Formal Attire for Women And Dress Codes

We are 100% committed to providing the information that you need to make an informed choice when buying the best formal attire for women. You’ll discover a wealth of invaluable information on how to choose outfits that will flatter your figure, you’ll learn how to accessorize outfit, and find the very best places to shop online. We’ll identify places that charge affordable prices without compromising on quality.
The most important aspect of formal dress is finding valuable information about fashionable styles for all occasions – business attire for women, weddings, proms, balls, cocktail parties, garden parties or evening meals. Since each of these occasions requires a totally different style of dress, it can be difficult to determine what would be most appropriate to wear. However, with our help, it will become easier and a lot more fun to shop.

Understanding Formal Dress Codes

When you’re shopping for formal business attire or casual evening wear, you’ll likely have a specific level of “formality” that you need to meet, so it’s important to understand what these levels are so that you can choose clothing that’s appropriate for the occasion. The different levels include business formal, semi-formal, black tie, and white tie.
If you have received an invitation, it’ll likely specify what type of formal dress code is most appropriate, which will remove a lot of the guess work. However, even if the invitation states the type of affair, you’ll still need to have an understanding of the differences between the codes so that you choose an appropriate outfit.

Business Attire for Women

The most common day-to-day type of clothing that you’ll require is professional business attire. This is  work clothing that is considered appropriate for the office, business meetings, court hearings, and things of that nature. Typically, women wear business suits that consist of either a pair of pants or a skirt with a dress shirt and a suit jacket. Dress shoes, such as pumps or flats, are also commonly worn.
Wearing a nice skirt paired with a dressy blouse can also be considered business formal attire, but it depends on the style and design of the separate skirt and blouse, and it would also depend on where you were wearing the outfit. A simple skirt and blouse combo may not be professional enough for a day in court or an important business meeting.
One of the main areas to focus on when purchasing professional business attire for women is finding clothes that fit well and compliment your body type. Unfortunately, many women make the mistake of wearing a suit that is too tight, which ends up completely spoiling their overall look. It doesn’t matter if you buy the most expensive business suit in the clothes shop, if it doesn’t fit right then you’ve just wasted your money so make sure you spend the extra time to get it right, and even go down the tailoring route if you can’t find something off the rack that is suitable.
When you require business attire for the office then it’s usually a good idea to observe how everybody else in the office dresses, and then build up your wardrobe around a few basic outfits that conforms to this style. Also, it’s not uncommon for a company to issue handbooks that outline expected dress codes to give you an idea on what to wear for a day at the office.

Semi-Formal Dress Code

‘Semi-formal attire’ is clothing that is worn for things like dinners, garden parties, or even as a guest at a wedding. Although this can be misleading for some, you will not be forced to wear an elaborate gown. Instead, a cocktail outfit will suffice. Examples of different cocktail outfits are a blouse, fancy skirt and top, a pretty dress or even a suit.
The cocktail dresses that are appropriate for an occasion will vary depending on if you’re attending a dinner, a wedding, or something in between. You may also notice slight differences in what women are wearing based on the time of year it is and whether the event is held indoors or outdoors.
If you want to go for a safe bet when attending an event that requires semi-formal dress code, then try choosing a knee-length cocktail dress, as this is often the perfect compromise between casual and formal. Let’s face it, you’re probably scared of wearing evening gowns with sleeves to such an event in case people view your and your outfit as looking too formal, which is why a cocktail dress is a good alternative.

Seasonal colors also work well in this type of situation. For example, if it’s a semi-formal garden party in the summer, then you’ll want to wear bright colors that fit in with the mood, and avoid anything too dark. Not only that, but the fabric of the clothing is also an important consideration as you don’t want to end up too hot during the summer or too cold during the winter.

As with any kind of professional attire for women, it’s important that you always dress for your body type and look for dresses and skirts that show off the most flattering parts of your body while minimizing the areas you want to draw attention away from. At semi-formal events showing some cleavage is okay, although don’t go overboard. If you’re getting too many stares then it is a probably a sign you need to cover up a bit!

