It’s all Gucci! YFN Lucci recently hit the town with his boo, Reginae Carter wearing the same $1,800 Gucci track jacket worn by queen Rihanna. So, you know we have to ask—who wore it better? This pre-Fall technical jersey jacket designed with excessive GG logos was, “inspired by the gaming culture from the eighties with colorful arcades,”according to Gucci.
YFN Lucci went casual and rocked his jacket with a Gucci headband and jeans and sneakers. Reginae looked cute on his arm in a similar Gucci ensemble, the ‘GG technical jersey’ pattern in the style of a dress. The $2,200 logo dress is a great alternative for the bombshells who are feeling this trend and want to head out in a chic look.
Queen Rih Rih rocked the runway look from head to toe, but added her own flair with a brown leather coat and green sandals. The bold red lip and dangling green earrings certainly made her look pop. She never ceases to amaze us!
Have you guys checked out our fast rising Instagram page, @FashionBombAfrica? It’s all about highlighting the stars, designers, and tastemakers from the Continent.
Today, we are featuring “Style Temple’s”Creative Director, Ogugua Okonkwo, a prestigious Nigerian Designer and Tastemaker. Fashion Bomb Africa’s Editor, Gloria Nella recently caught up with Ogugua Okonkwo for a compelling interview.
Tell us a little about yourself, Who is Ogugua Okonkwo?
To be honest, this is quite a complex question. To a lot of people I am an astute perfectionist, but I believe I am a self-starter with a very keen idea of what I want, and while it has taken me time to horn this clarity of purpose, I’d say I have had to learn on the job through trying and failing, and trying again until I get what it is I want. But as a way of background, I trained as a Medical Laboratory Scientist at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and pursued a career in that field before taking a major career pivot to first, fashion illustration, and then, working for other brands as an associate designer before starting Style Temple.
When did you first discover your love Fashion & Design?
I grew up around very resourceful and entrepreneurial women. My grandmother and my mum would take it upon themselves to make clothes for myself and my other siblings, when they had to, or amend our clothes each time they tore. On hindsight, I’d say that greatly influenced me even though I couldn’t articulate that into thoughts at the time. My father on the other hand, would always reward my siblings and I when ever we sketched things, I really didn’t know I’d eventually have use for all those skills that they, in a way, encouraged us to pick up as a way of passing time. So, once I found myself putting in hours into sketching with not as much effort put into my job at the clinic, I knew this was something that I’d to pursue. And, I’d be remiss if I didn’t tell you that it has been a very trying journey, but one that I continue to triumph over through steadfastness, innovation and an unwavering dedication to.
What is the story behind your brand?
Style Temple officially launched in 2012 providing made-to-measure services in Abuja, Nigeria. We (my former business partner and I) ran the first three years not making money yet filling a gap we saw in the market. We continued with almost no capital save for the few thousands that we’d put together from our meagre personal savings. After sometime, my business partner wanted to set out on her own, which for me, felt like starting afresh. In 2016, after 4 years of being in operation, it occurred to me how hard it is scaling-up made-to-measure services, so, I decided to branch out into ready-to-wear. For ready-to-wear, I wanted to create a line that the uber-stylish women that come to us can buy off the shelf, without losing that recognizable edge that is our mainstay. I leveraged my market intelligence gathered from our years of personal client interaction involved with our made-to-measure services, to create something truly feminine and one-of-a-kind. In October 2016, after only a few months of releasing our debut RTW collection, we were invited to show our Spring/Summer collection at the Lagos Fashion Week to a critical reception from industry insiders, press and buyers.
What defines Style Temple?
Style Temple, I find, is the interpretation of today’s modern woman; sophisticated, complex and larger-than-life. I am constantly trying to find a balance between construction and femininity, between strength and delicacy. I find that over time, the women that buy our pieces are more daring than most, they are globally curious, socially conscious and have a desire to stand-out from the crowd. This has enabled the brand carve a niche for itself in the ever burgeoning Nigerian fashion industry as the go-to brand for girls with a knack for making a lasting sartorial impression.
