FADAM: A New Dawn by Vanguard Media Limited

June 16, 2013

Fashion Edition

Admiring ANKARA CREATE YOUR BEAUTY STYLE

FADAN

- A New Dawn

e m a i l : a l l u r e fo r t h e wo rl d @ v a n g u a r d n g r. c o m

FASHION 4-5 Admiring Ankara

FEATURE 12

June 16 - June 22

THIS WEEK

Inside

ON THE COVER

• Get Captivated - Marriage Things - Don’t Marry A Woman that is Anxious to Get Married - Contd. • Escapades of Style - The Transaction - Contd.

BEAUTY 14

Create Your Beauty Style

PEOPLE 15

Ibijola Weds Olujimi Fashion Nostalgia as Needlepoint Launches “Amina Collection”

I don’t mind living in a man’s world as long as I can be a woman in it.

The real ornament of woman is her character, her purity. Mahatma Gandhi

Oscar Wilde

PHOTOGRAPHY Moussa Moussa. DRESS Hollies. JEWELRY Cephas. MAKE-UP Azuka Mordi

Marilyn Monroe

A man’s face is his autobiography. A woman’s face is her work of fiction.

The only time a woman really succeeds in changing a man is when he is a baby.

...The Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria (FADAN) is the umbrella body of fashion designers in Nigeria. Established in 1989, almost two and half decades ago. In spite of its age, the body has been confronted with challenges that have kept the designers’ body relatively unknown, thereby slowing down its progress.

Natalie Wood

The Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria, FADAN, has a new team led by Funmi Ajila-Oladipo, a one-time model now a designer. Funmi brings to FADAN her nearly thirty years experience in the fashion business. Other members of the association’s executive body also come with formidable fashion resume: Wunmi Oluwadare Vice President; Temitope Olanre-Alade, National Secretary; and, Olusola Babatunde, Publicity Secretary. They are all experienced designers who have evolved with the industry and are now set to take it to the next level. Funmi is a conundrum of talents and is already brimming with ideas that FADAN will execute in the next one year. With youth and talents on their side, this new team will, no doubt, push the boundaries for the association.

Jemi Ekukunbor spent one afternoon with them. See pp. 7 - 10. Today is Fathers’ Day, a day set aside to remember the role fathers play in the family. Often taken as given, fathers play a significant role in the growth and training of children but they never get any show of appreciation. This prompted the setting aside of one day, each year, to say ‘’Thank You’’ to them. On page 4, three celebs share with us lessons from daddy in ‘’What My Father Taught Me’’. It’s a fashion issue. In this edition, our fashion pages showcase 6 lovely must-copy dresses made with ankara. See where we are headed. All things ethnic and sexy. Have a great week! Really!

COVER PHOTO: BAMIYO ISELEMA EMINA | MAKE-UP: De javu OUTFIT: Designers’ Own

7 - 10

Remmy Diagbare

TEAM EDITOR REMMY DIAGBARE DEPUTY EDITOR JEMI EKUNKUNBOR ASST. EDITOR YEMISI SULEIMAN CONTRIBUTORS PRINCESS KATE EMIKO BAMIYO ISELEMA EMINA JEROME CODJO-YAOVI ONIPEDE

CONT. EDITOR LATASHA NGWUBE COPY EDITOR DD WILLIAM-WEST CORRESPONDENTS FATIMA GARBA DAVINA AYODELE LAYOUT / DESIGN Gregory Obi PHOTO OSCAR OCHIOGU

Printed and published by Vanguard Media Ltd Vanguard Avenue Kirikiri Canal; P.M.B 1007 Apapa, Lagos. For advertisement / enquiries, call Debbie: 08039675880, OGE: 08039777910 Office Auxiliary: EBERE OKOH

FA S H IO N

What my

FATHER

ather’s day is a special day to honor fathers and fatherhood. Originally deriving from the United States, Father’s day is now celebrated in many parts of the world on various dates. In many countries however, it is celebrated popularly on the third Sunday of June. The idea of Father’s day began in Washington when a woman by the name of Sorona Dodd attended a Mother’s Day Sermon in 1909. Having been brought up by her father after her mother passed away, Sorona did not agree with only honoring her mother and wanted her father to know how equally important he was to her. She was persistent and worked incredibly hard for years to tackle this, leading to the first Father’s day celebration in June 1910. It became an official holiday in 1972 and went on to make its mark nationally. This day is indeed a token of love and a day to acknowledge the contribution of our fathers to our families and society. Our father is just as vital as a mother is in our lives; he plays a significant part in our development as a person. Whether it is our direct father, grandfather, stepfather, father in law or another male relation we are appreciating today, let’s make them aware of why and reflect on what they have taught us.

taught ME by - Yemisi Suleiman

Ikorisor Agabi... What lessons has your father taught you over the years? He was very strict and I learnt a lot from him, all of which formed me into the man that I am today.

Is your father your role model? Actually, my dad is late now but my mum has always been my role model.

Discuss one special memory you have of your father? I have a lot of fun memories with my dad for instance I look like him a lot, we always wore the same clothes, we shared clothes, we had the same pair of shoes, we had a lot of things in common and I miss all that now.

What message would you like to send out to your father today?

Ikorisor

If my dad was alive I would tell him to be more lenient and to give more listening ears to their children. I think fathers should be more patient when dealing with their children; this applies to all fathers because it goes a log way to help children mentally and emotionally.

Funsho Arogundade...

Abiola Aloba... What lessons has your father taught you over the years?

What lessons has your father taught you over the years?

The number one thing is discipline; my father is one of those that will not spear the rod if you are naughty he will deal with you. I have come to understand him now that I have my kids I have come to appreciate those things that he instilled because kids can be very naughty they don’t like being disciplined they don’t like instructions so now am beginning to understand because as your father he wont lead you to the wrong path. So he has taught mea discipline.

