The Artsy Sisters

A 5-Year Fall Retrospective: It's Black, It's White...

2012-08-31T09:42:00.000-07:00

"It's black, It's White...it's tough for you to get by

It's black, it's white , whoo - ooh, yee-yee-ye"

Remember those lines from Michael Jackson's "Black or White"? Those words been running through my head all week long '... if you're thinking 'bout my baby, it don't matter if you're black or white'? Oh, Michael! And, Fall trends over the years certainly prove MJ right... so, if you're looking to win the style jackpot wherever! whenever! whoever you are! - then you must trust in the power of the "All-Black" and the "All-White" (well, that's another story-for another day).

Black Fashion Styling: The Trend That Never Quits!

{Source}

A classic wardrobe staple, black is stylish, edgy and always in season! From the Little Black Dress, the Classic Black Jacket to the always-handy black pumps, black styling over centuries have given us many classic staples that prove you can never go wrong all-blacked up. Flexible too, all-black style transcends fashion genres and easily flows from classic and elegant, goth and mysterious, to frilly and ladylike... damn hawt! We're going down memory lane, and drawing great tips from all-black fall trends from the past five years. Enjoy...

Fall/Winter 2008-2009

Revamped Classics

Jean Paul Gaultier/Chanel/Dior/Moschino/Valentino

Our Lesson:

Black is classic. Undeniably so. But classic can be a tad conservative. To rev up your style-ometer with black classics for fall, try updated takes on the old classics - try a shiny black trench, a bulbous black jacket or a LBD with an edgy twist. To stand out some more in your good ol' classics, wear statement accessories that'll bring the pop factor back to town.

Fall/Winter 2009-2010

Textured Chic

Tadashi Shoji/William Rast/Louise Goldin/Nicole Miller/Terexov

Our Lesson:

A perfect way to glam up your all black look is to mix it up by wearing different textures - shiny with matte, velvet with cotton, sequins with lace, knits with wovens, sheers with opaques, etc. That way, you are decked all in black - but you don't look boring or Addams-sy!

Fall/Winter 2010-2011

Luxurious Drapes

Alexander Wang/Derek Lam/Donna Karan/Narciso Rodriguez/Elie Saab

Our Lesson:

Black is elegant and chic but black can also be a tad bland, lets admit it. It comes with intrigue, goes with everything else but lacks the sass, the vibrancy of bright colours. To make more of a statement with your all-black look, wear draped designs and looks. They feature stylish complicated ruching and artful gathers that are ultra-femme, breathe elegance, give life to dull outfits and make a bold statement too - a true statement of luxury and class!

Fall/Winter 2011 - 2012

The Lady Meets the Tramp

Jason Wu/Gareth Pugh/Prabal Garung/Vera Wang/Lanvin

Our Lesson:

We love the sheer delicacy of lace and chiffon, and how they effortlessly bring our feminity to the fore... But what we love even more, is when the nice girl gets tough! An awesome way to give some character to your all-black look this fall is to mix girly and delicate styles with some good ol' tough and edgy 'vixen' sass... and leave them all wondering who you really are... How we'd wear this trend would be to throw a zip-detailed bomber jacket on a delicate chiffon gown or to pair a long sleeved lace minidress with thigh-high leather boots, a sleeveless leather vest and spiked accessories!

Fall/Winter 2012 - 2013

A Touch of Gold

Dolce and Gabbana/Ferragamo/Jason Wu/Marni/Versace

Our Lesson:

Who says all-black has to be all black? We love how a touch of gold makes all black more glamorous and classy without losing its edginess or touch of fetish glamour. Whether it's exploring the Sicilian Baroque style, embroidered with beads or handworked with gold lace, stitching and embroidery, gold accents pumped the 'All-Black' up in royal style this year, and it gave us many swell ideas too!

To cap it all up, here's a look at Michael Jackson's "Black or White", one of our favourite videos of all time. As little kids, we used to watch this video over and over and over again...

So, will you be rocking all black this fall?

Here, we're counting on seeing a lot of bold embellishments, layers, sheer fabric and glitter,(lots of glitter) this year. We'd love to know how YOU plan to wear the all-black look ...

Ciao, and have a fun-tastic weekend!

Tobi: Have You Seen Me Lately?

2012-08-24T05:30:00.002-07:00

I'm really feeling myself lately. Two Reasons. One, Mum spent this week with me in Lagos, so check fun, bonding, laughter, shopping, advice and "girl" time! *sigh*!! Two, I got me a new weave, and I am loving it! It's really soft and requires little maintenance (no oils, no sprays - I just finger style with water and that's it! Honestly!) That's mane-heaven right there - and I don't get scared of drizzles anymore. What. Amazingness. Just in case you've all forgotten what I look like (no personal style posts lately, sorry *hiding face*), here are two pictures of me rocking my new mane - this week- what do you think?

Tuesday: Coral Princess

Thursday: Rasta Tones

Pretty boho, isnt't it? I'm wearing Outre Premium Natural Indian Human Hair - Baby Soft Wave 14". The weave is actually quite affordable, and costs just $37.99 (here and here) plus, you only need about two or three packs!

And... someone else hasn't seen me lately!

I got an incredible poem from my amazing amazing friend, Uzo. We share these amazing poems (well, his are amazing?) from time to time, especially when we haven't talked in a while or just want to say hi, or on birthdays, etc... It's an amazing friendship that we have, truly. We have had so many conversations via poetry, you wouldn't believe ... back and forth.. back and forth.... So I though to share the poem, titled " Dear Tobi" with my favorite people.

DEAR TOBI
Do not frown at Time.
There is no excuse.
Indifferent and jealous like a hoary housewife
It cannot pause or watch us
Separarated from the landscape of dreams
And Magic.

Do not frown at distance.
Again, Tobi, you cannot make an excuse.
Famished and undending like my heart on rainy days
This road that leads up the loud laughter
And a warm hug perhaps.
Yet I deserve the Nobel:
Distance disappears in the mirror of my handset.

Do not frown at life.
True, there is nothing.
Alll mirages live lies for a living.
Like rainbows that are infact no bows
And cannot shoot down the fat game of your dreams.
Yet, we cannot choose any of these.
(Life's like those your roommates in Lagos Campus.)
True!
There is nothing but hope of hopping off the ground

And land onto the soft sides of the sun at Noon.

So we cannot frown at Inglorious Time, Distance
Or the sham hue of our busy lives that are nothing but
A monotony of mondays.

All I meant to say is:
I miss you, my friend.I frown only at Robbie Williams.

You can check Uzo out on his blog, crynaija. Y'all have a great weekend and - see you next week!

Blinging Tribals: Maa-What? Maasai!

2012-08-23T10:10:00.000-07:00

Who doesn't squeal in excitement at store windows showing mannequins wearing Maasai-inspired jewelry? That's it, deny it if you want to... we know you squeal inside! There is absolutely nothing more beautiful than a Maasai woman decked out in her full regalia. Nothing! And if you like your accessories bold and bright, and love to make one hell of a statement whenever you step out, then you gotta join this train! We found some amazing Maasai-inspired blingin' accessories to make you go - GOSH!!!, and if you like, we're going straight ahead to share some incredible brands that made us fall in love all over again.

MELODY EHSANI

The undeniably inspiring and insanely talented Melody Ehsani never fails to wow us! Her designs have been seen on J.Lo, Queen Latifah, Beyonce, Nicki Minaj, Nas, Alicia Keys, Estelle, Khloe Kardashian, LMFAO, Keri Hilson, Solange... that list is loooong! You can get you some Melody here...

Melody Ehsani's Masaai collection

PIKOLINOS

Handmade by over 1,400 Maasai women from Kenya's Mara National Reserve, Pikolinos' Maasai collection is elegant, chic and pretty! The profits from from these incredible shoes, made from the finest leather (well, it's Pikolinos?), go to the development of health and education centres in the region. You can shop the collection here and here. Go on, click those links - you know you want some...

Pikolinos' Summer 2012 Maasai Collection

If you aren't convinced yet, here's a look at Eugenia Silva's Ad Campaign for Pikolinos' Maasai collection:

Stunning, right?

ANNA TRZEBINSKI

From exquisitely crafted handbags to insanely beautiful jewelry, scarves and shoes, the Kenya-based Anna Trzebinski brings Maasai style closer to home. Her designs are incredible, innovative and completely, totally, undeniably obsession-worthy! To check out more Anna Trzebinski designs and for details on where to get her stuff, check out Anna's Facebook page here...

Bags

Sandals

Statement Necklaces

Did You Know?

