TheStyleHQFASHION WEEK DAILY

TheStyleHQRunway Highlights

Designer SpotlightSophie Zinga

The Bottom Line

Inside Lagos Bistro 7,

Sika Osei

The Beauty ProjectEku Edewor

StudioBlanche

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FASHION WEEK DAILY

Creative Director

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PHOTOGRAPHYOBI SOMTO

BERNARD OKULAJATOPE ADENOLA

DEMILADE ROBERTSIMOLE “TOBBIE” BALOGUN

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EDITORIALBeauty Editor LOLA MAJAContributing Editor NOBLE EZEALAContributor-at-Large AISHA KAZEEMEditorial Assistant ELOHOR OMONENUEditorial Assistant DAPHNE OMONENUEditorial Assistant OLURANTI ADEGBOLAAssistant to Editor in Chief CHICHI OMOLEBELE

BOLAJI ANIMASHAUN

MARYAM KAZEEM

DEYI DIPEOLU

Table of Contents

RunwayHighlights

WANA SAMBOITUENOKUNOREN TWINS LANRE DA SILVA AJAYI

Day 4 of GTB Lagos Fashion & Design week marked the end of the highly anticipated show. Finishing strong with Tiffany Amber, the day started and ended without a hitch and left us with an amazing feeling of pride as to how far

Nigerian fashion has come in the last three years.

Having recently been featured in Vogue Italia, the Okunoren twins are flying the flag for high standards in Nigerian menswear. It is no secret that the fashion industry has a lot more choice for women, furthermore menswear is rarely of good quality. However, that all comes to a halt with this label. The most impressive feat is the fit of these designs as they show great tailoring. Conservative with a subtle twist, minimalist black with a dash of traditional aso-oke. It speaks to the most conservative of men and also to the most fashion forward. This is a good collection that can stand side-by-side with any menswear designer around the world.

One of the most innovative designers in Africa. This diffusion line is a sharp departure from her use of ankara that gripped the hearts of many for so long. The best part of the designs is that she is communicating her love of fashion through the fabric. The magnified measuring tape print that runs across the collection is endearing and witty. What we have here is a colourful, youthful, quirky ode to youthful fashion; certainly not for the conservative, but pleasing to the eye.

At a first glance the Wana Sambo collection is not particularly cohesive however after some examination and analysis you see the theme is in the colour palette and use of block colours – maroon, orange and grey. Unusual but interesting. The maroon pieces are sewn in with appropriate dashes of lace. Looking at most of the silhouettes, one must give kudos to the designer as it seems accommodating of different body shapes.

This is a floral and feminine visual collection, which is amazing to say as it was inspired by Olumo Rock in Abeokuta. The floral detail and bright colours are reminiscent of summer. The pieces evoke a sort of combination of Carrie Bradshaw and Charlotte York. Extremely practical, the pieces are easy wear for drinks, cocktails, church, dates and everything in between. The practicality however does not detract from the creativity and beauty. Bravo!

Words by Ade RonkePhotography by Kola Oshalusi (Insigna)

Designer Spotlight

Senegalese born fashion designer Sophie Zinga Sy is the owner of the Sophie Zinga fashion label. She got formal fashion training at the Parsons School of Design in New York City. Sophie whose natural talent was developed while attending the prestigious design school, Parsons, has always been an avid art enthusiast. She is constantly drawing inspiration from her travels and the fusion of the multiple cultures that have shaped her, from her African roots to her New York City education and entrepreneurial mind-set.She considers herself a citizen of the world and her designs are a distinctive blend of her artistic experiences and eclectic cocktail of her voyages. The mixture of her African heritage and New York City education are evident in her collections which features a fine array of native African designs coupled with a mixture of contemporary designs. Ever since her foray into the fashion industry, the Sophie Zinga label has consistently produced amazing collections spanning from cocktail dresses, evening attires down to wedding dresses and has even gained her the following of international superstar Solange Knowles who has been spotted in several pieces from Sophie’s collection. She first showcased her resort collec-tion during the Dakar Fashion Week in 2013, and has gone on to showcase her work at various fashion shows like the New York Fashion Week (NYFW), Black Fashion Week Paris, South African Fashion Week and a host of others. She participated in the Ethical Fashion Initiative’s programme (EFI) which aims to support and promotes new generation fashion design talent

Words by Elohor OmonemuPhotography: Bernard Okulaja

Words by Yegwa UkpoPhotography: Demilade Roberts

Ituen Basi’s collection for her diffusion line “Ituen” was extremely fresh and such a welcome sight on the runway. The first model coming with a wide grin and thick rimmed glasses set the tone. Bright yellow dresses and skirts with ruler measurement prints and public transportation made me think about what the childhood of the designer could have been like.

Jumping buses and okadas in Lagos to go to school, playing with her friends afterwards and all the while having a sunny outlook on life, the past could not have been more nostalgic and sunny.

The BottomLine

I want to see this collection on people on the streets right now.

While Mai’s menswear was expected – even though the live drummer was less so - the womenswear that followed it was really out of left field. Niger Delta men’s traditional costume was feminised and transformed into skirts, long tunics with narrow shoulders and cuffs as decorative jewelry. Almost all the looks were presented with pinstripe fabrics

evoking his history in traditional suit making for men. The finale with a group smiley involving Mai and all his female models was the icing on a very sweet cake of a latter half of his show.