What sets your brand apart from the others? What inspires your pieces?
I live and breathe the style Temple woman. I have an unparalleled understanding of what women want, and at Style Temple, we have made it our business to deliver that to them. I’m constantly thinking about the Style Temple woman…. who she is; what she is evolving into; where she goes; what she does; and, how she wants to be perceived. I ultimately create clothes that address these pointers.
What future plans do you have for Style Temple? Where do you see Style Temple 10 years from now?
My vision for Style Temple is to become a globally recognizable brand that caters to, and celebrates exceptional women of every ethnicity. I hope with Style Temple, we’re able to make women feel beautiful, strong and extraordinary from the inside out. We are working tirelessly to transcend geography and every limitation there is to becoming an International designer brand that will appeal as warmly to Europeans, Asians and Americans as we would Africans. This, we realize, is a difficult task and one that is yet to be achieved by any brand from the African continent.
Learn more about Ogugua Okonkwo onInstagram via @styletempleofficial and be sure to check out her latest collection. Also, be sure to follow @FashionBombAfrica!
It’s no secret that Teyana & Iman are easily one of social media’s favorite couple, and we can see why. They’re hot! You know what they say— a couple that slays together, stays together! The stunning duo graced the amfAR Cannes gala red carpet last night rocking all black Philipp Plein ensembles.
Teyana went for a sleek look in a $1,655 ‘Elegance’ tuxedo velvet blazer by the brand with silk lapels and she teamed it with Philipp’s $1,320 ‘Even if’ flare trousers. The velvet pants skimmed the ground and was designed with a long silver zipper along her legs. She beamed while showing off some skin underneath the classic blazer. Hot!
Iman complemented his lovely wife wearing a $985 ‘Gothic’ button-down adorned with crystals down the middle and ‘PLEIN’ bedazzled letters on the back. He added a bit of a dapper touch to the look with a $2,640 ‘Gothic P’ jacket with a ‘P’ embroidered on the chest of the wool coat. He completed his look with black jogger pants and spiked sneakers. These two look great!
Just because our Instagram is temporarily down doesn’t mean you have to miss out on your daily fashion dos! For the past week, we’ve been posting content of your faves to our Facebook page. Just like we normally do every Friday on Instagram, we’ve tallied up your favorite looks of the week based on likes. See the contenders who you chose below:
Angela Bassett in Vitor Zerbinato
Angela gets it right every single time! This ageless beauty stunned at Fox’s Upfronts in NYC wearing a pants suit by Viktor Zerbinato. But, it’s not your normal pantsuit—the wide leg pants had a matching bomber-like jacket with feathery sleeves that hung off her shoulder. She teamed the chic ensemble with a black bustier and showed off a hint of cleavage. Hot!
2. Nicki Minaj in Christian Dior and Chanel
Rainy festival? No problem! Nicki Minaj made a surprise appearance at the Rolling Loud festival prepared for the rainy set. She hit the stage wearing a Chanel SS18 transparent poncho paired with matching see-through thigh-highs by the brand and a visor. Under her poncho she rocked a Christian Dior SS18 striped shorts set. Nicki is the queen of owning a look that we wouldn’t traditionally see together, and she absolutely owned this!
3. Winnie Harlow in Ralph & Russo
What a bombshell! Cannes Festival has been underway for a little over a week now, and we’ve been covering the carpet on our Facebook. Winnie Harlow landed in the top 5 donning a bold green Ralph & Russo dress. She went for a simplistic, yet statement look in this off-the-shoulder look with a high thigh slit. She owned that carpet!
4. Kendell Jenner in Schiaparelli
Kendell Jenner made an entrance on the Cannes Film Festival red carpet in a Schiaparelli belted tulle gown. This dress was definitely a head-turner as it left little to the imagination with it’s see through material. Kendell slightly softened the look up with her natural beat face. Would you say this was an angelic vibe or was that missed?
