Fashion Styling is becoming more appreciated in the African Fashion Industry. From fashion shows, photoshoots to personal styling…it seems like almost everyone, especially in the Nigerian fashion industry is a stylist or claims to be one. But creativity and innovation definitely speaks for itself.

A good fashion stylist knows how to choose the right outfit to accentuate the positive attributes of their client’s body, the right image they want to portray and for the appropriate event. Fashion styling requires indepth knowledge of the fashion industry as a whole, trends, colors, an eye for design and attention to detail.

It might seem all glamour from the outside, but hard-work, good organizational and communication skills are part of the qualities that crowns the ones at the top. Lets look at the top5 Nigerian stylists whose works have been tested and approved by many in the fashion industry and beyond. They are changing the industry with their skills, talents, hardwork and creativity.

DIMEJI ALARA

The Parisian-born Nigeria, Dimeji Alara is the Editor in Chief of Mania Magazine and one of Nigeria’s top wardrobe/fashion stylists. His creativity has led him to work for reputable fashion magazines such as Elle, Glamour, GQ and Nigerian magazines-Genevieve, Elan and MADE. In addition, he has acted as fashion director for shows of African designers-David Tlale and Craig Jacobs. (@dimejialara)

EZINNE CHINKATA

Ezinne Chinkata is a leading Fashion Stylist, Image Consultant, Writer, Fashion Editor in Nigerian Fashion. She has styled numerous lookbooks and editorials and is the current Fashion Editor at WOW! Magazine. She is also a blogger for BellaNaija and she is a fashion contributor for Vogue Italia online. Ezinne has styled top Nigerian celebrities like Emem Isong,Ini Edo,Monalisa Chinda and Uche Jombo. (@Zinkata1)

VERONICA ODEKA

Veronica Ebie-Odeka is the CEO of Vane Style, a fashion consulting firm which she started in January 2010. She is an international stylist with a ten year background in commercial modeling, print modeling and high fashion modeling. Her successful modeling career introduced her to top fashion brands such as BCBG, Donna Karen, Armani and many more. After her modeling career, she worked with celebrity stylist, Cassandra Walker and assisted her in styling celebrities such as Alicia Keys, Farrah Franklin and Carmen Elektra.  Her experiences in fashion, has led her to be a ‘go-t0 stylist’ in Nigeria. She was one of the stylists chosen for ARISE Fashion Week Lagos 2012 and she styles for the famous TV show- Nigerian Idol. (@VeronicaStylist) – Vane-Style

TAYO SHONEKAN

A graduate of engineering, but a lover of style, beauty and fashion. Tayo Shonekan is the creative director of Aimas, a lavel that designs hand-finished bags, accesories and hand-decorated T-shirts. Tayo Sonekan is the creative director of Aimas, a label that produces hand-decorated T-shirts, hand-finished bags and accessories. She has also contributed as a fashion and style consultant for several publications like True Love and Today’s Woman, and was resident stylist for Elan the style magazine for the Sunday Next Newspaper. She is currently the Fashion Director of FAB magazine.

BOLAJI ANIMASHAUN
Bolaji is a Fashion Director and head stylist for Studio 53 Extra, MNET Africa. Her creativity and talent has made her one of the sort after fashion stylist in Nigeria.  Check out more of her style work HERE

Please share some of your favorite Nigerian and African fashion stylists (including upcoming) whose work you love.

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