INSIDE FLOREVERIE’S 2024 COLLECTION: WHERE MODERN MEETS CULTURE

If you have ever stopped to ask yourself, “How do fashion designers get their ideas?” or “From what planet do they draw their creativity?” Then you are most likely familiar with the feeling of Floreverie’s 2024 collection. From the moment you lay your eyes on it, you are already certain each piece was assigned a mission. We know you might be expecting to see something out of the moon, or something very dramatic and compelling. Well, shocker!

This piece doesn’t do all of that ‘Va-va-voom’, it only creates enough attention for you to stop, take and look, and appreciate its artistry.

Floreverie, led by Florence Omowunmi Olojede, has never been just about creating pretty clothes alone. Her designs, over time, have shown the careful balance between modern style and storytelling through culture.

Here’s a quick glimpse of her 2024 collection release.

The first outfit immediately grabs your attention without trying too hard. Floreverie opens the stage with a deep blue 2-piece, and not just any deep blue 2-piece, but one with a lace gown as its top piece!

This look is an attention grabber. It’s one thing to style a plain pair of trousers with either a chiffon or a cotton material. It’s a different thing to style it a lace and still make it look absolutely stunning. Indeed, Floreverie did something brilliant with this look. What makes the outfit spot on is definitely the choice of fabric and the colour. The designer knew exactly what she was doing when she selected a fabric that expresses West African tradition.

But she doesn’t stop there.

The sleeves of this top-gown make another entrance. With its softly puffed look, it adds a gentle volume that feels deliberate but effortless. You can almost feel the thought of the designer when she was sketching these sleeves – we believe she wanted it to embody a royal look, like the Bridgertons. And we must admit, it was a job well done.

The draped front overlay moves naturally, and we can see that in the fluidity of the gown. The small brooch at the neckline lifts the eye in just the right way, an excellent choice, we must say. It illuminates the elegance of the gown and creates a dramatic effect around the chest region.

And just when you think you have seen enough of this gown, the back view tells you, ‘We are not done yet’. Here, the designer’s craftsmanship becomes even more evident. She makes the pleats of the dress more detailed and ensures that the seams are precise. The flow of the fabric was, of course, very deliberate, showing us that elegance often comes from simplicity and control.

Still, if we look closely, there are a few details that could be adjusted to make the dress look even more effortless.

Let’s take a look.

The chest area of this outfit looks a bit suffocated. It claps against the upper region of the body too tightly, making it look extremely flat. For a better option, or a more feminine look, the designer should consider padding or cupping the chest. This way, the dress doesn’t just express beauty, but captures the wearer in a ‘breath-taking’ way.

The stitch around the waist could also have been sewn better. But as it is, the fabric appears slightly bumpy, affecting the natural flow of the draped overlay. The sleeves could also be adjusted a little to fit into the hands a bit. Right now, there seems to be a lot of room, making it look really loose. Accessories could also add a nice finishing touch. We are talking gold bracelets, necklace, and fancy gold earrings to elevate the look of the gown even more. Although the outfit carries its own charm even without them, these little touches assure to lighten up the look of this gorgeous gown.

The mood shifts to silent admiration when the second look comes up. Floreverie gives us a cropped satin top that is paired with a wide-leg patterned trouser. This look is not only thoughtful, but lively and playful. It gives a runway effect, one that speaks of boldness and concentration. We love the creativity the designer brings to the top. She draws attention to it by adding a ruffled hem and tiny buttons. This detail on the top brings in a soft femininity without being too fussy.

The indigo-printed trousers catch our eyes too. It honours West African heritage but also reflects a modern definition. So far, we love it. The designer once again reminds us that her outfits are not just pretty on the eyes, but are sustainable with time. This creative pair of trousers effortlessly balances the weight of tradition and current-day style.

What stands out most is the movement. We all love something that is not just fashionable, but allows us to move with ease. These trousers seal that thought.

We also notice the creative layer on the side of the trousers. Floreverie didn’t just want to walk the runway; she wanted to own it! This extra detail on the trousers captures attention without trying too hard. At first glance, you are already excited and in awe at the mind of the designer. Bravo! Nice job.

