THIS TANTALISING COLLECTION STIRS THE SOUL OF FASHION

Fashion has always been sustained through originality. Without the capacity to interpret trends in different and unique ways, designers would struggle to retain people’s interest, let alone stimulate their very souls. Therefore, it takes genius for an artist to show the same piece through various angles without losing authenticity. This is exactly what Chisom Clara Aguocha, the indefatigable founder of Giveno, demonstrated in her 2022 collection. Her brilliance shines as titillating designs, timely and masterful, while inspiring our minds to dream.

When Chisom Aguocha launched her fashion brand back in 2018, she committed to crafting pieces with clean architecture and free movement. With this collection, she has not taken a giant stride in that noble journey but has also invited the African fashion scene to join her on such a thrilling ride.

As a floor-length gown with distinct features, it’s capable of sparking a passionate conversation about fashion. The two-colour scheme at its centre promises a unique blend of luxury and elegance in the outfit.

Take the neckline, for example. Wait a minute, there’s no neckline. At least, not in the traditional sense. Instead, it’s a strapless straight cut that wraps rather firmly across the chest. This design expertly exposes the shoulders and collarbone, as if they are part of the overall design. This offers a chic look that can only be found in luxurious designs. The most important pillars of every luxury wear are based on confidence and neatness. This neckline, or the strategic absence of it, nails these two pillars without any doubt. The outfit empowers the wearer to slay a gorgeous look while feeling comfortable in their skin.

The sleeves for this dress are on holiday, but for great reasons. Sometimes in fashion, the absence of convention must be applauded, and this rationale applies here. Chisom’s creative choice to omit the sleeves is beyond brilliant, as it saves the dress from an unnecessary burden.

The fitted bodice is particularly reminiscent of the famous corset. It’s made with a lace fabric that precisely captures the corset feature while also creating a lightweight structure for practicality. When designers pay homage to a style of dress, it’s often for the least obvious reason. It’s different in this dress as the corset-style bodice only evokes romance and adventure. It extends to the waist, carving out a firm figure while smoothly moving to the big skirt.

Though voluminous skirts usually don’t trigger pet peeves, this one leaves a sour taste in the mouth. The exaggerated A-line flare is supposed to add a sense of dimension and movement to the outfit. However, it looks unnatural and overblown instead. The designer didn’t achieve the right balance to ensure a smooth finish to the gown. At a glance, it might seem forgivable, but considering the high standards the outfit commands, it needs a better execution.

Overall, this gown is elegant. It has many memorable features. But its success rests on the corset-style bodice and the noticeable absence of the sleeves and neckline, giving it an exclusive feel. It’s appropriate for formal or executive occasions such as dinners and galas, but not quite fitting for corporate environments.

Here is another exhilarating outfit, a floor-length dress that unapologetically mixes strong colours. It’s a spicy approach to creating a multi-purpose outfit suitable for social events and even special days in corporate settings. It also has rigorous detailing that contributes to the outfit’s creative depth.

The wide but shallow U-shaped neckline produces a reflective feature that allows a subtle plunge effect. But it takes a different approach on the backside. Unlike the front area, the neckline is narrow and deep; it’s a V-shape. It’s such an interesting blend of shapes that can keep one guessing. This gives the outfit a lively tonality, as though it has to form a rhythm on its own. Moreso, the neckline can be described as modest enough.

The dress shows a well-defined structure thanks to its fitted bodice. This produces a sleek profile that deftly combines mastery and charm. However, the super-cool feature that makes this dress a near masterpiece is the slanted waistline flowing down to the hemline. Its floral print gives a traditional attire vibe you would expect from an Ankara, but its unique pattern serves as a balance for the pink top. The ruffled details on the waistline are a creative choice, adding a deeper layer to the design and blending friendliness with craftiness. The slightly flared skirt displays a flowy effect, enhancing the luxurious but formal appearance that the outfit attempts to achieve.

On the other hand, the sleeves are painful letdowns. This is not only because they are full-length, but also due to their wide and flared qualities. Breaking patterns in fashion enhances aesthetics in fashion. It provides contrast that leads to elevated art. But with these flared sleeves, there is no contrast, making the design seem unnecessarily tedious. Full-length but slim sleeves would have been more pleasing to the eyes without even losing practicality.

Furthermore, it would have provided a sharp contrast to the loose cuffs, creating a soul-refreshing effect. But instead, these sleeves look uninviting and tiresome. It feels as though the designer had exhausted her time on other areas and rushed through the sleeves.

Overall, the outfit meets expectations in terms of delivery and function. Even the fabrics and their mixture prove to be a commendable creative choice. But more attention needs to be directed at aesthetics; there is enough room to do better.

This outfit is a gorgeous piece, and probably the main attraction in the collection. The peach colour offers an aloof appeal while promising intriguing features. The off-shoulder neckline exposes the collarbone and shoulders. Apart from providing a posh look, the neckline also has important functionality for the wearer. It’s firm enough to stick to the shoulders, ensuring the dress doesn’t slip casually.

Short and puffed; this perfectly describes the sleeves. But one can also describe them as sweet and cute, especially with the soft gathered designs that show on the backside. What the sleeves lacked in length, they made up for in artistic input. Some of the floral ruffled detailing was integrated on the front area of the sleeves, giving them a vivid form. The bodice, also fitted, is enhanced with the previously mentioned floral details. They are not only captivating to the sight, but also meticulous. One might even mistake them for a bouquet. This dress is appropriate for various social occasions. However, the most befitting occasions for it are weddings because of the ruffled details.

The bodice hugs the body up to the waist, while the gown’s lower area is more loose-fitting. However, it maintains a straight structure rather than going for the flared effect already seen in this collection.

The backside relies too much on the sleeves for depth. However, the gathered effect on the sleeves is not enough to salvage this dress in terms of creative intensity. While the floral detailing is excellently executed, it’s also the only artistic feature that makes the dress interesting. A knee-length slit at the backside would have portalled the outfit into sublimity. The slit would not only disrupt the sweeping flow of the gown but also introduce a new idea that heightens the outfit’s appeal.

Generally, this collection has what it takes to set trends in the fashion industry. The multi-functional philosophy behind the outfits is perhaps the most resonating part of the collection. The designer’s creative choices and well-thought-out features make this collection an endearing piece. With this, the Giveno brand has signalled to the world that they are not small players, but potential big players. Consistency and dedication to the art of fashion are all that is needed for the talented Chisom Aguocha to skyrocket Giveno into the stratosphere, where even Givenchy would have to tip their hats.

Abisola Omolade