Lady Maiden Alex Ibru: 75 years of timeless elegance
At 75, Lady Maiden Alex Ibru continues to inspire with her timeless elegance, her kindness, and a life rich in experiences. She opens up about her style secrets, life lessons, and the values that have guided her through the decades.
When Lady Maiden Alex Ibru walks into her Greek-inspired home on a warm Tuesday morning, we’re setting up for what would be one of my most inspiring cover interviews yet. She had been out for an early morning appointment when the team got to her house some minutes before 9 am that day. Surprised yet delighted by the unexpected photo and video shoot, she welcomes the Guardian Nigeria team—Life, Woman, and TV—with warmth and grace.
Clad in a flowery dress that dances with every step, bright kitten heels adding a playful touch, and a perfectly wrapped red turban adorning her head, Lady Ibru exudes an effortless elegance that belies her 75 years. Even on a casual day, she sways with an assured grace that is both inspiring and endearing.
READ ALSO: Celebrating A Life Of Grace: Lady Maiden Ibru At 70
She has just returned from delivering invitations to her upcoming birthday celebration, a milestone she’s approached with gratitude and poise.
Stepping into her home feels like entering into a living work of art. The interior is a harmonious blend of timeless, classical aesthetics. Bust sculptures of Greek gods—a careful nod to her ancestry—sit majestically on shelves carved into the walls, and sunlight streams through large windows, illuminating the room’s décor. Every piece of furniture, every artefact, seems thoughtfully chosen, reflecting a life rich in experiences and refined tastes.
“That’s where I sit in the morning,” she tells us, pointing to a bright and airy patio overlooking the backyard pool. She regularly sits there to enjoy the tranquillity of her backyard and catch up on the news.
She hasn’t yet had her morning oatmeal. But as we settle in for the interview, it becomes clear that Lady Ibru’s elegance is not just skin deep—it reflects a life lived with intention, kindness, and a deep appreciation for beauty in all its forms.
A legacy of style passed down
She had numerous mementoes to show us, talking to the team like a young woman catching up with some old university buddies.
Soon enough, we got to talk about her style: simple, conservative yet unflinchingly refined. What’s the story behind her choices? “That’s why I took you to see my mum,” Lady Ibru says, with pride tinting the mention of her mum. “I actually developed the idea of being stylish, watching my mum as a kid, and you could even see my photographs with my brother and sister—we were all properly attired.”
She walks us through her home, picking up vintage photographs lined across the corridor, each with its own story. It’s evident that she cherishes these memories.
“Do you remember Jackie Phillips?” she asks, referring to the renowned photographer. “When we were all too young, he was the ace photographer in the country then,” she points to a black-and-white photograph of a young, graceful Maiden in a simple dress.
“I learned a lot about my fashion and style from my mum. She was always attired so elegantly.” Fondly called ‘Sisi’, a Yoruba word for a young, chic, attractive woman, her mother’s name was soon passed down to her—and deservedly so.
The principles of elegant styling
Lady Ibru’s approach to fashion is rooted in simplicity and harmony. As the morning wears on, she settles into lecture mode, regaling the team with her fashion principles. “You have to be able to combine colours, but the main principle of anything elegant is the simplicity of how you combine them,” she advises.
“I’ve seen where people wear red dresses with blue shoes—you can’t do that. Red dresses go with black or red shows, but outside of those two colours, no.”
Her eyes twinkle as she shares a practical tip: “If you’re not conversant with it, put the outfit on your bed, and whatever shoes you’ve got, put them close to it. Most times, your bag has to actually combine with the colour of shoes you’re wearing.”
This meticulous attention to detail extends to her accessories as well. “When you’re corporately dressed, your best bet most times, if you can afford pearls—and there are artificial pearls now—they go with anything.”
A love affair with Chanel
Lady Ibru’s affinity for Chanel is both profound and personal. You can hardly see her out of her home without one of her many Chanel bags, which have been well-maintained for years to retain their quality.
“Chanel is the best, no question about it,” she says with enthusiasm. “She was so elegant—the lady herself that created it. In fact, I have quite a number of Chanel bags. There’s no colour I don’t have.”
She laughs softly. “They’ve been with me for about 30 years. Once I get to my room, I empty the contents and always put the soft paper back to keep the shape. Because the moment your bag loses its shape, it doesn’t look good at all.”
More than just an assemblage of luxury items, her collection shows her appreciation for quality and timeless design. “If you can’t afford something, wait for a while, save towards it, and it will last a lifetime,” she advises.
Curating a sanctuary of beauty
Walking through Lady Ibru’s home, it is evident that her sense of style transcends fashion—it permeates her entire environment.
