Jenny-From-the-African-Block

Ray Marshall taking pic...Marci styling...and Brittney modeling..

Before the fashion show I did a photo shoot for the revamped fall collection. I worked with Ray Marshall again but this time I brought in Marci Rodgers of Heels and Hightops to assist with the styling. With over twice the looks than my summer capsule collection, I needed help. I also continued the trend of working with a young up and coming model and chose a young lady by the name of Brittney Brewer. The look for the shoot, and the collection, was very “Jenny-from-the-African-block”. Lord knows I love an aspirational and transitional girl and no one embodies that more than Jennifer Lopez. I was so in sired by her Bronx roots so I brought in lots of door-knocker earrings and we styled her hair in a top knot and bangs a la Lopez herself.

Check out the looks below and on my NEW and improved website http://nicholealabi.com

Go-To-Glam!

Go-to-Glam!

Ok Ok Ok…I’ve said it enough…I love Homecoming…but after years of attending the event I have come up with some tips that  think can help any stylish girl participating in a weekend of events like Homecoming. These tips can work for All Star Weekend, a High School Reunion Weekend, or a Bachelorette weekend. If you see yourself going out of town (or staying in town) for a weekend of events that range from everything from a night out to a brunch to a causal social outing… check out the tips below.

Tip #1: Have a Ready-to-go Makeup Bag with a Statement Lip Color

I always buy a new lipstick for a weekend of events. For  New Years I rocked a deep purple and for my birthday I worked with a purply-pink. For Homecoming I decided to go on the hunt for a day-to-night neutral. As a chocolately sister I have been on the tail end of this “nude” trend. On my complexion nude just ends up looking like a ate a powdered donut. So instead I looked for a neutral that was close to my skin tone to go for a “faux-nude” appeal. I chose Photo by MAC Cosmetics. The color is a golden brown with a satin finish. So I packed it up in my mini-makeup bag with eyeliner, mascara, two complimentary blushes (a day and a night), press powder, and concealer (for under the eyes after late nights), and clear lip gloss which took the lip color from casual to glam.

Tip #2: Statement Outerwear

When you’re packing for a weekend away, especially in the fall, there is absolutely no way you can pack lots of coats so I suggest having a go-to statement piece of outerwear. A common mistake girls make is to bring their neutral or black coat and say “it goes with everything”. Well thats not true! In actuality glam goes with everything. This weekend I worked with the fur trend and worked the hell out of a fur vest with a shawl collar. Don’t be worried about it getting redundant. I wore it with a green chiffon maxi, a Howard sweatshirt, and a black mini dress and it looked different and fabulous every single time.

Tip #3: Try Just One Trend

Every season trends come and go and there is no better time to boldly give one a try than for a weekend of events. Let me repeat…give ONE a try. Trying too many can make you look like anyone but yourself. This weekend I decided to try the dress socks and heels thing. Ive seen it in magazines and stuff and I’ve always thought it was cool but I didn’t know how practical it was. So on Friday night I wore a little black dress with black socks and leopard platforms. It was a huge hit!

Tip #4 Big Banging Handbag

I know girls love to wear tiny little clutches for the evening but I would seriously rethink this when you’re doing a weekend full of events. Instead go with a big banging handbag. Break out your investment piece girls! Why? You can keep it packed all weekend…duh! You can leave your mini makeup bag, phone, wallet, umbrella, bottle of water, toothbrush, clean panties…whatever you need! With this method in mind you don’t have to change your bag per outfit and you can go all day (and night…wink wink).

Tip #5 If You Gotta Show Spirit…Do it in Style!

At an event like homecoming or a bachelorette you may find yourself having to wear some sort of tshirt or logo…if your must do it in style! This weekend I did a custom Howard sweatshirt with my fur vest, jean cutoffs, and combat boots. I was able to go from a tailgate to a happy hour  and support my alma mater.

Check out the pics below to see how me and my girls manifested my tips…

Statement Lipsticks Poppin'!

My girl Revae following all the rules...go-to bag, lip color, and outwear!

