The Nation Newspaper

Category: Fashion

  • Men’s slim fit party wear

    Men’s slim fit party wear

    A BLAZER is one fashion item a man should have in his wardrobe. It goes well with several occasions these days; it fits perfectly with jeans, pants, ankara and any other trousers you can name.  When it comes to building a basic wardrobe for men’s formal or semi-formal occasions such as interview, wedding, or a date; every man needs at least one well- tailored blazers for special occasions that arise, even if it just once a year and it will, of course, save you from feeling humiliated and cheap when everyone else is suited up.

    Gone are the days when only a few guys go for blazers. They are soaring high and gaining popularity at socials, events and parties. They are trendy and eye-catching.

  • Valentine: Stylish women Day outfit ideas

    Valentine: Stylish women Day outfit ideas

    With Valentine’s Day around the corner, do you really give any thought to what to wear? Though this special day is not always on everybody’s agenda, for those who choose to celebrate Valentine’s Day, here are a few suggestions of what to wear to look good; whether you are planning a casual date or a formal night out. Since time immemorial, red dresses have always been deemed as perfect Valentine’s Day dresses.

    Hot red, pink or fuchsia (soft) pink drape tops with jeans trousers will look great for casuals. Ladies, ensure that you are comfortable. There should be no extremely high heels for lunch or daytime event, possibly you may do a lot of walking (shopping, strolling arms in arms and so on) and, therefore, avoid wearing high heels, so that you can go casual for daytime events with your special ones. Dress up and be a bit on the glamorous side for dinner or night out.

    Lunch date: Would you be going out for a nice lunch or just go out to have a good time with friends? Why not try a nicely-cut pencil skirt or pants, which is always a winner. Slip on a nice shirt dress and update the look with platform heels and complement this with a handy handbag or small purse.

    Guys can combine a nice top with a pair of bandless pants, knock-off with blazers. Or a blazer jacket with a shirt or tank top Jeans is indispensable to any man.

    Evening date: Stay stylish and stand out on Valentine’s night with a striking cocktail dress with a touch of red or pink, and keep everything else simple. Now one thing that is very important to note before buying a dress for Valentine’s Day is whether it’s a daytime event or an evening event.

    Guys, the perfect hue for an evening date is black. It’s the most versatile colour of all time. Trainers or sneakers are not allowed. This is the period to flaunt your leathers. So, dress up smart and wear something that reflects your style and attitude.

    But remember these fashion hubs of Valentine’s Day: dresses are not just for those with partners. Singles should also celebrate and go out for Valentine too!

    So whether you plan dining at a fancy, romantic restaurant with your hubby, or you plan to hit town with friends, consider dressing festively for the occasion without seeming too tacky!

  • Give your loved ones something special

    Give your loved ones something special

    From the appealing lingerie, dress to cute handbags and sexy shoes, these are the best gifts to give all the stylish women in your life. As we all know, the day for expressing love in a special way is around the corner. Hope you have been sharing in advance the spirit of love and warmth that such day brings. It is a day to give passionate gifts as an outward sign of love for your spouse, loved ones, the needy and those around you. This is the time to express how you feel, not only in words, but also by actions.

    In this part of the world, it is the general belief that to get ready-made gifts, you need a whole lot of money. But in actual fact, that is not the case. If you have the time, you can make up your own gift hampers and pack them with colourful gloss wrappers.  You do not even need to use a basket. But basket or no basket, you could just cover a box filled with gifts with a scented red rose in fanciful wrapping paper. And if you don’t have much in your pocket, give her flowers or give him a wristwatch. Remember it is a season for friends.

    Hey guys, whatever you may decide to give her, add red scented rose to your gift. The smell of a rose is always special. This is the classic symbol of love since time immemorial. And there is no better scent for this season of love.

  • What trendsetters will be wearing

    What trendsetters will be wearing

    Colours are synonymous with fashion. Specific colours of fabrics rule per season and the trendiest colour for both night gigs and daytime events at the moment is yellow.

    Yellow is everywhere, in every imaginable style. Depending on your choice, you can choose fabrics in banana yellow, custard yellow, burnt-yellow and so on.

