The Nation Newspaper

Category: Fashion

  • Grooming tips for bearded men

    Grooming tips for bearded men

    GROWING a beard can be an expression of independence and confidence, but it takes a lot of effort and commitment.

    Just like the hair on your head, facial hair is also very important. It needs regular upkeep to avoid looking unkempt and shabby.

    Grooming tips:

    Keep your beard clean. Wash your face every morning and night. Dry thoroughly with a clean towel and avoid putting your face on dirty pillowcase.

    Shampoo your beard at least  a few times a week. Use a moisturizing shampoo to prevent the hair from getting brittle

    Use a thick, heavy-duty conditioner to keep your beard from getting too strong. Leave the conditioner in for a while before washing it off.

    Trim it regularly. This is done to get rid of split ends in the hair and maintain your chosen shape.

    Eat a healthy diet. Avoid eating oily food; eat lot of fruits and drink plenty water as well.

    Get beard oil. Good beard oil will prevent your beard from itching and beard dandruff. It  also keeps your beard and face from getting oily.

    Moisturize with shea butter or moisturizing oil such as olive, coconut or grape seed oil.

  • DaViva shines at AFWN 2016

    DaViva shines at AFWN 2016

    THE much-talked-about fashion show, Africa Fashion Week Nigeria (AFWN) 2016, has come and gone. It was held at the Conference Centre of the classy Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    The show, which fashion enthusiasts have now dubbed the hottest fashion show in recent time, was an event where the best of fashion were on display both on and off the runway.

    DaViva, the fashion brand of choice for many fashion conscious individuals, was proud to sponsor and support  the AFWN.

    The brand has been with  the AFWN right from the maiden edition in London, UK 2011 because they believe the AFWN shares the same dream and vision of providing platform for upcoming and established designers to showcase their creative work to Nigerians and other parts of the world.

    The textile company also sponsored five designers (House of Salem, Mcstell, Eminence1129, Nipo Skin and Asake Oge), and each of them creates ten fabulous and breathtaking outfits from casual, bridal, Haut couture to casual ready to wear on the runway.

    The highlight of the fashion week is Da Viva unveiling Da Viva limited edition of pure silk made in tie and dye designs, popularly known by Nigerians as adire.

    The pageant might have come and gone, but many are still giving kudos to DaViva for her intricate and glitz designs.

    They have been credited with blazing the trail in turning inexpensive African print into some of the most glamorous works of art.

  • Dungarees are back!

    Dungarees are back!

    THE dungarees are the hottest fashion item; they are turning up everywhere, from classic long trousers dungarees and even shorts ones, in every imaginary hues, pattern and design; from twinkling Ankara fabrics to thick denim prints.
    Daily change in fashion trends have led to a whole lot of change in the wardrobe of the modern woman. Denim and Ankara dungarees are quite haute and in vogue these days. For that formal or informal outing, wear a clean dungaree and look polished, professional and current all year round.

  • ‘Fashion runs in my family’

    ‘Fashion runs in my family’

    ELCharles Erhabor is the CEO of ElCee Modelling Agency, which continually scouts for beautiful new faces. In this interview with KEHINDE OLULEYE, the fashion designer, an actor, and model talks about the challenges facing the fashion industry, passion for the job and his upcoming fashion fair. 

