FABSLAY23 Collection: Slaying With Simplicity and Class

When you think about purchasing luxury outfits, what comes to mind first? Probably, some top-name brand, right? At least that is the first thought. And what feeling is associated with owning clothes from those brands? Expensive, expensive, expensive, no doubt. Now, did you feel yourself wake up from your daydream? Bingo!

To own any outfit from such brands, you would have to break the bank. Except, of course, you get an imitation instead. This would mean poor quality and possibly some teasing from people who might notice it. But can you imagine if there was a way for you to slay, while looking like you are not even trying to and still stay within budget?

‘Hmmm, could there be such a brand?’ That’s probably your question, and the answer to that is simply: Fabslay.

Founded by a revolutionary, creative director and fashion designer named Gladys Ebiawurubo. Fabslay is a brand that is focused on allowing women to be their feminine selves (Which means to slay, in case you were wondering). Fabslay aims to achieve this by ensuring you have quality while keeping it affordable. Since its inception, the label has been able to produce a variety of custom dresses and collections that have stayed true to this vision thanks to Gladys’ leadership.

Here, we will be looking at a masterpiece collection, Fabslay23, that showcases a brand that has been consistently dedicated to creating stylish, high-quality products that empower women to be confident and take pride in expressing themselves. So, get ready to get your mind blown by this mouth-watering collection.

The first outfit in this collection is a thick red bodycon mini dress. The first thing that catches your eye from a first look is the choice of colour, thick red. Now, if that is not an emphatic statement already from a first look, I don’t know what else is. The colour red is usually associated with passion, excitement or danger. Either way, it is a colour that does not beg for attention. No, it commands it. It could even make a shy person “speak” without saying a word. And this just goes in line with the fashion mission of Fabslay: making women feel seen and confident. It is simply brilliant. And I don’t mean just the colour.

Now, giving the piece a second look, you can see that the apparel is made from thick red cotton spandex fabric. As for the neckline, the Sabrina neckline, also known as the boat or bateau neckline, was used. The Sabrina neckline is a wide and slightly curved neckline that follows the contour of the collarbone and ends at the shoulder seams. It was named after the iconic neckline worn by Audrey Hepburn in the 1954 movie “Sabrina”. You can also observe that a cap sleeve is another expressive feature used in this piece. And if you look closely, you will notice that, unlike regular cap sleeves, this one is not sewn in or attached. Instead, the sleeves were cut out as part of the outfit by the designer while cutting out the shape of the dress.

Moving to the back of the dress, we see what you can call the “this is it” factor, like when you are going through a catalogue of a product and then suddenly, something unique catches your eye and you instantly know that is what you want to get. The back of this dress is “it”. Four clever features can be made out from the back.

First off, we have the low back design or back cut-out. This is then followed by a cowl neckline that is anything but simple. Rather than a cowl neckline made out of fabric, we are instead treated to an exquisite use of beads to create that same drapey feel. The last two features are the Basque waistline and ruched lower bodice. The Basque waistline is a drop waist that creates a kind of V shape around the waist area. Now, this is typically a design feature found at the front of a dress, but in this case, it rests at the back. Lastly, we have the ruched lower bodice, which is made on the bottom mid-section at the back of the dress. This was done to emphasise a lady’s back endowment.

Overall, this is an amazing design with exceptional and appealing features that say confident and effortless class. However, the designer should have different iterations of this piece to allow women who do not feel confident in shorter outfits to feel included.

For this next outfit, our eyes are treated to Fabslay’s take on the Rib Body dress. A straight, form-fitting cut from the bust to the hem, long sleeves, a high or mock neck, and, in some variations, an open back typically characterise the outfit. For Fabslay’s variation, the colour used is misty blue, which signifies calm and elegance. And if you look at this piece, it evokes such a feeling. The dress features a high neckline, and an open back that is halted by a Basque waistline made using dart manipulation.

In terms of style, this outfit is an all-rounder, suitable for a wide range of occasions. It can be styled for formal or informal events and can be worn for a casual evening stroll. So, while it is not a “shouting” piece, it can be forgiven because it has very high utility.

The next piece shares several similarities with the first outfit. For example, the material choice is the same; both outfits have the same neckline (Sabrina neckline) and sleeve style(cap sleeves).
Even the low back cut-out is the same, except for the bead neckline, as in the first piece. And that is where the similarities end. While the first outfit is a dress, this one is made up of a top and a skirt. And for this piece, the skirt takes all the attention.

It is a mini asymmetrical skirt with two drapey layers. The uneven cut on the skirt makes it all the catchier and more unique. Despite this, the designer still managed to keep it simple, which is quite commendable. Another notable characteristic of this fit is that it allows you the luxury of diversity; you can pair the skirt with a different top and vice versa.

It is another excellent piece from Fabslay. I would say, though, that I expected a different styling for the top, just something to match the stylish nature of the skirt. But simple is also good.

If you can use just one word to describe this next dress, ‘Bold’ would be that word. As a matter of fact, some might even call it a little excessive. It is certainly daring, but beyond that, it is chic and simple. Like the others in the collection, this third fit is a bodycon dress that hugs all the right places. It is also made with the same cotton-spandex fabric used on the previous outfits.

The four aspects of this dress that stand out are the low-cut back, rope attachments, keyhole effect, and mono-strap sleeve. The mono-strap, as its name suggests, is a single sleeve that, depending on the designer’s preference, can be worn on either side of the shoulder. However, the sleeve of this dress is on the right shoulder. A slanted teardrop keyhole that extends from the sleeve side to the mid-torso follows this elegant characteristic. This feature is frequently added to dresses to create that dramatic statement and gently improve the overall appearance.

The back of this fit is quite different from the outfits we have looked at until now. The back cut-out stops at the mid-back area instead of all the way down to the waist like the previous fits. The final touch of wonderful utility on this dress is the rope attachments. Although this last feature may seem to be there just for fancy, it was made with function in mind as well. You can decide to loosen it from the side and tie it around the sleeveless shoulder, which, aside from being equally beautiful, is an effective way of sitting the dress firmly on your body. It is another golden star piece from Fabslay.

Finally, for the last outfit, we have a chocolate brown two-piece dress. It is an extremely simple outfit design, straight to the point with no fluff. It features an off-shoulder neckline for the top, designed to allow the wearer to show off their neck. It would be perfect for very simple neck accessories. A real confidence booster, if you ask me.

As for the maxi-length skirt, it features dart manipulation at the waist area. Dart manipulation is a sewing and pattern-making technique used to reposition darts on a garment while maintaining the original fit. We can see how it accentuates her waist and draws the eye of anyone who looks at this piece of art.

This is also another great design from Fabslay. However, I would say it is a little bit too simple. The back, for example, has no exciting features; it is way too plain. Apart from the dart manipulation feature, the fit has no standout features. Regardless, it is a good piece and an amazing work from the brand.

In conclusion, Fabslay23 has shown that the brand is, in fact, committed to creating a lasting impact in the fashion industry. From simple to classy, functional to daring, these outfits are tailored to empower the modern woman to walk with her head held high.

And that is SLAY.

Abisola Omolade