THISDAY STYLE MAGAZINE 11TH APRIL 2021

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SUNDAY, APRIL 11, 2021

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...NOT IN THISDAY STYLE? THEN YOU’RE NOT IN STYLE

CONTENT Fashion 5 WAYS TO MATCH YOUR FACEMASKPG 6-7 TIPS ‘N TRICKS TO ANIMAL PRINTS PG 8-9 4 REASONS TO BUY THE MINI HERMES BAGS PG 10-11 STYLE NEWS PG 11 HOW TO CREATE THE ULTIMATE CAPSULE COLLECTION PG 17 HOW TO LOOK A MILLION BUCKS PG 18-19 YOU TOO CAN BE AN IT GIRL PG 20-21

While the entire nation mourned the loss of Ibidunni Ighodalo, one of Nigeria’s biggest event planners, people wondered how her husband, the senior pastor of Trinity House Church, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo took it all in. It’s been almost a year now and ltuah hasn’t said much to the media about the sad incident until now.

In this riveting interview with Guest Correspondent, AZUKA OGUJUIBA, as he turns 60, lghodalo opens up about many things including his reaction to the demise of his beautiful wife, his views on the Nigerian youths #endsars movement, the state of the nation and much more.

THISDAY STYLE FASHION DIRECTOR/EXECUTIVE EDITOR RUTH OSIME

08111847085

EDITOR PRINT OLUFUNKE BABS-KUFEJI EDITOR DIGITAL KONYE NWABOGOR

08111847086

08111847087

SENIOR ART DESIGNER MATHIAS ARCHIBONG 07054965500 CONTRIBUTORS ISIOMA USIADE GUEST CORRESPONDENTS AZUKA OGUJIUBA ZINA ANUMUDU JOANNA MACGREGOR SEYI ALAWODE PHOTOGRAPHER TY BELLO DIRECTOR, PRINT PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO 08077092196

5 MIMUTES WITH DEINTE DAN-PRINCEWILL PG 22

For people who have experienced the loss of a loved one, they can testify that nothing prepares you for this loss. It is certainly one of the most painful experiences to go through especially when the departed is young in age. This is what happened to our Cover Personality, ITUAH IGHODALO. The loss of his wife shook the nation but what was more shocking was the fact that upon hearing the news, Pastor Ituah still conducted a funeral he was booked to do. Many could not comprehend where his strength came from and for the first time ever, he discusses it in this riveting interview amongst several other topics.

One thing his story has taught us is that there is no hard and fast rule or a ‘book of expectations’ that dictates ‘how to mourn in public’. Truth of the matter is, the pain of the mourners cannot be determined by how many tears shed. Pain is pain. Some cope better than others or are less expressive, which, by no means, undermines their anguish. We hope Ighodalo’s story will uplift others who are wearing the same shoes as he is right now. We pray for God to give the bereaved solace at this trying time. This is why we should most treasure the life we have and live today because death is no respecter of persons.

Speaking of which, as you all know, the Covid pandemic has taken so many lives today which is why people should not downplay this virus in any way, shape or form. Even now that vaccines have been provided, it still doesn’t mean we should completely let our guard down! People seem to think that with their jabs, it is ok to not take caution. That is wrong. Yes, the jabs help to reduce the severity of the virus should you get it. But NO...it doesn’t make you 100% safe against contacting it. So please, all rules of safety should still be adhered to when in public. Besides, Fashion has stepped up with the various designs on face masks. It is now the new look literally! In TO MATCH YOUR FACE MASK WITH YOUR OUTFIT, you can see how fashionistas have stepped up their game.

Stay safe while slaying!

Instagram: @thisdaystyle | Twitter: @thisdaystyleon | Instagram: @thisdaystyle | Website: www.thisdaystyle.ng

FASHION DIRECTOR/EXECUTIVE EDITOR

5 FACEMASK

STYLE & DESIGN

TO MATCH YOUR

WAYS

WITH YOUR

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9467 Sunday, April 11, 2021

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OUTFIT

CHOOSE LOOK-ALIKE ACCESSORIES

Matching your mask to your, shoes, scarf or handbag is a fail proof way to take your outfit from zero to a 100 in a jiffy. It’s a great way to show the world you still have your fashion fangs in the fashion game. CHICHI