My dad, Michael Akinola Arogundade, was a liberal minded personality whose disposition to people really shaped how we his children relate to others. It is unfortunate that he’s Funsho no more but his advice and admonition, especially to me as the eldest from my mom has really helped me to be a better man and friend to my friends. He believed in trust and openness and advised me never to betray anybody no matter the challenges.

Is your father your role model? He is my role model. The first role model in my life is my father, everything about him, I have always wanted to be like him in every way; the way he dresses, clean smart and always looking nice. I have taking that from him. Again I believe in hard work, because my father believes so much in hard work, those are some of the virtues.

Is your father your role model? Definitely, he was and still my role model. I have one of his portraits hanging conspicuously in my living room and each time I look at his genuine smile, his love and friendship runs through my spine.

Abiola

Discuss one special memory you have of your father? Memories is that he will do any thing for what ever that has to do with education, he is ready to spend his last kobo to make sure you get a book if it will make you a better person in life.

What message would you like to send out to your father today?

I hope that in the next few years I will be able to pay him back for a lot of things he has done, he has invested so much in me, whatever I am today, he was part of it. I need to be able to say thank you dad, thank you for being dad. We may not be very close as we should be but he is a fantastic person and has for a lot for me.

/ June 16, 2013

Discuss one special memory you have of your father? I cannot really point to one single special moment. While he was alive, he always treated me as a friend and not necessarily as a son. He was an Engineer and used to travel a lot, on most of those trips, he always took me along especially during the holidays. He was a great guy, debonair and dressed sharply, a music lover whose rich music library is second to none.

What message would you like to send out to your father today? Like I said earlier, he’s late now. But I would still wish him to rest well in the Lord, and I wish all his friends who are still alive and we his sons a Happy Fathers’ Day.

by - Pa mela Ogboro

vlisco

Admiring ANKARA

FA S H I ON

tekay

The vibrant, colourful and versatile fabric known as Ankara has become so widely used here in Nigeria. Everywhere we turn, people are wearing Ankara in a style and pattern to suit their taste. Whether it is for an occasion or just for daily wear, people absolutely love it. Nigerian designers have certainly noticed this ongoing trend and have started to create their own version of Ankara designs, all incorporating a modern twist.

4 2

Tolulope Oniru... in

Twenty FOUR hrs

by - Yemisi Suleiman

What are your favourites? I love a lot of vegetables.

Tolulope Oniru, famously known as Toolz, the lady that fills the air waves with exciting tunes that keep us tuning to Beat FM Mondays through Fridays for the ‘Mid-day Show’ when she also dishes out the most talked about celebrity stories, is the host of wavemaking reality show, ‘Glo X-Factor’. As host, the lady with the ‘bootilicious hips’ tells us to look out for her compassionate side as well as a lot of fun on the show.

What about beauty? What do you do? How do you take care of yourself? I am always told that I need to work on that. I am not as girly, girly as people probably think I am. Sometimes, it takes an effort. I need to get into the beauty thing. Sometimes, I forget to get off the make-up and all that but I do get facials so that my skin can look fresh. To be honest, most of the time, it is people doing things for me; doing my face and my hair.

What is it like being part of the X-Factor team? How did you feel when you were called? It was very last minute. I was away and, when I came back, I was called for an audition next day. After the auditioning, I was picked.

What are you bringing on board as host of the Glo X-Factor show? Well, first of all, it is the first time this will be happening in Africa and, I would like to say that it is an honour to be picked as the host. In terms of what I would bring on board, I think they wanted someone that would be compassionate to contestants; somebody that will like a big sister to the contestants. These are some of the reasons they picked me. I am compassionate. You will probably see me shed tears during the show. I also think that they wanted somebody that will be a lot of fun. How does your day start? A typical day for me starts with waking up early in the morning, getting my make-up done by Zainab and a long day of filming and meeting a lot of very interesting people. I don’t see the judges as much as I would like to because I am generally back stage and I get to meet the contestants. When I am not doing that and I am going to the studio, the first thing I do is press the snooze button about two or three times and, if possible, I try to work out a little. Then, I plan my day and what my show is going to be all about; general preparation. After this, I put on something that suits my attitude and I am on for the day. What do you eat for breakfast? I am bad at that; it could upset my tummy. I find it very difficult to have breakfast. I should do that more often. I am trying to do things I couldn’t do before now. I know breakfast is important. What do you eat for lunch? Right now, I am really into salads. I try to

/ June 16, 2013

TOLULOPE ONIRU a.ka TOOLZ

have something; chicken and nice tasty salad. How do you shut down? What do you do when you get home? I love my sleep; sleeping makes me happy. I really love going to movies as well. I love to just chill with friends and I am getting into cooking now. So, you do that when you get home? When I come back, I quickly take a shower theI do. I actually do. I don’t cook every single meal but I try to cook dinner; something good, something fresh and healthy.

What is fashion like for you? Fashion wise, I like to wear whatever I am comfortable in. Obviously, there are some trends that I love; there are some trends that I don’t like. But I just like to wear what will make me feel good – in terms of my attitude at that time; sometimes I love to wear red, sometimes black. What is your advice to the contestants? For the contestants, this is a oncein-a-life-time opportunity. For viewers, make sure you watch it. It is TOLULOPE going to be a ONIRU a.ka TOOLZ talent show that will be very different. You see the contestants when they are really upset, when they are down and when they are at their best. It is a fantastic show to watch.

