TO SHUSH OR NOT TO SHUSH?

-by Elaine Shobanjo

Sometimes we engage in conversations while being completely oblivious of those around us. At some point in our lives, many of us may have committed this ‘offence’.

For example, you’re in a group of 4, only 2 of you speak a certain language, you are both very aware that the other 2 don’t BUT you still go ahead and chat in your language anyway OR you’re the only girl at a table with 5 men who continue to discuss business/politics the entire night.

This was the case when Jessica attended her friend, Bisola’s graduation dinner a while ago. Bisola was married with 1 child, and had just finished medical school. Majority of her friends were either engaged or married. There were a handful of gorgeous, intelligent single women at the dinner too.

Dinner was fun, conversation was engaging but everything changed the minute Rita walked in with Yemi. He had popped the question just over a week ago and the minute they walked in, Rita joined the girls and instantly, the conversation changed to her proposal. After 30 minutes of talking about her proposal, it moved on to her wedding planning. All the married friends joined in on the marriage talk. They shared the good and the bad that they’d experienced in their marriages. And finally the mothers gushed about their kids.

Had they forgotten that there were still single girls at this dinner? It was now 2 hours since Rita walked in and nothing else, absolutely nothing else but rings, marriage and kids was mentioned. What were the single girls supposed to contribute during the last 2 hours? Was it rude of the other girls to keep yapping without taken the others into consideration? Then again, was it fair of the single girls to expect the newly engaged Rita to suppress her excitement? Had the married women and mums forgotten what else the world had to offer? Didn’t they shop anymore? Couldn’t they talk about that? Didn’t they have new businesses or projects they wanted to embark on? Couldn’t they share stories about that? Wasn’t there anything on TV show that they could all talk about?

Jessica’s story got me thinking. Do we get so absorbed in our current situation in life and find it difficult to talk about anything else but that? For example, if work is continuously annoying, do you find yourself constantly talking about work? Do we lose ourselves in life without even realising this? Do we need to take more time to consider those around us?

What do you think?

SHERIE NO SHOES

After God, family and life, my other love is dedicated to shoes - leather, suede, patent to satin, I love them all. I know every woman has this natural affiliation with shoes and diamonds. I have this notion that diamonds makes you age if you’re not over 30, so my material love is solely dedicated to shoes and handbags.

Do you get this rush of happiness or your heart seems to skip a beat when you see a pair of lovely shoes?

Do you immediately match shoes up with outfits you own even when you haven’t bought them or need a new pair of shoes?

 Do you use the "it’s an investment" phrase when you see a pair of shoes you absolutely love but cannot necessarily afford?

Ladies, if your answer to this entire question is a yes, I can officially offer you a diagnosis: you are a victim of occasional shoegasm. Shoegasm is the feeling you get when you see the most amazing/beautiful/stunning pair of shoe imaginable.

I must confess I am victim of this euphoria and my most recent experience happened when I was walking down South Molton Street in London about 3 weeks and looked into the shop window of Gianmarco Lorenzi. I saw the most amazing shoes I have ever seen in my life. My heart literally skipped a beat and I did not realise I called out Jesus so loud a passerby gave me a pretty weird look. 

This shoeboot is so lush, it was like shoe candy calling out for me. I couldn’t explain it, all I knew was I had to have this pair. I went into the shop to try them on. Once they were on my feet, I did not want to let them go. I was already matching them up with outfits in my wardrobe thinking how happy I would make these shoes if I became their owner. And the sales assistant did not help either; she built up my ego so much on (which she really did not need to because I was in love already) I felt like Cinderella with  fabtastic shoes. I was pretty chuffed with myself, thinking no matter what, I have to have these.

 To seal the deal, I finally asked how much the masterpiece was and the sales assistant said with a reassuring smile it's just £3,000. My heart dropped. I was heartbroken instantly; I kindly told the lovely girl who served me that I wasn’t going to purchase them and walked out briskly. It was a sad day for me. I got home and raved on about the shoe to my mates who laughed at me for even considering saving to get such a shoe. This brought me to the conclusion that not all ladies suffer from shoegasm.