STYLE & DESIGN

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MATCHY MATCHY

Use the exact fabric of your outfit to make your facemask. This is one of the biggest covid trends of the moment. It didn’t fail fashion in 2020 and won’t start failing it now. DESTINY NWDIRE & TOKE MAKINWA

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9467 Sunday, April 11, 2021

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MIX PRINTS

For the not so matchymatchy type, you can mix prints. Make sure your face mask is a different print from your outfit but be sure to have the same dormant colours in order not to clash prints. CHIKA IKE

BY FUNKE BABS-KUFEJI

Now that restaurants are open, businesses are back to the office and we’re out in public, we’re all facing a new sartorial challenge: finding ways to make our mandatory face masks feel like they’re a part of our outfit.

This is a whole new level of accessory coordination we’ve never thought about before. Luckily, pairing a cute facemask with a fabulous ensemble isn’t quite as complicated as you might fear. It’s a lot easier than you can imagine, just follow these few tips and you are sure to have the hang of it in a flash.

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ONE COLOUR THEME AT A TIME

Monochrome outfits are classy, easy to pull together and more often than not look lush and luxe. Coordinating your facemask with the rest of your single-hued ensemble is the easiest thing to do. Just make sure you pick a monochrome colour that suits you and the rest is as easy as ABC. DORATHY BACHOR

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BE MORE SUBTLE WITH YOUR MATCHY-MATCHY

If you’re not big on matchy-matchy, then try something a bit more subtle. Pick a subtle colour from your outfit and match it to your facemask. CHINYERE ADOGWU

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n ‘ s p Ti cks to i r T

STYLE & DESIGN

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9467 Sunday, April 11, 2021

IADE

US OMA

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BY IS

STYLE & DESIGN

THISDAY Style

Vol. 22, No. 9467 Sunday, April 11, 2021 he n T g n ! o k n , i o c s h ri h re ba l prints ring fas nd. Wea it-or-mis pair wit g a s t n a i e u prin of anim itors d lly a tr n be a h rints to of look en l a h Animarance shion edt’s officia , as it ca ifficult p the risk sexy w nd e a app erous fa s that i te tricky most d it runs t, chic or on tips e d i i m n m h h n r u t s a a nu confi ts is q ne of , eleg ese fa ions week al prin d it is o ited opt k classy wing th n anim tion. A only lim t can loo by follo tfits! s a situ ere are wever, i e misse rint ou o h h as t done. H Avoid t nimal p over d right. stering a style s to ma trick

S T N I R P

STELLA ADEWUNMI

SAI SANKOH ONYII BEKEH

ARIYIIKE DERIN SALEEKO

CHINYERE ADOGU

One Print at a Time

As animal prints immediately steal the limelight so it would be wiser to limit wearing too much of it. It’s a rare event when a fashionista wears more than one animal print on her outfit, and even then, she knows not to wear two different animals.

You can match your outfit with your accessories but wear only one type of print per outfit. A little bit is chic and sexy but too much, is overkill.

Solid colours Are the Way to Go!

Rather than use busy prints to create a clashing of prints, it’s better to stick to solid colours.

That way, the focus will stay on the animal prints itself. Pair the animal print with solid neutral colours like white, black, brown, khaki, camel or taupe to stay on-theme of the natural colours found in animal prints. If you prefer to go bold, then you can choose colours such as red or purple paired with leopard prints for a sexy look.

Start Your Animal Print Collection by Accessorizing

Only just starting on the animal print trend? You can start your collection of animal prints by adding it to your accessory. Tiger-print shoes, a giraffe wallet or a snake-print belt can easily elevate your look from casual to classy.

You can even pair a monochrome outfit with animal-print shoes and a bag to match.

Choose Classic Shapes

Wear Minimal Accessories

There is a popular saying in fashion: Less is more. In the case of animal prints, less truly is more. Because it’s already the focal point, wearing heavy, glitzy jewelry will only overcomplicate your look. To make sure you don’t go overboard, look in the mirror before you go and make sure your accessories earrings, necklaces, bracelets and belts and shoes complement your animal print, not compete for attention. If it does, then it’s time to take it off.

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Wear it According to Your ‘Assets’

Amongst all patterns, animal print is one of the prints that would add volume and highlight the particular part of the body, which is why you should be very careful when choosing an animal print piece of clothing. Try to assess your body’s proportions and figure out what your ‘assets’are. The piece of clothing will therefore show off the best part of your figure without showing off what you want to hide.