REPORTAGE

FADAN - A New Dawn By - Jemi Ekunkunbor

he Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria (FADAN) is the umbrella body of fashion designers in Nigeria. Established in 1989, almost two and half decades ago. In spite of its age, the body has been confronted with challenges that have kept the designersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; body relatively unknown, thereby slowing down its progress. Recently, the baton of leadership of the association previously led by Mrs. Sade Thomas Fahm, Mrs. Folorunso Alakija, Mrs. Patricia Agbakwu-Ajegwu and Prince Akanni Oyefusi was passed on to Funmi Ajila-Oladipo. The new president and her co-executive members are set to change the face and fortune of the association. Allure spoke to four of the new executives and they shared with us the menu they are set to serve on the FADAN table. June 16, 2013 /

REPORTAGE

Funmi Ajila-Oladipo

designers and tailors. We want to see how we can unite tailors with designers. It is very important because every designer uses a tailor. We need to bring tailors together and train them on how to do properly some of the things that they are doing privately on their own already. Finally, we are also going to try to have international relationships and partnerships that will benefit designers at home.

- I want to unite all designers in Nigeria

Are tailors now welcome in FADAN? Yes, tailors are welcome in FADAN because we do the same things. They are under the Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria. It’s really important that we work with them. They copy most of the things we do because some of them never went to proper training school. Some of them copy right, some don’t. Some even copy better. So we need to work with them.

Mrs. Fumilayo Ajila-Oladipo is the CEO, House of Regalia. A product of Yaba College of Technology, she set up her label in 1987 and in that same year, she emerged AFPRINT Designer of the Year. A fashion ambassador, she has taken her works to different continents, promoting African fashion. She speaks here, on her plans as new President of the Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria (FADAN).

As President of FADAN, what are you bringing to the table? The first thing we want to do is to go on membership drive and bring all designers together. FADAN is not for designers in Lagos State alone. We want to connect with all designers in the country so that we can come together as a body. We also plan to organize fashion shows and exhibitions. We are going to continue with the Talent

• Funmi Hunt that was on before. We also plan to relate with government so that we can discuss how they can help with the development of fashion in Nigeria. We are also going to see to the proper training of

Designers and tailors have a challenge with getting original accessories. Is there anything FADAN can do to help solve this problem? Already, we have the textile body that produces yarn that we are discussing with. We are going to work with them to see how they can improve the quality of their products because we are the ones who use what they produce. If we use what is made in Nigeria and it is not good enough, we can tell them to improve. But if we don’t use what they produce, how can we tell them to improve? Look at Ghana for example. See

Wumi Oluwadare - I seek to tackle challenges of building a viable industry Wumi Oluwadare is an Insurance graduate of the University of Lagos. Popularly called Wumi O, after her label, she started sewing at the age of 15. She is the African regional authorized representative of Sobol-Perry Fashion Productions Inc., organizers of the Miami Fashion Week. A very active member of FADAN, until her election as Vice President, she was the Secretary General of the designers’ body.

How did your journey into FADAN begin?? About 12 years ago, there was an ECOWAS Fashion Competition, during ECOFEST (a festival of fashion, art and culture) organised by FADAN and Grand Hotel, Asaba. I applied to represent Nigeria and a major qualifying criterion was being a member of FADAN. So, I had to join.

• Wumi 8

/ June 16, 2013

What was it like when you joined and how is it now? It was inspiring and encouraging because selection/ membership was by merit. I remember being interviewed and having to show my collection to a panel comprising of Chief (Mrs.) Opral Benson, Princess Abah Folawiyo and Mrs. Alakija. Over time, the standards dropped and this is not necessarily the association’s fault but that of general societal

degradation of standards, celebration of mediocrity and influx of untrained and unskilled players into the sector. Now. the association and the industry need cleansing! What would you say you have benefitted being a member? Well, I met and worked with some of the most gifted and creative professionals of our time, who inspired me to add training to my talent. That has helped me to put everything in perspective and to continuously strive for improvement, excellence and stay relevant to modern day global standards. Membership of the association has also helped me to share my experience and contribute to the Nigerian apparel and garment industry on platforms I would probably not have had by myself.

what they have done with the kente. They started off with cotton, not silk but because they’ve been patriotic with their own products, you can see that they’ve developed into making all sorts of things with kente. I want Nigerians to look inwards to see what we can do with our products; the things that we can do in Nigeria, let’s do them and use them. You talked about reconnecting. Why are designers staying away? It’s true that some designers are staying away for whatever reason but the truth is that you cannot force people to join an association. You can only talk to them and bring programmes that will attract them and that is what we intend to do. I have gone abroad for shows. I didn’t decide to stay back there. I came back to bring change but don’t forget that we are working with people who have minds of their own. You just have to keep trying by bringing programmes that they will like. However, they have to be willing because, it takes two for all these things to work. What you want to see in my administration might not be what another person wants to see. But I have to take them one by one. We will get there. I’m already speaking to the people and I’m feeling what they want. What are the challenges facing FADAN? One of the challenges facing FADAN is lack of co-operation. When people come together to cooperate, then we can get the house working. But if we leave everything for the president alone and the expectation of people is high, it’s difficult for the president to meet everybody’s expectation. The president can only try. So one of the challenges we have is meeting the expectation of members. We need every member to make a move. If every member is working, then the association will work. For many members, the issue is finance. If you spend so much on diesel, how much do you have left to do other things? Getting clients is not a problem for designers because, Nigerians love to dress but getting easy access to the products or the things that we need

As the new Vice president, what are you bringing to the table? As new Vice president, I plan to assist, with greater tenacity, in establishing and accomplishing the responsibilities and goals of the association. As an umbrella body for designers, what are your plans to unite designers in Nigeria? Well, first is to set out to define and clarify the role of the association, by involving all stakeholders and charting action plans in addressing real issues and challenges of building the industry and making it viable. How has life in fashion been? Life in fashion has been exciting, fulfilling and rewarding. If you were not a designer, what else would you have done? I would probably have continued with insurance fully and still be involved in Art as an extra-curricular activity. How would you describe your style? My style is classic and gorgeous in an ethnic way. What memorable moment can you recall of your life in fashion? Quite a lot but one of the most memorable is an exhibition and show during the Leon Sullivan Summit some years back. I did not expect much from it but ended up selling all the runway samples and collection at the pavilion. We did not return with a single item! That was awesome.

