large prints mostly tribal-like motifs. Typically, it is a 100% cotton fabric; but a few are a cotton-poly mix. Although it looks heavy, it is cool and durable. The texture has been specifically made keeping in mind the hot and humid climate of the African continent. The patterns are imprinted using the dyeing technique called Batik. The wax resist dyed fabric keep the colors from spreading to the entire cloth creating distinct designs. The fabric is used to make all sorts of clothing including dresses gowns, shirts, shots, tops and gowns. Additionally, it is also used to craft shoes, bags and accessories.


Dutch Wax Print is another name of Ankara designs as it was originally designed by the Dutch to be sold in the Indonesian textile markets. However, the designs found more favor in Western Africa. Capitalizing on the market, the patterns and colors were tweaked to reflect the African culture and lifestyle. Since then the fabric was produced in Africa as the traditional garb. Ankara was used to make garments for everyday wear while Aso Oke was the fabric for special occasions. Ankara designs came to the forefront in the 1980s and since then have only evolved for the better.
At a first glance, the Ankara fabric tends to look overwhelming because of its combination of colors and prints, but when draped and cut, what you get is some of the most fashionable outfits. Ankara shows you how big and colorful patterns can look beautiful. Modern, emerging designers are adding a personal touch to traditional designs to come up with their own versions. Many upcoming designers weave African stories and folk tales in their designs. They also offer specialized designed services for Ankara fashion outfits that are one-of-a-kind.  









If you believe that Ankara designs are too bold and loud for your tastes, here are a few fashion tricks to carry it in style. Probably the best way to balance out the loudness of this ethnic designed fabric is to pair it with professional neutrals. It could be anything – a black pant, skirt or even a blazer. White, grey and navy also look great when teamed with Ankara designs. You can mix and match with denims too. If you want to go bit-by-bit, you can first play with Ankara accessories. You can also get style cues from street fashions.








One of the major problems that have arisen due to the growing popularity of Ankara is that the market is saturated with cheap knock off pieces. Therefore, it is important to look for authentic Ankara designs. A label, a print on both sides and a dye with slight imperfections are some of the markers of authenticity. Afriq Expressions is a global ethnic boutique that does total justice to Ankara designs. You’ll find make 3 of the same design variation.  So, the chances of someone else turning up with the same outfit as you are less. Not only this, when you shop here, you can be sure you’ll get the best value for your money.

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Monday, February 16, 2015

Dress like Lupita Nyong'o


Lupita Nyong'o, Lucky Magazine
Patrick Demarchelier/Lucky


Straight off the runway, you too can dress like the stars but at a fraction of the cost. Check out our own look from Fashionably Chic Gal :http://www.fashionablychicgal.com/#!product/prd15/3598588351/embroidery-flowers-t-shirts-w-floral-skirt-twinset

OUR OWN LOOK:






Get this at www.fashionablychicgal.com

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Get BAFTA look for less

Stunning couple: Eddie Redmayne and his wife Hannah Bagshawe put on an effortless sartorial display at the EE British Film Academy Film Awards on Sunday evening

Eddie Redmayne and wife Hannah Bagshawe got cozy together on the BAFTA Awards red carpet, and it was just the cutest thing!
Hannah glittered in her gown, which featured shimmering appliques along with a sheer panel at the bodice! Her slightly messy up 'do also worked perfectly!

Our very own look for less at www.fashionablychicgal.com