True Ease in Writing comes from Art, not Chance, As those move easiest who have learned to dance. - Alexander Pope

designer

Crawling to Happiness

 

As young girls, we are socialized to play mother and wife from time immemorial.  The female’s supreme role of being everyone’s keeper has been ingrained in her psyche even before she utters her first words.  She is bought dolls to nurture and coo to sleep; toy pots and pans to make pretend meals; and Barbie dollhouses, or a scrap play house to tend.

 

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Crawling to Happiness

Dedicated to sweet Lala. Happy 27th!

 

As young girls, we are socialized to play mother and wife from time immemorial.  The female’s supreme role of being everyone’s keeper has been ingrained in her psyche even before she utters her first words.

Mar 02, 2011

Charles Philip Shanghai

Posted by jatougaye | Tags: La Femme Noire, Fashion, Milan, Amen, CDATA, designer, Document, Footwear, Shoes, XML | 0 Comments

Amen to these slippers! Thus far my favorite shoes of 2011. I found these on luisaviaroma and they are heavenly. Too bad you can only pre order them at this time but they look like they are here to stay so no rush. I was so impressed I had to read the story behind these beauties and I found out the designer is named Charles and hails from Milan. The shoes have also been recently featured on Vogue. 2011, so far so good for fashion.

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Zed- Eye - Tribal Romance Revisited

Zed Eye is slowing becoming one of my favorite African fashion labels. They wowed me with their Tribal Romance collection and recently released a Tribal Romance Revisited Volume II  collection and the looks are tres chaud. There is not a single one that I don't like and I rarely say that about anything. 

If you're not familiar with Zed-Eye, it is a fashion label started by a young Nigerian designer based in the UK called  Ngozi Pere- Okorotie. She has managed to create one of the most beautiful fusions of African prints and Western aesthetics I've seen in recent years. Africa needs to celebrate our girl. I'm proud.

Tribal Romance Revisited Volume II

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Tobaski Affairs

 

It’s about that time of the year when every Gambian girl wants to look her best; shocking and awing every person that lays eyes on her – in a good way of course – by her appearance. On Eid-el-Adha or Tobaski as we call it in the smiling coast, we all make sure that we look simply exquisite and the trouble is, we do not always succeed.

The Dress

At least six weeks before the Big Day, young ladies (and old ones alike) shop the corners and centers of The Gambia for their tastes of fabric; taking into consideration, type, texture and color.

Dec 08, 2010

Bibi Seck

 


Meet Bibi Seck, a talented Senegalese Designer. These chairs are making me drool. I'm in love

Here's what I found out about him on his WEBSITE

Bibi Seck is a partner in the New York product design firm Birsel + Seck. Born in Paris, he spent his formative years in London and Dakar, Senegal.

Nov 29, 2010

Things that scream America



I'm listening to Party in the USA and I feel very connected to everything American today. I don't know why because I'm usually terribly homesick. I'm finding solace in American Fashion. The clothing in that top image is by Italian designer Brunello Cucinelli and he's been dubbed Italy's Ralph Lauren.

Sep 23, 2010

Ousmane Mbaye

Posted by jatougaye | Tags: La Femme Noire, Art, Dakar, Senegal, CDATA, Dakar, designer, Geography, Technology, XML | 0 Comments

"I'm a designer based in Dakar - Senegal. I create unique furniture made of barrel and galvanized iron. Selfmade man, I think design is freedom." - Ousman Mbaye

A lot of African artists and designers do not have outlets to showcase their works. I was glad when I saw that Ousman had a facebook page and his portfolio was also featured on this website. I'm never gonna look at barrels the same way. This is sheer talent.

Sep 23, 2010

Oumou Sy

Oumou Sy
 
Oumou Sy is a world renowned Senegalese designer. Although there are many Senegalese fashion designers out there, she is the only one that I know. I look at her designs and I can't believe she's self taught. Her collections are very dramatic, futuristic, over the top avant garde filled aesthetics. Oumou Sy has just re-enforced why I love every second of being Senegambian or African rather. Another national treasure.

Aug 23, 2010

The Story of the Beetle

For some strange reason, I'm doing something really out of my comfort zone. I'm reading about the history of cars and it is very fascinating. My roomy is obsessed with cars and NO, this is not your normal obsession. His television is on the speed channel 80% of the time, he gets 4 different car magazines every month, could spot a vintage car and tell you the model and year it was produced and that is not all. He's actually built his own race car...well it's dismantled now. The perfectionist that he is said it needs more work but I've seen photos of the car before it was taken apart.....