We are pleased to inform you that Tara Fela- Durotoye of House of Tara, has been selected as the only Nigerian for this year’s FORTUNE/State Department Global Women's Mentoring Partnership program. She will be mentored at this year’s programme alongside Margaret Mattix- Vice President Exxonmobil global marketing , Suzanne M. McCarron-G.M public and government affairs , and Terri Fariello –Government relations Manager. The one month programme, would kick off in the month of March. Tara Fela - Durotoye of House of Tara, pioneered the make- up Beauty business in Nigeria in 1998. She has currently trained over 400 make -up artists, empowered hundreds of youth through the beauty reps business opportunity , launched her very own fragrance line- “Be Inspired” as well as an entire range of make -up line from powder to foundations, lip glosses, mascaras and shadows with the latest being the H.I.P range as well as make up accessories.

Her deep pride of being a Nigerian has seen her name her lines with various ethnic names from the diverse tribes of Nigeria. As one who is so passionate about nation building, Tara Fela Durotoye, has from time used her profession as an entrepreneur and a make- up artist, project Nigerians good image by using her platform as a positive vehicle to promote Nigeria’s colorful ethnic tribes and cultural heritage.



ABOUT FORTUNE GLOBAL WOMEN”S MENTORING PATNERSHIP
Most Powerful Women Summit and the U.S. State Department established the Global Women’s Mentoring Partnership in May 2006. This public-private partnership places talented, emerging women leaders from all over the world in mentoring programs with FORTUNE’s Most Powerful Women Leaders.

The three-phase program opens with an orientation session in Washington, D.C., where the participants meet with senior women in government, academia and business. The international participants are then paired with one of FORTUNE’s Most Powerful Women Leaders from companies like Time Inc., Avon, Wal-Mart, and Exxon Mobil in cities across the United States. For three weeks, American and international participants work together in mentoring relationships to share the skills and experiences necessary for strengthening women’s leadership. The program concludes in New York City, where the participants have meetings with Goldman Sachs and Solera Capital.

There are now 116 FORTUNE/State Department alumnae around the world. The next FORTUNE program is slated to take place from April 26 – May 21, 2010. Aproximately thirty-five mentees, each nominated by the U.S. Embassy in their home country, are expected to participate.

There is a new make up range making the rounds out there now, and it is no other than the Tara H.I.P range - High Intensity Pigments


About H.I.P
The new range of cosmetic product from the House of Tara, called H.I.P.- High Intensity Pigments, is a beauty line for the new look Nigerian woman, who enjoys being in the limelight.
No need to wait for a Red Carpet moment before you can really have one, as the H.I.P range brings with it the glitz and glam every time, where ever.
The H.I.P range includes:
Tube lip glosses
Single pot shadows
12-in-1 shadows

You are therefore welcome to a new experience in make-up with the new H.I.P Range from the House of Tara

12-in-1 shadows
This comes in 2 shades:
Queen Amina
Queen Idia






The High intensity pigmentation of these 2 very inspiring colours enables for long lasting wear. They are high in shine.
Their properties stand them out:
-No fuss
-Silky smooth
-Long lasting glimmer


H.I.P Pigment Lip Gloss
This comes in 6 exciting shades:
Ikogosi Fall
Eleko
Obudu
Tinapa
Olumo Rock
Yankari
You could achieve a lip to die for






The H.I.P Single Pot Shadows:
Own your own exclusive color chart with the Single pot shadows . It gives you the feel of owning your own pot of Gold. Our exclusive range of colors are:
IMOSEE
EDIYE
OBAA PA
AHUOFE
TUGBEJE
OBAAHEMAA
MADAM TINUBU
DUDU

IS PIZZA GOOD FOR YOU?Maybe it is, as there has been new developed baking techniques, using higher temperatures and longer baking times, which raises the level of antioxidants- those molecules that protect us from cancer and disease –causing free radicals-in whole wheat pizza dough.

It maybe a while before the technique reaches South Africa but in the meanwhile there ways to enjoy your favourite Italian import without feeling too guilty,says nutritionists. ‘Pizza is generally healthier than other fast food because it isn’t fried. ‘But the extra kilojoules sneak in when you add meat toppings such as ham and salami- these are generally of the processed variety, so the fat tends to be saturated, and they’re high in salt’.

