BLASTS FROM THE PAST

Hey Everyone,
How is your week going? Mine has been fab so far…
Did some crazy shopping yesterday, I have no words…I am in love with my new ‘baby’
Anyways, random tale here….I went to get my eyebrows threaded for the 1st time in 5 weeks (with the move and everything, I haven’t had time), I was already looking like Elmo LOL…so I went to get it done yesterday…damn, the babe showed no mercy, she just kept twisting and tugging away while making some strange noises (you know that sound u make when u r eating something hot…yeah…she kept on making that sound for some reason), I was just wincing in pain, my eyes were even sooo teary from all the pain! The babe now had the guts to start laughing at me, she was like ‘no pain, no gain blah blah blah’…the things women go through!
Soooooo I think it was my birthday and all my recent shopping that got me thinking about some of the fashion trends that I have experienced as an 80s baby and 90s/00s teenager/twentysomething.
Fashion trends come and go, they get recycled, reinvented etc… but some are just a trip!
Here are some of my faves, its all tongue-in-cheek, lets have fun with this!


Leggings
You know the legging and tights that girls wear now? They are quite different from the multicoloured ‘wonders’ that we used to rock back in the day! Looking at these just makes me cringe!


Camouflage
LOL! Remember ‘Camo’?! Stop hiding ur head in shame, I know some of you (us…lol), had the dresses, shoes, hats etc….LOL. This is one fashion trend I pray never comes back. BTW, I remember one ‘camo’ party that someone had back in the day…


Shoulder Pads
This is for the 70s babies and more of what we used to see our mother’s wearing. Sometimes, I think and wonder…why? Like why would a woman want broad, high shoulders? Another trend that should stay in the past!


Platforms
I am not talking about the slinky Christian Louboutins, I am referring to the thick, painful looking platforms. This is one trend that seems to re-emerge in every generation. Love the new looks tho, the 80s/90s platforms, hmmm not so much.


Jelly Sandals
These were a MAJOR trend for a minute. You just had to have your jellies! Trusting our brothers from the east, the flooded Nigeria with Jellies of all colours and shapes and the trend died a natural death.


Timberland Manolos
Yeah yeah, these were the most sought-after item for a while. Everyone just had to have a pair – different colours, designs, prints etc…I never bought a pair and I am sooo glad about that, though even Beyonce bought into the hype but this trend soon crashed and burned.


‘Patra Braids’
The Caribbean musician Patra and the musician from Soul 2 Soul (Remember that song….Back to Life, back to reality…) popularized this hair style - The thick, long braids. Girls were grabbing their packs of ‘Amigos’ and running to their braiders… lol.


Dungarees
Yup dungarees were ‘in’ at some point, and I know that they are presently experiencing a rebirth with the Chloe/Topshop dungarees but back in the day, it was all about the denim dungarees. I think some people can pull this off but even if it comes back in full force, its def not a trend for everyone.


The ‘Aaliyah Look’
You know when Aaliyah first hit the scene? With her baggy cargo pants with belly-baring ‘half-tops’. Girls were rushing to Tommy Hilfiger to copy this look. Ciara is a current advocate of this look. Awww, I miss Aaliyah!


Football/Basketball Jerseys
Football and B-ball jerseys were all the rage. Everyone was rocking those jerseys even people who knew nothing about the games. Guys with the regular jerseys while girls with the fitted jersey look. I think that at this point, this is less of a fashion statement and more about the real fans.


Newsboy/Kangol Hats
Some rocked it to the front, to the back, to the side, whatever…Everyone was wearing these at some point, it looked good on some and not so much on others but people were rockin it.

That’s it!
Have fun with it….which was your fave?
What am I missing? Do you look at old photos and hide? LOL, let us know!

TIGER TEM

Hey Everyone!!!
Thanks for all the birthday love!!!
I am old oooo! Gosh, the way age creeps up on you isn’t even funny.
So what has been going on in my life, well, work, work work.
Dear people, when you have a good job with a well-known multinational, where you can blog at work and gist endlessly on the phone, please don’t quit oooo
Don’t be like me, I used to whine so much about my old job, that it wasn’t challenging etc….
Wow, I am eating my words, my new job is challenging (serious understatement) and that’s for sure! Jesus take the wheel! I seriously think this might be my last 9-5 job, I will just go and start one ‘business’ lol….Y’all should give me some ideas.
What else has been happening? Hmmm, I have started exercising; I have been sooo with exercise over the last year so I have decided to get into shape….If you see my jogging around ur neighbourhood…make sure u hola.
So what is going on in blogsville?
I know I am guilty of being MIA but I hope blogsville is not dying, I went around some of my fave blogs today and the updates have been few. What’s going on?

