BN Style Spotlight: Omowunmi Akinnifesi
Posted on Thursday, August 27th, 2009 at 12:29 PMBy Ijeoma Ndekwu
It’s BN Style Spotlight; this is a periodical feature on the style page that will provide detailed analysis of the personal style of a budding fashion star. We kicked off our premiere feature with Ifeoma Williams – View post HERE
For our second feature, it should come as no surprise that we chose Omowunmi Akinnifesi. She is no stranger to BN; her photos and fabulous dresses have graced our pages on numerous occasions!
In 2005, it was her beauty and poise that won her the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria Crown, but it’s her remarkable style that awards Omowunmi the BN Style Spotlight.
This former beauty queen, CEO of Elle Poise and Lagos State Environment Ambassador, continues to generate media attention for her beauty, style and grace.
When it comes to style, we all can learn a thing or two from Omowunmi. She never fails to dazzle on the red carpet; this and the strong likelihood that she’s wearing MAI, are the only two predictable things about her style; as she constantly serves up different looks for us to be wowed by.
While Omowunmi favours classic pieces like the sheath dress, pearls and a white blouse, she still manages to keep her style fresh. This she does with bold colours, fun patterns and cuts; which highlight her petite frame and draw attention to her best features; like her shoulders and slim waist.
In the words of Coco Chanel; “A girl should be two things: Classy and fabulous”. It will be accurate to say, that Omowunmi fulfils Coco’s criteria.
Read on as I analyze her personal style and determine what indeed, makes her style BN worthy!!!
RED CARPET DIVA: On the red carpet it’s ‘lights, camera, action!’ It is glamour personified; you are who you wear! With celebrities like Omowunmi, consistency on the red carpet can be difficult. You have to aim to bring something fresh, so your style doesn’t become boring to watch; while staying true to your personality, so that your image remains identifiable with your style. This is one trick Omowunmi Akinnifesi has up her sleeves; and it seems like fashion designer, Ohimai Atafo has something to do with!More than half of the time she’s on the red carpet, she is draped in one of his designs.
With her red carpet style; she loves to bring in the wow factor with elaborate focal points! Either it’s in the colour, or in the intense display of exquisite feminine details or in the dress’s flirty cut. On the carpet, her style aims to accentuate the curves outlining her petite frame, and emphasise her perfect shoulders!
Omowunmi at the Ecomium Black & White Ball in MAI
Omowunmi at the SMVA 2009 in MAI
Omowunmi in a Red train gown at a Fashion Show
Omowunmi in MAI at the City People 2008 awards
Omowunmi at Lanre DaSilva Ajayi store opening
Omowunmi at ThisDay Music Festival 2007
Omowunmi at Rebirth Bag Launch
Omowunmi at Guiness 250 Launch in MAI
Omowunmi at the 2008 Hip Hop World Awards in MAI
Omowunmi at City People Event in MAI
ANKARA FLAVOUR: When dressed in African prints, Omowunmi gives it her individual flavour! By imbibing her preferred dress cuts to her western and ethnic influenced traditional pieces. She keeps to flattering her figure, drawing attention to her neckline, and to her soft feminine details; like bows and frills.
Omowunmi at an Awards Event
Omowunmi in another creative ankara look
Omowunmi at an event in 2007
Omowunmi at an event in 2007
HER INNER ‘COCOLET’: Coco Chanel remains one of the greatest fashion icons of all time. She revolutionized what was thought of as fashion; giving it depth and a life of its own. With her, came the infamous Little Black Dress (LBD), bell bottoms, the Chanel No 5, the Chanel jacket and the Chanel suit. She believed that elegance could be attained by the sheer act of simplicity.
Omowunmi’s style reflects Coco’s style philosophy; she exudes sophistication with her minimalist approach to accessorizing. Omowunmi understands the beauty of a bare neckline, that pearl stud earrings will be the better complement to a single strand pearl necklace, than chandelier earrings. She understands that the luxury of a piece of jewellery is not seen through its weight; but how the wearer is able to keep it in balance with the rest of the look!
Omowunmi at Future Awards 2008
Omowunmi at Future Awards 2008
My conviction that Omowunnmi is a scholar of the Coco Chanel Institute of Style, is made certain with her love for pearls. One of the easiest ways to channel the fashion Icon is to layer on pearls, while keeping everything else relatively simple; this Omowunmi does while exuding every bit of confidence!
