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Q: What is your name and where did you grow up?

A: My name is Damilare Odusola, and I grew up in Lagos.

Q: How would you describe your younger self — the energy, the habits, the quirks?

A: I was very organized. I never had that chair in my room where people dump clothes. I was athletic — I loved running and playing football.

Q: What’s one of your favorite childhood memories or family traditions that still makes you smile?

A: Traveling with my family, Christmas breakfast, and jollof rice for lunch on Christmas Day. There was this U-shaped ride I loved — I remember at one point, my head was between my legs! On Sundays, we’d have breakfast at Sheraton Hotel in Ikeja. If there are 52 Sundays in a year, I went at least 50 times.

Q: Were you always into fashion, or did that come later?

A: It came later, for sure. But even in secondary school, I used to think about what I’d wear in uni — what my vibe would be. There was a time I had a Manchester United shirt with Chevrolet as the sponsor, and one day my mom washed it and the cross got messed up. I was heartbroken. Looking back, it was kind of foreshadowing.

Q: What did you study in school and why? And how did that path lead (or not lead) to what you do now?

A: I studied Law at the University of Birmingham. I used to love Animal Planet and wanted to be a zoologist, but after writing NECO, I thought, “What if they’ve found all the animals by the time I graduate?” I also considered accounting and civil engineering, but my dad being a lawyer played a role in my final choice. I never liked reading much, but I loved sharing intellectual input.

Law didn’t influence my path into styling — I just enjoyed learning what goes on behind the scenes. When I saw interviews or shoots, I always wondered what happened before. My hobby was finding out who managed it, who the photographers were, and what brands the clothes came from.

Q: Do you feel like that academic background influences the way you style — maybe in how you structure, analyze, or see details?

A: I wouldn’t say my education affects how I style — it’s more my way of life. Being organized and finicky shows up in how I color-code outfits. Naturally, when you’re organized, you group similar things together. It’s the same with outfits — if I’m using a beige jacket, I’ll pair it with colors like white, nude, cream, or light brown, not beige and neon orange. But I also appreciate spontaneity, which helps me mix and match textures, color palettes, and styles. A phrase I live by is: “Mix and match is the best catch.”

Q: When did you officially decide to give styling a real shot?

A: In 2023. It was a mix of encouragement from people and my natural inclination toward it.

Q: How would you describe your personal style in three words?

A: Edgy. Grunge. Flair.

Q: Who or what has shaped your fashion eye the most — people, cities, or even random things?

A: People like Gunna, Pharrell, Nigo, and Skepta — and the city of Lagos. Growing up there, we had trailblazer brands like Romangod, Optimus, and Veteran, plus pop-up conventions like Street Souk. Those all shaped me as a Lagos kid.

Q: What’s the most fulfilling part of being a stylist for you?

A: Bringing my concept of style to life.

Q: And the hardest part — the thing people don’t see behind the beautiful looks?

A: It’s not exactly hard, but people don’t realize being a stylist isn’t just about putting looks together. It also involves sending pull emails, handling invoices, building relationships with brands, and managing pickups and drop-offs.

Q: Walk me through a typical shoot or styling day — what’s the energy like from start to finish?

A: A typical shoot day includes picking up clothes, organizing the set, capturing behind-the-scenes moments, and doing drop-offs. The energy depends on the workload and the people involved — but we usually have music playing.

Q: Is there a look you styled that you’ll never forget? Tell me why it stuck.

A: Yes — a look I assisted with for Valiant at Wireless 2024.
See it here.

Q: Who would be your dream client or collaboration — someone you’d drop everything to work with?

A: Gunna. Sergio Giavanni Kitchens. Mr. Gunna himself.

Q: Outside of styling, what’s something that brings you peace or joy?

A: Football, nau. Be for real.

Q: What’s a small detail about you that most people don’t know but should?

A: People think I only listen to Travis Scott or 21 Savage because my style is grunge, but I actually love Tay Iwar.

Q: What’s next for you — any projects, shifts, or dreams you’re chasing right now?

A: I’m currently building my online presence but follow me to see what I’m up to.

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