Music connects you to the world in more ways than one — and fashion is one of its most stylish intersections. We asked a few remarkable women how music inspires their powerful fashion choices.
My love for music began as a child, sitting in the backseat of my dad’s red Mercedes-Benz as we drove to visit my grandparents in Ijebu, Ogun State. The soundtrack was almost always Ebenezer Obey. I’d stick my head slightly out of the window to feel the breeze while my mum called out, “Wumi, keep your head inside!” What I remember most wasn’t just the songs, but the way my parents would sing along — nostalgic, animated, completely immersed. Through their joy, I got my first lesson in music’s power to evoke memories and shape moods.
As I got older and started to explore fashion, music videos became my style compass. I’d watch the video vixens and link their outfits to the lyrics: if it was a love song, then surely that dress was what I needed to attract my serenade (yes, I took it that seriously). The fashion of the ’90s shaped my early personal style: think crop tops, baggy jeans, and silk scarves. And my obsession with mini skirts? That’s all thanks to Destiny’s Child. They served looks, and I took notes.
Now, as a fashion editor and content creator, I can’t overlook the intersection of music and fashion. Music is my secret styling weapon. I play my playlist loud when picking out outfits or creating content, letting them guide my choices. Some days it’s Afrobeats, other days it’s R&B, but it always sparks creativity. Music gives me the freedom to mix and match pieces, moods and moments; it’s the heartbeat behind my personal style.
To celebrate World Music Day, I spoke to a few remarkable women across different careers about how they express themselves and how their personal style finds rhythm in the songs they love.
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Amaka Amaku, Travel & Lifestyle Creator
For Amaka, fashion isn’t just fabric, it’s music in motion “Honestly? My style is a whole playlist,” she says. Her wardrobe plays like a fusion of Afrobeats, neo-soul, and old-school R&B, with every outfit inspired by mood, melody, and memory. “There’s a lot of Afrobeats in there, especially the soft, soulful kind. Artists like Tems and Asa really influence how I put looks together.” That influence is evident in her love for fluid fabrics, bold colours, and silhouettes that flow as effortlessly as the songs in her rotation. “I dress like a breeze, soft but striking, playful yet intentional,” she adds.
Amaka also draws style inspiration from the rich, emotional layers of Jhené Aiko, Sade, and early Beyoncé. “Their music takes me back to a time when everything was slower, more intentional, more expressive,” she says. That vibe echoes through her fashion choices, from earthy tones to statement jewellery, each outfit a visual reflection of her inner rhythm. “I want my looks to tell stories, even without speaking.”
When it’s time to bring the heat, there’s only one name: Rihanna. “Her music makes me feel like the hottest being to ever walk the earth,” she says with a grin. “That’s when you’ll catch me in sharp tailoring, bold lips, high heels or boots, and confidence you can’t ignore.”
Music doesn’t just inspire Amaka’s personal style, it drives it. “I dress for how I feel or how I want to feel, and most times, whatever’s playing curates that feeling in my ears that morning.” With Amaka’s style, every look has its own soundtrack.
Yemisi Fancy, Artist
Growing up, Yemisi was surrounded by a medley of sounds: R&B, Apala, Makossa, Fuji, and Pop, all playing their part in shaping her musical taste. “I fell in love with sound,” she says, recalling those early years. But it wasn’t just the rhythm that struck a chord; it was the richness of the melodies. “African music holds some of the richest melodies I’ve ever heard. Sounds that felt deeply rooted, sounds that felt like home.”
Now, as a professional in the music business, her personal style reflects that same depth and rhythm. It’s an evolving fusion of house music’s cool energy, Fuji’s bold beats, R&B’s smooth emotion, and pop’s vibrant colour. “Music shouldn’t be boxed,” Yemisi says, “and it definitely shouldn’t box you in.”
On days when she wants to feel unstoppable, she turns to power anthems. Songs like “Unstoppable” by Sia and “Alien Superstar” by Beyoncé shape her fashion choices and elevate her presence. In those moments, her personal style mirrors her mindset: confident, limitless, and loud in all the right ways.
Wuraola Abulatan, Marketing Manager
Personal style starts with a soundtrack of self-love and freedom for Wuraola. “The songs that inspire my personal style are songs about freedom, being true to oneself, loving oneself and being authentic,” she says. These aren’t just mood-setters, they’re mood-shifters. From soulful ballads to high-energy anthems, the genres may differ, but the message remains the same: be yourself, boldly.
When she wants to feel unstoppable, two artists dominate her playlist: Megan Thee Stallion and BTS. “Megan is my queen,” she says proudly. “I’m a hot girl through and through.” Her love for BTS also runs deep. As a proud member of the ARMY, their music offers her both joy and fuel. “When I have things to do and want to feel motivated, I listen to them. Which is almost all the time because adulthood is about doing!”
Music doesn’t just influence what Wuraola wears; it amplifies who she is. Confidence and a generous dose of fun infuse her wardrobe choices, proving that personal style can be as dynamic as the playlists that power it.
Cassandra Collins-Otitoju, Content creator, Marketing Manager, Fashion Entrepreneur
Music and personal style are mirrors of Cassandra’s identity; multi-layered, expressive, and never confined to just one lane. “A mix of all the music I like inspires my personal style,” she says. “I’m very multi-faceted, and so is my music taste.” That versatility shows up in both her playlists and her wardrobe. One day it’s Afrobeats and ripped jeans, the next it’s R&B and luxe tailoring. “I’m not stuck on one genre; I listen to whatever I think is great,” she adds, listing pop, R&B, Afrobeats, and rap as the foundation of her sartorial soundtrack.
When the goal is to get dressed and feel unstoppable, Cassandra has two icons on speed dial. “It’s a cross between Beyoncé and Rihanna,” she says. “I know most people don’t like to have them both in the same conversation, but if you’re a real music lover, you’d understand why they’re both important. They bring out different kinds of power in you.”