Omowunmi at Future Awards 2009 in MAI
Omowunmi at ThisDay Music Festival 2009
GET THIS OMOWUNMI AKINNIFESI LOOK:
Omowunmi at Encomium White Gig
I particularly adore this look on her. She wears all white the way it should be worn; with sophistication!! I am also loving the Coco Chanel inspired layered pearl necklace!
Channel this look by Omowunnmi with less than $150:
Frill Detailed Blouse:
This Frill detailed blouse is a close resemblance to Omowumni’s. Like hers, its cap sleeve and has a high neckline.
Purchase here for $22.80
White Wide-leg Pants:
Omowunmi opts for white wide leg pants as a perfect complement to her blouse. The cut and the fit are very flattering; they give her height and help streamline her petite silhouette. These white pants from Mango will do exactly the same!
Purchase here for $16.90
Clutch:
Already, the frills in her white blouse add texture to her look. But, she decided to add a little more with her metallic patchwork envelop clutch. This 80’s vintage metal mesh clutch will equally give the texture and edge you need to pull off this classic all white get up!
Purchase here for $18
Shoes:
When building a shoe collection, after your first two purchases in colours black and brown; a bright colour and metallic should follow. Invest in a solid pair of gold shoes to play an idle complement to this great outfit, and to glam up a mini dress!
Purchase here for $57.65
Belt:
Omowunmi loves to draw attention to her slim waist line. Here, she is able to do so with a wide waist belt. Wearing a top and a bottom that are suitably lose fitted, she makes the right choice in cinching her waist; as it gives her silhouette some defintion. I like that she opts for a belt with no fuss and colour intrusions. Like her belt, this one will equally do the same, in an all white ensemble!
Purchase here for $21.90
Pearls:
Complete this look with layered pearls! Like with Omowunmi’s, this equally has gold accents!
Purchase here for $8.80
A pair of pearl stud earrings is uniquely adequate to balance off the chic look!
Purchase here for $7.36
Tags: 'Style Spotlight', BN Style Spotlight, MAI, nigerian designers, ohimai atafo, Omowunmi Akinnifesi
nicee.. I love her style. Always. I have seen some things i’m definitely going to copy from here
LOVE LOVE LOVE!!
i so much gbadun ur style
This girl can dress, en. She reminds me of Eva Longoria. So petite and knows what attire suits her.
she always looks good…. but dat burgundy dress by MAI in d 2nd picture didnt do her justice at all, looks like a bridesmaids outfit gone wrong
Her clothes are surprisingly affordable.
OOO GBADUN! her style is fresh and extremely fly!
SO fabulous! i need to jump on the MAI bandwagon asap!!!
stunning, slim beauty and good sense of style like most Nigerian women but boy, she needs to tone up a bit (look at Oluchi and you will see what i mean)
simply beautiful!!! Fabulousity!!!!
lovely!!!!!! pls who is this MAI…loving the dresses
About time she gets a shout out! chic is always on point!
Always Fabulous! Good job Ij.
Fantastic job Ijeoma Ndekwu! Very fabulous as always.
I like the fact that Omowunmi is consistent. I am also glad that she is defining her casual look a bit better. Previously, she would get all dolled up for even the most casual event (I guess it was the beauty queen mentality)
Right on point..
Please put up MAI’s details.Most of his designs are deaf.
Meanwhile there is this chick that does bags …..they are quiet nice …how come we havnt seen her on Bella….its called Jameslully……..i saw it tagged somewhere on facebook…yall should look for her abeg!
SHE IS EVER LOVELY…………………………………..
You must be kidding? Rite? Those are items as close as what she is wearing that you can buy, to replicate the outfit she has on in the picture.
Her style is fresh and FAB! But she needs to work on her hairstyles. I noticed she has some bad hair days.
I prefer her style to Ifeoma Williams’s.
woooo! dis is really gud, keep it up
her white outfit is fierce.. she is really lovely
Now we’re talking – this is my fav. feature so far. I luv her cos she never tries to do anything out of this world; meaning, she combines classy + simple + chic beautifully.
i think she can carry herself, the clothes ain’t all that. i especially didnt like the 1st 2 red dresses. but she adds class to casual attires
House of Nodza too! Handmade leather and dyed cloth totes, clutches etc
http://houseofnodza.blogspot.com/
Oluchi can never be the yardstick…I can say Omowunmi needs to fatten up (look at Queen Latifah and you will see what I mean).