Formal Clothing for Black Tie Events

A formal black tie event is considered slightly more formal than ‘semi-formal’. A lady should normally wear a black tie gown that touches the floor, but a gown that is of a shorter length is also sometimes acceptable. A cocktail dress is optional, but it is recommended that a gown is worn. There are many variations of black tie-appropriate gowns, such as full skirts that resemble a bell shape to ones that are form fitting and floor length.
Many women feel that a black tie event means wearing dresses that are conservative but this is not always the case, as it’s more than possible to go with something that is modern and exciting without coming across as casual.

The main thing to keep in mind is that anything you wear should be classy, which means avoiding a dress or gown that is too revealing. Typically, a plunging neckline or backless dress is the perfect way to have a more modern style and draw attention to yourself, while at the same time remaining within the boundaries of what’s acceptable for a black tie event.

Formal Attire for Cocktail Parties

While not ultra formal, cocktail parties would not be considered casual either, which means finding the right balance is key. A formal blouse and skirt is considered to be a good option when attending a party, or even long dressy pants with a cashmere sweater. Of course, cocktail dresses are by far the most popular choice, although there are so many options in this area it can be hard to know exactly what to wear.
Ultimately, this is a formal event so it’s a safer option to go with cocktail attire for women that looks more elegant and classy, rather than revealing or flashy. Knee length is normally preferred, although you might want to go a bit longer in the winter and even pair the dress with a jacket to keep the cold at bay.

Choosing Formal Attire for Women

No matter what type of event you’re attending, selecting women’s attire can be fun and exciting, but it can also be a daunting and confusing experience. That’s why we aim to give you the knowledge you’re looking for about which styles, colors and patterns will look best on you so that you no longer have to dread going shopping. One thing is for certain, though, shopping for women’s formal wear is going to be more difficult than buying every-day casual clothing. Sorry to deliver the bad news.
Making sure you are clear on the exact type of dress code is critically important, and it will help you to pick out a dress or business suit that looks great on you far more quickly. While there are guidelines surrounding what is and is not appropriate to wear to specific types of events, there is some leeway allowed in those guidelines. For instance, a gown that is suitable for a black tie event may also be suitable for a white tie event, and a cocktail dress suitable for semi-formal occasions could very well also be suitable for a black tie event. It’s no wonder so many women are confused and frustrated, but you’ll figure it all out after spending some time soaking up all the information there is here.
However, if you are out shopping and you have any doubt about whether or not the dress you’re interested in will suit the occasion you’re attending, ask for assistance from the store attendant and they will likely be able to tell you which dress would be appropriate to wear. If you take into consideration all the information on this website, you will find that buying all types of formal attire for women is a lot easier.

Akara Nigerian Breakfast Recipe

Akara, also known as Bean Cakes, Bean Balls, Bean Fritas or Acarajé in Portuguese is a Nigerian breakfast recipe made with beans.

To make Akara, you need to first of all remove the beans coat. You should remove the coat from the beans just before you make the Akara. This means that you can't use coatless beans that has been stored in the fridge or freezer to make Akara. I tried that and the Akara did not turn out well like the ones made with freshly peeled beans.

Ingredients you need for Akara

You need only 5 ingredients to make Akara:

• 1 cup of Beans  (black-eyed or brown beans)
• 2 habanero Pepper  (also Chilli pepper)
• 1 medium onion
• Salt to taste
• Vegetable Oil for frying

Tools you will need:

• Blender
• Mortar and Pestle

Before you fry Akara

1. Remove the beans coat. It is important that you do not let salt come in contact with the beans you will use in making Akara till you are ready to fry it. Salt is believed to destroy the leavening property of beans. This is what prevents spattering of the beans batter during frying.
2. Then soak the beans in water for 2 hours to make it soft enough for your blender. If you will grind it using the heavy duty grinders in Nigerian markets, it will not be necessary to soak the beans for extended periods of time.
3. Cut the pepper and onions into desirable sizes.

