TREND WATCH: Ethnic Print

As Fashion Week NYC is coming to a close, the ladies of Masque and I have come together to share notes on the apparel from the fashion shows that we love, hate, and are still waiting the jury to come back with a decision on. :D

Currently, I'm on a "trend watch" for a style that has been slowly creeping into mainstream fashion circuits: colorful, African print.  I personally love the style. It's fun. It's trendy. It's versatile. And I don't always have to match my accessories and shoes to the "T". *sigh of relief*

Watching a Bey or a Rih Rih video may have introduced you to BOXING KITTEN. As seen in "Put It In a Love Song" and "Rude Boy", respectively, the label on the rise is becoming more popular with every new season.  Solange, Alicia Keys, Fergie, DJ Rashida, Kelis, Estelle, and many other divas have donned Boxing Kitten and are doing it well. With a wide array of dresses, "onsies", tops and bottoms to choose from, the brand has mastered making a traditional look into a modern fashion craze! Without sacrificing style and taste, this logotype is not going to fade away anytime soon.

This past week, the L.A.M.B 2011 Spring/Summer collection was introduced and many of the pieces compliment my "trend watch". Clean cut, ready-to-wear tops, bottoms, and dresses screamed "buy me now!" as they floated down the runway.  L.A.M.B. totally understands the key to a bold fabric: pairing it with a simple garment or mixing and matching the patterned cloth with subtle patches.

At the NOLCHA fashion show, I met a young designer, Pacy KADIO-MOROKRO, who was showcasing her line, YALERRI. What captivated me was the intricate beads and sparkles that added just enough glam to the line.  Pacy explained to me that most of her pieces are hand woven and the detail that I admired were added by hand. We exchanged information, as we're going to work with one another for my special order.  The main regret we had is that her official website has not been launched yet, however I will keep our readers posted when it's up and running.

The only bad thing I can see about ethnic pieces is that they can become dated like parachute pants and big, curly hair. Either way, I'm going to follow this trend and embrace it because I love it!

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