• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Afrobella

Natural Hair, Beauty, Fashion and Makeup Blog

  • Hair
  • Beauty
    • Makeup
  • Reviews
  • Pop Culture
  • Style
  • About
    • Awards and Acclaim
    • FAQs
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

Igigi in New Orleans

by afrobella

New Orleans is like no other city in the world. Steamy, sultry, decadent and delicious, you can feel the history of the city everywhere. It’s in the architecture, the streetcars, the famous food items everyone’s clamoring for. It’s a magical city. Right after Essence Festival weekend, we found some time to escape, explore, and do a photo shoot featuring these glorious dresses from Igigi.

Afrobella collage 3

 

Whenever I do photo shoots I think of teenage me. When I was 16 or 17, I wanted so much to model for a popular Trinidadian designer and I was always told that I could, “when you lose 20 pounds.”  I wound up mistreating my body to try to achieve a goal that didn’t seem possible. Statements like that led me to not appreciate my own beauty. It took me years to come into my own and appreciate all of me, as I am.

Beauty comes in all shapes, all sizes, all textures and all shades. And there are designers out there making truly beautiful clothes for bigger bodies – I felt like a princess in these Igigi dresses, they’re made with curves in mind and the garments all have a beautiful flow to them. 

Their fall fashion just debuted on the site and you can see it all here! AND you can enter the code "afrobella" for 15%OFF  good from now through Monday, August 06, 2012. So while you check out these dresses, you can shop their new Fall line!

To capture the magic of these dresses in this truly beautiful city, we did a renegade photo shoot, ridin’ around and gettin’ it around New Orleans, with photographer Chuck Olu-Alabi (@Chuckstr) and amazing makeup artist Maria Baredda (@MariaB_MUA). LOVED this experience! I hope you like these photos as much as I did shooting them.

 

Dress #1 – The Ali Dress by Igigi

_MG_8697

We took these photos in Louis Armstrong Park, which is in the world famous Tremé neighborhood of New Orleans. The mosaic  wall is gorgeous and went so perfectly with the colors of this dress!

_MG_8685

Can I tell you how much I LOVE this dress? It makes me feel like a beautiful butterfly! So comfortable, so easy. Love. And PS – it also comes in red.

In Louis Armstrong Park there’s an area called Congo Square. A bit of the history, via Wikipedia:

In Louisiana’s French and Spanish colonial era of the 18th century, slaves were commonly allowed Sundays off from their work. They were allowed to gather in the "Place de Negres", "Place Publique", later "Circus Square" or informally "Place Congo" at the "back of town" (across Rampart Street from the French Quarter), where the slaves would set up a market, sing, dance, and play music.

I love places where you can truly FEEL history. And it’s definitely in Congo Square. I was so honored just to BE there, check out the amazing statues, and stand under those ancient trees.

_MG_8681

It’s an incredibly beautiful, historic part of New Orleans. So glad we went there.

Dress – The Ali Dress by Igigi

Shoes – by Kelsi Dagger, bought on Amazon

Necklace– by Peace Images

Earrings – from Forever 21.

 

Dress #2 – the Thelma Draped Dress in Coral/Charcoal

Afrobella collage 1

We shot these photos in a random park complete with pastel colored columns across the street from the Ambassador Hotel. Makeup artist Maria B took one look at my dress and KNEW where I needed to take these photos. Loved the colors right away!

This is the kind of dress I could wear to a tea party or a business meeting. Love the colors and the versatility.

Dress #2 – the Thelma Draped Dress in Coral/Charcoal

Shoes – by Kelsi Dagger, bought on Amazon

Necklace – the Privileged purple agate slice from Max and Chloe

Bracelets – from Avon

Ring – agate slice ring by Candid Art, on Twitter she’s @CanDid_Art

Earrings – bought them the day before from Astella 19.  They cost $6!

 

Dress #3 – the Rainforest Paradise Maxi by Igigi.

Afrobella collage 2

Every woman needs a showstopper in her arsenal, right? This dress makes me feel like an absolute queen.  A bohemian butterfly. The fabric is light and silky and makes me wish I could ballroom dance or something – the dress has a truly elegant swing to it.

 

_MG_8664

 

These photos were taken at Le Pavillon Hotel, one of the five most haunted hotels in New Orleans, reportedly. Like I said, you can feel the history of New Orleans everywhere. And haunted or not, the place is BEYOND gorgeous.

Dress – the Rainforest Paradise Maxi by Igigi.

Shoes – by Kelsi Dagger, bought on Amazon

Necklace – the Kanupriya circle and teardrop necklace from Max and Chloe

Earrings – Frisk tassel earrings from SadeeSays.com.

 

Thanks to Chuck Olu-Alabi for being such an amazing photographer to work with. Thanks to Maria Baredda for being such a brilliant makeup artist and for having such insight on where to shoot in her beautiful city – look out for a post on her! Thanks to Igigi for their generosity with these beautiful dresses – don’t forget, you can enter the code "afrobella" for 15%OFF good from now through Monday, August 06, 2012.

And thanks to the city of New Orleans for such beautiful inspiration. Can’t wait till my next visit!

