Hello Style Elevator,
I’ve been thinking a lot about how we introduce ourselves. Titles and job descriptions are easy, but they rarely tell the real story. So let me try it this way instead.
I’m Ibukun. Yoruba roots, Nigerian heart, London shaped life, and forever creatively curious. By day, I live in the world of financial risk and systems, spreadsheets, frameworks, the works. But outside of that, I’ve always been pulled toward expression. For me, style isn’t just clothes. It’s language. It’s memory. It’s thought made visible.
Growing up, I was surrounded by the quiet power of 1970s Yoruba vintage, legacy fabrics, grounded elegance, unapologetic expression. That energy still shows up in my wardrobe today. My Friday work outfits are often a modern twist on Aṣọ Òkè or Ankara. Casual hangouts usually have a little Adire sneaking in. It’s never forced. It just feels like home.
Over time, that quiet habit turned into something bigger. Colleagues began asking for tips for weddings, events, and important moments. I never set out to be anyone’s style consultant. I simply kept showing up as myself, and people noticed.
That’s why being Community Head at Elevate Your Style feels right. I’m not here as an expert on a pedestal. I’m still very much a student, learning, evolving, making mistakes, and figuring things out alongside you.
To me, this community has never been about dressing better. It’s about showing up better. More present. More honest. More aligned. Elevate Your Style has taught me to pause, listen deeply, and think more intentionally about identity and how we carry ourselves in the world. AsVirgil Abloh once said,
“Style is a way to express who you are without saying a word.”
That idea sits at the heart of everything we do here.
As we step into this year together, I’m not thinking about a packed calendar of events. I’m thinking about direction. Moving slower when life asks us to. Going deeper where it counts. Showing up more truthfully with ourselves and with each other.
Our theme for the year is New Dawn. New Dawn is about intentional beginnings. Choosing depth over distraction. Aligning what we wear with who we are becoming. It’s stepping forward with quiet conviction, opening new doors, and expanding what feels possible.
Our colour of the year is Green, in all its shades. Green speaks to growth, renewal, grounding, and becoming. To support this, EYS sponsor, Twelve19styles will be providing accessories that elevate individual style while creating a subtle sense of unity within our diversity.
And when we talk about Sunday’s Best, remember this: it’s never just fashion. It’s the deliberate choice to show up thoughtfully, unapologetically and without holding back.
Thank you for being part of this community and for showing up as you are. I’m genuinely, looking forward to what we will become together.
Here’s to new dawns, everything green, and showing up in truth. please find the link to the Men Look book for Sunday Best below
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1bWAE5VM5xVA4exVZ0k_Fyv7jouI95DZj?usp=drive_link
With love and style,
Ibukun Olaniyan
Community Head, Elevate Your Style
Michael Okunloro | Elevate Your Style 