In the Nigerian fashion world, there is an abundance of talented designers and fashion brands. Among these designers and brands is Margaloye Atelier. A brilliant and amazing fashion brand that has carved out its space in the industry.

Margaret Damilola Akintoye, a talented designer, established this brand. With everything the brand has put in place, it aims to prove to the world that a proposition can be as simple as possible.

In no time, the brand produced its Atelier 2025 collection. By taking a glimpse at the collection alone, I must say that these are beyond fabrics; this is an extension of an unsaid conversation. What that simply means is that the outfits stand out well on their own.
In this article, I’ll take my time to carefully assess, examine, and critique each outfit that the collection has given to us. Let’s work the line together, as the brand welcomes us to see how clothing can be a way to express who we truly are, in their 2025 collection.

The first item in this collection is a black and pink plaid dress. I like the alignment of the pattern. It’s giving ‘confident vibes’. The slit in front looks like something that is very effective. It will give whoever it is who will wear it a free-flow feeling.

I can also see how simple the neckline is. I think the entire dress can work for different occasions. If, as a woman, a man proposes a ‘Want to hang out with me?’ or a ‘Can we go on a brunch date?’ to you, then my good sister, I believe this outfit will do the magic.

But one area that needs some adjustment, though, is the waist. There’s this glow-up that is required but somehow missing. Right now, it’s a little loose. The designer does not need to do too much at all, just add a few tweaks that will make the silhouette come out sharper. The designer should consider this recommendation.

The length too, should be worked on a bit. Somebody can definitely not wear this kind of dress on muddy ground or something. Even on dry ground, the dress would just keep on dragging dust and sand. But it still depends on the height of the person who will wear it, though.
That reminds me, if a belt or waist detail is added to this cloth, it will be Chef’s kiss.

Flip to the back, and the dress keeps delivering. The plaid is the same all around, which looks cool. The top really holds the dress together and gives it a nice flair. I really like the fabric. It really looks easy to wear.
Despite all of these, there is still a small issue. The back looks very plain compared to the front. It is best to make it a see-through and beautify it with designer lace. Trust me, if it is done this way, everything will be solid.

Now, this second dress. Oh, I like this one. It really stands out. The first thing that is noticeable and beautiful about this dress is how it catches the eye without even trying. Those sleeves are really dope. Damn! They are very eye-catching. When I look at this dress, the first thing that comes to my mind is ‘I’m not here to mess around’.

Another thing is the colour. There is just something about the colour black. Black just works well for clothes, always. This can be worn anywhere and still turn heads.
But then, the sleeves look too heavy. They look like something that will overwhelm somebody when they wear them. Imagine wearing this under the sun or in hot weather. So, the designer should work on this and

I feel like the back view is where the dress really steals the show. This is just wow! It really grabs attention, because it feels like black wings. It can be noticeable the second whoever wears it walks in, and in a good way.
The only negative thing about this dress is the pleats. The pleats are too big; they shouldn’t be so big. I think adding a lighter fabric would have been better and made it easier to wear and adjust, while still maintaining its dope look. Overall, the designer really tried with this one. Very suave outfit.

Moving to the last but certainly not the least.
See this third dress? It is a total head-turner. This black and white top with zebra stripes really catches the eye immediately. The top wraps at the waist. You can see that the fabric will swing with each step. Looking at how the dress looks on the model, it fits well. It’s obvious.

What doesn’t sit right with this dress for me, however, is the outlook of the fit. It looks too bulky and doesn’t look like it will fit all body types. I recommend that the designer adjust the bit to make it better.

Just like the previous two outfits, the back is where the dress shines. The sleeves are big and take up a lot of space; smaller ones might sit better. The top has a strong pattern. If a single colour or simpler pattern was attached to the bottom, I don’t think the pieces will compete that much.

Perhaps the designer should have just even used similar fabrics.
And yes, as for the puffs…we don’t need all that. It looks somewhat like a throw-pillow. It’s not needed at all.

Looking at these three fits together, the brand narrative is clear. The plaid dress keeps things simple but interesting, with a shape that can work well for various settings. The black satin dress is very nice too. It draws great attention.
I’ve taken my time to carefully critique these clothes, and I can say that the way Margaloye uses creativity so well is nice. When you take a careful look at the outfits, you can see the level of attractiveness and creativity.

Margaret Damilola Akintoye’s intentions show in this collection. She did not chase trends at all; instead, she has created them. Every dress in this collection stands out in its own way. This is what modern fashion should feel like.
Sometimes, fashion can serve as a medium for showing identity. I really recommend this collection to everyone. Because by looking at the outfits, they don’t just pull you in, they give off the vibes of presence, confidence and positive energy.

To conclude, when you look at Margaloye’s work, fashion designers like Stella McCartney, Donatella Versace, and even Phoebe Philo come to mind. Their respective works go well with Margaloye’s styling focus on creative, magical-looking attire.

This collection shows Margaloye’s talent and capabilities. In fact, I can boldly say our fashion space is in safe hands. Why? Because Margaloye is in it.

Till we meet again!

By Dimeji Alara