At Complexd we love cultural fusion fashion concepts. Here’s one we spotted on-line.
This India meets Africa advertorial for Tanishq Aarka jewelry was photographed by fashion photographer Suresh Natarajan from Mumbai, India. Check out more of Suresh’s work here
Tara Lynn featured in French Elle
A post which has been circulating on facebook today caught our attention. It has been shared 27,000 times and attracted 40,000 likes. It features an eye-catching portrait of curvy fashion model Tara Lynn and a very meaningful response to a demeaning advert placed by a gym. At Complexd we celebrate curvy and slim women, but we couldn’t help liking this very clever metaphorical comeback.
V magazine – Plus size issue
POST
‘A while back, at the entrance of a gym, there was a picture of a very thin and beautiful woman. The caption was “This summer, do you want to be a mermaid or a whale?”
A woman answered the following way:
“Dear people, whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, seals, curious humans), they are sexually active and raise their children with great tenderness. They entertain like crazy with dolphins and eat lots of prawns. They swim all day and travel to fantastic places like Patagonia, the Barents Sea or the coral reefs of Polynesia. They sing incredibly well and sometimes even are on cds. They are impressive and dearly loved animals, which everyone defend and admires.
Mermaids do not exist! But if they existed, they would line up to see a psychologist because of a problem of split personality: woman or fish? They would have no sex life and could not bear children. Yes, they would be lovely, but lonely and sad.
And, who wants a girl that smells like fish by his side? Without a doubt, I’d rather be a whale.
At a time when the media tells us that only thin is beautiful, I prefer to eat ice cream with my kids, to have dinner with my husband, to eat and drink and have fun with my friends. We women, we gain weight because we accumulate so much wisdom and knowledge that there isn’t enough space in our heads, and it spreads all over our bodies. We are not fat, we are greatly cultivated. Every time I see my curves in the mirror, I tell myself: “How amazing am I?!’”
Photograph by Frederique Rapier
Readers have been asking what inspires my outfit compositions. I draw inspiration from various places, but my biggest fashion influence was when I would watch in awe as my fashionable family got ready for church and dancehall nights in Jamaica.
My mama…
Aunty…
and cousin…
For daily fashion inspiration check out Jo’s blog Madame Jodelle
Jamaican designer Arlene L. Martin of DrennaLuna, creates simple and elegant pieces which help to accentuate a woman’s natural beauty. She is inspired by various objects, people and places and for her 2011 collection she draws inspiration from travelling to Botswana.
‘What I read did not prepare me for my travelling experience to Botswana. The country truly undersells its beauty. The sandy colour of the land, lush green of the trees and light grey saltpans served as inspiration for my 2011 Collection. The calmness of the collection also reflects the calm spirit of the Botswana’s peaceful people. Travelling to Botswana was my most memorable life experience which will forever remain with me’. – Arlene
Photographer: Theodore Samuels, Model: Latesha Coleman@ Pulse
Jo tells us what’s inspiring her fashion this week.
I’m not a Kate Moss fashion fanatic, but I will give some credit to her outfit compositions. She is a woman who wears her clothes and doesn’t let them wear her, which is why she always looks effortless in her garments. This picture of Kate wearing a Marc Jacobs dress and turban designed by milliner Stephen Jones, was taken at the MET Costume Gala in 2009. When I am looking for fashion inspiration I don’t look at what the high street is stocking or what the red carpet and runways are dictating right now. I look for what I feel like wearing in old magazines and archived fashion images. That way, I have a lot more fun recreating the look to my taste. Inspired by Kate’s 2009 outfit, I styled myself in a gathered Grecian style dress and tied a summer shawl into a turban.
Photographed by Frederique Rapier
Find tips on how to tie turbans here
Dear Alexander Wang,
Thank you for pioneering the crop top sweater.
p.s your shoes aren’t too bad either
Best,
Jo
Photographed by Frederique Rapier
Since summer started in London most men have been rocking denim shirts, beige chinos with clarks original style shoes. I absolutely love this look and I see no reason why we can’t take our style ideas from men.
I tried it out and heightened the femininity with high waisted shorts and fuschia heels.
Photographed by Frederique Rapier
The head wrap (as seen in our 1st Anniversary issue on pages 10-17) is universal. Worn for religious or fashion purposes it is wrapped in various ways on the heads of various types of women.
Fashion Tip: There is no right or wrong way to wear a head wrap. It is one of those experimental processes where you can be creative . The skill is in fastening the fabric. Once you get to grips with the tucking and pinning, think of ways in which you can bend and twist the fabric to make interesting shapes.
Here are some style ideas below…
Style Inspiration from Complexd Women…
Here are more ways to wear a scarf…
QUESTION: What was the last thing you celebrated and what did you wear?
Name: Shareen Sarwar
Age: 26
Occupation: Owner of Vintage Mavens
Background: Bangladeshi
The last big celebration I had was when I left my day job to launch
Vintage Mavens full time. I went for a ride in Downtown Miami with my husband/photographer in a gorgeous red vintage mini dress.
I layered the dress with a yellow African safari-themed silk scarf for a pop of colour.
Name: Mayo Wo
Age: 27
Location: Hong Kong
Creative outlet: fashionsalade.com/mellowmayoness
It depends on what the occasion is but for Birthdays, Anniversaries and V-day, I like to wear something especially romantic with tulle and lace and a nice pair of heels.
…And of course, rosy cheeks and lips!
Name: Zoe Badley
Age: 21
Occupation: Journalism Student and Blogger
Background: Guyanese
The last thing you celebrated was my best friend’s Birthday. All my close girlfriends and I went out for dinner and then headed to a nightclub.
I wore my American Apparel velvet long sleeve mini dress with a lace body suit underneath and a pair of black pumps.