Although animal prints are wild and busy, you can still find ways to make it look elegant.

To do this, you will need to stick to clothes with clean and classic lines like leopard shirtdresses, pencil skirts, a tiger sheath dress, or python pumps. Try not to wear animal prints that are fussy, frilly, sparkly, shiny, teenage-trendy or skimpy.

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STYLE & DESIGN

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9467 Sunday, April 11, 2021

BY FUNKE BABS-KUFEJI

STYLE & DESIGN

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9467 Sunday, April 11, 2021

REASONS

TO BUY THE

MINI HERMES BAGS

LILIAN AFEGBAI

DAY TO NIGHT AND BACK AGAIN.

The mini Hermes works day or nighttime. Carry it to lunch, work, supermarket, whatever, and then take the same purse to an evening event and it won’t look out of place.

CONTENT CAPACITY IS RIGHT

Hermès minis holds just the right amount of possessions. Not too little, not too much, both the Birkin and Kelly in 25 sizes fit a large phone, a small wallet, lipstick and more.

Lagos Space Programme, a Nigerian genderless brand based in Nigeria, who was one of the top 10 finalist at the Arise 30 under 30 fashion show 2020 qualifies as one of the 20 semi-finalists for LVMH Prize. Over 1,900 Young designers applied to show great creativity in their work in the LVMH prize. The 2021 semi-finalists hail from around the world, spanning Lebanon to Nigeria and Japan to the United States, and represent a cross section of the industry.

The 20 semi-finalists for the 2021 LVMH Prize represent the award’s first pandemic class, showcasing the many ways young talents have had to adapt and expand in trying times and a more independent segment of young designers. Their collections will be shown in a virtual showroom from April 6 to 11, and the winner will receive a 300,000euro prize and a year of mentorship from a team of LVMH experts; the winner of the Karl Lagerfeld special prize will receive a 150,000-euro sum and a year of mentorship.

NNENA OKOYE

Size be damned, the mini Hermes bags are steadily becoming a fashion favourite. If you haven’t cupped yourself one, here are four reasons why you should.

LAGOS SPACE PROGRAMME QUALIFIES AS ONE OF THE 20 SEMIFINALISTS FOR LVMH PRIZE!

LISA FOLAWIYO

with a small Hermès bag. Handheld and compact, it allows you to move freely throughout your day.

THE GOOD TRAVELER

Whether you want to pack the mini Hermes bag within a bag or carry on its own, the mini Hermes bag is compact enough to travel with.

If you want to nest it inside another Hermes bag then you have no problem what so ever. Both the mini Hermès Birkin and Kelly tuck comfortably in a Birkin 30 (and larger).

That’s right – even the Kelly handles tuck inside.

ADEJU THOMPSON

GOOD SIZE

Ever find yourself in a crowded space feeling as though your purse is poking the people around you, no matter how you move or stand? That won’t happen

TOKE MAKINWA

MELISSA

MINI KELLY

MINI BIRKIN MODEL FOR LAGOS SPACE PROGRAMME

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MODEL FOR LAGOS SPACE PROGRAMME

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COVER

ITUAH

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9467 Sunday, April 11, 2021

COVER

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9467 Sunday, April 11, 2021

O L A D IGHO @60!

PICKING UP THE PIECES

June 14, 2020 was one of Nigeria’s darkest days when the country woke up to the news of the Founder and CEO, Elizabeth R, and Ibidunni Ighodalo Foundation’s sudden death. She was a shining star and one of the biggest Event planners in Nigeria. While the entire nation mourned, people wondered how her husband, the senior pastor of Trinity House Church, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo took it all in, more so being a reserved person by nature. It’s been almost a year now and ltuah hasn’t said much to the media about the sad incident until now.

In this riveting interview with Guest Correspondent, AZUKA OGUJUIBA, as he turns 60, lghodalo opens up about many things including his reaction to the demise of his beautiful wife, his views on the Nigerian youths #endsars movement, the state of the nation and much more.

Now that you are 60, you are closer to your evening than your morning. What do you miss most about the Nigeria of your youth compared to Nigeria of today?

I tell a lot of people that when I was growing up in Nigeria, we had no burglary proof. The Naira was stronger than the Pound. There was constant electricity.

What you saw was what you got, just living a simple life with your friends especially where I grew up, in Ibadan.

