See Africa Differently

Yesterday I attended Africa Fashion Week London with a number of other bloggers as part of the See Africa Differently campaign. See Africa Differently is an initiative from Comic Relief that aims to re-educate people about Africa, and to celebrate the many positive parts of African culture that are often forgotten.

I really enjoyed the day, and it was very inspiring to see how many of the designers mixed classic elements of African fashion, such as bold prints and statement accessories, to create strong modern looks. I could easily fill this whole post with the many hundreds of pictures I took, but instead I will show you my personal favourites.




I was really taken by these pieces by luxury label Ozora. With a mix of vibrant colours and fusion of textures, their dresses have a definite high-end feel while also being highly wearable. Can't you just see Beyonce rocking that last one?






Colourful, eclectic and ultimately refreshing, Adopted Culture really packs a punch in the statement style stakes. Created by Nana Afua Antwi, who also happens to be the current Top Model of Colour UK, the collection screamed youth and fun. I am now obsessed with these traditional African Head Wraps - aren't they stunning?










Adaora's collection brought a sense of regality to the catwalk, with strong structuring and rich indulgent colours. I particularly loved the detail and luxurious feel of the full-length dress coat - very Elizabethan and elegant.

I would like to say a BIG thank you to the lovely people at 1000heads and Comic Relief for a truly inspiring and enjoyable day. If you'd like to find out more about the See Africa Differently campaign, head over to the website and get involved! They will also be announcing an exciting competition tomorrow where you can win two amazing items from the ASOS Africa range, as seen on the likes of Michelle Obama. Good luck!

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

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An evening with Gumtree

Happy Bank Holiday Monday, my lovely friends!

Have you had a good weekend? I do hope so.

I just wanted to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who commented on my Gumtree thingy. It was VERY much appreciated, and it's good to know there are many others out there who love East London as much as I do.

To celebrate all of the Gumtree fun, a few bloggers and twitter-types were invited to South Bank for a mysterious meet up and evening of fun. The surprise was a rather glamourous trip on the London Eye, complete with champagne and canapes!

Not only was it pretty incredible to get such a great view of my beloved London, but it was also so nice to meet some new people. I had a good ol' chat with the lovely MJ of dreaming spires and old car tyre and her equally lovely friend Moya, and it was also lovely to finally meet Nicola of 1000 heads! Their company do such good work.

Getting ready for lift off...Moya, my friend Amelia and MJ of dreaming spires and old car tyres

This is just how we roll...

The lovely Nicola of 1000 heads

There's nothing like a good London sunset

It was such a fun night. Thanks again, kind people of Gumtree!

I'm ever so busy at the moment, but I'll have some very exciting news to tell you soon. Watch this very space, ok?

That's all for now, folks.

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

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