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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

Kiekie Shows How To Style Denim and Pearl

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Photo:
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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Fashion

How to Style Balloon Pants With a Bold Street Style Take by Aderonke Daramola

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Photo: Adetola
Photo: Adetola Adefalujo

Aderonke Daramola is a Nigerian fashion content creator and entrepreneur, creative director of Rockefella Collections known for her clean, practical approach to street style. She shares outfit ideas that focus on structure, fit, and everyday wearability, often mixing bold pieces with simple basics.

Her style leans toward modern streetwear with structure. You will notice she pays attention to proportions, how pieces sit on the body, and balances oversized pieces with fitted elements. Instead of over-layering or over-styling, she keeps it minimal.

Photo: Adetola Adefalujo

Photo: Adetola Adefalujo

Her outfits combine style with for everday wear.

One look that captures this well is how she styled balloon pants. Balloon pants are already a statement on their own. They sit high on the waist, curve out through the thighs, and taper back in at the ankle. Because of that shape, they can easily look bulky if not styled properly. Aderonke leans into the volume instead of fighting it, and that keeps the outfit looking even.

For the top, she keeps things fitted and simple. A tucked-in white shirt. She avoids oversized tops. The reason is simple. The pants already have volume; a loose top would make the outfit appear bulky. By choosing a fitted top, she keeps the upper half clean and lets the pants sit freely.

Photo: Adetola

Photo: Adetola

Layering is where her street style angle comes in. She adds a cropped leather jacket and neck tie for a streetwear touch. The cropped length matters because it stops right around the waistline of the pants, so you still see the shape of the trousers. A long jacket would hide that and take away from the look.

Footwear is another key part. Instead of going delicate, she balances the volume of the pants with heels.

Accessories are minimal: a mini bag, and simple sunglasses. The idea is to support the look and not distract from it.

If you want to recreate this outfit, start with the pants. Get the right fit first. High waist, roomy hips, tapered ankle. Once you have that, build around it.

Here’s a simple way to put it together:

-Pick a fitted top and tuck it in.
-Add a cropped jacket or short jacket
-Go for chunky sneakers, heels, or boots.
-Keep your colours limited to two or three tones.
-Finish with small, practical accessories.

(more…)

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Fashion

Bye Black Suit! Powede Awujo Shows How a Blush 3-Piece Suit Commands Monday

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Photo: Instagram

In its Mother’s Day campaign, StyleVitae chose Powede Awujo as a muse to celebrate the strength of new mothers. On the brand’s official Instagram, they wrote: “Motherhood is powerful. And sometimes power looks like Powede Awujo.” In the shoots, Powede trades the usual black Monday suit for a blush three-piece look, introducing a softer colour to a workwear style typically seen in darker tones.

Photo: Instagram

Her tailored blush pantsuit was made by A Modern Africa in Lagos, a brand known for suits, kaftans, and agbada. The three-piece includes a double-breasted blazer paired with high-waisted, wide-leg trousers and a crisp white shirt. The dark brown tie under the collar adds contrast to the blush blazer. The colour of the tie also matches her brown pointed heels.

The trousers sit at the waist and fall into a wide-leg cut. The blazer adds structure through the shoulders, with side pockets, visible along the front seams. A pocket square is seen from the blazer’s breast pocket, with a darker lining placed in it to add a small colour detail to the suit.

Photo: Instagram

The slim bracelets on her wrist and thin rings on her fingers reflect her caption, “I don’t like too many accessories. I’m not a busy dresser.” Her nails were painted in a soft neutral shade matching the blush tone of the suit. The styling and structured finishing of the suit, shirt and tie was done by Noble Igwe.

Her makeup was done by The Nukkie Company in Lagos, using soft neutral tones with defined eyes and neutral lips. Her hair was styled in long waves over her shoulders.

Powede was captured by Jewel in headshots, close-up portraits and wide shots, against a minimalist background. A video of the shoot was filmed by Nobs, where she spoke about the outfit. “I feel beautiful. I feel soft because the colour is a very beautiful one, which I’d say is like a mix of my favourite shades like pink and then my neutrals. I love them. I love the fact that it’s not such a really bright colour.”

Photo: Instagram

StyleVitae served as the creative director for the shoot, overseeing the presentation of Powede Awujo’s outfit for her Mother’s Day feature. The team presented a fresh take on Monday tailoring, highlighted by the blush three-piece suit.

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