Making Akara

1. Grind the beans with your blender making sure you add as little water as possible. The water should be just enough to move the blades of your blender.
   
   The operators of the heavy duty grinders in Nigerian markets don't even add water when grinding beans for Akara. The less water you add at the grinding stage, the more the beans batter will stay together during frying thereby reducing spatter. Also, do not add any other ingredient when grinding the beans for Akara. It is believed that other ingredients, if added too early, reduce the ability of the ground beans particles to stick together.
2. Set some vegetable oil on the cooker to heat up. The oil should be at least 3 inches deep.
3. Put some of the ground beans into a mortar. This should be the quantity you can fry in one go.
4. Stir the beans puree with the pestle in a continuous circular motion. You need to apply some pressure so that you can energize the particles of the beans puree.
   
   This stirring technique releases the gas that will act like a leavening agent to the beans particles, making them rise and somehow stick together. This will be like the yeast making the dough rise in Puff Puff or what folding does to cake batter.
5. Keep stirring till the ground beans appears whiter and you can perceive its peculiar aroma.
6. Add some water till you get the consistency shown in the video below.
7. Check to make sure the oil is hot. The oil should be hot enough to sizzle but not too hot. If too hot, the Akara will spatter as soon as the beans batter hits the oil.
8. Once the oil is hot, add the onions and pepper to the beans puree in the mortar. Stir well.
9. Add salt to your taste and stir again. Salt should always be added just before scooping the beans mixture into the oil. If salt stays in the mixture for extended periods of time, it will destroy the leavening property of the beans. This property is what makes the Akara float in the oil and prevent spatter during frying.
10. To fry the Akara, scoop the mixture with a table spoon and slowly pour this into the oil. Dipping the spoon a little bit into the oil helps reduce spatter.
11. Fry the underside till brown and flip to fry the top side too.
12. When the Akara balls are brown all over, remove and place in a sieve lined with paper towels.

Important points to note when making Akara

Follow these and your Akara will turn out great.

1. Use freshly peeled beans.
2. Use a very small quantity of water when grinding.
3. Smoothen the mix with mortar and pestle before frying.
4. Add salt just before frying.

Serve Akara with Akamu, Custard , Agidi or Bread . The best bread to eat Akara with is oven-fresh, hot and stretchy bread like Agege Bread . lol!

Glamorous looks from Miss Nigeria 2013, As Akudo wins

This year’s Miss Nigeria beauty pageant held last Saturday at the prestigious Intercontinental hotel Victoria Island Lagos sets the stage for future celebrity styles.  .

The red carpet featured so much colour, bling, dazzling dresses, sharp suits and smiles to compliment the stars look.  This year’s trendsetters include Ene Maya, South African model Millen, Eunice Efole, Elor Aisen and Opeyemi Awoyeami who dazzled in a black transparent and lace dress.

The event which was well attended saw Twenty three year old Akudo Ezinne Anyaoha, emerge Miss Nigeria 2013. Akudo a law graduate of Abia State University beat 20 other contestants to clinch the coveted crown.

By her win, she gets a brand new car donated by Quintessentially, N3, 000, 000m, a trip to California and one year free accommodation.

She is also the country’s International Ambassador that will uphold the Nigerian culture and traditional values in our modern way of life.

High Heel shoes: The bitter price of elegance

When it comes to shoes, some women will go through hell for a pair of the London Jimmy Choo brand. The brand became notable in the fashion circles, especially for its high heeled bridals since 1996. Since wearing high-heeled shoes is an art, women deserve medals for learning to walk in them let alone run! But what effect does wearing high heel have on our bodies?

Most women believe that if they wear high-heeled shoes they will become more attractive, sexier, more cultured, corporate and sophisticated as well as boost their confidence.

These days at social functions, including churches, as every day wear, especially in the corporate world, Nigerian ladies can be seen wearing these ridiculously high-heeled shoes that come as high as 14 to 16 inches.

