Fashion Consultant Q&A: Nifemi Ashani

How long have you been running Styled by Nif?

Styled by Nif initially started off as a fashion blog in 2017. I would just style myself, and my brother was my photographer. Then I would style my friends, and because I understood them so much — I would style them in a way that they looked like their higher self, or it spoke to who they wanted to be. From then on, I started positioning myself to volunteer at fashion shows in Calgary. In university I was somebody who loved taking action, so I would also host events and workshops.

Our mission now is to challenge the status quo by transforming visionary concepts into tangible outcomes. We are guided by this unwavering belief in the profound influence of creativity, and our core is to foster collaborative partnerships that elevate emerging and established creatives, while also promoting social change. Our vision is to push boundaries, explore uncharted territories, and redefine fashion’s role within culture.

Do you have any favourite fashion trends, or certain clothing items, that you really enjoy?

When a brand or designer works with us, it’s usually their vision that we work with. But if you’re wanting to talk about my personal style, I love Scandinavian looks. I’m obsessed with Copenhagen Fashion Week, so I get a lot of my style inspirations from there. But even though I work in the fashion industry, I’ve stopped shopping for clothing in recent years and I’m really focused on building my capsule wardrobe pieces. If I really need to buy something, one of my favorite local places to go to is Dots. They carry some of the best European …  label names, which is rare. They bring in a lot of European designer pieces to their store. If I want something of really good quality, but at a more affordable price, I usually go to Dots.

When thinking about your personal style, are there any fashion items or trends that you aren’t a fan of?

I’m not really a fan of styles that expose the body too much, even if I look at other stylists’ work or fashion designers. For me, I really love quality work and quality craftsmanship. That when you see it on the body, or when it’s layered on the body, it understands the shape of a person’s body, whether male or female. I’m a fan of the original Y2K, but I’m not a fan of the Gen Z takes on it. I do love the original Y2K looks though, and I feel like Y2K looks can be styled in so many ways.