Moving on, Temi Ogunsanya of Tiger Tem is one of my favourite fashion entrepreneurs.
She started her line, Tiger Tem years ago before being a ‘designer’ became the it-career.
Temi is a lawyer but left her law career for the world of fashion, she previously worked for Condé Nast (Home of Vogue, Glamour, W and all the other top mags) and has written for ThisDay Style and What’s New Magazine.
TigerTem has been featured in Vogue UK and has lots of hot, fun accessories and tees.
Check out my Q & A with Temi and take a look at some of her designs.

1. Fairy Godmother in Leo print (from the Cinderella Collection)
2. Princess Charming in Red Jasper (from the Cinderella Collection)
3. Belle in Amethyst (from the Cinderella Collection)
4. JetSet travel set in Lilac croc
5. The Boutique
6. The Goldfinger in Chocolate

What's Tiger Tem?
Tiger Tem, The Boutique and Tea Room. Its the ultimate accessory haven with a selection of bright, pretty and quirky bags, delightfully sparkly jewellery, fabulously glamorous belts...and our unique cute, cheeky tshirts (I only print one of each).

Tell us about the Tea Room?
The Tea Room is an oasis of peace and calm in the crazy city of Lagos. A chilled out place to hang with your people and sip on a nice cuppa, or a big glass of vino...and chow down on some brownies, apple crumble and lots of other mouthwatering treats!

Why did you choose the name?
I love Tigers, they’re one of my favourite animals. No two Tigers are the same and there’s something mysterious and intriguing about Tigers. You don’t see them so much but when you do, I certainly pay a lot more attention to them than the other Big Cats in the wild. And they have a strength and an elegance that I haven’t seen in any other animal. Wouldn’t try to tame one though!

When did you start designing?
I started designing handbags while I was working in PR around 2002/2003. And I made them ALL myself for the first 18 months of Tiger Tem’s existence.

Do you have any formal fashion training?
I did a course at St Martins in Handbag design which was a great way to learn the basic on handbag construction. That’s where I really learnt to use a sewing machine and when your skills are limited it actually forces you to be more creative. I still use the basic shapes of the first 2 bags I designed.

Your previous job prior to taking the plunge as a designer?
PR for a lifestyle PR company which looked after the Marco Pierre White Group and a number of top hotels, resorts and restaurants. It was fun. Lots and lots of perks to the job.

Your influences?
Anything and everything. I aim to create the ideal bags for all occasions the dinner, the bar, the club, the black tie event, a day in the office, a day out shopping…I aim to cover all bases. Tiger Tem bags are versatile enough to appeal to a wide range of women yet stand apart from everything else available today. Sophisticated, elegant, pretty bags.

Why did you decide to move back to Nigeria?
I felt as its still a developing country there was more scope to make a difference, make more of an impact, create something totally unique.

What are the challenges of running a fashion related business in Nigeria?
The ones you expect and then a whole heap of unexpected ones! Staff is a major issue as is the total absence of infrastructure. The lack of education means the basic level of understanding of the average worker is very low. But in adversity there’s opportunity so you learn to roll with the punches. Starting here has made me much more flexible than I would have been otherwise and its allowed me to fine tune my vision. And learn from my mistakes.

You were featured in UK Vogue. Describe the moment you saw Tiger Tem in the magazine.
I was rendered speechless. Couldn’t quite believe it had happened so quickly. I’ve never seen or heard of any place in Nigeria mentioned in UK Vogue so it was a pretty groundbreaking moment. Its one of those moments most retailers/designers would sell their grandmother for or pay a PR firm copious amounts of money for…and I just got lucky.

And what is the future/dream/vision for Tiger Tem?
Everybody needs a piece of Tiger Tem. And when I say everybody, I mean everybody who gets it, who likes it and who wants it. I know what I want Tiger Tem to be. Its about being a small giant, I’d rather have a great company than a big one.

That's it!!

I promise to blog more often.

Let us know what you think.

Take care

Ciao

~~ITS MY B-DAY!~~

Hey Everybody!
So sorry for being MIA....Seriously its been crazy!
My new job is simply ....I cant even think of a word to describe it, its interesting but its just too busy!
Every night, I try to blog but I just dont have the energy.
I am really hoping that by next week, I'll be in the grove of things so hopefully I will be able to blog more.
Meanwhile, its my BIRTHDAY!
I am so excited, even though I doubt if I am going out tonight or anything. I'll probably do something work something out during the weekend.
I have already started getting my gifts LOL....u know that's my favourite bit of these things...
Anyways, I am going to work on some future blog posts as well as try to answer some emails now.....
Love u guys, thanks for checking up on me and I cant believe this is my 2nd 'bellanaija' birthday...LUV IT!
I really apprecaite all your prayers and well-wishes...
Dont worry, I am working on bellanaija....

