Gold grillz, a crystal floral choker, and cherub-accented sunglasses. That is the energy Alex Unusual brought to the premiere of Loving Itohan, and the accessories were only the beginning. The Nigerian actress and media personality, whose full name is Asogwa Alexandra A, turned up in a bright fuchsia satin buba paired with a fitted mini skirt cut from emerald-green and magenta floral brocade damask. It is a fresh take on the iro and buba combination: keep the traditional Yoruba top, swap the wrapper for something shorter, and let the contrast in fabric and colour do the work.
The pairing of two statement fabrics is easier than it looks when each piece has a clear job to do. The smooth pink satin holds a bold block of colour, while the patterned damask brings in texture and visual interest. Neither piece fights for attention because they are playing different roles in the same outfit. If you are thinking of trying this at home, a plain silk, satin, or AsoOke top alongside a patterned damask or jacquard mini is a good place to start.
Proportion matters too. A traditional buba has a relaxed cut and wide sleeves, so tucking it cleanly into a high-waisted fitted skirt defines the waist and keeps the silhouette structured rather than boxy. Alex's version draws on the Oleku silhouette, which pairs a buba with a wrapper tied above the knee, and simply updates that familiar proportion with a tailored damask skirt in its place.
She carried the damask fabric into her gele, wrapping it high into sculptural, voluminous folds and securing one side with an oversized gold lip-shaped brooch. Using the same fabric for both the skirt and the gele pulled the whole look together, while keeping the fuchsia buba as the colour anchor. It is a small styling decision with a big payoff, and one worth remembering the next time you are working with a bold patterned fabric and want your accessories to feel like part of the same conversation.
Originally published by Bella Naija.