Forever at the Epicentre of Change, African Designers Lead the Way in Joyous Storytelling, with Collections Showcasing Bold Metallics, Bubble Hems, Tactile Raffia and Kitschy Florals.
THE HOTTEST TRENDS FOR S/S 2025
Image Credit Lagos Fashion Week
The inimitable Lagos Fashion Week exploded onto the African fashion scene: bigger, stronger and bolder than ever before. Riotous colour and fearless patterning, the quintessential qualities we associate with fashion from the African continent, transported glorious Pan-African fashion straight to the global stage. (Mind you, African fashion is never far from the European, American and Asian designer’s eyes – it’s a forever source of unlimited inspiration, season after season.)
Colour was perhaps the most obvious and visible component to these joyous collections – from sunshine yellow to muddy brown, red ochre to cerise, earthy colours played an intrinsic role in adding an organic dimension to the designs. Brightest egg-yolk yellow was a the shade of choice for S/S 2025.
An eternal fashion stalwart, denim as blue as the Atlantic Ocean, also featured in a great many of the collections: distressed, bleached, tie-dyed, asymmetrical in shape, fringed, slashed, classic, you name it – always with a twist, always covetable, always so easy to wear!
As for design trends, we spotted innumerable examples of smart layering in the collections – it’s imperative in the balmy African summer to be able to peel off and pile on layers as and when required.
Metallics shone brightly and added to the glamour factor no end.
Bold patterning kept being a key trend, and in addition this season Spring florals were blooming all over the place.
There was also a plethora of the most awe-inspiring dresses (the dress was undoubtedly the garment of choice for S/S 2025!) in every shape, permutation and length.
Glowing skin was on display for all to enjoy, and emphasised the return of glamour with a capital ‘G’! Seldom have we seen so many outrageously feminine, tiered, frilly, body-licious dresses in one week of fashion!
Choosing just a few of our favourites proved almost impossible – there was simply too much inspiration on offer…
So, sit back, enjoy the fun and frivolity of Lagos Fashion Week. We suggest you tune into the beat of an African drum, grab your cocktail of choice and relish the fashion vibes from a city where no ensemble could ever be considered too glamorous!
HAIR & BEAUTY, BACKSTAGE AND STREET STYLE
The intricate hairstyles that accompanied the tactile clothing and accessories were just an extension of the workmanship that went into every little detail of the collections. The hairstyles by Lush were works of art in their own right.
Street style mimicked the collections, and the glam factor topped the charts! Fashionistas and front-row celebrities (almost) stole the show in their inspired ensembles, bold accessories, artisan hairstyles and jewellery.
Hair by Lush
Hair by Lush
Hair by Lush
Hair by Lush
Hair by Lush
Oriental inspiration at Dimeji Ilori
Crochet art at Five Born Star X Maison Mystic
Patterns that mimic lasndscape and seascapes, at Oya Obaya
TRENDS
1. SKIN, SKIN, GLORIOUS SKIN!
Glowing skin showed off skimpy frocks to great effect. Lace, beading, fringing, slashing, cut-outs, transparency, asymmetry and draping ensured there was always more than just a bit of blissful skin peeking out. Who’s complaining? Bring on the everlasting summer!
Glowing skin and a slinky dress in the season’s favourite shade, sunshine yellow. At Garbe
Fringed edges at Fia
Beading, transparency and asymmetry shouted glamour! At Pepper Row
Asymmetry and strategic draping at Fruche
A deep V-neckline is mimicked in a sexy slit. At Emily Kasbit
2. FOREVER IN BLUE JEANS
Whether classic or avant-garde, super sleek or rugged workwear, denim yet again stole the show and was on display across many collections. Ajanee’s collection, for example, showcased an asymmetrical workwear-inspired silhouette whereas Bovedo’s ensembles were constructed from contrasting patchwork strips, and Awa Meite’s offering was an earthy display of traditional African textures with a modern edge. Each of the collections, however diverse, achieved refined, sculptural and contemporary elegance.
Avant-garde and sculptural at Anjanee
Asymmetry at Anja
Contrasting patchwork strips at Boyedo
A symphony of textures and muted tones. At Awa Meite
Organic textures and a raw elegance. At Lagos Space Programme
A classic oversized white tunic-shirt worn over ink-blue jeans. At Lagos Space Programme
3. PLIED, PRINTED AND PATTERNED
Surface design embellished many collections, but none were as original as those at Emily Kasbit. Muted, soft patterns morphed into easy-to-wear garments, and the graphically patterned co-ords with their contemporary African flavours, also worked a treat.
