Been Gone

Behind The Seams: Bunmi Koko

Written By: Belinda Otas—In addition to our fashion piece on Bunmi Koko, the London based Nigerian designer, we would like to add that Bunmi took the time to learn her craft. Passionate about design and style from an early age, Bunmi also studied at some of London’s leading fashion institutes.

Bunmi explains, "I knew I wanted to be a designer from the moment I could hold a pencil. I drew on everything from an early age, from drawing cartoon images to drawing dresses that I saw in magazines. But the defining moment was the summer I started making clothes for my Barbie doll. I used everything I could find, socks, and denim even wrapping paper and cellotape. I was only about five or six years old. The passion to draw and paint developed over the years and I took the necessary steps to gain the required skills by studying art and design in addition to a Styling & Photography at the prestigious London College of Fashion where I showed a dedication to fashion, style and the photographic medium. However, I still had a hunger to design and make clothes and went on to study for a degree in Fashion Design & Marketing. During my studies, I had the privilege of working for luxury companies such as Prada, Harrods, Allison Rodger and Louis Vuitton. It was during this time that I developed my individual creative style and an understanding of what luxury garments look like."

Read more about Bunmi Koko in the current, Designer Edition, of MIMI.

(Photo Credits: David Brunetti for Bunmi Koko)

Lily Allen at 02 Brixton Academy

The concert also featured Professor Green. See for details go to
http://www.myspace.com/professorgreen

Anti-Crowd Surf control!

See for details
http://www.o2academybrixton.co.uk/

On The Style Tip: Purple Lipstick—Fashion Do Or Fashion Don't?

Written By: Nani Hapa—I for one had too many fashion disasters from the 90s, and at the top of my list of fashion regrets is purle lipstick. I swore I would rue the day that black women started wearing purple lipstick again, but this Fall I've started reconsidering my stance against purple lipstick. Celebrities and stylists everywhere are embracing it, and not just for goth inspired looks. Done the right way, it can make for a dramatic and sophisticated look. What do you think, is purple lipstick a fashion do or a fashion don't? Let me know in your comments!

(Photo Credits: ⓒ Iconogenic/iStockphoto) (Model Used Solely For Illustrative Purposes)

Sade Set to Release Soldier Of Love Worldwide On February 8th

Written By: Staff Writer—The wait is now over. Soldier of Love, the highly anticipated new body of work from Sade will be released worldwide on February 8, 2010. Yay! Here's what Sade's label, Epic Records, had to say:

Known for their one of a kind timeless sound, Sade has enjoyed phenomenal success both internationally and stateside throughout the span of their twenty-five year career. Since the release of their debut album, Diamond Life in 1984, the band has seen all five of their studio albums land in the Top 10 on Billboard's Top 200 Album Chart selling a total of more than 50 million albums worldwide to date. They've been nominated for American Music Awards, MTV Video Music Awards and have won three Grammy Awards—first in 1986 for Best New Artist, then in 1994 for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group for No Ordinary Love, and again in 2002 for Best Pop Vocal Album with Lovers Rock. Soldier Of Love was recorded in England and produced by the band and their longtime collaborator Mike Pela.

Read more about Soldier of Love by following the "Read More" link ...
Read more »

LV king of the Bunniez

Animal ears used to be in the "Hot topic freako" category of fashion, but then along came the Louis Vuitton F/W 2009 collection and EVERYTHING CHANGED. Bunny ears are no longer an item restricted to the costume box, they have officially claimed their spot on the high fashion throne. I'm just throwing this idea out there, and I might be waaay off, BUT i predict furry tails might be the new hot item on the F/W 2010 runways. opinions?

*On a less facetious note, this was an amazing collection - one of my favorites

Jim O'Raw

James John O'Raw, Birmingham City native, Brighton University graduate, and freelance illustrator is a photo copy extraordinaire. Using a machine notorious for its contact with the bare butt cheeks of bored cubicle employees, O'Raw has managed to create images meant to reside in some alternate universe or maybe, as O'Raw himself suggests, a "Futuristic Past". These technicolor images are inspired by "Technology, thoughts of space, pornography and the many bits & bobs that pop into my head" writes O'Raw. His work demonstrates a shift that can be viewed in contemporary illustration across the board - a sudden leap into the unknown, an exploration of space, of milky-ways and hidden galaxies and above all, a penchant for innovation.

New order: chloe-esque shoes

I love the studded shoes from Chloe, but wasn't able to find the right ones in the same style and with a good quality. Once I saw these on office I knew they were the right ones! Can't wait to receive them...

