My Style: Tosin Sho-Silva

“Less is more” – Tosin Sho-Silva

It’s time for another fabulous edition of My Style – our monthly BN Style feature that aims to celebrate the unique style of our amazing BN readers.

The My Style page is all about showing how diverse and universal style can be. Style is individual, unique and fun and is a personal representation of how each person expresses their take on fashion; so BN Style watchers let’s appreciate his unique style.  Enjoy!

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Today’s My Style Star is especially chic! With an eclectic style that incorporates vintage, rocker-chic, classy, fun and flirty – we think you’re going to want to bookmark this page.

Oluwatosin Alexandriah Sho-Silva is a fashion enthusiast who is currently studying for her MA in Fashion and Textile Design at Herriot Watt University in the UK. Prior to this time she attended Vivian Fowler Memorial College for Girls in Lagos and got a BSc in Architecture from Covenant University in Ota, Ogun state and a level 4 Diploma in Art and Design: Fashion Pathway from Kensington and Chelsea College in London. We’re sure by now you can tell she really is into fashion & design.

Tosin currently lives in Lagos with her parents – owners of Rose Blossom Bridal, and her little brother.

Stemming from her love for fashion, she created her own fashion & style blog –StylebyAlexandriah.com and wants to start her own womenswear label as soon as she graduates. We’ve got first dibs!

Today, we are going to follow Tosin as she walks us through what makes her tick when it comes to fashion and style.

Enjoy!

My Style Is…
… is a media for self-expression and as such I have realized that my style changes and evolves over the seasons, also depending on location and basically how I’m feeling at a particular point in time. However, factors in my style that remain constant are simplicity, comfort and sophistication. I hardly follow trends but work with what silhouettes and shapes that best flatter my body frame.

It is often said that style is a way of expressing whom you are without having to speak. I strongly believe this. You can almost imagine what kind of person someone is just by studying their colour coordination, choice of preferred silhouette for a garment e.g. trousers etc. and I find this very interesting.

My style is versatile. Everyday I want to be something else. Classic chic today, street style tomorrow, it’s all depends on my mood.

Where Style Meets Personality
I’m a very simple person obsessed with neatness and precision in all I do as a result of my design background. This is very evident in my style in terms of colour coordination, makeup, hair etc.

I’m not the most feminine lady and would never trade my comfort for anything so I am most likely to be seen in pointed loafers, sneakers and Chelsea boots as opposed to heels.

Where I Shop Till I Drop
I really love shopping at Zara and Missguided. As it is for many people, shopping is therapeutic for me. If I’ve done a lot of work in a day/week, I reward myself.

My Tresses
My hair is more often than not, high up in a sleek bun because it’s a very neat and clean look, which I pretty much stand for. Asides that, a short side part or all back weave will do.

My Makeup Code
My everyday make up look is a matte nude lip with black eyeliner from Zaron, brown powder from MAC studio fix, filled brows with a Jordana pencil and mascara from Rimmel.

I never use eyeshadows (unless done by a professional makeup artist) but if I want to go a little extra, I highlight and contour with the Sleek Contour kit, use a foundation from the MAC match master, add some artificial lashes and a bright matte lip colour.

How I Accessorize
I like to keep my accessories minimal. I stick to the basics more or less; bags, shoes, sunglasses, belts etc.

I Own the Night
High-waisted shorts or jeans with a pretty blouse and court shoes is my go-to look for a night out. I often indulge in cami tops and midi dresses as well, finishing the look off with a classic red lip.

On a Regular Day

Winter Glam: On a regular Fall/Winter day, I’m always dressed in a turtle/high neck, cropped or chunky knit jumper with jeans and Chelsea boots or trainers. For jackets, I love my maxi coats and smart structured jackets. To accessorize, I throw on a chunky knit scarf, blanket or faux fur stole/headband.

Summertime Fine: Spring/Summer brings in a lot of pastels, whites and creams for me. Culottes, lace, baby socks, sandals, garlands and oversized sunglasses are all components of my looks in this fabulous season.

Shoes & Feet + Bag Life

Getting My “Working Class Girl” On
My typical work look would involve palazzo trousers, high-waisted pencil skirts, pencil dresses, culottes, court shoes, well-tailored blazers etc. Minimal accessories and nude makeup as well.

My Must-Haves I Think Every Girl Should Have
High waisted everything (jeans, shorts, pencil skirts and culottes), basic white and black tee, court shoes, a solid and structured leather bag, well-tailored black blazer, bouncy sneakers and a turtle neck jumper are all my must-haves.

For others I would suggest a pair of well fitted jeans, a well tailored coat and black long line blazers, chiffon cami tops, a good structured leather bag, black pencil skirts, basic t-shirts, neutral coloured sunglasses and court shoes.

Clean Hues

Advice For Other Style Lovers
First things first, know what suits your body structure in terms of silhouettes, textures and colours. Forget trends and work with what you have to flatter your most attractive features.

Up Close & Personal

Me & My Denims

If I Could Steal A Celebrity’s Wardrobe
Giovanna Battaglia! She is absolutely fabulous in every way.

Which Celebrity Stole My Look
I actually can’t think of any.

My Style Philosophy
As a modernist architect and designer, of course, “less is more” – Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe

Thank you to Tosin for sharing her amazing style with us. Follow her for more of her style on Instagram: @TosTos_ | Follow her on Twitter: @TShoSilva | Visit her fashion & style blog: www.stylebyalexandriah.com

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If you are interested in appearing in the My Style feature, simply send two pictures of yourself or that of a friend depicting a typical day and night look with a short summary of your style to style(at)bellanaija(dot)com. When your entry is approved, you will be required to send in more pictures and personal commentaries on your style or that of your friend as the case may be!

