WELCOME TO OYINDAMOLA LAWAL'S BLOG. WE CELEBRATE THE WORLD'S FASHION, ENTERTAINMENT, AND NEWS..................... RELAX AND ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Rihanna posed in revealing short on Rolling Stone Magazine, goes dirty - Reveals her sex life
Rihanna on how much her hit single S&M reflects her real sex life: “Being submissive in the bedroom is really fun. You get to be a little lady, to have somebody be macho and in charge of your sh*t. That’s fun to me… I like to be spanked. Being tied up is fun. I like to keep it spontaneous. Sometimes whips and chains can be overly planned – you gotta stop, get the whip from the drawer downstairs. I’d rather have him use his hands.”
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Screen legend Elizabeth Taylor dies at 79
Screen legend Elizabeth Taylor, the violet-eyed film
goddess whose sultry screen life was often upstaged by her stormy
personal life, died Wednesday at age 79.
She died of congestive heart failure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center,
where she had been hospitalized for about six weeks, publicist Sally
Morrison said.
"All her children were with her," Morrison said.
Taylor had extraordinary grace, fame and wealth, and won three Oscars,
including a special one for her humanitarian work. But she was tortured
by ill health, failed romances and personal tragedy.
"I think I'm becoming fatalistic," she said in 1989. "Too much has
happened in my life for me not to be fatalistic."
Her eight marriages — including two to actor Richard Burton — and a
lifelong battle with substance abuse, physical ailments and overeating
made Taylor as popular in supermarket tabloids as in classic film
festivals.
Taylor disclosed in November 2004 that she had congestive heart
failure. But she still periodically dismissed reports that she was at
death's door, saying she used a wheelchair only because of chronic back
problems that began at age 12 when she fell from a horse.
"Oh, come on, do I look like I'm dying?" she said in May 2006 in a rare
television interview on CNN's "Larry King Live." "Do I look like or
sound like I have Alzheimer's?" Tabloids report such things "because
they have nothing else dirty to write about anybody else," she said.
When she turned 75 the following year, she was asked about the secret
to her longevity and quipped: "Hangin' in."
The London-born actress was a star at age 12, a bride and a divorcee at
18, a screen goddess at 19 and a widow at 26.
She appeared in more than 50 films, and won Oscars for her performances
in "Butterfield 8" (1960) and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" (1966),
in which she starred opposite Burton.
In later years, she was a spokeswoman for several causes, most notably
AIDS research. Her work gained her a special Oscar, the Jean Hersholt
Humanitarian Award, in 1993.
As she accepted it, she told a worldwide television audience: "I call
upon you to draw from the depths of your being — to prove that we are a
human race, to prove that our love outweighs our need to hate, that our
compassion is more compelling than our need to blame."
She accepted her many health problems with a stoic attitude.
"My body's a real mess," Taylor told W magazine in 2004. "If you look
at it in the mirror, it's just completely convex and concave." MAY HER
SOUL REST IN PERFECT PEACE.
goddess whose sultry screen life was often upstaged by her stormy
personal life, died Wednesday at age 79.
She died of congestive heart failure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center,
where she had been hospitalized for about six weeks, publicist Sally
Morrison said.
"All her children were with her," Morrison said.
Taylor had extraordinary grace, fame and wealth, and won three Oscars,
including a special one for her humanitarian work. But she was tortured
by ill health, failed romances and personal tragedy.
"I think I'm becoming fatalistic," she said in 1989. "Too much has
happened in my life for me not to be fatalistic."
Her eight marriages — including two to actor Richard Burton — and a
lifelong battle with substance abuse, physical ailments and overeating
made Taylor as popular in supermarket tabloids as in classic film
festivals.
Taylor disclosed in November 2004 that she had congestive heart
failure. But she still periodically dismissed reports that she was at
death's door, saying she used a wheelchair only because of chronic back
problems that began at age 12 when she fell from a horse.
"Oh, come on, do I look like I'm dying?" she said in May 2006 in a rare
television interview on CNN's "Larry King Live." "Do I look like or
sound like I have Alzheimer's?" Tabloids report such things "because
they have nothing else dirty to write about anybody else," she said.
When she turned 75 the following year, she was asked about the secret
to her longevity and quipped: "Hangin' in."