I actually do miss that Nigeria a lot. There was hope, there was simplicity, there was no Boko Haram, no walls, no burglar proof, no fences. You moved around freely. People treated you with respect for who you are.

People were involved in people’s lives. A very idealistic peaceful Nigeria. We lived in government GRA. We knew everyone, all the children played together, went to school together, we were like brothers, like family.

They remain some of my best friends now. That was the Nigeria of those days.

Do you think in your lifetime, considering the state of the country now, you will witness a change to see Nigeria of your dreams ?

If we are going to be realistic, starting now, it would take about 10-20 years to change Nigeria by which time, I would be like 80 years old. But who knows? God can do it. It doesn’t take a lot to change Nigerian because I tell people the fundamentals are there, the weather is there, the population is there, the natural resources are there.

So it is just to harness those resources and put it to work and that is the difficulty we are having in Nigeria. That sincerity of purpose by the people who are in leadership is really what is missing in Nigeria.

As a Pastor, you must have counseled many young couples facing challenges in their everyday life.

What, in your view, is the predominant problem with couples of today?

Well, the couples of today don’t understand the principle called marriage. They get married for the wrong reasons. They get married to the wrong people. They get married thinking that marriage is the solution to a problem. But marriage is a journey, not a solution to a problem. I have heard people say, “Oh l was getting old.

He was the only man that approached me. I thought she was domestic. She got pregnant, that’s why I got

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married”. And I also hear things like “I thought he would change after marriage”, I say No. Those people get it wrong. It is a sacrificial thing for Adam to get married. He had to fall into a deep coma and it was from that sacrificial coma that his wife came from and he recognized her to be his wife. Marriage was established for two people under the guidance of God, to work together to fulfill God’s purpose for their lives. That is the fundamental reason of marriage. If the two people don’t

marriage is abusive or life threatening, it is better you’re preserved than just stay there and die. From outside, we can try and counsel both of them to a better understanding of each other but sometimes, it is the women that are abusive these days, anger issues, bad experiences, bad childhood, growing up in anger or a man marrying a woman who reminds him of his past.

As a Pastor, by the time you dig further, you find out there’s something behind every action, something not quite well and that is a challenge. Even people in serious positions of leadership, lots of them have different emotional and psychological issues.

The youths must reunite and regroup and this time around, have leaders. You can’t have a group without a direction. And honestly speaking, they can seize this nation. They have the numbers and I want them to know that. And people like me are ready to support them to ensure that we have the right kind of leadership in Nigeria.

Recently, Donnie McClurkin, the American gospel singer and minister, opened up about his sexuality as a bisexual and he sees himself as a lonely man, what is your take on this?

Well, like I said before, a lot of people have been through a lot of trauma. And unless those people receive a lot of therapy, they never quite get out of it. From what was said, I would say he had a challenged childhood where people took advantage of him and he never quite got out of it. Along the line, he became born again, truly loved God. People like that, we need to show them love, sit with them and get them to be able to voice their fears.

Ability to do that is like 50% of your therapy. But as long as you hide it, it is allowing the demon to sit on you. I’m happy for him to be able to come out. This is not the time to castigate him, this is the time to gather around him and give him strength.

know their purpose in life, it means that the marriage is almost dead on arrival. If you see it succeeding, it is either they are just managing or somebody is paying the price of that marriage, or they are just coping with one another. 80% of the marriages you see around are just people managing to tolerating each other because they are not friends, rather, they are working together to manage the children.

It as been suggested that the youths should have a stronger voice in the state of the nation and their voices should be heard more but the aftermath of the #endsars movement caused more havoc than good. Looking back, what do you think the youths could have done differently to achieve their desired result?

The youths are dealing with a government they didn’t quite understand and the government likes to sit across the table and negotiate. The minute they said they had no leader and they were not ready to sit across the table, I knew it would end up the way it ended up. I told one or two of them I was able to interact with at that time, that they really have to sit with the government.

With this government, they were bit ahead. They asked

What of the case where the marriage is abusive, what is your advise ?

In Christianity, we want to fight so hard to protect the marriage. In some churches, once you divorce or separate, that is the end but I think the world has advanced a bit. I advice my people that once that

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COVER

for five things and the government seemed to have responded to all the five things immediately which had never happened before. I asked them to choose among themselves and begin negotiation, they refused saying they didn’t want to be compromised. But I want to tell them is, not to be discouraged.