THISDAY CONCERT II - PHOTOS & TIDBITS

Hey people,
So the ThisDay Concert took place on Sunday (basically all-day), it was actually supposed to be a '2 Day Event' but some last minute glitches led them to move the whole thing to Sunday.
The biggest news from the concert is that Kelly Rowland fainted/collapsed, awww I feel bad for her but her publicist has used the illness to promote her to no end! All news outlets promptly received a press release...I hope it helps her shift more units of her new album! I love Kelly tho so I hope she is feeling better, apparently she was suffering from dehydration...
Heard the concert was good but it didn't quite have the 'oomph' and novelty factor that last year's event had. I guess last year, they had bigger stars like Bee, Jay, Snoop etc...
Check out the photos below and I'll add more later....

JOHN LEGEND




D'BANJ



KELLY ROWLAND



SHAKIRA








RIHANNA




DIDDY

NE-YO

SASHA

THE CROWD (Molly, I see u lol)

See Johnny dancing with a female fan, apparently the dancing got really steamy and she got a peck as well...Caption it!
Let us know what u think and give us your concert tidbits.
Ayoola attended the event and you can see her account of things - HERE
Diddy, Ne-yo and other Nigerian artistes also performed, I am working on getting the photos.
You can see the Kelly Rowland 'fainting video' HERE...wow, that was scary, glad she's ok now.

Have a fab day!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MUAH!

STARS ON THE RUNWAY + TOP MODELS + DENRELE

Hey Everyone!!!!
Awww I have missed u guys so much!
Wow! Last week was so stressful, I have no words really! It was just something else...
Anyways, how was your weekend? how was the Thisday Music Festival? Let us know how it went....
So I'm here, just getting used to my new job and all that.

The much anticipated Stars on the Runway show took place on 07/07/07.
From the photos, it seemed as though it went really well....
Most people were looking really good...I usually dont like red but I'm lovin' the red on Omotola, Omowunmi and Ifeoma.
Photos courtesy: purefoto
Omotola Jalade Ekeinde ~ Omowunmi Akinnifesi

Funlola Aofiyebi ~ Tessy Oliseh ~ Grace Egbagbe

Ruggedman ~ Sasha ~ Kate Henshaw

Iretiola Doyle ~ Omowunmi & friend ~ Patrick Doyle

Lanre da Silva Ajayi & Ifeoma Williams ~ Denrele ~ Frank Osodi

Princess Nina Agwuna and Princess Muka Nwokedi ~ Omotola










So many people asked me why I hadn't blogged about Mo from Canada's Next Top Model, I was actually waiting for her to win but she was eliminated :(
Anyways, she did a good job....she had jumping accent syndrome though, British one minute, canadian the next, Nigerian, Jamaican etc...lol
Mo (Morayo Ninalowo) from Canada's Next Top Model (Eliminated)




There is also another person of Nigerian heritage on BNTM, her name is Natalie and she is a single mother.
Natalie Nwagbo from Britain's Next Top Model



I found this interesting interview with Denrele from last weekend's Punch Newspaper, he talks about his much discussed style of dress.


That's it for today!!!
Let us know what u think and give us the ThisDay Festival gist...
Ciao.....

IFENKILI + CHINWE ENU

Hey Everyone!!
How I have missed u guys cannot be quantified or expressed in words really!
Infact, I have really really really missed everyone!
I haven’t had personal internet access for the past 5 days because I just moved! Yay! LOL
I moved for the 2nd time in 12 months…so now I am in a different country…..I am not telling u where…so get ur investigative skills cracking….LOL…Its not that serious really
So why am I always moving? Don’t worry, I’m not on the run, its all for career development and am just trying to explore the world as much as possible before life catches up with me (the big ‘M’! and all that).
Anyways, I’ve got a fabulous new job and everything…its really fantastic…I feel so blessed! Thanks to everyone for their prayers and well-wishes on the voicemail thing on the sidebar (Snapvine)
Wow! It’s been a year of Bella Naija…can u believe it? I cannot…
I know it’s just a blog but I feel its was divine intervention because it wasn’t something I really planned…even the name ‘Bella Naija’ was a split-second decision. So many times, I have stared at my laptop and had absolutely nada to blog about but so often something ‘dropped on my lap’…
Thanks to everyone!
Absolutely everyone who has emailed, commented etc… Y’all rock! I really mean it!

