tokotaya

FASHION SHOW AND THE LOTS

2010-08-03T15:54:00.000-07:00

i can`t seem to be able to post as regularly as i would have loved to.keeping a blog is hard work, it is hard work trying to gather my thoughts together each time i have to post stuff on.All the same am here today so i will try and keep you up to date as much as possible.
My last post was sometime in march and at that time DFL was in process of re-organizing and this we have done by unveiling our new management office,by doing this we hope that we would be giving our clients a more conducive atmosphere for business.

DFL new look office

another view of our office

this new look has also helped boost our morale in order to churn out the best stylish outfits for your clients. some of these you will see in the pictures below:

ankara kimono wrap top with hand stitched sequin embellishments

cotton mix ankara with multi ankara butterfly sleeves dress

sequin embellished ankara kimono sleeve dress

chiffon mix pleat detail pencil dress

we have also been opportune to showcase some of our designs at the encomium black and white ball where we have a very good account of ourselves here are some of the pictures from the show

ANKARA WITH CHIFFON OVERLAY EMBELLISHED WITH SEQUIN AND STONE

MONOSTRAP PURE SILK AND ANKARA DRESS

ANKARA AND PURE SILK FRILLY MONOSTRAP DRESS

RAW SILK AND ANKARA MINI DRESS

ANKARA WITH GOLD MESH LACE OVERLAY AND CRYSTAL LACE PETAL CORSAGE

MULTI TIERED ANKARA LONG DRESS

ALL D BEAUTIFUL MODELS IN DFL`S DESIGNS
IT WAS INDEED A WOW EVENT.

work in progress

2010-03-10T13:32:00.000-08:00

ankara bustier dress with bow detail

mud colour soft cotton flare arm pencil dress

2 tone silk satin shift dress with bead embellishments

denim mono strap dress with zip detail

pink soft cotton dress with embellishments( pls note all dresses are still work in progress)

mud colour light cotton dress with frills

At the beginning of each year, i sit down and try to come up with my strategy for the year both personal and career,I have started work on them, one of which is my 2010 collection and DFL look book.I am a firm believer of planning cos he who fails to plan definitely plans to fail.Some of the dresses are work in progress but have decided to upload them, maybe to whet some appetite of what is yet to come, hopefully by Easter the full collection would be unveiled.

clips from design for love photo shoot (2009)

2010-03-04T15:38:00.000-08:00

The idea behind this particular shoot was to get together some of my best clients and i asked them to bring their "5 best outfits" which i made for them. i will put up more of the pics as i get permissions from them to use their pics on this blog ENJOY!!!!!!!!

in and out IN AGAIN but hopefully for good

2010-03-04T15:08:00.000-08:00

In 2008 when, i thot of writing a blog, i thot it wld be as easy as abc but no,my initial frustrations was the internet connection i was using at the time which made me spend hours without much progress.The initial plan for the blog was to have a place where my hubby and i could share our thots and generally have some online fun which we cld share with others, hence the name tokotaya
The blog went into hibenation due to the internet connection frustration,and since the original creator was not pushy enough, my hubby never got that much involved.
In 2009, i tried again to revive it by writing about the memoirs of my lagos business school experience but that to did not last.
Well, this is 2010 and am attempting again to get back to blogging, hopefully, i will succeed this time around.
now the focus this time would be on what i do - fashion, so let`s see how this goes.

CEM 10 THE BEST IS YET TO COME

2009-07-20T12:13:00.000-07:00

ready, steady and off to school

see you guys there!!!!!!!!!!

And this is where our entrepreneurial spirits are challenged,

welcome to CEM 10 THE BEST is yet to come

EDS CEM 10: THE LOW DOWN

2009-07-17T13:06:00.000-07:00

it has been 6 weeks and 7 modules down of learning to be the better business people that we all have been gunning for.it is has been a journey of new experiences, new friendships,new ideas,and above all a newer entrepreneurs.What the journey has been so far is what i will try to recount over the next few days and to introduce u all to my new family.
As expected i (and am sure a whole lot of us) had many expectations at the beginning of the course,as for me, i had gotten to a point in my business where i did not want it to be business as usual, i needed to put in place structures in my biz, i wanted to be taken more seriously, and above all i needed to be more financially successful
well the first week set the ball rolling for me, and i have started seeing my biz in a new light, and i am more challenged to take my biz to the next level. I have meet the most talented group of people in this class, it is really great to be part of CEM 10, the talents are so diverse; from photographers to teachers to caterers and all the works and they each have their uniqueness.