Here some celeb-inspiration with the red version.

New York Street Style...Hanneli Mustaparta

Jumpsuit for the Girls.


The ever beautiful Hanneli Mustaparta on the streets of Soho, New York, wearing smooshy, velvety goodness from H&M....and Zara shoes....oh yeah and that little 'ole Alexander Wang handbag ;)

Hanneli was another person I just randomly bumped into in Soho! Sometimes it really does feel like a small world out there.... p.s. Did not desert blog readers again for frolic overseas! Nope, just had a DISASTER....computer hard drive died.

Had bad, burny feeling after my last blog post that something DISASTROUS was going to happen so made sure all my photos were backed up to my external hard drive. Sure enough, 2 days after I did that I was sitting at the computer clacking away when I hear "clunk, clunk, whirp, burp, ker....plunk" and windows (I use a PC- yes, yes I KNOW I need a mac stat! No need to remind me of the obvious :) throws up some weird message and then everything goes black. As did my mind. Lots of huffing, puffing, choice words, panicked phone calls to my computer technician later (am I the only one who has a computer technician on speed dial?) and it was obvious that my computer had breathed its last little RAM-y breath. Probably just to spite me because it senses how much I despise it.

All my photos were safe (thank the Lord for my external drives) but my operating system, photoshop, lightroom etc all had to be reinstalled.....oh and appear to have lost all of husband's i-tunes purchases :( Complete and utter nightmare- I almost need a vodka gimlet just thinking about it..... Anyhow, I am back up and running again BUT if you are reading this and thinking gee, I haven't backed up to an external drive for awhile.. DO IT, DO IT NOW!

Running With The Fash Pack....London Fashion Week SS 2010

and a Jumpsuit for the Boys!


The gorgeous Joel Bough who absolutely rocks this Prada jumpsuit. By far my favourite male look from London Fashion Week.... he just looks so damn cute. I was actually taking a photo of Joel's (female) colleague when Joel jokingly said "Hey, don't you want a photo of me as well?!" whereby he whips off his jacket and reveals his jumpsuit!

Admittedly this is not a look a lot of guys could pull off (I suspect you need a lean body type for this little number AND a lot of confidence) but I think Joel works it perfectly.

Running With The Fash Pack....Paris Fashion Week SS 2010

Love her teeny, wafty navy shorts (they sort of remind me of the shorts boxers wear in the ring) teamed with that simple tank and blazer. And note the socks, stockings AND heels?!

New York Street Style...Stars and Stripes

Okay, so she really isn't wearing any stars.....but we can pretend just a little bit, huh? :)

I took this somewhere in Soho (maybe Mott Street?), New York near one of the best coffee shops I came across, Gimme Coffee. Brilliant coffee, really friendly staff AND they are open nice and early which is great if you are suffering from jet lag and need a wee caffeine jolt to boost your energy levels.

We stayed in midtown at the Wellington Hotel (great location if you want somewhere near Central Park and Times Square, but hideous, hideous bed linen: the sheets were so wafty and thin {I'm sure they were about 50 thread count} that they kept untucking the whole night and sliding around the bed. Not fun, especially when jet lagged) but I think if we were lucky enough to go back again, we will stay somewhere Downtown which feels more relaxed and "homey".

Styles

style.com

All That Jazz! Concha Buika

Written By: Staff Writer—Concha Buika's (pronounced BWEE-kah) musical fusion of flamenco, jazz, soul and dance rhythms has been a sensation in Spain since her debut album, Mi Nina Lola, came out in 2005. The album earned Buika credibility, recognition, awards, and a fan base yearning for more. Buika's latest album, La Nina de Fuego, is a collection of flamenco songs and Spanish and Mexican folk ballads. The songs are about women dealing with loneliness, infidelity and the consequences of falling in love with the wrong man—or woman. Read more about Buika by clicking on the “Read More” link ...
Read more »

WOOHOO here is my Jimmy Choo!

I really liked some items from the Jimmy Choo for H&M collection, but I was too lazy to fight for the items. But when I looked on the website monday morning almost every item was available, so I couldn't resist......

Here my outfit with the studded bracelet and the snakeskin brogues.

