THE RISE AND RISE OF A MAKE-UP ARTIST - Saima Rashid Bargfrede aka SAM

Saima, better known to me and most as Sam, revolutionised the world of make-up in Kenya. To her, make-up is not only a means of highlighting and bringing out beauty, but a work of art to be explored.

Sam hard at work

Having met Sam for the first time at Severine Devailly’s Fashion Show at Rusty nail in 2008, we seemed to make an instant connection, and I loved what she was doing with make-up. Her make-up was completely over the top, wild crazy hair, in other words, she broke all the rules of make-up as it was known in Kenya.

Severine Devaily’s Fashion Show

I brought Sam on board to do make-up for African Woman Magazine, and together we made an incredible team – not to mention Andre, the African Woman Photographer, absolutely loved working with her. Sam’s make-up brought the fashion to life, and much as it was not understood by the public at first, strong make-up looks become somewhat a trend.

Some of my favourite looks from our time together at African woman include:

Red and Black (Valentine’s) Shoot at Onami, Feb 2010, with Kinkey Model, Melan Wachie

Nike Kondakis Fashion Shoot at The Nairobi National Park with Kinkey Model, Gloria Barasa

Metallics Fashion Shoot at The Go Down Arts centre, with Kinkey Model Yvonne Odhiambo

And my BEST covers were:

Gloria Barasa, on Issue 11 of African Woman (Gloria actually let us shave her bald for this one)

Leah Akinyi on issue 13 - which was perfectly represented the cold June-July weather

Wangari Ngugi, winner of the Vaseline / African Woman Cover Girl Competition... This was the ultimate Fabulosity make-over for Wangari (Issue 18)

Fridah, rocking a Patricia Mbela head and neck piece... on issue 19 was simply awesome

With my history in fashion shows, and fashion show production, I worked with Sam on a couple of shows through our time together. Some of the shows include:

Italian Fashion Food and Wine, 2009 (organised by Sam and Dorothy Chrystlun, with assistance from me)

FAFA (Festival for African Fashion and Arts) 2010 Workshop and Fashion Show

Tribal Chic 2011 at Tribe Hotel

And... she is also responsible for my make-up in my profile shoot:

I shall keep adding more amazing pictures to this blog post as I find them, not only to showacse Sam's amazing talent, but also inspire aspiring make-up artistes. In the meantime, if you are too eager, follow this link to Saima Rashid Bargfrede's Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Saima-Rashid-Bargfrede-SRB/172530129473941

Sam, you'll definitely be missed in Nairobi... Take Europe by STORM!!!

ImageWithOlive and KINKEY Models at FAB 2011

The Fashion and Beauty Expo run from Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd July. This time around, instead of coming on board as just a fashion show co-ordinator, I took the opportunity to have a stand at an exhibition! There’s a first time for everything, right. Our very FABulous stand acted as the mini-launch pad of Image With Olive Consultancy Ltd, the company under which all my Image consultancy and fashion styling operations shall run under (more details on this to be posted soon), and was the base of our last KINKEY Models’ Auditions!!

Friday and Saturday afternoons had the coolest photographer, energetic Abraham Ali (www.imageworksafrica.com) come on board with the model shoot-out, all with the help of Ford Supermodels’ Competition Finalist Marcell Temba.

Abraham Ali

Marcell

Abraham and Marcell Set-up

Marcel takes measurements and Abraham shoots… over and over again, trying to work as fast as possible to beat the growing line of girls!

Sunday afternoon had ‘new kid on the photography block’ Samuel Muhindi (www.eyekonimages.com) working on the model shoot-out.

Samuel Muhindi busy at work, with Marcell’s help of course

…and with an even longer que of girls

While they were busy doing all that model stuff, I focused on Image With Olive, with the assistance of a really cool girl called Pet, taking inquiries and answering “all questions image” as it has totally become my forte. I shall use the basis on these questions (and more that I continue collecting) to compile my monthly newsletter (starting soon_watch this space).

Pet

Myself at My 'Image Corner'

At about 4pm, on all days, I was rushing backstage to prepare everything for the evening shows that were modelled by Ford Supermodels’ Competition Finalists! Talk about multi-tasking man…

Models' hair (by Corrine Muthoni) and make-up (by Suzie beauty and The Make-up Lounge) being done next to my stand before the show

All in all, it was an amazing weekend, with FABulous Fashion, FABulous People and FABulous Models!

PS: All things fabulous do attract their own media...

Business Interview for Africa Report TV Show

K24 Style Interview

For more information on the Fashion and beauty Expo (FAB), go to www.fab.co.ke

MIRANDA RANSLEY LINGERIE SHOW PT2

During the 5th edition of The Russian Ballet held in Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya, Lynne Ransley was invited by the Russian Embassy to showcase her Miranda Ransley Lingerie Line. This event, held on 21st May 2011 was indeed an evening of classic and sassy entertainment. Beginning with a two-hour ballet performance by the Russian Ballet, the event climaxed into a stunning Lingerie Fashion show by Kinkey Models. Make-up artiste Saima Rashid Bargfrede was on-board to do the girls’ hair and make-up, with yours truly, Olive Gachara executing a simple yet sophisticatedly choreographed event. Lynn’s Lingerie pieces are to die for and earned her copious coverage in the local daily’s.

Saima, doing make-up

Girls line-up in anticipation of the lingerie show

Russian Ballet Dancers

And the pieces are:

Lynn with her girls on stage at the Finale

Lynn Ransley and her family

Lynn Ransley, Angie of Kache by Angie and myself

A very happy ballet dancer with the models ;-)

And the team! Lynn, Saima and I (all somewhere in the centre) and girls from Kinkey Models
PS: Lots of thanks to Amrit Kalsi (in white) who came to assist backstage