The Ladybug and the Dashiki print, a true African love!

Dashiki pattern, a true African love. But what is Dashiki? The name comes from the Yoruba language spoken in West Africa, especially in Nigeria, and it means shirt. The iconic pattern that we now define as Dashiki is the Angelina print, created by a Vlisco textile designer and it was inspired by a printed tunic worn in Ethiopia by noblewomen  at the beginning of the 19th century. The print was widely worn in West Africa but it became very popular by the end of the 60s when Jason Benning started producing the modern Dashiki (he also invented the word) in Harlem. Black people started using it as a sign of love for the Mother Africa, especially during the cultural event related to Africa. It was also widely worn in the late 60s by African-Americans embracing their African heritage and promoting Black Pride.

Nowadays it is often worn by celebrities and it is used as a fabric from many fashion designers from all over the world to create dresses, jackets, skirts with this beautiful pattern.

It is a pattern that I love so much, in every shade and design, and I have been dreaming of a perfect vintage Dashiki tunic for ages. It is easy to find cheap versions of this tunic, but I really wanted to have the real one, from the 60s/70s. Not easy to find it, especially in my size (mostly are men sizes) and with colors and patterns that I loved. It took months until I found this green one from Matmonit Vintage on Etsy. Matmonit is an Israeli vintage shop, specialized also in ethnic and folk vintage clothes that I love very much, where I always find amazing pieces from the past!

I wore my Dashiki tunic with other African pieces: a handmade wax turban from Madame Ilary (I bought the fabric in Senegal!) and a Senegalese orange leather necklace that I got from Seyeyaram African Made in Milan.

Vintage jeans are Levi’s and tan flat sandals are from Clarks.

The Ladybug kno-kno-knocking on a vintage door…

I’ve been passing by this door probably a million times in my life but when I really put my eyes on it last summer I fell in love with it!

The frame felt so vintage that I wanted some pictures there even if I wasn’t wearing anything vintage!

But I was wearing a piece that is very important to me: a typical Senegalese skirt that was offered to me by a friend of mine in Dakar before leaving her amazing country. I received so many fashion pieces there and I cherish them as if they were the most precious ones, and in some way they are as they are.

I paired my beautiful skirt with a navy tee from Cos and navy Swedish Hasbeens sandals; but I also added another African touch, another handmade piece with wax fabric, but that I bought in Milan a few years ago (at the “Artigiano in Fiera” craft fair) : a pair of giant statement earrings!

Moroccan straw bag from Maluan Maroquinerie on Etsy.

The Ladybug is a White Hunter: finding Africa in Milan

A few weeks ago I visited a great exhibit at FM Contemporary Art Center in Milan. I didn’t know about this very interesting space until I saw the flier of this event called “The White Hunter. African memories and representations” and I decided to have a look on a Saturday afternoon.

The exhibit started end of March during the Milan Art Week and it presented more than 150 works of contemporary artists (including my favorite African photographers Seydou Keita and Malick Sidibé) as well as pieces from anonymous traditional artists. The main topic is Africa just seen by different eyes and represented in many different ways. Maybe this is the reason why I couldn’t love it more!

The black building hosting the exhibit and the calm space outside was perfect also for a short outfit shooting!

It was indeed the perfect occasion to wear my Madame Ilary African wax turban that I added to a very simple outfit: old boyfriend jeans from Topshop, frilled white shirt from Alexa Chung Archive Collection for M&S, simple Benetton black trench coat and Nike 4 & Other Stories white sneakers.

I also wore my new folk clutch bought at Archivio Vintage event a couple of days before!

The Ladybug’s 70’s Afro outfit (L’Afrique, c’est chic!)

When I think of the 70’s that I love I cannot think only of the “Flower Power” and “Peace and Love” trends around Europe and America.  I still love the flowers in the hair, the flare jeans, the wooden platforms but I cannot separate it from the “Black Power”, the early disco and all the fashion related to that era among black people especially in the United States. Afro hair, African headscarves, African bangles and large earrings.

Diana Ross is my fashion icon of the 70’s and when I try to re-create an outfit inspired to that decade I can’t help mixing flare pants with afro hair or just add something African to the outfit.

I must confess that I do that quite often: my love for African prints and fashion in general is huge since I was a kid and I used to go with my grandmother to the fairs and markets only to buy African scarves to put on my head; I used the same scarves when I was a bit older to create my Erykah Badu inspired turbans!

I often wear African pieces to my daily outfits and lately I also decided to leave my curly natural hair free in an afro styled cut.

When I bought my H&M printed navy jumpsuit (on sale for 7 euros last winter!) I immediately imagined to wear it in a 70’s inspired outfit. I didn’t have my wooden platforms with me so I wore it with my navy Swedish Hasbeens sandals but I added two afro touches: the beautiful handmade African turban by Sine Modus and the adorable original vintage brooch from Déjà Vu Vintagepedia.