The girl is fine on her own joh!
Does anybody mind telling me who she is? I’m not Nigerian.I’m actually East African so I’m not familiar with her that much. She is really adorable and stunning. I love her style!!!!!
That Orange dress is gorgeous. Love it.
She is very classy, she reminds me a little of myself. Love you babe!!
okay……and your point is? Oluchi can be a yardstick anywhere!
Very good fashion sense.
what do you think of my blog: http://ww.femalentrepreneurs.blogspot.com
i have to say she is the best dressed naija celeb. often on point.
that means u just looked at the pics without reading the article. she is an ex beauty queen.
all these pretenders to the throne, simply because the real style diva is out of circulation.
I mean Nike Oshinowo (Soleye).
any way she try small.
if only the other CLOWNS in nollywood (and other entertainers) will learn a thing or two from her. MOst nigerian women dress like clowns ready for a masquerade using all the rainbow colors on their face and what kills me is the cleavage showing and the eye pencil – utterly DISGUSTING, but this girl seems to be from a different planet, she is always on point. She needs to open a school for styling and teach the clueless. Genevieve Nnaji and Rita Dominic i have hope in to keep up their great sense of style but other nollywood worse dressers
-All the rest of them but the ones that stick to mind is
-Eucharia Anoubi
-Mercy Johnson
-Uche Elendu
-Ini Edo
-Ebube Nwagbo
-Uche Jumbo and her side kick Susan Patrick (queen of Clownish Makeup) – UTTERLY DIS GUSTING MAKE UP.
Someone commented earlier that Omowunmi was not fit and needed to be as toned as model, Oluchi.
I love her style, especially when she’s dressed in Mai, she (or should it be they, lol?) hardly ever gets it wrong with red carpet stuff.
I love Omowunmi, learn more about her Hair and Beauty by visiting:
http://234NEXT.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/ArtsandCulture/Elan/Beauty/5442552-147/story.csp
@ Mel, Omowunmi was the crowned the most beautiful girl in Nigeria. It’s held every year. She is IT.
i love her designer,mai,he brings out the best in her.
Never. Omowunmi and Nike Oshinowo are two different people. Omowunmi is NATURAL and REAL. You can tell she is young and evolving into Nigeria’s original sweetheart. I think she’s adorable. Remember Celebrity takes2 dance competition wer she put herself out there. Other queens wont do that. This babe is too original and has no bad press or publicity apart from some guy who was trying to claim her. Imagine! Omowunmi i love you n rock on!
Omowunmi is truly beautiful. You guys did not even get all her outfits. I mean she even has better ones than what u displayed here. I wld raid her wardrop n Victoria Beckam’s if i could. I love you Omowunmi. Remain innocent n beautiful. P.S Its amazing how you’ve got no bad press.
Omowunmi is the BOMB with or without her designer, but together they are like the way only JLo could wear the clevage green versase gown n no one else could. Magical! They were made for eachother. The fashion industry needs more of this combo.
oh……i like your blog btw
the link doesn’t owrk.
thanks..didn’t put the link up here though.
Omowunmi is Nigeria’s version of Sarah Jessica Parker. She is one of Nigeria’s most respected beauty Queens n is a breath of fresh air. Intelligent, Multi-talented, beautiful, oriiginal and sweet.I just love U Omowunmi
Ive been waiting for this spot-light for a long time. Pls Bella dont remove this for the next 4months. U can keep updating her looks, but dont remove. we enjoy starring at this. She is my role model. I know she’s young but its clear Omowunmi’s future is too bright. She is a promising Nigerian. Ambassador for Youth.
This babe is FINE. I love her. Why did u guys do a stlye spotlight on Ifeoma Williams wen u have people like Omowunmi there.I def prefer. I thought Ifeoma Williams was just ok, but Omowunmi is really like WOW. She’s d ultimate girl power. Is it red carpet? Casuals? Shoes? Bags? I bet she looks too gud even in a swim suit. Oh! i forgot, she won Miss Bikini International. This girl shaaaaaa. Gods gift to the Naija. Love u
please check the site http://www.flickr.com/photos/shopnaija/ for some great deals you can actually get those looks at a fraction of the cost quoted above. I shop there and their quality, prices and service are the best in town
she’s friggin awesome..pretender to what throne??????..she is perfectly coiffed and moves with grace and poise you could just tell.
She is soo cute aww! but she shd never wear a big bubble dress again