The youths must reunite and regroup and this time around, have leaders. You can’t have a group without a direction. And honestly speaking, they can seize this nation. They have the numbers and I want them to know that. And people like me are ready to support them to ensure that we have the right kind of leadership in Nigeria.

The struggle now is to ensure right leadership in Nigeria. I don’t care where you are from, you must have values and ethics. You must be visionary, hardworking and passionate about Nigerians. If you don’t have these principles, you have no business with the leadership of Nigeria.

You lost your wife, Ibidunni, less than a year ago.

Some people were astonished that upon hearing of her demise, you still went ahead to conduct a funeral service you were scheduled for. They could not comprehend how you had the strength to do so while grieving which came across to them as insensitive. We’ll like you to use this opportunity to give our readers a clearer picture of your state of mind at the time.

You can not do anything about what happens to you in this world but you can do something about how you react to what happens to you.

Two days before my wife died, the boy whose funeral l conducted, had died. The mother and the child were strong members of my congregation. And I had gone to comfort and console the mother and had given them the time for the funeral. I told his mother I would see that the young man was decently buried.

Fast forward to 2 am the morning of the day of the funeral, I got the news of my wife’s demise. So the issue was what do I do? How do I react? What is the best thing to do to glorify God and bring comfort to people and I simply asked God for directions. It doesn’t mean I wasn’t grieving my wife or in pain. In fact if anyone listened to my sermon that day, I had to make sure I don’t speak in pain and over personalize the sermon.

After I finished what I had to do, I came back home and begin my period of grieving and any one who saw me that time knew how much weight I lost in three days.

The pain of loosing a loved one and my wife, is insurmountable. We were so close, we were one. We did everything together. It’s like a part of your body had been but off.

But what needed to be done needed to be done.

I had to comfort those who came to comfort me and let them know God is still God. I just needed to be there and be strong for people. It didn’t mean I wasn’t grieving my own loss. If anyone says that I was insensitive to still go ahead to conduct a funeral service regardless of the news of my wife’s death, I have no apology. I did what God led me to do. It took a lot of strength but I did it.

Can you tell us how you have been able to cope with the pain of your loss to help those going through the same journey?

Like I said, the pain of losing a loved one, a spouse is indescribable. I wake up every morning and ask God for fresh instructions and once I hear from Him, I do what is needed to be done that day. I still spend time with my wife, thinking about her. Even as I speak to you, I look at that door and I expect her to walk in and then I surround myself with her photographs. Everywhere in the house has her photograph on display.

Have you broken down since she died ?

No, I haven’t broken down and I don’t think I would.

I mean there have been lumps in my throat. The first time I saw my son after my wife died was very emotional for me because I looked at the man and I said to myself, “Who is going to look after you? Why did she leave this boy and not be there for him?” There have been moments like that but I understand God and I

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THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9467 Sunday, April 11, 2021

@ARISEPLAY Like I said, the pain of losing a loved one, a spouse is indescribable. I wake up every morning and ask God for fresh instructions and once I hear from Him, I do what is needed to be done that day. I still spend time with my wife, thinking about her. Even as I speak to you, I look at that door and I expect her to walk in and then I surround myself with her photographs. Everywhere in the house has her photograph on display.

understand what He is doing and these things have kept me going. ...WITH HIS LATE

For a woman to balance home WIFE, IBIDUNNI and career by no means an easy feat as it comes with its own challenges when something has to give way for the other to take place.

Sometimes, the price to pay for such is too high. How best can couples, espsacrificesecially the husbands, handle such delicate issues as not to ignite problems?

You know I said before, the essence of marriage is for two people to be together to discover their purpose and achieve it together. The only way you can really be a good husband is if you allow your wife to fulfill her potential and not get intimidated. Being what God wants her to be. In fact, for most men, if you want peace of mind, just allow your woman to be.

When she’s busy, she’s engaged. She’s enjoying what she’s doing. She will give you less stress and that’s why Ibidun and I got along. I understood her job and I allowed her. She could leave this house at 3am for a decoration and sometimes, tells me to follow her.

