Am a shoe Freak - Saeon

Singer, Seun Oni, popularly known as
Saeon, tells Ademola Olonilua about her
style and brand
  Would you rather rock your natural
hair or weaves?
I will rather rock weaves. It’s easier and
healthier to bleach weaves, or to put a
weave through harsh conditions such as
extreme heat than it is for my natural
hair.
What brought about your current hairdo?
It’s my new look, my significant look. In
my line of business, it’s important to
brand oneself. I see myself and my music
as a product. So my hair differentiates me
from other artistes as well as lets the fans
and those watching say, ‘That’s Saeon,’ as
soon as I step into or out of a building. It
is part of my brand identity.
How much does it usually cost you to
make your hair and how long does it take
to make?
It costs quite a lot because I have to use
quality artificial hair which is expensive. I
also have to get it dyed and maintain it. I
don’t like mentioning how much I spend
on my hair but it is quite expensive.
What’s your favourite hairstyle?
Anything with a side part.
Would you rather buy a Nigerian
designer’s clothe or a foreign designer’s
own?
I buy whatever looks good; so whether it’s
Nigerian or foreign, if it looks good, I’ll
buy it.
Do you patronise Nigerian designers at
all?
Yes I do. I know the likes of Chechi Arinze
and TT Dalk, to name a few. I definitely
patronise Nigerian designers.
What influences your fashion style?
I call my brand sexy-tomboy; I am not
‘girly’. I’ve also got a bit of an edge. I
wouldn’t pronounce myself as one who
oozes of sex appeal but it’s definitely in
there somewhere. So, anything that is a
combination of a not-so-girly-edge
influences my style.
What is that fashion item you can’t leave
home without and how did you come
about it?
My entire ensemble; I have got to come
out looking all correct.
What’s the most expensive item you own
and how much did it cost?
I might probably say my computer and
phones.
What is the best gift your spouse has ever
got for you?
It is a very lovely gift. He gave me a locket
which has his name and mine engraved
on it.
What is your fashion weakness; is it
perfumes, shoes, bracelets, etc?
I am a shoe freak. I love shoes.
Would you say you were fashionable as a
kid while growing up?
Absolutely. My parents did a great job of
making us look our best. Wherever we
went, we were pretty much clothed in
what was in fashion then. We were cool
kids growing up and the envy of other
children. My parents did not like us
looking shabby so they took out time to
make sure we stood out wherever we
went.
What was growing up like for you?
I grew up in Lagos, Festac to be precise. I
believe I had the most interesting
childhood ever. Festac used to be the
place to be back then till I moved to
Abuja in 2001. It was fun because most of
the families around were young families
and so making friends was a sure thing.
We related well with one another and
there were so many kids to play with.
Are there days you feel you don’t look so
good, something like a bad hair day?
I feel beautiful all the time and everyone
should feel so too. There are days that I
dress down. There are days I don’t wear
make-up because I have to let my face
breathe. I wouldn’t call those bad hair
days. Asides that, I am always beautiful.
When stepping out for an occasion what
do you consider?
The first thing is my comfort. Then my
brand, everything I do is in line with it.
That I give the best show if I’m
performing is because you never know
who is watching or whose life you’ll be
touching by so doing. I guess when
stepping out I consider my comfort and
my brand.
What are some common fashion errors
you have seen that irks you?
I hate cut out and folds. If you’re going to
expose your skin, at least have the
decency of exposing a great body.
What is your take on cleavage exposure
and women wearing skimpy dresses?
Tricky! I’ll say different people have
different style and fashion sense. Fashion
also suits people in different ways. This
year is about wrapping up. Times have
changed. The ozone layer is depleting
even as I am answering this question. For
the most part, the weather in our country
is hot. I believe in comfort. I wear what I
feel comfortable in. And so should
others. If a lady feels the need to expose
her cleavage and wear skimpy stuffs, it’s
her take on style or just her following
fashion trends which shouldn’t be a bad
thing if it suits her.
What are the challenges you have faced
so far?
Apart from music, I run a company that
produces jingles, theme songs, voice
overs, etc. So far, it’s been going well.
But if there’s any challenge I’ve faced, it’ll
be getting big-shot clients. With music,
my challenge is getting the right fusion of
my sound and the Nigerian sound into a
hit.
What are you currently working on?
I’m about to shoot a video for Bust My
Brain. I’m also recording more songs.