Mothers of Maasai warriors wear "Surutia", coiled metal medallions. If her son is the first to get his head shaved during the Eunoto ceremony (a man's transition from warriorhood to elderhood), he wears his mothers Surutia and it becomes "Loosurutia"

Maasai women wear elaborate beaded collars, which are higher in front and lower in back. The collars are made by the women themselves, and become more elaborate as women grow and acquire more skill. The women shave their heads to show off the beaded collars, which move around when they dance.

Beads in particular have some meaning to the Maasai, with red beads having a connection to blood, blue beads having a connection to the heavens and the Gods, and green beads having a connection to prosperity, fertility of the land, and peace. All other colors are purely decorative.

Fall 2012 Shoe Trends: Shoes That Fly!

2012-08-22T06:05:00.001-07:00

Feather embellishments have been quite big this year and we are all over the awesome plumes that have taken the fashion world by storm. Fall 2012 shoe collections featured many statement pieces with sculpted heels, animal skin/fur, celestial inclinations and lots of edgy embellishments, but we just couldn't get enough of the feather embellishments!! Granted, we've always been fascinated by over-the-top plumes in carnival fashion, so it wasn't much of a stretch that we'll latch on hard to this trend too! Like many girls, we grew up adoring feather embellished shoes in all the great musicals, from Cabaret to Chicago, and Fall 2012 designer shoe collections gave us feather embellished shoes that are totally wearable, chic and well, fly! From Jimmy Choo to Nicholas Kirkwood, these five lovelies have given wings to our feet and flight to our heels.

Meet our five favorite feathery friends:

"Dulcina" - Tabitha Simmons

(Button, Embroidery and Feather Embellished Peep-Toe Sandal)

Nicholas Kirkwood

(Feather Embellished Platform Boot)

Diego Dolcini

(Feather Embellished Strappy Sandals)

"Teazer" - Jimmy Choo

(Feather Trimmed Satin Sandals)

Roger Vivier

(Feather Embellished Peep-Toe Pumps)

We adore our flighty five for the stylish flight through theatrical (think Dolcini's strappy sandals), subtle (think Roger Vivier's peep toe), chic (think Jimmy Choo's Teazer), edgy (think Nicholas Kirkwood's platform boots) and provocative ( think Tabitha Simmon's Dulcina) feather-embellished looks! They are certainly a great look for fall and we particularly love that they are also ladylike, fun, whimsical, sexy - and sure to inspire many flights of fancy!

What do you guys think?

Fashion Inspired by Art: For the Love of Pop Art

2012-08-02T02:45:00.001-07:00

The Artsy Sisters went AWOL in the last couple of days, but we're back now and we'd like to share with you one of our great loves - Art! Art influences everything, our culture, our perceptions, our mindsets and our individual and collective imagination. Art opens our minds to new horizons and helps us explore new heights. And when Art and fashion come together - nothing beats that! Over the years, we've all heard lots and lots of references to Pop Art in fashion and have come to regard pop art-inspired fashion as fun, bold, graphic and funky - but most of us hardly ever bother to discover and explore the Art that inspired the fashion movement we've all come to know, and love. Which is why, we would love if you'd join us on a ~~maybe lengthy~~ tour of the Pop Art movement- and its influence on fashion as we know it today.

___________________________________

... and then there was Pop Art!

We love to explore anything or concept that breaks away from the norm - and the Pop Art Movement, it defines that. Unlike most art that was being done before the 50's, Pop Art drew on popular imagery and popular culture for inspiration and sought to blur the boundaries between 'high art' and 'low art' - the notion was that there was (is) no hierarchy in culture, and (fine) art may borrow from any source, regardless of their context and history! Pop Art has been traced to the gathering of the 'Independent Group' in London in the the 1950's. This style of art came to the United States in the mid-1960s and was an expression of the optimistic spirit of the 1960's.

Andy Warhol(1928 - 1987)

Self Portrait c.1986

"How can you say one style is better than another? You ought to be able to be an Abstract Expressionist next week, or a Pop artist, or a realist, without feeling you've given up something.. I think that would be so great, to be able to change styles. And I think that's what's is going to happen, that's going to be the whole new scene."

Campbell's Soup 1 c.1968

Diamond Dust Shoes c. 1980 Flowers (Red) c.1964

10 Marilyns c.1967

Hamburger c.1985-1986 300 SL Coupe c.1954

The Art of Mickey

8 Elvises

Superman c.1981 Roll of Bills c.1962

Mick Jagger Suite of 10 c.1975

Gun, c.1981-82 Jackie c.1964

Heaven and Hell are Just one Breath Away 1985-1986

Andy Warhol's works explore the relationship between artistic expression, celebrity culture and advertisement that flourished by the 1960s. He made paintings/screen prints of famous public figures and American branded products and subsequently switched to silk screen prints which allowed these mass produced products to become mass produced art.The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is the largest museum in the United States of America dedicated to a single artist

Roy Lichtenstein(1923 - 1997)

Roy Lichtenstein, 1985

"I suppose I would prefer to sit under a tree with a picnic basket rather than under a gas pump, but signs and comic strips are interesting as subject matter"

-Roy Lichtenstein

Drowning Girl c.1963

Maybe Sweet Dreams Baby

Sandwich and Soda

Washing Machine c.1961

I Can See the Whole Room!...and There's Nobody in It! c.1961

BLAM! c.1962

WHAAM! C.1963

The Ring (Engagement) c.1962

Vicki c.1964

Sleeping Girl c.1964

Roy Lichtenstein was a leading American Pop Artist. His work was majorly influenced by popular advertising and the comic book motif. He used bold colors, black outlines, and tones rendered by Ben-day dots (a method of printing tones in comic books during the 1950s’ and 1960s’).

Jasper Johns (1930 - )

"I tend to like things that already exist"
-Jasper Johns

Three Flags c.1958

Target with Plaster Cast c.1955 False Start c.1959

Coathanger c.1960

Numbers in Colour c.1958-59 Coloured Alphabet

Flag c.1954-1955

0 Through 9 Figure 5 c.1953-54

Painted Bronze c.1960

Land's End c.1979/1989 Thermometer

Map c.1961

Summer from The Seasons c.1987 Periscope (Hart Crane) c.1963

Eddingsville c.

Skull c.1973

Fools House Tantric Detail c.1980

Device c.1962-3

Study for Skin c.1962

Painting with Two Balls c.1960

Although Jasper Johns early work drew on Abstract Expressionism's ideas and techniques, he took the art world in a new direction by endowing everyday objects with artistic importance, paving the way for Pop Art (and Minimalism). He is best known for his paintings and lithographs of flags, maps, crosshatching (late 1970s) and numbers as well as his integration of collages, sculptural elements and thickly applied wax, displaying everyday objects in new artistic light and thus creating a challenge to traditional definitions of objects and paintings. In February 15, 2011 he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama, becoming the first painter or sculptor to receive a Presidential Medal of Freedom since Alexander Calder in 1977

Larry Rivers (1923-2002)

“One night in the early sixties I passed something on the Long Island Expressway just before the Queens tunnel that I must have seen for years. The billboard advertising cigars, Dutch Masters. I realized it was sort of perfect. It's weird isn't it? You're looking at Rembrandt - in neon! It was too much, it was irresistible.”
-Larry Rivers

The History of the Russian Revolution: From Marx to Mayakovsky c.1965

Madame Butterfly c.1978

Queen of Clubs c.1979 The Greatest Homosexual c.1964

Fashion Seated c.2001

Fashion and the Birds: Blue Dress c.1997

Fashion and the Fish c.2001

Whose Lips are These? c.1969

Popcorn Early Chaplin

Head of A Man

Culture Boxes: Opera Divas c.1992

Open Camel c.1978 Camel Quartet

Paris Review
Larry Rivers was an American artist whose work combines the brushy texture of Abstract Expressionism with figurative elements and a Pop art style. He was an earlier practitioner of appropriation techniques, and his paintings sample from art history, commercial products, celebrity imagery, and other styles and sources. According to Michael Kimmelman, NY Times Art Critic, "Rivers created an important bridge between the Abstract Expressionists and the Pop artists".

