Category: Glamour

CHAIRMAN of Pinnacle Communications Limited, Sir Lucky Omoluwa, who was recently honoured by the United States Congress with the Business Titan Award in Washington D. C, USA, has added another feather in his cap.

Recently, the telecommunications magnate was bestowed with the Good Governance and Integrity Award by the Centre for Transparency in Nigeria. According to the organisers, the latest award is in recognition of his landmark achievements as an anti-corruption crusader and leadership style.

The ceremony took place last Friday at Reiz Continental Hotel, Abuja.

In spite of being famous and influential, the Delta State-born golf buff hardly flaunts his ego, as he is one man who dedicates his time to his business and often time hibernates and sequesters from the social scenes.

 

 

 

THE most talked about style awards and runway show in Nigeria, Glam & Essence Style & Runway Show powered by Glam & Essence magazine, published by Susan Eyo Honesty, held its third edition recently. The event rewards outstanding individuals and fashion labels, beauty brands and personalities within the country, whose contributions to the fashion and beauty sector have impacted and strengthened the social fabric. Special Guest of Honour was the First Lady of Lagos State, Dame Abimbola Fashola. Those that showcased were Ade Bakare, Trish O Couture, Loisonell Couture, Ella & Gabby, the event was held at  Degrees Event Centre, Billingsway, Ikeja, Lagos. OLUSEGUN RAPHEAL was there.

TESSY Oliseh, popular fashion designer and kid sister of ace footballer, Sunday Oliseh, who got married to Ohimai Amaize, the Special Adviser on Media Strategy to the former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, and Dele Momodu’s special assistant for the 2011 presidential campaign, has shunned the klieg lights since she signed the dotted lines. Inside sources said the graduate of Middlesex University now focuses on how to keep the home front and her fashion career. Tessy, tied the knot with 29-year-old Ohimai who is popularly known as “Mr Fix Nigeria“ in April 2014.

YEMI Fawaz made a lot of headlines in Nigeria in the 90s.She had a successful career as a fashion and photography model. Apart from this, she was one of the pioneers of professional modelling in Nigeria and used to own a modelling school. For over thirty years, she had a successful career as a fashion and photographic model, beauty promoter/consultant, fashion designer, trade show organiser, chef and a restaurateur. Fawaz closed shop and relocated to the United States of America in 1997. However, the mulatto beauty is still making waves as she still struts the red carpet of world fashion capitals and gets the desired recognition. She was recently honoured in Houston, Texas where she was named the Fashion Icon of Nigeria. The mother of one has also found a new faith. She is a deaconess and ready to flaunt it.  Fawaz runs Banner of Love International Outreach Inc.

Homtopua Zaida Dokpesi is an Abuja-based fashion designer behind Duchess H Couture. The daughter of the Chairman of Daar Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, tells ADETUTU AUDU her sojourn into the fashion world and how her father influenced her.

HOW and when did your journey to fashion designing start?

I have always been in love with fashion but my deep passion for designing with African fabric was in November 2011. I really needed to wear a modern style in African print and I couldn’t find any readily available and priced reasonably so that pushed me into creating pieces of my own. When loads of people started appreciating my work and ordering for different pieces, there my journey into the wonderful world of fashion began.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

I draw my inspiration from paintings, the wonderful art of nature, from designs on a fabric or even from just looking at an Individual.

What were your initial challenges?

My initial challenges were getting quality fabric locally and good tailors to interpret the designs I come up with.

Can you recollect your first piece of clothing?

My first piece of clothing was a nightwear I designed during my Home Economics assignment when I was in JSS3.

In what way does your being Raymond Dokpesi’s daughter affect your brand?

Being the daughter of a rare gem like my father who has recorded a lot of firsts in his endeavours and he was even the Leadership Businessperson of the Year 2012 gives me a strong desire to be an achiever, to dream and push myself way out of my comfort zone.

My joy knew no bounds in August 2012 when my brand won its first award at the MSM in Abuja as the best tailoring/fashion designing. He being a risk taker gave me the courage to expand my brand into the United Kingdom without fear of failure and by God’s sheer grace I was at the Baltimore Fashion Week in August, 2013 to test the American market as well. So, being his daughter has given me one choice and one choice only to be successful in all I put my mind into.