However, we think that a slightly longer crop top would have matched the energy better. Here, the top looks quite undersized and could be mistaken for a tank top. We could also consider using a different material instead of the current one. The reason is that materials that give a shiny effect tend to hold sweat, and this could make the wearer uncomfortable, especially in stuffy places. Also, the ruffles at the neck could be reduced a little bit to accommodate air. Most people don’t usually fancy anything that obstructs the flow of air into their skin, and that’s why the turtleneck remains a problem for some people.

Tapering the trousers could also offer more definition to the overall look. We are not saying it looks bad here, but it could be better with just a little attachment to the body. Now that we have settled, accessories are the next thing. Wearing a white, flowery earring to match the top will look stunning. It will surely amplify the entire appearance of this piece. You know the look an African woman has when she pairs her print with bold earrings, right? That’s the same look this fit will have.

In all, what is remarkable about this outfit is that it feels wearable and can totally be worn for a special event or even a stylish day in the city. It honours culture, respects tradition, but feels completely approachable, it is definitely a Floreverie style if you ask.

The final outfit lingers in your memory. Here, we have a royal blue gown with streaming ruffles from the shoulder to the hem. This look is dramatic. But in any case, it is still wearable. The royal blue colour adds a deep and rich attention to the gown without making it look too overwhelming. We think the see-through was also a good addition to the outfit. It gives it a magical spice, and lets our eyes play around with another colour other than the voluminous blue.

This is definitely a red-carpet look. The ruffles are the main thing here. They create a flow that takes your eyes from the shoulders down to the feet. Now imagine if this outfit were without the ruffles. It would look like your usual everyday gown, right? Well, the designer made sure she created something vibrant and full of life, out of something that could have easily appeared like a simple church wear.

But as with many bold designs, the ruffles overshadow other features of this gown. The designer might want to look at reducing some of the ruffle volume just to lighten the frame of the gown. She might also want to consider creating an off-shoulder neckline instead of a round neck, to permit air ventilation in cases of sunny days. The sleeve also looks too congested. Because of how heavy the material of the dress is, we would recommend a lighter material for the sleeve for easy passage of air flow.

The length of the cloth could also be raised a bit to reveal the shoes underneath. Right now, it looks too close to the ground and tight as well. This could interfere with the movement of the wearer. The ruffles at the back of the gown could also be a barrier when sitting. So, we would recommend that they be removed or styled differently to encourage comfort.

You might be thinking, ‘What about the hairdo? Do we leave it that way?’ I will tell you. While we appreciate an elegant up-frame, letting the hair flow freely might give the gown a more relaxed and approachable energy. Still, even with this view, the outfit maintains its breathtaking and confident look, a true display of the designer’s creative skill.

Throughout this collection, we can agree that a few things stood out to us. Floreverie clearly stays true to African fabrics like lace and indigo prints. Each outfit shows that tradition can grow and still fit into today’s world. The designs are simple but strong, they don’t depend on loud or flashy details. Instead, every part of the clothes, from the stitching to the layers, feels thoughtful. What’s most special is how the outfits make women feel. They don’t have to do too much; just wearing them makes them feel confident, noticed, and strong. That’s the beauty of quiet elegance.

Every outfit in this collection has its own story. The first gown gives off a calm and confident vibe. The cropped top and trousers feel fun and playful, while the royal ruffled gown gives off a bold and dramatic, but still graceful statement. Altogether, they show Florence Omowunmi Olojede’s vision clearly: that fashion can be stylish yet comfortable, that fashion can honour tradition while staying modern, and that fashion can look elegant without feeling too serious or stiff.

And even though it’s hard not to wonder, ‘What’s next from this designer?’ We can already picture future collections from her; each one made with the same care and attention to detail -reflecting not just beauty but stories written in fashion.

Floreverie 2024 is more than just a fashion collection. It’s a brand built on confidence, culture, and purpose. It shows that fashion can be many things. And above all, it shows that fashion can be powerful even in its beauty and calm, and that quiet strength is what makes it unforgettable.

Abisola Omolade