Richard Hamilton (1922-2011)

Four Self Portraits c.1990
"Popular (designed for a mass audience); transient (short-term solution); expendable (easily forgotten); low cost; mass produced; young (aimed at youth); witty; sexy; gimmicky; glamorous; and last but not least, Big Business." -Richard Hamilton, defining what Pop art means to him

Just What Is It That Makes Today's Homes So
Different, So Appealing? c.1956

Just What Is It That Makes Today's Homes So
Different? c. 1992

Study for a Fashion Plate c.1969 Fashion Plate c.1970

Swingeing London 67 (1968-69)

Readymade Shadows

Interior A dedicated follower of fashion c.1980

Towards a Definitive Statement on the Coming Trends in Men's Wear and Accessories (b) c.1962

Epiphany c.1964

My Marilyn c.1965

Shock and Awe c.2008 TiT c.2002

Interior With Monochromes c.1979

Maps of Palestine The Beatles c.1968

War Games c.1991

AAH! in perspective c.1963 The House of Keyes c.1988

I'm dreaming of a black Christmas c.1971
Richard Hamilton is an English painter and collage artist, and is best known as a founding

member of the British Independent Group, which arguably launched the mid-century Pop

art movement. Hamilton's 1956 collage Just What Is It That Makes Today's Homes So
Different, So Appealing? is widely considered one of the first works of Pop art.

Claes Oldenburg (1929 - )

"I am for an art that is political-erotical-mystical, that does something more than sit on its ass in a museum".
-Claes Oldenburg

Spoonbridge and Cherry (w/Coosje van Bruggen) c.1988

Typewriter Eraser, Scale X (w/CVB) c.1999 The Apple Core c.1990

Safety Pin, Blue c.1999

Balancing Tools Soft Bathtub (Model)—Ghost Version c.1966

Crusoe Umbrella c.1979

Shuttlecock (w/CVB) c.1994

Dropped Cone(w/CVJ) c.2001 Lipstick (Ascending) on Caterpillar Tracks

Match Cover c.1992

'Free' Stamp c.1985 Saw, Sawing (w/ CVB) c.1996

The Big Sweep (w.Coosje Van Bruggen) c.2006

Hat in Three Stages of Landing c.1982

Bat Column c.1977 Clothespin c.1976

Bowling Pins (w/CVB) c.2000

Bottle of Notes c.1993

Geometric Mouse c.1969-71

The Swedish-American artist and architect Claes Oldenburg was an early figure in New York "happenings" and Pop art. He is best known for his floppy sculptures and larger-than-life public works of consumer goods, musical instruments, and everyday objects.Many of his works were made in collaboration with his wife,Coosje van Bruggen, who died in 2009 after 32 years of marriage.

Robert Rauschenberg (1925-2008)

"I think a painting is more like the real world if it's made out the real world".
- Robert Rauschenberg

Untitled 'Combine' c.1963 Eco-Echo IX 1992-93

Riding Bikes c.1998

Canyon c.1959

Satellite c.1955

Bed c.1955 Signs c.1970

Studio Painting

Retroactive 1 c.1964 Untitled (with stained glass window) c.1954

Monogram

Factum I & II c.1957

1st Landing Jump c.1961 Octave c.1960

Interview

Satellitte c.1955 Pilgrim

Features From Currents #62

BMW 635 CSi Art Car c.1986

Short Circuit (Combine Painting) c.1955

Untitled (Runts) c.2007

Aen Floga (Combine Painting) c.1962 Winter Pool c.1959

Untitled (Spread) c.1983

Dylaby (Combine Painting)c. 1962

Robert Rauschenberg was a key figure in early Pop art. He admired the textural quality of Abstract Expressionism but scorned its emotional pathos. His famous "Combines" are part sculpture, part painting, and part installation. He was famous for his incorporation of junkyard objects in his works.

James Rosenquist (1933- )

"People say I use my billboard technique to make art. Baloney! I used my art technique to paint billboards".
- James Rosenquist

President Elect c.1960-61

A Free for All c.1976 Marilyn c.1962

Dishes c.1964

I Love You With My Ford c.1961

World's Fair Mural c.1964

No-No c.1990 Untitled c.2000

Dog Descending a Staircase c.1979

White Bread c.1964

Flowers and Females c.1989

Nails c.1973

Hey! Let's Go For a Ride c.1961

Moonbeam Mistaken for the News c.1963

The Facet

Fahrenheit c.1982

Car Touch c.1966 Study for Fire Pole c.1967

Bedspring c.1962

Mirage Morning c.1974-75

F-111 c.1964

James Rosenquist is an American Pop artist whose paintings feature fragments of faces, cars, consumer goods, and other items in bizarre juxtapositions. With their realist rendering and attention to surface textures, his works take up the visual language of advertising and entertainment.

Eduardo Paolozzi (1924-2005)

{Source}
"I suppose I am interested, above all, in investigating the golden ability of the artist to achieve a metamorphosis of quite ordinary things into something wonderful and extraordinary..."

- Eduardo Paolozzi

I was a Rich Man’s Plaything (Bunk! collage series ) c.1947

Evadne in Green Dimension c.1972 Wittgenstein in New York c.1964

Never Leave Well Enough Alone (from Bunk!) c.1972

Sack-O-Sauce (from Bunk!) c.1972 Four Stills from the History of Nothing c.1962

It's Daring, It's Audacious (from Bunk) c.1972

Real Gold c.1950 Moonstrips Empire News: Secrets Of Internal Combustion Engine c.1967

Paolozzi was a founding member of the Independent Group. His collage, I Was a Rich Man's Plaything (1947) was the first artwork to incorporate the word 'Pop' and is regarded in some circles to be the origin of the term, 'Pop Art'. The collage contained cut-up images of a pinup girl, Coca-Cola logo, cherry pie, World War II fighter plane, and a man's hand holding a pistol, out of which burst the world 'POP!' in a puffy white cloud. He became renowned for taking objects out of their contexts (frequently the scrapheap) and placing them in new combinations, thereby imbuing them with fresh meaning.

Tom Wesselmann (1931-2004)

"I'd never painted anything before. I was quite content to take other people's work since I didn't care anyway about the subject matter. I approached subject matter as a scoundrel. I had nothing to say about it whatsoever. I only wanted to make these exciting paintings".

- Tom Wesselmann

Still Life with Liz c.1993

Still Life No.2

Still Life No. 28

Still Life No. 6

Still Life #36 c.1964

Smoker No. 1 (Mouth, 12) c.1967 Interior No.2 c.1964

Still Life No. 61 c.1976

Still Life No. 58 c.1972 Smoker No. 9 c.1973

Study for Bedroom c.1977

Fast Sketch Still Life with Fruit and Goldfish‭ (‬3-D‭)‬ c.1988-89‭

Bathtub Collage No.2 c.1963

Still Life No. 20 c.1962 Great American Nude No. 50 c.1963

Bedroom Study No. 2

Bedroom Painting No. 7 Still Life No. 30 c.1963

Tom Wesselmann is widely regarded as a Pop Artist because in the early days of his career he painted still lifes of commercial foodstuffs and stylized but erotic bodies, or parts thereof.Tom Wesselmann never liked his inclusion in American Pop Art, pointing out that he made an aesthetic use of everyday objects and not a criticism of them as consumer objects: “I dislike labels in general and 'Pop' in particular, especially because it overemphasizes the material used. There does seem to be a tendency to use similar materials and images, but the different ways they are used denies any kind of group intention”.

Robert Indiana (1928 - )

"Some people like to paint trees. I like to paint love. I find it more meaningful than painting trees."
-Robert Indiana

Love c.1966-1999

Hope c.2008

Art c.1972-2001

The Electric Eat c.1964-2007

The American Dream No. 2 c.1982 American Dream # 5" (The Golden Five) c.1980

Numbers 1-9 c.1983

Robert Indiana is a prominent figure of the Pop Art movement. He created geometric art and incorporated everyday symbols, signs and letters throughout his art. His most famous sculpture is called "Love" and it was conceived in a time when the United States was consumed by the Vietnam War. It was a symbol of Peace and remains one of the most celebrated works within the pop art movement around the world.
FACT: Pop Art was originally called "Propaganda Art"!

The Pop Art Fashion Movement

Perhaps from our foray into the works of the pioneer Pop Art artists, you have also identified several fashion trends influenced by the Pop Art movement.

Much Ado About a "Soup Can"

The original Pop art fashion movement was an artistic reaction to abstract art and design and much like the originl Pop Art movement, it challenged the domination of couture and bourgeois status dressing with the ironic use of advertising and everyday objects. It coincided with the youth and pop music phenomenon of the 1960's, and contributed very much to the fashionable, 'swinging' image of London.

Many freelance fashion designers also took their inspiration from pop art and graphics including Thomas Sabo, Lisa Perry, Blumarine, Tommy Hilfiger, Liz London, Erin Healy, Max Mara, Antonio Lopez, Christian Lacroix, Jean Paul Gaultier, Dolce & Gabbana, Moschino and Jean Charles de Castelbajac.

Jean Charles de Castelbajac {Source}

Yves Saint Laurent certainly went down the pop art road with his Mondrian dress and the black and white block sheaths he introduced in the early 1960s.