So if anyone out there shares my pain I would love to hear your thoughts or even if you’ve had a similar experience, please don’t hesitate to share.

FAB EXCLUSIVE: KIKI KAMANU UNVEILS NEW AW11 COLLECTION AT LONDON FASHION WEEK

Nigerian/American designer Kiki Kamanu unveiled her new AW11 collection on the Fashion Mavericks platform during London Fashion Week. Kamanu presented a bright, eclectic and vibrant collection, fusing inspirations from the African and Asian continent. It was very evident that Kamanu wanted to reflect her cultural roots, whilst combining her love for rich Asian fabrics. “I took inspiration from India using a lot of Lhasa fabrics and everywhere else that I have experienced in the past few years.” In an age where there is no such thing as purity of expression and form, where everything is readily available to be mixed, Kamanu’s collection was certainly an adventurous mash-up cultures, fun and love.

Pepper - FAB Fashion Editor, Kiki Kamanu & Sinem - FAB Editor -In-Chief

The collection had a nice mix of wraps for the chill, skirts, sexy, edgy cut dresses and interesting accessories with fun detail. Kiki Kamanu’s clothes are for the women who as Kamanu explained “expects to walk into a room and be noticed, who knows how to turn on and off her sex appeal, most of all my clothes are for confident woman and for those who want to get there, so once you wear a Kiki Kamanu piece is transform you.”

See The Collection: 

CINDY'S NEW SOFA

So this week I started something silly that turned out to be rather great. Silly since I adventurously embarked on the task without prior experience, but great because, with luck and help, it all worked out (phewwww!).

2 days ago, I reupholstered a sofa. LOL.

To be honest, I picked out my Ikea purchase with the intention of swapping its plain skin for a more interesting one, but I didn’t realise it would be succccch a palaver… pattern-cutting, pinning, hemming, stitching, sewing - and gluing, too, actually. And let’s not forget the stapling involved. (Don’t worry, the couch is safe to sit on - I’m typing this post in the comfort of its seat.)

So here’s what the couch looked like at its most boring… a little before and after action for ya.

The most lengthly task, I believe, was the first - me making a decision on the material I’d use to cover the thing.

Ikea has a great selection of all-over patterns, arty textiles and bright colours, but being that I’m absolutely rubbish at decision-making, I actually made 3 trips to Ikea’s textile department on 3 separate days… much to the disgruntlement of le boyf, whose street-cred, he claimed, crashed and burned the moment he took a pair of scissors to floral cotton in public…

I knew I wanted to go down the black, white, grey and/or patterned route, but there were soooo many options! Here’s a few that made the cut.

Next up was the taking apart of the sofa – what I like to call ‘the easy bit’. (Easy because I didn’t do it – yep, boyfriends come in very handy for building and bolting as well as cutting material…)

Then there was my Blue Peter moment and the laborious task of amateur measuring and pinning I did, before seeking some help with the sewing - much thanks to my stepmum for being magic with a sewing machine!

After making lots of little sleeves for my then jigsaw-ed sofa, I dressed each piece and then staple-gunned the material to its wooden undersides…

B-bang! Very loud, fun and somehow empowering. The staple-gun also doubled as a ‘keep your man in check’ weapon for when my boyfriend became bored of helping me. (LOL… those things really can fire across quite a range!)

Along each edge of material I could find (and around the holes I made for the bolts of the sofa, needed to hold the thing together) I drew over some clear glue, of the PVA variety. This apparently helps stop future fraying of material and its gradual falling apart…

Finally, I finished my black and white, big-patterned concoction of a couch; my room’s new statement piece.