There is so much to learn from each and everyone of them. In my subsequent posts i will analyze the class. I have grouped the class into 4 zones according to our sitting positions.viz:

O zone
N zone
C zone
E zone

i will try in subsequent posts to analyze each zone and their uniqueness. but for now i am out of here.

owambe mentality 2

2009-07-06T15:49:00.000-07:00

i have blogged on this topic last year, but recent events have spurred the need to say one or two things about this topics. firstly can we define aso-ebi-- by literal definition it means relative`s outfits,in the 9ja sence very one is ur relative as long as they can afford the aso-ebi ,pls y do i have to spend 20k on aso-ebi even though am close to the celebrant, is it really necessary, should i spend so much for an outfit i might not really like, is it right to borrow money to pay for aso-ebi,i can`t understand the rationale behind this owambe mentality,what do u think

how wunmi got her groove back

2009-07-06T15:26:00.000-07:00

here is a pic of me @ a wedding trying to get my groove back as i said earlier, i decided this year that i was going to pay more attention on my looks, try and socialize more, and if i were to give myself a mid term score i would say 70%,so far so good, will put up more pics as i continue in my quest to rediscover myself and make the best of all sistuation

p.s since tomorrow is my b.day will see what gist i will be havin.

p.s.s i have already got a nice phone from oko thanks a lot love

birthday blues

2009-07-03T23:29:00.000-07:00

thank God the week is off it has been one hectic week, balancin school with work.i am fatigued like mad.am counting down to my milestone birthday(wunmi u don dey old small small),and rememberin how my dad used to do it, he wld continously play obey`s song-my birthday is coming, daddy buy shoe for me ,my birthday is coming ,daddy buy shoe for me, o my darling o happy birthday to you, hapi hapi hapi o happy birthday to u,am really exicted, and i know it is the begiining of new things for me.i will save the chicken for u all but for now am out of here,

Facebook | Oluwunmi Funbi-Olufeko

2009-06-30T15:38:00.000-07:00

Facebook Oluwunmi Funbi-Olufeko

starting over

2009-06-30T14:56:00.000-07:00

it has been over a year that i wrote on this blog,when i first started i intended to do this as often as possible but my internet connection was so slow it was a huge task even openning blogger at all. well i plan to start over now that i have gotten a new operator.
what has happened in the last one year, hmmmmmmmmm i had a baby,that is it, once i put to bed i decided i want to get a new lease of life, i was beginning to get bored with my life,before my 2nd baby when i had the first one i felt i had lost a bit of myself and my self confidence basically becos i had gained a lot of weight not that i was a lepa before but gaining as much as 12 kg just like that can be a lot on one`s psyche( i hear it a lot in my line of work).it was huge for me cos i did not really feel attractive, i cld not understand what kind of clothes would fit my new body(even though i am a designer), the things i liked to wear before now no longer looked good on my new found body.when i had my 2nd baby i think i was better prepared, and i had put myself on a diet to control my weight, i learnt one important issue: love the body u have now and u r one step away from looking as good as u want to.someone once told me God made big, small,fat ,slim and all shapes and sizes cos it would have been such a boring world without the variety.i am not my ideal weight but am dealing with and accepting whatever size am now i can still look GOOD. i try to wear what i like now thanks to body shapers(for u out there that have tummy issues i strongly recommend) so i obsess less abt my flabby tummy.i do feel better about myself, i try to go out more and see what is happennin around cos i realise once u r an entreprenuer,there is tendency to work 24/7 without giving urself some space.i learning to dream big and live even bigger!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

pre fashion show pics

2008-04-11T18:12:00.000-07:00

here are some of the pics of my collection at Nigerian television fashion show in april, hope u like them.

