Style Watch: All eyes on Tomi...

When it comes to style, one of the things we appreciate is boldness with colour! We think this encapsulates Tomi’s style and we absolutely love it!

Here’s what Tomi had to say about her style:

“Solange once said 'style is the canvas of our individuality and an outlet for expression' and I totally agree. I have been asked to describe my style so many times and I have the same answer. My style is an enigma. Every day, I wake up and I learn more about myself than I did the day before. That's the same thing with my style. To put a name on my style is to limit it. One thing that is constant about my style is that it is effortless. I feel like if you have to think for weeks to decide what to wear just for a day, then that outfit doesn't define you. Style should be effortless if it's really an expression of who you are.”

"My style inspirations are my Mother (that woman loves colours. She inspired me to start wearing red lipstick), Audrey Hepburn, Lisa Folawiyo (They always look effortless yet stylish), and Solange Knowles (when everyone thought it wasn't cool to be African, she made it cool)."

"Regardless of my love for style, I think the best style can be seen when you dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you; compassion, kindness, humility, discipline, forgiveness and most importantly LOVE. Those are the things that really matter at the end of the day."

For more stylish looks, check out Tomi’s amazing blog- http://theamateurescada.blogspot.com/

Stay fab lovlies!

xxx

Team Natural!

Going natural can be quite a daunting task, especially if you’ve got ‘stubborn’ black hair. However, if you really want to go natural with your hair, it’s important to get over the mindset that “if it’s not straight, it’s not gorgeous.”

This post features Noddy Nweke, a lover of natural hair, who proves that mindset wrong!

 "I have natural hair because it's me, I can't say I love myself, but not love my natural coils.... It's beautiful, and that's how I feel most comfortable." 

"Maintenance can be a task, but when I can't do it, I miss it so much. Maintaining it consists of a mixture of co-washing, using many natural oils and protective styling."

"My hair is like my baby, I love it and I love pampering and taking care of it... I love me, I love being Natural :-)"

Like Noddy, we think the first step to having gorgeous natural hair is to love your hair!

Love your hair girls!

xxx

'BORROW THIS, BORROW THAT' by Chioma M.

I hid under my bed sheet and hugged what was left of my dignity. I allowed the tears to flow like the fountain I had seen in a documentary, and wished they could soothe my shattered heart or wash down the shame that had choked my throat and blackened my face like the witches from the children’s drama in church. I could still hear the noise outside my circus of shame; girls hauling abuses at me, ‘wannabe oshi,’ ‘jenifa,’ and all the names their heads could think of to represent my shameful act. I had watched myself fall from my supposed famous ‘big girl’ status to a wannabe...

I had always wanted to be a big girl in school; to be known among the fashionistas that rocked the campus and painted it black and blue. So when Yinkus offered to give me her clothes and also connect me to some of her friends that would do the same, I damned the ‘be yourself’ cliché and grabbed her offer. I started rolling with the big babes and felt my life-long dream come to fruition. I rocked campus parties and attended lectures with nothing of my own except myself; for two years I had maintained my new look and deceived my parents at home, until this morning. On my way back from my department, I was stopped at the entrance of the hostel by Yinkus. She had dragged me just before I could apologize for our misunderstanding the previous night. I tried to wriggle myself out of her hold but she seemed to have come prepared and all my pleading seemed like water poured in a basket.

In less than ten minutes, all the girls in the hostel had surrounded us to listen to my two-year charade. Yinkus didn’t spare a word of everything I had done for the past two years. I didn’t know what to do, and how I got into my bed remained a mystery to me. As I listened to the voices outside my room, I was left with just one wish, Death!

Walk into any uni campus today and you will find the girl in the story above. Girls like her are everywhere, living under the wrong light and they are scared of 12am; that awkward moment when the fairy godmother withdraws all her borrowed possession and she falls back to square one. My question is: What shall it profit you if you borrow all the clothes to look good and at the end of the day you are still a nobody? If your borrower coughs, you shiver for fear of being revealed; for how long, really? If anyone is going to define you, trust me, it is never going to start from the outside. What you show off with only lasts the moment you are seen and then like the wind, everything blows away. What stands for you when you are not there; when you are in the bathroom and your name is mentioned, when you are absent from the class, when you leave one company to another and when you are no more, is what is in you not what is outside— no one remembers what you wore the day before, you can try it (except your friends who do that for friendship sake). The more you borrow, the more you lose your essence: you forget who you are and continue to roam about someone else’s shadow, while your true self sinks into oblivion.

