By Damilola Fatunmise
Hello beautiful people!
We are here again with gist from the heart of fashion.
Here are three exotic sets we want you to fill your eyes with.
Hold up!
Don’t get ‘Dululu’ yet.
We know you are already envisioning yourself strutting down the walkway in each of these attires.
However, we have a question for you!
If you were asked to describe these dresses in one word, what would it be?
We think words like ravishing, ethereal, and mouth-watering don’t even come close to doing it justice and that’s because the Artynookeh Clothings is involved.
This brand always comes back with fully packed fashion attires that keep you wanting more. Artynookeh Clothings was established in 2006 by Comfort Atinuke Shittu. They are dedicated to preserving the rich tapestry of African culture while seamlessly blending luxury into garments that transcend trends and become timeless expressions of heritage.
Being in existence for almost two decades, the luxury brand has achieved significant milestones, including collaborations with leading fashion events and gaining recognition within the industry for its unique designs.
They have also been featured in prominent fashion publications and have gotten accolades for their innovative approach to sustainable fashion.
In addition, Artynookeh Clothings has released more than a dozen collections since its existence. One of those collections is what we are going to be taking a look at.
The 2023 Oleku collection is a premium display of vigour, vibrancy, class and elegance. This collection has in its keister three unique sets that are what you have been waiting for.
The first piece in this stunning collection is simply a breath of fresh air. The designer effortlessly created it to be a perfect combination of elegance and sophistication. It is a two-piece attire which comprises a cropped blouse and wide-leg palazzo pants, two designs that you can never go wrong with.
All of this was made with the use of an African print called Ankara. The Ankara fabric used in this piece is an exquisite choice. It consists of intricate swirls and turns, almost like a flower garden or maze. The flowery prints dance across the fabric in waves and this creates a sense of vibrancy to the dress. If you have ever walked through a flower maze, you would be able to identify with how serene and fascinating this apparel is.
The brilliant merging of colours used on the fabric makes the outfit stand out even more. Some of the colours include– black, dark green, light green, etc. This colourful palette gives the dress an illusion of balance and happiness which is good for making a stylish appearance or impression and still not overwhelming it.
The blouse which is the introductory part of the set comes with various admirable features such as the funnel neckline, the cropped effect, the long puffy sleeves, elastic cuffs and the back zipper.
The blouse’s funnel neckline is a high neckline which acts as a frame for the face. In other words, this kind of neckline is perfect when going for a facelift look, drawing more attention to your radiant smile. The cropped effect accentuates your waist and highlights your curves, it also helps the flawless transition into the lower half of the piece.
The long sleeves have a subtle puffing to them which automatically makes it a puffed sleeve. Making it slightly puffed, however, It was an intelligent choice on the part of the designer as it gives the dress a stylish look but it also doesn’t overshadow other excellent characteristics of the attire. Towards the hem of the sleeve are the elastic cuffs which not only provide the wrist with comfort but also secure the fit. The zipper at the back also ensures fitting and serves as a closure for the wear.
On the lower half, you see wide-legged pants which can also be referred to as palazzo pants. These pants are known for the high class they exude and people go wild for them because of the level of prestige it adds to a person’s image. The wide-leg design on the trousers creates a flowing and classy look which is an exquisite way of making a statement.
The addition of a well-defined waistband to the pants gives it a comfortable and flattering fitting and the back zipper makes it easy to put on and get out of.
This set was crafted to give you comfort, act as a confidence booster and add a charming appearance.
One thing to commend the designer for is her keen attention to detail. Just by merely looking at the dress, it carries an aura of balance and symphony which is a must when it comes to slaying.
The second piece is also a captivating duo set. It’s the showstopper of the collection. The different designs on the cloth show the array of efforts and skills that went into it. This unforgettable look is a halter neck outfit, consisting of a puffed top and boot-cut trousers, that showcases exquisite style, comfort, and a touch of cultural flair.
The halter-neck top is a full-packed design that doesn’t just highlight your face but also adds a touch of drama to the overall look. The puffing specifically concentrated from the bust area upward and this can be considered a beautiful addition to the ethereal look. A delicate waistband can be found at the mid-waist section.
This creates some sort of balance compared to the puffed beginning, it also brings your curves to the limelight, showing off your femininity.
The cap sleeves, though short, are a delightful touch-up to the design. It is situated just above the shoulder blade. This feature will draw more eyes to the eccentric designs of the blouse and also draw attention to the halter neck.
The boot-cut trousers on the bottom area are a perfect pair to the puffed top. This trouser has a flowing design just like the bell pants. However, the difference between these buttons and bell pants is that, unlike bell trousers which are slim fitted at the beginning before flowing at the bottom, the bootcut is given more width or allowance. The trouser also has a waistband at the top which makes it a comfortable and secure fit, while the flared boot-cut style adds a touch of sophistication to the overall look.
In order to achieve this look, an Ankara fabric was introduced into the scene. This fabric has a white base colour adorned with intricate and scattered prints of branches and leaves.
The design can be likened to sparing trees because of how scanty the leaves are. Still, it doesn’t in any way reduce the captivating presence it carries. Instead, it makes the dress look like a nature painting. The combination of white and black hues also creates a striking effect.
The level of innovation that went into this third piece is fascinating. This third set carries many cultural stories. It’s a striking masterpiece that fuses the modern style, Western fabrics, African tradition, and Asian look. It’s a two-piece outfit with attributes such as a long-sleeved blouse and a Caribbean skirt.
The long-sleeved blouse is what we will call a work of art. The mesmerising blend of colours and patterns is outstanding. This piece was crafted with a material that embodies a hue of colour mixtures, including sky blue, dark blue, royal blue, black and tiny sprinkles of white.
The collar and the button-down design add a touch of elegance. The XO designs on one side of the top speak loudly about the Western culture of ‘kisses and hugs’, it could also serve as a reminder of the game ‘Tic Tac Toe’ played by young children. Each of these representations carries the story of the Westerns. The multiple-coloured belt around the mid area almost like a taekwondo belt, helps to accentuate the waist area and adds more colour to the blouse look.
On the other hand, we have a Caribbean skirt. This skirt is an excellent representation of the rainbow. It is very vibrant with an array of hues that flow down in a flair. The multi-coloured, bright design can be likened to a tropical paradise, while the attachments, cuts, and flowing drape display the Caribbean’s carefree spirit.
This outfit is more than a beautiful piece of clothing, it’s a celebration of cultural diversity and exchange. The crepe fabric, after a print, Caribbean style and hint of Asian look carries the stories of different cultures in one.
However, the designer may want to take a closer look at the fabrics used. The multiple colours create a distraction from the design itself and when one overshadows the other like that, it is often not very good. As a solution, the designer could go with a fabric with fewer colours or with colours that blend better with the blue too.
Overall, designer Comfort and her brand, Artynookeh Clothings, did a good job with this collection. It is always pleasurable knowing that skilled talents like hers are not just part of the fashion industry but also adding a quarter to building it.