Saturday, June 29, 2013

Edwina LaShan Supports Nigerian Designer Duro Olowu!!! "Bring Out Your Inner African Queen! with Rich Colors and Patterns!"

"A master of color and pattern, London fashion designer Duro Olowu took the industry by storm with his 2004 inaugural collection. With a global view and an artful influence, Olowu infuses a riot of color with classic silhouettes and captivating patterns for his exclusive collection at JCP." -Jcpenney




When I first laid eyes on this captivating Nigerian Fashion Line, my eyes and heart glowed with excitement! 



I had been searching for African Fashion lines, in my small town, of Chattanooga, Tn, for a while! But I had no clue how I would achieve this without shopping online, traveling to another city, or paying an expensive price to get African Pattern pieces! 




I even made up in my mind that I would go to my local Hancock Fabric Store, pick up my own material, and patterns. Find a local seamstress and pay her to make some of my favorite pieces! 


Many of my favorite celebrities such as Solange Knowles, the Queen of Tribal Prints, Nia Long, and Beyonce are known for sporting these beautiful African  pieces. 


Our First Lady Michelle Obama has also been spotted sporting Designer Duro Olowu on MANY different occasions! and I knew, I too, could make this fashion forward look work! 


First Lady Michelle Obama Rocking Duro Olowu Pieces:








Solange sporting a mixture of African Pieces:


Solange Knowles


  
Actress Nia Long in an African dress:


Beyonce Knowles



But not for a very affordable price!

So when the revealing of Duro Olowu's line was presented in JCPenneys for Spring 2013, I knew I was going do everything in my power to purchase as many pieces as possible from his JCPenney line! 



I had SOOO many ideas for every piece I saw! I could mix and match so many of the pieces together, and with other vintage/classic pieces I already own!

My brain was on overload! 

Although the line was much more affordable in a department store, then going to a fashion Designers personal page, it was still not exactly in my budget. I could only pray and keep my fingers crossed, that by the time the Spring season was over, that the line would be more on my budget.

So as the time passed, many of the pieces went on sale for as low as $5 due to the line not being accepted by a lot of JCPenney consumers! 

Which I can not understand! Due to the richness of this line! Perfect for Royalty. I was for certain that by the time, this line went on clearance, that there would only be a few pieces left or none.  Boy...Was I proved wrong!!! There were many pieces left for very low prices! 

think I was most surprised by the fact that the line was not accepted by some of the African American culture, due to the fact that this is a representation of our roots! It's a beautiful thing when the new generations pay tributes to the their heritage!


It was a bittersweet feeling. Part of me was sad, that the line didn't go as far as it should have in JCPenney, but another part of me, was very happy that I got ALOT of the pieces I had been patiently waiting for. 

When it's all said and done, I realized that  in Fashion, not everyone will understand the movement! Some people will not understand your vision! 

I was also told by an African American employee that the line was ugly! She told me this as I purchased my pieces, although we are very friendly to each other, and she does her job very well! This was very unprofessional of her, due to the fact that it could have caused the consumer, to walk away, and not purchase the merchandise. 

But I did not let it bother me. This within itself, motivated me to want the pieces more!

I debated with the employee, but when it was all said and done, it did not matter what the employee thought looked good in her eyes! 

It was about what I knew I loved, could make work, and could express my personal personality and style with!!!

With this being said, "Who cares about what people think about your style, whether they like it, or not!" 

People are going to be judgmental either way! 

"Who Cares about the Rules if You Like It  Wear It!!!" 


I am proud to Rock Duro Olowu Fashion Line and to open other people's minds! Colorful African Silhouettes, prints, and patterns make me HAPPY and make me feel like an African Queen!!! 

And I love wearing Art pieces to express who I am! 

I am Duro Olowu! I am Edwina LaShan! 

Enjoy Ladies and Gentlemen! 

#EdwinaLaShan #ItsAMovement 


"I don't Wear The Clothes You Wear... I Look Different and I Don't Care!"- Janelle Monae/Goodie Mob


Duro Olowu Green Paisley Button Down Blouse partnered with a Brown and Ivory Plaid Short. Colorful Blue and Hot Pink Tribal Print Pattern Scarf.




"Please Don't Kill My Vibe!!!" -Kendrick Lamar




"Do Not Block Drive!!!"




Shoes! Mary Jane Glitter Bronze Gianni Bini pumps from Dillard's!


"Style!"



Tribal HairScarf and Nerd Glasses! 
Gold stud earrings. Yellow clutter ball necklace.




Writer: Edwina 
Photo Cred: Elle Magazine, Edwina LaShan







Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Never Been A Fan of Thrift Shopping??? Afraid you won't find any pieces of Quality?


Well that fear is no longer!!!

Thrift Shops are stepping their game up and you can find more quality pieces for very low prices!!! Here are a couple of fun pieces we have found for the low, low at local Chattanooga thrift stores! 

Let the Thrift Shopping Fun Begin!!!


  
4 pieces from a local Chattanooga thrift store for as low as 50cents! 

2 tailored fit pants, 1 yellow stretch pant, and a lavender sheer button down blouse. 