Imagine a guy walks up to you and after admiring the ‘borrowing’ damsel he finds out that your true self is locked somewhere in a closet, neatly tucked and wasting away, you think he would stay? In case you are wondering what the answer is, it’s NO! He won’t. Nobody wants to get married to a false woman, an alien.

Dear girl, you can look good wearing what you have. If a friend judges you by what you wear then that ‘friend’ is not a friend. Concentrate on who you are and where you are headed because that is what is important; be content with what you have. You know what: I always think that what is inside you is greater than what is outside…Go girl! 

Careers- Interview with the CEO of Francoise Make-overs

     1)   Tell us a bit about your background?

My name is Oyindamola Jaiyesimi. I am a middle child. I am a lawyer, member of the Nigerian Bar Association. I also hold an MSc in Human Resource Management and Business and I am a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), UK.  I believe education is key!

I am a professional Makeup Artist with a diploma in Make-up. I am also a professional beauty therapist having obtained a diploma in Beauty Therapy too.

   2)   Tell us a bit about Françoise Makeovers?

Françoise Makeovers is a total beauty and make-up outfit. We at Françoise Makeovers believe that makeup is meant to be beautiful, and beautiful makeup is all about the colours you use and where you place them. Makeup should always be used to enhance your best features and NEVER to disguise you. Every face has its unique features and the sooner you discover and celebrate yours, the happier and more confident you will be! We love to have fun with what we do, so we like keep our service packages fun!

Our packages include Bridal Beauty, Lights. Camera. Pout (photo-shoots), Red carpet ready (special events), One-on-One Makeup Lesson... with Love from Françoise, How to Make up like a pro… with Love from Françoise, Colour Me Beautiful…with Love from Françoise (makeup parties, bridal showers and every other reason to get glammed up!)

3)   When did you decide to create Françoise Makeovers?

I started Françoise Makeovers in 2008 after I obtained my diploma in Makeup from the Beauty Academy, UK.

4)   Why should women get their makeovers done by Françoise Makeovers?

At Françoise makeovers, we truly believe in every woman’s unique beauty and we always work to enhance her best features. We provide a 100% quality service assurance as we are totally dedicated to meeting the varied needs of every individual/client. Also, at Françoise Makeovers, we get down to knowing the individual, their personality, likes and dislikes; so our clients get a truly personalised service.

5)   Are you involved in any other business?

Yes. I am a Management Consultant with one of the “Big Four” accounting firms in Nigeria. I also sit on the Board of Trustees of two non-government organisations in Nigeria.

6)   What challenges do you face as a young female entrepreneur?

My biggest challenge is time. Most times I am juggling a lot of different areas of my life and don’t get to put as much time into my business as I would love to.

7)   What inspires you?

All my inspiration comes from God. He is the sole source of my strength. In him I live, move and have my being.

8)   Entrepreneurs that are your role models...

Iman. She has created one of the most amazing skin care and cosmetics line for women of colour which I aspire to achieve.

9)   Your Philosophy…….

”In all things give thanks to God…”

10)   Where do you see your business & yourself in the next few years?

 I see a well recognised beauty and makeup brand. I pray to someday own my own spa, wellness and beauty centre. I am working very hard at making my dream come true! 

11)   Your advice to girls who are aspiring entrepreneurs….

I always say whatever you do, do it with all your heart!  Just keep going for it, remember Rome wasn’t built in a day!

Summer '12 Must Haves

2012 is buzzing with lots of exciting trends and it seems like everyone is becoming more style savvy. We decided to show you what’s on our list of must haves for summer ’12, and what should be on yours! :)

PRINTS

Summer ’12 is all about prints, loads and loads of prints and we absolutely love it! Here are some of our top picks: (All from Topshop)

  

PEPLUM

The Peplum trend is back! We love it because it adds some form of structure and gives an elegant and grown look to anyone that wears it. 

