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The Evolution of Toke Makinwa’s Style From Girl Next Door to Fashion Icon

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Once upon a time, Toke Makinwa was just that sweet girl with a charming smile and a girly wardrobe to match. Fast-forward to a few years,  she is now one of Nigeria’s biggest fashion powerhouses and is always serving looks, always on point, and forever giving us something to talk about. The Toke we knew has evolved, and her style has grown with her, transforming into a full-blown fashion icon who’s earned her place at the top.

Let’s take a walk down her memory lane and see how Toke moved from a simple girl and became the queen of slay.

 

Toke Makinwa

Early Days: Simple, Sweet & Safe

When Toke Makinwa first stepped into the entertainment industry as a radio personality and budding TV host, her fashion style was cute, conservative, and very safe. Think corporate dresses,  blazers, and the classic pumps that were all invoked in early 2010s Naija. Her style was clean and feminine, a mix between church-girl and red carpet-ready.

She wasn’t out to shock anyone, she was just your regular pretty girl with quality taste. But even then, you could tell Toke had an eye for elegance. She knew her angles, understood the power of a flattering look, and could rock a fitted dress so well.

 

Toke Makinwa

The Glow-Up Era: Hairs and Bold Moves

Toke’s glow up era began somewhere between her personal reinvention and the launch of her YouTube channel Toke Moments, that time bore a new fashion start.

Bold-colored wigs, flawless makeup, snatched waists, and fierce red carpet looks—Toke began taking risks, and it paid off. She abandoned the “safe zone” and started experimenting with designer pieces, edgy styles, and daring colors. Her love for high fashion became obvious, and she merged streetwear with glam effortlessly.

This was also the season of body hugging dresses, jumpsuits that fitted every curve perfectly, and a steady flirtation with luxury brands like Gucci, Balmain, and Versace. Toke no longer played small, she was serving main character energy.

 

Toke Makinwa

The International Girl Era

Then came what I like to call the “International Girl” chapter. When  Toke started attending fashion weeks in Paris, rubbing shoulders with A-listers, and appearing in Vogue’s street style recaps.

Her style evolved into global, sleek, and editorial. We started seeing her in custom outfits, like oversized blazers paired with bralettes, and feathered gowns, straight from international designers. At this point she was not just dressing to impress anymore, she was dressing to influence. And influence she did.

Stylists and fashion bloggers started citing her as an inspiration. Nigerian designers saw their pieces gain attention after a “Toke moment.” The girl who once wore safe gowns was now confidently pulling off structured dresses, styled suits, and runway-ready pieces. She had officially become a fashion girl.

 

Brand Toke: Style Meets Strategy

As she evolved, Toke Makinwa didn’t just become a style icon, but also a brand. She launched her own fashion collection “Toke making Luxury”,  an exquisite leather bag. She also launched her beauty line “Toke Makinwa Beauty”  a brand majoring in beauty, cosmetics, and personal care. An expression of her fashion personality.

She understood what it meant to show up and show out. And she kept her audience guessing, always switching things up. One day she’s in soft, romantic pastels and florals. The next day, she’s channeling her inner baddie in a head-to-toe leather look.

The unpredictability, mixed with her consistency, is what kept her relevant and respected in the ever-competitive world of Nigerian fashion.

 

Toke Makinwa

Why Toke Style Is Loved

Toke Makinwa’s style journey wasn’t just about clothes. It’s about growth, confidence, and a woman coming into her own. From her failed marriage to business wins, Toke has used fashion to reflect her evolution—and Nigerians have watched every step of the way.

She’s taught us that you can be soft and sexy, classy and bold, playful and powerful. You can move to any desired level you want in life and your style should evolve with you.

 

Toke Makinwa

Final Word

Toke Makinwa didn’t just stumble into fashion greatness—she walked into it head high, looks and all. From a simple girly to a full-blown style queen, her evolution has been a joy to watch.

If there’s one thing to learn from Toke, it’s this: never be afraid to switch it up, serve looks, and own your game. Because fashion is not just what you wear, it’s how you show up in the world. And Toke? She shows up fierce.

read also: Biography of Cynthia Onoriode Lowo -Model and Fashion Icon

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Fashion

Tracee Ellis Ross Launches Eyewear Collaboration with Emmanuelle Khanh

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Photo Credit: Erik Melvin

Tracee Ellis Ross just entered into the designer space, she released a limited-edition eyewear collaboration with the historic French brand Emmanuelle Khanh on April 7, 2026. The collection focused on bold, oversized shapes that mirror her style. The debut included two signature frames which are “Freedom”, an exaggerated mask-style sunglass designed for full coverage, and “Truth”, a vibrant, aviator-inspired optical frame available in colours like bright green, cherry red, and yellow.

The “Freedom” frame is a mask-style design with full coverage. It comes in five colourways, from inky black and classic tortoiseshell, to deep red, keeping the colours within a neutral range to offset the bold design. “To me, this is a perfectly practical pair of sunglasses. They give you full coverage. We stayed in the natural range of color because the frame is so exaggerated,” Ross explained.