is a major problem. We also need government’s co-operation. If they talk to us, we can tell them what we need so that those things can be brought in. You cannot bring in certain things today and tomorrow government is placing a ban on them. We need to work in hand in hand. How can you help designers run their labels as a business? It’s an issue I’d like to address. That is why we want to partner with a lot of people to train our members. As a young designer, I concentrated on the glamour side for a while and that really affected me. I had to go talk to people to (get) help. How has life in fashion been? The experience has been very rewarding. I have been able to feed my family from there. How would you access fashion in Nigeria? I think, so far, we have tried individually. If the government can put in a little more effort, we would do better and go higher. At the moment, it is individual efforts that have brought us to where we are in the fashion world today. If you look at people like Deola Segoe or Modela, it is the amount of work they have done individually that has brought them to where they are today. They were not powered by government or any other person. But the effort has paid off because more people are coming into the industry daily and everybody is becoming so fashionable. Today, you see people on the street looking like models. It’s true Nigerians love to dress but don’t we over do it sometimes? I think because of lack of knowledge, some people over do things. They see a lot of these things in the magazines and they think that that is the way life is. Those things you see are for celebrities. They look that way for the cameras. Everybody cannot look like that. That is for image (building). You have to dress to be comfortable. I must say, though, that there is nothing wrong in looking really nice if you have to go out

because, you just might never know. It may just be the day that luck will shine on you. You should always look nice if you can, especially for those in this industry. What challenge do you have dressing a celebrity? The challenge has always been that they want to over dress. You have a beautiful concept of how you think they should go, instead, they will tell you to put this here and put that there. They interfere with your creativity. At the end of the day, even when you do that for them, somehow, they are not satisfied. You’d think they are in a contest. That is why I said people who do that lack knowledge. Is it a complex thing? It’s an African thing. People like to impress. I think we just want to stand out and get noticed. What is your style? Simplicity defines my style. I love to wear jeans but you know, I can’t wear jeans out all the time. I have to create an image for myself now as President of FADAN. If I’m going to ask people to dress Nigerian, I have to dress Nigerian as well. The journey has started. If we desire change, I have to be the change. I believe that we can be the change that we desire. What designers in Nigeria do you admire? I love Maufechi and I love Deola Segoe. When I was younger, I did wild things but realized that after each show, I bring all those things back. I didn’t make money. Now, I do practical things. What label do you love to wear? Regalia! What do you look forward to? I look forward to a brighter future for the fashion community. I believe if we all work together, instead of one person going a mile, with the help of others, she will make it in half a mile.

How did you join FADAN? Well, at some point, I felt I needed an umbrella body to belong to where I could be mentored, a place where I can meet senior colleagues who can help me improve on myself and take my career to the next level and to contribute what I can. But when I joined, I found that my expectations were higher than what was on ground. I felt that instead of complaining, why don’t I make myself useful to help improve what was on ground.

• Temitope June 16, 2013 /

REPORTAGE

Funmi Ajila-Oladipo

- I want to unite all designers in Nigeria

• Wumi 8

/ June 16, 2013

Temitope Olanre-Alade - I’m here to see that the secretariat works Temitope Olanre-Alade is a 1994 English Language graduate of the Obafemi Awolowo University. The Creative Director of Ibile Vogue joined FADAN four years ago. She is currently the National Secretary General of FADAN. How did you join FADAN? Well, at some point, I felt I needed an umbrella body to belong to where I could be mentored, a place where I can meet senior colleagues who can help me improve on myself and take my career to the next level and to contribute what I can. But when I joined, I found that my expectations were higher than what was on ground. I felt that instead of complaining, why don’t I make myself useful to help improve what was on ground.

• Temitope June 16, 2013 /

REPORTAGE Naturally, I have skills for secretarial and administrative services. So, once in a while, I used to help Wumi O who was the Secretary General at that time. I used to help her take notes or attendance or do little things like that. Because, I’ve always made myself useful and with the little experience I gained helping Wumi O, when the election came, I decided to run for the office of Secretary. So, what are you bringing to the table to help the association? My being here is to serve and to see that the secretariat works better; that the correspondence channel is effective and also to ensure that information is well documented and disseminated. For me, let’s build a better FADAN; make the association attractive through effective information dissemination. In the past, you’d find that notice of meeting don’t get to people on time and because of that, many

members don’t attend meetings. All that will be a thing of the past now. How has life in fashion been? I feel fulfilled in my career, even when money is not coming (in). It is challenging sometimes so, you have to work hard to move your business forward. A major challenge for all designers is poor electricity supply. In spite of the challenges, I’ve won a few awards. I was Nollywood World Wide Entertainment Best Indigenous Designer 2009. I was also SEPA Designer of the Year 2010. How would you assess fashion in Nigeria? I think we are a very vibrant people where fashion is concerned. Nigerians dress so much and there is a reason for it. We work hard in this country and when we want to party, we dress well. I think it’s a good thing; it’s just that some people go to the extreme.

Olusola Babatunde

What kindled your interest to join FADAN? Well, as a young designer, I used to join my colleagues in criticizing FADAN. I was trained by Nobel Afrik and he told me, then, that you can’t be outside and complain. He encouraged me and I joined solely because of the things I see him doing, which are in line with what I feel that the association should be doing. It’s not perfect but, at least, it’s still in line with what I thought an association should be doing. So I joined and started attending meetings regularly. Now that I’m in, I can see clearly the good things and the bad things. And why did you decide to run for an office? I have said (that) I want to make a difference. Some people nominated me to run. But I had said that even as an ordinary member, I would try to make a difference. So, what are you bringing to the table? As publicity secretary, I intend to change the image of FADAN. I would not pretend that I do not know because I was one of those who criticized FADAN. FADAN does not have a positive image right now. I

/ June 16, 2013

What is your style? I love simplicity but somewhere, my simplicity meets glamour. I also love comfort. I love to wear something comfortable. Which Nigerian would you like to dress? I would like to dress Mrs. Folurunso Alakija. I admire her a lot. It’s a dream. I wish I would have the opportunity someday. For celebrities, I like Omotola for her sense of style. I also like our own Ini Edo. What won’t you do in the name of fashion? I won’t pierce any part of my body in the name of fashion.

selected for that programme and they asked me which body I belonged to. I mentioned FADAN. At that time, I was not a member. So, I’ve realized that you can’t sit outside and make a difference. Whatever contributions I have, I’d like to do it through FADAN.

