Floreverie 2022 Collection: Flaunt Your Style

There are fashion labels, and then there are fashion labels, and I say that with my chest.

I will say this plainly. Fashion lasts because it changes when it has to. It makes room for old ideas and new ones at the same time, which is why there are so many brands today. But that freedom has also caused problems.

Some labels repeat the same weak ideas and release work that does not meet the standard. I have noticed this over time. On the other hand, some brands take their work seriously and try to do things properly, without cutting corners or chasing shortcuts.

One of those brands is Floreverie.

In a creative space where soft imagination meets deliberate construction, Floreverie positions itself as more than just another name.

Founded in 2020 by designer Florence Omowunmi Olojede, the brand’s name was coined from the two words flora and reverie. They are a reminder for the brand that clothes can bloom like flowers and that beauty is most powerful when it’s thoughtful. These words echo in its every design, from its distinctive sleeves to its cloudy fabrics and dramatic wraps.

In this edition, I will be reviewing one of the brand’s standout moments, the Floreverie 2022 collection. Made up of three distinct attires, it is a compact body of work, but one that holds enough presence to leave a lasting impression.

The first piece in the collection is what I describe as ‘simple with a twist’. It is a two-piece attire comprising a shirt and a skirt. At the top is a basic stripped button-down shirt. The piece features long sleeves with cuffs, a pointed collar, and a linear row of buttons in the middle partition. The apotheosis of the entire outfit lies in the lower half, which is the skirt.

The net skirt can be described as both a mini and a maxi, depending on the angle I see it from. It starts with a waistband or a belt-like waistline made of a spandex black fabric. That ushers in the flair pattern of the skirt made from gathered fabrics. Now, this is where the intricacies of the attire come in. While the front view of the outfits in the image exudes a mini flair skirt, the back tells another story. The backside of the skirt bears a maxi train. Not just any kind of train, but one three-layered ruffled train. The mechanics behind this is that the designer, right after making the flared mini skirt, inserted the ruffled layers at the back to create that train effect. That unarguably must have required skilful creativity. Yet, a few things do not sit right.

The silhouette moves between restraint and drama. Pairing a structured, button-down blouse with a skirt that leans heavily into volume. The layered ruffles at the back add texture and length, while the net fabric creates lightness and flow. There’s a clear attempt to balance structure and playfulness, though the execution struggles to fully harmonise the two elements.

I understand that the fashion industry is a competitive space. It makes it easy to feel the pressure to create something original. Yet, some originality doesn’t make it pass the room it was created in because of the overlap of creative ideas that ends up making a jumble. Unfortunately, that’s what is wrong with the skirt of this design. The highlight of the piece ended up being its downfall. The train at the back was not fitting for the entire frame of the set.

This look feels like it’s exploring duality by combining a minimalist front with a dramatic back. The designer seems to be experimenting with movement, proportion, and contrast, hinting at transformation or fluidity as central ideas. While the intention is visible, the concept doesn’t completely translate into the final garment, leaving the statement somewhat uneven.

The designer should have stuck to making the skirt an all-around mini garment, rather than inserting the layered train. This would have left the entire attire looking like a smart casual combo rather than a cringy copulation.

On the other hand, the blouse is too basic. There was nothing different between it and the thousands of stripped button-down T-shirts that already exist. This is not to say that the idea of the look shirt is at a loss, but to point out the fact that more effort should have gone into its making. Using a unique striped fabric or adding some branding wouldn’t have hurt.

One look at this piece and I am taken down memory lane, back to medieval times. This look draws inspiration from medieval Western fashion. In a way, it’s evoking royalty and ceremonial dress. The designer seems to explore nostalgia and drama, emphasising ornamental detailing like bows, peplums, and layered ruffles.

This two-piece attire could easily be mistaken for a gown because of the way it looks. The silhouette combines historical elegance with modern tailoring. It balances a structured blouse with a flowing maxi skirt. The blouse opens the attire with multiple outstanding features that I will be pointing out, one after the other. A round neckline is introduced. This neckline is made from a flowery net fabric that extends from the neck to the cleavage, creating a boxy-V as it goes.

This unique insertion is halted at the mid-waist, where a cute little bow is added along with a peplum pattern. To crown the appeal of this area, ruffles are added along the borderline of the boxed-V at the middle of the front view. These features are followed by a leg of mutton long sleeve with a little flare at the wrist.

At the bottom is the maxi skirt that starts off looking like a pencil design until it gets to the knee. This point is where another peplum is added. This made room for the inclusion of a floor-length flair.

Spectacular is one word that best describes what this piece illuminates. It’s awe-inspiring to see many fashion attributes assembled under one umbrella. However, while this is noteworthy, it is also cumbersome. The dress was sporting too many features that converted to being distractions along the way. Aside from this, ruffles seem to be on every corner and junction of the dress, and this could lead to bad outcomes when it’s time for people to pick the dress. I will suggest that the designer could tone down the ruffles and focus on certain lime lighting features, rather than going for many all at once.

And finally, the last piece ushers me into something different from the first two: it is a gown. In the collection, this piece is my personal favourite. While it looks simple, there is an aura of class written all over it.

The dress is a maxi fitted gown made from a navy-blue cotton Lycra fabric. The gown’s silhouette is sleek and elongated. It hugs the body while allowing for subtle movement through the draped ruffles and bell sleeves. The garment kicks off with a high neckline. Others call this a turtle neck. The high neckline creates visual interest. This doesn’t overwhelm the simplicity of the overall shape. It gives way to a row of draped ruffles that runs down from the neck to the very tip of the dress on the right side.

This seemingly little addition gave the dress the well-needed uplift I never knew it needed. The outfit was closed off with a circular flounce bell sleeve, which is a kind of sleeve that starts off looking like the regular long sleeve and then flares out at the wrist. For this look, the bell shape at the wrist was cut out unevenly. This made one side of its edges dangle longer than some other sides and gave the dress a classy appeal. Lastly, a long back zipper is added to maintain a sense of firmness, ease and closure.

While this dress stands to be the top on my list of favourites in this collection, one thing needs to be corrected. That is the fabric used in its creation. The fabric is very transparent, enough for me to see what the model is wearing inside. Except this was the initial aim of the designer, then this shouldn’t be. A better fabric, like crepe, could be used to replace the existing one. However, if this fabric must be maintained, then the designer might want to consider lapping the inner part of the dress with linen. This will protect the wearer from bodily exposure. That said, this look conveys understated sophistication, leaning on classic tailoring with modern flourishes.

Well, what can I say? The Floreverie 2022 collection has been a fashion meadow. It is offering designs that delight the eye while balancing style and sophistication. This brand reminds me of Nigerian labels like Lisa Folawiyo. Floreverie holds its own by experimenting with structure and movement in equally imaginative ways, carving a unique space in the contemporary African fashion scene.

Designer Florence Omowunmi Olojede and the brand have made a memorable impression. They found a way to show both promise and a distinctive creative voice. They have definitely left their imprints in my mind. With further refinement and continued exploration of fabrics, textures, and signature silhouettes, Floreverie is clearly on a path toward becoming a standout name. My final take is to keep pushing, keep creating, and the fashion world will take notice.