Our Statement Bags...big enough to go all day and glam enough to go all night

Trying Trends...oh and peep the lipstick!

Stylishly Showing School Spirit

From the Catwalk to the Sidewalk

Naomi at a Homecoming Event

Naomi is a client of mine who was also in Ghana this summer where she got this amazing pink and gold African wax print. She had a limited amount, and of course she couldn’t go back any time soon to get more, so she asked me to turn it into something memorable. I created this boat neck peplum dress for her. The dress featured a turned up sleeve and a super low back. What made the dress even more memorable was seeing her in it this past weekend at a homecoming event. God I love Homecoming…

Check out more detailed pics of the dress below and Naomi and I celebrating our alma mater…

Front

Sleeve Detail

Back

Naomi and I

Nichole Alabi in Nichole Alabi

Friday's Look: Chiffon Maxi with Fur Shawl Collar Vest

The best part about Homecoming, besides showing at the Homecoming Fashion Show, was wearing my fall collection looks out and about. Call me what you want, but what are the perks of being a designer if you can’t wear your own stuff? But I digress…as my brand’s aesthetic evolves I have realized that my customer is less me than someone else. Let me explain: when I first started making clothes I made stuff for me. I literally made clothes for me to wear. But once I began developing “Nichole Alabi” as a brand I realized the mature thing to do would be to develop a point of view.

I’ll never forget the season of “The City” where the show’s main character and budding designer, Whitney Port, was invited to Elle Magazine to show her collection to Fashion news Director Anne Slowey and Creative Director Joe Zee. After looking at her work Slowey asked her who she designed for and Whitney said “myself and my friends”. Anne Slowey looked like Whitney said she designed for the devil! Slowey went on to explain that a designer needs a customer and I totally get that now.

So the pieces in my collection I rocked this past weekend were the few that were all me and I wore them my way. Check out another look below…

Thursdays Look: Kente Top with Black Riding Pants

Ripped the Runway

1st Look: Kente Drop-Waist Dress with Bubble Skirt and Structured Cap Sleeves

Last week’s fashion show was the best way to kick off my 2011 Homecoming weekend. I’ll keep it all the way real: I was very nervous about showing in the HUHC show. For starters, I didn’t get the pieces finished until the Sunday , I didn’t fit the models until the Monday, and I was supposed to be ready to go by Wednesday! For an easily frazzled girl like me, that timeline had me on edge. Not to mention the whole culture of urban fashion shows…sometimes they can be a little bit too theatric for my aesthetic. All of these things couple with the fact that I’ve never showed on a stage this large in front of a crowd this large had me going nuts!

But to my surprise I was very satisfied with the show and my contribution. With 14 models I showed a revamped version of my fall collection. Starting with Kente that I acquired while in Ghana, I weaved a color story that went from gold to burgundy, to black, and finally to teal culminating in a chiffon gown.

It felt like such a triumph. The music was right. The models were right. The timing was right. And I’ve been on cloud 9 ever since!

Be on the lookout for video from the show… check out the pics from the show.

**Note: Look 11 (a Chiffon Pussy Bow Blouse and Leatherette Tuxedo Shorts) is messing…I’m working on getting a picture for you guys.

2nd Look: Kente Crop Top with Ducktail and Leatherette Boxing Shorts

3rd Look: Gold Half Moon Swing Coat with Kente Lapel

4th Look: Gold Half Moon Dress with Double Sleeve

5th Look: Burgundy Romper with Fishtail Neckline and Satin Tuxedo Stripe

6th Look: African Wax Print Drop-Waist Dress with Bubble Skirt and Structured Cap Sleeve

7th Look: African Wax Print Swing Coat

8th Look: Burgundy Tuxedo Shorts and Black Double Sleeve Blouse

9th Look: Black Double Sleeve Mini Dress and Oversized African Wax Print Bow

10th Look: Crushed Celvet One Sleeve Peplum Top and Crushed Velvet Leggings

12th Look: Teal and Black Long Sleeve Maxi

13th Look: Teal and Black Cap Sleeve Midi Dress

14th Look: Chiffon Pussy Bow Maxi Dress with Double Sleeve