Yves Saint Laurent"Mondrian" day dress (autumn 1965) {Source}

These days, clean bold lines, graphic pops of colour (think neon), large-scale geometric prints, illustrations and collages are a huge part of mainstream fashion and the formerly mundane have taken centre stage in our clothing and accessories - from advertising campaigns, billboards, food, supermarket products, tools, signs, flags and emblems, cars, bicycles, skateboards, planes, numbers, celebrities, cartoons, alphabets, words, home utilities, magazine layouts, comic strips, skulls, guns, newspaper clippings, the list goes on and on...

POP! Goes the Heels!

Nicholas Kirkwood'Keith Haring',Gianmarco Lorenzi,Christian Louboutin,Jeffrey Campbell, Christian Dior, Le Silla
To get a feel of modern Pop Art fashion, see here and here.

Pop Art Fashion: "FUNKY" is the word!

From its inception in the 1950's, the pop art movement has been a revolutionary phenomenon and till date, popular culture continues to influence fashion designers, runway couture, mainstream fashion, our style and indeed, our lives.

___________________________________

And there you have it - our guide to Pop Art. We hope you enjoyed this post as much as we enjoyed sharing it. We would be extremely thrilled to know which of the Pop artists or works made the greatest impression on you. Have you noticed always wondered about the origin of Pop Art fashion as well? How has art influenced your life and your style? We'd love to share your thoughts, experiences and views, too!

TheArtsySisters

Fashion on the Comic Lane!

2012-07-21T00:41:00.001-07:00

There are lots and lots of reasons to wear comic-inspired fashion... that's what the Comic-Con's taught us, year after year!:) Seriously now, there's that funky nod to pop art, the fun catchy colors, the never-ending allure of graphic-prints, and they sure make great conversation starters, don't they? Let's channel our inner comic-book junkies, shall we?

Comic Book Superman Sundress 67.00 - etsy.com

Sick of Men Dress, $106.42 Blackmilkclothing (sold out! - but we had to share!)

Recycled comic book earrings $10.00 - mountainavenue.com

3.1 Phillip Lim Break up 31 minute clutch bag $446 - matchesfashion.com

Comic Book Clutch €35,00 - etsy.com

Recycled "Archie" Comic Cuff Bracelets $18.75 mountainavenue.com

Vivienne Westwood Comic Women's Wellington Rain Boot $295 - endless.com

G-STAR Comic 5620 Vest $58 - bankfashion.co.uk

Comic Book/Pop Art Mini Shirt Dress $59.00 - etsy.com

Spiderman Comic Strip Tee $27 - alloy.com

Superman Comic Bow Tie $24.99 etsy.com

Silvian Heach Top Utiske $61 (€50) - welikefashion.com

Black Milk/Jeffrey Campbell Back Off, Lita Fab $ Damsel Sick of Men Booties ($219.95, $199.95, $239.95) Solestruck.com

Comic Book High-Waisted Mini Skirt £20.00 - etsy.com

La Frock Comic Book Vintage Retro Dress $129.99 - lafrock.com

And if you haven't had enough, head on over to Studio Jellyfish for a sensory overload of amazing hand-painted pop art/comic-book inspired shoes and handbags. But don't say we didn't warn you!

More and more comic-book related collaborations with fashion and beauty brands are storming the fashion scene! Brands like Phillip Lim, Romance Was Born [Luke Sales & Anna Plunkett ](with Marvel Comics), MAC cosmetics (with Archie Comics), Balenciaga, Christian Louboutin (with Studio Jellyfish), Vivienne Westwood, Reebok (with Marvel Comics), Converse (with DC Comics) Betsey Johnson and Jeffrey Campbell (with Black Milk Clothing) are embracing that great love of our lives - comic books- and we sure are glad to see it happen!

MAC Archie's Girls (upcoming Makeup Line)-fashionetc

And, while we're here - who says you can't wear more than one comic-inspired piece at a time? We stacked THREE comic-book inspired swank chains and paired with superman-inspired cropped shorts for street style to gush over - at least we're gushing!

A Comic-Inspired Life features:
Spaghetti Bustier top/Alice and Olivia~Oversized cardigan/ Mango~Superman-inspired shorts/ etsy
Fold down booties/Chloe~Crossbody Handbag/topshop~Piled Swank Chains/ POW! BLAM! WHAAM!
Pastell Ring/Bijou-Brigitte~Stud Earrings/topshop

We all (well, almost all of us!) have a superman or batman vintage tee hiding somewhere in our closet-and now is a good time as any to bring in some more old friends, and the perfect time to wear our trip down memory lane, to that place far far away (farther for some than others) where we were Veronica, Betty, Catwoman, Lois Lane-or that girl hoping Spiderman would save her and Wolverine would carry her far far away! We've all been there - and now we can dress it too!

What do you guys think? Are you ready to wear your comic-book fix? - or should we lose the geek-factor already?

Why We Love: Carolina Herrera's Resort 2013 Collection

2012-07-18T07:55:00.001-07:00

The name 'Carolina Herrera' evokes images of classic silhouettes, clean lines and extremely detailed blouses, dresses and skirts. The Resort 2013 Collection stays true to these ideals! We love that the collection could pass for an entire wardrobe (of a classy stylista on top of her game in every wise!) - from play, to work, dinner, dates, red carpets, hanging with the girls, meeting the in-laws - this collection has it all worked out!

Why We Love:

The Carolina Herrera Resort 2013 Collection inspires us to:

1. Be Classic!

2. Work Our Looks From Day (Casual, Formal) to Night!

3. Go Green (with style!)

4. Embrace the Flower-Power!

5. Make Stunning Statements!

6. Become Goddesses!

What do you think of this collection and which pieces are your favorites? Kisses..

Shoe Attack: Spike That Walk!

2012-07-17T10:18:00.000-07:00

Following from our guest post here, it was a given that we would want to share that great shoe-crush in our lives right now: SPIKED SHOES! From Louboutin's Asteroid to Ruthie Davis' Spikette, here's our guide to our favorite spiked shoes from (ten of!) our favorite designers!

Focus: Spiked Heels

Where would we be without the spiked heels that grab our attention and don't let go!? Featuring front spikes, back spikes and all-over spike embellishments, these edgy pumps, boots and sandals make a bold statement, and it is this: I AM A TOUGH, DARING VIXEN. MAKE A WRONG MOVE AND YOU'LL SURE GET HURT!

1. Christian Louboutin: "Asteroid", "Pigalle Spike" and "Isolde"

Asteroid [S/S 2012]

Pigalle [S/S 2012]

Isolde [20th Anniversary Collection]

2. Jeffrey Campbell: "Lita Spike" "Tawny" & "Shadow Spike" [S/S 2012]

Lita Spike

Tawny

Shadow Spike

3. Ruthie Davis: "Spikette" [S/S '11]

These killer shoes are certainly ones to have, hold and rock!

Celeb Reel: Fergie, Paula Abdul, Nicole Scherzinger,Jennifer Lopez, Shay Mitchell...

4. Max Kibardin [S/S 2012]

More whimsical than anything else (especially dangerous), these fabulous sandals make a whole lotta noise all on its own!

5. Sam Edelman: "Lorissa" [S/S 2012]

6. KG by Kurt Geiger: Supers-"Esme" & "Eris" [S/S 2012]

"Esme"

"Eris"

7. Brian Atwood: "Honey Borche", "Cohen Borchie" & "Inez"

Honey Borche [F/W 2011]

Cohen Borchie & Inez [S/S 2012]

8. Guiseppe Zanotti: "Jekyll and Hyde" [F/W 2012]

Mink fur and spikes? Oh! My! crush!!

9. Nicholas Kirkwood (For Rodarte): "Rodartex" [S/S 2010]

10. Camilla Skovgaard: "Harness" [F/W 2012]

Would you wear spiked heels? Which ones are are your favorites?

Have you had crushes on any spiked heels lately?

Do you see why we love 'em now or will you be needing some more convincing?

We'd love to know...

GUEST POST!!! - "The Unbout Reign Is No Illusion"

2012-07-17T01:21:00.000-07:00

Sometime ago, we were approached by the Liberian, Atlanta-based Wil Harris sisters to feature a guest bost on their awesome blog, wilharris3 (one of our very favorite fashion blogs too!). Believe us when we tell you: we were thrilled!

We wrote about the spectacular reign of THE most influential shoe in 2012 so far (which the Wil Harris sisters love too!): The Christian Louboutin "Unbout Illusion" Pumps, seen on everybody from here to everywhere else!

Blogging is some work, and nothing feels as good as having fellow bloggers (who we admire) recognize us and choose to showcase us too! So from us three at the Artsy Sisters: thanks for the opportunity, Wilneka, Wilmonia, and Wiletta Harris!

