Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Christmas

Yuletide! Rock It Hot
By Oyindamola Lawal
THE Yuletide parties are still on. Girls everywhere take a collective sigh, for the politics of Christmas party dresses have made their seasonal appearance. Christmas parties are what girls are absolutely crazy about in December.
What is very important is to know the dress code. More so, go for festive colours like sparkly, red, gold or silver and you’ve hit the nail on the head. Whatever you do, do not forget those all important sparkly accessories and gorgeous glittery make up.
For the petites, a belted waist asymmetrical dress is a flattering touch because it will emphasize your figure. If it’s your bog standard party with an ‘anything Christmassy goes’ theme, handkerchief dresses and little tutu prom dresses will work wonders.
In the booming 1990s it was perfectly okay to turn up to a party in expensive jeans, but in times of recession it is good manners to dress up and show your appreciation to the hostess for providing free canapés during lean times. Depending on the venue and your personal style preference there are two main looks for Christmas 2008 – think either 'prima ballerinas dressing up box' or 'Goth glam meets rock chic'.

Fabrics
For fairy tale glamour think opulent lace and tulle confections with whimsical oversized fabric embellishment in the form of roses, ruffles and bows. There are vintage style flapper dresses with palettes, sequins, beading, feathers and fringing. Mix tulle, chiffon, silk and velvet with lots of amazing lace. The age of romance comes alive in a lovely silhouette and delicate lace. Lets your taffeta speaks for you.
Make a glamorous entry: decadent silk falls into soft pleats and an exquisite drape in blue maxi dress. Looks perfect!

Dresses
Dresses have always been one of the most favourite trends among women as they are very comfortable to wear and demonstrate the better parts of our bodies. Dresses of this season have sequins, various embellishments, lace and leopard prints.
If you’re going for the lean elegant look, a long silk dress with spaghetti straps in palest metallic is a sure-fire hit for everyone
Accessories
Accessorise to the max! Choose one stunning piece such as a bling cocktail ring, a gorgeous pair of earrings or a jewelled cuff.
Make a statement with a great bag. As we always say, accessories matter and they complete the look. Well-balanced details make any look exclusive and original.

Bags have one main peculiarity – diversity of style! It means your bag can be of any style but it shouldn’t be versatile. This season, go for bright clutches for eveningwear. Each bag has to be distinguished by style, colour, shape and, of course, its own unique character.

Footwear fashion is a capricious lady. Today this style is trendy, tomorrow that one and the day after tomorrow we return to first sample. Opt for trendy party shoes.

sleek makeup/hair

Rocking The Sleek Runway
By Oyindamola Lawal
Celebrities, beauticians, fashion designers, estheticians, cosmetologists among others from the UK and Nigeria recently stormed Sleek Makeup Nigeria’s first anniversary and fashion show.
The event themed Sleek’s Symphony of Style, which was held on November 30, at Muson Centre, anchored by Nollywood star Kate Henshaw-Nuttal and Ifeoma William was rated one of the best fashion shows in recent time. The show was packaged by Ndidi Obioha of Enthyst event.
Sleek Nigeria was launched on November 11, 2007 by two sisters Ebele Ugochukwu and Ify Ugochukwu, graduates of University of Jos and Wales, respectively.

The fashion show featured models in branded tank top black sleek and leggings, adorned with exquisite sleek hairstyles. The models engaged the runway with their sassy and eye catching hair styles such as the natural Brazilian hair, Remi cuticle, Indian hair, regular human hair, yaki, floxy, angellina, dread locks, channel, Mexican weaves, sassy and paradise among others.
In the same vein, models strut the runway in Amede’s designs. Amede is known for making her own fabrics and designing smart Adire causal outfits. At the show, she played with colours such as black, pink, and orange among others. With her signature, Adire, made with different fabrics including chiffon and satin was designed into sexy short evening gowns, smart casuals and funky street wears. Her styles on the runway include mono-straps, tube, spaghetti, boubou, spaghetti, sleeveless gown, up puffy and the host of others.

After a fabulous display on the runway, Brendan McParland, founder of Sleek International gave an inspiring speech. Helen Moore, an undergraduate of UNILAG and a comedian thrilled the audience with her usual baby tone.
International Nigeria designer, Deola Sagoe, did not only sweep the audience off their feet with her irresistible, gorgeous and unique designs, she also showcased 2009 collections.
Moreso, UK-based corporate designer, Nino Santoro gave the audience a touch of classy western blazers, shirts and pant trousers. According to him, “ this is my first time in Nigeria and I am happy that they love my designs. My designs are classy and very detailed.” He added, “ I source my fabrics from Italy, Britain amongst other. My price range start from 100 pound to 300 pounds or more depending on the design, either made to measure or bespoke.”
Ify Ugochukwu, the MD, announced the Breast Without Spot (BWS) campaign and the introduction of Face of Sleek 2009, whom the winner will win a Mercedes B Class, goodwill ambassador for United Catwalk Programme among others.