POINTED COURT SHOES

Platforms have had their own share of ‘trend fame’, and it’s time to give them a rest. Pointed Court Shoes are most definitely one of the must haves of summer ’12. They elongate the legs and they are great in bright colours and prints too; loving them already! Check out these ones from ASOS

NEON

Neon can be blinding bright but it’s such an exciting trend.  We love the neon yellows and greens- it screams fun! Skirt from Topshop

SATCHEL

We love satchels! They work well with almost any outfit. Satchels were a must have last year and they remain a must have this year….aren’t we glad! :)

Cambridge Satchel Company

Paul’s Boutique Sasha Satchel

SUNGLASSES

Cool sunnies are DEFINITELY a must have all year round (especially if you live in Nigeria like we do) :) We love this over sized retro sunnies and round keyhole sunnies from ASOS

SLIPPER SHOES

Slipper shoes rocked last year and they would continue to rock this year! We absolutely LOVE them! Check out these gorge finds:

ALDO Buschur Leopard Pony Slipper Shoes & Sam Edelman Adena Stud Detail Satin Slippers

 

WEDGES

Wedges are amazing and they look great on everyone! 

River Island Stripe Platform Wedge

SOLE CREEPERS

Sole creepers are a summer '12 must have! They're for the fashion forward girls- so rock 'em if you're one of 'em! ;) Our pick:

Underground Wulfrun Contrast Sole Creepers: 

                            

Stay fab always! xxxx

GIRLFRIEND OF THE MONTH

Tolulope Sangosanya is the founder of LOTS Charity Foundation. LOTS (Love on the Streets) Charity Foundation is an NGO that focuses on feeding, educating, and clothing street children amongst other things.

Prior to their operation in Dustbin Estate of Ajegunle, Lagos, they were already working in other environments- feeding street kids and clothing them under the name ‘Project Lots’- “During that period we fed over 5,000 street children and other vulnerable children; we gave educational support to over a hundred kids, relocated a family from the refuse dump site, had three health outreaches that reached over 200 kids, and conducted several clothing drive exercises. LOTS (Love on the Streets) Charity Foundation is now registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (2009). After winning the category for the ‘Best use of Advocacy’ at the 2010 future awards Nigeria, we got lots of media attention and now we are getting known for our work at Dustbin Estate nationally. We were selected as one of the ten credible NGOS that UNICEF will be training and working with in Lagos State.” 

Some of their projects include a health outreach, organized 3 times a year. The main aim of the outreach is to administer and give the kids as well as their parents, drugs that will reduce cases of malaria attacks, intestinal worm attacks and also treatment for general body illnesses. In association with the health outreach is the Hygiene Pack Program which is a means through which these kids can have anti toxic drugs, vitamin supplements, and general body cleaning materials- like bathing soap, deodorant and tooth brush, paste and other essentials.

For many kids registered in LOTS Charity Foundation, “home sweet, home” is nothing more than living on a dumpsite”. LOTS have relocated one family and expect to do more as funding is available. The main reason for this is the Proposed Housing Project Plan in February 2012. LOTS also provide basic clothing as donated by various individuals and organizations to children and adults living on the dump sites.

LOTS has assisted several families in paying the school fees of their children in the form of scholarships, by involving supporters and kind hearted Nigerians in Nigeria and the Diaspora. The school fees are usually paid by the sponsor who may take up sponsorship of a child all through Primary or secondary school. They have also created a resource centre which has a functional library and currently provides literacy classes, supplementary classes and skills in subjects such as Mathematics, English, Financial literacy, arts, cooking, photography, tailoring, etiquette, among others.

On the 18^th of December every year, the children are taken out to entertainment centres as part of the socialization education program tagged ‘Project Lots’.  The Project aims at showing love and care during a season like the Christmas season, when there is so much sharing and giving.

“The hope and plan we have is that one day soon, majority of DUSTBIN ESTATE will be converted to TREASURE ESTATE which would be suitable for human beings to live in. Thus, our focus for the next five years (2012-2016) will mostly be providing infrastructure most especially suitable accommodation for families currently living on the dump site. In five years, we hope to have built a world class resource  center which will help reduce crime rate as we will gainful employ the attention of children and youths in the environment by providing ‘education’ in a fun way; both formally and informally. Hopefully, we will own a free school one day on what used to be called DUSTBIN ESTATE.” 

For Tolulope, the definition of success is not the amount of money possessed in her bank account. Instead, it’s the amount of lives she influences positively. What makes her successful aren’t the tangible things, but the intangible like love, care, giving, attention to others, positive change and more- “It is our dream and hope that one day LOTS Charity Foundation can complete what we set out to achieve and by that we mean- no more hunger, no more naked people, proper medical care, and quality education; but until then, there is so much work to be done”.

For more info on Tolulope Sangosanya and LOTS Charity Foundation, go to http://www.lotscharityfoundation.org