Zimbabwe’s busy fashion week runs from 20-28 September 2014,
and social media is already a buzz with programmes, ticket prices and headlining
shows. Fashionistas are getting excited and planning their calendar with what
to wear and designers are busy wrapping up final touches to their garments and
collections. Since New York Fashion Week 2014 was at the realm of the Fashion
World in the past few weeks; with street style bloggers, magazines, trends, fashionistas accompanied
by massive instagramming! It’s only natural to seek some inspiration from the
World’s biggest fashion show and fashion party, to bring a little taste back
home. We have run down top 4 trends to copy from New York Fashion Week (#NYFW)
and bring them back home to Zim’s busy Fashion Week. These trends are simple,
straightforward and good for your pocket. Fashion Week is essentially about
expressing your style at an arena that combines all that exudes fashion lovers,
designers, the creative, models and magazines. So make some new fashion rules and
give a twist to the old ones!
Channel an Androgynous look a la J Crew
J Crew is a well-known fast fashion retail store in the USA
that has affordable and ready to wear clothing for the modern trendy woman, BUT
on a budget. This year’s Spring/Summer 2015 collection was a particular
favourite because it was super cool, non-fussy and can be borrowed from your
boyfriend (Gents included). J Crew’s collection was primarily based on casual
clothing, with a new twist in boyfriend jeans, slouchy denim and quirky
embellishments on a mini dress. How would you channel J Crew’s look in Zim
Fashion you may ask? Take an old pair of denims and switch it up in court heels
instead of flats or wear a normal office pencil skirt but with a graphic tee shirt
and high heels. Embellishments are your sequins which are usually placed on
glam-y evening gowns and cocktail dresses; J Crew gave them a twist by placing
sequins on a casual shift dress that has pockets to match! So if you have a
simple shift dress tucked away, then this is the time to upgrade it by adding
your own sparkle with sequins and shiny buttons. PS – you can DIY this at home
or get a very creative tailor to help you.
Do Ladylike like Diane Von Furstenberg and Stella Nolasco!
DVF is the epitome of fabulous women’s fashion with modern
silhouettes to complement her recent S/S 2015 RTW collection. The biggest trend
she gave us was Gingham, her signature wrap dresses in modern patterns and a
lot of black and white. What the blog personally loved about DVF’s latest
collection is the incorporation of gingham in her clothing. Gingham is a boxed
design on material, usually found on kitchen towels and table mats (double
check the cutlery when you walk into a home/kitchenware store). Stella Nolasco
on the other hand was super feminine with much longer silhouettes in maxi
dresses and light summer colours, which included whites, pink and blues. A
personal blog favourite from Stella was a white maxi dress with leaf detail on
the bust. How should you be inspired by DVF and Stella Nolasco’s collection for
Zim’s FW? Wear WHITE or a lovely wrap dress to emulate DVF’S signature work. If
maxis are your thing then go for it a la Stella Nolasco, because Fashion is
really not limited when it comes to Fashion Week.
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| Stella Nolasco's uber feminine collection, with long lengths and a wavy texture. Be inspired to accentuate your soft colours and florals for a feminine look this Zim fashion week. |
Take it to the Streets and RUN WITH IT!
What’s fashion week without street fashion and street style
bloggers right? Although Zim Fashion hasn’t fully bloomed in that sector yet,
it’s still a great area of fashion to sought inspiration from since it could be
your typical everyday look but with a quirky twist. Street style bloggers dress
outside the norm and outside the box, so if you are a creative and bold
character then bring out your best and loud looks to the streets of Zim’s
Fashionable week.
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| Prints are a big trend and a wardrobe staple for any chic fashionista! Whether African, graphic, tie-dye or aztec - prints are here to stay. |
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| If you are big on trends, then the thigh high slit is something you might wanna consider this busy fashion week. Get heads turning in a sassy thigh high slit dress or maxi skirt. |
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| A clean quirkiness with the fringe blouse and bowler hat. And a fresh clean, ladylike finish on street fashion. |
Play it safe with BLACK
Black is a timeless colour that works with just about
anything. If you prefer a more demure but yet still chic-sophisticated route,
then black is the safest bet for any ensemble. Take a black ensemble and wear
it with brighter accessories; such as a gold clutch, red heels or a neon choker.
Black looks to keep you stylish can be a little black dress with red heels OR
head to toe black in black pants, black top and a sleek black blazer with a
classy bun to finish.
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| Black is simple, chic and versatile. Perfect for both day and night, all you have to do is switch up your accessories. |
Fashion Week only comes around once a year, and with this
year’s edition is jam packed with several events, which could feel a bit
daunting and overwhelming with the variety of show times, ticket prices and
transport. With a line-up of shows to choose from, it is wise to plan,
co-ordinate and budget your transport, show times, tickets and outfits – you
don’t want to be caught wearing the same thing twice AND you don’t want to end
up stranded at a midnight show so PLANNING is off the essence.
*Check out Tweet-A-Cab Harare for all your transportation needs, from one venue to the next or if you need an alternative route to travel back home safely!*
*Keep in mind that MOST of the shows are scheduled in the evening from 6pm and onwards, Fashion Collective Zimbabwe runs from 11am to 5.30pm*
All the same,
have fun, note down and share the best of what #ZimFashion has to offer on your
Instagram!
Stay Gorgeous!
Tendai Sophia
Superb fashion event!! All dresses are fantastic. I so want to arrange such fashion events. I have been getting professional training under supervision of a reputed local event planner and hopefully will be able to pull off things independently soon. I just love this work!
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