I say no problem and I put on my clothes and follow her. Sometimes, I’m at home in the evening and she’s not back. I call her PA and ask if is she okay. I ask if she has eaten. Okay . Sometimes I go and look for her at the event and carry food for her and make sure she’s okay. If she’s okay, I am okay and that is what a man should understand. Find the purpose of your wife and encourage her. If she makes more money than you, what is the big deal? Who is she going to spend it on?

Either you, herself or your children. Just be satisfied with what you have and continue. And Is she chooses to be rude, that is her problem. You must decide to love your spouse unconditionally. If you are not ready to do that, you are not ready for marriage. You don’t have to be intimidated by her company. Just come back home and come back home intact. When you have a problem, let’s discuss it. If they are harassing you, let me know. I allow her to be and for that, she tells me everything and I never loose my temper. I also made up my mind never to quarrel not that we never had our disagreements. She valued my opinion.

I had a very good marriage. You need to see us play around. I am grateful to God he brought Ibidun to me.

And I can’t get over her. She played a very important role in my life. I still imagine her being here and I won’t take a decision without thinking what she would have wanted.

Everyone prays to have a sanctuary of sorts where they want some time to themselves. What or where is your sanctuary?

My home. I have a space in my room where I talk truly

WEEKEND RECOMMENDATION

HAWTHORNE TV SERIES; DRAMA

alone with the Almighty. The only one who shared the space was my wife as she was the only one who used to come to that place. I have had a lot of conversations with God and He has helped me and lifted my spirit. I believe everyone should have a location like that. It helps mentally and spiritually.

As a Pastor, you are the people’s emotional doctor to speak to and as such, you barely have enough time to yourself because of the demand of your job. But as a widower now, how have you been able to create that special time needed for your children to bridge the gap their mother left behind?

Before my wife passed, I did very little engagement of people or external things in my home. I do everything either in the given office or business office. So by the time I get into this house, it is myself, my wife and my children and the house-help God blessed us with. So I spend time together with them. Most mornings, my wife and I spent time together. I take the children to school every morning them come back home to here before the day continues. But since she’s passed and this covid period where everyone works from home, l’m always home. I try to knock off work by 7pm so I can spend time with the children. I bath my son every morning. He sleeps in my room and my daughter spends like half an hour in the morning in my room.

We do our prayers, meditation and conversation for the day then l take her to school. In the evening, we have supper together. So we have a good routine and God has helped me .

What parting shot would you like to give to our readers that best describes your state of mind and where you hope for Nigeria to be in your life time?

I want everybody to get engaged in the Nigeria project. There is something everyone can do to turn this country around. I’m very passionate about Nigeria and I think this country can be great. I want to leave the readers with a few things I think they should do. Number one, the ones who are knowledgeable about Nigeria should educate the others. I have told my people in my church to read about the history of Nigeria. Know the foundation, when the foundation is destroyed, what shall the righteous do? We need knowledge and information. Number two, we need to educate Nigerians on good and bad leadership. It is a question of competency. You can’t employ a footballer to fly a plane, it is either a pilot or not. Someone with compassion for the people. Number three is that INEC should open the portal for everyone to register and they should open it now. And everybody must get involved.

SPEND THIS WEEKEND WITH ARISEPLAY. Visit www.ariseplay.com today to subscribe or login to begin your journey into a world of entertainment with HAWTHORNE and other blockbuster movies available only on ARISEPlay.

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a million bucks

STYLE & DESIGN

how to look

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9467 Sunday, April 11, 2021

BY FUNKE BABS-KUFEJI

MONOCHROME

A full monochrome outfit is a failproof way of looking stylish. It’s super easy to put together – as it is just grabbing pieces that are within the same colour family, and you instantly look fresh and put together. MIMI ONALAJA

STYLE & DESIGN

STRUCTURED BAG

POINTED SHOES

For instantly elongated legs and a chic look – reach for a pair of pointed-toe shoes. You can wear them with anything, as they give you a fresh and classy look instantly. JENNIFER OBAYUWANA

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9467 Sunday, April 11, 2021

Looking expensive doesn’t have to be expensive. There are little styling tips and tricks you can incorporate into your wardrobe to make you look like a million dollars! Certain colours, silhouettes, and pieces mixed in here and there can make a lot of difference to your look. So, since we are still surviving a pandemic and trying to spend more wisely, here are a few tips to look expensive without breaking the bank.