got my camera

2007-09-11T15:45:00.000-07:00

here some pics that i took with my newly launched camera, theyare pics of some of my designs hope you like them

the owanbe mentality

2007-09-11T15:17:00.000-07:00

i have been trying to write this for awhile now but work and the fact that my Internet connection is so slow it takes ages to open my blogger account, but thank God am finally here.
Down to the biz of the day:"Naijas" love parties abeg.This, i concluded from my line of work
;making clothes from the party loving "naijas".the different "aso-ebi" that are shared around,the amount some people spend on this, is it really worth it? i have a client that spends an average of20k on "aso-ebi" monthly,pls tell me what is the definition of aso ebi?pardon me o though i had this concept during my own wedding but i tried not to burden everyone with it, so it was just close friends that bought or people that held me in high esteem. left to me i have bought only 2 "aso-ebi" this year and this is not because of lack of cash but sometimes this clothes are not things i would love to wear again or they are over-priced. Back to this client of mine, recently there was a mutual acquaintance of ours that was getting married and she had picked the usual "woodin" "aso-ebi", well i being closer to this friend was not even so keen on buying, but my dear client was all about it. This is an outfit of 8k and this is someone you hardly talk to. i don`t understand this why do "naijas" enjoy this mentality? please tell me.
ciao.

work work work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2007-08-29T14:26:00.000-07:00

it is has been a while, right? Well, the last time i blogged was the day my Internet access expired and had to strike a deal with "oko" in order to get him to pay for it. he finally did that last week but am so tired most nights to think of blogging.It`s been very hectic at work (omo wa ise o ri ise).i have been trying to find a good tailor for the past two months or so now. tailors have become expensive commodity; it is amazing. Imagine a tailor asking for 30k salary. For what now? my first job as a graduate i was paid 20k, it is crazy.So am thinking how do i meet up demand of my clients without hurting my pockets.secondly the cost of accessories used for making the outfits too are also getting higher, how do small biz. owners survive? right now i have decided to increase the price of the services i render, am left with no choice as it stands now. it is either that or am out of biz. soon.ciao

what`s hot this season 1(shoes)

2007-08-10T03:43:00.001-07:00

Fall Shoe Trends

Check out the hottest trends, tips on how to wear them.

Cap-Toe Heels PAIR THEM WITH ... skirt suits and wool trousers with cashmere turtleneck sweaters. So retro forties in feeling, these patterned shoes with their shiny patent-leather caps look ladylike with sheer hosiery.LOOK FOR ... mary-jane, slingback and pump styles in a variety of heel shapes and fabrics. Home in on the color of the toe cap and pick up that hue in what you wear.At left: Wool and patent-leather slingbacks by Justsweet, $115 Don Penny

Ankle Boots PAIR THEM WITH ... skinny jeans, long tunics or sweaters. An absolute no-no: ankle boots with knee-length skirts or dresses, unless you wear opaque tights to match.LOOK FOR ... fun accents like zippers, fur trims, cuffs and a spot of bright color. Don?t hide those details with long, wide pants; these styles are meant to be shown off.At left: Patent leather ankle boots by Studio Pollini, $475; saks.com

Black & Gold PAIR THEM WITH ... that special little black cocktail dress. Both sheer and opaque hosiery work beautifully; alternatively, punch up a tuxedo pantsuit.LOOK FOR ... subtle gold detailing in trims to pick up the glint in metallic clothes. Calf skin, suede and patent leather can easily transition from day to night.At left: Suede heels by Nine West, $89; ninewest.com

Satin Evening PAIR THEM WITH ... patterned black-tie gowns in a rainbow of colors. Match pinks with browns, plums with blacks, and blues with both.LOOK FOR ... traditional jewel tones but also pastels in shades of purple. The sheerest black hosiery will do—though a bare leg looks sexy.At left: Satin strappy heels by Moschino, $545; at Tootsies,

i loved this check it out

2007-08-10T03:43:00.000-07:00

http://akelcalledwonder.blogspot.com/2007/07/lessons-from-nollywood-nigerian-movies.html