Photo Credit: Erik Melvin

The “Truth” is a pilot-shaped optical frame drawn from the Emmanuelle Khanh archive. It functions as a prescription glasses and offers maximum vision, available in bold colours within bright green, cherry red, and lemon yellow. “I love an aviator because I think they look good on everybody. For the color, we went vibrant and joyful, just like me,” she said.

Photo Credit: Erik Melvin

If you are a fan of Tracee Ellis Ross, you should know she consistently embraces bold choices. Her styling choices are intentional, the collection follows the same approach. She has been wearing Emmanuelle Khanh in public for years, long before the collaboration was announced. At the 54th NAACP Image Awards in 2023, she showed up in bright purple Emmanuelle Khanh frames. The relationship between her and the label had been building for a long time.

Glasses have been part of her life since she was six, so entering this category felt natural. Emmanuelle Khanh’s creative director Eva Gaumé described the collaboration as a celebration of bold femininity. Founder Emmanuelle Khanh, a pioneer of French ready-to-wear in the 1960s who passed away in 2017, was best known for her signature oversize eyewear, and Ross fits right into that story.

The frames were handcrafted in France and Italy in limited quantities and are available at The Webster stores and online at EK.FR. She remains a prominent figure in fashion and this collection is further showing her influence in fashion.

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Celebrity Style

Mimi Yina Means Business in a Pink Skirt Suit!

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Photo Credit : Joseph Iso

Mimi Yina the visionary behind the brand Medlin Couture, known for her exquisite taste in style and high-fashion, stepped away from her traditional cooperate neutrals and gave us a simple unified silhouette. Mimi attended the Women’s Crush Wednesday on March 25, 2026, hosted by Amaka Diane Okeke in a Pink tailored suit from her brand Medlin Couture and styled by her. She shared the photos on her Instagram with the caption “A testament of God’s Grace”.

Photo Credit : Joseph Iso

She wore a structured, double-breasted jacket featuring sharp peak lapels and a standing collar that added a modern touch. The tailored waist and flap pockets created a powerful, feminine shape. She paired the suit with the same pink shade of midi-length pencil skirt that fitted her properly, stopping just below her knee to maintain a professional yet chic line.

Photo Credit : Joseph Iso

For accessories she went with a more executive approach. Mimi wore simple silver stud earrings and a classic gold wristwatch. Her hair was styled by Beatrice Hairline in a straight, low ponytail with a clean center part. Yina’s makeup done by Ruth Thompson Brand was a perfect matte finish which included, defined brows, soft smoky eyeshadow with winged eyeliner and a neutral brownish nude lip. She completed the look with lavender open-toe heels that had sparkling straps wrapped around the ankle.

Photo Credit : Joseph Iso

As the woman behind Medlin Couture, Mimi Yina has built a reputation for precision and taste. She designed it, styled it, and she wore it to a room full of women celebrating impact and excellence.

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Fashion

Kiekie Shows How To Style Denim and Pearl

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Photo: Lynos Villarba

Bukunmi Adeaga-Ilori, widely known as Kiekie, has built a strong presence around fashion that feels expressive. As a content creator and media personality, her style choices often sit between playful and structured. She is not afraid to lean into bold textures or combine pieces that are not usually paired together.

That is what makes her “Season in Denim and Pearl” worth paying attention to.

Photo: Lynos Villarba

Photo: Lynos Villarba

This phase of her style focuses on two materials that do not usually share the same space. Denim is often linked to casual dressing. Pearl, on the other hand, is usually seen in more dressed-up settings. Kiekie brings both into one look and makes them work without looking forced.

The base of the look is denim. She wears a two piece set in skirt and structured blouse from Accost Collection. Not in the regular pants everybody would have expected her to style in. The cuts are clear, and the fit is intentional.

Then comes the pearl detail. Instead of wearing pearls in the usual way as a jewelry she spreads them across different parts of the outfit. On both the top and skirt.

Photo:Lynos Villarba

Photo:Lynos Villarba

One styling choice that stands out is how she pairs her jewelry, shoes and bags. She understands colour proportion and blends it well in this outfit. Since the pearl details are more visible, she styled in a white pointed toe sling back heel and matching bag. The idea is to match the tone of the outfit without overcomplicating it.

If you want to try this style, start with one strong denim piece. It could be a pair of wide-leg jeans or a denim jacket. Make sure it fits well and holds its shape. Then add one pearl element. It could be a top with pearl details or a simple pearl necklace layered over a plain shirt.

Photo: Lynos Villarba

Photo: Lynos Villarba

Here is a simple way to build the look:

-Choose a structured denim piece as your base.
-Add one pearl-focused item, either clothing or accessories.
-Keep your top or inner layer simple if your denim is heavy.
-Stick to neutral colours to keep things balanced.
-Pick footwear that matches how dressed up or relaxed the outfit feels.

Denim keeps the look grounded. Pearl introduces contrast. When done right, the outfit feels complete without looking overworked.

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