The top 10 African fashion blogs

To celebrate Africa Express rolling out across the UK, here's a guide to the best fashion blogs from Lagos, Soweto and beyond

Orire Omatsola pictured on the blog One Nigerian Boy Photograph: Terence Sambo/onenigerianboy.com

African fashion is booming, and so is its web presence. Ever-expanding numbers of websites, blogs, e-tailers, Tumblrs and online magazines dedicated to African-influenced style represent a field of fashion that is as fast evolving as the social and online media that shows it love. A new generation of African and diaspora designers have gained attention in recent years, and African styles are a perennial trend on international catwalks too. With so much information to filter, here are 10 places to begin your African fashion odyssey.

Heritage1960

Heritage1960 offers both an editorial view of global African style and an e-commerce arm selling a mix of African-produced and inspired brands, including artisanal gems scouted from across the continent by apparel industry maven Enyinne Owunwanne. Pick up pieces from Jewel by Lisa, The Summit and Jamhuri Wear.
www.heritage1960.com

Bella Naija

Bella Naija, aka Uche Eze, began her blog in 2006 and it has grown to be one of the biggest fashion, entertainment and lifestyle websites in Africa. From Nollywood gossip to red carpet glamour, and from shop openings to beauty advice, nothing escapes this Lagosian's all seeing eye.
www.bellanaija.com

Africa Fashion Guide

Jacqueline Shaw's website is pegged as a "social enterprise promoting sustainability within Africa's fashion and textile industry". The London-based consultant's interest is in promoting ethical and eco-friendly methods of fashion production, as her book Fashion Africa also expounds.
www.africafashionguide.com

Aces Date

Look at cute, young people wearing acid wash jeans and heart shaped shades. Read DIY guides to making leather shorts or wax print tote. And marvel at fashion shoots on water slides. It's all on 4 Aces Date, a wizzy little website by Abby, Cookie, Kaven and Ozzie - four self-confessed fashionistas based, variously, in Lagos, New York and Washington DC. Who runs the world? Girls!
www.the4acesdate.com/

One Nigerian Boy

Street style from One Nigerian Boy Photograph: Terence Sambo/onenigerianboy.com Terence Sambo trumpets African fashion, design and arts on his site, which began as a blog but is now all grown up. Previously based in Lagos, he's currently studying in London and is a keen street style photographer too, often taking photos of his own attire, which is no mean feat when you think about it.
www.onenigerianboy.com

Marian Kihogo

Stylist and creative consultant Marian Kihogo is one of the best dressed - and tallest - figures to be seen prowling around London Fashion Week and beyond. Her weblog went live in 2009 and covers fashion, beauty, catwalk shows and trends. She hosts a damn good party, too.
www.mariankihogo.com/

I See A Different You

Three dapper dans from Soweto, Justice Mukheli, Innocent Mukheli and Vuyo Mpantsha, fill their Tumblr with arty images of themselves as they travel around Africa, usually wearing bow ties and braces, fraternity sweaters and slacks. It's a hard job etc etc.
iseeadifferentyou.tumblr.com/

Fashion Notebook

Nairobi-based blogger Nanci Mwai is as interested in promoting Kenya's fledgling fashion scene as she is in global seasonal trends and celebrity style. Hot off the press: how to do a natural hair puff.
www.nanciemwai.com

Africa Style Daily

Huffington Post columnist Zandile Blay is the brains behind this popular site that puts African fashion within a diaspora dialogue about art, music, politics and culture. She also makes time to hail Africa's contemporary icons such as former UN secretary general Kofi Annan and Tanzanian model and campaigner Flaviana Matata.
www.africastyledaily.com/

Arise Live

Arise Live is the virtual arm of Arise magazine, the London-based global African style magazine. Showcasing the best of the bi-monthly title plus films and reports from Arise Magazine Fashion Week, and blogs, catwalk reports, news and snappy interviews, it's really rather good. Oh, and I edit the magazine. Did I mention that?
www.ariselive.com
The Africa Express is a train with over 80 African and Western musicians on board that will be touring the UK for a week from 3 September. The Guardian is its media partner. Follow life on board at guardian.co.uk/music/africa-express