A Plain margaritas is best if you’re watching your waist but you can always add interest – and antioxidants- with vegetable toppings such as mushrooms, green pepper and garlic. ‘Portion size also makes a big difference, says Flint, ‘so share your pizza with your man or save some for tomorrow.

EYES WAKE-UP:If you’ve woken up feeling tired (or hungover) wear gold eye make- up to make your eyes look whiter, more sparkly and awake. Line eyes with a gold pencil for maximum impact.

STAY HOT AND BEAUTIFUL:This year try and cut out skin products that contain alcohol when you are in the sun. It makes your skin more photosensitive, meaning it’s much more vulnerable to sunburn.

SHAVING AID:Run out of shaving gel? Use a hair conditioner. It doesn’t nick and the silicon ingredients help prevent red bumps.

KEEP SKIN MOISTURE RICH:If you have rough bumps on your arms this could be due to a lack of omega-3 fatty acids. Adding more oily fish or nuts to your hair diet will help to moisturize your skin from within.




MOP UP OILY PATCHES:
If you want to tackle oily skin, rub a slice of apple over the area twice a day and then splash will cold water. You’ll notice a real difference after a couple of days when the enzymes in the apple juice really start to work.



ENHANCE YOUR LIPS:
Get fuller lips, added shine and definition by using a little loose shimmery nude eyes shadow under your gloss. Dab a bit on the middle of the bottom lip and a small amount to the two arches of the upper lip.

SMOOTH FEET:
Get rid of rough skin on your feet by mashing up a banana, putting it on your heels and leaving on for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse well with warm water and your skin will be smooth and sorted.

BY IFY


Can you spot her in the crowd? Well she is the naive looking girl in a yellow dress, sitting with her legs crossed. Starting off from a humble background , all TRACY had going for her at the time were fairy tale dreams of what she wanted to be- a model and schooling overseas. With a background like hers , this was just impossibe. So big were these dreams that ‘fear’[as she puts it] would not allow her ever voice out such. But she was strong willed and determined, she knew she would achieve it someway, somehow.


After wining the crown of Elite model look organised by Beth Modelling Agency- here in Nigeria, things started to happen for this "Chic"




Today, TRACY ONYEKACHUKWU’S dreams are being fulfilled as she is the first Nigerian to be a part of the ELITE MODEL LOOK, a world class model management and a totally unidentical twin, is on her way to the United Kingdom where she would be executing her three year contract with ELITE MODELLING AGENCY. TRACY started by relocating to lagos after the passing away of her father in umunede Delta state where she stayed with her mother. In a bid to survive in the harsh city of lagos, TRACY took up a job as a sales girl in computer village cynem investment ltd. It was while working there that she first heard about BETH MODELLING AGENCY.




Still not loosing sight of her dreams, TRACY enrolled as one of the 15 girls who took part in the Elites models look that was taking place at the time. Today TRACY who is the pride of her family and Beth modelling agency, would be walking the same road the likes of TYRA BANKS, NAOMI CAMPBELL, CINDY CRAWFORD etc all walked as ELITE was their propelling force. 5’10ft tall, TRACY is on point with achieving her dreams, as she struts her way into placing Nigeria once more on the map of world class models. See how she s blazing the ramp at the London fashion week.

A great way to gently exfoliate skin is simple: use a washcloth. The fabric naturally rids face of excess oils, dirt and build-up.

-Also, don't want to re-use a washcloth too many times.

- Do treat yourself with a warm washcloth every once in awhile (the warmer the washcloth, the more spa-like the cleansing).

-You can even get fancy with special peppermint oils. A quick nuke in the microwave and that scented washcloth will make you feel like you're in Veni Vici spa on Ligali Ayorinde, Victoria island , getting pampered for 5,000 naira.

BY OBY



INTERIORS
Many bags are lined with canvas, nylon or pig suede. To clean, gently pull the interior inside out and use a standard lint roller to pick up debris.


Zippers
Keep these fasteners working smoothly by running a piece of natural beeswax (found in hardware stores) over a zipper’s open teeth.



HANDLES AND STRAPS:
Residue from lotions can discolor and age material-another good reason to keep hands clean. Also, don’t overstuff a bag; too much weight can weaken stitching or damage straps.


