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Sandra Omo looks at the attitude problems some designers can have

This week, for the first time, I found myself saying no to a designer. There was nothing personal about it, I just knew from the moment this student designer walked into the changing room that I would not be modelling any of her props. It started with her attitude towards another model who she treated like a piece of crap.

We were backstage at a fashion show that was due to begin in a couple of hours, trying on and fitting clothes. Yes, as you can guess from the time frame, it was a little show put together in a hurry to boost the profile of a yearly exhibition that is still in its infant stage. No one was being paid for this, so it was a good gesture to assist one another, as well as to boost the young designers’ profiles as they were unknown. I chose to do it because the agent organising it, who is also a friend, required my presence, plus the fact that one of my parents is from the country the exhibition was organised in.
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Sandra Omo continues her spotlight on the courage and career of Thema Davis

After the touching and shocking tale of model Thema Davis last week, the question is: how is Thema now? Well, she’s back on her feet – as her picture clearly shows – with numerous jobs and magazine interviews and a feature in almost every major magazine. I caught up with her and in a candid interview she tells it plainly, but with emotion that sends the message straight to the heart. To read Thema’s full story, please go to www.themadavis.co.uk.

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Zara Baker gets in shape for the upcoming party season at the newly opened Otium Health & Leisure

Otium is a Latin term meaning ‘leisure with dignity’ so I knew what to expect ahead of Otium Health & Leisure’s opening. Based in a prime position in the popular Thistle Hotel on Kings Road, Otium is an exclusive leisure club that’s been refurbished to offer first-class facilities to any discerning health nut. Or, if you’re like me, planning to take your exercise routine inside now the dark nights have drawn in and a run in cold temperatures is out of the question. It’s the perfect time to start – with an estimated half a million people in the UK falling to Seasonal Affective Disorder, exercise is the non-medicinal way to boost your mood and leave you looking great.

The newly refurbished facilities on offer at Otium are something to get excited about and I quickly say goodbye to my old routine. Here, they offer a fully equipped gym with a cardio theatre, a heated swimming pool, steam room, sauna and one-to-one personal training. Personal training? The perfect timing for the little black dress (or suit and tie) party season, with a session based around areas the individual needs to address. Also, it’s a whole lot easier to get motivated with someone there helping every treadmill-step of the way.

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Find unique styles at new optical boutique Frames In The Lanes

Stroll through the Lanes and you can’t miss Frames in the Lanes in place of a former deli in Meeting House Lane. An eye-catching window display of unique frames makes it appear more boutique-chic than your standard optician. Spectacles have, in recent years, become more of a fashion accessory designed to make a statement. All glasses and sunglasses individually selected for Frames in the Lanes do just that.

Bernadette Fitzsimons and Freya Huntley joined forces to open the shop over August bank holiday; Freya’s previous optical knowledge and experience and Bernadette’s corporate background make for a strong successful partnership.

Alexander McQueen £229 (inc single vision lens)

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