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Couture Bridal Fashion

I have asked leading couture bridal wear designers to select their favourite gown from their collection and to recommend hair styles or accessories to complement the look of their chosen gown.

Today I have the pleasure of introducing London based couture bridal and evening wear designer Yemi Osunkoya.

A few biographical details

I understand from Yemi that the seeds of his fascination with fashion in general and bridal wear in particular were sown at his first high society wedding in Nigeria.  From then on, whenever he accompanied his parents to social gatherings, he would feel compelled to draw the dresses and guests after the function. So began his life-long love of figurative drawing.  As he entered his teenage years, Yemi fell under the spell of the glamour and sophistication of Bob Makie's costumes for Diana Ross and Anthony Price's gravity defying gowns for Jerry Hall.  A career in fashion design was beckoning.

After a degree in Textile Design at Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria, Yemi completed his studies at the Paris Academy of Fashion, Oxford St, London, gaining top marks in both men's and women's wear.

He completed his studies in 1990 in London at the height of the recession.  But, undaunted by the economic climate and determined to make his own mark, Yemi decided to strike out on his own and founded his own design label Kosibah (named in honour of his greatest supporter: his mother, Cosiba).The name Cosiba comes from the Republic of Benin and is the Day Name given to a female child born on a Sunday.  However, in deference to the Yoruba tradition of not addressing elders by their first names, Yemi changed the spelling of the company name slightly as a mark of respect.

Yemi has worked hard to make Kosibah a truly global brand, but with clientele particularly well represented in the UK, USA, West and South Africa and the Caribbean.   Among his celebrated clients, Yemi counts Lady Janet Boateng, Dianne Abbott MP, Kelly Rowland, Alesha Dixon, Sheila Ferguson, Hollywood actress Indra Ové, Louise Rose and members of several royal families in Nigeria and Ghana. Still on Yemi's wish list of celebrities to dress are Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama, Padma Lakshmi, and Keira Knightley.

Despite A-list success, Yemi's designs are firmly rooted in the desire to make every woman look and feel good.  Drawing on his African roots, Yemi's designs celebrate the curves and shapes of real women.  His signature use of corsetry and draping creates gowns that flatter and enhance every woman's figure.

Yemi's Chosen Gown

Yemi has selected the beautiful Odette from his ballet inspired Bienvenue 20 Collection.

Photography by Damian Lovegrove

Yemi says:

Odette is a ruched fishtail gown made from organza with a zibeline base and swirls of embroidered organza roses accentuating the skirt to give classical ballet look. The gown features a matching sleeveless bolero jacket.

Photography by Damian Lovegrove

Yemi recommends one of these fabulous hair styles to complement Odette.

The hair was styled by Kasia Fortuna and the make up is by Joy Adengua.

Yemi's own sketches showing his styling recommendations

To see more of Yemi's bridal and eveningwear collections visit the Kosibah website. You can also follow Yemi on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook. and Pinterest

Thank you so much to Yemi Osunkoya for his contribution to this feature.

Let me know what you think of Yemi's favourite gown and his styling recommendations by leaving your comments below.

Until next time...

Val x

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