Check out our ode to the 'Bis Un Bout 120' here, and don't forget to show us some love by leaving comments and checking their awesome blog out too!
Much love...

Tobi: DIY 'Circle The Dots' Maxi Dress

2012-07-13T10:04:00.000-07:00

I haven't done any personal style posts lately - simply because there's been no one around to take my pictures! For Femi's birthday last weekend, I decided to take a cue from my very artsy sister (who designs practically everything she wears) and design something for myself! Here's what I came up with: a mixed polka maxi dress with wrap-style top. I'm wearing the dress with a DIY Pearl Cluster necklace made by my other artsy sister, Dami.

Femi had two parties (yep, you heard right!)- one at an orphanage with a few select friends and family (and many deserving little kids) and another for her school mates and friends! Here we are at the orphanage...

What do you think of this dress? Did I do a good job-

or should I leave designing to the designers? :)

Holla back...

Fashion Forward: In love with Cape Dresses

2012-07-12T10:40:00.000-07:00

We are in love with cape dresses this year! Cape dresses made a sweeping comeback on runways and red carpets in 2012, and boy, if they aren't majestic! Effortlessly chic and stylish, it's no surprise our desires have been successfully 'caped'!

Victoria Beckham/Princess Maxima of Netherlands/Lana Del Rey/Folake Kuye Huntoon(stylepantry)/Gwyneth Paltrow

How chic are cape dresses though? Long gone and perished are those days when capes were exclusive to villians (think Dracula), superheroes (think Batman) and hobbits(think Frodo)... right?

Sarah Jessica Parker/Katy Perry/Hailee Steinfield/Kendall Jenner {Source}

Diane Kruger/Gizzi Erksine/Rosie Huntington-Whitely/Alexandra Burke/Blake Lively

As always, we've made some artsy finds for you, this time under $100.00
(watch out for the awesome vintage dresses! etsyholics, stand up!)

Cape Shoulder Pads Orange Dress
$81.99- romwe.com

Vintage 1970's Persian Green Flutter / Cape Maxi Dress

$70.00 etsy.com

Ruffle Neck Ivory Dress with Bow
$85 etsy.com

For Love & Lemons Wicca Dress
$79 - edgeofurge.com

Vintage 1970's Mint Green Pleated Maxi Dress with Sheer Overlaid Cape

$74.00 - etsy.com

Lace Cape Dress by Coco's Fortune
$31- topshop.com

Three Floor Body Con Cape Dress
$68 - lipsy.co.uk

18 And East Womens Blue Plain Cape Back Dress
$45 - psyche.co.uk

Candi Loves Cut Out Dress With Cape

$58 - lipsy.co.uk

Lipsy Cutwork Cape Back Dress

$47 (£30) - lipsy.co.uk

And this incredible dress is $150, but we loved it so much - we just had to share it too!

Cocktail Cape Dress
$150.00 etsy.com
And how cute is this uber chic sheer beach cape?

Nookie Beach Eco Cropped Front Cape Dress

£52.00 asos.com

So, have you been bitten by the bug or would you like to sweep this trend under the rug? We'd love to know. Kisses....

Focus: Couples' Style - KimYe's White-and-Black Style Diaries

2012-07-09T09:35:00.001-07:00

Fall in Love with: Kim Kardashian at Valentino's Fall 2012 Couture Presentation

We fell so in love with this dress the moment we saw it. We just had to share it here, just so we get to see it more often, too! Kim is wearing a beautiful Valentino Fall 2012 Couture Lace Dress with Azzedine Alaïa strappy Gladiator sandals. Can she do no wrong?

Watch the PFW F/W 2012-2013 Valentino Haute Couture Presentation (here)

See the rest of collection (here)

Shop Kim's shoes (here)

Shop Kim's look for less (here)

Black-And-White-Makes-The-Love-Birds-Tight!

Now to the deal: who hasn't noticed KimYe's obsession with black and white? Yes, yes, we all know mixing black and white makes a perfect match, but do they really think wearing the colours "together" all the time would make them one too?! Here are a few leaves from KimYeezy's B&W Diary:

Appearances:

Paris Fashion Week: Valentino F/W 2012 Show

Kim: Dress: Valentino; Shoes: Azzedine Alaia (with Bar Rafaeli) Getty

Paris Fashion Week: Stephane Rolland F/W 2012 Show

Kim: Dress: Stephane Rolland, Shoes: Christian Louboutin "Unbout Illusion" Pumps

BET Awards 2012

Kim: Dress: Kenneth Cole Dress; Sandals: Kenneth Cole

Kanye: Houndstooth Quilted T-shirt: 3.1 Philip Lim; Denim Jeans: RRL; Sneakers: Nike Air Yeezy 2

Fifi Awards

Kim: Dress: Marchesa

Tribeca Film Festival Artists Program Dinner

Kim: Dress: Chanel; Shoes: Christian Louboutin "Unbout Illusion" Pumps; Clutch: Bottega Veneta
Kanye: Cross T-Shirt: Givenchy; Black Suede Slippers Shoe

Paris Fashion Week: Givenchy F/W Couture 2012-2013 Presentation

RYU (Scott Disick's Restaurant) Opening

Kim: Dress: Givenchy; Shoes: Christian Louboutin "Unbout Illusion" Pumps

Appearance on "Chatty Man"/Dinner at "Zuma"

Kim: Dress: Lanvin; Shoes: Celine

Appearance at BBC Radio 1 Studios

Kim: Top: Versace; Skirt: Lanvin; Shoes: Celine

Casual Style

Paris Fashion Week: Taking In The Town

Kim: Dress Shirt; Leather Pants;Shoes: Christian Louboutin "Unbout Illusion" Pumps
Kanye: Houndstooth Quilted T-shirt: 3.1 Philip Lim; Denim Jeans: RRL; Sneakers: Nike Air Yeezy 2

Dinner at La Villa, France

Kim: Blouse: YSL; Cape: Thierry Mugler, Leggings: Kardashian Kollection; Boots: Balenciaga
Kanye: Zip Detail Jacket: Balmain S/S 2012; Sneakers: Balenciaga Arena

Laser Hair/Tatoo Removal in Santa Monica

Kim: Peplum Blouse: Celine; White Skinny Jeans
Kanye: Hoodie: Balmain

Hanging out in LA(1)

Hanging out in LA(2)

Kanye: Hoodie: Balmain

Filming " Kourtney & Kim Take New York" in NYC Store

A Drive and Drinks at Ferdi, France

Kris and Bruce Jenner's 21st Anniversary

Kim: Fringe Top: Marni; Jacket: Helmut Lang; Shoes: Christian Louboutin "Unbout Illusion" ; Clutch: Bottega Venneta, Stretch Leather Leggings: Marlene Blrger

Driving Tour of Paris

Kim: Dress: Stella McCartney

Extending the Pallette: Doses of Grey, Tan & Denim

And when this stylish twosome are in the mood to mix it up (and save us from certain black-and-white-style-fever), they throw some ~~dull/boring~~ colour(s) into the mix so our eyes can adjust to seeing other colours again (you'd notice that they hardly ever wear other colours at the same time, so there's probably advance notice if one party is going to wear a colour other than black and white!) Aren't they the kindest ever?

Kim: Cropped Sweatshirt & Leather Pants: 4T; Shoes: Christian Louboutin, Bag: Celine 'Phantom'
Kanye: Perforated Short Sleeve Shirt: Yves saint Laurent; Retro Sneakers: Air Jordan 3; Hoodie: Balmain

Shopping at Jeffrey New York

Kim: Blouse: A.L.C.; Leather Pants: J. Brand; Blazer: Stella McCartney
Kanye: Vintage Tee: Guns N' Roses 'Use Your Illusion' '91 Shoes:Nike Air Yeezy 2; Bullet Belt: Balmain Leather & Suede

Day Out in Paris

Kim: Dress: Doo Ri; Thigh High snakeskin Boots: Christian Louboutin; Belt: Chloe
Kanye: White Tee; Black Pants; Sneakers: Balenciaga Arena

Kim: Christian Louboutin "Unbout Illusion" Pumps
Kanye: Denim Shirt: Balmain; Boots: Timberland

Leaving a Yatch Party at Nikki Beach, Cannes, France

Kanye: Hoodie: Balmain; Black Suede Sneakers: Trussardi 1911 F/W 2011

Lakers Vs. Nuggets Game

Kim: Stretch Leather Dress: Givenchy; Sandals: Tom Ford
Kanye: Boots: Timberland

Lunch & Movies (with family) at Calabasas

Kanye: Crocodile Print Sneakers: Hermes

Date Night!

