How I Got Wakanda Ready for the Black Panther World Premiere Carpet & Screening #BlackPantherEvent #BlackPanther Saturday 03 February, 2018

I am back from Wakanda and it was quite an experience. Social media went crazy as the celebrities were fawned over with their Afrocentric and glam attire for the World Global Premiere of Marvel’s Black Panther.

Custom ankara gown designed by Willaura Adams/Joseph

 I was a Disney Blogger, and I definitely knew when I got invited on this special press event that I had to go all out. I  wore my own Ankara African Printed Custom Tailor dress and I received so many compliments. I am here to share on this post the details of my custom dress for the royal purple carpet. I literally only had a week and a half from the time I got invited, to the time I had to leave for Los Angeles to get my dress made.

I instantly knew who I wanted to make a custom dress for me. I have a friend who is a seamstress and she made custom African skirts for a while now.  I reached out to her, told her my timeline and expected her to decline because of the short notice and quick turn around. She almost hesistated, but to my surprise she said, “For you Kiwi I will make this dress for you. I want you to stand out on the carpet!”

So we immediately got started within the first week I got my Disney Invite to cover the #BlackPantherEvent. First weekend, Willaura just took my measurements and discussed with me my dress concept. I showed her a picture of a trumpet styled dress with African print and I immediately said, “I want my dress to look exactly like this!” She laughed at me but gave me a serious look and said, “I can make you a trumpet styled dress, but I will never replicate a dress. Your dress wont look like this. It will look better.” Well alright then. I trust her and I just expressed to her I just want to do a good job on the carpet and look like a member of Wakanda royalty. She took all of my measurements, and I am talking about so many measurements of my body frame from bust, waist, hips, legs, height. arms, etc…I had no clue to get a custom fitting so many numbers and inches were needed. But I was getting an outfit made perfectly for my body frame.

My custom ankara gown designed by Willaura Adams/Joseph and Elynn on the Black Panther World Premiere Carpet

So I came back within the next week to try on what she started on. It was half complete, but it was to asset what was needed for the dress and more adjustments. We realized we needed tulle for the bottom part of the trumpet dress to flair it out, and more measurements and fabric to make sure I can get zipped up in the dress properly. She thought she had another week for my finally fitting, and I exclaimed no I will be leaving for Disney the following Sunday. So she said come back within 4 days, which was a Wednesday and it would be the final fitting for me to take with me on the trip. I got their Wednesday night, and she got to work more. The dress was great, but Willaura was a perfectionist, she took the dress in more, did more measurements, trimmed the bottom of the dress a bit and got to sewing. I sat in her movie room, and before I knew it, 3 1/2 hours went by and the dress was complete. The dress was perfect! She added a loop at the bottom of my train so I can hold my dress up on the carpet on my wrist to prevent dragging, and final element was to add a black elastic band on my waist to accentuate my curves. Boom Willaura turned me into a Wakanda walking goddess!
 
I made my own accessories can you see them. Willaura was kind enough to to give me some scrap fabric from the dress so I can make earrings and a bracelet to match my dress. I thought it was a cute Wakanda touch.Everything came together beautifully.

I also want to mentioned, I had every intention to do my own makeup until I panic and thought of myself inadequate of doing my makeup properly so I searched social media and the StyleSeat app and found an LA makeup artist. She came to my hotel room 2 1/2 hours before me leaving for the carpet and completed my Wakanda look. I have to thank Terriona, I put my trust in her as I never used her before and prayed she would make my look come together. She did. She even helped me put my hair into a half-updo bun! Please follow her at @terrionnastyles on instagram.

I want to thank Willaura of Joseph and Elynn for my beautiful custom talior Anakara dress again. I want to put a disclaimer, Willaura no longer make custom dresses anymore. She does however make beautiful satin floor length skirts and tutu tulle skirts. She is known as #TheSkirtBoss. Sorry she will not be able to make a custom dress, but her skirts are just as amazing for any fun occasion! You can check out her Etsy store at Joseph and Elynn. Follow her instagram account at @josephandelynn

Willaura also wanted me to stress to not call these African print dresses, the proper traditional and cultural term for this style is called Ankara or Ankara Wax Fabric. African people call this Ankara styles, African print is not correct and very “American”, so an Ankara dress is what I wore. The more you know! 

My Black Panther Cast and Crew Interviews

Lupita Nyong’o as Nakia and Danai Gurira as Okoye in Black Panther Interview http://www.kiwithebeauty.com/interview-chatting-marvels-black-panther-stars-lupita-nyongo-danai-gurira-blackpantherevent-blackpanther/

Forest Whitaker as Shuri in Black Panther Interview http://www.kiwithebeauty.com/interview-chatting-marvels-black-panther-star-forest-whitaker-blackpantherevent-blackpanther/

Winston Duke as M’baku and Andy Serkis as Klaue in Black Panther Interview http://www.kiwithebeauty.com/interview-chatting-marvels-black-panther-stars-andy-serkis-winston-duke-blackpantherevent-blackpanther/

Daniel Kaluuya as Wkabi and Letitia Wright as Shuri in Black Panther Interview http://www.kiwithebeauty.com/interview-chatting-marvels-black-panther-stars-daniel-kaluuya-letitia-wright-blackpantherevent-blackpanther/

 Ruth E. Carter (costume designer) and Hannah Beachler(production designer) Black Panther Interview http://www.kiwithebeauty.com/interview-black-women-created-world-wakanda-ruth-e-carter-hannah-beachler-blackpantherevent-blackpanther/

Black Panther is in theaters now!

What do you think of My Wakanda Dress?

About the Blogger - Kiwi the Beauty


Kiwi is the free spirited blogger and content creator of KiwiTheBeauty.com. As a digital influencer, she produces creative inspiration around beauty, lifestyle, media and travel leisure. Her life mantra is to make manifesting fun! When she’s not blogging, she is eating trendy hipster food, carrying crystals, making it rain at her local farmer's market and binge brunching. Follow her on her blog and social media at kiwithebeauty.com + @kiwithebeauty

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