The last day of LFDW was marked by the heavy hitters of the Nigerian fashion industry pulling out all the stops to showcase their brands and their

crafts. Of all of them, Tiffany Amber is not only the oldest, but also the one that really stood out. Lovely fabrics cut into sophisticated, if classic, shapes were sent down the runway non-stop in a series of declarations. The penultimate series of looks done in really nice tulle layered over more tulle as well as other fabrics really sold the collection to me and I think was a nice way to close the fashion week and also crown her fifteenth anniversary in business. If they could work a bit more on their construction, the brand could really become something even bigger than it is now.

Inside Lagos

Christine Sika ‘Ife’ Ossei is a Ghanaian born TV personality who embodies the quintessence of television presentation as a presenter on the popular Studio 53 Extra on DSTV 151. Though born in Ghana, she grew up in Lesotho, America and India. She is not only a television presenter but also an actress and a lawyer. Decked out in a sheer white and yellow Tsemaye Binitie dress with off shoulder sleeves that brings out the soft and femi-nine in her, Sika seems at ease in the re-laxed surroundings of the Bistro 7. The soft and cozy atmosphere of Bistro 7 sets the right mood as Sika sets out to dig into the mouth-watering dish of mashed potatoes and steak in sauce with a side serving of vegetables.

Words by Elohor OmenemuPhotography: Bernard Okulaja

Bistro 7 offers gourmet style foods that you love to enjoy, from Italian pastas and pizzas to hearty sandwiches and well thought out continental dishes all made fresh on the premises, including their breads. Complimented by their quaint Beanery on one side, this is a definite must on your restaurant list. It’s just the right spot you might want hang out on a lazy Sunday for brunch.

Bistro 7 is located at No 273B Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.

My freckles are the feature I take the least notice of as I see nothing unusual about them. People always call freckles cute, so I guess they evoke youth and innocence to people. 

I notice freckles a lot on other people I think they are just so unique. I remember when I was going through duty free in Dubai a Korean sales assistant told me politely that I could get rid of them, when I told her I loved my freckles, she politely shrugged, she couldn’t bring herself to agree with me. What she didn’t love about freckles is what I love about them, they are beautiful imperfections, they add character and expression to an otherwise plain face. 

I love my freckles in summer as I’m darker and my skin is healthier. My freckles also stand out more! They make me look youthful, and a bit of mascara is all I need and I feel like a teen.

I am a product junkie, over the years I have started to research and buy medically appropriate and scientific skincare that targets specific problems!

I’ve introduced a lot of Vit E and hydrating oils and mists into my regime. Right now I’m using, dermatologica anti age products, circadia and nuxe brightening. As I get older I notice my glow isn’t the same so I have to work on it. I would love to launch my own skin care range one day! I’m obsessed! 

TheBeauty EkuEdeworProject

Nneoma Anosike is the 19 year old student of the University of Lagos who won the 2013 Elite Model Looks 2013.Tall, slim and graceful; she is an epitome of true beauty. She is fondaly called “Nini Oma” by everyone.

When I wake up in the mornings, I check my phone, Instagram, snap chat and then take a bath, wash my face, brush my teeth… just basic stuff. Then I eat. I’m a foodie but I don’t eat too much in the morning, I only eat eggs, bread and tea. I don’t know how to eat so much food in the morning. I’d rather eat in the afternoon than in the morning. Because it’s fashion week, I’d head straight down for fittings after break-fast. I have lunch and then I have an apple. I have to eat an apple a day. My life is quite boring.

I don’t have a backstage ritual. I’m just always excited and people ask me why. Most times I have my moods so I just sit down in yoga position and just listen to music. I just calm myself down. In a day, I just have to take 30mins to myself to just sit down and listen to music and be alone. Not because I want to be alone

but because interacting with people gets too much and I need to calm down.

To be honest, nothing is in my head when I’m on the runway. I’m completely blank. Even when I wear long dresses, I don’t think about falling down, I try to blank it all out. I just focus on looking straight and remembering to walk in the middle and cut my cor-ners right. If I start to think about something, I get distracted and that makes me blink. I just try to stay focused on the runway.

As soon as I step on the runway, I’m in the mood. Most times, back stage is chaotic. There are 5 or 6 people on you, doing your hair, your face, your feet, dressing you up but then you start getting paranoid but you can’t do anything because that’s your job. But when you step on the runway with all the lights on you, trust me, you get in the mood. Even if you were crying or they literally pushed you. When I’m on the runway, I’m in the mood. When I’m off, I can get paranoid at times.

Model Diaries

Words by Elohor OmonemuPhotography by Kola Oshalusi (Insigna)

StudioBlanche

White is always refreshing, whether it is paired with a pair of jeans, a skirt or even a pair of print shorts. At Studio today, we decided to go back to the basics and channel the purity of white. With white, you don’t have to worry about silhouettes, fancy details or cuts. Its easy and luminous and sometimes a white tee will do what a fitted dress with an exaggerated peplum might not be able to do, clean up all your imperfections. So next time you’re in doubt just grab a white top and watch it pop effortlessly against your skin, easy breezy.

StreetStyle

Photography: Bernard OkulajaTobbie TCD Maguire

BackStage

Photography: Bernard Okulaja