Kim: Flared Jacket: Givenchy; Leather Pants; Shoes: ; Clutch: Hermès Medor Clutch; Christian Louboutin "Unbout Illusion"
Kanye: Blue Velvet Jacket; Boots: Timberland

Visit to Children's Hospital, Los Angeles

Kim: Shoes: Balenciaga S/S 2012 Winged Woven Sandals
Kanye: Denim Shirt: Balmain; Biker Jeans: Balmain; Shoes:Nike Air Yeezy 2

*All pictures courtesy of Fameflynet, Bauer Griffin, PacificCoastNews and Getty Images*

So, what do you think? Are you also loving Kimye's largely monochromatic style (well, they do wear some tans, neutrals and greys sometimes!) or would you rather see some colours-a-la-Nicki up in here?

Music Video Inspiration: Where Have You Been [Rihanna]

2012-07-05T07:49:00.000-07:00

The first time we saw this video, we were like "ooohmaigawsh! she's practically naked"! I guess you could say the opening scene (where she emerged from swampy waters as an almost-nude crocodile?) offended our sensibilities quite a bit. But that notwithstanding, the fashion in the video is amazing! Styled by fashion editor, Mel Ottenberg (stylist and fashion editor at Purple magazine) , the video is an ode to tribal-chic edginess, if there ever was such a thing! From the croc-skin pasties, body paint, leather trousers, pink harems, zebra swimsuit, printed scarves, embellished body suits and metallic dresses, the fashion in this video (which includes several custom creations from Adam Selman) packs a tribal, voodoo-evoking punch that is impossible to ignore!

Fashion

Crocodile Pasties, Crocodile Necklace and Lace-Up Leather Pants

{Source}

Roberto Cavalli Zebra-Print Swimsuit, Shemagh Headscarf and Pink Harem Pants

{Source}{Source}

Emilio Pucci (S/S '12) Skull Lace-Detail Embellished Bodysuit and Gold Hoop Earrings

{Source}

Ripped Black Glitter Dress

{Source}

Owl Nest Look: Silver Metallic Bodysuit and Tribal Necklace

{Source}

Red Satin Sheath Dress

{Source}

Make-Up

The extraordinary makeup was done by uber-talented makeup artist, Kabuki (artistic Director for Myface cosmetics). Kabuki has an impeccable pedigree and has worked with such incredible megastars as Madonna, Michael Jackson and Katy Perry. He brought his insane talent to the fore here with exotic desert-and-swamp ready makeup featuring smoldering eyes, metallic eyeshadow, truckloads of shimmer (for the glowing skin), painted gold symbols and lots of animal inspirations!

Kabuki touching up Rihanna's makeup{Source}

{Source}{Source}

Our Artsy Finds

We really couldn't leave you drooling without helping somewhat, could we? Here are some incredible (and workable) look-alike pieces we unearthed:

GOTTEX Zebra Plunge One-Piece Swimsuit

125.00 pret-a-beaute.com

Zebra Monokini with Custom Ring

$99.00 etsy.com

Chain Accent Pink Harem Pants

US$30.00 yesstyle.com

Animal African Scarf
$32 - topshop.com

Mango African Print Circular Scarf, Lime

$28 - johnlewis.com

Manik Mercian Anippe Necklace

$189 swarovski-elements.com

Indego Africa Fabric Wrap Bracelet

$25 - nicolemiller.com

Melissa Odabash Arizona crocodile-print swimsuit

$170 (£108) - net-a-porter.com

Connexion Lace-up stretch-leather skinny pants

£683 - net-a-porter.com

Heidi Daus "Crocodile Hei-Dee" Crystal-Accented Necklace
$289.95 hsn.com

Alice Vandy Black Lace Bodysuit

$100.00 - $200.00- svpply.com

Blue Nile Large Hoop Earrings in 14k Rose Gold

$180 - bluenile.com

Chamak by Priya Kakkar Ten-Piece Wood-Bead Bangle Set

$65 - cusp.com

Zara Martin For Made Exclusive To Asos Set Of 3 Rings

$25 - asos.com

Metallic Blingtones

£12.99 myfacecosmetics.com

Wynona Silver Sequin Bustier
$80.00 nastygal.com

20pc Nickel Free Silver Tone African Neck Rings
$19.99 ebay.com

Silver Sequin Rhinestone Bra Top

$35.99 ioffer.com

Vintage Hmong Silver Torque Neck Ring

450.00 beadsofparadisenyc.com

Hoola Bronzing Powder

£23.50 - debenhams.com

MICHAEL Michael Kors Sleeveless Sequin Raw Edge Dress

$195 - my-wardrobe.com

Religion Prd72 Black Sequin Racer Back Dress
$83 - coggles.com

Matches Cotton Sleeveless Dress

£184.00 skyliving.sky.com

Elvira Sazesh Crystal Necklace

$150.50 -Bottica.com

ROSANTICA Beads necklace

$615 - farfetch.com

Moonbeam Illuminating Highligter

£18.50 debenhams

Watch the video here:

We hope you enjoyed reading this as much as we enjoyed putting it together for you. What are your favorite looks from the music video? Would you be wearing any looks inspired by the "Where Have You Been" music video? We look forward to hearing from you. Kisses...

The Lone Artsy: Where Are My Sisters?

2012-07-04T03:31:00.002-07:00

I have been so lonesome lately. I am certain a lot of our blog friends would like to know why my artsy sisters have been a little scarce lately...

Femi

Stylish, simple and innovative, Femi is currently writing semester exams.

Creator of uber-awesome ethnic and contemporary jewelry, Dami has been incredibly busy, working (with some friends!) on a DIY & lifestyle magazine (details later..)

Dami

While they have both been checking up on the blog from time to time and adding considerable input to our posts, there is nothing quite like having them around! They will be back soon though - and I am looking forward to having them back 'here.with.me.where.they.belong'!
---Tobi, The Lone Artsy (for now!)---

Shoes That Run The World: Focus - Aperlai

2012-07-04T03:00:00.001-07:00

Who doesn't go absolutely crazy gaga obsessive over killer shoes!?! We know we do! One of our favourite designers is Aperlai, a brand of fabulous, showstopping shoe candies that have had us catching our breaths and gasping for air- Perfection, Creativity and all the Va Va Voom you could ask for! Aperlai shoes are in your face, daring, strong, independent, decadent and lush!

It seems Alessandra Lanvin (Creative Director, Aperlai)does not just experiment a concept,she stays true to THE concept! So, when the French line decides to go futuristic, you can bet the shoes would be fit for Loki's (Asgardian, brother of Thor, blah blah blah) bride and when the brand goes into the jungle, watch out for screaming wildcats!

Aperlai Spring/Summer 2012-2013: Walk into the Future

Aperlai’s futuristic S/S 2012 collection is our favourite so far. We find no fault, no piece out of place. This is pure perfection. If I had one of these shoes, I would run the world.(Hint:there are leopards, snakes and lizards in this future!) Check them out yourselves:

See the rest of the collection (here)

Aperlai Fall/Winter 2012-2013: Power to the Fur!
Aperlai’s F/W collection is a maze of amazing boots and sandals featuring luxurious fur, suede and leather, a creative mix of different animal skins(python,stingray,pony,etc) and some weaving to 'rope' it all together!. This is not just a walk on the wild side, this is deep into the heart of the wild!

See the rest of the collection (here)

As you've probably noticed, Aperlai shoes don't shout for attention, they make YOU stand at attention!

And many celebrities are taking attention of the exquisite appeal of Aperlai shoes (which we hear are also super-comfortable!), from Gwyneth Paltrow, to Blake Lively, Ginnifer Goodwin,Jada-Pinkett Smith, Naomi Watts (below) , Jessica Alba and Amanda Seyfried....

{Source}

Aperlai: Some-Facts-About

Allessandra Lanvin {Source}

1. Alessandra Lanvin (nee Guerrera) is not a 'Lanvin' by birth- she married into the influential fashion dynasty! She is married to Hubert Lanvin, the grandson of Jeanne Lanvin, who launched the couture line 'Lanvin' (one of the most influential couture labels of the 1920's and 30's) in 1909.

Jeanne Lanvin{Source}

2. The brand was named after Aperlai,(a Lycian settlement along the Lycian way on the Turkish Meditteranean coast of the Kekova Region) as a homage to the settlement, which is a mere 20 minutes boat ride from her family home-and a nest of happy memories and summer feasts!

Aperlai {Source}
3. The brand was launched in 2009 and today, they are available through an exclusive network of distribution in over 15 countries!
4. Alessandra has a degree in Political science and Art History and has said that her designs are mostly inspired by Art and everyday life. Art inspirations include Miro, Calder, Pollock, Picasso, Mondrian, Gustav Klimt and Lovegrove!

