Nigeria – Bonita Valli

The Midas Touch

The V Label Maida dress is one of my favourites. It’s ironic because when I first received it, I was mad with anger. Let me give you a bit of a background on our turbulent history…

It was about 10:00am on a Saturday morning when my dress first arrived. Beaming with excitement, I tore open the plastic bag wrapping and lo and behold:

Issue 1: I was blinded by the golden shimmer; and

Issue 2: I was appalled by the size. You see the dress fit like a 12 except I’d ordered a 6.

As I tipped over the edge about to explode in a hissy fit, my Mum offered her sewing machine to take in the gaping sides. More often that not, I’m melodramatic, but what do you expect when there’s a wedding in 2 hours and your only option is two times your size?

Fast forward to the following Summer and I’ve worn the V Label Maida three times and I’m still receiving compliments. Because of her golden shimmer and the endless compliments, I call her “The Maidas touch”. Below are the benefits of The Maidas Touch:

Benefit 1: I never need more than dainty earrings and an expensive bracelet to accessorize her, she does all the work.

Benefit 2: She’s so comfortable it’s surreal!

Benefit 3: The decent length is fit for a wedding with my Dad but mini lining is the ultimate flirt for a wedding with the MR.

Below are pictures of The Maidas Touch, what do you think?

Photo Credit: Tadera Studios (aka Taiwo) LOL. The photo was taken at about 9pm though. I need to remember to take photos before the event rather than after *sigh*

xXx

Ps: The Maidas touch also looks fantastic with coloured shoes.

PPs: My shoes are courtesy of my boo boo Ilobe 🙂

PPPs: I did my make-up myself (I’m improving… trust me), but Wura highlighted which was kinda cool. I might be highlighting some more going forward. LOL

The Beat

After about two months of back -to-back twists, I finally unraveled my hair extensions and unveiled my underlying growth. Unlike hair straightening, twists give a heat-free stretch without fully eliminating the kinks, so I much prefer this method of stretching.

I’d decided to take my extensions out last Thursday night because I’d made plans for the weekend and knew it would be virtually impossible to squeeze in anything else. It was about 1:00am when my Mum and I were finally done and I was faced with a full head of thick natural hair. I couldn’t fathom the thought of sectioning my hair into my signature flat twists and so I decided I’d pull it up into a huge bun and pin the tips back into my bun. A little like a donut, just… without the donut.

My colleague, Michael, thinks my hair-do looks a lot like a drum and physically had to restrain himself from tapping a beat on the crown of my head whenever he passed by. Nevertheless, been rocking and loving the style I now call “The Beat” all week.

What do you think?

xXx

Ps: I need to work on my hair line. I think the braids (and twists) might finally be taking their toll on it.

Pps: COME ON NIGERIAAAA!!!! #WorldCup2014 Lol

#BringBackOurGirls

On April 14, 2014 over 200 school girls were abducted from their boarding school in Chibok, Borno State (Nigeria). Abubakar Shekau the leader of the terrorist group- Boko Haram- believes that “God asked him to sell them”.

It’s been about three weeks since and although some managed to escape, there are still helpless teenage girls out there in need of our prayers with 8 more girls having been abducted today.

Please pray for these girls. Please pray for their families. Please pray for Nigeria.

#BringBackOurGirls #BringOurGirlsBack

xXx

Ps: I prefer the hash tag #BringOurGirlsBack I think it makes more sense, no?

5 Blogs 5 Days: Nigerian Belle

Remember my 5 Blogs 5 Days series…? Good thing you do, because unlike you, I forgot!

I’m not very good at finishing things that I start. I tend to start off on a high and then gradually, the momentum dies until things come to a gradual halt! But in my pursuit of self-improvement, I decided I’d commit more to my blog, starting with the series of 5 Blogs 5 Days.

Today’s post is about one of my favourite blogs- Nigerian Belle. Below are a number of reasons I love Nigerian Belle:

1. Nigerian Belle is written by one of my favourite Nigerian Fashion Designers-Damola of House 38- and the blog in itself, is a promotion of Nigerian Fashion brands. I’ve been trying to ‘Buy Nigerian’ more and this blog updates me on affordable designer brands and items to purchase.

2.Nigerian Belle takes you through the daily adventures of the writer from the mysteries of her top drawer, to cross border trips to the likes of Ghana and Dubai.

3. The blog has a clean look with no distracting backgrounds or jarring colours. Simplicity is always key for me.

Hope you like as much as I do.

xXx

Ps: I want to write about 2 more Blogs. Can it be 6 days 6 blogs instead of 5? Lol

Twenty Thirteen

It’s New Year’s Eve and so it’s no surprise that I’m reflecting on 2013 and optimistic about 2014 and it’s supposed prospects. This year alone, 2 yes TWO of my 4 sisters got engaged!!! All of a sudden life seems to have dawned on me as the echoes begin bouncing off the walls and the space turns claustrophobic. But I’ve decided to leave this rant for 2014 when the weddings are scheduled to hold sealing the deal on it all.

In the mean time, I will focus on the core of my blog and take you through the style that dominated my 2013 wardrobe. Incontestably, this has got to be the ‘Oleku’. For the none Nigerians out there, the ‘Oleku’ is a revised version of the traditional Yoruba attire the ‘Iro and Buba’. It’s a short sleeved blouse/buba accompanied by a wrapper and with the modernisation of the Oleku, Ejiro Amos Tafiri has launched the twist wrap which I was totally crazy about this year. Below are a few pictures for your viewing pleasure…….

In addition to my Oleku phase, I fell head over heels in love with my afro and had it out for a record 4weeks!!!! Yep, it truly has been an amazing year for me and the ‘fro. Below are some pictures, do indulge…….

Well that’s it for 2013 Bonitas. Happy New Year!

Ps: the last picture in the Oleku isn’t me. Lol, it’s Taiwo. But potato, potatoe right? (She’s going to kill me!)

Once Upon a Sunny Christmas

It’s not difficult to get me in a good mood. My friends often tell me that I’m too easily pleased and excited more often than necessary. Given the aforementioned facts, you can only imagine the excitement that raged through me on Saturday, November 30 when my friends from Uni, Sarah and Mayuri arrived in Lagos, Nigeria with the intention of spending an entire week as far away from home as their minds only ever dared to travel.

You’d imagine that the cheerful warmth, sticky humidity and bright sunshine of the Nigerian Christmas differs significantly from the bitingly cold and pristine white of the British Christmas. So it was no surprise that a spell of confusion accompanied by a smile with disbelief covered Sarah and Mayuri’s faces every now and then.

We spent endless hours stuck in traffic, several instances encapsulated in awe and countless moments drunk with laughter. Below are pictures once upon our Sunny Christmas….

xXx

Ps: I’ve had my natural hair out for over a month!!! I’m so proud of myself. Nappy Beauties, visit my friend Esione’s blog: http://beautifullynappy.wordpress.com/

Pps: It’s CHRISTMAS!

It’s Official… I am a Published Writer. Lol!

It’s official, I have been published. Let’s hope this is the start of a flourishing career in the much pursued fashion journalism.

Deets:

Newspaper/Magazine/Publisher: The Guardian Life Magazine

Spread: Half a page (the next one shall be a full page)

Location: Middle Page

xXx

Ps: As spotted in the picture above, I made the Front Page too. Whoop!