When asked to describe her style, Afolayan “Ayo” Abigail used the phrase “used but not bruised”. Like so many others, Ayo gets a lot of her pieces from thrifting and then she customizes her pieces to make it her own. While giving props to her older sister for teaching her to dress on her own, she really gives most of the credit to black women from the 80s and the 90s. In the Atlanta University Center (AUC), there are so many different personalities and styles and Ayo is definitely someone who stands out. I had the pleasure of interviewing Ayo and asking her about her individual style, career aspirations and so much more.
Do you consider your style unique? If so, when did you realize this?
It was the first time that I had heard, “Huh, that’s interesting, but it works”. Even the most outlandish and unique pieces are up for grabs, and no matter what I always say “but ima wear it, and ima like it”.
What’s your go-to accessory?
My extra large hoops! Even when it’s probably not appropriate to wear a pair of big hoops, i’m going to wear them anyway!
Have you ever considered styling anyone else?
I do admit that I want to style others, just as I have with close friends and family. I feel like styling is personal, so I want to make sure I have the time to understand the person’s style. I feel that as a stylist it is not my responsibility to make sure you dress like me, but to help you find your own style and develop it.
Do you believe there is a correlation between individuality and fashion?
While I feel that fashion is definitely a way to express individuality, it is not the only way. For me specifically, fashion is how I express my individuality, from my big hoops to my bald head to my crop tops.
From her looks Ayo is a tall, dark skinned, slim, black woman who wears her hair in a low cut, changing colors from time to time. Prior to loving and embracing these beautiful features, Ayo received criticism for just being herself, but as Ayo said, fashion has helped her be herself physically along with helping her understand who she is as a person.
What is the process that you go through when picking out an outfit?
Just as some people take tons of pictures and only end up posting one, I do the same when picking out an outfit. The first outfit never makes it out the door, I always plan out an outfit but I always ends up changing it before leaving. Even with planning, my fits also correlate with my mood for the day.
What’s your favorite thing in your closet right now?
Ayo’s favorite collection seems to be her denim collection. She has a plethora of denim from jeans to shirts to jackets all different washes. She even says its something she hopes to pass down to her kids.
What are your career aspirations?
Ayo’s career aspirations are pretty similar to the goals of College Fashion Week; to diversify fashion. Shockingly, Ayo’s career aspirations have little to nothing to do with fashion. Ayo is passionate about acting and screenwriting, all while diversifying these fields with people of color. She also wants to invest in the West End, not to gain profit, but to help the community.
In addition to being a fashion icon of sorts, Ayo is also a part of the African Student Association (ASA), where they are planning a fashion show, so stay tuned for that! As well as an ambassador for Bumble, the dating app. In the near future she also plans to use her styling skills to help with the AUC Agency, our on campus modeling agency.