HARDWARE:
Deep scratches or cracks on metal are virtually impossible to repair. But bag and shoe repair shops can replate hardware to hide finer flaws.


EXTERIORS:
Leather, of course, is a skin, so keep it happy and moisturized with a leather conditioning cream. There’s no reason to treat it with a protectant or a silicone spray, caught in the rain? Run for cover, then dab-don’t wipe –moisture away.


BOTTOMS:
Structured bags with stiff bottoms often have “feet” (metal rivets incorporated into the base) to protect the leather against scratches and stains. Feet can also be added by a professional.

THE COLLECTION
The collection, themed Patterns and Prints is a fresh fusion of western and ethnic fabrics to create shirts that are not only accessible but also stylish. Past collections were focused more on western fabrics, but with the new collection, there is a flirtatious edge mingling with African and western fabrics simplicity with an ethnic fringe.

Pattern&prints aptly describes this marriage between the two worlds and this would surely take our Recreation lady a notch higher in CLAS.

Recreation shirts is geared at Re-create"ing" the norms of how women wear and enjoy their number one wardrobe staple: Shirts. The vision is to provide alternative stylish shirts for the discerning woman of style. The Recreation woman is pure CLAS! She is Confident, Lovely, Accessible& Stylish.



TALE’S FASHION PROFILE
Tale’s fashion foray started when she went to fashion school at 16 and learnt the ‘traditional rudiments of cut and sew’. She simply put this flair at the back burner to pursue a degree in Accounting and an MBA. Her love for fashion was rekindled during her MBA when she did cases like Kate Spade, the designer who started her accessory and then fashion line after her own schooling. This led her to put her 7 year corporate career to rest to learn pattern making.
These combined with her love for retail led her to start a shirt line called ‘Recreation’ with the inspiration to make wardrobe staples more stylish and versatile. Recreation is gradually transforming to offer more pieces for the stylish upwardly mobile woman.
Her industry role models include Anne Fontaine, Karen Millen and Naracamicie. As a commercial designer she strives to continue to create stylish affordable clothing.

Learn the basics of makeup in 1 day: gele tying, everyday look, engagement look and more. (certificates will be awarded).

Date: 27th February, 2010 (Ikeja)
Venue: 22a, Omotayo Ojo street, Ikeja, Lagos
and
Date:6th March, 2010 (Victoria Island)
Venue: 9a, Oko Awo street, Victoria Island, Lagos
Time: 11am-3pm.

ONE DAY SALES @ LEILA FOWLER

Leila Fowler biggest One Day inventory clearance event
Everything, YES EVERYTHING is on sale up to 60% discount off.
Date- One day only 21 February 2010 from 12am – 7pm

Address- 215B Etim Inyang Crescent, Victoria Island
Lagos, Nigeria


TRUE LOVE VALENTINE SPECIAL



The True Love Team invites you to a fun filled and romantic evening to celebrate valentine with lots of music, flowers and wine to go around. Entertainment would be provided by Teju Babyface and fashion by Ituen Bassey. There would be attracive prizes be won.

Date: Saturday, February 20th

Venue: Eko Hotel Banquet Hall, Adetokunbo Ademola Street. Victoria Island, Lagos

Time : 4pm – 9pm

Ticket: N15,000

For registration call Jennifer on 08087184121

Limited seats available

Here are a few trends that inspire me this season. So stay tuned, as I plan to write about them over a series of weekly posts. The first is the Structured Shoulder.

This season accentuated shoulders are back. Once a staple look during the 80's, today's version is just as dramatic but a lil bit softer.Their use is particularly associated with clothing of the early 1940s and the 1980s.In the beginning(1930 to be precise), they were shaped as a semicircle or small triangle, and were stuffed with wool, cotton or sawdust. They were positioned at the top of the sleeve, to extend the shoulder line.


Come 1940, After World War II began in 1939, women's fashions became increasingly militarised. Jackets and coats in particular, were influenced by masculine styles and shoulder pads became bulkier and were positioned at the top of the shoulder to create a solid look. Dresses, too, were made with shoulder pads—soon the style was universal, found in all garments excepting lingerie but tapering off later in the decade after the war was over and women yearned for a softer, more feminine look.

During the 1950s and 1960s small padded shoulder pads appeared only in women's jackets and coats.

