Que Bella, No?

Marpessa Dawn (L) and Lea Garcia in Black Orpheus/Orfeu Negro

Just saw I Vitteloni--The Great Federico Fellini just always delivers.  Am most moved by the final scene bout migratory birds, about searching... about wanting something more from life without knowing its name, just knowing that it will feel different. And the fashion--my god! It's hard to imagine Fellini ever made a movie without calculating wardrobe takes first. The furs, the dresses, the hair, the suits just so and what cinematography. It's mandatory to spread such magic.

In The Moment: Image from Federico Fellini's Amarcord

And If I speak of magic, how can I not write of Marcel Camus' Orfeu Negra/Black Orpheus? Ah...This is possibly the most beautiful movie ever made. Brazil meets Carnival meets Dresses to Die Wearing and Did I mention the Dresses? From simple, clean white summer frocks to figure hugging in pink. Everything a Standout. And romantic too, even if bizarre--Marpessa Dawn, who played Eurydice, and Breno Mello, Orpheus, died 41 days apart from one another in 2008, both from heart attacks. Que Imposible, no?  Just ogle and love every bit of these images--Enjoy Bellas!

A cool little gem for Fellini-inspired vintage pieces is Amarcord, named for the movie. Amarcord Vintage Fashion promises "European Vintage Clothing".  Prices definitely reflect the SoHo real-estate, but there is always something worth seeing, even if just to feed your eyes. They also have stores in ever hipster Williamsburg.

In the image at L, Lourdes de Oliviera reacts alongside lead actor Breno Mello, who played Orpheus. If you haven't seen this movie, you're living a little less than alive.

Family Fashionistas

Ethiopian Designer Twin-Sister Duo of Mataano.  Image: GorgeousNewYork.com

Most fashionistas have someone whose lipstick they stole and whose large shoes were filled with newspapers and goodness knows what else by an admiring 7-year old. For me, those people were all family. One of my uncles donned three piece suits by Hugo Boss or the like, for his gig as a motorbike messenger in pre-email Johannesburg--talk about hip before the birth of cool! My mother always had kids at my schools on the watch, waiting to see what she turned up wearing...they could never figure out how the nerd I was landed such a stylish mom.  And my dad?  My father refused to wear a suit to work as part of his fashion stamp (I don't follow too far behind) but that Cat was sharp.  I learned the importance of a good shoe from my dad and the eloquence of understated attention to detail and quality.  I also learned the importance of fresh socks--he always carried a fresh pair with him for mid-day change--a classy man with pungent feet does not classy make.

And of course, my grandmother, who taught me so quietly the art and dignity of all things beautiful.

If you're feeeling the family love of style (+love), enjoy Elva Fields--a boutique of gorgeous handmade jewelery, see left, with lines named for designer Emily Maynard's great-grandmother (Elva), grandmother (June) and mother (Deb).  And of course, how can we forget Ethiopian Mataano sister-design team--Ayaan and Idyl Muhallim--who bring family inspiration+love to every piece in their collection? Cannot wait for long summer walks sporting a wide, flowing number from their Spring 2010 line.

All That Jazz + Juicy Chit Chat

Capturing The Invincible Spirit of KOFIFI. Image: Jurgen Schadeberg for Drum Magazine, February 1955

Imaginary smoky rooms and phat cats with even phatter cigars is not just romantic, it's downright sexy.  Throw in the a couple star-power names...think Hugh Masekela/Nelson Mandela/Oliver Tambo/Desmond Tutu/Dorothy Masuka and suddenly you are at a lively Sophiatown/KOFIFI shebeen (speakeasy) where Miriam Makeba croons, the Jazz Epistles bellow, intoxicating conversation rises to fevor pitch and best dressed is a fierce, unspoken competition.  I love old photographs of South African life, but I love especially takes on the godliness of small life moments--the way people passed time on the weekend, the hottest joint booking the craziest acts in the summer of the times and of course, what who wore and when/why/how.  Hope you enjoy this treasure trove of images from apartheid-era black South Africa. Damn, We Stay Looking Fierce!

Music Mavens with A Smoky Sound...The Three Jazzomolos: J. Schadeberg, 1953.

Ndebele Gentlemen Strike Stillness With Poise. Image: Constance Larrabee, circa 1936-1949. 

Venerable Style Icon Miriam Makeba Holding Court 1957, KOFIFI Fierceness And All.  Image: Ranjith Kally. Ever Dapper, Nelson Mandela During The Rivonia Trial, 1958.  Golf Lessons in Sophiatown. Images: J. Schadeberg.   

BEST OF 2010

South African Designer David Tlale: Africa Fashion Week 2010

BLACK SWANS & WHITE PEACOCKS, Oh MY!

Beautiful Swan: Model Flying High in Vlisco Textiles

Beauty. Gotta love its magnificence--the magic elegant design can elicit. And the fantasy. Think flying unicorns, black swans and white peacocks. Life is alive when you see and experience beauty.  We all hunger for small and mighty ways to live in its light.  This blog is an ode to a specific kind of beauty—the bold, bright, loud, effervescent & rich fashion forward wave that inspires us at KoKOFIFI.

We’re a global African brand, taking our name from Sophiatown, affectionately known as Kofifi—a cultural fashion mecca of urban black life in 1948 South Africa.  Our mission is delivering you snapshots of Africa’s fierce fashion/design scene, alongside your doctor recommended daily dose of the usual international suspects.  And yeah, we take that whole loving+living outloud thing pretty seriously. Nice to meet you.  Live. Love. Outloud.