    One interesting thing about yellow is that it comes out best when it is used to add beauty to any fabric of any other colour. Depending on the skill of the designer, yellow fabrics can make you look elegant, bold and tasteful.

    By the way, you should never make it an all-round yellow affair, for instance, you may go for gold shoes and bag or better still, another popular colour that blends with all colours, black. This is certain to give you the gorgeous effect that you desire.

  • Fashion designers to set pace this year

    Fashion designers to set pace this year

    NIGERIA has produced some of the best fashion designers and Lagos is a great place to find them all in one city. We all know that Lagos is the city to look towards for emerging fashion talent, as it is where clothing is made experiment with. Today’s fashion has been an unavoidable part of our life as clothing is a basic need in man’s life. And the fact remains that the story of fast-growing fashion industry is not complete without the contributions of highly creative and talented fashion designers whose works are earning the respect and admiration of fashion stakeholders at home and abroad. Here are some fashion designers who will set the pace in 2018.

    Mai Atafo Inspired (MAI)

    His work ranges from pretty red carpet glamour to trendy statement casual pieces. Mai Atafo established and runs his clothing line Mai Atafo Inspired (MAI) as he worked in a full time job. Mai Atafo Inspired (MAI) specialises in glamorous red carpet dresses for women and suits for men. His designs are versatile, timeless and notably classicist.  Mai is Senior Brand Manager turned luxury designer.

    Ejiro Amos-Tafiri

    Ejiro Amos Tafari is one of the fastest growing brands in the Nigerian fashion world having stormed the fashion industry after emerging the best student from the Arts and Garment Technology Department of Yaba College of Technology.

    Lisa Folawiyo

    Lisa broke into the fashion scene and took the fashion community by pleasant storm. She sparked a new revolution in red carpet couture by embellishing her collections with sequins, mesh fabric, layers and the like. She made a name by churning out fantastic designs. That she draws inspiration from a myriad of sources is evident in her skilful blending of styles, textures and fabrics. Her designs rocked on and off the fashion runway in 2017.

    Sandrah Tubobereni (TUBO)

    Sandrah, the Creative Director of TUBO, an emerging Nigerian designer, best known for her creativity in redesigning the traditional African bridal outfits, wedding dresses and stylish ready-to-wear fashion clothing, came into the Nigerian fashion scene in November 2014 when she switched from her career in Business Development and Finance. She’s one of the most incredibly talented young designers around. This creative designer knows the ABC of the fashion industry. Within a short period, she has carved out a niche for herself on and off the runway.

    Olakunbi Oyelese of April by Kunbi

    With a vision to be ranked among the best 10 designers in Nigeria, Olakunbi Oyelese boasts a large number of celebrity figures in Nigeria. April by Kunbi is a fashion label that specialises in couture and ready to wear fashion for women who place a premium on the principles of fashion, fit and functionality.  April by Kunbi is one that came to our awareness with sparkling form-fitting dresses that radiate much sexiness as well as confidence. Her wide ranges of highly versatile and wearable collections have lots of shiny sequined fabric the brand is well known for.

    Toyin Lawani of Elegante by Tiannah Styling

    Toyin worked with high quality and exquisite fabrics, showcasing the beauty of velvet, chiffon, satin and lace. She uses quality vibrant fabric to produce contemporary pieces designs that are her signature. Almost all the women of calibre have two or more of her designs in their wardrobe. She’s one lady who’s changing the way we look at lace and satin fabric.

    Lanre Dasilva-Ajayi (LDA)

    Lanre’s brand first arrived in the fashion scene in 2005 with iconic 1940’s couture signature designs, a result of what has evolved into a much more modern and cutting-edge brand and a full-blown fashion house. The label’s collection includes couture, off the rack, and accessories such as hairpieces and statement jewellery. Regardless of the label’s strong historical design roots, LDA creatively combines pattern, print, exquisite and even traditional fabrics to produce day wear, evening wear, gowns and cocktail dresses that bridge time and make the label successful within and outside Nigeria.

