BLOGS ARE TALKING ABOUT...

Make Fetch Happen reported that fashion designer Duro Olowo married Studio Museum of Harlem curator Thelma Golden! And I took the liberty of scanning the Vogue March 2008 article for FG2BH readers....

The couple eloped in New York City and they are going to celebrate in London (where Olowu is based), and his hometown Lagos, Nigeria.

Thelma on marrying Duro on January 2nd: "I always imagined I would spend ages planning my wedding, yet this felt perfect."

Thelma on choosing the dress: "Duro made it for me a year ago. It was just the most obvious and natural thing to wear."

And in related news, Duro currently revealed his Fall 2008 collection at L'Oreal Fashion Week in London. His collection is all around prints, vibrant colors and tons of chiffon! Check out his entire collection here.

VIBE magazine finally acknowledged the staying power of Nollywood. As the article stated, Nigeria is home to the world's fastest-growing film industry. VIBE credited 1992's "Living In Bondage" as the catalyst behind the blooming Nollywood industry.

[naijarules.com even got a well-deserved shout-out from the urban publication!]

Here's the quote written out by Hubscrown of NAIJARULES.COM:

Nigeria is home to the world's fastest growing film industry. Practically non-existence a decade ago. Nollywood now ranks third globally in terms of output, behind Bollywood and Hollywood. But while movies are multi million-dollar business in Nigeria, the industry is built on D.I.Y. aesthetics and economics. Video is standard format (Nigerians actually call local movies "home videos") and shoots typically wrap in matter of days. Most films fall into the category of exploitation cinema - 1992's Living in Bondage is credited with pioneering movement- combing Hollywood-derived action and thriller plots with sensationalized, locally specific elements like witchcraft and black magic.
Nollywood movies have yet to register at international festivals, but these slap clash camcorder blockbusters, hugely popular at home, have sparked similar movements in neighboring Ghana and Cameroon. CHECK OUT: naijarules.com

"American Idol" finally has a Nigerian-American contestant Chikezie on its popular reality series. It took seven seasons to have a Naija in the top 12! [Learn more about Chikezie here.] Thanks to Us Weekly, Chikezie has been compared to Donny Hathaway. (See the scan above). Check him out singing "She's A Woman" during The Beatles tribute....

[video spotted @ Naija Gal.]

Thandie Newton and Chiwetel Ejiofor were seen making the rounds on the red carpet recently. Thandie attended the New York premiere of "Run, Fat Boy, Run" whereas the equally talented Chiwetel flaunted his Best Actor award at The Laurence Olivier Awards. [Chiwetel won for his leading role in "Othello"!] Because of this man's fineness, I had to add this smiling picture of him with Taraji P Henson at 2007 Los Angeles Film Festival - "Talk To Me" Screening.

And that's what African/Naija blogs are talking about....

Photos: WIREIMAGE/AMERICANIDOL.COM/USMAGAZINE.COM/MY SCANNER/VIBE.COM/NAIJARULES.COM

DURO OLOWU'S SPRING 2007 COLLECTION

Naija/British fashion designer Duro Olowu unveiled his Spring 2007 ready-to-wear collection this past September during London Fashion Week.

[images via STYLE.COM]

A favorite of mine's from Duru's collection is the agua green halter gown. I also like the sandals Duro designed for the models to wear. As evident in his Spring 2008 collection and Fall 2007 pieces*, Duro bridges both of his cultures-Nigerian and British into his couture pieces.

Quick scoop on Duro Olowu:
His father is Nigerian (Yoruba descent) and his mother is Jamaican.
His invitation only couture line is sold here.
Olowu gave up his legal practices to pursue his fashion designing career.
Duro currently resides in the U.K.

Be sure to check out Duro Olowu's Fall 2007-2008 collection over at his official site.

Any thoughts on Duro Olowu's Spring 2008 collection?

[feels good 2 b home]

Duro Olowu's Fall 2007 collection debuts in London!

