INSIDE THE SNDR MODE DNA

When they said fashion can be unique, SNDR Mode took it literally. Since 2019, Sandra Ugochi Igwe has been building this womenswear house out of Nigeria. Her pieces always seem to stand out with unique styles and details. When you think of SNDR Mode, you should imagine big lantern sleeves and fluid structure.

Every piece feels like it’s been thought through. And wearing them is almost like you’re owning something special and rare.

Year after year, they never fail to give us a glimpse into the creative styles they come up with. This year, they just released another banger: fresh, and still carrying that SNDR Mode DNA we’ve come to expect, but with a few surprises tucked in. Let’s get into it.

One word comes to mind when you look at this outfit. If you thought of anything other than or not close to elegance, then you’re wrong.

The fit appears to be a two-piece design. But interestingly, its structure looks like that of a gown. The first thing that grabs attention is the print. Those light blue flower designs on the white and dark blue background almost look like brush strokes on a canvas. And this is exactly what makes it really eye-catching.

The long flow of the fabric gives it that graceful vibe. And those kimono-style sleeves? They just add to the overall relaxed look. The length goes all the way down, covering the toes. You can tell that this is just a straight cut dress, and honestly, it only takes those with “body” to wear it perfectly.

Moving on to the next phase of the dress review. It’s quite an interesting piece, no doubt. But yeah, it could be better. On some people, the dress might look fitted in the right areas (if they have the body for it). But on smaller frames, it might feel like they’re buried in too much fabric. An improvement would be replacing the fringe with a much softer detail would really help. It would keep the outfit just as elegant without pulling too much focus from those gorgeous florals.

And then there’s the overall fit. It’s beautiful how loose it is. Still, with all that fabric, the body kind of disappears underneath. So, a little gentle pull-in at the waist would make a huge difference. It would still keep that chill feel, but also show that there’s a figure under all that fabric. Imagine the florals floating around a defined waist. Wouldn’t it look much better?

At the end of the day, though, this outfit still gives “main character” energy, especially when styled right.

Okay, this dress is… interesting. First off, the sky blue colour is lovely. It gives a clean and airy feel. And the design appears to be perfect for the fabric colour.

Look at the middle part of the dress. You see how it’s all gathered up around the waist? Yup, that ruching is smart because it keeps the dress from hanging straight down like a curtain. It pulls everything in, which gives the fabric some texture. But at the same time, we can see how it could be a little tricky. If it bunches the wrong way, it starts to look like the fabric is fighting you instead of flattering you.

And nobody wants that for a dress.

Let’s move on to the hemline because that’s where the drama is. Instead of stopping neatly, it drops down in these long, pointy layers… like waterfall drapes. This gives the outfit movement and makes every step with the dress come alive. Now, if you look closely, you can see the dress styled over white pants… bold move. This gives the dress a cool vibe, but also has a lot going on at the bottom.

If we’re keeping it real here, we’d tweak a couple of things. That ruching in the middle is nice, but it would look better if it were a bit softer. And with the hem plus the pants, whew. It’s stylish, but honestly, it would be more practical if the front were a little shorter or if the wearer just had the dress on its own without the pants. Let the hem shine by itself, you know?

Overall, we’d still call it cute and fashionable.

The red satin top is stunning, instantly catching the eye with its glossy look. The high neckline, also called a turtle-neck, gives it a polished appeal. Then, following that, the sleeves come in with full-on theatre.

To be honest, it feels like a lot is going on there. How can a sleeve be puffed and ruched at the same time? This alone gives them their own spotlight.

Well, it’s safe to say the top looks like wearable art.

Let’s talk about the hem flares, too. They look like peplum-style, and this gives it an even more artsy look. And pairing it with those straight dark navy pants? Genius. The trousers create a balance. It lets the top get to be the star without looking like it’s auditioning for a costume party.

Put together, it feels chic, not the kind of outfit that blends into the background.

Now we know that every outfit definitely has its “not-so-fabulous” moments. In this outfit, they would be those sleeves, for one. Are they gorgeous? Absolutely. But are they practical? Not so much. They are wide and long, and a better remedy for this would be if the volume slimmed down a little toward the wrist. The outfit will still serve like it should, and make it even easier to wear.

Another thing to point out is the silhouette. The flared hem on top and the wide-leg pants on bottom drown the shape beneath it. To make it better, we’d recommend cinching the waist with a belt to give the body some definition. Still, even with these suggestions for improvement, it’s a statement piece through and through.

Well, none of these three looks is perfect. But honestly, that’s the fun of it. Fashion doesn’t need to be flawless. In fact, it’s about trying stuff out and seeing what sticks. And it seems SNDR Mode is in that era right now. Some outfits may wow you on the spot, others make you second-guess decisions. But either way, they will get a reaction from you. And really, what’s style without a little drama? Your guess is as good as ours.

Abisola Omolade