The Dresscode 001

“SKINNY JEANS IN 2024???“

Q&A’S WITH THE MODELS

D R E S S TH C O D E

EDITORS NOTES

Fashion is a language, a mode of expression; a code to be deciphered. Outfits contain history, the essence of our individual personalities, and a reflection of our society's norms and (popular) culture. We are all walking lines of code, captured in fabrics, silhouettes, colors and garments.

The Dress Code is Ashesi's first fashion editorial; an attempt to document and celebrate the fly, the eclectic and mundane expressions of fashion by a cross-section of Africa's youth nestled in the mountains of Berekuso. Every month, through poignant photography, we will bring to you a lookbook of outfits styled and modeled by students in response to a theme. For our first issue, we tasked a group of students to reimagine the theme “A Romantic Date Night,” in agreement with the month of love, February. We hope you equally love what we produced. We hope to encourage our readers to explore, experiment, and quite frankly, to have fun with the many codes of fashion. In the words of Bill Cunningham "fashion is the armor to survive the reality of everyday life."

CREDITS

Production

Editor in Chief- Kerzia Ocansey

Executive Producer- Daniel Bempah

Photographers - Ronelle Cudjoe,

Allen Kpentey

Production Assistants - Trygve Anquandah,

Felix Prince-Agbodjan

Design Editor - Tanitoluwa Adebayo

Models & Stylists

Daniel Bempah

Nuku Dzakuma

Deborah Benning

Nyameye ‘Kiki’ Akumia

Emmanuella Oteng Frimpong

Kerzia Ocansey

Felix Prince-Agbodjan

Maame Yaa Amoah

01 NUKU

02

K I K I

Describe your style in three words: Bold statement pieces

Who are your style icons?

Law Roach, Alton Mason, Rihanna

What’s your favorite piece of clothing?

My favourite thing I own is probably my shoes… I love my shoes even though I don’t have that many. I think they make me different and they’re versatile enough to go with whatever outfit.

How did you put this outfit together?

So the first thing I thought of when I saw the theme was the color. Colour is very important to me and nothing says Valentine’s day like pink, red and white. I love good statement pieces – outfits that make people go “I wonder where he got that from?” So I knew I had to pick a bold colour.

What is a perfect date to you?

A perfect date to me is fun and intimate. It doesn’t matter what we’re doing, as long as the weight of the world is off my shoulders for the temporary time I’m with my person.

Q&A

What style trend do you absolutely hate/dislike?

A lot of people would say skinny jeans to this answer

How do you see your style evolving?

I hope I get bolder and bolder. It’s hard to picture exactly how, but I know a good item of clothing when I see one, and I’ll find the right outfits.

What's one style tip you want to share?

Learn colour theory! Even the most casual outfits can be elevated when you consider how the colours looks together or whether the colours work to form a cohesive style.

A H

Describe your style in three words: Swagnificent, fluid, Street

Who are your style icons?

ASAP and Rihanna, Lewis Hamilton, Shai, Doja Cat at some point ��

What’s your favorite piece of clothing?

Umm pants/trousers I think. I love a good pair of bottoms. Styling around statement pants is fun!

How did you put this outfit together?

I think I was going for a boxy vibe. Also something dressy and casual at the same time. Mostly just experimenting haha

What is a perfect date to you?

�� I actually do love restaurant dates at a good spot. Get fly together and go eat some good food

What style trend do you absolutely hate/dislike? Maybe skinny jeans ��

How do you see your style evolving?

I want to maybe try to dress more formal?? Lmao. I’m kinda still looking for my “uniform”, so who knows lol!

Q&A

What's one style tip you want to share?

Experiment. Do you. Yes sometimes you’ll look ridiculous, but who cares? That’s how you’ll find your groove, sooner or later. So just try that outfit you’ve thought about!

Q&A

Social media handles

@t.kprince (Instagram and Snapchat)

Describe your style in three words: Streetwear & clean basic (lack of better words)

Who are your style icons?

Harry Styles, Michael B Jordan, Will Smith

What’s your favorite piece of clothing?

Jorts and sneakers

How did you put this outfit together?

I wanted to play with the earth tones so I started with brown pants and worked around my wardrobe for stuff that will lay over nicely.

What is a perfect date to you?

Late night drive with the sunroof opened, burgers and pizzas with music

What style trend do you absolutely hate/dislike?

I don’t think I resonate with tight pants

How do you see your style evolving?

I want to actually get a lot of woven and tattered clothing

What's one style tip you want to share?

Always start styling with your pants first then work around that also the perfect shoe makes the fit a whole lot nicer

05 KERZIA

Q&A

Social media handles

Ocansey k on Instagram

Describe your style in three words: Clean, classy, bold

Who are your style icons?

Zendaya & Law(package deal)

What’s your favorite piece of clothing? heels of any kind

How did you put this outfit together?