When would you say the breakthrough came?

My breakthrough I would say came after I was opportune to meet Mr. Lexy Mojo Eyes who gave my brand a lot of exposure in fashion shows and events. He believed in my dream and before you knew it, others followed suit.

What is happening to your label at the moment?

I have just got done with my new collection” The Audacious Siren” which was launched at the Dynamite Fashion Show in Ilorin, Kwara State, and thereafter pieces would be available for sale at www.cimabrawn.com. I have just launched a new collection the rain/ Harmattan 2014 at the Fashion Lounge at Bolingo Hotel, Abuja on the 1st of October and still under the umbrella of my brand, my son, Khaleed, launched his babies by K Collection. 20% of all sales from his collection goes to a selected motherless babies home monthly.

What would you say has been your key to success?

My key to success would be being mentored by a great man like my father, being focused, determined, ability to persevere, the zeal to want to succeed and above all being patient because I have come to learn it is not how fast or how slow you climb the ladder of life but how it eventually turns out. Failure to me is the first ingredient to success. What defines a woman is not how many times she has failed but how she has been able to pick herself up every time she has failed.

How has your growing up shaped your life?

The experiences, both good and bad that I have been fortunate to have had in my pilgrimage of life has helped shaped me into the delectable, smart, gorgeous, confident, intelligent, strong, ambitious and independent woman I have grown into.

Apart from designing, what else do you do?

I work as an Executive Assistant to the MD, Daarsat, radio presenter at Raypower 100.5 fm Abuja, a lifestyle writer, motivational speaker and a perfumista. I also run my foundation, the Homto Zaida Dokpesi Foundation.

Who are your target audience?

Women of all ages, kids, teens and the men are not left out either.

What is your personal style?

My personal style I would say is playful, colourful and audacious.

What are your beauty secrets?

Hmmm… my beauty secret would be I drink loads of water, love to exercise to keep my body in shape. I love to massage my skin with shea butter and sea salt every other day and body steaming once a week.

What’s your favourite part about conceptualising a design?

My favourite part would be seeing it worn by an individual and it actually puts smiles on the client’s face.

What are some of your accomplishments as a designer?

Creating awesome pieces that create a revolution in the fashion industry and the world at large.

How would you define the style your line exemplifies?

Sophisticated, chic attitude

What are your favourite fabrics to work with and why?

I love to work with African print because of the beautiful patterns and colours it embodies.

FORMER Miss Taiwo Oluwamayowa Oduntan got married to her heartthrob, Oluwafemi Joseph Agbeja  at Williams Memorial Anglican Church, Araromi, Gbagada, Lagos.  NNEKA NWANER reports

EYES are the window to the body. As we grow older, the areas of the face, especially the eyes, get more vulnerable to aging than the cheeks and other part of the face. This is because, a specialist says, the area around the eyes is so thin, so it is more vulnerable to damage and it is the first place we begin to notice changes. One thing is quite certain: keeping the eye area youthful and wrinkle-free looking is one of the top priorities of most men and women. Facial beauty begins with beautiful eye. The skin around the eye is one of the most sensitive areas on the body. Age and other factors can let the muscles sag and fat knob. Sometime it may be due to stress and fatigue. Eyes are the first part of your face that others notice, it’s important to look after the eyes, because as we age, wrinkles, eyes bag [puffiness] will certainly creep in. For these reasons it’s important to work on the wrinkles at early stages of appearance. The proper use of some basic fruits can eradicate eyes bag and wrinkles, and will reduce chances of irritation and swelling. It will rejuvenate the delicate skin around the eyes. Also, dark circles under the eyes is another very common problem and a major concern for ladies, especially for those that used kajal and mascara for a long period of time

Congeal crushed cucumber. Massage the grated cucumber ice cubes on the eyes.

Place a thin slice of cucumber on the eyes bag for some minutes. It is great eye soothers.

Don’t throw that used tea bag away; for eye puffiness, any tea bag will do, slightly cooled teabag, placed on the eyes while you rest.

