Thursday, June 4, 2026

The Sun Nigeria

Fashion Review: The beauty in fashion blend

AYO

By Rita Okoye

 

Fashion designers in various African countries are beginning to fully embrace the art of uniformity in blending when it comes to creating beautiful pieces in the blending of colours, patterns and fabrics.

A correct blend of colours can create depth, realism and softer edges in designs. However, good combinations in fashion design go beyond just getting the colours in harmony; it’s also about the correct blend of styles.

A unique blend of styles can create a fresh trend in the fashion industry, and some fashion brands are capitalising on this idea. Tatelier Designs is one such fashion brand that has captured the art of a harmonious combination of colours, styles and every fashion element that blends well to create a beautiful piece.

Tatelier Designs is a premier fashion brand dedicated to blending artistry, craftsmanship, and sustainability into every piece they create. Founded by the designer Babatunde Oluwatobiloba Ruth, it was established with a vision to transform fashion into a canvas of personal expression. They are careful in their offering of well-crafted garments that speak to both people who are conscious of style and those seeking to be unique.

 

They specialise in creating one-of-a-kind designs that show elegance, creativity, and urbanisation while showcasing the different personalities of those who wear them.

In fulfilling their vision, they are committed to crafting customised, luxurious fashion that is glamorous and tailored to the individual’s clothing needs.

 

This 2023 collection, tagged the Tatewear collection, is proof of Tatelier Designs’ ingenuity in how they correctly blend different styles to create unique and beautiful fashion pieces.

At Tatelier Designs, they offer a different range of services, all aimed at bringing a special and personal touch to the world of fashion. Their services include Custom fashion designs, where they receive customer consultation to understand clients’ visions, personalities and specific fashion needs. They also offer ready-to-wear collections that balance contemporary trends and elegant urbanity. They offer fashion illustrations for those seeking visual representations of their fashion concepts and sustainable fashion practices as part of their commitment to creating a more responsible and ethical fashion industry.

This beautiful garment is one of the clothing pieces in the 2023 Tatewear Collection. It’s a one-piece garment that is slightly loose around a slim body. It has a pair of loose short sleeves that are fitted at the elbows. It seems to be loose at the shoulders as well but gracefully flares even more through the sleeves.

The dress seems to be a blend of contemporary styles and an 80s style, and it will befit a religious gathering, and it will very much suit a religious person. The dress is in a plain colour of burnt orange. It has no patterns or special designs, which could have made the dress better. The styling is not inclusive in the sense that it doesn’t resonate with twenty-first-century youngsters who love to enjoy the premises of an exclusive entertainment or fashion show.

The dress looks vintage-inspired and would resonate more with older people who don’t love to attract too much attention. Still, anyone who loves to be talked about, be it an older person or a younger one, may not be eager to include this dress in their wardrobe collections. It only slightly flatters a curvy figure and looks outdated.

 

The dress has a fitted neckline with a white material that extends down mid-way through the chest, and the flare area resembles pleats that are evenly spread out and flow inches mid-way between the knees and ankles.

The dress has no embellishment, which would have complemented the vintage clothing idea better.

On the bright side, there is harmony and balance between the sleeves and the shoulders. There is also a smooth flow between the bodice and the skirt area, and the midriff seems to be fitted in a way that slightly pronounces the waistline and hips. Ladies love these features, but the vintage idea may be a source of repulsion for the contemporary younger woman.

The neckline feels balanced with the overall length and style of the dress.

This is another brilliant piece from the 2023 Tatewear Collections. It is a one-piece garment with a plain shade of deep blue. It flows inches above the knee, and the lower edges are folded beautifully in pleats.

It has a pair of loose short sleeves. The neckline is round and slightly fitted. However, the lower end of the dress doesn’t seem to be well balanced; it could be intentional or a mistake on the designer’s part. With the way it hangs, it isn’t easy to tell.

The dress is a party gown and is good for exclusive events. The flare area is in harmony with the bodice, and it doesn’t overwhelm the wearer. The fabric seems to be appropriate for the style and volume.

The dress will be suitable for ballroom parties, exclusive entertainment and fashion shows. It is a minimalist style with clean lines, intentional simplicity and sophistication. The fabric seems to be of good quality enough to carry the urbanity of the design.

 

The dress has an attractive visual appeal that is pleasing, but still, it would have done the dress better if it were more fitted on the designer, as it looks a bit oversized. It has a well-chosen colour that complements an African skin tone. The colour is flattering and suits the style of the dress.

The textures are in harmony, and they work well together. There is no other unique detail except for the pleats at the lower end of the dress, and in this, the dress seems to have been created in a hurry.

The dress doesn’t look unique; it looks common, something that you could run into a lot at fashion stalls. It offers no fresh perspective. You wouldn’t call it the designer’s original craft because it feels like it is following a trend.

 

Even the seams that lie flat have no puckered seams along the sides and no mismatched fabric tensions or pulling. Though it’s hard to tell from the exterior of the dress, it doesn’t look like there are raw, unfinished seam allowances, which could make the inside of the dress look messy.

On the bright side, the corresponding seams at the underarm and waistline match up accurately. There don’t seem to be gaps or skipped stitches that could create weak points that are prone to tearing.

There is no uneven stitch length, which could make the dress look unprofessional; the stitch lengths are consistent throughout the garment. There was enough attention paid to detail, and hence, the absence of loose threads hanging from seams or hems. All threads are properly trimmed and secured.

The outfit will be suitable for religious gatherings, and it will go well with ballroom dances and exclusive events.

Here is another elegant fashion piece from the 2023 Tatewear Collection. It is a one-piece garment with a slightly flowing silhouette. It has a pair of long sleeves. The dress has a V-shaped neckline joined to fitted and balanced shoulders that transition smoothly to a pair of fitted sleeves.

The dress flows midway between the knee and the ankles. The midriff is slightly more fitted than the bodice or the skirt area. The length of the dress is appropriate for the style, and there is a balance between the elements such as the bodice, sleeves, neckline and skirt area.

There are no special embellishments, which is a minus for this dress because an embellishment would have made it look more beautiful.

 

The fabric seems to be made of lines of blue, purple and brown. The fabric doesn’t seem to be the right fit for this style of dress. There is no harmony between the style, fabric and colour.

Also, due to the fabric choice and design, the styling options are very limited. Plus, the dress looks very dull to the eyes and may not be considered a standout piece. Overall, it looks like there wasn’t enough thought put into the creation of this design.

Overall, the 2023 collection is good enough to attract the attention of the fashion market. However, it doesn’t hold the potential to retain that attention and looks like something that wouldn’t trend for long. As  Tatelier Designs continues to grow, it should aim to become the leading force in the fashion industry and be known for its creative excellence, influence, and ability to inspire people with great fashion designs.

We hope to see a more refined and sophisticated style from the designer in the coming years.