The wedding industry is evolving all the time and so I'm going to focus the next few features of our Vendor Spotlight series on the brands and vendor who are all about making wedding planning a little less stressful.
This month, we are chatting with Tosin Agboola, Creative Director of bridal styling company, The Wardrobe Manager. I met Tosin at one of my weddings this year and I was intrigued by the concept of a stylist that focuses just on brides.
The Wardrobe Manager (TWM) is considered to be Nigeria's premier bridal styling company. They strive to curate the perfect bridal wardrobe while offering a convenient and reliable shopping experience for brides. #winning
Tosin is a certified style consultant from London College of Fashion and is also Africa's exclusive representative for Dubai based designer, Galia Fahd. So let's get right into our interview. Enjoy. 🙂
A ‘Bridal Stylist' is an experienced and trained professional who consults with brides over their budgets, understands their tastes and preferences and creates a style profile for them. Simply put, we guide and take the stress off the bride during her wedding journey! Our services extend to the bridal party and even the mother of the bride and include everything from booking appointments to accompanying them to boutiques and designers.
We strive to offer brides an ultimate fashion experience when it comes to their journey to becoming a 'Mrs'. This begins at her pre wedding shoot and goes all the way through to her bridal shower, pre wedding party, court wedding, traditional wedding and ultimately her wedding day. As a bridal stylist, I am available every step of the way to guide my bride and ensure that she makes the best choices.
A bridal stylist has an eye for bridal fashion and is more experienced and trained to make brides look and feel their best unlike a regular fashion consultant who is tied to everyday fashion.
We also have more established relationships with bridal designers, beauty and glamour experts in the wedding industry and can get great deals as well as access to a lot of more suitable options to suit the bride's personality or style.
TWM has been in operation for over a year now. I love weddings! I love bridal fashion! It is a passion for me. I also love meeting new people and the personal connections you make with a bride whilst working with them is an emotional and amazing one! I do my best to make their special day a beautiful memory for them, and this is a source of joy for me.
We usually begin with a discussion of what the bride has envisioned. We provide our brides with mood boards and inspiration imagery to guide the tone and direction of their wedding looks. Then, we schedule appointments with suitable designers and boutiques that will stay true to her style, personality and budget – whether it is traditional, modern, or in-between.
I view a Bridal Stylist as an insurance policy. At TWM, we ensure everything goes smoothly and looks beautiful from a fashion perspective. We steam your gown, assist you in getting ready and ensure your first impression is perfection and are well equipped to ensure that any fashion emergencies are taken care of. With TWM as your bridal stylist, everyone can relax and enjoy the party on your wedding day.
Our clients include brides that need professional help in bringing their entire vision to life and want the stress taken off them, brides that live abroad and / or brides that have a complicated dress and a large bridal party.
From initial consultations, we explore the looks the bride has always pictured for her wedding. We also provide brides with mood boards and inspiration imagery to guide the tone and direction. Then, the fun begins!
In preparing for her events, we provide an array of suitable options that reflect both her personal style and meet her budget. Where her outfit is bespoke, our team go a step further by sourcing and liaising with the appropriate designer who will be able to execute the job without compromising her style or budget. We also assist in recommending and coordinating her ‘glam team’- the makeup artists and hairstylists - in order to take the burden off her and also to ensure that she’s always able to step out with her best foot forward.
In selecting her wedding dress, we remain hands on by attending bridal consultations with brides and being available to answer questions to ensure that she says yes to the right dress! From the initial consultation to the final dress fittings and also on her wedding day – we are there to ensure all her needs are met and that she looks perfect on her big day.
High-rise Necklines
We anticipate high-rise necklines to be one of the most popular silhouettes in 2019. It has been one of the most prevailing silhouettes even in everyday fashion.
Waterfall Skirts
Straightforward ball dresses will always remain timeless! But we still expect to see an extra hint of volume – asymmetric layers of tulle and satin that give a rippling effect of a waterfall.
Statement Sleeves
In the coming year, we also expect to see more exaggerated sleeves also similar to what we now see on statement tops in ready-to-wear pieces giving us a hint of Renaissance vibes!
The Meghan Markle effect - Duchess Satin
We anticipate seeing more homages to Meghan Markle's Givenchy haute couture ensemble. Quite a few bridal designers have been including replicas of her ceremony gown and styles with duchess satin in their collections.
Dresses with Pockets
Something fun and unconventional as a lot of wedding dress designers have started incorporating pockets into their style of wedding dresses. Now brides can have somewhere to keep a few of their personal belongings while they enjoy their big day! (Editor note: #winning #abouttime)
The biggest advice I give my clients is to be open minded when shopping. Don't be afraid to try on pieces and dresses you never imagined wearing on your big day! Also, stay true to your personality and make sure you feel comfortable in whatever you select.
I think that personality shines through what you are most comfortable wearing. I have had a few brides who didn't want feel comfortable wearing a white dress or heels on their wedding day. Likewise, if you feel more comfortable in bold red lipstick or cat eyes for your wedding day look, you should definitely incorporate them into your wedding day style.
You should pick your style team carefully (pay attention to the aesthetic of your style team from their previous jobs) and make sure they listen to you and your style.
I am calm in nature but I can be a go-getter. I always get what my brides want!
We can be reached via email at info@thewardrobemanager.com or through our website at www.thewardrobemanager.com
Follow Tosin on social media for all things bridal fashion:
Instagram: @thewardrobemanager
Facebook: @thewardrobemanager
