Back to the Matter - 5 Style Essentials for the 9-5 Gal

Lagos Fashion And Design Week 2013  MAI ATAFO #LFDW

Just like the title implies, it's time to get to the main matter - work, life and the career...It took me like five days to come up with this post - why? Because firstly, the title came to me within seconds but I didn't know what exactly to write about. I thought, maybe what it feels like getting back to office, how to set the mind back to work mood and finally closet staples to reconsider for the new year..

I came to conclusion, I'm clear on how I feel for the new work year and also clear on having a resolution or not. But something I'm sure I and most peeps out there are not sure they've cleared for the new year - is their style resolution.

I know my style, I know how I want to be seen/addressed style-wise but I desire a strong change for my work looks. For 2014 I want more strong looks, more like 'power' looks. Casual formal is permitted but in a matured way not girly.

Finally, I summarized it into five essential style items for the working lady *big smile*

The five include;

* The Jacket: No not the regular jacket, a monochrome or boyfriend jacket. Both will be essential for the always-necessary LBD and the tank and pants/pencil skirt looks.

Vogue Australia senior fashion editor Christine Centenera

POSH PANTS – Pajamas, Prints and Patterned

As seen around lately, pajamas have come to be the latest and easy-to-decide fashion trend at parties, clubs, cinemas, hang-outs even almost-corporate gatherings.

From shorts, three-quarters, long length, pajamas are the in-fashion trend especially for daring ladies who can work colour, size and shape in one look.

T for TOM FORD: Tiaras, Trenches, Totes & Topless Girls for A/W '13

I always say Tom Ford doesn't do soft and slow, he goes in hard! *excuse my french*. It's either you go full or not at all ...there's no coming easy for Tom.

I literally screamed when I saw the release for the A/W campaign, the pants...dreamy! The totes with heavy zips and fur...redeeming! The blunt heels...vulgar! The trench coats and track suits...edgy! The glasses...sexily nerdy! 

Do I need mention the patterned gowns? Frankly, no real words here, just love.

Love to my 'daddy' who remains my fearless lover *in my head*

Having said all these words, which do not quite do justice, I shall return to my dreams and perhaps one day I'll be able to own some Tom Ford.

What's more sexy than beautiful ladies in sexy tiara's and striped peep-toe heels? *swoon*

MORE PHOTOS...

What’s Your Glamour?

Recently while reading an old edition of Elle magazine (one of the few things I love doing while sipping coffee) I stumbled upon an interview on one of my favourite designers – Thakoon Panichgul.

In the interview, Thakoon described ‘Glamour’ as having the confidence to wear casual yet intricate, cerebral designs…”which got me thinking; what defines casual in relation with glamour – I mean, how do you look glamourous at the same time simple, classy and casual to no point of looking mundane?

I’ve always been of the opinion (which I’ve found is true) that not everyone that says casual or even classy really means it ‘your’ way. In other words, the saying “one man’s meat is another man’s poison” fits appropriate. But in this contest one man/woman’s ‘Class’, ‘Sophistication’, ‘Casual’ is another man’s ‘Tacky’, ‘Trashy’, or even ‘Trendy’.

Dita von Teese

So how do we all come to terms with thoughts and sense of individual reasoning --- in fashion that is?

The Question: How do you become sure that that person’s idea of being/looking classy, casual, chic is yours?

Prada Parade

This ladies are keeping the saying "the street is your runway" alive, and what better way to that than in Prada!!

Photo via Streetfsn

FUN DISCOVERIES: Top Web News/Articles/Stories this Week --- Must Click Links!

'Preview in CHINA 2013,' The Scene for Textile and Fashion Industry 

 Quick TIPS to Ponder 

Those Irritating VERBS as Nouns 

Designer Fashion, but ONLY So Much  

Inside DOLCE & GABBANA’s Exclusive Couture Club 

The Style Maven – 90’s GRUNGE 

Mood Board and Lodging: DESIGNERS’s Recreational Inspiration  

All the APRIL Covers So Far 

 The 50 Best-DRESSED Over 50s 

Nicola Formichetti Formerly of Mugler is DIESEL’s New Artist Director 

FUN DISCOVERIES: Top Web Articles This Week!