Agnes Carlsson at G-A-Y/Heaven

The London Lot

For more details go to,
http://www.vogue.co.uk

November 2009: The Designer Edition And The Fashionista Edition

Written By: Staff Writer—The month of November is all about fashion at MIMI, and because we love fashion whether it is expressed on the runway, on the streets, in clothes, in accessories, in art, or some other medium—or approached as a business, a lifestyle, or entertainment, or a different perspective all together—we have published a double fashion issue (a Designer Edition and a Fashionista Edition) to capture the many different sides of African fashion. MIMI's Designer Edition features British-born Ghanaian fashion designer, TV personality, entrepreneur, and author Samata Angel on the cover, while our Fashionista Edition features Kenyan model Sandra Nyanchoka on the cover.

Inside the Designer Edition of MIMI's November 2009 issue, go behind the seams of haute couture designer Bunmi Olaye's Bunmi Koko label, learn the economics of fashion with Sanabora's Beatrice Mwasi, get inspired to live soulfully and beautifully with Malene Barnett of malene b rugs, adorn yourself with Ruby Buah's authentic Afri-chic KUA clutches, and get lost in dreamy wax prints with Vlisco's latest collection.

Inside the Fashionista Edition of MIMI's November 2009 issue, get beauty tips from actress Stephanie Okereke and style tips from singer Anna Reynolds, learn model behavior from Sandra Nyanchoka, go on a gold jewelry rush with actress Hlubi Mboya, and remember not to take fashion so seriously by having a laugh with Just Another Day of our beloved heroine Mimi and her fashion misadventures.

MIMI Link: Volume 5, Issue 8: Designer Edition; Volume 5, Issue 8: Fashionista Edition

Ayoooo Clarke Curtis

I was ambling through the East Austin Studio Tour too tired to function properly and underwhelmed as usual. My carelessness was evident, my snobbery was embarrassingly profuse and then in the darkness of it all, shone a white beacon of hope. Clarke Curtis's studio glowed in the upstairs corner of Big Medium. The fluorescent lighting lured me in, and it became quite evident upon entering the 80 square ft. space that Curtis's work was different from the commercial crap so often cranked out of these East Austin workrooms. If you happen to be in Austin sometime this week I suggest stopping by 505 Bolm Rd. #12, then simply follow the bright white light.

A man named Coyote and everything else

I'm writing a story - kind of - or maybe it's just a bunch of words in a bag. I can't tell at this point.

Taken with a Holga Colorflash

Centre for Fashion Enterprise at The Soho Grand Hotel in New York City

Joanna Sykes
William TempestHannah Marshall
For more information about the event go to:
http://www.vogue.co.uk
http://thefashioninformer

9 Questions For Fashion Model Sandra Nyanchoka

Written By: Staff Writer—Supermodel hopeful Sandra Nyanchoka was a contestant on Cycle 12 of the reality television series, America’s Next Top Model (ANTM). She has since continued on her path as a fashion model and has bigger and brighter plans for the future. MIMI caught up with Sandra to ask her 9 questions about her style and the substance that defines it.

1. My personal style is influenced by ... a lot of different designs. When I go shopping, I basically buy what I like. I don’t care if it is in style or not. I like to create my own style.
2. People are not aware of the fact that I ... am from such a big family.
3. Being on ANTM ... was stressful but I am thankful for the experience.
4. In my handbag I always carry ... lip gloss.
5. I am passionate about ... nature. Especially flowers! I want to have my own garden in the future.
6. My personal motto is ... if you have a dream go after it. Not everyone may believe in you but you should always believe in yourself.
7. Over the next year I ... would like to start an organization for orphan children in Africa.
8. In ten years I see myself ... financially stable, happily married and pregnant.
9. Being an African woman means ... everything to me. I love the richness of my culture and I am proud of who I am.

For more information, visit: www.sandranyanchoka.com.

(Photo Credits: Beverly Alford)

Be In MIMI

Written By: Staff Writer—We want you to be a part of the voice of African women around the world. Take a cue from Amirah Tajdin, A Girl With A Story To Tell, Without The Hot Sauce, and the "New Music Girl On The Block,"Akua Afram and send us a write-up about yourself. Or, if you fancy, complete the following questions about yourself: (1) I am ... , (2) My connection to Africa is ..., (3) My dream is to ..., (4) I am inspired by ..., (5) I love ... (6) Most people would be surprised to know ..., (7) To me being an African woman means ..., and (8) One of the best pieces of advice I have ever received is .... Tell us all of this about yourself, tell us some of this about yourself, or tell us something else about yourself!

You can reach MIMI at mimimagazineonline[at]gmail.com. Oh, and don't forget to send along your photograph.


(Photo Credits: DigitalSkillet/iStockPhoto)