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BellaNaija Celebrates Academic Excellence – Class of 2015: Chiamaka Ndukauba

BellaNaija presents “Celebrating You! Class of 2015” We called for submissions of graduating students who had excelled in their course of study. We acknowledge the fact that everyone who has graduated this year is a winner. We, therefore, want to celebrate people who have gone over and above the norm. People who have gotten meritorious distinctions and awards from their institution of study. We hope that you are inspired and we look forward to receiving more entries.

Chiamaka Ndukauba graduated from School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London with a distinction in her Masters in Development Economics. Pause. Let that sink in for a bit before you read on.

You see, this is why we continue to celebrate academic excellence. A lover of arts and music, Chiamaka blossomed in a home environment with unconditional love from her family and particular discipline from her mother. She is a firm believer in the fact that she can achieve anything she set her mind to. She described her story like this: “It indeed has been an exciting journey for me fraught with uncertainties and the attendant highs and lows”. In all, she scaled the bar! We enjoyed her story and found it really inspiring. We hope you do, too.

Genius in The Making… But First, Right Course
Towards the beginning of the WASSCE I decided I really wanted to be an economist after following updates on world economies and promptly switched from pure sciences (following my brother’s footsteps I initially wanted to be a doctor) to the commercial department. This was a huge leap but with my parents support and insistence on a private tutor, I quickly gained ground in all courses and aced my WASSCE. Next was my first degree where I attained part scholarship from Nigerian Breweries 2008-2012. Upon completion of my first degree at Veritas University, Abuja, in 2012, I bagged 3 awards (2nd Overall Best Graduating Student, Best Graduating Student in the College of Management and Social Sciences, and Best Graduating in the Department of Economics).

Funding For Masters… Hello Scholarship!
The next step was to attain a master’s degree in Development Economics where my passion lay. While serving as a Research Assistant (NYSC), I became the “professional applicant” for scholarships in the UK universities. I consistently hounded my referees who all provided immense and continuous help in providing detailed reference and recommendation letters for each of the applications (which was quite a lot!). After my final application scholarship application in March 2013 to SOAS, University of London, I sat back and handed all to God, believing and praying for a miracle and at the same time started actively searching for jobs.

A day I would not forget was 1st July 2013 when I had just finished shopping office clothing for a job I was to begin the next Monday and was playing dress up for my mum and sister, when a mail from the scholarship office of SOAS beeped on my phone. My heart literally squeezed as I thought it was the “We regret to inform you….” only to see the subject line had congratulations. I opened this mail to see a scholarship offer for an MSc in Development Economics in London. I screamed for joy while my mum nearly fainted from fright because she could not understand the expression on my face or reason for my scream ha-ha!

The True Test of Dedication, Doggedness & Determination
From the onset it was tough as there was a Preliminary Math and Statistics course, where failure would nullify course of choice and consequently your scholarship (after family thanksgiving in church..mbanu). After scaling through this with distinction grades, the short nights and days when the library was a second home officially began. Thereafter, final exams were completed and the tediousprocess of dissertation writing began (days of constant 4 minutes frozen pizzas).

Studying Economics at a higher level during this Masters degree really tested my endurance. At the beginning of the course, the requirements mandated at least 2 elective courses upon which I decided to stick with related courses where I already had a solid background. However, a fellow classmate convinced me to try something unrelated but interesting (a course on Capital Markets and Derivatives). It was not a surprise when after I attended the first lecture for this course, I found a remote corner in the library and asked myself if that classmate was sent to torment me haha. However, after I spoke with my brother, who as usual convinced me, I could ace the course, I set out to purchase all the beginner’s books I could find and registered for as many online tutorials as I could. As time went by, I began to grasp the rudiments and didn’t quite feel out of place during lectures.

Another major moment when I began to doubt I could attain that distinction was during an exam where I was so stressed, I completely blanked out. It took at least 15 minutes to calm my racing heart and another 10 to pray, before I just stared at my sheet and answered in a completely different structure from what I had planned.

Finish Strong
My joy came when exam results were released and I attained distinctions in 6 courses save two. My supervisor was totally surprised at the number of distinctions and immensely proud of me, and then promptly threw more curve balls as we discussed my 2nd dissertation draft. After I turned in my dissertation, the official fasting and prayer began – as school policy maintained a distinction must be attained in the dissertation in addition to the course requirement before an overall distinction could be awarded.

When I found out I made a distinction the first feeling that came over me was just gratitude. This was so because for a very long time during my studies I continuously doubted my abilities, but for the several voices of encouragement that continuously put these doubts to rest.

Upon receipt of my certificate with a Distinction in MSc Development Economics, my mum sang praise and worship for hours, while my dad as usual said his solemn “Well-done, well-done, I knew you could do it” (2nd thanksgiving on the way…).

Looking Ahead… To Sub-Saharan Africa
I am looking forward to a career in International Development and Finance. My long term goal is to contribute to curbing abject poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa beginning with Nigeria.

Despite all odds, I set my mind to a goal and put in work not withstanding setbacks, as I knew there was a light at the end of the tunnel. I simply always handed all to God from the get go and He has NEVER EVER failed me. So to others students out there, ALWAYS PERSEVERE and NEVER LET YOUR FEARS/DOUBTS OVERSHADOW YOUR STRENGTH.

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If you want to be part of this inspiring and amazing feature or if you know someone who is part of the Class of 2015 who should be featured here, please send an email to features(at)bellanaija(dot)com. We look forward to reading from you and sharing your academic excellence.