13 TIPS for Effective Crisis Management

The MALE Bond 

In Florence FOOD Gets its Fashion Week 

Cultural CAPITAL

OBSESSED? You’re Not Alone 

When ‘What Do You Do?’ is a TABOO 

A New Name in LUXURY 

Global KIDS Fashion Week (GKFW) 

TOKYO Fashion Week 

Diamond Girl: Behind Rihanna’s World Tour DIAMOND Wardrobe 

Beyonce is the New Face of H&M Summer Collection 

FUN DISCOVERIES: Top Web Stories this Week - Must Read Articles!

This is a first draft of must read web stories this week, from fashion, lifestyle to entertainment and ramblings, these stories are entertaining, informative and indulging!

VIVIENNEWESTWOOD: At 71, Still Not Done Provoking - 

 MICHELLEHARPER, A Woman of Misery - 

 Bold Business, VERSACE's take on contemporary business dressing - 

 Discover a new shopping experience on ZABETHEL 

 Africa's top WOMEN achievers 

 ARISE Magazine Fashion Week #AMFW Event Coming Soon 

FASHION PR People vs Marketers 

Are Humans FASHION Animals 

30 Things Not Worth STRESSING Over 

 H&M’s Got Other Stories to Tell 

 9 African WOMEN Bloggers Weigh in on What Women’s Day Means to Them 

 BUNMI AWONIYI Named Superior Court Judge in California, First Nigeria Woman US Judge 

Style Details: Vlisco Jeu de Couleurs Launch

Gospel According to the Glamorai

What she says --- The Glamorai 

Delicate Beauty: Agbani Darego x ThisDay Style, Unveils AD Denim Line

Once Miss World and Face of L'Oreal, Agbani Darego who recently celebrated her 

30th birthday 

at The Wheatbaker Hotel covered ThisDay Newspaper insert style magazine called 

ThisDay Style. Looking stunning on the cover and insider pages, Agbani Darego in her interview 

expresses her opinion about fashion, style and the modelling agency.

Agbani Darego also shares about her upcoming project AD By AGBANI DAREGO - a denim line of jeans, dresses, bags, etc that will be exclusively 

designed by the her. 

That's a great idea and I hope it comes by quickly...I personally cannot wait to get 

one or two! 

More pictures!

Glam Report: Best of Golden Globes Awards '13

Golden Globes Awards 2013 was a great success...as usual, it was filled with jokes, speeches and lots of fashion moments that went from wow to awww. Top designers like Chanel, Donna Karan, Elie Saab, Dolce & Gabbana, Dior and more were spotted on the red carpet and while some celebrities pulled off glamorous looks others almost lost it all with wrong accessories, hair styles and makeup.

Well, I prefer going with the positive side of things, so I selected my best moments - red carpet fashion of course at the 70th edition of Golden Globes Awards 2013.

Anne Hathaway in Chanel Haute Couture

I cannot pick my top favourite yet but from Anne Hathaway  Jessica Alba, Julianne Moore to Lea Michele Lucy Liu and Halle Berry, there lies my number one.

Style Alert: Nkiru Anumudu in Stella McCartney Fall '12

Nkiru Anumudu continues to impress me with her consistent fashion hits; from Prada to Louis Vuitton

and now, Stella McCartney, well isn't she a trend setter.

Above is a picture of a model on the runway of Stella McCartney Fall 2012 show and

also is Nkiru Anumudu in same outfit at Agbani Darego's birthday. 

Classy or not?

More pictures on her fashion trends are below

It's the New Year Issue! TY BELLO x StyleMania Magazine January 2013

It's 2013 people! Okay, that has to continue for a while, say till the end of January or more.

So, I'm happy and super delighted about our January edition that features the lovely Ty Bello.

While to many, Ty Bello is simply a beautiful musician and photographer, to me

she's more! She's a genius, a brilliant, smart lady, she's a loving wife(yes, I'm sure),

and a wonderful mother all combined with being a fantastic photographer(she took a unique picture of 

me once at the AMFW 2011, maybe I'll share soon) and musician - remember, Green Land ?

For the January 2013 edition, we decided just as expected to inform you about

the trends to watch and stick with in 2013.

FUN DISCOVERIES: Weekly Roundup- Top Web Post Links this Week

The weekly roundup is here, below...

