Firstly happy new year. Hope that 2020 has gotten off to a flying start for you. Vision 2020? We hope so. Here’s a toast to us all from Reina de Santiago. May the sweet taste of success be the result of all our endeavours throughout this new year.
Long time, what have you been up to? We’ve noticed that not all our Reina fans are on facebook or Instagram, so our strategy to communicate mainly using these platforms have left many of you out in the cold. We on the other hand have been busy busy busy. Last year we introduced the Opera collection, a ready to wear special occasion collection for ladies who never compromise on style. In other words, a collection just for you.
Josephine Baker, Selena Goddess of the moon, Coco Chanel were our inspiration for three components of the collection.
So who is Josephine Baker? A trail blazer well ahead of her time. She was an American-born French dancer, jazz singer, and actress, who came to be known in various circles as the “Black Pearl,” “Bronze Venus” “Jazz Cleopatra”, and even the “Creole Goddess”. Her burlesque dance in a Banana inspired costume caused a sensation in 1926 and cemented her place as an A-list star in France and across Europe at the time. The costume consisted of a bralet, strings of pearls and a skirt made of 16 bananas. As you can imagine, the costume left very little to the imagination. So where is this all heading? Let me get to the point. The Reina de Santiago Josephine skirt is a little less riske than Josephine Bakers banana costume but you will cause a sensation if you wear it. A mini skirt in vibrant African wax is combined with silk-like tassels that drop from the thigh to just below the knee. The skirt is sexy and elegant at the same time, as you walk, the tassels dance around the upper thigh and knee creating an aura of Goddessness that simply cannot be ignored. As we say, the Reina de Santiago woman gets noticed for the right reasons.
Selena the Greek Goddess of the moon. Great is the beauty that radiates from her light which eradicates darkness allowing mere mortals to see beauty in the dead of the night. The Selena dress combines Italian silk, with African wax. The dress is a shift dress with the bodice in silk and the skirt in African wax. The front bodice is simplicity itself with a crescent moon neck-line an ode to the Goddess. The back bodice is a drop cowl, which drapes alluringly into the lower back. This dress screams Elegance with a capital E.
Coco Chanel needs no introduction. She was the inspiration behind our Opera cape. Coco is responsible for solving many a damsels dilemma about what to wear to that dinner date, after works party, girls night out etc. etc. The LBD is the go to garment for just about any occasion. But but but, we at Reina de Santiago want women to be noticed for the right reasons. With everyone in black, there is a real danger of blending in with the rest. Enter the Opera cape. An exuberant combination of African wax and wait for it; italian silk. The outer cape is African wax and the lining is silk. Indulgent we know, but we think you are worth it. The cape is carefully weighted on its inner edge with a gold chain, to ensure the cape sits perfectly at the shoulders. This little detail is borrowed from Coco and her renown channel jackets.
Highlights from the Vernissage where the complete collection was presented will be posted on Instagram @reinadesantiago and facebook. Follow us please! Alternatively you can watch the highlights on you tube.