The London-born actress was a star at age 12, a bride and a divorcee at
18, a screen goddess at 19 and a widow at 26.
She appeared in more than 50 films, and won Oscars for her performances
in "Butterfield 8" (1960) and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" (1966),
in which she starred opposite Burton.
In later years, she was a spokeswoman for several causes, most notably
AIDS research. Her work gained her a special Oscar, the Jean Hersholt
Humanitarian Award, in 1993.
As she accepted it, she told a worldwide television audience: "I call
upon you to draw from the depths of your being — to prove that we are a
human race, to prove that our love outweighs our need to hate, that our
compassion is more compelling than our need to blame."
She accepted her many health problems with a stoic attitude.
"My body's a real mess," Taylor told W magazine in 2004. "If you look
at it in the mirror, it's just completely convex and concave." MAY HER
SOUL REST IN PERFECT PEACE.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Balling for Charity
THE red carpet recently swarmed with celebrities who graced Dame Virgy Etiaba Foundation charity ball red carpet in outstanding outfits.
Held at the Shell Hall, Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos, the event, tagged A Heart for Life, was aimed at raising funds towards the completion of the Empowerment Centre, Nnewi. Some other projects, which the Foundation hopes to embark on include raising awareness on the plight of widows, physically challenged and orphans in the society.
With Justice Alfa Belgore, former Chief Justice of Nigeria as chairman of occasion, the red carpet event saw Dr. Christopher Kolade, Nigeria’s former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom as the keynoter.
According to Etiaba, “unofficially, the foundation started in 2001, after an encounter with God, when I had a 'summit with Angels’. During the period that I served as the deputy governor and the governor of Anambra State, my attention was further drawn to the deplorable living standard of the under-privileged in our society. We then embarked on several charity projects. The Foundation is currently constructing an Empowerment Centre located at Nnewi, Anambra State. The Centre will provide a platform for succour, training, workshops and seminars for these groups of individuals in the society.”
She added, “I believe that the outcome of this African Charity Ball would contribute immensely to the welfare of our underprivileged and I’m proud to be a part of this movement, which will promote awareness that will help our beneficiaries by improving their quality of lives.”
The event saw comedian Helen Paul and Exquisite Dance Group entertaining guests.
No lingerie body suits for me’ Vixen
SILVERBIRD TV presenter and producer, Yvonne Ekwere’s (Vixen) fashion statement on red carpet stands out. Aside being a presenter, she also designs fashion accessories. The TV Personality of the Year 2010 shares her beauty secrets with OYINDAMOLA LAWAL.
What’s fashion to you?
It’s anything that is appealing and in vogue. It is something that has become a norm and is desirable.
Most favourable fashion piece
It’s my straight jeans; I can’t do without it.
Favourite designers
Lanre Da Silva, Zebra Living, Tiffany Amber, Vonne and Kiki Kamanu.
Most stylish icon
I love Lanre Da Silva for her peculiar style. She is so vintage, she is someone I really look up to. Another is Kim Kardasian because of her sexy look; attimes, I like to throw little bit of sexiness in my look.
Fashion faux pas
A lace front wig, because I believe I have a beautiful hairline. I’m an African; Africans are kinky and Afro centric. I may wear a wig, but I love showing off my real hairline.
What would you not be caught wearing?
Body suit, lingerie type of body suits.
Most cherished items
My wristwatches.
Most cherish possession
My blackberry. It makes communication easier and keeps one busy.
Turn off
Badly done lace front wig and People who feel they are too elite to talk to others
Beauty routine
I drink a lot of water; it helps to cleanse the skin. I scrub a lot; I scrub four times a week. I also tone and moisturise with body lotion. I use baby wipes.
Favourite beauty products
St Ives Apricot scrub and Neutrogena facial wash.
Items you can’t do without
My phone, pair of shades because sometimes I don’t want to be notice and a bottle of water.
Most embarrassing moment (s)
It was at FAB night, when the slit of the dress I wore on stage tore and was later mocked by Tea A with it.
Memorable
When I was given Dynamic Award – TV Personality of the Year. And anchoring The Future Awards with Ebuka Obi-Uchendu. It was so much fun.
What would you like to change in Nigeria, if given the chance?
Unstable electric power supply.