A structured bag is chic and timeless. There is just something about clean lines that makes any and everything look rich. While we fully support splurging on an investment piece if you can afford it, there are also many affordable options out there that are just as good. Just look for something with a classic silhouette and you’re good to go. No matter how much you’ve spent on your structured bag, they always add that expensive touch and pull your look together neatly.

THEODORA MOGO

BUTTON-DOWN

We can’t say this enough times, a classic item that everyone should have in their closet is a clean, crisp, white button-down shirt. Whether you wear it with a skirt or as a cover-up over a bathing suit, you can never go wrong. TRACY NWAPA

LITTLE WHITE DRESS

It is a must for every lady to own an LWD (Little White Dress). No matter the occasion, they’ll always look good, and if you get just the right silhouette for your body type, it will never go out of style. You can dress them up, dress them down and you’ll always look well put together. It’s also one of those pieces that you can wear again and again without remorse.VERONICA ODEKA

RED LIPS

When in doubt, a red lip is always the answer. Find the perfect red hue that makes you feel the most confident and then rocks it all day long. It gives your face a pop of colour and makes you feel like you can take over the world. DEBBS BJUKU

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STYLE & DESIGN

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9467 Sunday, April 11, 2021

STYLE & DESIGN

Yes, you woke up like that.

The most important rule is to make it look all effortless. Develop the ‘I woke up like this’ attitude. This is why it’s important not to look too put together. So, leave a detail undone - it could be messy, tousled hair, a carelessly half-tucked shirt, or a tote bag carried as an oversized clutch. Remember that ‘effortless’ is not just a catchword. It’s a way of life for the superlatively stylish.

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9467 Sunday, April 11, 2021

Never have an off day.

An IT girl is committed to her appearance. You can never be caught off guard. Make looking good a lifestyle. As Coco Chanel once pointed out, you never know when you could have a date with destiny (or the paparazzi). “And it’s best to be as pretty as possible for destiny.”

Share those fabulous moments.

CHIOMA IKOKWU

Don’t act like you don’t care about fashion and looking good. Own your space. Document it. Take pictures, post on Instagram. Share all those fabulous moments.

KEFILWE MABOTE

Cultivate a signature.

Focus on Style and not fashion.

Yes. You have to have your style.

Figure out what makes you stand out and look amazing and stick to it. But note that should never mean your style is predictable. Step out of your comfort zone from time to time with unique neck-breaking looks.

YOU TOO

The IT girl is that girl who has everyone’s eyes on her. She is confident, always looks good and has that certain je ne sais quoi. The Urban Dictionary defines her as “The girl that everyone wants to be.” A large part of her attraction is her sense of style. She has her fashion game on point, constantly looking like she just stepped out of a fashion magazine, and what’s more, she makes it all look so effortless. If you’ve watched her closely trying to figure out what it is about her that sets her apart from the rest, look no further, THISDAY Style comes to the rescue - we studied the style of the most celebrated IT girls of today and have created a handy guide to get you started.

can be an

IT GIRL

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TOKE MAKINWA

ABISOLA KOLA DAISI

SERWAA AMIHERE

Focus on Style and not fashion.

Any and everyone can dress head to toe in designer outfits and still not necessarily look good. Mix it up. It’s all about curating an enviable mash-up.

LILY AFE

FISAYO LONGE

It’s all in the details.

Sometimes you look at an IT girl and can’t place a finger on what makes her look so fabulous. Her outfit is simple, so what could it be? Girl, it’s all in the details.

It’s all about piecing the look together, right down to the last detail. That quirky accessory, those statement shoes - these are the tools you need to elevate your look.

Be a step ahead of the crowd.

Don’t be a fashion

victim. You do not have to follow every trend out there. You should put a twist on classics and dictate trends. Yes, You. 21

STYLE & DESIGN

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9467 Sunday, April 11, 2021

Deinte Dan-Princewill is a passionate and multi-talented architect, designer, entrepreneur and life enthusiast. She is a graduate of the prestigious Cornell University, New York, USA, where her passion for design, arts and culture were further amplified.

She has worked at some of the worlds’ most renowned design and architecture firms in Texas, New York and Paris, and later moved to Lagos where she started her design firm and established a social hub for professionals at The Metaphor.

Her keen eye for detail and her love for travel and photography motivated her to visually document her Lagos experience - to showcase and highlight the beauty of Lagos.

How did you come up with the concept of ‘The Beauty of Lagos’?