living your dream

2007-08-09T15:04:00.000-07:00

What a week it has been for me, hope yours has not been half as stressed as mine who says it is easy to be your own madam. Sometimes I envy people who do “9-5 jobs”, at the end of the month they can collect their salary without having any worry. Month- ends is always a bother for me cause am thinking of paying salaries and stocking up and of course chasing my debtors. This brings me to my musing for today- living your dream
I remember how when I was still a little younger and I would be daydreaming about what my life would be like when I grow older, what I wanted to be. I used to dream that I would be chauffeur- driven in a limo and people would be at my beck and call, that I would be a famous artist, designer, entrepreneur. I would dream that I would have a one-stop shopping mall where you can get it all. I dreamt O! Yes I dreamt. I even dreamt that I got married to prince Charles (lol). Well I had all the big dreams and much more. Am I living my dreams yet? Yes and no, I am not yet there but right now I can see a clear direction of where I am going and where I want to be some years down the line-definitely a big time designer showing my stuff on the runways of Milan, Paris, London, you name it. I can see myself affecting my generation and telling my story, that if I can, so can you. Well I did not marry prince Charles but I do have my own Prince and much more.
I met a famous T.V personality today and she was telling about her schedule and her having to travel here and there and all the people she had to see and all, yeah I could see that she was stressed out, yet I could feel her passion for her work, and what crossed my mind was-is she living her dream? And I thought she most certainly must.
So feel free to dream cause to live a life devoid of dreams is to live no life at all and do live your dreams CIAO

celebration of friendships

2007-08-01T15:00:00.000-07:00

Today, I would like to celebrate my few friends, those that have borne my eccentric nature of all, those that know the story of my life and my many struggles, those that remember to check on me when I don’t, those that just love my unconditionally.
I have got very few friends, I guess the reason is that; I have a bad habit of not keeping in touch (yeah I make friends easily but I just don’t know how to keep them). So I would like to celebrate these few and let them know that they are always on my mind.
* This list is not in any particular order.

Obi – we have been friends since high school. I would sneak to her house to have a good lunch back in my boarder days
Efosa- my ONLY male friend. He is getting married this weekend-HAPPPPPPPY MARRIED LIFE O
Tolulope- knows me in and out. I could never conveniently lie to her.
Tosan- very supportive and dependable.
Monica- a quiet adviser
Mobola-only got close recently; she was a good support while I was pregnant.
Remi and Dije- both of them I hardly talk to but can always bet on them any day.

So guys pls bear with me and know I care.

Meanwhile, I am requesting for applications for new friends to hang out with, interested, mail me wunmia@yahoo.com
Ciao
---------------
Just has i was writing this, from nowhere remi calls me the last time i spoke to her was last year it was so good to catch up on 1 year old gist.

why is 7 a lucky no

2007-07-27T14:57:00.000-07:00

I was born on the 7th day of the 7 month in the seventies, maybe i was even born at the 7th minute of the 7th hour, i wouldn`t really know, but my life is supposed to be a lucky one. My dad told me that the year i was born was when he made his money.Naturally i looked forward to celebrating a "triple 7" birthday and dancing to shina peters` "ACE". Well i didn`t do that and i didn`t feel lucky that day either. But what i know is that my life is one hell of a bestseller novel, somehow the milestones in my life too have been achieved by the grace of God..... .a bit of luck?, am not sure. Iwill recount as far back as i can and then maybe u can tell me if 7 is actually a lucky no. my entry into high sch. I can`t say how cos i was only able to answer 37 questions in the entrance exams (note the 7 again)and the school was supposed to be very competitive one. Well i got admitted sha on merit which came as a surprise cos my family friend who was later the head boy of the school got admitted thru a waiting list. i entered university in another 7th year,and almost missed graduating with my set but again at the last minute my name was included with the graduating list(details of that story is for another day).i eventually did not do the compulsory service year with my set due to another omission in the list sent to NYSC, but then again 7 days to the day my mates were to resume camp, i got a call for a job interview i did not lobby for, and eventually got a job that paid better than what i would have earned if i had served.Now to the present day, and my lucky 7 streak, i got married on the 27th day of the 7th month and of course my baby was born on the 17th.so what do u think.............. ciao

a little of very thing

2007-07-24T16:15:00.000-07:00

Why this title? you might ask. Well, to say the least, i would not know my self but i guess a have a whole range of stuff to blog about. Let me start from the info i got on funmi iyanda`s blog: it talked about the biafran war and u know reading it made me feel like how little we know about our history and what went down during the war. it was really an eye opener i suggest u go to her blog too and get the details - and while you are at it also get HALF A YELLOW SUN by Chimamanda Adichie. I haven`t got mine yet.I have been meaning and will definitely get mine this weekend. I read purple hibiscus and mean that girl has got it.
This Friday is my anniversary and i have been wondering what to get my"oko". H.e says he wants a gold chain.I was hoping i could get one but down on funds, will have to look for an alternative gift abi?We have not really decided what we plan to do for that day, but i sure hope it will be fun.