FBN Rewards Its Staff
In a graceful and adorn hall of Eko Hotel and Suites, First Bank Nigeria staff, friends and associates gathered to experience 2011 CAMA Award, as the bank acknowledged its staff’s performance, commitment, enterprise, integrity, accountability and achievement.
With a blend of glamour, style, opulence and luxury, the event was enlivened to incorporate 11 subsidiaries of the Bank. These include First Registrars, First Funds, FBN Mortgages, First Pension Custodian, First Trustees, FBN Micro Finance, FBN Insurance Brokers, FBN Bureau de Change and First Life Assurance limited
As part of commitment in integrating and consolidating its customer service systems and improving the service process itself, the institution also used the opportunity to launch its newest strategic business window in FirstBank Group, FBN Life Assurance Limited, which is set to combine FirstBank’s strong brand equity with the insurance business’ ability to offer the right product or combination of products to the right customer through the right channel at the right time.
According to the Group Managing Director/CEO of the Bank, Mr. Bisi Onasanya, “We had initiated the process of incorporating a life assurance business long before the new regulatory changes to the banking space. Persuaded by the strength of our vision we would comply with the new regulations on the Bank’s relationship with its non-core banking business by transferring ownership and control of FBN Life Assurance Limited to the holding company that will now manage all assets in the old FirstBank Group.”
The memorable event also gathered the most notable people in the society, among whom are the Minister of Finance, Dr. Olusegun Aganga; Group Managing Director of Oando Plc, Mr. Wale Tinubu; the Ciroma of Kano who represented the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Ado-Bayero; Governor of Cross River State, Mr. Liyel Imoke, and his wife, Obioma; former MD/CEO of First Bank and Federal Minister, Chief Oluwole Adeosun; Otunba Mohammed Jobi-Fele; former Governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba; former beauty queen, Nike Osinowo-Soleye, and her husband, Dr. Tunde Soleye; Managing Director of Emzor Pharmaceuticals, Chief Mrs. Stella Okoli; former Minister of Industries, Chief Mrs Nike Akande; Mr. Rotimi Oyekan, Lagos State Commissioner for Finance; Erelu Abiola Dosunmu, first son of Ooni of Ife, Oba Sijuwade, Tokunbo; Fela and Tara Durotoye; a director of First Bank, Mrs. Ibukun Awosika; former director of First Bank, Mr. Oye Hassan – Odukale.
The Awardees
The Economics graduate, Cecilia Majekodunmi, who emerged Best Market-Facing Staff in First Bank of Nigeria Plc, is a back-to-back winner of the FirstBank CEO’s Annual Merit Awards, having clinched the Best Group Head Award in CAMA 2008 and Best Business Development Manager Star Award in CAMA 2009. It was indeed a memorable day for the Medical Biochemistry graduate, Nkiru Adekoya, as FBN presented her the award of Best Staff, First Funds on her birthday. An energetic young man, Senior Field Officer for FBN Microfinance Bank, Joseph Uhunamure was also given Best Staff, FBN Microfinance Bank Limited.
Head of the Capital Markets Department of FBN Capital, Tairat Tijani was presented Best Staff, FBN Capital for managing a dedicated, committed, focused and professional team. For his high standard of perseverance and willingness to go the extra mile to accomplish difficult and complex assignments is exemplary, Ayowole Fanimokun was awarded the Best Staff, First Pension Custodian Limited. Akeem Adeniran who heads the Business Process and Operational Risk Management of FBN Mortgages was also awarded Best Staff, FBN Mortgages for his major role in reducing the service charge on implementation of support service for Service Level Agreement (SLA) on finacle banking application software.
Head, e-business of First Registrars, Oladipupo Olabisi also emerged Best Staff, First Registrars Nigeria Limited. Rotimi Obende who played a key role in the development of new product lines as well as repackaging existing products to meet current market realities emerged as Best Staff First Trustees and Sunday Enoch Kehinde was given Best Staff, FBN Insurance Brokers.
Glitz! Glam at CAMA
Without a doubt, The First Bank’s Chief Executive Annual Merit Annual (CAMA), which was held recently dwarfed previous editions.
The night of glamour witnesses high-class fashion on runway. Starting from the blue carpet to the well-decorated hall, the event lived up to its billing.