Do you see anything you love, bellas? Tell me! Which is your favorite dress?

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Filed Under: Beauty, Featured, Reviews, Style Tagged With: Absolutely Afrobella, fashion, Featured, full-image, Igigi, lookbook, plus size dresses, Plus Size Fashion, Style

« What I Learned From a Man Named Wyatt and a Horse Named Elvis
Afrobella’s Nothing But Hair Favorites Giveaway! »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. SanTara

    at

    You look beautiful!! The lip color is super sexy and that MAXI!! Yes! It’s a win all around. It sets the “girls” up nice. LOL

  2. Darlene

    at

    You are so beautiful! Love the dresses and the way you’ve styled them.

  3. nolagirl

    at

    I love a coupon code! i have been eying some Igigi dresses for few days this is right on time! Glad you had fun in new orleans, but then again how can you not.

  4. bella

    at

    yes and you know you gotta make sure the girls are sitting pretty! LOL <3 you SanTara!!! Thanks for bringing Maria into my world - love her!

  5. bella

    at

    thank you Darlene!! I loved doing this shoot!

  6. Nikia

    at

    I’m loving the Ali and Thelma dresses. It’s good to see you showing some leg. 😉

  7. bella

    at

    LOL! I don’t do it often enough! I’ll do better in the leg department 🙂 thanks mamacita!!

  8. Dad and Mom

    at

    Very beautiful.You look happy and relaxed.
    Love all the pics.

  9. Madeleine

    at

    You looking absolutely beautiful in this photo shoot. I’ve been reading your blog for over a year and have only lurked but I wanted to share my opinion this time because as a fellow curvy girl, its awesome to see such beautiful representation!

  10. pets

    at

    You are the BOMBE! Lovely!!

  11. bella

    at

    thank you Dad and Mom! I love you

  12. bella

    at

    thank you Madeline!!!! I am so happy to hear you say that. Trying my best to represent!

  13. K to the...

    at

    I LOVE the pics in the first dress. Bella had the legs out and about like “HELLO!” OOOWWWWW!!!!

  14. ria

    at

    Torn between #1 & #3 but I just love the easy, breezy covergirl way you rocked #1. So #1 it is!

  15. bella

    at

    love you!!

  16. Rethea

    at

    I rarely take the time to comment on any blogs; although I have favorites that I view weekly. I have put you on my favorites list. I enjoy your blog. You have introduced me to a lot of products etc… I take away something every time I read it. If I were to ever become a blogger you would have been my inspiration.

  17. MsXpat

    at

    WOW stunning! Very SATC :0)

  18. Maven

    at

    Great photos! And great scenery. Really liked dresses 1 and 3. GORGE!

  19. I Am Your People

    at

    So super-glam! I love it!

  20. Maria Barreda

    at

    LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! The images!! They came out great!! And your are so beautiful inside and out!! Can’t wait till the next time we link up!! Ridin around and Gettin it!! LOL

  21. The Curly Oenophile

    at

    I love the Ali dress! You look like a beautiful butterfly in it!
    And as far as your weight, I would say don’t try to get “skinny”. Get HEALTHY! I have this goal and I find my weight is dropping slowly but my body is getting healthier.

  22. warrior11209

    at

    Love all the looks on you with the Ali dress being my fav. I totally agree with Nikia – you should show those great legs more often!
    Great pic and thanks for the history lesson.

  23. bella

    at

    you see me!! OK i’ll try to rock more short dresses 🙂

  24. bella

    at

    thank you! I love #1 – I’ve worn it a LOT! Worth the buy IMO

  25. bella

    at

    thank you so much!!! That really means a lot – happy to be one of your favorites!

  26. bella

    at

    SO MUCH FUN!!! Loved working with you, you’re the best!!!

  27. bella

    at

    I need to blog more about this but you are so right and that’s what i’m working on. I want to be fitter. Been working out 🙂 will share in a new post! Thanks for your comment!

  28. Sunny

    at

    These dresses are absolutely gorgeous, I love the bold colors and prints, perfect for this time of year. You are so pretty and your makeup is simply stunning. I would have to say that my favorite is the Rainforest Paradise Maxi by Igigi because I like the way the top part is stretchy and the rest is flowing, I would buy one for sure.

Primary Sidebar


Visit Afrobella Store

Popular Posts

  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • May 2024
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • November 2022
  • September 2022
  • June 2022
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008
  • January 2008
  • December 2007
  • November 2007
  • October 2007
  • September 2007
  • August 2007
  • July 2007
  • June 2007
  • May 2007
  • April 2007
  • March 2007
  • February 2007
  • January 2007
  • December 2006
  • November 2006
  • October 2006
  • September 2006
  • August 2006

Footer

  • Afrobella Radio
  • Ask Afrobella
  • Beauty
  • Body
  • Books
  • Events
  • Featured
  • Food
  • Hair
  • Health and Wellness
  • Issues
  • Jams
  • Life
  • Makeup
  • Monday Manicure
  • Pop Culture
  • Popular
  • Randomness
  • Reviews
  • Skin
  • Style
  • Travel

Copyright © 2025 · Foodie Pro & The Genesis Framework