Muted tie-dyed fabrics at Emily Kasbit
Bold contemporary African graphics at Emily Kasbit
A short suit co-ord in graphic patterning. At Cute Saint
4. BULBOUS BUBBLES
Sculptural, transparent bubble hems, necklines and skirts popped up all over the runways, often in delicious pastel bubblegum shades. As ethereal as they were edible! We particularly adored the airy offerings at LFJ.
Pastel creations at LFJ
Contrasting twisted and pleated bubble shapes at LFJ
Bubble hems and sleeves at Cynthia Abila
5. TOUCHY FEELY
Tutus, tiers and ruffles! Raffia layers in skirts, hats and hand bags added to the tactile feel of many of the collections. Crocheting, ruching, gathers, chainmail, 3-D embellishments, pin-tucks, pleats, drapes, darts, patchwork and every other trick of the dressmaker’s trade to create volume, sculpture and texture, were employed in the collections. They were not only a visual feast, they begged the viewer to come closer and feel!
Raffia layers at Pepper Row
More is more! At Pepper Row
Raffia accessories and crochet at Cynthia Abila
An airy chequered shawl at Iamisigo
A green crocheted bikini at Iamisigo
Layers of green-ness at Iamisigo
Ruching adds a third dimension. At Orire
A 3-D Collar at Orire
Ooh-la-la! Sculptural contours at Orire
Haute sculpture! At Hertunba
Tie-dye layers add volume, texture and vibrancy. At Hertunba
Patchwork chainmail works a treat
A divine metallic weave. At Kilentar
Metallic chainmail at Iamisigo
Hoops and stripes of metallic magic. At Kilentar
Tubular fluted lilies in virginal white. At Kilentar
A corset accentuates the waist in this sculptural creation. At Hertunba
6. SPACED OUT
A Sixties Space Odessey! Space-age shapes with their exaggerated shoulders and hips, playful asymmetry, floral appliques and bold shades oozed inner power and femininity. Rich shades added to the space-ey vibes at Loza Maleombho. Cut-outs flaunted glowing skin and pops of metallics added to the glitz.
Barbarella blue shades at Loza Maleombho
Exaggerated shoulders and a metallic bra. At Loza Maleombho
Metallics make the ensemble pop. At Loza Maleombho
7. FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT
From floaty chiffon layers at Fia to serene, organic stretchiness at Sisiano, the emphasis was squarely on easy-to-wear elegance. The mood was for garments that could take one to work, but also let you relax on the sofa and let you go dancing in! Freedom of movement was a prerequisite, and designers captured the mood of the moment perfectly: dreamy, floaty silhouettes oozed relaxed chic.
Tropical shades of chiffon. At Fia
Psychedelic draping. At Sisiano
Uber-elegance in stretchy, sexy jersey. At Sisiano
Darkest chocolate shades of elegance. At Sisiano
Skin-tone jersey with pops of turquoise and orange. At Anjanee
8. ALL DRESSED UP WITH (EVERYWHERE) TO GO
From a cobalt mini bombshell at Fruche to uber-sophisticated elegance In pure silk at Eki Silk, and jewel shades of every flavour at Jewel Jemila, never was glamour as evident as at these S/S 2025 shows! Body-licious silhouettes showed off every curve and contour to perfection. The dress in all its guises was the unadulterated star of the shows.
A blue bombshell of a dress. At Fruche
Sophisticated silk with plenty skin on show. At Eki Silk
Elegance is a sea-green floaty blouse. At Eki Silk
Burnt bronze in a body-hugging column dress. At Jewel Jemila
Ballet pink perfection. At Jewel Jemila
An egg-yolk yellow shawl is unforgettable! Cute Saint
9. MELLOW YELLOW
The shade of the season is egg-yolk yellow: vibrant, lively, energetic, organic and drop-dead sexy. Uncannily this shade sits equally well with dull grey shades as it does with shocking pink and pillar box red. This is a colour that’s impossible to ignore, and it’s most certainly for those who are confident in their own skin! It’s youthful and bold, and utterly delicious! Cute Saint captures the spirit of the shade to perfection.
An egg-yolk yellow shawl is unforgettable! Cute Saint
Shocking pink works uncannily well with this unique shade. At Cute Saint
Yellow morphs into orange, tangerine and crimson. At Iremetide
One of the most unforgettable frocks at Lagos S/S 2025, in one of the most unforgettable shades.
At Iremitide
GOODBYE FROM LAGOS FASHION WEEK!
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Source: Pynck – pynck.com
