Last night Saturday Night Live closed out their season with a memorable finale! Nicki Minaj hit the stage and performed her hit single ‘Chun-Li’ and ‘Poke It Out’ with surprise guest, Play Boy Carti. She opened her performance looking extra snatched in a $1,850 belted ‘Emperor Kimono’ by Any Old Iron. The long red and black sequin kimono was reminiscent of Nicki’s old ‘Harajuku Barbie’ days.
Shortly after her opening scene, she revealed a custom latex bodysuit by Vex Clothing and Kerin Rose Gold festooned with 9,500 gold crystals. Hot!
The latex piece was belted with a hanging flap designed with a crystal Japanese dragon. Her back-up dancers wore similar ensembles. It appears that this costume was inspired by the Street Fighter character ‘Chin-Li’ who’s armor includes a blue puff sleeve top and a flap skirt— Nicki added her own flair to the armor.
For her final look, Nicki strikes again in a custom couture design by On Aura Tout Vu covering a Vex Clothing bodysuit. The piece featured a harness-like tip and shoulder pieces embellished with gold. Both costumes suited Nicki very well, especially for the theme of the performance. A bold red lip was the perfect lip choice, teamed with her short banged bob to complete the look.
She slipped on Gucci ‘Tear’ sunglasses backstage at the close of her set.
After the show, social media immediately accused Nicki’s performance and outfits of cultural appropriation. What do you think? Were you feeling her ensembles?
Not only did the bride and groom look lovely during the Royal Wedding, but their guests arrived in chic ensembles accessorized with statement hats and fascinators hours before the ceremony. It wasn’t a red carpet event, but they could’ve fooled us! Let’s get into some of the amazing looks from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s big day:
First, the mom of the bride, Ms. Doria Ragland looked beautiful. She arrived at the Royal Wedding donning a pale green Oscar de la Renta skirt suit with floral embroidery at the bottom. She accessorized with a simple, classic fascinator over her locs and minimal jewelry. She looks amazing, and Meghan is definitely her mama’s twin!
Serena Williams made an entrance with her husband to the wedding wearing a light pink Versace draped dress and a headpiece arrangement. Underneath the piece she rocked cornrows that flowed down her back, giving braids an entire new look. Her snapback is amazing, look at that waist!
Amal Clooney opted for a bold dandelion yellow Stella McCartney dress teamed with a matching hat with a net slightly covering her face. She sure turned heads with this number!
You all loved this one! Priyanka Chopra struck a sultry pose before entering her good friend’s wedding clad in a Vivienne Westwood ensemble. Do you see the asymmetrical buttoning on that jacket?! She also wore a structured lilac hat to match her skirt suit, while topping her look off with a pink lippie. Hot!
Idris Elba and his fiancé, Sabrina Dohwrw were in attendance. Dohwrw rocked Gucci threads from head to toe excluding her hat. Her ensemble included a Gucci cardigan dress with heels and a purse by the brand. Idris looked suave as usual in a suit.
Oprah never disappoints! She was a vision in a pink Stella McCartney dress with lace trimming topped off with a hat covered in flowers. Oprah posted a video to Instagram shortly after the wedding telling her followers that this dress was made over night because her original dress looked too close to white when photographed. Overnight dress sensation?! Absolutely!
Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton and also sister-in-law to the groom wore an off white Alexander McQueen coat dress teamed with a floral designed hat. Her adorable mini-me, Princess Charlotte also wore a white dress and accessorized with a blossoming halo headpiece.
Look at this cutie! Prince George, nephew to the groom followed in his Uncle’s footsteps wearing a military-inspired coat and side stripe pants by Dege & Skinner. Prince Harry’s ensemble was also designed by them for his big day.
Bomb couple alert! Victoria Beckham and David Beckham were also on the scene. Victoria wore one of her own designs, while David looked dapper in a Dior Home suit.
Gina Torres opted for a red lace Costarellos frock as she entered the doors of the Windsor castle. This dress was perfect for the occasion, and was perfectly tailored. She looked very fab!
Shortly after the lovely couple tied the knot at the castle, their guests gathered for a fab reception. Serena Williams was a stunner in a Maison Valentino gown designed with a vibrant floral bottom with pockets and a velvet top. Serena has been killing all of these ceremonial looks!
There’s no stopping Priyanka—she’s showing out for her bestie’s big day! She was a stunner at the Royal Wedding reception in a gold, sparkling Dior gown. There was no better way to complete this look than with a natural beat face and tossed tresses. Beautiful!
What an elegant occasion. All attendees were truly a class act!
The day we’ve been waiting for is finally here! This afternoon in London, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry wed at the Windsor Castle in England for their grand Royal Wedding. Of course, the world was waiting on Meghan’s big dress reveal. She beamed in a Givenchy Haute Couture dress designed by Claire Waight Keller.
The elegant gown was covered in a 16-foot veil adorned with a floral embroidered trim, it was held on by the Filigree tiara, which belonged to Queen Mary. The veil was made from silk tulle with a trim of hand-embroidered flowers in silk threads.
In a statement, designer Clare Waight Keller said, “We wanted to create a timeless piece that would emphasize the iconic codes of Givenchy throughout its story, as well as convey modernity through sleek lines and sharp cuts. In contrast, the delicate floral beauty of the veil was a vision Meghan and I shared, a special gesture embracing the commonwealth flora, ascending the circumference of the silk tulle.”
The dress was very minimal, but it graced Meghan’s figure perfectly. The off-the-shoulder feature created a beautiful neckline on the bride and added to the classic timeliness of the gown. Meghan looked absolutely beautiful and represented elegance and class in it’s purest form. Her best friend’s 7-year-old twin son’s held the dramatic veil as she entered the castle and walked down the aisle.
See more photos of the lovely Royal Wedding memorable moments!
Congratulations to the stunning couple—they look so in love!
Saucy! It’s no secret that Kylie Jenner loves showing off her body. The new mom posed for the ‘Gram after a meet and greet flaunting her curvaceous shape in a House of CB ‘Fornarina’ dress. The $210 figure-hugging tulle garb is the perfect summer staple. If you’re looking for something to cling to your curves, this maxi dress is it!
Kylie let the dress do all the talking while she posed accessory-less. The bustier top and ruched tulle creates a silhouette worth showing off, and it highlights your legs with a slit in the back. You can also wear it with or without the skinny spaghetti straps.
Pair this with bomb embellished sandals for a summer day out or pumps for a girl night out!
It’s a style showdown! Both Nicki Minaj and Iggy Azalea wore a comfy striped shorts set from Christian Dior’s SS18 collection. The co-ord set comes in multiple colors including yellow and black, pink and black, and the white and black one they decided to wear.
Nicki Minaj just landed in our ‘Look of the Week’ list in her ensemble that she wore to perform at the Rolling Loud festival in Miami last weekend. She paired her set with SS18 Chanel threads. From her transparent visor, to the poncho, and boots she was decked out in Chanel aside from the Dior set.
Iggy showed off her snatched waist on the ‘Gram while wearing the two-piece with the matching Christian Dior visor. This visor has been a hit this season, Kim and Kourtney Kardashian were seen sporting it a few weeks ago. Iggy’s look was a lot more chill, as oppose to Nicki’s stage look.
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!
Look at this cutie! Prince George, nephew to the groom followed in his Uncle’s footsteps wearing a military-inspired coat and side stripe pants by Dege & Skinner. Prince Harry’s ensemble was also designed by them for his big day.
Congratulations to the stunning couple—they look so in love!