In the 70s, the structured shoulder look did not, however reach mainstream acceptance, and so the popularity was relatively short lived.


















During the early 1980s there was a resurgence of interest in the ladies' evening wear styles. Before too long, these masculinized shapes were adopted by women seeking success in the corporate world. As the decade wore on, shoulder pads became the defining fashion statement of the era, known as power dressing and bestowing the perception of status and position onto those who wore them. They became both larger and more ubiquitous—every garment from the brassiere upwards would come with its own set of shoulder pads. To prevent excessive shoulder padding, velcro was sewn onto the pads so that the wearer could choose how many sets to wear. By the end of the era, some shoulder pads were the size of dinner plates. It was inevitable that as the cycle of fashion turned, they would lose favour in the early 1990s.


Now i ask, Did the '80s ever really leave?Glance around in a crowd and chances are you'll see someone still wearing leggings or sporting a bi-level haircut.

How to rock the look
Retro-inspired fashion never really means that anything goes: acid-wash jeans, legwarmers, fringed boots and other fads of the decade are best left in the '80s.
Instead, try a small dose of '80s party-girl or preppy in your wardrobe. A clutch bag here, a gold chain belt there. Maybe even a bit of big hair. Just remember not to do the look head-to-toe unless you have an unerringly deft hand at styling.

Victoria Beckham, rocking the look

We are sometimes intimidated by fashion. Especially, with all the “must have” fashion rules going round. Well here are a few tips to enable you navigate fashion with a few easy-to-remember style tips.


-Update in Small Doses
Not sure wide jeans are for you? Try jeans with a bit of flare instead. Head-to-trendy looks ridiculous.

-If You Think You're Too Old, You Probably Are
When your gut feeling tells you that a trend is too young for you (and you're not Madonna, Cher or Demi), you'll never really feel comfortable in it.

- Dress Out of Your Age Group
Go with how fashion makes you feel about yourself. If you feel great in a mini and you're 55, then go for it. If you prefer pantsuits and you're 22, then wear 'em.

- Black Clothes Always Look More:
• Expensive
• Flattering
• Sophisticated

- Don't Buy Junk to Save Money
Cheapo, just-to-be-buying-something items are almost always a bad investment (unless you're 18 with a great body). Remix existing clothes, alter your hair, makeup and accessories or borrow something from your best friend's closet until the financial situation brightens.

- Trends Have a Short Shelf Life
Fashion fads are a blip on the fashion timeline. One season everyone is sporting black leggings under mini dresses, the next they are wearing pants. There's nothing wrong with dabbling in 'It' bags or must-haves, but remember that they'll only be hot for a short time.

- Leave Your Look for a While
Ultra-conservative? Explore new looks -- maybe a lacy shirt with peeks of skin -- or prints (try leopard for a bit of wildness). Downtown diva? Try a girly knee-length skirt. Play, have fun, remember that style should work for you, not the other way around. You'll probably go back to your look after experimenting, but with a new approach.

- Don't Sacrifice Professional Image for Fashion
Strappy, see-through, extra-tight or downright sleazy styles won't ever do your career any favors, regardless of your career path. Many fashion spreads will trumpet high slits, plunging necklines, sheer and a plethora of inappropriate looks in the name of "femininity." But sexy doesn't cut it for 9 to 5.

- You Are About Much More Than Just Fashion
Put much more thought into your reading repertoire, spiritual nourishment and personal relationships than your wardrobe. An inner peace and glow will never go out of style. Even designer Kenneth Cole says "To be aware is more important than what you wear."

- You're the Boss!
If you love it, look great in it and can afford it, buy it. Yes, it's really that simple!

RenéeQ tees are really fun pieces, rocking the African fashion scene and beyond. Their bespoke style tees, reflects a bold and stylish “You “. Their fresh infusion of bright and luscious colours coupled with the intricate patterns of African fabrics, evolve in a unique styles that’ll make you feel RenéeQ gorgeous! Scan thru our mini catalogue as reneeQ brings you the evolution of the Afro Diva!all the way from Ghana.







Address
RenéeQ, Olooti Lane (behind Syriatex), Labone
POBox AC8 Arts Centre
Accra -Ghana

Tel
+233 24 200 1000
+233 26 200 1000
+233 28 200 1000
+233 21 777 926