By Rita Okoye

We can’t speak about fashion without including Art. Fashion is only in existence in today’s world because Art has become a recognised form of expression. Then you ask yourself—What really is Art? Anything considered Art is simply a unique creation that tells a story.
Here is an interesting fact. Did you know that the earliest Artwork was dated back to 40,000 years ago? That is exactly how long Art has been used as a form of expression!

As the world revolves, Art expanded into different branches and a few of them are sculpturing, painting, pottery, music, literature and fashion. Among the items of the interesting types of Art, fashion takes the crown in this Article.

As earlier stated, fashion would have never existed without the concept of Art, this is because fashion emanated as a form of Art. However, fashion is not limited to only being a form of Art but also as a powerful tool for storytelling.
Many designers have been able to employ this feature of Art by using clothing as a medium to reflect and respond to real-life happenings which turns around to spark a high level of interest from the spectators.

Some of the many designers who have focused their designs on this concept have created several collections of dresses with different storylines. A few of these collections are, Alexander McQueen Spring Summer 2010, orange culture autumn winter 18, etc.

Stella Chidimma Osuju is also one of the designers who have inculcated this idea into her brand’s collections.

The Sassy Muse brand kickstarted in the year 2019. The designer established this brand as a bold experiment to test the waters of the fashion industry.

However, her inaugural collection surpassed all expectations, transforming her small vision into a burgeoning brand with aspirations of continuous growth.

The Sassy Muse brand stands on a simple yet groundbreaking concept which is crafting African-inspired clothing for women of all races.

While African fashion boasts deep roots and a rich history, it is often perceived as exclusive to black people and traditional designs. Sassy Muse seeks to change this perception by demonstrating that the vibrant colours and patterns of Ankara fabrics beautifully complement women of diverse backgrounds.
With deep admiration for her African heritage, Stella Osuju believed in refining styles and concepts while still honouring their origins. Her beliefs paved the way for the push her brand needed to embrace the principles of slow fashion, prioritizing quality and uniqueness over mass production.
Committed to sustainability, the brand strives for zero waste, with every garment and accessory handcrafted, ensuring each piece is distinct. The brand also makes sure that African fabrics are thoughtfully blended with European design influences, creating clothing that celebrates diversity and inclusivity thereby creating a distinct story.
Designer Stella Osuju stated that the dream is to see women of all colours adorned in Sassy Muse creations, each piece reflecting attention to detail and the unique charm only this brand can offer.
In the spirit of making her dream come true, the designer has created several clothing collections one of which is the 2022 Savannah collection.
The 2022 Savanah collection holds in its box two alluring outfits which we will be talking about in this Article.
The first of the two attire we will be discussing today is dress Blossom. It was created to give a blooming appearance. This Blossom look was inspired by the concept of a woman in bloom or in her prime. A woman in her prime is at her peak, she is in her best moment of life just like a flower in bloom.
Sassy Muse’s Blossom is a two-piece attire consisting of a short-sleeved blouse and a loose pant.
The top
The top of the outfit is a blouse crafted out of a popular African print known as Ankara and a Crepe fabric. The fabric entails a flowery design comprising bright colours such as pink, white and yellow among others. The blouse opened up with a subtle v-neckline, and short dashiki sleeves lined with the crepe fabric at the finishing. The beauty of this blouse lies in the colourful lining of the sleeves and the flowery print. However, to make the piece look trendy, the designer could touch on the design a bit by giving the end of the top a 3-4inch elastic band which will succeed in giving it a normal and cropped effect at the same time.

The base
The lower part of this outfit is loose pants also known as palazzo consisting of two fabrics Ankara and crepe fabric, it is a flower sweeping trouser starting with a belt-like band at the waist area, two seam pockets by the sides and an infusion of the ruffle pattern running from the right knee with a curve taking it down the full length of the left side. The looseness of the trousers was created to give ease while in the pants. The zipper at the back seals the look and gives firmness to the piece.
The pants are a beautiful finish to the outfit, but rather than the ruffle placement in the picture. The designer might want to consider placing them at the sides of the trousers and equalizing the length of the ruffle pattern.

The grooming
The outfit being a two-piece gives room for styling varieties and checks it as an all-occasion attire. You can never get it wrong when you have both pieces on. However, for a different look, the outfit could be worn differently and complimented with external wear. For instance, the Palazzo pants can be paired with a black off-shoulder top and the blouse with a high waist flared pink/white skirt.
Accessory options that serve as a good addition while styling the outfit are wristwatch, knuckle rings, a pendant, bracelets, dangling earrings, wigs, braids, contact lenses, and footwear (like wedge heels, stilettos, block heels, plumps, ballet flats, flat mules, sandals) among several others.

Dress Papillon is the second wear in the 2022 Savannah collection. The name Papillion is a French word for butterfly. Butterflies are known for their colourful attributes. They elicit excitement and awe from their viewers. That was the inspiration behind the dress Papillion was created for. To look just as delicate and alluring as a butterfly.

So, if you are going for a charming yet simple look, this dress is for you!
The brand’s Papillion dress is also a two-piece attire consisting of a long-sleeved blouse and a straight skirt
The top
The blouse is an outfit created with a multicoloured Ankara fabric and a touch of Silk material. The Ankara predominately consists of different shades of green with touches of orange and white. The blouse opened up with a high collar neck outline, a button down and a dual sleeve. The double sleeve comprises of two long sleeves and two emerald sleeves flapped on it. The emerald bell sleeve was created with a silk fabric, thereby creating a butterfly effect. The piece carries with it very unique attributes that give off a sense of ease and fitness while in the attire, the designer could take out the longer sleeve, leaving only the bell sleeve that retains the original notion behind the dress.
The base
The bottom part of this outfit is a straight skirt also called a pencil mouth skirt. The piece is a wrap midi skirt stopping a few inches from the knee. it consists of a belt-like band at the waist area, middle slit, and Ankara rope attachments. the outstanding feature of this outfit is the middle slit. Beating other cliche designs done on the sides of gowns or skirts, the Papillion skirt brings out a different approach to slits with its addition of a middle slit. The rope attachment helps the dress sit well on the body and also shows the skirt as not only an all-occasion outfit but also fit for several body sizes.
The skirt brings the attire to a fulfilling close. As a suggestion to have more sellouts, we suggest providing a variation in sizes and lengths just to soothe the taste of many customers of the brand.
The grooming
Due to its dual characteristics, the dress allows for styling varieties and checks the attire as an all-occasion attire. You can never get it wrong when you have both pieces on just like it is in the image. However, for a different look, the outfit could be worn differently and complimented with external wear too. For instance, the blouse can be paired with a Palazzo pant or a green ruched skirt while the midi skirt can go with an off-shoulder shirt or a mono-strapped top.
Accessory options that could serve as a good addition while styling the outfit are leather belts, chain belts, wristwatches, knuckle rings, a pendant, bracelets, dangling earrings, wigs, braids, contact lenses, and footwear (like wedge heels, stilettos, block heels, plumps, ballet flats, flat mules, sandals) among several others.
Overall, Stella Chidimma Osuju’s 2022 Savanah collection is built with designs inspired by relatable life occurrences. As the world of fashion evolves, it is a sure fact that the Sassy Muse brand will keep going the extra mile to bring to our table spectacular events with the elaborate designs of her outfits.