Key Insights

• Collaboration Announcement: Abisola Omele’s partnership with Universal Standard marks a significant step in plus size fashion.
• Fashion Approach: Abisola emphasizes the importance of inclusivity and personal style in her designs.
• Technical Involvement: The collaboration focuses on both aesthetics and technical details for better fit and comfort.
• Wardrobe Essentials: The collection features versatile pieces that can easily integrate into everyday wardrobes.

While I was decompressing from New York Fashion Week, I fell back into one of my favorite pastimes: doomscrolling on Threads. Then I saw a post that made me stop mid-scroll. A collaboration specifically US x Abisola. Abisola Omele, the British-Nigerian plus size content creator, fashion writer and influencer, was announcing her latest project: a collaboration with Universal Standard.

Why Abisola Caught My Attention

At TCF, I pay attention when a plus size woman gets invited into the room to help shape fashion, not simply wear it. I want to know what’s actually being made, who gets to wear it and whether the clothes give us something we genuinely want in our closets.

That’s the lens I bring to plus size fashion. After years of watching how brands talk about inclusion versus what they actually put on the rack, I’ve become much more interested in the details… the sizing, the construction, the styling and whether a collection feels like fashion or simply another attempt to check a box.

So, when Abisola Omele teamed up with Universal Standard, I was paying attention. I had just come off New York Fashion Week and was decompressing with some Threads scrolling when her announcement landed in my feed. Naturally, I had to see what she was up to.

Who is Abisola?

If you’ve never come across Abisola before, allow me the pleasure of introducing you. She carries herself with a certain je ne sais quoi that feels inherently luxurious.

There’s something about the way she approaches fashion that makes even the simplest look feel considered. She has an eye for those pieces that make you pause and think, “Oh, she looks good,” without making it feel like she tried too hard.

And now, she’s bringing that sensibility to Universal Standard.

What makes this collaboration particularly interesting is that Abisola is not approaching it as someone who simply wanted to put her name on a collection. She came to the table with a very specific idea of what she wanted to wear, including a Pinterest board full of the things she had been saving for years.

“For me, as someone who really loves fashion, I actually have a Pinterest board full of styles that have just never been able to be made in my style and my size even,” Abisola says in Universal Standard’s behind-the-scenes reel about the collection.

That Pinterest board became part mood board, part wish list and, apparently, part evidence of just how much fashion she had been mentally collecting.

“I say little, it was pretty big,” she jokes.

Of course it was.

When she started working on the collection, Abisola went back to that very board and asked herself a simple question: “What do I really want right now?”

The answer included a structured suit and “something that had really strong and cool buttons on it.” Those details may sound small, but they tell you quite a bit about how she approaches fashion. She wasn’t starting from a generic idea of what a plus size collection should look like. She was thinking about the clothes she had actually been wanting to wear.

“The whole collection in general was just reflective of pieces that are in this little, like, folder of mine,” she says. “Again, just never really made in my size, which is unfortunate, but also a really fun opportunity to go through now and actually see pieces that I can bring to life and make it in accessible sizes.”

And that is where Abisola’s US x Abisola collaboration gets interesting.

She isn’t simply asking for more sizes. She is taking some of the things that have lived in the aspirational corners of her fashion brain and helping bring them into the physical world.

For a plus size woman who loves fashion, that difference matters.

What Abisola Omele Wanted From Universal Standard

Abisola has already been putting her money where her mouth is when it comes to making more room for plus size women in fashion. Her previous collaboration with British womenswear brand RIXO helped expand the brand’s sizing up to a UK 26 for the first time, making her no stranger to the work involved in getting brands to think differently about who gets access to their clothes.

That work extends beyond design collaborations, too. Abisola is a fashion writer and commentator whose work has appeared in publications including Harper’s Bazaar. She has used her editorial voice to talk about the fashion industry’s relationship with size, representation and women of color.

So, when it came time to decide what she wanted from her US x Abisola collaboration, the conversation wasn’t simply about having a recognizable name attached to the collection.

“I think for me, priorities are accessibility size-wise, technical, I guess, knowledge,” she explains. “To work with a brand that really could promise both things.”

Universal Standard’s ability to make every piece in sizes 00 to 40 was clearly part of the appeal.

“Double zero to 40. Incredible,” Abisola says. “All the pieces come in that because so often you’ll see a brand and they’ll do a collab or they’ll do something and I’ll be like, oh, you can only get some pieces in some sizes.”

Then comes the part I suspect a lot of plus size women will understand immediately.

“I hate that so much.”

Same.

There is something particularly frustrating about seeing an exciting collaboration announced, getting excited about a piece and then discovering that the item you actually want isn’t available in your size. It’s one thing to talk about inclusion. It’s another thing to make sure the entire collection is actually accessible to the women you’re claiming to include.

For Abisola, that was nonnegotiable.

“This, it’s like everything is in every size, which is honestly so fun to even say.”

This Collection Was About the Technical Details, Too

I also appreciate that Abisola talks about the technical side of the collaboration because that part of fashion doesn’t always make it into the conversation.

When we talk about size-inclusive fashion, the conversation can quickly become centered around the number on the size chart. But creating clothing for a wider range of bodies requires more than simply adding a few sizes to the production run.

Abisola was interested in understanding that process and being involved in it.

“When I obviously had the introductory meetings with the team, finding out the technical aspect and how involved I got to be with the learning as well, I was just like, yeah, this is going to work because we can really make it what I want it to be.”

That involvement changed the nature of the project for her.

“This isn’t just like a design collection. This was really like a technical collection as well.”