Ifenkili is a budding contemporary African clothing and accessories line based in the UK. The talent behind the label is Nneka Mokwe.
I know, I know, many people feel the ankara phase has passed and I agree in certain respects but I love the creative use of ankara in the creation of the footwear.
The simple strapless dresses/tops are classic and comfortable….Its not reinventing the wheel but I like it!
Visit their website - HERE






______________________________________________________________________

Chinwe Enu is unique.
Why is she unique? She is a Nigerian opera singer…nuff said!
This Atlantic Hall and Phillips Exeter Academy alumnus has a college degree from Vassar College and is a qualified lawyer with a JD (Juris Doctor) degree from Georgetown University Law Center (In addition, she is licensed to practice law in the District of Columbia and the state of California), Chinwe’s passion is music.
With her captivating voice and radiant stage presence, Chinwe is breaking the mould in the ‘old school’ world of classical music.
Check out one of her performances below.
Also visit her website – HERE
And MySpace Page - HERE

That’s it!
U will have to bear with me for the next week and a half or so.
Thanks so much to Dammie for the blogging support.

Ebun from TLWA made a lot of effort to get the blog piece together and published so, thanks Ebun!
Anyways, I will be back better than ever soon…

Kisses!

THE BLOGGERS - TRUE LOVE WA SPECIAL

Hey y'all so the highly anticipated bloggers feature in True Love WA, by Ebun Olatoye is here!!...LoL, Bella is still very much incognito...but has a very sweet interview along with the bloggers who inspired her to start, Adaure and Taureanminx. As well as Bimbo Lads, and Mona!! ENJOY!!
Feature on Bella of Bella Naija

Adaure Achumba of According to Adaure

Enimien Etomi of Taurean Minx

Bimbo Ladejobi of BiMbyLaDs

Aramide Abe aka Mona of Naija To The Core

I hope y'all enjoyed it?..and what do you think of their interviews?!....As i'm sure, Bella is...I'm "proud" of them, Don't they look gorgeous as well?!! Hurray!! for bloggers!!

P.S; Don't forget to wish Bella a happy one year anniversary and send your well wishes for her birthday on July 26th, by the 25th to info@fashionnigeria.com {So she doesn't see it}

And to those in the United States of America, It's independence day today!!! How do you plan on enjoying a free day off work?!!!

XxLovexX
D.

JULY IS BELLANAIJA MONTH!!!

Hey everyone!!!

Bella is away and has no internet, and as a fan myself...I'm pretty sure you have been logging on to see if the blog has been updated!! Sadly it is, but not by Bella. She has AGAIN dragged me to put on these big shoes of hers, that I loathe {I'd rather just gist her in person, LoL}!!...

Now, I'm here wondering what to blog about, and it hits me!! IT'S JULY!!! Bella, started blogging in the month of July, July 1st 2006 to be exact, and like me and thousands of you out there, we've been hooked ever since!!

I, then took liberty to declare JULY, Bellanaija MONTH, for TWO reasons, okay THREE.

1. You'd have to admit that Nigerian blogging took a new, fun, edgy, classy, entertaining, lovely {I can go on} direction when Bella started blogging.

2. She's dedicated at least 200 days of her life to blogging, AT LEAST...and she deserves a break!!!

3. Bella herself, is born on JULY 26!!!...So, it's only right this blog is dedicated to her, and her blogging!!!

I hereby call on Bellanaija addicts to send your well wishes...if you are the creative type; cards, videos, letters should be sent to info@fashionnigeria.com {So, she doesn't see it}...to be posted on her blog on her birthday, deadline for this is July 25!!

Watch out for this month, because it's' going to be updated with Bellanaija 1sts, role models, many more...and GIVEAWAYS of some of Bella's favorite things!!!!!

FIRST give away!! goes to "Mystoriesmytestimonie" A medical student in New York who was the 1st to acknowledge Bella Naija's 1st year anniversary, here and on her blog --> Mystoriesmytestimonie Congratulations darling, you've just won yourself a FREE one year subscription to one of Bella's favorite Magazines; HauTe - Fashion Nigeria!! Mystoriesmytestimonie is a blog by Joy, who also started hers JULY 31st!!...So Happy anniversary too darling!

On behalf of everyone HAPPPPPPPPY ANNIVERSARY BELLA!!! We appreciate all your effort, and dedication for establishing a premiere entertainment medium for Africans in a Diaspora!!!

So, PPL do share your mini Bellanaija moments, and how it may have inspired or opened your world to a whole new look of Africa. Also, how you came across the blog along with your intial reaction!!!

P.S; Please don't forget to send your well wishes to suprise her on her b-day to --> info@fashionnigeria.com
P.P.S; She has no internet. So, has no clue what is going on, so if she forces any of you to read to her or text her what's on the blog...tell her, something nice, you'll read it later...LoL.


XxLove youxX
D.