Styling, Image Building: The Narrative Power of Clothing

By Salami Adeyinka

Although fashion design is the aspect that attracts the most attention in this field, editorial styling is just as significant in the development and creation of how the clothing is perceived by the audience. The photographic presentation is essentially how the audience is introduced to the clothing collections.

In the past few years, Abigeal Adebolu has had the opportunity to work in an editorial styling space that emphasises the significance of visual storytelling. Through her experiences in this space, she understands that clothing is not an isolated entity but is connected to other visual elements such as photographs.

In the course of some editorial projects that involved Nigerian fashion creatives, Adebolu was part of the team that helped prepare the wardrobe for the shoot. In some cases, her role was that of ensuring that the clothing was well represented in the images, particularly the way the fabric fell and the way the clothing looked.

Adebolu showed that she was able to do that by pairing the bold prints with simple clothing.

Editorial work also demands adaptability. Photo shoots frequently involve unexpected adjustments, ranging from lighting changes to last minute wardrobe modifications.

Adebolu’s ability to remain calm and responsive during these moments contributed to the overall efficiency of production environments.

These experiences have further strengthened her view of fashion as an effective communicative tool. The processes of styling, photography, and presentation are significant in the transition of clothing from design spaces to the wider audience. Through her work in editorials, Adebolu has broadened her view of clothing and visual culture.