- I dream of an association that will regulate fashion in Nigeria Olusola Babatunde is a Banking and Finance graduate of Olabisi Onabanjo University. She is the CEO/Creative Director, 1 Stop Celebrations. She also runs OSC Career Training Institute, a training arm of her fashion business. She joined FADAN about three years ago and she is now the National Publicity Secretary of the association. The articulate designer spoke on her plans for her new office and FADAN.

You must have your personal style and not copy every junk you see in foreign magazines or TV. People need education on these things so that they can dress better.

What won’t you do in the name of fashion? I won’t expose my body. I don’t like to follow trend. I like to set my own trend and do something different. I always like to come up with my own thing. How would you describe your style? My style depends on my mood. I can’t give a name to it. Sometimes, I am simple, sometimes I am loud. Although, people tend to say she is flamboyant sometimes but I think, it’s changing now as I grow older. What trend appeals to you? Like I said earlier, I don’t follow trends but I think I look better in trousers. So, I tend to wear trousers.

• Olusola intend to change that. During this tenure, we are going to create a positive image for FADAN through seminars and training we are going to organize for members. We are going to try to link foreign-based designers with local ones. We are already planning to have a UK chapter of FADAN so that all the fashion designers abroad who are Nigerians can be under that umbrella while the ones in Nigeria can sit down and focus on their needs. We want to take (the) business to the (level of) glamour that Nigeria has been known for. Nigerian fashion has been based on glamour to the detriment of designers. We intend to change that. Glamour is good but I believe the business side of fashion should be taken seriously. How has life in fashion been? It’s been great. I started off designing. I could not really sew. I have improved myself since then. I have won several awards and scholarships. I have won an award from the USA Department of State and that took me to the USA, where I met a mayor. I have met our former president as a result of fashion. I have met important people as a result of what I am doing. These are the things I want to bring to FADAN. If FADAN is where it should really be, it will be the organization that people would go to and not individuals. I went for a business meeting in Florida, USA some time ago. I was the only fashion designer

For the future, what do you dream? For FADAN, I dream of an association that is in the right place of authority to regulate, control and decide all things fashion in Nigeria. I dream of a body that would be able to show case Nigerian fashion to the world so that where they talk about fashion in Nigeria, you would be able to hold your head high. And for myself, I dream of having the first fashion school in Nigeria and Africa. And, from the look of things, I am getting there. Who inspires you around here? My inspiration comes from God. It may sound like a cliché but I have realized that my true inspiration comes from God. There was a time I wanted to make a dress for a customer. I had no idea what to do. I prayed and said to God: you know this person more than I do. Please show me what she would like. After I finished praying, I actually ‘saw’ the dress. To my staff, it looked ugly because I remember one of them laughing and wondering what it is that I had designed. But it turned out very well. Is there a celebrity you’d like to dress some day? There are quite a few of them. I can’t mention one now. It’s easier to dress a slim person but because I like challenges, I tend to do more for people on the big side.

HEALTHY LIVING101

HEA L T H

by - Teri Mendes

EXZCEMA: WHAT IT IS & HOW TO PREVENT IT! - part 2

“waterless” washes as a replacement, these will dry out your skin and make the condition worse. 11 Rub almond oil on the affected areas before taking a short shower Don’t touch the oil. The water flow will wash away the excess, keeping you moisturized. Pat yourself dry as not to rub the oil away. 12 Take baths and showers as infrequently as you can without compromising your hygiene Minimum once a day is enough. Keep the water as cold as you can comfortably stand and stay wet for the shortest time possible. It is also optionally recommended to apply thick moisturizer on affected areas after every shower while your skin still is damp. People with eczema should avoid taking very hot or very long showers or baths, which can dry out your skin.

ECZEMA SKIN REMEDIES

Dear readers, trust you all had a great week! Today we continue from where we stopped last week – ECZEMA- but this time we will focus on the remedies to curing and if not that reducing eczema. Below I have 14 main tips to reducing your eczema and 13 of them are home remedies. The last one is a treatment drug which should only be followed on with the consultation of your physician. Non-drug treatments for eczema include: 1. Change your diet Switch from a standard diet to a wholesome diet of fresh, organically grown fruits, vegetables, and nuts, mostly in their raw form. Foods such as salmon and other fish may help, too (because they contain fatty omega acids. 2 Avoid things that could aggravate your eczema The surface of the skin can flake off, giving the skin a rough, scaly appearance. 3 Consider getting an allergy test The affected skin may bleed and appear blotchy. 4 If you can’t afford to have an allergy test done, consider keeping a journal Keep a log of everything you eat, wear, and do on a particular day. For example, write down that you ate oatmeal, wore a polyester blouse, and washed dishes with Morning fresh etc. Then, pen how you felt that day and indicate the times and days you began to itch. Eventually, you will discover certain patterns. That is where self-diagnosis can begin. 5 Maintain personal Hygiene Look for creams that contain neem oil - this is reported to be very effective for eczema. You may have to try a natural foods store to find it. Aloe Vera Barbadensis Miller is also known to help Eczema and is in many products. Load up on Zinc, B complex, Fish Oils, and Grape Juice. These supplements will help your dry, itchy skin from the inside out. 6 Draw a lukewarm bath (as cold as you find comfortable) and pour in some milk and a little almond oil Soak until your fingers start to prune up. Rinse yourself before stepping out of the tub but don’t rub the skin.