And I think that comes through when you look at the pieces.

The collection includes ranges in sizes 00 to 40, with prices ranging from $68 to $288. There are staples, tailoring, knitwear, skirts, dresses and outerwear, but there is also a sense that these clothes were designed with actual wardrobes in mind.

Abisola wanted the collection to be comfortable too.

“I wanted it to be comfortable. I wanted it to have those different elements that just add to making it easy to wear. And they were able to do that.”

That is something I noticed while looking through the collection. The clothes aren’t trying to make comfort and style mutually exclusive. Pieces such as ponte wrap pants blazers and skirts have structure you expect from tailored clothing while still offering stretch that makes them much easier to actually live in.

Because if I’m investing in a blazer or skirt I want it have staying power in my wardrobe.I don’t want buy something because looks good in campaign then discover six months later that I’ve worn exactly once.

Give me piece can work for office dinner Saturday afternoon without requiring entirely new wardrobe around it.

That is kind of fashion want more of.

Abisola’s Style Is Instinctive

There is another thing I found interesting about Abisola’s approach collection: she makes decisions based instinct.

“I think it’s same rule kind carry through life which just following my instinct,” she says.

Apparently instinct fast.

“I’m really good at making decisions very fast because base them on how feeling or how something makes me feel.If have think about too long don’t think there’s — already know answer basically.”

I actually love description personal style because there is something very honest about it.Sometimes piece simply hits.The color right.The shape right.The details right.You put on there no need conduct focus group your head.

Abisola says instinct isn’t limited fashion.She applies same approach interiors other decisions her life.“As soon as see piece know yes or no,” she explains.The decisions may happen quickly but says they still thought through.It simply instinctive way knowing works for her.

That perspective also helps explain why collection doesn’t feel overloaded unnecessary details.There are interesting shapes textures colors but pieces still feel wearable.

Which Piece from US x Abisola Collection Is Most Her?

This should have been easy question.

It wasn’t.

“The whole collection fills me,” Abisola says.“If someone was look at who really knew my style suede-like skirt we have just so me.”

Faux Suede Skirt via Universal Standard .com

She describes as “a very easy go-to piece” which makes sense when look at collection as wardrobe rather than collection individual fashion moments .

The suede-like skirt can become starting point for lot different outfits which probably why was piece Abisola ultimately chose as favorite.She admits there are other pieces loves including three-piece but skirt wins .

For styling collection points combination suede skirt one polos .

“That knit suede combination really really cool” she says .

She’s also drawn colors including blue chocolate suede pink .Those combinations make pieces easier introduce into wardrobe without requiring suddenly abandon everything already hanging your closet .

And then because apparently choosing favorites hard when you’ve helped create entire collection Abisola basically throws whole thing back table .

“I don’t know if what say everyone should go because think whole collection guys like seven pieces.Let’s just get whole thing you know .”

Honestly respect it .

Meanwhile I’m Over Here Planning Outfits

The Knit Sweater in Abisola Blue was one first pieces caught attention.That creamy light blue shade immediately reminded me soft polished color palette kept noticing while exploring Manhattan’s Upper East Side during NYFW .

And yes there is something about this collection gives me same quiet-luxury feeling was obsessed while was there .

Outerwear another category where Abisola gave us plenty play with.Blazers capes have way making outfit feel instantly more intentional these exactly kinds pieces let inner bougie wealthy woman screaming come out play have moment .

I’m not mad at her .

I can already see deep army-green wool-blend wraparound cape matching suede skirt crisp white button-up gold buttons pair black pointed boots .

The deep burgundy tweed point-A-line dress gives completely different direction.I’m thinking dinner martini meet-up friends kind outfit looks polished without feeling you’ve dressed formal event .

That is what keeps pulling me back this collection .

The clothes aren’t screaming attention.They’re giving enough work with .

h2class= ” wp – block – heading “>Plus Size Fashion Should Give Us Something Want

pclass= ” wp – block – paragraph “>What love about this collection lack statement pieces wild complicated designs.Don’t get wrong love fashion moment much next girl but there refreshing about collection filled pieces can actually see myself wearing over over again.

pclass= “ wp – block – paragraph ” >These feel like foundation capsule wardrobe kind clothes can live your closet keep finding their way into your outfits.And honestly if can open closet pull something from this collection when standing there thinking “I have nothing wear” then Universal Standard Abisola may just helped retire phrase little.

pclass= “ wp – block – paragraph ” >This is collection designed worn not tucked away waiting for “right” occasion.The basic T-shirt can go pair Universal Standard jeans weekend errands around town while deep burgundy tweed point-A-line dress can come out dinner.A structured blazer can make jeans feel more intentional cape suede skirt combination can turn simple button-up into full look.

pclass= “ wp – block – paragraph ” >There room fantasy here but there also room real life.

pclass= “ wp – block – paragraph ” >And maybe that’s what like most about US x Abisola collaboration.

h3class= “ wp – block – heading has-text-align-center ” >You can shop full collection at UniversalStandard.com

pclass= “ wp – block – paragraph ” >After spending week New York surrounded by fashion came home thinking about clothes actually want my closet.The pieces make getting dressed easier give options still make feel like put some thought into look.

pclass= “ wp – block – paragraph ” >Abisola had Pinterest board full clothes wanted but couldn’t find her size.Now some those ideas hanging rack available sizes 00 40.

pclass= “ wp – block – paragraph ” >That feels like more than collaboration.

pclass= “ wp – block – paragraph ” >It feels like woman finally getting shop from own Pinterest board.

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