Calder Installations {Source} Joan Miro - "Le Coq" (The Rooster){Source}
5. The graphic Geisha heel (introduced in the 2011/2012 Fall Winter Collection) is already lauded as an ode to cubism (cue, Picasso) and has become one of Aperlai's signatures!

"Les Demoiselles d'Avignon" by Pablo Picasso The 'Geisha' Heel {Source}
6. Before she got married, Alessandra was an executive headhunter (high-end recruiter-remember Justin Timberlake's role in Friends With Benefits?) in the Parisian fashion industry.
7. Alessandra is a huge fan of the 'Panama hat and loves to play Backgammon and watch the sky!
8. The shoes are made by some of the finest craftsmen in Venice (i.e. Italy's other fashion Capital)

Rialto Bridge(Venice){Source}

So, have you fallen with Aperlai as well or do you think we've made a big fuss over nothing? Which shoes are your favorites of the 2012-2013 collections? Let us know, pllleeeaaaaassssseeeeee!!!

Tobi: Gift-Wrapped Style

2012-07-03T04:12:00.000-07:00

I work at a law firm, so my work look must contain loads and loads of black, grey, navy blue and other unobtrusive colours! #sigh# I try to mix it up a bit though, by making up for the dullness with interesting accessories (including my hair). For this, I am known to have had several clashes with the management-just can't help my style!

Btw, Every.Single.Item I am wearing today is a gift!

And isn't the view from my office fantastic? I am actually overlooking the marina and spend quite a lot of time staring out into the sea and watching boats speed by! :)

I am wearing a Max Azria Blouse and Next Skirt (from Mum), stacked bracelets (from Dami, of course!), gold bracelet (from Mum's friend), Anne Klein watch and SAG shoes (from my elder sister, Tosin) and a wooden necklace (from a friend)! I feel incredibly like a gift myself! What do you guys think?

Tobi: Here Comes...July!

2012-07-02T01:00:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to officially begin the second half of this year! It has been an exciting year so far- and it is only gonna get better! I had a fun time over the weekend, ushering in the new month, in spite of the heavy rains in Lagos that just wouldn't stop. Here are some random pictures from my weekend. As usual, I was loyal to maxis, ankara and flower prints-can't help it!

I went from really casual to strangely eclectic, didn't I? What do you think of my weekend looks?

Ankara Jackets - Spice Up Your Life!

2012-06-29T05:34:00.000-07:00

Ankara Jackets are fun, chic, trendy and sure to put you on the best dressed list! They are perfect for glamming up playful jumpsuits, shorts, skirts, dresses and jeans. There is nothing quite like an ankara jacket to breathe life into remarkably dull and uninspiring outfits. So, rock an ankara jacket and be fun, be adventurous, be vibrant, be hip!

{Source}{Source}{Source}Source}{Source}{Source}{Source}{Source}{Source}

Cover Mania!

Harpers Bazaar Spain February 2012 Edition [Burberry Prorsum]{Source}

Mania July 2011 Edition [Jewel By Lisa] {Source}

Celebrity Inspiration: Ankara Jackets

Rihanna

in L.A.M.B. S/S '11 Ankara Jacket {Source}

in Tina Kalivas '09 African Print Ankara-Inspired Jacket {Source}

Lady Gaga

In Burberry Prorsum S/S 12 Ankara Jacket[Source]

Beyonce

In Boxing Kitten Multi-Ankara Jacket {Source}

Gwen Stefani

In LAMB S/S '11 Ankara Jacket {Source}

Lisa Folawiyo (JBL)

in Jewel By Lisa (JBL) Ankara Jacket {Source}

Teyana Taylor

in L.A.M.B. S/S '11 Sleeveless Ankara Jacket {Source}

Our Artsy Finds:

Fair+True Floral African Print Blazer Jacket

$125 - fashion-conscience.com

Sass & Bide A Matter Of Fact Jacket

RRP £355.00; £225.00 - asos.com

Mira Excel Ankara Jacket

N10,000 miraexcel.com

Ankara Jacket

nairaland.com

Xclamationa Ankara Jacket

N15,790 naijastyles.com

Prima Rouge Metro Cut Blazer

$69.95 faceofankara.com

Renee Q Ankara Print Kimono Jacket

$69 myasho.com

Fair+True Trade African Print Round Neck Jacket

$115 (£75) - fashion-conscience.com

African Rebel Ankara Jacket

oodle.com

So, who else is hearting ankara jackets? How would you wear yours?

Grateful!- Nothing's Real But Love

2012-06-29T04:43:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning to Rebecca Ferguson's "Nothing's Real But Love".

It is such an inspiring song, and it got me all warm and optimistic about the day! And it's fine if I don't have so much money today, and if I have to take the bus to work, and if my boss is making me a bit sad. It is fine, it is unreal, it is not my life 'cos ' Nothing's real but love...it won't fill you up, it won't build you up... if it's not love... and no money, no house, no car...can beat love". And so today, love is all that matters, and...

I will greet this day with love in my heart!

Source

Many thanks to all our blogger friends and subscribers! Thanks for taking us from 1 to 56, and for sticking around when you didn't have to. May you always find love lurking around the most unexpected corners too...

Have a great Friday, and a fun, fun weekend!

Love,

...TheArtsySisters...

Tobi: Poetry Inspired By Fashion- "I Dream of Butterfly Wings"

2012-06-27T04:17:00.000-07:00

The Monarch Butterfly (Danaus Plexippus) is so breathtakingly beautiful, it has inspired some of fashion's most celebrated creations including Luly Yang's Monarch Butterfly Dress in her 2011 Metamophorsis Collection. A dress so beautiful, it inspired me to write a fantasy, which was meant to be a short story but turned out to be a very whimsical, fun poem.

The Butterfly Princess

Once upon a time, there was a wee princess who lived in a tree

She had so much to do, she forgot to watch out for bees!

One day, her winged friends brought tidings of great grief

-The great butterfly clan was under siege!

So, she packed her armor of pure golden leaves

And rose to meet the king of bees!

But alas! The butterflies were tied with silken strings

The kind princess lost hope, and called out into the morning breeze!

The morning breeze hearkened, and replied with a gale of freeze

And, the crafty bees, one by one, they all had to flee!

The princess was crowned by the butterfly queen

And became known as "the Guardian of Peace"!

And to this very day, she wears a mantle of silken butterfly wings.

THE END.

Inspiration:

I also found many beautiful fashion pieces inspired by the graceful Monarch Butterfly. These are not for the faint of heart or the stoic of soul, but for those who dare to dream, who believe in fairies and happily-ever-afters and those who give life to their whims!

Venetian Monarch Butterfly Mask

Alexander McQueen S/S '11 Monarch Butterfly Runway Shoes

Danielle Monarch Fairy Wings

Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen S/S '11

Monarch Butterfly Bridal Hair Pins

Monarch Butterfly Nail Art

CharmSchoolDesign Monarch Butterfly Crown Headband

Music: The Monarch Butterfly Influence

The beauty of the Monarch Butterfly is not obvious to fashion lovers only, it has also found its place in popular music, and has become so popular that the illuminati-watch crowd have latched on to it and sought to discover the basis for its influence. But that isn't on my watch-list, the beauty of these amazing butterflies alone compels me.

Paramore -Brand New Eyes (Album Cover)

Beyonce (Photo Shoot)

Mariah Carey - Butterfly (Album Cover)

Brick by Boring Brick-Paramore (Music Video)

Tobi: Hobo Days to Glam Nights

2012-06-26T10:36:00.001-07:00

Chill and have mad fun (and margaritas) with the girlfriends in this catchy day look and glam it up at night for a hot date with that guy you've had your eye on! But don't be too icy in blue- show him your wild side with leopard print pumps and a sleek snakeskin clutch! He'll be dying for more!

Missoni multi color dress
£430 - harveynichols.com

Dorothy Perkins pleated dress
$27 - dorothyperkins.com

Alice + Olivia leopard print pumps
$295 - aliceandolivia.com

Platform wedge
$52 - amazon.com

Madewell vintage shoulder bag
$168 - shopbop.com

Just Cavalli silver clutch
malleries.com

Aurélie Bidermann medallion jewelry
$865 - net-a-porter.com

Kelly Wearstler antique brass jewelry
$225 - forwardforward.com

Long gold necklace
$165 - endless.com

LK Designs leather jewelry
€97 - pret-a-beaute.com

Stackable jewelry
$22 - baublebar.com

Leopard print earrings
$10 - kohls.com

Miss Selfridge cross jewelry
$9 - missselfridge.com

Black jewelry
£4 - riverisland.com

Interesting Finds: Celebrity Doppelgangers

2012-06-26T03:31:00.000-07:00

If you are a fan of The Vampire Diaries, you surely know what the word 'doppelganger' means. In the show, that's just a covert way of ensuring Elena is relevant as more than just the teenage love interest of two hot vampire brothers.