Instituted to reward excellence amongst staff of the bank and its subsidiaries, the reward was grouped into different categories such as Outstanding Performance of FBN capital went to Tairat Tijani, Rotimi Obende was awarded the best staff of First trustees, FBN Mortgages best staff went to Akeem Adeniran; best staff FBN Pension Custodian Limited, Ayowole Fanimokun, Joseph Nnamoe was given best staff FBN microfinance, Oladipupo Olabisi won best staff First Registrar, Best staff First fund award went to Nkiru Adekoya, Sunday Enoch Kehinde was awarded best staff FBN Insurance Brokerage limited and the Staff of the Year FirstBank Nigeria PLC went to Omolade.
The guests that graced the event included Minister of Finance, Segun Agaga, representative of Ooni of ife, representative of Emir of Kano, representative of Sultan of Sokoto. Steven Olabisi, Group Director Manager/CEO FBN, Bisi Onasanya, Remi Odunlami, Governor of Cross Rivers State and wife, Governor Liyel and Obioma Imoke, Chief Joseph Sanusi, Erelu Dosunmu, former beauty queen, Nike Oshinowo-Soleye and Miss Nigeria 2010, Damilola Agbajor amongst many others
Apart from the award, Lagbaja, Dream Girls, The Poet, Jumi Fola Alade and Glo in the dark, entertained the guests.
The Arise crown goes to…
Menswear Designer of the Year – Anjelo Von Mol (Belgium/Ghana) |
The Fashion Brand of the Year – Tiffany Amber (Nigeria) |
Emerging Designer of the Year – Maki Oh (Nigeria) (Nigeria) with Maiden Ibru |
Designer of the Year Award – Kluk CGDT |
Model of the Year – Flaviana Matata |
Young Designer of the Year – Buki Akib (Nigeria) |
Best in Creative Designs – Ituen Basi (Nigeria) |
Style Icon of the Year – Nike Oshinowo |
Bunmi Koko…. After Michelle, Kate, The Future Queen is Next Target
Bunmi Koko’s big story started when the name washed up as one of the privileged fashion houses to design a jacket for the fashionista First Lady of America, Michelle Obama. Since then, greater world attention has been paid to the fashion house that is certainly making Nigeria proud on the international scene. Only recently, ahead of the royal wedding to be held later in the year in England, Bunmi Koko was picked to design Kate Middleton’s engagement outfit with Prince William. Her outfit would also be one of the designers to advise on how to dress the future Queen for the big day. The fashion house was among the top-rated designers that featured in the just concluded Arise Magazine Fashion Show held at Federal Palace Hotel Lagos. The duo of Bunmi Olaye and Francis Udom – founders – tell OYINDAMOLA LAWAL their successes, challenges and plans to set up a brand in the country.
ESTABLISHED two years ago by the duo of Bunmi Olaye (creative designer) and Francis Udom (Engineer), Bunmi Koko has wormed itself to the hearts of many every stylish women and celebrities, Michele Obama. These include ex-Spice girl Melanie Brown, Estelle Mischa Barton and others.
The outfit has also earned the founders numerous nominations and awards; Olaye emerged winner of 2010 Africa Fashion International Africa Fashion Awards in the Best Emerging Designer’ (International) category while Udom was a finalist and nominee for the Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the Grampian Awards, African Fashion Award for the 'Emerging International Designer of The Year 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa. He was also finalist in the Creative Business and Young Entrepreneur of the Year categories at the Precious Awards 2010.
After winning an array of prestigious awards in 2010, Olaye, who has worked with top designers such as Allison Rodger and Alexander McQueen, as well as for luxury brands Prada, Harrods and Louis Vuitton, was personally invited to South Africa by Nelson Mandela.
The meeting prompted the duo to turn their designs towards world’s hungry children and joining organisations committed to ‘fill the Red Cup’ for the survival of about 22 million children, majority of whom live in less developed countries across the globe and are benefitting from World Food Programmes (WFP) for schools.
Udom says, “ we want our clients to realise that filling the ‘Red Cup’ signifies hope for hungry children.”
“We all know it’s hard to concentrate on an empty stomach, which made us join WFP to ensure no child goes to school hungry.” Olaye adds.
On the latest feat of the outfit, Olaiye discloses: “Bunmi Koko has been picked to design Kate Middleton’s engagement outfit with Prince William. It was also approached as one of the designers in UK to make statement on how to dress the future Queen for the big day.”