Being a lover of clash, thrash and slapdash décor, I intend to add one or more of these soft leather cushions I picked up in Turkey a few years ago, which I’ve been dying to place somewhere other than inside my cupboard…

Joyous that the sofa adds life to my blank-canvas-white room (which I intend to splash with pattern and colour over the next few weeks) I’m pleased with my choice of fabric – it will work with everything since it’s simple colour-wise, but not too boring pattern-wise.

With my feeling of accomplishment in hand and other imaginations waiting to come alive and made real about the abode, all I can say is watch out rest of the house! I have big ideas, a pair of scissors and a staple gun - and I’m not afraid to use them!

Ciao for now FABlings. 

FAB EXCLUSIVE: SAMANTHA COLE PRESENTS ‘ABOVE AND BENEATH A DEFINITIVE STRUCTURE’ AW11 AT LONDON FASHION WEEK

Fabulous, fearless and fierce is exactly what Samantha Cole serves to the fashion feast at every single opportunity and her AW11 collection at Vauxhall Fashion Scout during LFW was no different occasion.

Elsewhere in fashion conveyed collections succumbing to the economic uncertainty, while Cole rebelled representing a resurfacing tough woman. This can be reflected in having a Black model from France open her show which Cole explained to be “extremely significant and important to me to have this representation. Likewise Bunmi Koko used Black models in her show when I heard there weren’t many who walked across the board.”

Something we are used to seeing is Cole’s heavy affiliation with the colour black, however this collection was a refreshing awakening to the very cold and dark winters we’ve had and may have to look forward to again which was further reinforced by the strong use of leather, knits and suede.  

Pepper - FAB Fashion Editor & Samantha Cole

Sinem - FAB Editor-In-Chief & Kele Le Roc

The unplanned collection was interestingly inspired by the frontiers of space too. The feminine yet structured composition of leather, knits and suede were made from materials used for making space Astronaut uniforms. “The materials were sent to me from Germany, it was about using fabrics that were not necessary fashion to create the 3D effect, and it was literally going beneath the surface of the leather to create the pieces in collection.” The human etchings on the leather surface showcased innovation and was reminiscent of ancient Aztec. The 3D spiral motif running throughout the collection especially on leggings and dresses was regal and superb.

The Samantha Cole woman explained by Cole “is strong, independent and confident, most of all someone who is not afraid to wear a different style garment without feeling overwhelmed.”  Cole will also show at Arise Africa Fashion Week in Lagos and is certain to serve pure innovation for the discerning Samantha Cole woman in that neck of the woods. 

See the full collection:
Image Credits: SubySinem



Samantha Cole - The Interns



FAB EXCLUSIVE: ZED EYE PRESENTS ECONOMIC ELEGANCE FOR AW11 LONDON FASHION WEEK

Sunday 20th of February was very different to my usual Sunday snooze, worship, Sunday roast and back to to some more snooze. It was a London Fashion Sunday and boy did we work a sweat sprinting from show to show to finally cool off the steam from our heels at the A La Mode off schedule LFW show to see Zed Eye’s AW11 Debut.

Sinem- FAB Editor-in-Chief & Zed Eye

Zed Eye presented us with just what to wear for the coming chill with a 20s, 30s and 50s inspired theme collection. The collection was easy on the eye, understated but ultra-chic sticking to a no fuss palette of blue hues. With a variety of retro cut dresses, nicely fitting trousers and elegantly shaped capes, Zed Eye explained; “I wanted to create a collection that was accessible, easy to wear and on point.”

Not the only designer with current affairs on her mind, without compromising elegance it was her desire to design economical pieces which can be seen in the use easy to clean fabrics and fake furs. “You do not have to spend so much to wear something that is classic, chic and clean likewise with the hair if you don’t have money to buy a long weave you can buy a short weave or cut your hair short”. Zed Eye will be showing VOL 2 of the collection at the Arise Africa Fashion Week in Lagos, it will be her first ever fashion showing in her homeland, but we doubt if she will shy away from presenting us practical dressing for warmer climates. We look forward to it!

Here goes the full collection:
Image Credits: SubySinem