Whether it’s the polished fierceness of Beyoncé or Rihanna’s fearless edge, her style shifts depending on the day’s mood. “Depending on how I wake up, it’s either of them,” she says. And no matter who’s playing, one thing is certain: Cassandra will be stepping out with intention and style.
Tobi Afolabi, Content Editor, Marie Claire Nigeria
Music is more than a mood booster for Tobi; it’s a muse for personal expression. “Afrobeats, lo-fi music, and R&B, especially from Black women, play a big role in shaping my style,” she says. Tobi approaches fashion with intention and ease. “I’m a huge fan of comfort,” she adds. “I don’t believe in giving that up just for the sake of style.”
Her fabric choices reflect this fashion philosophy. “I gravitate toward breathable materials like cotton and linen,” she notes. Think easy silhouettes, layered textures, vibrant colours and high-impact handcrafted pieces by homegrown African brands that reflect the rich glamour of Afrobeats.
When it’s time to turn things up, a few key artists help set the tone. “Amaarae, Beyoncé, and Tems make me feel like dressing powerfully,” she says. With their fearless presence and genre-blurring sounds, they fuel her desire to show up boldly, with both softness and strength.
Amanda Dara, Beauty Entrepreneur and Media Host
Amanda’s personal style is deeply shaped by music, particularly sounds that stir the soul and get the body moving. For her, it’s all about rhythm and flow. “I’m inspired by music that has both rhythm and soul, the kind that enters a room before you do,” she says. Amapiano, with its hypnotic beats and layered percussion, mirrors the essence of her wardrobe: fluid, deliberate, and never boring. “Its layers and percussion often feel like the textures in my outfits; clean, intentional, but never boring.”
For dressing powerfully, Amanda has a go-to anthem. “Davido’s ‘FeeL’ does something to me,” she says. “It makes me want to dress like I’m stepping into a spotlight, even if it’s just brunch with friends.” That means sharply tailored blazers, attention-commanding heels, and a signature scent that leaves a trail.
She also credits Amapiano favourites like Mnike for pushing her to embrace playful fashion; flowing silhouettes, bold earrings, and pieces that sway as she moves. “When the music is bold, I become bolder,” she adds. “Style, for me, is an extension of rhythm, and the right sound makes me wear my confidence louder.”
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Chioma Mmeje, Social Media & Community Manager
For Chioma, music is an emotional anchor. Romantic music inspires her personal style the most, but not just any kind. “It’s the kind of romance where love doesn’t come at the expense of self,” she explains. One of her favourites is Tyla’s latest album, “Tyla”, which often plays as she’s getting ready. “It’s about love that prioritises the self. Love that says, ‘I care for you, but not to my detriment.’ That kind of message gives me liberty, the kind that allows me to show up exactly as I am and still feel worthy of love.”
This sense of freedom reflects directly in her fashion choices. “It reminds me that I can dress how I feel, and still be deserving. That is romance to me, being seen and loved in all your forms.”
When it comes to dressing powerfully, one artist always comes to mind: Jess Glynne. “Her song ‘Thursday’ is so powerful. There’s a line that says she just wants to show up as she is. That song always hits me,” Chioma says. “On days when I feel like maybe makeup would ‘complete’ my look, it reminds me I’m already a 10. With or without it.”
Music like this reminds Chioma that true power comes from authenticity, and sometimes, that’s the boldest style choice of all.
Cynthia Vandi, Business Development Manager
Fashion and music have always gone hand in hand for Cynthia. “There are two genres that really inspire my personal style,” she says. “One of them is rock.” As a teenager, classic shows shaped her love for the genre like “One Tree Hill” and the dreamy, emotional soundtracks that accompanied them. “Those slow rock songs tied everything together; the butterflies, tension and the moment. That’s how I fell in love with it.”
Diving into the genre, she discovered artists like Avril Lavigne, Coldplay, and Green Day. That period sparked a personal awakening, one that still reflects in her style today. “When I walk out in black eyeliner or electric purple lipstick, I’m channelling the edgy teenager I used to be. I want to look untouchable. Rock made me feel that way; it still does.”
The second inspirational genre is Afrobeats, especially the Alte subculture. “There’s something about the evolution of Afrobeats that encourages full expression of your inner weirdness with confidence.” Whether it’s sweatpants, baggy jeans, or a vintage shirt, her fashion reflects a deep connection to sound. “Even if my style seems strange to others, Afrobeats makes me feel seen, like I belong to a WhatsApp group of kindred spirits.”
When asked which artist makes her feel most powerful in her style, she doesn’t hesitate. “Beyoncé. Who else?” she laughs. “She literally told us who runs the world!” For Cynthia, getting ready while listening to a Beyoncé playlist is a transformative ritual. “Have you ever done your makeup, hair, and outfit listening to Beyoncé? By the time you’re done, you’re floating out of your apartment! You feel like there’s nothing in the world you can’t conquer.” Her presence, her command, her courage, they all transfer, note by note, to the woman listening and dressing in her mirror. “She makes me bold. Like, what’s my excuse?”
Power dressing starts with music
Whether it’s the smooth soul of Asa, the fierce heat of Megan Thee Stallion, or the brilliance of Amapiano, music doesn’t just soundtrack our lives, it styles them too. Across every answer, one name echoed like a chorus line: Beyoncé. The ultimate muse for power dressing, confidence, and owning the room. Queen Bey’s influence is undeniable because who doesn’t feel unstoppable with “Who run the world?” playing in the background?
As we celebrate World Music Day, we’ve also curated a power dressing playlist inspired by the incredible women featured in this story. Consider it your new fashion anthem; just press play and let the music do the styling!