White Express Trouser Pants with black tuxedo buttons, no stains! was found at a local thrift store for only 1 dollar or 50 cents. Blouse for only 5 dollars at JCPenneys!






Turquoise shorts for only 2 or 3 dollars at a thrift store!!! Scarf for only 1 dollar at a local dollar store. Blouse for only 5 dollars at JCPenneys!






Gold Clip-on Earring for only 50 cents at a local Goodwill ThriftStore!







Turquoise Gauchos for only 50 cents or 1 dollar at a local thrift store!







Red Blazer for only 1 dollar or 2 dollars at local Thrift Store!









Jean Army Button Down Shirt for only 1 dollar or 50 cents at local thrift store! She bleached herself!







Khaki and black stripe button down silk shirt found at a local thrift store for only 1 dollar! 









Mint Green Tailored Fit Pants purchased at a local thrift store for only 1 dollar! Great fit! Crisp! No stains! Very brand new!



More Thrift Store Finds Coming soon!!!

Jump into Summer Only On Edwina LaShan Blogspot. Com!!!



Sunday, June 9, 2013

Riverbend 2013 Chattanooga, Tn.

Hello Fashion Addicts!!!

Check out Our Chattanooga Riverbend Festival Fashion Looks for Saturday Night! Ceelo Green Night on the Coca Cola stage! 










Friday, June 7, 2013

Our Friends Have Style Too! 😍👍😍👍😍

Hello friends and family! 

In this particular post we wanted to give a shout out to some of our favorite friends who have style and stay supporting us!!! 

Check these ladies out! 

Hope You Enjoy some of Edwina LaShan's #StreetStyle in the eye of #EdwinaLashan.                  

.Introducing...

The Editors
Edwina LaShan:



Edwina is rocking a classic rocker tailored white suit. White blazer and white  tailored fit wide leg pant.

In this particular shot, she removed her blazer to show the detail in the under blouse. 

The blouse is a vintage, tuxedo, body suit blouse. 

She finished her look with a touch of gold accessories and pumps. 

Too add to the black and white contrast she added a black and white geometrical necklace to seal the look! 

Hair in a chic sleek back high ponytail.

LaShan is wearing an elegant, sheer, floor length formal white gown. 

With see-though cut out sides.

She is giving off Elegance, Royalty, Romance, Maturity, and Purity!

LaShan, no doubt about it, received oohs and awes throughout the night as she wooed many with her elegant choice of dress.

Introducing...

Edwina and Catana Jones:

 
Edwina is wearing a harajuka inspired polka-dot blouse with black liquid tights. She added a black bow tie, and red booties! To finish her look she added Gold accessories.

She is wearing her hair in a pixi hair cut with a bang!

Edwina is giving off a flirty, vintage, and retro look!

Catana brought out her inner wild side, with a snack skin animal print blouse, that incorporates the colors tan, nude, and black which definitely compliments her mocha skin tone very well! She added black high waisted stretch tights, and a black jewel necklace! To seal her look she added a nude snake print close toe pump. Catana is rocking a short pixi cut, with a swooped bang. Catana turned heads with this look! 

Catana's serenades you with a look that gives you Exotic, Sass, Sizzle, Flirty, Spice, and Sophistication!


Introducing...

Brittny Davis and Edwina: 


Brittny jazzed up her look with a leopard, classic black and white fitted body con dress. She is wearing her hair long and wavy. She finished her look with a splash of red pumps, and a classic white pearl earring.

Brittny's look gives you Sizzle, Spice, Hotness, Fun, Flirty, and Wild!

Edwina's Solange Knowles inspired look for the celebrity look alike themed party she was attending, definitely was a look fit for the red carpet!

Starting with the 90's inspired MC Hammer, tailored stretch, colorful tropical print tight pant. 
 
To add contrast and color block to the colorful pant, she added a classic black bow, white tank. 

The classic black bow inspired by Solange Knowles on her Hadley Street Dreams album cover. Solange brought the bow trend to the limelight with her outspoken Activitist symbolism in this great photo artwork for her Billboard chart rising album! 

Solange Rocking Her Bow Trending Dress:


Edwina's look screams volumes! It screams Splashy, Tropical, Fun, Chic, Loud, Colorful, and Unique!



Introducing:

Whitney Colclough:


Whitney is Rocking her Natural Blonde Afro. 

She has on a tailored fit black blazer, with tailor fit red skinny pant trousers.

She contrasts her colors with a white cami. 

She finishes the look with a beautiful jewel black necklace, bracelet, and nude colored pumps! 

Ms.Colclough's look says Conservative, Spicy, Fun, Natural, Chic, Whitty, and Classy!

Whitney definitely OWNED this look!!!

Introducing...

Lorean Mays: 


Model and Former Miss Black Tennesseee Lorean Mays is demanding respect in her sophicated modern black Audrey Hepburn inspired dress with a 
fitted pencil skirt type flair.

The black and Gold in Mays' dress gives off power with a bit of glamour!

With Gold embellished belt, and gold accessories. 
 
She wears her natural hair curled on the ends, and swooped to the side with slight highlights.

Everything in this look says Sophisticated, Glamour, Chic, Modern, and Class! 

You better WERK Miss Mays!