    Adebayo Oke-Lawal

    Adebayo the Creative Head and founder of the Orange Culture brand was selected by Fashion Scout London as one of the beneficiaries of the-ones to watch – award for Autumn/Winter 2017 during the London Fashion Week has a multitude of talents. His label caters to the needs of the modern man.  And the brand’s appeal is to the diverse, multi lifestyle of the modern day gent.

  • LBD madness

    LBD madness

    EVERYONE looks good in black. So, it’s a bonus that the little black dress (LBD) is a huge fashion trend this season. The great thing is that black basic items are classic.

    The little black dress will never go out of style, and we know that you can never have too much black in your wardrobe.

    The mainstream fashion and celebrities are going back to black because a  little black dress can always be counted on to deliver a best-dressed look with hardly any extra effort.

    Basic tips to rock the look: Glam up your little black dress without piling on many accessories Opt for bold and innovative accessories.

    Whether your black dress is sleek or frilly, kick up its volume by adding a pair of creative tights

    Leopard-print shoes will fill your ladylike little black dress with a sexy edge.

    A tailored jacket will make the whole day-to-evening-to-dance-floor transition a total easy task.

  • Black & white: Season’s biggest trend

    Black & white: Season’s biggest trend

    IT’S the easiest formula for a put-together look. 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.

    Whether it’s a white dress with black accessories or a white blouse paired with this season must have graphic stripes wide-legged pants. It’s hard to mess up this timeless colour combo. And the beauty of it all is that you don’t have to spend hours worrying about what accessories will coordinate since white and black go with all colours.

  • Quickie make-up tips

    Quickie make-up tips

    FOR that smartly done and perfect make-up, there are some quickie steps to follow. And the truth is that you don’t have to spend ages getting these steps right. These cosmetic tips will help you to avoid errors and finish up within minutes.

    Lipstick

    First apply a lip balm to lips before starting your make-up schedule. By the time you have done your eyes and the rest of the face, your lips will be moisturized and ready for the lipstick.

    Nail polish

    Is your nail polish from the last season too thick? Chances are the polish has begun to thicken at the bottom of the bottle. Add a bit of nail polish thinner to the bottle.

    For a glow foundation, get a gel or cream blushes to create a more natural and healthy look. Instead of going for a normal powder, get a cream powder. It is more visible and blends smoothly when rubbed on the face. Rub it on both cheeks. For a glowing complexion, make upward movement towards the eye.

    Mascara before curling your lashes

    Heat the curler with a hair dryer for a few seconds. Test to make sure it is not too hot, and then apply to eyelashes. The heat will lock in the curl on extra long eyelashes. Gently apply a lean of mascara just up to the lashes, so as to avoid blotching. Then, run an eyelash brush through the lashes to prevent caking mascara build-up.

    Pencil

    Place eye and lip pencil in the freezer for twenty minutes before sharpening it. This will harden it a bit and it would not break when sharpened.

    Eyeliner

    Instead of regular eyeliner pencil, go for a liquid liner to prevent smudging in the pleat of the lid. Liquid liner does not stain as easily as the regular ones.

    Concealer

    The concealer is also a great eye brightener; it feels soft, smooth and silky. It adds a touch of hydration to the under eyes area which can tend to be dry for most people. It covers dark circles adequately without caking and creasing.

  • Clutch: Evening bag you will love

    Clutch: Evening bag you will love

    CLUTCH purses are the true social bag of many discerning women of style at the moment.

    The small hand  bags are the rage of the moment. It dominates high-class socials and dinners.

    These purses are usually small and are getting crazier in shapes, sizes, designs and styles.

    Most clutch purses are beautifully crafted with delicate embroidery and some are designed with exotic stones, sequins and beads that give them distinctive features.

    It pulls an outfit together in a way that makes it look effortlessly stylish.

  • STYLISH BELL SLEEVE TREND

    STYLISH BELL SLEEVE TREND

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    WHEN it comes to sleeves, nothing adds more drama than the bell. Usually skinny through the bicep, the trumpet sleeves bells out around the elbow or wrist. A 70s fashion trend that made a huge comeback, bell sleeves is one of the hottest trends this season.

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    Bell sleeves give a feminine and fabulous look; it makes a great street style statement. For that chic and elegant look, pair your bell sleeves with jeans, shorts, pencil skirts and flared pants.

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