The concept for the book came very organically. I love to travel and discover new things - exploring is definitely a passion of mine.

I am constantly going on new adventures, and documenting them, so naturally, when I moved to Lagos, I began to do the same.

As I shared images and videos of my

experiences, I would get messages from people asking if we were truly living in the same Lagos, and asking for information on activities that they could do too.

From these experiences I began to document more deliberately. There are two sides to everything - it is all about perspective. What we see in the media can be very one-dimensional; we see the same narratives over and over again. I was determined to showcase different sides of Lagos and began to have more conversations with people about the city. That is how The Beauty of Lagos coffee table book was born.

How long did it take to put the book together?

I began intentionally documenting in 2018. Majority of the photos in the book were taken over a period of 2 years from 2018 – 2020, while the major part of curating and putting the book together happened last year.

In your own words, please describe what The Beauty of Lagos is.

The Beauty of Lagos is a visual and verbal documentation of Lagos, that showcases an extraordinary perspective of its art, culture and lifestyle.

The book contains over 200 exhilarating and vibrant photographs with several thought provoking and inspirational quotes. It transports readers to each destination, giving them a glimpse into some of the city’s well known sites, as well as its hidden gems. The Beauty of Lagos highlights the uniqueness of Lagos, its people, its products and its businesses. It showcases Lagos in a different light, one that takes a more purposeful stance in exploring the serenity within this fast city.

Whilst you were doing your research which people did you talk to to assist you with in-depth information?

I spoke to a lot of people during this process. The quotes are actually my favorite part of the book because I loved sitting down to have conversations with people. There were so many perspectives, and I really tried to capture the integrity of each take in the quotes I picked to put in the book. Many people had very real and raw descriptions of their experiences so far and I definitely think they touched on a lot of experiences that people who have lived in Lagos can really relate to.

When did you first fall in love with Lagos?

I don’t think I can pinpoint an exact date or time. I believe it is a continuous process of falling in love. I thoroughly enjoyed my childhood in Lagos. We didn’t watch much TV, but we did a lot of activities - swimming, cooking class, tennis, painting, etc., this was my first layer of love for Lagos.

Then I left Lagos for the US, and began to consistently come back

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STYLE & DESIGN

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9467 Sunday, April 11, 2021

for the ‘December in Lagos’ period, which is a whole experience in itself… that’s another layer, and what’s not to love? The December season is full of celebration, family, love, events, and exciting things to do.

Moving back as an adult allowed me to experience Lagos in a new light - with fresh eyes. I fell in love again in a different way.

Above all, Lagos is home. I feel like my most normal self when I’m here, and I think that really is the foundation of everything.

What challenges, if any, did you encounter during your research?

Travelling around Lagos with a DSLR camera was a little challenging. A lot of places don’t like it when you bring your big professional camera to their establishment, but I eventually figured out how to navigate that.

As for the process, I didn’t quite treat it like research.

I approached it more organically. I genuinely explored and naturally found interesting places and activities to do. I challenged myself to really find the beauty in different places, and I think you can really see that throughout the book.

Why is this book so important?

The importance of telling our own stories cannot be understated. I think it’s important to continue to show different perspectives. The media tells a very onedimensional story, but there is so much more. My goal is to present another side of Lagos, a look into the serene parts, hidden gems, and activities. I want to highlight Lagos in all its beauty and complexity.

BURNA BOY

What do you hope people take from this book?

I want people to focus on the positives. There are so many negative things that can happen in life, not just in Lagos, but everywhere, so I want to encourage people to focus on the good. I think challenging yourself to be positive will help you live a much better life.

On the days that are particularly stressful or overwhelming, I hope that people will open the book and have their spirits lifted. I want this book to help people to fall in love with Lagos again and be inspired to explore.

Do you have further plans to make your book a series and if so, what sector do you plan to explore next?

There is so much more to do, this book is only the beginning. Lagos has so many incredible sectors that could be the subject of a book. I plan to explore food, fashion, people, art and everything in between.

And of course, there are other places to explore as well. I’m a Rivers girl so I look forward to uncovering the beauty and hidden gems all over Nigeria, from various perspectives.

How can people interact with you and your work?

They can follow The Beauty of Lagos on Instagram (@thebeautyoflagos) and visit our website www. thebeautyoflagos.com. They can also follow me on Instagram (@deinte).

DEINTE

DAN-PRINCEWILL 22

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