Also,i am hoping to have a lifestyle change- actually i have already embarked on it, starting with planning and starting my day early instead of just lounging on the bed, waiting for my staff to arrive and going to the workshop without having a bath(my workshop is in my house) and then getting caught up with work without having that bath the whole day. Sometimes i wonder when and how i became like this. My friend says it is because i am indoors and don`t have to go to an office. Well i agree but still my workshop is my OFFICE abi ke.that lifestyle too has affected my eating habits which now means that i have ballooned. I think i have 20 kg post pregnancy fat.Today as i was strolling to the market i felt so uncomfortable because of the folds at my sides. So the verdict now for this change of lifestyle is to:

wake up early, bathe my daughter, get her fed and instantly have my bath

dress up nicely as if i am actually leaving the house for work

reduce junk food

exercise

develop myself,emotionally, physically, intellectually and spiritually

stop procrastinating

Go out more often and meet people.

The list will be developed as time goes on and i will keep u posted on my progress.

I have been trying to paste some pics of my last fashion show for you all to view and finally here they are.it was my first solo show and was very tasking too.All in all it was a learning experience for me,subsequent ones will be bigger and better.enjoy the pics ciao

T.G.I.F

2007-07-20T13:47:00.000-07:00

Found this article while scanning thru funmi iyanda`s blog(http://www.fiyanda.blogspot.com/)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/13/AR2007071301714.html

and i totally agree as to how Africans are being painted by the west and how they think they are trying to save us cause we can`t do better for ourselves.

Now back to today`s talk.Am so glad it is Friday even though it does not make much difference to me at all, cause workis everyday of the week, being self employed means ; no work no chop abi,The good thing about it being Friday means that "oko" is around to spend time with and of course he is able to share some of oyin`s wahala: she is beginning walk and sometimes gets so clingy, she wants constant attention which her dad would gladly oblige her,and well that relives me so i leave both of them to do their thing. i think i have to go out more,and see more of what is happening outside.somehow sometimes i am i think i am beginning to turn to a recluse and all.maybe this weekend just might call up a friend that is if i have any left.

just one of dem days

2007-07-19T14:51:00.001-07:00

was not really planning on posting any thing today, in fact i had dosed off and hubby was trying to fiddle with doing a post for me but he could not find his way around so voila i come to the rescue.well today has just been one of those days where i just sit and mope about what is not going right in my life, don't mind me some times i just go this pity me trips which is what i have been doing for the past few days.yesterday was worse cos been trying to see how to take my biz to the next level actually been having some innovations but at loss how to make it happen coupled with the fact that i am short staffed and almighty NEPA sorry PHCN has been realllllllllllllly misbehaving i think for the past 2 months or so i haven`t been able to make use of electricity at my workshop and this really slows down work. Well as per staff it seems alot of folks out there are just about the get rich fast syndrome. i was "gbaed" twice this month, first by a supposed customer(details later) and then by a was to be new staff. well being gbaed added to my feeling blue all week.well am trying get that behind me got a note from my pastor taiwo yesterday and that really made me feel alot better and gave me hope that i would succeed regardless of all the odds against me and so would you. ciao

my first day

2007-07-18T14:47:00.000-07:00

As i start up on my first post on my blog spot my heart seems to beat fast maybe it is the excitement and all. Well am glad to have this to express myself as best as i can. Now and then my "oko" would join me on this blog spot and that is why i have named it tokotaya and maybe my little one too. She is just 9 months and is already attempting walking on her own so just maybe she might be here soon. well today there won't be much to write about but as we go along am sure there will be alot more to gist about. So i say welcome on board, e kaabo, Enjoy the ride with me.