To lighten dark circles under the eyes, wrap a grated raw Irish potato in chiffon fabric or other such material and apply to eyelids for at least twenty minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water.

Use Vaseline to tame your eyebrows.

THE final burial ceremony of the late Pa Yekinni A. Adewunmi, father-in-law of Mr. Tunde Abatan, the Special Assistant on Media to the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, took place at the Liberty Stadium, Ibadan, Oyo State Saturday November 22. 2014

SOCIALITE and co-owner of Rehab fun spot, Lolu Shodeinde, has jetted out of the country. The beau of hard working Linda Mesrob, sources said, has moved to South Africa to seek greener pastures after his bid to resuscitate the nightclub failed. It was gathered that the proposed re-opening of the enterprise was valued on paper at N150m, but efforts to put fund and human resources together forfeited the bid.

Alexandra Okoroji is an actress, social activist and brand ambassador. The daughter of  Chief Tony Okoroji, musician and former president of Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria, started her professional acting career through the maiden edition of Amstel Malta Box Office in 2005 (AMBO), a television r eality show where she won  many admirers. The talented actress has featured in many movies and television soap operas as well as MNET’s dazzling multi-cam production TINSEL. She tells Adetutu Audu her favourite things.

Favourite fashion designer?

Marc Jacobs, Oscar de La Renta and my new obsession, the French-African designer, JB Hounyovi (which I am one of the brand faces)

 

Favourite shoe designer?

I have quite a shoe collection but I will be honest I’m not very choosy when it comes to shoe brands (I have a mix of different brands); as long as they make my ankles look great, fit right and are comfy to walk, I’m good. Though I’m a big fan of Jimmy Choo and Alexander Mc Queen, I realise my everyday knock around style is something simple like a peep toe wedge (Jessica Simpson or Nia Nia)

 

Favourite handbag designer?

I have this TM Lewin bag that cost me quite a fortune, but I like PRADA, Gucci and Nina Simone.

 

Favourite perfume?

I have used so many different perfumes from the conventional famous designer but I love signature different, so my top favourite is “Intimately Night” by David Beckham….it always makes me feel sexy….then “Truth or Dare” by Madonna, it always announces me and the fragrance stays for days. I also like “Bora Bora” by Liz Claireborne.

 

Favourite sunglasses?

My brown PRADA hands down; I’m also an LV (Louis Vuitton) fan

 

Favourite make-up brand?

I used Iman for years because I like their creme to powder and oil blotting luminous powder, but I love what Revlon does to my skin with its liquid foundation. I’m a mascara freak, so I like Revlons Lash, Cover girl mascara or LA girl (fantastic brushes), Mary Kay lipstick- berry kiss.

 

Favourite holiday spot?

Within West Africa, I like the beach front in Lome, Togo, (gives me the feel of being at the beach in Brazil for some strange reason) though my dream holiday spot will be in Seychelles or gorgeous island where they are no trains or subways, you get my drift….like somewhere in Monaco, Italy.

 

Favourite car?

I don’t know much about cars and their specifications. I just drive them for the purpose they were created (to move me from point A to B) hahahah. That being said, I like beautiful things, so I find the Mercedes G Wagon to be rather sexy in a sleek masculine way, though I want an FJ Cruiser jeep as back up for the bad Lagos roads, but my favourite part of a car is really the shape of its butt. Hehehe. Please give me a hot pink Porsche any day.

 

Favourite food?

I love rice like crazy. In any form, steamed, fried, Jasmine, Basmati, Thai, Brown rice…..name it. As long as it’s clean and tastes really good….but my favourite rice is the long grain Indian Basmati….with some giant prawns or shrimps and veggie stir fry or my favourite turkey salad. I love my veggies a beg. Then for local meal, pounded yam and ofe-nsala (white soup) or banga and starch (though I tend to eat more amala these days) wink.

 

Favourite book?

Geez, this is really difficult. I’ve read so many amazing books in different genres and categories that it’s so hard to pick one believe me, but for the sake of self help, I will say WOMAN by the late Dr Myles Munroe and the guide book “Why Men Love Bitches” by Sherry Argov only because they have helped me overtime to become the woman I am today.