How to Style Bold Prints for Fall with The OULA Company’s Erika Massaquoi
Fall 2020 is officially on, and we’re still living that quarantine life. Whether you’re juggling work-from-home with managing your kids’ schedules, dealing with increasingly dependent fur-babies, or just trying to survive out here, one thing is for sure: this isn’t the October any of us wanted. But it’s the one we got, so we’re going to make the most of it, Boss Lady style!
We got some exclusive pieces from The OULA Company just in time for fall. The fabulous founder Erika Massaquoi came down to our Seattle HQ to show us how to brighten up the colder months with her Ankara dresses and skirts. No more complaining about not knowing how to style bright colors for fall or not knowing “the rules.” We’ve got you covered.
Check out Erika’s tips and then hurry on over to your closet to put one of her coveted pieces in your next case along with something to pair it with. We have masks from OULA as case add-ons, and you can find them on the Armoire Shop too!
Bold Prints for Fall and Bright Colors for Winter? Yes, Please!
Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean you have to wear dark, muted colors. You’re allowed to channel that warmth whenever you want. You know the saying “it’s 5 o’clock somewhere?” Well it’s also sunny and warm somewhere!
What better way to tell October who’s boss than by showing up to your Zoom calls and socially distanced-events in the prettiest, boldest prints out there? We’re all for fashion that elevates your mood, especially in these quarantine times!
Styling Ankara Dresses for any Season
We’ve heard a few of our Boss Ladies tell us they want to wear these pieces beyond spring and summer but just don’t know what to do with them for the fall and winter. Erika Massaquoi has all the styling tips you’ll need to dress up or dress down your OULA.
All OULA pieces are made from Ankara, colorful wax-printed cotton textiles, and the fabric is heavier than it looks. OULA’s pieces are season-agnostic, and can be worn year-round. You’ll always feel fierce and fun in your OULA.
Erika’s Top Five Fall Styling Tips
1. Faux Fur
My favorite thing to wear with my OULA during the winter is a faux fur. It’s my signature look with The Pomp or with The Poet. I love faux fur vests for fall.
Erika Massaquoi
Not into faux furs? Throw on a black coat or long denim jacket.
2. (Faux) Leather Jackets
I love a leather jacket with almost anything, and I have one I wear with my OULA all the time.
3. Leggings
Most OULA pieces pair great with leggings, whether you’re wearing them for the warmth, or the style, or both.
If you’re like how am I supposed to stay warm? Throw some pants on underneath!
4. Leather Pants
Pair The Poet with a leather pant. Belt it. Done.
5. Winter Whites
Pair your OULA with a cream colored coat and booties. Erika loves the open toe look!
A few last styling tidbits from Erika:
I love a dress with pockets.
I designed the sleeves specifically so you can show off your bracelets!
I love fun vintage scarves with my OULA looks.
I love a print and mix prints all the time. I love my OULA with an animal print! A print on print is just everything. The OULA masks are an easy print to add to your look!
There you have it. All the tips you need to style bold prints and bright colors like Erika’s gorgeous OULA pieces for fall and winter!
Rent an OULA piece and something to pair it with today!
About The OULA Company
Erika Dalya Massaquoi built The OULA Company to reflect her roots and values. It is a brand that has heart, and is authentic and honest. At its core, it is about embracing freedom and creativity. Erika’s beautiful trans-seasonal pieces are made from Ankara wax fabrics sourced globally and made in the USA, embodying the vibrant traditional African dress. The classic silhouettes are “inspired by vintage style from the 1960s and ‘the black is beautiful’ way of life and fashion ethos of the 1970s. It’s the way my mom used to dress: an easy tunic, a dramatic skirt, a caftan inspired dress, a bold print, a unique piece of jewelry, a scent to die for and statement hair. For me, it’s aspirational and accessible and an honest reflection of the woman I’ve become.”
About The Designer: Erika Dalya Massaquoi
Erika’s curatorial work includes shows for the Frye Art Museum, the Seattle Art Museum, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) List Visual Arts Center, and the Studio Museum in Harlem. She has held curatorial positions at the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Museum of the Moving Image. Erika taught new media, cinema, and contemporary art classes at Yale University, NYU and The New School. She also served as Asst. Dean of the School of Art & Design at The Fashion Institute of Technology. She is currently the owner, CEO, & designer of The OULA Company, reflecting her effort to realize art in living forms. She is an accomplished and passionate wife and mother.
