The Working Wardrobe: Abisola Omole
Creative director ABISOLA OMOLE is the founder and CEO of Arva, a contemporary lifestyle brand, and Studio Arva, an interiors, styling and design-led studio. Here, the entrepreneur and sartorialist talks to KARA KIA about self-actualization on the internet – and shares her top tips for great style
Walking into Abisola Omole’s north London store, Arva, you are immediately captivated by the creative director’s refined aesthetic. Bespoke cabinets appear to be hand-carved from alabaster, a decorative pool evokes the insouciance of Italian summertime, and a 500-year-old olive tree imparts the elegance of nature. “I’m not a gatekeeper,” she tells PORTER, before sharing the name of the plant nursery where she found her tree.
A self-described “internet kid”, Omole cites the digital world as a source of boundless inspiration that extended beyond physical means. “When you’re young and not from a wealthy background, you don’t have access to things physically,” she says. “Creating digital worlds on fun platforms I used as a child – like Neopets – was the first time I designed a house. I still remember it being made of jelly and having these soft, curved edges like the furniture I gravitate towards today. It might be a bit rudimentary, but thinking back, I realize this is where it began for me, building these worlds in a digital space.”
The physical world, on the other hand, wasn’t so easy to navigate at first. As an enthusiastic 15-year-old with her sights set on becoming a magazine editor, a tenacious Omole reached out to her favorite publications to report on Fashion Week. She quickly became aware of the lack of spaces for bloggers to create content, which inspired her first venture, The Apārtment. “I created The Apārtment as a place where the online world – typically, people who were younger – could do live commentary and collaborate with brands. I wanted it to be an inclusive space, especially because I had some not-so-nice experiences at Fashion Week.”
“When people look at you and only see the specifics – that you’re Black, you’re plus-size, you’re straight, or you’re not straight, that’s not good. In this industry, I often find that I’m either the first or one of very few people that look like me, and the expectations and conversations that happen around diversity and inclusion can affect the future for others,” she says. “In some ways you might wonder, ‘Why would you want to be treated like everybody else?’, and that’s the point. When people create plus-size collections, that’s great, but it would be even better to see brands refine their standard lines to make them size-inclusive.”
Read on to discover more about Omole’s best tips for great style and her beauty must-haves…
Dress for dreaming
“I saw Precious Lee on the cover of British Vogue wearing this Saint Laurent dress and I fell in love. Then, when I saw the dress in person, I couldn’t believe it was real because you naturally assume these plus-size pieces are custom-made. It’s a beautiful, full-coverage dress for evening while still being lightweight, so you can wear it in the summer for a nice dinner or cocktail party.”
“When people create plus-size collections, that’s great, but it would be even better to see brands refine their standard lines to make them size-inclusive
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Become a haute host
“This summer, I’m really leaning into an Italian-grandmother aesthetic, and I fell in love with Loro Piana’s top in the brand’s signature stripes. Paired with the pleated skirt, I would wear this look while hosting a summer garden party. I can imagine myself walking around, holding a bowl of fresh lemons and setting a table.”
Embrace vintage details
“Saint Laurent always delivers sultry silhouettes, and this low-cut V-neck top felt sexy without being too revealing. I would definitely wear this to the office. I love the combination of the warm brown with the dark-wash denim. I also have the black version of the Gucci slingback pumps I’m wearing in the photo shoot, so when I saw them in orange, I was curious. It’s not a typical shade I go for, but it works perfectly with the overall look. The pop of color felt very ’70s.”
Slip into summer knitwear
“Gabriela Hearst is one of my favorite designers, and I hope she continues to extend her sizing. Because she often works with knitted fabrics, I can wear quite a lot of her designs, and I’ve collected some really cool pieces in my wardrobe, too. At first, I was hesitant that the loose knit would translate as crochet and have a holiday or resort feel, but it’s structured in a way that’s perfect for summer in the city. Highlighter yellow is not my typical color, but I love this bold hue, and the look definitely constitutes smart-casual.”
“Good American has quite literally got my back – these jeans are such a great fit
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Curate an off-duty look
“There was a point in my life – from the ages of about 18 to 25 – when I wasn’t having fun with fashion. I didn’t know how to express myself because the pieces I wanted didn’t come in my size. When you have brands like Good American, which is dedicated to creating these incredible jeans in all sizes, it means you are not excluded from the conversation – and you don’t have to put thought into where you’re going to source clothes that look the way you want to feel. Good American has quite literally got my back – these jeans are such a great fit.”
Elevate your self-care
“I love Augustinus Bader’s The Rich Cream, and face masks from 111Skin. I will buy into anything with the words ‘oxygen’ or ‘collagen-boosting’. Other must-haves are Omorovicza’s masks and serums. I have used them for about six years and, although the price point is a luxury, I’m always going to buy them because you see instant results. When it comes to fragrance, I love Loewe’s scents and candles.”
Choose versatile staples
“White-on-white is such a timeless summer look, and a rib-knit dress is my modus operandi. I love this Tove maxi because it perfectly reflects my style, and it’s versatile, too – the subtle, silvery threads add day-to-night appeal. The whole outfit is very transitional for when you can’t predict the weather or where you might end up.”