The Afam AMVCAs fashion Review

Hello. The AMVCAs were last week, and lots and lots of African stars went. Because I'm a little bit of a star myself albeit a Z lister I was there too. It is also important to mention that I, Afam, am an event whore. It's no biggie really. It's a way of life, you know? Being fabulously turned out while being fabulously broke! Can I get a holler? No? Okay. Thanks. Bye. 

The second edition of the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards was held at the Eko hotel Expo Centre in Lagos, last week and it was a success in every regard but the fashionable one. Of course, there were good bits, but these good bits were so few and far between that they found themselves somewhat overwhelmed by the awful, the terrible and the bizarre. I suppose one could say that there were very many stylish people in attendance, but that it is unfortunate that the trends (shockingly poor fabric, abysmal tailoring, and murderously questionable taste) were unforgiving. The question that’s on everyone’s lips is, are the AMVCAs really the African Oscars? In general, yes. They can boast of a quality that far outstrips any other event ever held in the country or even the continent. In terms of the fashion, I suppose they are after a fashion. Instead of competing viciously to end up in the list of the best dressed there’s an aggressive race to the bottom.  

Of course, as always, the men had an easier time of it than the women. A well-cut tuxedo will always do the trick. But for the fairer sex things are usually a great deal trickier. The colour of the dress must match your skin tone; the dress must fit in all the right places; your make up must match the dress or at least your face; you must not over accessorize or under accessorize; and you must know how to pose in the dress. The thing that many do not realize is that a good photo in a bad dress is possible. If she slouches this way, or leans that way, the most hideous dress may gain the gravitas of the brilliant.  

Many Nigerian designers, had clothes that walked down the red carpet, and this is a commendable thing. Mai Atafo Inspired was one of the more popular labels. For the most part Mai did a stunning job. Vimbai Mutinhiri and Ebuka Obi-Uchendu both looked brilliant in their tuxes. Women in suits were clearly a trend. Susan Peters rocked a floral jacket, black trousers and a bowl hair cut that I quite liked for its oddness. These women were probably inspired by Angelina Jolie at the Baftas or Ellen Degeneres at the Oscars.  

How stunning is Vimbai? Look at her! I mean look at her! Even Mama Afam commended her brilliant Mai Atafo inspired tuxedo! 

Another trend was the abundance of sparkly dresses. Everywhere you turned there was the equivalent of a disco ball on a dress. This was particularly true where Gbemi is concerned. There is such a thing as too much silver. Genevieve Nnaji reigned it in a Jewel by Lisa ensemble that featured the egret print displayed in the Bicycle and Aprons collection and a mesh overlay that from the same collection. Seyi Shay also showed some reserve. She wore an Elizabeth Waldorf flapper inspired dress that alternated between silver sequined bands and fringes. However even though the dress was decent, the entire look was underwhelming. 

Red was a common theme on the red carpet. Rita Dominic, Funlola Aofiyebi- Raimi, Biola Alabi, Uche Jombo, Kate Henshaw and Makida Moka all turned up in red. Uche Jombo’s dress was unfortunate, as was Gina’s but Kate Henshaw, and Biola looked incredible. Biola’s dress featured laser cut outs, sheer panels and masterful draping. Gina’s dress on the other hand ended in an explosion of chiffon that made the whole ensemble made her a suitable candidate for psychiatric assessment in the Yaba mental hospital. The red lip was even more common than the red dress on the red carpet. However as far as beauty goes, I am of the opinion that the vast majority of attendees should consider beating their make up artists with a pestle. Is it not wickedness to let your client leave her house looking like a masquerade with unblended foundation?  

With the hair most stars fell into two categories, the up do and the undone. The up dos sat tightly in buns, or half buns, and the undones mostly languished lazily and untidily in various marriages of bed head meets nasty weave. The up dos were both more common and more successful than the undones. Yemi Alade’s hair was lovely. Her braids curled around the top of her head, and were vaguely reminiscent of a crown or a bird’s nest, and Eku Edewor let her well curled locks hang loosely around her face.  

Among the men, an emerging theme was the untraditional lapel. IK and Noble Igwe utilized this to great effect. The vast majority went for the more traditional notched, peaked or shawl lapels.  

What does this all mean? It means that more than half our celebrities and actors and actresses are hell bent on reliving their proms, and that we must not cease in our Christianly duty of criticism. We must whine and point and complain until they get it right.  

    
Happy Days,
Afam