As I reported earlier, Duro Olowu is the hottest Naija-UK fashion designer. Olowu's known in the fashion world for his electic sense of style and his Afro-centric prints. Below is an aritcle clipping from "Suede" magazine:

[click on the image to read or continue reading...]

"Duro Olowu's fashion sensibility took shape somewhere between the 1970s look of South African soul goodness Miriam Makeba, Nigerian icon Fela Kuti, and the icily chic spectacle of actress Romy Schneider
in the mid '70s French film Les Innocents Aux Maims (innocents with the dirty hands). The dynamic is quite clear in his signature best seller, called-what else?- the Duro, which combines bell-sleeved volume inspired by the traditional buba of his native Nigeria and graphic prints reminiscent of the mittel Europa-style clothes his Jamacian-born mother, Inez, used to wear. Every time she met up with Olowu's dad, lawyer and diplomat Kayode, in Geneva on her way back from visiting family in London, Inez would buy bolts of Swiss silk to take home to Lagos. Like mother, like son-the 38 year old designer has a small mountain of georgette piled behind a curtain in his little shop at the newly fashionable far end of London's Portobello Road. Most of it will be turned into Duros to satisfy waiting lists for stores like Barneys New York and Kirna Zabete in New York, Beram in Chicago and Browns in London. Fortunately for them, Olowu defied his original destiny, law, to become a designer. Now the Duro seems destinied for the same kind of cult status as Diane von Furstenberg's wrap dress-and for the same reasons. Why do women love the Duro so much? Because the Duro loves them right back. "It celebrates what women are and what they want to
be," says Olowu in a voice whose velvety depth suggests he knows all about selection."

Here are my top 4 looks from the show...

Visit [Bella Naija] for exclusive pictures from his Fall 2007 London Fashion Week fashion show. [Thanks Bella for the shout-out!]

Brit-Naija fashion designer Duro Olowu

Duro Olowu is a Nigerian fashion designer of Yoruba descent. He is known for his floaty A-line Afro-styled dresses. He currently lives in London with his wife, Elaine Golding. He and his wife owns a by-appointment studio in London called Olowu/Golding. Duro was featured in the March 2004 issue of 'Vogue' magazine.

Duro Olowu's words on his fashion empire:
"I'm used to dealing with design millimeter by millimeter."
On Summer 2004 look campaign for Lucila:
"We just feel it's a time for knitwear again. We want to develop it into a 'total look' range."
[quote credit: Vogue, March 2004]

Duro Olowu with Angela Davis at the 2005 British Fashion Awards

His clothing line can be purchased at the following venues/countries:
AMERICAS
New York, NY: Barneys New York, Jeffrey
Chicago, IL: Ikram
Santa Monica, CA: Savannah
Beverly Hills, CA: Barneys
Burlingame, CA: Susan
San Francisco, CA: Susan
Atlanta, GA: Jeffrey
Port Washington, NY: Janet Brown
Boston, MA: Barneys New York
Seattle, WA: Nordstrom

EUROPE
London, England: A la Mode, OG2
Paris, France: Marie Luisa, Montaigne Market
Milan, Italy: Banner, Biffi
Bergamo, Italy: Biffi
Brescia, Italy: Penelope
Cortina, Italy: Le Noir
Carate Brianza, Italy: Mantovani
Como, Italy: AGI Emme
Verbania, Italy: VIWA
Pardononne, Italy: Birbas Details
Lugano, Switzerland: Shuga
St Tropez, France: Patch
Knokke, Belgium: La Vie en Rose
Athens, Greece: Luisa
Monte Carlo, Monaco: Espace Mirage

PACIFIC
Melbourne, Australia: Belinda
Sydney, Australia: Belinda

MIDDLE EAST
Kuwait, Kuwait City: Al Ostoura
Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Villa Moda
Beirut, Lebanon: Plum

ASIA
Tokyo, Japan: Barneys New York, Changes

CARIBBEAN
St Barthelemy, French West Indies: Calypso St. Barthes

He is known for his floaty A-line Afro-styled dresses. Here's a picture slide of his work....

For more information on Duro visit his official website, http://www.duroolowu.com/.