Author Yomi Adegoke: ‘I'm not a minimalist – especially on the red carpet'

Telegraph

12-03-2025

'I think clothes can tell you a lot about a person,' says Yomi Adegoke. 'They're so integral to who my characters are because they're so integral to who I am.' As for how exactly this multi-award-winning author and journalist makes use of sartorial self-expression? That depends on the day.
Like many freelance creatives, Adegoke, 33, often works from home – in Thornton Heath, south London, a stone's throw from her childhood home. But her workwear wardrobe reinterprets the old advice that dressing up can aid productivity; instead of stiff office attire, she favours luxurious pyjamas. Elegantly cut pieces from Olivia von Halle, Stripe & Stare, Sleeper and The White Company have seen her through the writing of Slay in Your Lane, a guide to life for young black British women (co-authored with her best friend Elizabeth Uviebinené), and her debut novel, The List. 'I get away with the pyjamas because to the untrained eye, it looks like I'm wearing normal clothes,' she says, praising the rise in elevated sleepwear as daywear.
A refreshing disregard for restrictive fashion rules is something of a theme for Adegoke. Growing up with what she calls a 'top-heavy' frame, she sometimes found it difficult to shop for pieces that suited her, or avoided things the industry decreed weren't 'meant for her'. That's a thing of the past, she says, thanks to designers such as Olivia Ozi-Oiza Chance, Edeline Lee and Sinéad O'Dwyer, who cut for a broader spectrum of shapes and sizes. 'The pieces aren't made with a particular body type in mind, they're made with making women look good in mind,' she says. 'That's allowed a level of experimentation that historically wasn't there.'
It's to these new-gen brands, as well as more familiar names such as Roksanda and Erdem, that Adegoke turns for black-tie dressing. When she's not exhibiting her penchant for haute pyjamas, she's a regular on the red carpet, choosing captivating, covetable dresses for book launches, industry parties and awards ceremonies including the Baftas. She knows the power of bold colours, and isn't afraid of overdressing. 'I'm certainly not a minimalist, especially for red carpet stuff,' she says. 'I always err on the side of wanting to dress up more. They're not everyday occasions so I like to really pull out the stops.'
She credits this flair for joy-sparking glamour to her late grandmother. 'She was just really, really chic and maximalist with her fashion,' says Adegoke. 'Her clothing was so dramatic and so expressive. For her funeral we had four outfit changes – that's just her to a tee.' Another sartorial tribute was drawn from a Nigerian tradition called aso-ebi, a dress code that sees guests cut different styles of clothing from the same fabric. 'My nana's favourite colour was gold so we had 700 or so people dressed in the same yellow fabric in different cuts,' she explains.
Back in London, Adegoke maintains an interest in tailoring, personalising pieces she's found online at Net-a-Porter and Mytheresa at nearby alteration spot Top Stitch. 'I don't think I've shopped in person in years,' she says, adding that she scours sites such as Vestiaire Collective, Vinted and eBay for second-hand designer gems. Currently in her basket? A Fendi Multipocket Baguette, which has reportedly been there for at least a year. 'I'm trying to legitimise it as a purchase,' she says. 'My bag collection is extensive – almost embarrassingly large.'
But the focus remains on quality, and she's developed a habit of buying herself investment bags to mark career successes such as book publications and television deals (the rights for The List have been snapped up).
Given that she's now working on her second novel, that Baguette can't be far off.
Five personal style rules
1. Break the rules
'I love to clash. I enjoy doing things you're not supposed to do, like putting silver and gold jewellery together.'
2. Don't underestimate accessories
'Accessories often matter more to me than the actual clothes I'm wearing. You could wear rags but have a great bag and shoes to do up the outfit.'
3. Mark achievements with investment pieces
'The pieces I've bought myself to celebrate successes mean a lot to me.'
4. Embrace 'ugly' shoes
'Since lockdown I have a real thing for comfortable shoes. I love my Crocs and have even worn them to more formal events, dressing them up with a nice bag.'
5. Wear what you want
'As I've got older, I've stopped caring about what you're 'meant to' wear to suit certain shapes. I'm grateful that things are more diverse in terms of thinking now.'