13 Reduce stress Take steps to reduce stress. Get regular exercise and set aside time to relax. * Do these things for about 3 months. I can guarantee your skin would start becoming significantly more moisturized. MEDICATIONS AND OTHER TREATMENTS FOR ECZEMA INCLUDE: 7 Mild soap and moisturizer It’s best to use a mild soap or soap substitute that won’t dry your skin. Gentle soaps, known as syndets, are available at the drugstore (brand names can be recommended by your doctor or pharmacist). A good moisturizer (in cream, lotion, or ointment form) helps conserve the skin’s natural moisture and should be applied immediately after a shower or bath, as well as one other time each day. Some people with severe eczema may benefit from taking baths with a small amount of bleach added to the water. The bleach helps to kill bacteria that live on the skin of people with eczema. 8 Pat yourself dry after baths to avoid tearing the frail forming new skin Treat your skin as you would a baby’s. 9 Rub Vaseline or Aqauphor on the affected areas Vaseline may be very greasy (the intensive care brand less so) but it will remove the dry skin after two days of applying. You can also try getting your hands on Crocodile or Alligator Oil. 10 Wash your hands about every hour and apply a light hand cream because when you touch your eczema, bacteria can get inside and washing your hands too often can overdry them There is significant debate surrounding whether washing helps or aggravates eczema - if it seems to be making it worse then perhaps restrain from doing so, but don’t use alcohol based

• Hydrocortisone Over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream or ointment may help mild eczema. Prescription steroid cream may be needed for more severe eczema. • Antihistamines Oral antihistamines such as Benadryl are available over-the-counter and may help relieve symptoms. Some of these cause drowsiness, which may be of benefit if nighttime itching is a problem. There are also non-drowsy antihistamines. • Ultraviolet light therapy People with very severe eczema may benefit from therapy using ultraviolet light. • Immunomodulators This type of medicated cream helps treat eczema by controlling inflammation and reducing the immune system reactions. • Prescription-strength moisturizers These replace the barrier of the skin. Examples include Hylatopic Plus, Mimyx, and Epiceram. That’s it for today my dear readers. I hope you were able to try some of these tips let me know how you get on; I know many readers were eager to read this piece I hope it was worth the wait! For comments and questions please email terimendes@gmail. com, @terimendes. I would love to hear from you, till next week. - it’s ta ta for now! XOXO

TERI Speaks Dear Teri, You are doing a great work, keep it up. Please, what is a chicken nugget? We just eat things without caring for the names. Be simpler in your explanation. Thank you, Venatius.

Dear Venatius, Thanks for your mail. A chicken nugget is a molded piece of chicken usually the breast chunks, breaded or battered, then fried or baked. It was invented in the 1950s by Robert C. Baker. Hope this helps. Best wishes, Teri M.

June 16, 2013 /

FEA T UR E

Get Captivated by - Jerome Onipede CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK...

MARRIAGE THINGS! - DON’T

MARRY A WOMAN THAT IS ANXIOUS TO GET MARRIED! MY DEAR SISTER, HE ALREADY TOLD YOU HE HAS SOMEONE ELSE My dear sister, if you are with a guy who told you straight away when you met that he has a girl in his life, but both of you can be friends or you found out later that he already has someone, please for the sake of decency and your own peace of mind, walk away from him now! If you choose to hold on to him and are, probably, with him as you read this now, just realize that just as you are depriving him of being with his girl who has not been seeing much of him since you came into his life, that’s the same way something else will deprive you of all that belongs to you from being with you. You see, what we sow, we reap; and when we reap, we reap in one hundred folds. Some men and women are greedy and they believe they

can eat their cake and have it. You can’t afford nemesis catching up with you; trust me, it will be too expensive when it starts to take its toll on you. You already know he has a girl like you in his life! It’s time women started asking men to go back to their women, rather than indulging the craftiness of diabolical deception. You may not know the other lady but I believe she deserves to be happy in her relationship with her man. You can contribute to that: just walk away! I am sure the Lord Jesus is waiting to lead you out of this temptation too. Let Him. IF YOU ARE NOT COMFORTABLE TO MARRY THE PERSON, ASK YOURSELF WHY? As a counsellor and match maker, I can tell

ESCAPADES of

Style

CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK...

THE TRANSACTION

That was all the MD managed to say. The chief interrupted him to say’ Young lady, this is how we will run the Agreemeent.....’ and proceeded to dictate all the terms he wanted, reeling them out with such insolence, it was almost funny to watch. I allowed him to finish. Then, I said to him lightly and jokingly, ‘Chief, we will not do it that way. Ah ah, is this a military cantonment? ‘ The tension round the room broke and everyone laughed . ‘Besides, Chief, I am a young lady, I know, but my name IS .......... Even ‘ogas at the top’ must address me properly, abi?’ All said

/ June 16, 2013

you that it’s dangerous to rush into marriage with someone that has been introduced to you by family friends, especially in a situation where they keep rushing you; telling you to ignore some of your concerns due to personal observation after you met the person and saying “all that will be taken care of after you are married”. Well, it is not safe to take care of some things after marriage because it’s best they are dealt with before and by the person who has the problem. When you notice traits like anger, laziness and lies, please step back and let all your enthusiasm go down first. This will not go away during marriage because you will always remember that you noticed the trait(s) before marriage and still got married. It will be taken for granted that it was not a big deal so, why try to make it a big deal after marriage? I have noticed that when our friends or family friends keep forcing their daughters, sons, brothers, sisters, cousins, etc. on us, it’s because the ‘cargo’ they have to offer is not in good shape and they just want to dispose of it before it wreaks more damage in their store house or circle. Be careful. Don’t let anyone push someone with anger on you (that everyone is afraid of, who doesn’t listen to father, mother or any authority figure in his/her life) because, after you marry him/ her and the manifestation begins, his/her family members will start to avoid you and the best counsel that will come from his/her parents will be “Ehya, sorry about what you are going through. He is like his father or she is like her mother. If we can stay in the marriage with such, so also can you”. They will say the same for the lazy person or liar too. But you sef, do you have to be so desperate or anxious to get married? Counseling inquiries on Marriage, Relationships, Career and Matchmaking >> @jeromeistalking on Twitter. “Like” Jerome Yaovi Onipede on Facebook.