There are different kinds — the wedge, clogs, ankle strap heels, wedge sandals and the high heel sandals and they come in assorted colours.

Unknown to many, the constant wearing of these shoes presents some very serious health risks as experts have warned that they could constitute harm to the feet, hip, back and even lead to permanent body deformities. “The negative effects of wearing high heels can be experienced in particular sections of the feet, knees, legs and back.

Dr Onyebuchi Ahoma, a Clinical Psychologist, says that ladies who wear heels put themselves through unnecessary misery and pain. “Some of them cannot even walk straight on heels because they feel uncomfortable but because they think it is chic and trendy they want to endure and ignore the pains they feel,’’ he said.

Dr Abubakah Muhyi, an Orthopaedic Surgeon with the National Hospital, Abuja, says that high heel shoes have been the leading cause that usually brought female patients to visit orthopaedic doctors. Muhyi says that the constant wearing of shoes with high heels or narrow toes have led to a high incidence in corrective foot operations.

According to him, this is what happens when women choose fashionable footwear over health, and many of them aren’t even aware that they are causing harm to their health. “Years of wearing heels can lead to bunions or other infractions of the toe and calf. These signs often surface in middle aged women.

“When a woman is walking on heels, she is basically walking on the balls of her feet. The ball of the foot will experience intense pressure and this pressure more than doubles with every inch in the height of shoe heel. “Ankle injuries are always a threat and the degree of injuries can extend from sprains to fractures. Calluses, corns and bunions can be formed on feet due to high heels, especially if the shoes are tight or walked on for long periods.

“Metatarsalgia is a condition affecting the ball of the foot, where all the weight is concentrated on when a woman is in heels. “Hammertoes is a condition where the toes are maintained in downward curled position because of the continual confinement of the feet in the high heels. “The muscles of the feet become tight and are unable to stretch and straighten when out of the shoes.

“Women may complain of numbness, sharp pain and burn in the toes and ball of the foot when wearing high heeled shoes — all of which are symptoms of `Morton’s Neuroma’ which is the inflammation of the tissue surrounding the nerve between the third and fourth toes,’’ he told newsmen.

Dr Babalola Olatunji, a Consultant Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgeon with the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi (NOHIL), Lagos, says that high heels cause much more pressure on the knees than what the knees are designed for, and could give rise to a condition called osteoarthritis as well as other joint disorders.

Olatunji noted that women who wear high heels frequently have a higher incidence of degenerative joint disease of the knees. This is because they cause a decrease in the normal rotation of the foot which puts more rotation stress on the knee. He says that a similar condition could occur with the Achilles tendon where it could retain its shortened state even when a woman is not wearing high heels.

“The calves will tend to retain the contracted and shortened state due to the feet being in high heels. The calf muscles may become difficult or virtually impossible to straighten without medical intervention. “High heels can cause a change in the way the muscles and tendons work together while walking. Normally, a tendon stretches and shortens, making walking easy on the muscles of the calf.

“However, heels wearing can cause the tendons, especially the Achilles tendon to shorten, leaving the strain on the muscles of the calf to do all the work. “They can cause foot pain, increase likelihood of sprains and fractures, and make the calves look more rigid and sinewy. They can also create foot deformities, causing an unsteady gait, shorten the wearer’s stride and can also render the wearer unable to run,’’ he said.

Another Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgeon at NOHIL, Lagos, Dr Akintayo Akindele, is of the opinion that regular wearing of high heel shoes could affect the body posture of a woman. “The increased weight on the toes caused the body to tilt forward and to compensate, you lean backwards and overarch your back creating a posture that can strain your knees, hips and lower back. “Because the feet will be in a fixed position, the woman will have to bend her spine in the lower back more to keep her balance.