I wanted to wear boots and wear a piece of clothing in an unconventional way (hence me turning a top into a skirt)

What is a perfect date to you?

Going anywhere/doing anything with someone I’m irrevocably in love with (and attracted to).

What style trend do you absolutely hate/dislike?

Skinny jeans

How do you see your style evolving? I’m starting to try mixing colors and textures

What's one style tip you want to share? The outfit is only 40%, confidence is 60%.

06

‘MYA’

Q&A

Describe your style in three words: Edgy, Eclectic, Cute

Who are your style icons?

Naomi Campbell with a touch of Riri

What’s your favorite piece of clothing?

Love a good little black dress

How did you put this outfit together?

My core vibe was a fit that is in tune with my femininity. A form fitting mini dress that exudes confidence and charm without having to do too much!

What is a perfect date to you?

I will say this - it’s always comfort over everything for me. So anything that makes us super comfortable and cozy. Nothing that builds up unnecessary tension and nerves lol

What style trend do you absolutely hate/dislike?

That squiggly eyebrow trend!! *rolls eyes*

How do you see your style evolving?

Definitely gearing a little towards a more timeless aesthetic

What’s one style tip you want to share?

Be you and Do you. Remember, what works for everyone else may not work for you so prioritize what genuinely suits you . Also, I think it's very important to be aware of your body type. It really helps you find the best fitting outfits in a way that builds your confidence but overall, wear what makes you feel comfortable and confident! do not feel pressured to follow some of these unnecessary trends.

Q&A

Describe your style in three words:

Elegant, Conservative , Versatile

Who are your style icons?

Lori Harvey, Steph Shojaee, Savannah James, Blake lively

What’s your favorite piece of clothing? Pants any day

How did you put this outfit together?

The Oh Polly Dress was the foundational garment of my outfit. I had already seen it and given the theme , it was perfect for a romantic date night. The choice to me demonstrated a bold appreciation for form-fitting and sparkling elegance that commands attention. To complement the dress, I went for the Ego Heels in Orange to introduce a glamorous contrast. The heels not only accentuated the length of the silhouette but also added a vibrant pop of color that reflected a summery zest. For accessories I chose to go for my everyday diamonds from Nugget Jewelry to bring a classic opulent look. Then I chose to have a blonde updo voluminous bun to add an avant-garde look to the outfit. Because blondes have more fun. Each piece was selected with a clear vision for a cohesive look.

Q&A

What is a perfect date to you?

To me a perfect date is an intimate dinner for two at a beautiful and elegant restaurant. Not just any evening out but a celebration of love. And in the background, would be a gentle hum of soft, romantic melodies. At the center of this experience is a table reserved for me and my man toasting to each other with crystal champagne and enjoying each other’s presence with thoughtful gestures.

What style trend do you absolutely hate/dislike?

Crocs !!

How do you see your style evolving?

I see my style as a reflection of my growth and experiences. My personal style has been characterized by an affinity for relaxed silhouettes and an appreciation for modest, yet versatile apparel. As I’ve matured, I’ve embraced a more refined wardrobe that respects both context and personal growth, ensuring that each ensemble is appropriate for the setting while still reflecting my personality. When occasions arise that call for a more daring look, I select pieces that tastefully reveal some skin, demonstrating a balance between confidence and elegance. This duality in my style shows my ability to adapt and evolve my fashion sense to suit various environments and moods. I believe that my style will continue to evolve while maintaining an equilibrium between comfort and sophistication.

What's one style tip you want to share?

Invest in good jewelry and hair, they make an outfit 10X better.

D E B O R A H

Q&A

Describe your style in three words: Evolving, mood-oriented, deborah!

Who are your style icons?

chaka khan, eryka badu- when i was/ am in my earthgirl phase; lauren london, jorja smith- middle size to big girl confidence and sex appeal; sade- casual corporate-ish?

What’s your favorite piece of clothing? wide leg pants

How did you put this outfit together? the shoes were the foundation, everything else had to match the shoes.

What is a perfect date to you?

first thing, i absolutely love seeing my date all dressed up, something about a man looking responsible does it for me. A perfect date to me isn’t just getting dinner or lunch, but doing a bunch of engaging activities until we’re tired or the money is entirely spent, lol. Activities that see us loosening up and being ourselves and laughing a lot. No beach date tho ��, and you have me smitten if we get to see a live band perform.

Q&A

What style trend do you absolutely hate/dislike?

e-girl and downtown, ew! sometimes preppy �� and basic! jeans and a regular shirt with flats. nothing wrong with it, unless that’s you EVERYDAY ��

How do you see your style evolving?

I’d like to be more baddie corporate, it’s been catching my eye on Pinterest these days.

What's one style tip you want to share? don’t be scared to layer!