5. Justine Skye in Off White
Justine Skye struck a pose for the ‘Gram in a $1,705 floral Off White dress. With draping all throughout, the asymmetrical hemmed dress was the perfect spring ensemble for the songstress. She completed her look with simple Gucci sandals and pulled her signature purple hair up into a high bun. The colors in the dress complement the purple hair so well. Cute!
Today’s Bombshell of the day is Jasmine from Harlem.
She writes, “I like to describe my style as spontaneous. Most days I’m girly and I want everything to sparkle, other days I’m Harlem chic as if I were the First Lady of Dipset.”
View more looks below:
Bomb! From glamourous to casual, we are feelin’ your edgy ensembles!
Fashion Bombshell of the Day is a feature showcasing the singular style of Fashion Bomb Readers. Send your name, location, a description of your style, and 5-10 clear, unfiltered, head-to-toe pictures of 5-10 different outfits (no collages) to Bombshell@FashionBombDaily.com. Images submitted will be featured on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or any of our social media platforms. Comments can be harsh, so bring your A game! Please be advised: once published, pictures will not be removed or taken down.
Today’s Fashion Bomber of the day is David from Brooklyn who was raised in Virginia Beach.
He writes, “If I could describe my style, it would be minimalism meets high-end street. I love pairing a runway piece with casual staples, but it’s less about a particular look and more about how the pieces compliment each other. I usually go with the fundamentals: a pair of limited or unique footwear, a well-fitting pant, and a good jacket.”
“It’s not all about labels, but certain brands just get me. Dior, Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen, Neil Barrett, and Haider Ackermann are my top five. I enjoy mixing brands and wearing a variety of them at the same time. However, If a piece speaks to me, the brand doesn’t really matter. It just has to feel right.”
View more looks below:
Dope style! I’m diggin’ the smooth and streetwear aesthetics.
Learn more about this Bomber on Instagram @dayvid.j.
What do you think?
Fashion Bombshell of the Day is a feature showcasing the singular style of Fashion Bomb Readers. Send your name, location, a description of your style, and 5-10 clear, unfiltered, head-to-toe pictures of 5-10 different outfits (no collages) to Bombshell@FashionBombDaily.com. Images submitted will be featured on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or any of our social media platforms. Comments can be harsh, so bring your A game! Please be advised: once published, pictures will not be removed or taken down.
The royal countdown begins! It is almost time for the world to tune into the biggest wedding of 2018 as Meghan Markle will soon be married to the Prince of Wales aka Prince Harry. The ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 19th at the St. Georges Chapel in Windsor Castle. More than three billion people are expected to watch this historic moment and the excitement is growing each day as speculations surround what the wife-to-be will be wearing, celebrity guests attending and much more.
Here’s what may go down at the royal wedding:
The chosen designer on Meghan’s big day:
The talk of the town is all about the American Princess’s wedding gown. So far we know the dress is kept in a safe place and Queen Elizabeth II will get first dibs of the regal ensemble. All bets were on Ralph & Russo once the former actress wore the British designers’ Fall 2017 couture dress in her engagement photos, yet she may opt for another London based designer: Burberry, Ederm, Stella McCartney and more are amongst the list of designers that she may wear down the aisle.
There’s a strong chance that Burberry is one of the top choices as Meghan’s mom, Doria Ragland flew to London on Tuesday, May 15th from LA, and was spotted carrying a Burberry garment cover. This might be the ultimate clue on what we will see going down the aisle on the bride-to-be or mom who is also playing a big role in the ceremony.