AT the recent, Arise Magazine Fashion Show, the duo showcased three collections namely Geisha’s Reform, Matriarchy and Kaleidoscopia. Geisha’s Reform, which was inspired by a Geisha tale of love and agony —a moving work of art in 1940’s Kyoto, Japan —, can be defined as ultra-feminine, glamour and sophistication.
Bunmi Koko enhanced the pleating trend in the Matriarchy collection while also introducing wild prints and vibrant colour to the brand’s signature themes. The collection also sets the scene for Spring/Summer, celebrates female empowerment and domination as well as corrects African culture with the Europeans. The charm of the leopard masquerade (Ekpe) from Calabar, Southeast of Nigeria — the cultural icon for empowering women in the colonial town during the period of Queen Victoria and Mary Slessor, a missionary — was used to design a female warrior-like dress with a Victorian influence.
Olaye notes, “We had three collections, this is the first time we are showcasing in Lagos, so, we want to give our own country a good treat. We had the first collection, Geisha’s Reform, which has a Japanese inspiration and the second, Matriarchy, inspired by Nigeria, basically by Calabar people, which is why we had the masquerade. The final collection, kaleidoscopia that is our recent collection, was shown in London Fashion Week.”
“However, Kaleidoscopia, which is also inspired by the scientific and philosophic discoveries of light, includes 3d prints that plays on kaleidoscopic illusions. This season sequins, suede, lambskin and patent leather, which was put together to create the collection gave it an otherworldly look,” she states.
SPEAKING on how they came into fashion industry, Olaye informs, “Though, I never thought of being a designer, from childhood I just wanted to be in some sort of creative art, I enjoyed drawing and painting. The idea of fashion designing later came as I was growing up. I read Fine Art in my first degree and later Fashion Designing. I love making clothes and when I met Francis, who has the same passion with me, we joined to make Bunmi Koko a reality.”
Since coming on board, the fashion outfit, a luxury women’s wear brand has lived up to its billing, clothing women across the globe and making strong fashion statements at international events.
Revealing some of their success secrets, Udom says, “at Bunmi Koko, we make our own fabrics, we design them right from the basis as well as some of our accessories. We travel around the globe, especially Britain, Spain and Italy to source for embellishments. This is done to maintain our concept and uniqueness.”
He adds, “ we have 10 functional departments, the first is the project management, which I work under; then the creative department, which Bunmi heads as creative director; she runs all the pattern cutting and sewing. There are also IT and multinational department and others. Before embarking on any project or collections, the heads of departments sit down to brainstorm, about production, the fabric, research and other aspects of it. We make every head to be aware of what is going to be showcased at the runway even before commencing the project.”
THE name Bunmi Koko was coined from Bunmi, the first name of Olaye, while Koko comes from Francis Udom.
Olaye enthuses, “Obviously Bunmi is my first name while Koko is a pet name Francis calls me; we both call each other Koko, which means ‘my other half in Efik.’ In essence, Bunmi means ‘God gave me in Yoruba,’ adding ‘Koko’ to it leaves you with Bunmi Koko, which means ‘God gave me my other half’. We are almost married.”
On where they draw inspiration, Olaye discloses, “most of the time, it’s either something I have seen or somewhere I have visited or a movie; it could be anything. The last collection was from a new musical video that plays on kaleidoscopic illusion, which inspired me to start thinking about light. I researched and found out more information that made the collection so rich, because a lot of the prints were actually microscopic images and kryptonite images; which we manipulated and printed on fabrics — jersey, organza and satin.”
For the challenges, Udom laments, “it’s funding, which is as a result of the global economic situation, but we hope to overcome it. We have been winning awards, getting awareness and going to different countries, including Lagos, Nigeria, which is our country. We hope our country would support us, we hope government would look at what we are doing, representing the world from Africa and support our initiative.”
The fashion outfit has some of its subsidiaries scattered in South America, London and South Africa. “Our products are accepted in England; right now we are in Vogue, Maria Claire and many other global magazines. Though we are Africans, we get supports from everyone; we have been on TV station such as ITV news,” Udom says.
On their plan to set up in Nigeria, Olaye informs, “we intend coming to Nigeria, but we have first decided to showcase our collections to see how people would respond to them and also to our coming. However, the responses are good; everyone loves our collections,” he notes.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)