    WHAT inspired you to dump modelling for fashion? You can’t separate modelling and fashion. So, it’s not like I dump modelling for fashion. I took time to develop my dreams on fashion. I am still very much a model and I even act. Fashion is the common factor in entertainment. Modelling and acting is a promotional and marketing strategy for my designs, because I’m the brand of my designs. I was inspired by my parent to go for fashion. My dad was a fashionista and my mum is a fashionista. I learnt how to sketch from my dad; he will sketch a design and give it to a tailor to do the sewing. My grandfather was a tailor. I think fashion is in our blood line.
    For how long have you been doing this?
    I have been doing this for eleven years.
    Before opening your retail shop, how were you operating?
    I sketch a design, get a fabric, and take the design and fabrics to a good tailor who will bring it to life (do the sewing). Sometimes, we work together, especially when the designs are complicated. I decided to go and learn how to sew when some of my tailors were disappointing me.
    Apart from men’s clothing, what other fashion items are you into?
    I am into women clothing too, and I intend going into beads, shoes, bags, belts, hats and caps production.
    Being around for a while, you must have witnessed a lot of changes in fashion?
    Yes, in fact it is a revolution that is ongoing. It is like what happened in the music industry, a drastic change. It’s what I described as an epidemic of “WEARd fever” and it’s spreading fast. It has no vaccine.
    And what do you think is the reason for this?
    Change is the only thing constant in life, as a nation, we are experiencing change. And it’s affecting the fashion industry as well. The change in the fashion industry is happening very fast because Nigerians love fashion. Fashion is synonymous with everybody on planet earth. No one can do without fashion.
    Why is it a general belief that women’s fashion is more rewarding than men’s?
    Emphatically yes . Men will do more bargaining with you but women will do little because they are anxious to have it and wear it. It’s true that female customers are easier to deal with.
    What kinds of fabric do you love working with?
    I work with all kinds of fabric. It’s up to a designer to turn a low quality fabric into a pure stock.
    Who are El Charles target?
    My targets are the movie stars, models, musicians and politicians.
    What is your upcoming fashion fair all about?
    It’s going to be the first of its kind in the town of Alagbado and its environs. My models (ElCee Models) will be hitting the runway. The fashion fair is aimed at challenging and arousing creativity amongst fashion designers and practitioners, it’s also a platform to bring together fashion designers. I am also using the medium to unveil our female collections.
    What are the challenges faced in the course of doing your business?
    Electricity is our major challenge. We work in an environment where electricity power is unstable. There are some sewing and tailoring machines that runs on electricity.
    What is the ABC of a good jacket?
    The ABC of a good jacket is the fabric, the cutting and stitches. Not necessarily the design or the style. If you have a good style or design and the cutting and stitches are poor, the jacket will be an unripe mango, it can’t sell!
    How will you rate Nigerian designers with their foreign counterparts?
    Nigeria designers are at the same level with their foreign counterparts. The only difference is that, they have good working environment and they have easy access to funds. They can acquire all the sewing and tailoring machines they need for excellent result.
    Describe your style?
    My style is classy, flashy and dashy… it’s simply ‘Akomended’.
    Are you a label freak?
    Every designer needs a label. But then the label does not determine a good design. The designs make the label to stand in the market place.
    What determines what you wear?
    The event or occasion determines what l wear. And I must feel good with whatever l am putting on, otherwise there is no point putting on a particular dress, if it doesn’t make you feel good.

  • The embellished dress

    The embellished dress

    THERE is nothing like a touch of embellished dress to give you a sparkling effect. It is the queen of design at the moment. The embellished garbs are in a class of their own. Whether as a top or gown, or as a spaghetti strap, it’s now a must-have item among young and old fashionistas.
    There is no doubt it is the hottest dress for the season, it’s hot and haute. The designs and artwork on most of these dresses are sexy, classic and stylish. The embellishments and artwork detail add just the right touch. They are everywhere and in several imaginative styles and fabrics that include flirty eyelets to well-tailored dinner gowns. Covered, strapless or spaghetti most are heavily embellished from neckline down to the hem (turn up).
    Cute embellished tops will look great on any jeans, trouser or skirt. And you can add a touch class to it if the dress spots a sequence, stones, beads and other colourful accessories.
    Embellished wears can be used to dress up or down, it all depends on the design, occasion and the way they are combined. For the best result, pair your top embellished dresses with jeans or trousers (three quarter or cropped) and for a solid casual look put it on a snazzy skirt for a night out. Whether you are going clubbing, partying or just hanging out with friends for fun, an embellished dress is just for you.

  • Timeless rings

    Timeless rings

    COCKTAIL rings are everywhere at parties, on the red carpet and for casual wears. The cocktail ring is the ultimate accessory that draws attention to your hands, whether you are wearing a colourful whimsical dress or a little black dress [LBD], with so many rings to choose from, ranging from the bold and crazily crafted to the bling-bling.
    A simple, yet elegant cocktail ring is basically defined as oversized rock design with precious coloured stones.
    For you to make a gallant statement with your cocktail ring, it has to be chunky {bold], sexy and at the same time stylish; this is the ultimate cocktail ring golden rule.
    Believe it, the big rock is a solid way to highlight your individual style, you can never go wrong with one. Get as many as possible, different rocks with different colours; you can wear a different one for each day, it all depends on your attires.
    They are the classic and timeless finger piece.

  • Whitney Houston and the Holographic Hell to Come

    Whitney Houston and the Holographic Hell to Come

    The debut of the digitized diva on the voice
    was scrapped for not looking good enough
    an unfortunately temporary problem.

