Lagos Fashion and Design Week 2017 delivered trend inspiration in abundance. From Style Temple’s disrupted minimalism and Grey’s bold palette to JBL’s glossy feminine silhouettes and Tiffany Amber’s flowing prints, eclecticism and a bold and unique point of view were firmly on display. Upon reflection, however, there were a few common threads worthy of mention.
Exaggerated Sleeves
Whether structured (Style Temple, Bridget Awosika) or generously bohemian (Tiffany Amber, Meena), the statement sleeve was having a moment. At Grey, wide cuts adorned arms, and Christie Brown channeled a Victorian vibe.
Feminine Silhouettes
While fabrics, colour palette, and cut varied greatly across the collections, an appreciation of the female form was paramount for all. Jewel by Lisa’s offering oscillated from form-fitting pencil skirts to floor-length maxis. Tiffany Amber played proportionately with oversized jackets and mixed fabrics to create a cohesive collection celebrating the female form. At Style Temple, sheath dresses cinched waists, and knee-length skirts provided the foundation for exciting and unexpected embellishment.
Buttercup Yellow
Although no particular hue asserted itself as a statement colour during this year’s Lagos Fashion and Design week, buttercup yellow certainly had its moment. Charlie Brown, Grey, and Jewell By Lisa all featured this sunny shade in their collections.
Sheers
At Style Temple, sheers featured in the collection offer a quirky juxtaposition against tailored skirts, trousers, and jackets. At Grey and Meena, transparent fabrics augmented statement sleeves.
Frills
Feminine frills were used to highlight a cinched waist in buttercup yellow, tangerine, mint green, and magenta red at Grey, while at Style Temple, frills garnished hip, neck, and waist-lines. And a dusty pink maxi at Christie Brown featured frills at the bust and sleeve.
Pattern
Sophisticated use of print and pattern has been the mainstay of the collections at Lagos Fashion and Design Week since its inception in 2011 and this year was no exception. Tiffany Amber channeled an Eastern influence for her free-flowing, figure-skimming collection, which featured indigo, navy blues, and forest greens. Jewel by Lisa’s glossy offering was accentuated by repetitive motifs in delightful pastel tones. Abiola Olusola put a modern spin on stripes via a bias-cut maxi dress with spaghetti straps. At Style Temple, the prints stood out in their sparseness - once again showing the power of the well-placed and thoughtful accent.
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