“Some women may wonder where certain back, shoulder and neck pain may come from. Well, high heels are a prime cause of such pain in the torso,’’ he added. Akindele says that with each inch added to a heel, greater problems could arise, but there are also ways to wear heels more safely… So, if you insist on wearing high heels and you are concerned about muscle and joint strains, his advice is simple:

“I am not telling people they shouldn’t wear heels, but should, maybe wear them in moderation and alternate with other flat shoes. “Women who wear high heels can take them off when feeling uncomfortable, while driving or sitting at their desk at work. Try, if possible to ease back a bit on the high footwear. “Wear high heels maybe once or twice a week. And if that’s not practical or desirable, try to remove the heels whenever possible.

“Settle for shoes that are light and comfortable and don’t have a tight area for the toes. Also, women must stray from tempting selections with a high heel. In the long run, your feet will thank you for your efforts.’’ In spite of the fuss over high heel shoes for Nigerian women, Miss Juliet Igwe, a final year student of Tai-Solarin University of Education, Ijebu Ode, Ogun, says that such shoes are like a “Fashion Mantra’’ for her.

She adds that they complete her total appearance, beauty and self esteem. “I love wedge heels, they make you walk elegantly and you feel this aura of confidence that completes your feminine personality. “Whether they are associated with any form of health risk, I am not aware,’’ she said.

Ms Rita Izunobi, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ritz Make-up and Décor, says high heel shoes are an essential aspect of a lady’s dressing. “For a working class lady or a lady who deals with the corporate world, heels are a must wear to greatly enhance your personal standing and gait.

“I heard they could cause back pain, but I have never experienced any,’’ Izunobi said. A civil servant, Mrs Titi Tela, is of the opinion that high heels could be uncomfortable but inevitable when it comes to a woman’s wardrobe. “Many women wear them to look and feel sexy, professional, or to boost confidence, but most ladies carry flat slip-ons or shoes in their bags to alternate because these heels can be very discomforting and you do not have a choice but to slip out of them,’’ she said.

Mr Joe Onalo, an engineer, thinks that ladies who wear high heels look attractive. “I admire ladies on high heels because they have a way of catching one ’s fancy, attention and admiration.’’

Fire Service working on automatic call system – Controller General

 The Federal Fire Service, FFS, is working on an automatic call system in collaboration with private organisations to enable it to respond promptly to distress calls.

Mr. Olusegun Okebiorun, Controller General of the FFS, said this while answering questions at the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Forum on Sunday in Abuja.

He attributed the perceived poor response of the fire service to distress calls to the fact that most people did not know and did not bother to know the FFS’ emergency numbers to reach when there was a fire outbreak.

“You see, the response of fire service is a function of how long it takes you to call the fire service.

“If you take a statistics of people in this country and you take 100 people; if you are lucky, you get 10 people that will know the number to call.

“This is a big problem in this country and to overcome this problem, the Service has already devised a means with a private organisation, on system of automatic call,” Okebiorun said.

He added: “It comprises of a smoke alarm detector integrated with a GSM system. So, if you have a smoke detector, this one is integrated with a GSM line”.

“If there is fire, immediately the smoke gets to the alarm system, it will trigger off to alert the people in the place that there is fire.”

According to him, the system is capable of making automatic calls to the Service whenever there is a fire, resulting in early detection and quick response.

“It is going to be all over this country. They will see the location and through that electronic map, you will be able to see the street where that fire occurs and then the men will easily turn out to that street.

“So, we are looking at a case of one minute for the firemen to get out of their station and move to the fire scene,“ he said.

The Controller General noted that because most people did not know the number to call when there was a fire outbreak, they ended up crying and resorting to the use of  “running callers”, individuals using cars or motorcycles.

He noted that it sometimes took the running callers between five and 10 minutes to get to the nearest fire station to report a fire outbreak.

“A fire which burns for 10 minutes is already out of control, adding, “it takes only five minutes for any fire to gain an edge.”

Okebiorun said two other factors responsible for the poor response of firemen to distress calls were the status of vehicular traffic during a fire outbreak and the level of cooperation from the public.

He said, however, that to overcome the traffic obstruction, the FFS was planning to develop and install automatic access to fire engines at traffic control points.