    IN regards to leaked footage of a holographic Whitney Houston performing onThe Voice, the Internet has done what it’s meant to do: ridicule. “It’s not right and it’s not okay” has been coined, as it needed to be. Whitty Hutton has been invoked. And the Houston estate has pulled the plug.
    “Holograms are new technology that take time to perfect, and we believe with artists of this iconic caliber, it must be perfect,” Pat Houston said yesterday. “Whitney’s legacy and her devoted fans deserve perfection. After closely viewing the performance, we decided the hologram was not ready to air.”
    The Voice premiere of the long-hyped holoHouston was meant to raise the curtain on a new era of entertainment, when living human performers are no longer needed to distract the masses. But make no mistake: That era is still coming, or at least a lot of people are still working to make it so. 3D recreations of Selena and Notorious B.I.G. are reportedly on their way. The billionaire behind of one of the more ambitious hologram companies has talked about reforming the Beatles and even resurrecting Jesus again. (Caveat: “Hologram” is a technically inaccurate term, but like the word “hoverboard,” it’s what we’re calling these things.)
    What’s interesting about the backlash to the Whitney footage is that it concerned the quality of the reproduction, not the fact it happened at all. If the creature belting “I’m Every Woman” next to Christina Aguilera had more resembled the actual woman who sang the song in 1992, the logic goes, applause and not jeers would have resulted. Is that right? I’ve previously expressed amusement about coming hologram trend, reasoning that this kind of nostalgic recreation isn’t, in the abstract, creepier than any other kind. But watching the scrapped Voice video that may or may not be circulating online, it’s hard not to feel deep dread about the day when this method is “perfected.”
    The performance begins as standard tribute, with Aguilera belting “I Have Nothing” as still images of Houston stand behind her. Then Aguilera says, “Ladies and gentlemen, Whitney Houston,” the curtain falls, and we see a stage farther in the back of the room with the dead diva sort of hovering on it. When Aguilera steps onto that second stage it feels like when Mike Teavee in Willie Wonka meets his fate.
    Why is Aguilera acting like the image next to her is a real person? What’s the point? The genius of a great pop star always lies, on some level, on their ability to make a moment uniqueto imbue humanity into product. There is no chance of a hologram doing that until we have Ex Machina-level AI. What’s more, the tragic dimensions of Houston’s life, the sense that she was exploited and dehumanized by fame, can’t help but come to the fore in this context.
    But when technology progresses, it’s usually without anyone getting to vote on whether it’s a good idea that it does. The financial worth of nostalgia has been amply demonstrated. Whitney will return at some point, seeming like herself in all but the most important ways.

  • MONOCHROME still burning up red carpet!

    MONOCHROME still burning up red carpet!

    IN spite of the array of colourful fabric on the fashion scene, monochrome has been one of the biggest trends on the red carpet this season. Whether it is colourful or subtle, there are plenty of ladies who love this look. Black and white dress is a fashion trend that you wouldn’t want to miss, it is classy and sexy!

    Since last year, the whole world has hopped on board the monochrome train! Pants, shorts, tops, shirts, full-on dresses, all made of black and white! Sometimes it is the skirt or parts of the sleeve or perfectly colour of the two.

    How to rock it

    IT might be the most tried-and-true colour combination, but the sharp punch of ebony and ivory is ever modern. Turn formality on its head in graphically-minded pieces. Or use it to give geometric motifs new class. And the beauty of it all is that you can choose. You can experiment with almost any colour you want. That is the beauty of it all. So get them, they are fabrics that suit almost every occasion. Monochrome has stood the test of time as a classic combination.

  • Journey through a library of scents

    Journey through a library of scents

    NICHE Is the New Luxury’… This is the trend at Montaigne Place as they continually up their ante with releases of very exclusive luxury fragrances, reinforcing their position as the leading luxury skincare, fragrance, cosmetics and well-being company in Nigeria. This week, the brand unveils the Histoires de parfum collection, available in few luxury perfumeries worldwide.

    HISTOIRES de PARFUMS offers an olfactory library experience, one which expresses stories in scent about famous personalities, opulent raw materials and iconic years.  Histoires de Parfums’ fragrances continue the French know-how of making the finest perfumes, whose features are luxury, nobility and creativity.  It maintains the highest qualitative standards in the choice of its raw materials as well as in the choice of the bottles and packaging.

    The HISTOIRES de PARFUMS collection has a long trail, deep tempered, dense notes and is extremely sensual. Discover yourself, let the experience linger, journey through the HISTOIRES de PARFUMS Library of Scents.

  • Pop up in yellow

    Pop up in yellow

    THIS week, let’s look at the very vibrant yellow that is changing the colour palette for the season. Are you thinking of what to wear for your next outing, something special and simple that fits?

    Then, your best bet is any of the classy, cool, simple and stylish yellow fabrics that have become the favourite of the in-crowd this season. Its resurgence has been widespread; it’s hot and haute couture. It makes dresses and accessories to appear dazzling and has added a special glow to one’s look; it is everywhere and on every imaginable style and fabric.

    The classy colour of the moment wills more than justify your decision to go for such item. yellow is suitable for different occasions because it is simply charming and highly irresistible. Yellow colour dresses will spice up your look, no matter what you are wearing; especially if they are rightly combined, yellow fabrics, after deep-blue, are big fashion news this season.