The Biggest Fashion Feuds of 2012
This Year in Vogue: An Analysis of the Covers from 2012 http://fashionista.com/2012/12/this-year-in-vogue-an-analysis-of-the-covers-from-2012/

DISCOVER NIGERIA: Nigeria’s Smartest… The Imafidon Family http://connectnigeria.com/articles/2012/12/06/discover-nigeria-nigerias-smartest-the-imafidon-family/

12 Fashion Commandments by Elsa Schiaparelli

Below is a list of Elsa Schiaparelli's 12 fashion commandments for women...it was culled from Mysticmedusa

1. Since most women do not know themselves, they should try to do so.

2. A woman who buys an expensive dress and changes it, often with disastrous result, is extravagant and foolish.

3. Most women (and men) are colour-blind. They should ask for suggestions.

4. Remember, 20 percent of women have inferiority complexes, 70 percent have illusions.

5. Ninety percent are afraid of being conspicuous, and of what people will say. So they buy a gray suit. They should dare to be different.

6. Women should listen and ask for competent criticism and advice.

7. They should choose their clothes alone or in the company of a man.

8. They should never shop with another woman, who sometimes consciously, and often unconsciously, is apt to be jealous.

9. She should buy little and only of the best or the cheapest.

10. Never fit a dress to the body, but train the body to fit the dress.

11. A woman should buy mostly in one place where she is known and respected, and not rush around trying every new fad.

12. And she should pay her bills.

The Perfect Whole : BANANA REPUBLIC S/S '13 Ready-to-Wear Collection

There’s something remarkably sweet and delicious and girly about this collection. The colours which obviously fit perfectly for Spring/Summer, the simplicity of each design, the very professional and mature yet accessible styling influence, the romantic makeup look, plus the ambiance of the scenery created within the space – outstandingly!

SPECIAL : Pyramid of Hope - Opral Mason Benson

Excerpt from my special profile on Opral Benson in October Issue of MANIA Magazine...

Often described as sensational for her enchanting elegance and superlative trendiness, cultural icon and philanthropist, Opral Mason Benson remains an epitome of African beauty and engaging intellect. Adeola Ojedokun takes a trip down memory lane of this woman of courage.

Born on February 7, 1935 at Mason Hill, Arthington - Northwest Monrovia, Liberia to Honourable Johnson Boto Mason and Lilly Melissa Mason they (her parents and grandparents elected to name her Opal (a bluish precious stone with iridescent reflections). They also called her Amanda, meaning “worthy of love”, but she did not like the name Opal for interesting reasons and though her parents thought the name was lovelyshe didn’t. she neither saw herself as precious nor as hard as a stone, so she began to write Opral on her school notebooks and while it took time she eventually succeeded in imposing the name change.

All Cut Up - Runway Review of Bridget Awosika's Collection At Lagos Fashion and Design Week 2012

Few designers I anticipated at the show didn’t quite disappoint me, for example Bridget Awosika and Omer Asim couldn’t have anticipated what happened. It was one thing both shows followed each other accordingly it was another thing – not good of course – considering the two designers share the same design aesthetics which was clearly revealed in their collection. I think this was a big miss on the organizers side – or not. But for future reasons some shows should just not follow each other e.g. Bridget Awosika and Omer Asim same way Celine will not be before or after Stella McCartney. 

Aside from this misses, both designers’ collection were remarkable; while Bridget Awosika inculcated lots of clean, easy wraps, precise layering and slits that again confirmed the brand’s versatility and sexiness.

"The Dream Pieces" by Le Reve Pieces

Le Reve Pieces, with an exclusive selection of exquisite Jewellery for women, is celebrating the opening of the fashion retail store on Saturday, 27 October, 2012 at the Valley View Mall, Niyi Okunubi Street, Lekki Phase I.

Le Reve, which simply means “The Dream” in French, is offering ‘Dream Pieces’; these are the rarest of pieces every woman dreams to possess.  Le Reve Pieces are crafted from beautiful hand-made Jewellery made from genuine stones and high quality findings and materials that would make any woman standout.

Le Reve Pieces is using this celebration to appreciate its customers by offering discounts up to 20% off fabulous Neckpieces, Bracelets, Earrings, Purses & Fascinators to suit any occasion. With drinks, music, hor d’oeuves and plenty social networking and mingling to guarantee a day of fun.

Event Details
Date: Saturday, 27 October, 2012
Venue: Valley View Mall, Shop FF4, No 1B, Niyi Okunubi Street, Lekki Phase 1. (First Turning On Your Right From Lekki 1 Gate – Dowen Collge Road).
Time: 2PM – 8PM

For more information email: info@lerevepieces.com |visit the website: www.lerevepieces.com | call: 08092222201