Spring Fashion Tips from a Celebrity Stylist: Elevate Your Wardrobe in 2024

BY DANÉ PRINSLOO
Sep 11, 2024
5 min read

Photo: @Kendell Jenner

As the chill of winter fades and the flowers start to bloom, spring brings with it a fresh start—and that includes your wardrobe. Spring 2024 is shaping up to be a season of bold expression and creative fashion choices. To help you navigate and make the most of your wardrobe this spring, we’ve turned to a celebrity stylist Odirile "The Savage Stylist" who knows a thing or two about making a statement. Whether you're revamping your closet or looking to add a few new pieces, these tips from The Savage Stylist will have you stepping out in confidence all season long.

Meet The Expert

Odirile Tlhoaele, better known as The Savage Stylist, is a South African fashion designer and celebrity stylist. She has worked with huge stars like Akon, Amirror, Davido, Niniola, 2Baba, Busiswaah, Nomcebo Zikode, Makhadzi and many more. She specialises in street style design and customisation as well as celebrity and corporate styling. Odi has 4 years of experience in celebrity styling.

Odirile shared with us some insight into the fashion industry. We can see how cut-throat the industry can be on our screens, with movies like The Devil Wears Prada and shows like Ugly Betty displaying all of it. In Odi’s career, once she started knowing her worth and having difficult conversations, many of her clients left her. “People know your worth, they just hope you don’t”, she states. She then started attracting more clients who have the same vision as her and appreciated her creativity.

Odi’s Favourite Spring Trends for 2024:

Ruffle and flowery tulle
Mesh skin prints
Accessories on actual outfits
Crotchet two-piece sets
Wrap and cut-out designs

Now, Odirile wants to inspire other stylists to know their worth from the beginning, instead of struggling with doubts and temporary fulfilment. When she started knowing her worth, she could be unapologetically “savage”, which then became her brand. Odirile has some interesting trend predictions that you can note for your next outfit. She also believes in upcycling designs and making sustainable fashion decisions. Here are 7 Spring fashion tips from Odirile:

1. Show Some Skin - Tastefully

Spring is the season to embrace a bit of skin in a sophisticated way and Odirile advocates for showing some skin as a way to enhance your body shape. “Anyone can show skin, regardless of their size or shape; it’s just about finding the right areas to enhance your body shape,” she advises. Cutouts, off-the-shoulder tops, and tasteful slits are great ways to incorporate skin exposure while keeping it classy and Odirile loves them. “Know when to tone it down and when to go over the top,” she says. For instance, if you're showing more skin on top, balance it by keeping the bottom half more modest, and vice versa. If you have a curvy figure with a small waist, highlight your midsection with a cutout that allows you to show off some skin. Whatever you choose to wear, remember that confidence is your most flattering accessory. It will elevate your outfit and make you look even more amazing!

2. Accessorise wisely

Accessories can transform any outfit, and for spring 2024, they’re taking centre stage. Odi emphasises that "the right accessories go a long way" in elevating your spring wardrobe. She recommends several must-have accessories to make a statement this season: The collar and tie accessory, which can be paired with something sexy and cute like a flirty skirt or dress for a chic and sophisticated touch. Phone cord sandal heels are perfect for adding a street-style edge to your outfit, their unique design makes them stand out in casual ensembles. Think safety pins, chains, and embedded Jewellery which can be incorporated directly onto your clothing for a rebellious charm, whether on jackets, skirts, or casual tees. Finally, bold and dramatic jewellery is a must-have; choose statement pieces like oversized earrings or chunky necklaces to complement simple outfits or interesting cut-out designs, creating a striking visual impact and ensuring your look is memorable.

3. Corporate Meets Savage

Odirile’s approach to corporate styling combines classic elegance with a bold twist, ensuring that her clients always make a powerful statement. For Spring 2024, she emphasises keeping corporate looks classic but injecting a touch of "savage" flair with standout heels and accessories. Essential pieces for the season include versatile crochet two-piece sets, which can be dressed up or down for any occasion. Odi’s favourite trends for the season feature ruffle and flowery tulle, mesh skin prints, accessories integrated into clothing, crochet details, and wrap and cut-out designs. It’s all about blending business with a dash of edge—perfect for making a statement both in and out of the office. This trend allows for a seamless expression of both professionalism and personality, creating a look that’s polished yet powerful.

5. Embrace Romantic Colour Palettes

Ever since Valentino’s Autumn/Winter 2022 Fashion Show, pink has been everywhere! Then in 2023 the Barbie movie came out and pink was bigger than ever. But the fashion lovers want a change. Odi says she is “so over pink”, and we completely agree. She says that she would love to see more blues, oranges and nudes in Spring, yet still keeping it in the romantic colour palette. But, there’s good news for us, because baby blue, white, gold, purple and cherry red are going to be trending this Spring!

6. Mix High-end and Affordable Fashion

Of course we want to look chic this Spring, but wearing all designer outfits is just unrealistic for many of us. Instead, blending high-end designer pieces with affordable options can create a sophisticated and balanced style. Odirile suggests investing in statement items that elevate your look without breaking the bank. Designer tops with unique details, such as crystal embellishments, are worth the splurge and can be effortlessly paired with jeans or skirts for an instant upgrade. Custom-made shoes are another key investment— "they can turn any simple outfit into a savage look, because everyone will be looking at that shoe girl!”. Tulle skirts or dresses from a high-end designer can make any outfit stand out. They're perfect for adding a touch of drama and elegance to your spring wardrobe. By blending high-end pieces with affordable options, you can achieve a polished, balanced style while keeping your budget in check.

7. Invest in Sustainable Fashion

As sustainability continues to influence the fashion world, making eco-friendly choices is more important than ever. Investing in quality pieces that are timeless and made from sustainable materials is a smart move. Look for brands that prioritise ethical practices and offer versatile pieces you can wear season after season. Sustainable fashion not only benefits the planet but also allows you to build a wardrobe that stands the test of time. Sustainability in fashion is more important than ever with brands like Nike actively working toward a zero waste and no carbon footprint. Potential customers want to work with brands who do good.

In the styling world, it is important to choose items that are working towards a better future. The amazing thing with styling is that you can always rent clothes instead of wearing the outfit once and wasting the material. Oftentimes when styling high-profile clients and celebrities, they only wear the outfit for one specific occasion and then never touch it again. There are many brands who make renting wardrobes possible now. In designing you can keep your scraps and create a new silhouette from it, or recycle it.