Fashion is storytelling stitched into fabric. This alone gave rise to the popular saying, “dress as you want to be addressed”. Fashion reveals personality, and this personality can be expressed through colour and even subtle patterns shaped in the little details.
Some brands understand this so well that their pieces feel less like mere garments and more like an expression of some sort. One of such brands is Bstyle, a fashion design entity owned by Oluwabasmishe Iretioluwa Ola. With its bold artistic creations, the label has carved its place in the fashion world.
Since 2019, they have been steadily releasing design collections that show us just how beautiful and meaningful fashion can be. And this year is no different, as they just launched their latest drop, No Style Like Bstyle.
With this in mind, let’s take a closer look at some of the standout pieces from their 2024 collection. And as usual with Bstyle, each outfit has a story to tell. But beyond admiring them, we’ll also explore subtle improvements that could make these looks shine even brighter.
Let’s start with the obvious detail here, the colour. The solid pink hue already makes a statement and sets the dress on some “princessy vibe”. And it seems pretty intentional that no other accent colours are supporting the pink… so, it’s safe to say, this is a full-blown pink dress.
Following the colour, let’s examine the neckline ruffles. Well, it’s evident that the ruffle isn’t just on the neckline, but we’ll just begin with that. The neckline seems to be a sort of asymmetric look. Because if you look closer, you can see the left side pulling down a bit more than the right side. That stylish tailoring, along with the pretty ruffles, adds to the beauty of the otherwise basic neckline look.
Another place the ruffle style features is at the base of the sleeves. The subtle bell sleeves begin right after the ruffles and extend down to the wrist, ending with a mini ruffle as well. The sleeve ruffle detail is designed in a way that fans out a bit, which gives the idea of the “bell-sleeves”.
Now, there’s a subtle aspect of the dress that’s quite easy to miss, but let’s point that out. The little buttons placed vertically on the left side of the bodice add their own aesthetic effect. And from where they stop, the skirt starts and fans out down just a little below the knee.
At the hem of the dress is another ruffle detail, a signature style of this dress. However, this particular ruffle is quite different as it includes a split cut, which allows the end to bulk up a little. Altogether, the dress looks very well designed with a structured cut.
Regardless, a few tweaks could be considered to enhance the outfit. Let’s start with the sleeves. Now, they may give a stylish look, but the cuff around the wrist makes the dress appear like it’s pulling on the arms. To make this better, tapering the wrist subtly could balance out the silhouette. And this can be done without losing the beauty of the ruffles.
Another area the designer needs to review is the ruffle detail across the neckline and hem. Right now, both ruffles compete with each other for attention as one is placed up and the other at the bottom. So, reducing the size of the neckline ruffle would allow the hemline to shine and stand out more. Even repositioning the ruffles into softer layers could add elegance without overwhelming the frame. This way, the dress retains its bold personality but feels more harmonious.
First off, kudos to the designer for this beautiful colour combination. The burnt orange skirt paired with a white base top, carrying a hint of black, is absolutely genius and is pretty in the eyes.
The top is designed to mimic a shirt, with its sharp collar and tiny buttons that flow through the bodice to the hem of the shirt. The shirt itself is stitched with fine details, including small black circle print and floral patterns in the same orange hue as the skirt.
Paired with this pretty top is the solid orange skirt, as stated earlier. The high-waisted nature of the skirt lets it flow immediately after the bodice, stopping just a little above the ankle. This midi skirt length portrays a modest demeanour and sits right with the shirt-like top.
This outfit doesn’t really have much going on, with all activities and details present only in the shirt. So, for this reason and some others, there are a few suggestions for improvement that could be considered. One of which is the skirt design.
While the plain orange balances out the patterns in the blouse, it also feels a little too flat compared to the energy happening on top. We’d suggest adding some details, such as a side slit or even pleats, as this would bring more depth to the bottom half of the outfit. This small change would create a more dynamic overall look, instead of letting the shirt carry all the attention.
Another improvement to consider is the colour coordination. Now, this is not to contradict what was said earlier that the colour pairing is beautiful. However, it would look much more presentable if it were designed with a more creative colour scheme for the skirt, like a patterned variation, which could elevate the look.
Additionally, a textured fabric such as satin or crepe could also be better off, as it would add contrast to the look. This would prevent the outfit from looking too plain. Regardless, this is still a stunning ensemble.
Simply looking at this piece, you can already tell the amount of creative ideation it took to put it all together. Let’s unpack the artistic details it features, starting with the colour.
This shade of blue is very pleasing to the eyes. It also flatters all skin complexions, especially darker skin, making the melanin pop better, as seen on the model above.
This dress carries the basic round neckline with a sleeveless cut, keeping the upper part of the dress clean and structured. The lower half is where all the drama happens. With two circular flower-like embellishments, the dress immediately catches attention. These details serve as the focal point of the outfit.
Following the applique designs are the slits. The skirt includes vertical slit panels that help with ease of movement. These details also keep the silhouette from being too stiff. Though the outfit is clearly unique, it kind of leans more toward experimental than flattering.
You see, one of the major challenges of this outfit is the appliqués. They may seem appealing to the eye, but the two massive details placed at the hip area might distract from the body’s natural proportions instead of enhancing them. Also, the slit panels at the bottom create an interesting texture, no doubt. However, they too disrupt the natural flow of the skirt, which makes it appear like a costume.
So, to elevate this dress, one improvement to be considered would be to rethink the placement and also the scale of the floral appliqués. Instead of sitting symmetrically on the hips, how about just using a single detail on one side? This would ensure that the appliques are not taking up space, and it would also give the unique effect it needed to give. Alternatively, a more delicate scattering of smaller flowers could work to flatter the silhouette. This way, the artistry remains, but without consuming the entire outfit.
With these recommendations, this dress design could easily transform into a better version of itself.
This lineup is truly creative. All three outfits demonstrate Bstyles’s creative essence, with designs that showcase unique tailoring expertise. Through these outfits, we get to see that Oluwabamishe prefers to create design pieces that are quite different from the norm. And while that’s okay, a few improvements could still be considered to enhance the outfit’s structure and overall design quality. We can’t wait for subsequent releases, and we believe that Bstyle will definitely do better than they have done. Kudos, once again, to the team.