With other festivities taking place on the royal couple’s big day, Meghan’s best friend Jessica Mulroney may get to see her BFF in one of her wedding dresses. She’s a bridal designer of @jessicamulroneyweddings and had an influence on her gal pal’s style during Meghan’s acting career. Jessica is expected to attend the wedding. Expectations are also running high on which tiara the soon-to-be bride will rock. According to WWD, “Markle will most likely wear the Strathmore Rose Tiara, the Lotus Flower Tiara or even the Spencer Tiara.” When Harry proposed to his fiancée he had two diamond stones from his mother, Princess Diana’s collection inserted in her engagement ring, so if she opts to wear the late Princess’s Spencer Tiara it wouldn’t be so far fetched.
2. Who will be in attendance?
Approximately 600 people will get the experience of a lifetime as Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, Serena Williams, Priyanka Chopra, Amal Clooney, George Clooney, Elton John, and three out of five of The Spice Girl members: Victoria Beckham, Emma Bunton, and Geri Horner are on the list to attend.
Unfortunately, Meghan’s father, Thomas Markle will not be in attendance due to heart problems. The Kensington Palace took to Twitter to address Ms. Markle’s message to the public.
3. You are cordially invited! Here’s how to watch the royal festivities from home:
The ceremony officially starts at 12:00 BST/7:00 am EST on nearly all BBC radio and television platforms including streaming live on BBC News Website and BBC iPlayer. Also, check your local listings to see who will broadcast the exciting experience live.
Happy Friday!
Electrify your day with our latest exclusive editorial, featuring Kuoth Wiel by Ben Duggan Styled by Michael Mann for Fashion Bomb Daily.
FBD may be down temporarily, but the Bomb Life must go on! We are still having Convos with Claire in Houston on June 23rd (get your tickets here), and just like with D.C., we are following our special guests around for a Day in the Life to help you learn more about them before the event! Mahisha Dellinger from Curls is one of our esteemed panelists, so I went down to her residence in Dallas for an afternoon of fashion and fun.
Mahisha Dellinger is a FORCE. As the CEO of Curls, she has created a multi million dollar hair empire with products stocked in CVS, Target, Walgreens, and more. Though Mahisha grew up in poverty, she managed to catapult herself to the forefront of an extremely competitive industry thanks to grit, vision, courage, and innovation. She uses her platform to empower other women by example and through mentorship.
Though she simply invited me to take a peek into her life with a day of shopping at Tootsies with her fabulous friends, including Kim Alexander, Yodit Tewolde, Crystal Wimbrey, and Fifi Perry, I left feeling so inspired. These are black women killing it . In addition to having bomb businesses, they also have families (Mahisha is a wife and mother of four), and are stylish and chic to boot. As I watched them sip champagne and try on looks from Attico, Pat Bo, Rachel Zoe, and more, all I could think was “#Goals.” Though I have accomplished a good bit up until this point, these women are next level, and I left feeling inspired and motivated to push for more.
These are the type of women you will meet at Convos with Claire! Hope to see you at our next one on June 23rd in Houston. Get your tickets here. Love & Light,
*Fabulous Dallas based stylist J. Bolin stopped by to say hi! He and I talked about bringing CWC to Dallas again. I’m down! Are you?
** I went from the airport to boiling hot Dallas (it was 98 degrees), so I wore Norma Kamali shorts, a Zara tank, and a duster from Kyna Collection. I wore flats in the airport, but switched to Louboutin sandals. I felt hot and sweaty (I went straight from the airport to Tootsies), but hey! This is the Bomb Life! ***Tootsies is a must stop if you’re ever in Dallas!
Visit their website here to get a view of what they have in store.
Expectations are also running high on which tiara the soon-to-be bride will rock. According to 
Approximately 600 people will get the experience of a lifetime as Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, Serena Williams, Priyanka Chopra, Amal Clooney, George Clooney, Elton John, and three out of five of The Spice Girl members: Victoria Beckham, Emma Bunton, and Geri Horner are on the list to attend.
The ceremony officially starts at 12:00 BST/7:00 am EST on nearly all 