with a smile, lightness in my voice and supreme confidence. Further laughter. The man became disconcerted. I’m sure he was thinking who was this female who was not cowering at his very presence? ‘Now, these are the terms we propose...’ I went on to list our own position firmly. All the while, the chief was flummoxed. Mutual respect? He’d clearly never heard of it. Obviously, he was not used to being spoken back to, especially by a woman. Me? I didn’t care what he thought. I was not his wife, staff nor minion of any sort. He was chairman, yes, but of his company, not mine. I was there on business and business we would do. Mutually respectfully. Period. When I finished, I asked for a brief recess for their team to consider our points and vice versa. At this time, I got up to get some coffee and then strolled over to the man. ‘You’re a tough man, o’, I started. ‘You came in with guns blazing’. This was a strategy. Massage the ego of a bully and you have him/her... ‘Aah, madam, it was not like that o. Besides, you gave as good as you got’ he responded. I smiled inwardly, noting the change from ‘young lady’ to a more respectful ‘madam’. ‘Anyway,’ I continued, ‘ your points were so intelligent, they depict you as such a forward thinker. No wonder your company is making giant strides in the industry’....All the while, I was wondering why people like him thought they should bully everyone. Maybe because it had worked for him in the past. Problem is, it also shuts doors on them that they don’t even get to know. His company actually wasn’t doing as well as its contemporaries and this ‘know it all’ interfering attitude of his may just be responsible. ‘Madam, I have to be pushful, ‘ said Mr Rude, as though he had been reading my thoughts! These my people always cede too much in negotiations. As a matter of fact, I’m very impressed with your presentations, we should discuss over lunch sometime. Maybe you would look at joining my team?’ Now, I was flummoxed. ‘See this nonsense man’, I thought. He’s trying to toast me AND use me to sack his MD, all in one breath! Ah ah. What rubbish. I smiled, though, like he didn’t just speak utter trash. If I come to lunch, it will be with my husband’s permission and he would be present there, if you don’t mind?’ I said. ‘Plus, your MD was doing great before you joined, why would you want to dump him like that?’

...TO BE CONTINUED

Feedback to escapadesofstyle gmail.com

...secret diary of a fashionista...

F EA T U R E

KATHY EMIKO

BodyPerfect not just slimming but fitness

WHAT IS YOUR PERFECT WEIGHT A real insurance plan is one in which you take responsibility for own health by educating yourself and taking action on a daily basis. Of all the numbers swimming in our heads, “ATM cards pin, husbands, shoe size, precise number of calories in a scoop of ice cream”, the digits that probably gives the most grief is our weight; and whatever the weight is now, there is a special number that plagues us nearly as much: WHAT YOU WANT TO WEIGH, i.e. your mythical perfect body weight. Our ideal body might be inspired by a picture we saw on a magazine cover or by your own too skinny friend who eats a bowl of rice and fried plantain daily and never gain weight, but here is what we need to

NOTE: To convert pounds into kilograms (kg), divide by 2.2 e.g 100 pounds is 100 ÷ 2.2 = 45.5kg. Remember, this baseline is a rough estimate. But it does serve as a critical number for the other equations that come next.

remember: your body is unique and you need to find a realistic number that is acceptable for you. Your perfect body weight will take into accounts your height, bone structure, muscle mass, age, and breast size, as well as your fathers/mother’s weight. THREE STEEPS TO CALCULATING YOUR PERFECT WEIGHT To determine the bodyweight that is right for you, we are going to look at three different measures: baseline weight goal (or roughly what you should weight, based on your height), bone structure and overall body fat percentage.

olish Professional THE

by - Chioma Okoye

USING THE POLISH EDGE There is peace that comes with being well mannered and treating people well, hence the reasons we all need polish which (to mention a few) are: • It leads to business success. It creates a distraction-free environment that engenders successful business operations. You become successful by building on your strengths and not just by correcting your weaknesses. The problem is that most people are not able to achieve this because they are held up by their lack of social skills. For instance, if

Here is how to figure each one: 1. What is the right weight for your height? a) Measure your height. b) If you are over 5 feet, take the number of inches over and multiply that by 5. Add 100 to this number, and that will give you an idea of how much you should weight. c) If you are 5 feet tall or shorter, use 100 pounds as your baseline.

in your work place, you are the type that does not while away or waste people’s time with gossip or one that thinks or weighs your words before you speak in addition to being courteous while at it (which, most times, produces wise statements that lead to solutions), then, you are most likely a candidate for promotion. • If you don’t know the proper way to dine, your boss may overlook your other strength and deny you the opportunity to take an important client on a business development date. This statement

2. What is your frame size? The idea of being “big boned” is not just something concocted to make you feel good. Your inner structure can run large or small no matter how tall you are. Being big boned can add as much as 10 pounds to baseline weight goal, and those are pounds that you will never be able to lose. Figure out your frame size by measuring the circumference of your wrist with a flexible measuring tape, and then compare that number with the following chart. ...TO BE CONTINUED

