While we’re thinking ‘Fashion’ as always, but especially seeing as this month marks the start of Fashion Weeks worldwide, Team SPICE is considering the names of note in terms of style, from our home country of Nigeria.
And, since this September and Fashion Week has the attention held on designers, we’re shining a light on other sorts of ladies who lean well with their wardrobe – bloggers, socialites, stylists and stars who keep us on our toes when it comes to getting dressed.
So see below our edit of 10 of the best-dressed females from Nigeria – the icons who may not be designers but know how to where their wardrobes well.
1. Rita Dominic
Nollywood A-lister and the current ambassador of Zaron cosmetics, Rita Uchenna Nkem Dominic Waturuocha is unarguably one of the most stylist celebrities in not just Nigeria but Africa as a whole.
The 40-year-old movie star and producer who does not look anywhere near her age is currently the reigning Queen of the red carpet in Nigeria, having regularly stepped out in flawlessly put together fashion, but the truth is, we even love what she wheres when hitting the streets, where she proves her style sense is all her own.
From her luxuriant tresses and stylish sunglasses to her easy-breezy nonchalance, Ms Dominic deserves the kudos as an undying style diva – and when our wardrobe grows up, we hope it looks just like hers.
2. Yemi Alade
Endowed with killer looks and a body like Yemi Alade’s, anyone would make best-dressed lists, no matter what they wore. That said, when it comes to fashion, the Ibo-Yoruba girl loves to experiment with new styles and for that we tip our hats to her.
When on the red carpet, the bombshell rocks everything from crop tops to jumpsuits, new gowns and vintage dresses, and taking her fashion from her toe to her head, she also never sports one hairstyle for too long, and is always jazzing her look up with a pop of colour.
Recently bagging an award for ‘Most Stylish Female Celebrity’ at the 2015 African Fashion Week Nigeria, it seems Yemi’s style isn’t just a love of ours but a love of Nigeria’s as a whole.
3. Genevieve Nnaji
Nigeria’s sweetheart, actress Genevieve Nnaji is known for her stunning dresses with plunging necklines and the sexy heels she pairs them with for outings on the red carpet.
One of the most popular and most beautiful faces of Nollywood, Ms Nnaji has transformed herself from a talented silver screen star to a total fashion darling, with the 32-year-old mother of one owning a clothing line called St. Genevieve, that produces things as cute as her face.
ALways on best-dressed lists, Genny wears fashion as if she was born to, and be it a jumpsuit, power suit or a pair of denim cut offs, Genevieve manages to make clothes look like they’ve fallen straight off a runway and on to her body. And to top it off? The stunner takes trendy to her fingertips too, and is rarely seen without sporting the latest in nail art – just check out her Instagram here for your fill.
4. Eku Edewor
Stunning, mixed race TV personality, Eku Edewor certainly knows how to carry fashion with style and simply cannot put a foot wrong.
Best known as host of the entertainment show, 53 Extra, Eku is also a British-Nigerian actress and model, which would help explain why every-damn-thing looks so good on her!
Always sporting the latest in cool design, the beauty wears the chicest clothes with such flair that they literally look as though were made with her in mind, but better still, Ms Edewor has an brilliant way of styling everyday, accessible and affordable clothes like denims, tees and cardigans into real fashion statements, making her not just an inspiration for our wardrobes but a bit of a girl-next-door in terms of fashion.
5. Omotola Jalade
Actress Omotola Jalade is of course known for her undisputed talent in front of the camera, but she is also very well-known and admired for her way with style and elegant dressing.
The hard-working mother of four constantly steps out in tasteful ensembles made up of classic dresses by top labels like Iconic Invantiy, but she also knows how to rock more casual looks and has perfected her classic yet contemporary style with stunning choices time and time again. So far, our love for Ms Jalade’s wardrobe is unfaltered and we don’t see her stylishness stopping anytime soon either.
6. Toke Makinwa
The sensational star of Toke Moment and top TV presenter, Toke Makinwa was the first celebrity to make the April by Kunbi brand mainstream with her constant wearing of outfits outlined by the design house.
Discerning when it comes to fashion, Ms Makinwa’s looks never disappoint and she has been seen looking ravishing at every red carpet she has walked this year.
Always super-polished and well put together, her flawless, chic and ever evolving fashion sense sets her apart from most, hence we at SPICE see Toke as a breath of fresh fashion air and look forward to seeing what she puts on next.
7. Seyi Shay
Nigerian singer-songwriter and producer Deborah Oluwaseyi Joshua, popularly referred to as Seyi Shay, undisputedly earned her spot as one of Nigeria’s most stylish celebrities, having consistently found the perfect mix of old society glamour and casual yet fun sex appeal.
The new ‘It Girl’ on the block can pull off anything from a simple suit to a couture gown and has proved to that not only is she a very talented singer, but she is also a fashionista to watch out for – which we and the rest of the country are doing, with aim to take note for our own ensembles.
8. Agbani Darego
It is almost impossible to look innocent, sensuous and elegant at the same time, all the time, but Nigerian mode, ex-beauty queen and now designer, Agbani Darego has it nailed.
Best known as the first native Sub-Saharan African to win Miss World, Ms Darego can certainly pull off any look with her supermodel body, but has a way of looking effortlessly cool and low-key with her fashion-forward ensembles that tends to leave us completely in awe.
Aside from being graceful and charming, her style is modern and sophisticated, which is just part of the reason millions of girls look up to her and why we are bent on following Agbani’s wardrobe’s footsteps.
9. Ozinna Anumudu
Fashion and style writer for popular website, Style Vitae and trendy daughter of socialite Nkiru Anumudu, Ozinna is an emerging fashion icon in Nigeria that needs to stay on your radar.
Aside from her wealth of insight in the fashion world and the business of fashion in Nigeria, she has earned her way onto our list because she has proven she brings her A-game when getting dressed (much like her mother), and especially when she steps onto the red carpet.
Sporting a fresh, young and contemporary style with outfits including boxy crop tops and ‘skouzers,’ Ms Anumudu has our heads constantly turning, and we bet that we’re not the only ones loving what she wears and how, either.
10. Ezinne Chinkata
And from one online star to another, we conclude our list with top blogger, stylist and style socialite Ezzine Chinkata who rarely puts a foot – or any of her celebrity clients’ – out of place when it comes to fashion.
The wardrobe pro does risk-taking well while also towing the line of what’s on-trend, and can be seen mixing prints, high and lowend garments and silhouettes of all sorts – with every look ticking boxes with her great taste and attitude.
Though her star clients include the likes of Ini Edo and Monalisa Chinda, to name just a few, Ms Zinkata is like the wardrobe whisperer of Nigeria’s top names, but demonstrating her personal flair for fashion via her own red carpet moments and her blog (learn all about that in our episode of Digital Diaries, here) she is certainly a star in her own right – one we with we could take shopping with us.
But were there any other names worth noting in our list? Tell us your favourite fashionable celebrities from Nigeria in the comments box below or online @SPICETVAFRICA.
Image source: Bolababs.com, 360nobs.com, Informationng.com, Nigeriannewspapers.today, Stylevitae.com, Selectastyle.com, Goldenicons.com, Fashionpheeva.com, glamofficial.wordpress.com, bellanaija.com, jaguda.com, gistus.com, Thenet.ng, Stylebymolekor.com, Aafricamagic.dstv.com