“I was the one who did all of this,” she says, gesturing around the beautifully appointed living room. “I chose the colours and the furnishings.”
She points to the elegant chairs, which look like something out of the Vogue magazines I enjoyed flipping through as a teenager. “These chairs came from the UK. It’s been over 40 years, and they’ve never been broken or even reupholstered.” Then, I remembered what she said about saving up to buy quality items that’d last for years.
Her home is a sanctuary filled with memories and cherished items. The glass centre table is covered in ornaments and photos of her beautiful grandchildren. There’s also a framed drawing of a birthday wish to ‘Grandma’ from them.
The essence of graceful ageing
At 75, Maiden embodies the ideal of ageing gracefully—not just in appearance, but in spirit. There have been cherished memories, but painful ones as well. Her late husband, the great Alex Uruemu Ibru, passed on her birthday on November 20, 2011, forever dressing the day in garbs of mixed feelings.
“Since my husband passed, I would say life hasn’t been the same,” she admits, a dash of melancholy in her voice. But her children and grandchildren are her joy and pride. “I normally travel in December to be with the kids, with the girls and my seven grandchildren.”
If not attending to the business of the media empire that the Guardian Newspapers Limited is, she fills her days with simple, thoughtful pleasures—spending time with her family and engaging in philanthropic endeavours.
Beauty rituals and self-care
Lady Ibru’s radiant complexion is a reflection of her great genetics and her diligent self-care routine. “I wouldn’t suggest anyone use ordinary soap,” she says. For her face, she uses a special liquid cleanser. “It’s not oily. Just a little, and I dab it gently. The delicate parts of the body require gentle care.”
Her makeup philosophy aligns with her overall approach to style—less is more. “Simplicity is key,” she emphasises. “I use a foundation from MAC, and my powder is also MAC. You don’t start doing this”—she mimed rubbing harshly—“otherwise, the makeup will go out of place.”
She also offers practical makeup tips: “I’m particular about my eyebrows. I haven’t done anything like going to a beauty salon. Just use a pencil—make it as thin as possible. And for your lipstick, find out what goes with your colour and, of course, your dress.”
Acts of kindness and a life rooted in values
Beyond her impeccable style and elegance, what truly stands out about Lady Ibru is her profound kindness and strong values. She shares stories that reflect a life dedicated to helping others.
“Any opportunity you have to assist anybody, don’t turn a blind eye,” she advises. “It doesn’t cost you anything to be kind.”
She recounts an instance when she found a man lying helplessly under a tree. I stopped, felt his pulse, and found he was alive. We put him in my car, made a U-turn, and took him to the hospital. Up till today, he does not know who brought him.”
Another time, she helped a woman wandering in her nightgown near her home and guided her back to her house.
“It’s important to look out for others,” she says with a hint of seriousness.
Her relationship with her staff speaks volumes about her character. “My cook has been with me now for 29 years,” she says proudly. “All his cooking today was learned from me. And Mohammed, who has been with me for 38 years, is like family. Why do you think all my staff have remained for over 20-something years? It’s because of kindness.”
Her home is run with the same precision and care that she applies to her style. Perhaps, that’s part of the secret of her polished look after 75 years on earth. “I’m not a docile person,” she admits with a chuckle. “I’m on the move all the time. There’s a routine in the house, and everyone knows their place.”
She believes in treating everyone with respect. “Even your domestic staff—when they bring me things, the word ‘thank you’ always follows. It’s automatic.”
Kindness is the driving factor she follows, she shares. In a world where it is a lot easier to be mean, she stresses the importance of being kind and a positive influence.
Inspiring the next generation
Maiden’s influence extends beyond her immediate circle. Young women look up to her as a role model for how to navigate life with grace and dignity.
She stresses the importance of modesty and kindness. “It’s always good to be modest because it’s people who see your modesty that will say that’s a good woman. Try to be polite to people; it doesn’t matter who they are.”
On balancing career and family, she offers wisdom: “You should be able to find time to attend to your family. It doesn’t matter how busy you are. Spend enough time with your children; teach them manners and values. At the end of the day, they’ll find out you’re right.”
She adds, “Some men may resent it when their wives have better careers, but you need to apply understanding and kindness. It’s all about psychology and managing relationships.”
And on fashion, she plays up simplicity.
“Keep things simple,” she advises younger women. “Elegance comes from simplicity. Learn to balance colours, choose quality over quantity, and always carry yourself with confidence.”
Final reflections
As our time with her draws to a close, the conversation fades into casual chats, with her asking us some personal questions. She then hands out some invitation cards to the team, personally signing them for us. “You are all invited,” she says.
As we leave her Ikoyi home in the afternoon, one thing message from her stands out: simplicity and kindness are forever fashionable.
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