Collection Conversations with Eki and Richard: Where is The Iron?

BN Style presents Collection Conversations, a weekly round up of all the collections and look books from African designers featured on BN Style from the previous week. Collection Conversations features Eki Ogunbor & Richard Akuson sharing their individual thoughts on featured collections from the previous week.

So, let’s get started.

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Eki: Wanni Fuga

Richard: Ok. This is quite an uninteresting campaign. I wish those off-shoulder pieces were more exciting. Overall, everything looks very familiar. Hurtfully familiar if I am being very honest

Eki: Eh, How?

Richard: Everything looks like designs that are already in existence, the lace trimmings, cuts, etc, I find quite clichéd

Eki: Really? I just liked that there’s something different cuz she hardly uses those details. I associate WF with simple easy fluid pieces, the fabric does the talking most times but I like that there’s more work in this look book. Can you give examples of similar collections/designers?

Richard: I don’t see any work. These are pieces made out of lace fabric which always come in that form. I can’t place my hands on the exact look alike pieces from other designers, but these are designs that I have randomly seen on ladies. Those sweep-coats for instance, are all over the North in that same sort of design and mid-sleeve detailing.

Eki: Oooh I see what u mean about the North, isn’t that what she was inspired by? Maybe she’s trying to tap into the market? Cater to clients who prefer this soft of style? Or are you just having an Oliver Twist moment? lol

Richard: Well, my dearest Eki as I always say, there’s always an innovative way of doing the old which is grossly lacking here. But you’re a Wanni Fuga girl.

Eki: Haha! Ok then. On to Looks Like A Good Man. That name is a mouth full.

Richard: Yea. So, in all honesty the Looks Like A Good Man collection isn’t the most innovative or boundary pushing but the photography, choice of models, creative direction, styling and neatness of the entire campaign makes it look like an extraordinary collection and did help that the clothes were properly ironed too. As far as colour choices go, they made the best picks. I wouldn’t have imagined a bright pink agbada looking this masculine and beautiful

Eki: The clothes were not properly ironed o!

Eki: I see creases but yes I like the pink agbada but my fave is the one with turquoise embroidery

Richard: Properly starched sorry. My favorite is the burnt brown tunic and pants, Very ‘me’!

Eki: Ok. This week’s CC wasn’t fun for me I want more womenswear lookbooks?

Richard: Hahahah Yea and quite brief I must say. Hopefully we have more lookbooks for next week

Eki: Yea very brief. Let’s talk more, how have u been? What have u been up to ?

Richard: Urhmm, besides BN, the Africa Movie Academy Awards which I handled Media and Press Communications for. That was quite a handful, definitely my biggest PR gig which didn’t come without some challenges, but gladly ended on a good note. So, basically this and a few more exciting projects in the pipes. And also, I’ll be leaving BN at the end of the month to focus more on my now 2 year old off-and-on PR practice.
‘The PR Boy’ is my boutique fashion, beauty and lifestyle PR agency that I am looking to give full time attention to. In the past, I could only handle a client per time, but now, we’ll be able to cater to 10 clients at a time. Also, my new vlog (YouTube channel) is in the works. It’ll premiere exclusively on BN and continue to feature on BN TV.
But most importantly, I look forward to my new contributing role on BN, which will allow me continue with Collection Conversations (CC) on Mondays as usual, My column (Richard’s Diary of A Fashion Boy) and a new personal style based weekly that I am about pitching to the team

Eki: All this for only you?! Na u work pass o! Tell me about the vlog!! Thought of a name? Will it be about fashion?

Richard: Hahahah. Well, the title of the vlog is ‘Get Pink With Richard’, I’ll talk about celebrity red carpet style, feminism, topical issues and share some personal truths and stories. It’ll be a collection of my uncensored thoughts in their truest and most original forms. I’ll also answer 5 hard-hitting questions sent in by my viewers every week, talk about issues that I’ll not on a normal day. Just consider it a diary of some sort. Only with so many elements that will hopefully make it spicy

Eki: ? @ spicy, sounds interesting so far, I’m sure BellaNaijarians will love it. Maybe we can make CC a video one day! Good luck with it all

Richard: Absolutely!! I’ve considered that for so long. Only that I am in Abuja and you’re in Lagos. But only time will tell! Thanks darling!! You’re the best ???

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Today’s title was inspired by the lead image for the Looks Like a Good Man look book. The facial expression and the creases on the agbada were very precise, I had to run with it!