Doppelganger (Urban Dictionary): Derived from German 'Doppelgänger', literally means "Ghostly Double". One who nearly or completely resembles another- but with no biological relation; Someone that looks exactly like another person yet not a twin.

SNL certainly made a huge enough fuss about the Tina Fey/ Sarah Palin connection to get us all twitchy (and interested).

Tina Fey/Sarah Palin

My sisters and I have so much fun 'ooh-ing' and 'aah-ing' when we discover new celebrity look-alikes! Tobi always claims she already noticed EVERY SINGLE ONE - As if! Here are some more celebrity doppelgangers. Some you already noticed, some you never did, some, well.... and others are just plain mean!

Natalie Portman/ Keira Knightley

Chris Rock/Mario

Dita Von Teese/ Evan Rachel Wood
Marilyn Manson sure has a type.

America Ferrera (Ugly Betty) /Jordin Sparks

Lady Gaga/ Christina Aguilera
Really?

Zoe Saldana/Thandie Newton

Betty White/ Queen Elizabeth

SkyBlu(of LMFAO)/ Kirk Hammett(Metallica)

Barack Obama/Ilham Anas
Ilham Anas is an indonesian photographer who became a celebrity by impersonating Barack Obama!

Cindy Crawford/Eva Mendes

Miranda Kerr/Adriana Lima

Julia Roberts/Anne Hathaway

Skeet Ulrich/Johnny Depp
"Skeet Ulrich? Johnny Depp called. He wants his DNA back" - David Spade (on SNL)
Johnny Depp is ..."the rich man's Skeet Ulrich" - Chris Rock (VMA 1999)

Ian Keaggy (Hot Chelle Rae)/Russell Brand

Amy Adams/Isla Fisher

Michael Fassbender/Ewan McGregor

Goapele/Rosario Dawson

Tommy Torres/Orlando Bloom

Penelope Cruz/Paz Vega

Helen Hunt/Leelee Sobieski

Nelly Furtado/ Courtney Cox

Rod Stewart/Barry Manilow

Heath Ledger/Joseph Gordon Levitt
Casted together in "10 Things I Hate About You"

Chad Smith (Red Hot Chilli Peppers) / Will Ferrell

Phil Collins/Terry O' Quinn ('Lost')

Jessica Alba/ Marlene Favela

Alicia Keys/Jessica Alba

Vanessa Hudgens/Mila Kunis

Ellen Degeneres/Edie Falco

Minka Kelly/Leighton Meester

Jared Leto/Jake Gyllenhaal

Helena Christensen/Cameron Diaz

Scarlett Johansson/Amber Heard

Jon Heder/James Blunt

Jordana Brewster/Demi Moore

Bono/Robin Williams

Kesha/Blake Lively

Hillary Swank/Jennifer Garner
Piper Perabo should be here too!

Joe Jonas/Camilla Belle
They once dated!

Rick Ross/Kimbo Slice (UFC Heavyweight)

Daniel Day Lewis/ Jennifer Connelly

Kofi Annan/Morgan Freeman

Kenny G/Weird Al Jankovic

Javier Bardem/Jeffery Dean Morgan

Brad Pitt/Robert Redford

Josh Duhamel/ Johnny Knoxville

Elijah Wood/Mischa Barton

Peter Jackson/Jason Segel

Nicole Scherzinger/Kim Kardashian

Robert Pattinson/Tom Sturridge

Ginnifer Goodwin/Katie Holmes [Getty]

Kate Middleton (Duchess of Cambridge) /Lauren Conrad

Taylor Swift/Rapunzel(Tangled)

Angelina Jolie/Tiffany Claus

Sandra Bullock/Michael Jackson

And since we started this ~~extremely lengthy and slightly confusing~~ post with Nina Dobrev's Doppelganger role as Elena in the hit tv series, "Vampire Diaries", we'll finish it with Nina's real life doppelganger... uncanny resemblance, huh?

Nina Dobrev ('Elena' of Vampire Diaries)/Victoria Justice (of 'Victorious)

We also think Jennifer Lopez and Kate Hudson, Christina Milian and Melody Thornton (PCD) are celebrity doppelgangers. We just can't prove it. It would be great to know if these celebrity doppelgangers ever meet and whisper to their friends (more like, 'entourage'): "No, I DEFINITELY don't look like him/her. I am way prettier/hotter!" What other celebrity doppelgangers have you noticed? We would be glad to discover some more amazing look-alikes!

Fun Stuff: You can find out who your celebrity doppelgangers are on http://www.amiaceleb.com/ and http://celebrity.picadilo.com/. Should be fun!

Femi: My (Random) Creations

2012-06-25T06:21:00.000-07:00

I like to make my own clothes sometimes. It is a pleasant respite from shopping, which I love on some days and hate on other days (those times when you just can't find what you're looking for!). I wish sometimes that I could just make wishes and the right clothes would find their stylish way into my closet, magically. I mean, it could happen, right?
Sometimes, when I'm just not in the mood, I design my clothes and spare myself the achy feet and rude attendants! Here are some random pictures over the last few months of me just rocking my own stuff...

Blue&White Polka Dot Baby Doll Dress / Pleated Midi Dress with Sheer Lace Detail

Multi Coloured Caftan-Style Dress/ Sunflower Yellow Eyelet Shift Dress

Full Ankara Skirt with Sequin Detail/ Blue Mid-Sleeve Lace Blouse/ Pleated Ankara Skirt

I confess, I have a thing for lace and ankara. The delicacy of lace and the vibrancy of ankara gets me everytime! Which is your favorite look of all? Do you think I should continue designing my own clothes? I would love to know what you think...

Tobi: Art Deco Mode

2012-06-22T02:39:00.003-07:00

It's my favorite workday again - casual friday! Today, I'm wearing a Cropped Tee with a Graphic High-Waist Maxi Skirt and awesome accessories by Dami! It is raining very heavily in Lagos, so it's really dark in the office as well, hence the grainy pictures. I managed to take these happy shots in spite of the dreary weather though..

Tobi: Tribal Influences

2012-06-21T09:25:00.000-07:00

Tribal inspired jewelry have been all the rage lately. Here's my office look today. I'm wearing a classic white shirt with folded arms + a pleated Ankara shirt with Satin trimming. I finished this look with a corset belt, tan flats I've had forever, and some tribal (Egyptian and Aztec-inspired) jewelry that's got me gushing! What do you think, hit or miss?

All that teeth on display... I probably smile way more than the average person should (that's a good thing). [#MonologueTime#: Me: Don't you just love my tie? It's gold-plated, btw. Fun way to join the androgynous crowd, don't you think? Me (Reply):As If!]

And here's the lovely pyramid ring I picked up at an open market close by the office.. I'm really feeling the neon nails too!

I did say I was at work, right?

#Sigh!

The Artsy Sisters

A 5-Year Fall Retrospective: It's Black, It's White...

Tobi: Have You Seen Me Lately?

Blinging Tribals: Maa-What? Maasai!

Fall 2012 Shoe Trends: Shoes That Fly!

Fashion Inspired by Art: For the Love of Pop Art

Fashion on the Comic Lane!

Why We Love: Carolina Herrera's Resort 2013 Collection

Shoe Attack: Spike That Walk!

GUEST POST!!! - "The Unbout Reign Is No Illusion"

Tobi: DIY 'Circle The Dots' Maxi Dress

Fashion Forward: In love with Cape Dresses

Focus: Couples' Style - KimYe's White-and-Black Style Diaries

Music Video Inspiration: Where Have You Been [Rihanna]

Connexion Lace-up stretch-leather skinny pants

£683 - net-a-porter.com

£23.50 - debenhams.com

£184.00 skyliving.sky.com

£18.50 debenhams

The Lone Artsy: Where Are My Sisters?

Shoes That Run The World: Focus - Aperlai

Tobi: Gift-Wrapped Style

Tobi: Here Comes...July!

Ankara Jackets - Spice Up Your Life!

Grateful!- Nothing's Real But Love

Tobi: Poetry Inspired By Fashion- "I Dream of Butterfly Wings"

Tobi: Hobo Days to Glam Nights

Interesting Finds: Celebrity Doppelgangers

Femi: My (Random) Creations

Tobi: Art Deco Mode

Tobi: Tribal Influences