“It works in the form that there will be a chip in the fire engine
which would be identified by the system right on the control junction,’’ he said.

The controller general said once the engine detected any fire outbreak about 100 metres away, it would give fire fighters’ vehicles the right of way and block other roads.

Mourinho hits back at Gerrard over Terry rift claim

Jose Mourinho has taken a swipe at Steven Gerrard as the Chelsea manager slammed claims of a rift with his axed captain John Terry.

Mourinho left Terry on the bench for Chelsea’s 4-0 victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv in their Champions League opener at Stamford Bridge.

LA Galaxy midfielder Gerrard, working as a television pundit for the Chelsea match, claimed Mourinho’s treatment of Terry must be due to a fracturing of their relationship.

“There’s certainly a bit of friction behind the scenes because for me, you play John Terry week in, week out, he’s your captain,” Gerrard told BT Sport. But Mourinho was quick to respond. “Steven is wrong,” Mourinho said.

“I like him very much and respect him. I think he feels the same way but he is wrong because we have no problems.”

Ayeni to publish biography of ‘A very Good Bad Guy’, 2face

NET Newspaper Limited, owners of THENETNG, Newsroom and NECLive have announced the publication of the biography of Nigerian singer, songwriter and performer Innocent 2face Idibia.

The project, done in commemoration of the musician’s 40th birthday, is part of the NET book series, which kicked off in April 2015.

Idibia’s biography, edited by NET publisher and 2face’s former publicist Ayeni Adekunle Samuel, is titled ‘A Very Good Bad guy: The Story Of Innocent 2Face Idibia.’

The book contains a detailed interview with 2face, lyrics and discography, views from some of those who have shaped his life and career, an insider’s journey through his life and times, as well as a collection of some of the most important articles, reviews, features and news about him since 2004.

‘A Very Good Bad guy: The Story Of Innocent 2Face Idibia’ is first of its kind for a Nigerian pop artiste and indeed, for a contemporary Nigerian musician.

The book’s presentation is planned to coincide with Idibia’s 40th birthday celebrations. He clocks 40 on September 18, 2015

Ayeni Adekunle Samuel, speaking about A Very Good Bad Guy commented, ‘Apart from being a fantastic musician and a wonderful person, 2Face is also a personal friend and source of inspiration; so few things give me as much joy as being able to give this gentleman some of the recognition he deserves on the occasion of his 40th birthday. These are important projects Nigeria must do for our cultural posterity. We must tell our stories and document our history. NET is delighted to compile the life stories of this cultural icon of our times so that our children and our children’s children can read it and learn. And this is the first of many to come’.

A Very Good Bad Guy: The Story of Innocent 2Face Idibia is the second in the NET Books series after the Chris Ihidero collection, Wanderings of a Rapidly Degenerating Mind.

NET has been instrumental in the growth and development of the Nigerian entertainment industry through the organisation of the annual Nigerian Entertainment Conference (NECLive) which brings together all entertainment industry stakeholders to discuss mutual challenges and achievements and to set agenda for the year ahead.

Speaking about the book, 2Face himself says ‘It’s a really good feeling knowing that all these years that I’ve been surviving in this industry, someone has been taking note you know…compiling my story so that on an occasion like this, they will release it for the world to see. I’m really feeling the love but importantly I hope those coming behind will read and learn from my story.’

Born in Jos, Plateau State, 2Face Idibia was raised in Makurdi, Benue State where he attended Demonstration Primary School and Saint Gabriel’s secondary school. After a stint at the Institute of Management & Technology (IMT) Enugu, he dropped out to pursue a music career in Lagos in 1997.

In the same year, he teamed up with Ahmedu Augustine Obiabo aka Blackface to form Plantashun Boyz, which was later joined by Chibuzor Orji aka Faze. After achieving success with the band, 2Face left Plantashun Boyz in 2004 to embark on a successful solo career which has spawned six critically acclaimed studio albums and several local and international awards.