Princess Kathy is a certified nutrition and fitness consultant. Email: bodyperfectng@aol. com | BB: 28356028

is simply portraying the importance of being polished as long as brand/image is concerned, No company wants to be seen as laid-back or not advanced in any way, otherwise clients (especially, modern-day ones), would look the other way. • You must remember that people do business with you because they like you and trust you; hence, being polished creates consistent behaviour that builds the trust you need for success. Integrity, humility, friendliness, reliability etc. are values that are necessary for customer loyalty. As a professional, this is expected to be in place. Chioma E. Okoye is a Corporate Etiquette expert; she is the Principal of the Diamond School of International protocol & Etiquette. She studied International Protocol & Etiquette at the Institut Villa Pierrefeu Switzerland and is Professional Etiquette Certified (PEC) by Charleston School of Protocol and Etiquette Incorporated, United States of America. She worked as a Managing Partner at Lean Sigma Concept for several years (a Management/ Consulting Firm), and was a Managing Partner at Lyndon Cooper (an event consulting firm) before founding Diamond School of International Protocol & Etiquette. She is also a founding team member of John Maxwell group and a certified leadership Coach. June 16, 2013 /

B EAU T Y

Create your Beauty Style! by - Uche Uwanogo

OF THE COMMON BEAUTY STAGNANT SITUATIONS ARE:

Visage Makeo vers

Developing your own beauty style means prioritizing what matters most to you and what makes you feel good: comfort, simplicity, practicality and looking good. Even with priorities clearly in mind, many women are still overwhelmed with the world of beauty, they just don’t know quiet where to begin. uche amonye

THE COLOUR ADDICT

THE MAKEUP VIRGIN

• You are an adult without any clue about makeup. • Your makeup skills are remedial to nil • You are uncomfortable with the idea of makeup and foundation

• You wear bright makeup colourful lipstick, bright blusher. • You are afraid of looking too plain with muted tones.

Australis Lipsticks

* Start slowly; buy foundation and powder that match your skin tone and lip sticks or gloss that are sheer.

STUCK IN A RUT

cool haircut

/ June 16, 2013

• You haven’t changed anything about your look in years. • You and everyone around you are bored with your look. * Start with a new hair cut. Once you have a new hairstyle, makeup is the next step. Consult a professional makeup artist for your perfect shade of foundation, powder and makeover suitable for your tone, facial structure and personality.

foundation & powder

* It’s always good to start with the right tone of foundation and powder. Natural tones of makeup do look more sophisticated and modern. Natural makeup doesn’t mean a drab or no makeup look; it simply means using the correct tones for your skin. If bold makeup colours have become your defined element of beauty style, stick with them; just be careful that your foundation and powder match your skin tone perfectly.

YOU WANT TO FEEL PRETTY AGAIN

• You feel unattractive, focusing on all that is a negative. • You just experienced an illness or an emotional trauma. * Remember, we all have imperfections. We must simply accept them as part of who we are. Get perfect shades of foundation, powder and concealer. Enhance your hidden beauty with natural / sheer tones. Get good voluminising mascara.

mascara

PEO PL E

“ O N E PA RT Y AT A T I M E ! ”

Groom’s parents Justice Adesola Oguntade and wife Modupe

hief Mrs Joko Oni and Alhaja Kuburat Hassan

Debola Williams

COUPLE; OLUJIMI AINA & IBIJOLA BALI

IBIJOLA WEDS OLUJIMI By - Yemisi Suleiman

MR VICTOR BALI & WIFE TAIWO

Mr and Mrs Alakija

Mrs Modupe Ogunwale and Mrs Bunmi Otusanya

The families of former Supreme Court Judge, Justice George Oguntade and late Dr. Jimi Okunola Aina and Mr. Victor Bali, put out all stops recently as their children Ibijola Bali and Olujimi Aina were joined in holy matrimony at a colourful church wedding held at Cathedral Church of Christ Marina Lagos. The wedding which was followed by a grand reception at the Harbour Point Victoria Island Lagos, brought together high profile personalities from the judiciary, Royal, political and social circles. Here are some personalities at the event. Mrs Gbemi Kufeji, Modupe Akindele and Mrs Sena Anthony

Balogun Bisi Omidiora, chief David Richards and Oloye Obafemi

Chief Bolaji Ayorinde(SAN) and Chief Folu Oguntade (SAN)

Mr Segun Adeyemi and Tunde and Kemi Okoya

Jumoke Oyeneyin and Moji Awosika

OLU OKEOWO & MOLADE OKOYA THOMAS

Fashion Nostalgia as Needlepoint Launches “Amina Collection” By - Yemisi Suleiman

Theresa Onwuka

Tonye Rotimi and Theresa Onwuka

It was a classic blend of high fashion and beauty penultimate Saturday when Theresa Onwuka, Creative Director of Needle Point, launched her autumn collection aptly tagged ‘The Amina Collection’ at her exclusive store, Needle Point Shop, in Ikoyi, Lagos. Guests were treated to a dose of fashion nostalgia, when ‘history and fashion’ merged to create a timeless collection, inspired by the Elizabethan era. Lustrous and rich ankara fabric were embellished, embroidered and accentuated with velvets, damask, aso-oke, silks, guipere and chantilly lace fabrics. Gold and silver, adorned by royalty, was also used in trimmings and embroidery. The collection had full sleeves, high necklines and ruffles that typify the era. According to the Creative Director, Mrs. Onwuka, the collection was named after Queen Amina of Northern Nigeria, who lived in the same period as her English counterpart; Queen Elizabeth I. Queen Amina was a graceful yet fearless queen who ruled the city of Zazzau between 1576 and 1610 A.D. Founded in 2006 but relaunched in 2010, Needlepoint is a readyto-wear female label that caters to the personal style needs of its clients. Creative Director, Mrs. Theresa Onwuka’s pieces are timeless and the label is recognized for intricate embellishments and African prints. Here are some faces at the event...

Stella Ike

Uche Onukwugha

Modupe Obino

Sophie Obiyan

Tonye Oji

Deide Fasinro

Anita Shirley

Kemi Agoro

June 16, 2013 /