Award
The mother of Sleek Hair and Make up, Justice Ezo presented a Plasma TV to highest Turn Over Sleek Makeup Franchise, Funke Akinogun (MRS) and a laptop to the Highest turn over Sleek Make-up distributor, Mrs. Seun Adewunmi.
In addition, the publisher of Today’s Woman, Adesuwa Onyenokwe, also presented a plasma TV to Mrs. Oke Maduewesi, the Highest turn Over Sleek Hair franchise and Down Town Saloon while the Highest Turn Over Sleek Hair Distributor won a laptop. Hajia Yesu, was awarded for Most PR franchise; and Most Pr Distributor went to Omolola Faleye
Entertainment
The marvelous dancer, Kaffe with her crew rocked the show with her unbeatable steps. West Africa Idol star, Omawunmi did not fail to brightened the night with her sweet voice. And, Naeto C and P Square spiced up the night.
Sleek models were on fire, they stepped on the runway in a golden look and big and bold tattoos on their body displaying their different creative dancing step and entertaining moves.
Red Carpet
The red carpet was painted black. Celebrities, journalists, fashionistas, beauticians and fashion designers stepped in different and stylish Little Black Dress (LBD).

T.I



T.I. Talks About Arrest -- 'I Brought It On Myself' -- Future Plans, And God

House arrest has caused T.I. to slow down.

In the rapper's first extensive interview since he was arrested in October 2007 for illegally attempting to purchase firearms and since he pleaded guilty to weapons charges two weeks ago, the Grand Hustle rapper told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the events of the past year have taught him not to live life so fast.

"Patience," he explained, when asked how he's been coping. "Just a lot of patience. If I can sit at home all day and wait on people to bring me what I need ... wait on getting permission to be able to do this and do that, it's not as serious as I used to make it sometimes. Sometimes it was like, 'If I don't get this right now I'm just going to lose it.' ... When you're going 350 MPH, it tends to be that way. But when you are stopped — halted, not slowed down, but halted — you figure, 'Well I could have just slowed down. I didn't have to be stopped.' I thought it was bad just to slow down. Now I see in me being stopped, I could have done this, been this, myself, instead of being forced to do it."

The admissions came in a 30-minute-plus chat T.I. held with the newspaper at an Atlanta YMCA after speaking to a youth group for aspiring music producers called FOR ME, Inc. As a part of the rapper's plea deal, he was ordered to complete 1,500 hours of community service.

Aside from losing his freedom, T.I. noted that he's lost his high-profile endorsement deal with General Motors. He was prominently featured in ads alongside NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. He said his ordeal has cost him millions of dollars.

"GM had to back up off of me," he said. "There are films that I missed out on. Not speaking of, of course ... tours. Tons of business. I've probably lost about $10 to $12 million."

After the reporter noted that T.I. smiled while saying it, the rapper laughed and replied, "Sometimes you laugh to keep from crying. But you know, I'm blessed to be able to be out here to make $10 to $12 [million] more. Especially considering I brought this all on myself. So you know — minimal injury. Maximum lesson learned."

The rapper said he has turned to spiritual guidance in his troubling times. "I feel blessed," he said. "Lucky ain't the word. It's by the grace of God that I'm here."

He said his relationship with church hasn't changed, but he acknowledged that his prayers were answered, as he got off with a much lighter sentence than expected in the case. Not to recognize his fortunes, he said, would be insulting.

"When you do the amount of praying that anybody in a situation similar to mine spends the time doing, and for that prayer to work, and for you to have other people praying for you to get through the situation — or to see the situation beginning to look up — and not acknowledge that's what helped the situation, I think that's blasphemous," he said.

T.I. is set to record in the studio with Amy Winehouse soon, although he said he was uncertain whether the collaboration will appear on his or Winehouse's album. He maintains a new single off his forthcoming album Paper Trail will arrive in the next couple of weeks, premiering on his social-networking site, StreetCred.com.

In the meantime, T.I. is engaged to his long-time girlfriend, Tameka "Tiny" Cottle and expecting a baby boy next month, although he said their marriage plans are uncertain at the moment.

"As far as a date, I'm not setting a date because then it's going to turn into a lot of fanfare," he said. "No relationship needs all that. It's more hazard than help. ... And you know today, as entertainers, as public figures, there's enough strain on a relationship as it is. I think that's a private moment for us and our families."

He spoke a little about the days before his arrest last year. The night before the BET Hip-Hop Awards, he and friends went out on the town to celebrate his success, but his subsequent arrest made his memory of that moment bittersweet.

"It was sort of like a, well, you remember the [last] Super Bowl, right," T.I. said. "You know Jeremy Shockey? He broke his leg. He had to sit up in the press box and watch. He couldn't help his team win. He couldn't play. The greatest, most talked-about, most publicized Super Bowl in our time and he's sitting watching; instead of actually being able to participate. Terrible ... And I know, I know, I brought it on myself."

This report is from MTV New