Jewellery Obsessions Ep 1: Commanding respect with my jewellery

Hi guys! Welcome to the debut of Jewellery Obsessions! I’m thrilled to put the spotlight on jewellery through conversations with fashion lovers! Each episode explores the personal stories and connections fashion lovers have with their jewellery. 

For this exciting first episode, I have the wonderful Oluwaseeto joining me! 

Let’s get into the conversation!

 

• I find the name “@whatrafikiwore” intriguing. Is there a story behind this name? Does it have to do with the Lion King movie or is there some deep relationship with jewellery?

Oluwaseeto: Hmm.. Lion King. There’s no interesting story behind it. It was my Twitter profile name. It was literally what came to mind when I was trying to open my Instagram account. That’s it, honestly.

 

• How did you first discover your love for jewellery, and when?

Oluwaseeto: Honestly, for the longest time I hated jewellery, I didn’t usually wear it because I was always losing my earrings. My mom bought me gold jewellery because my skin reacts to anything that is not high-quality. So I got into boarding school and kept losing the gold ones, and my mom just stopped buying and I had to stop wearing them. 

During resumption season, we decided to travel by road instead of flying. We stopped at Lokoja, and I spotted a woman selling costume jewellery. I saw a pair of pink earrings with tassels, so when you moved, they would make some sound. And I was like, Oh, my God, this is so cool! I got my mom to buy it for me and I wore it every single time! That was the first time that I stumbled upon really interesting jewellery, and I realised that I didn’t hate it, it was just the fact that I did not enjoy my options.

I completed university and started working, and I discovered Nigerian brands. I found Shop Raenna, the first Nigerian jewellery brand I ever bought from. My friends noticed that I shared their stuff on my stories a lot, so they got me a gift card from them for my birthday. I bought two rings. Then I kept buying! That was literally how it started. 

Accessibility is one of the biggest things that made me start buying jewellery. The fact that I could get pieces I liked and wouldn’t break the bank was a win.

Secondly, I have a small stature, and there’s a way that Nigerians tend to address people based on appearance. I don’t know if you’ve noticed that.

Latifah: Yes, I’m small too, lol

Oluwaseeto: I just realized that if I dressed well and wore heavy gold earrings or rings, I easily command respect. So on days when I wore heavy accessories and a policeman stopped me while driving then goes, ‘How’s the family?’

Latifah: Lmaoo

Oluwaseeto: I’m like okay, win-win. At least the harassment is reduced, and I look nice. 

When I started finally loving jewellery, it became one of the ways that I would remember places I’ve been to. You know how people collect fridge magnets and all of that? 

Latifah: Yeahhh

Oluwaseeto: I buy jewellery from places that I have been to. I noticed that they are usually handmade, made from high-quality materials and they last. So I tend to be selfish with my jewellery, because it’s a very personal thing to me, and it feels like there’s a memory attached to every one of them. I can tell you what happened when I bought almost every piece I own.

Latifah: Wowww

Oluwaseeto: So that is my jewellery journey.

Latifah: Wow! That was a fascinating journey! 

From your mom buying jewellery for you to finding that colourful tassel earrings, it just started all the way there and you have never stopped since then. 

You were discovering jewellery brands, commanding respect with your jewellery, and picking up pieces when you travel. Your journey is exciting!

Likewise, when I’m watching a movie, and I see very nice jewellery, I quickly grab my phone and take a picture because once you miss it, you miss it, lol. For me, it serves as inspiration for my next creations.

Oluwaseeto: That’s so true. Because when I was in university, you know how we used to watch movies on our laptops? I had a folder of screenshots of styles and different things from the movies I watched that I wanted to recreate. That’s actually very true.

Latifah: Yeahhh

 

 

• Can you elaborate on your personal jewellery style and what inspires your choices?

Oluwaseeto: I don’t know… hmmm. I don’t think I’m minimalist, I think I’m just a person.

Latifah: haha haha

Oluwaseeto:I’m not one to take risks or make bold choices with fashion. At the same time, I’m also very big on ‘if you like it, you like it.’

If you like it, you like it

I don’t adhere to trends. For instance, when I was styling my friend for her wedding, she said, ‘Someone told me that this is not in vogue.’ I was like, ‘It’s your wedding… If you like it, you like it.’

Latifah: Exactly!

Oluwaseeto: I think I have my moments. If I’m feeling a type of way, I would just act on it and wear what I feel like wearing. Does that make sense?

Latifah: Yeah, that makes sense. That makes total sense. When it comes to clothes, I’m usually not particular about a specific colour. “Oh, I wear this colour, I don’t wear this colour.” Once I see it and I like it, I don’t care what colour it’s in, I’m just going to buy it. 

As for my jewellery style, I’m more on the minimalist side. I like simple pieces – I particularly love how good they look together when layered. I have a few chunky pieces, and it just depends on my mood. But most of the time my go-to is simple pieces.

 

 

• You often showcase bold pieces, what draws you to them and how do they make you feel when you wear them?

Oluwaseeto: It’s how unique they are. I guess just knowing that it would start a conversation if that makes any sense. I always like it when I wear something and I get an ‘Oh my God, where is this from? You have an eye for these pieces.’ I understand that it sounds a bit narcissistic, lol. 

Latifah: No, it’s not

Oluwaseeto: So that is what I look out for. Is it something that will draw attention? Secondly, because my style is very basic – I prioritise comfort, I rely a lot on accessories to elevate my outfit.

Latifah: Likewise, that’s what I do too 🙂

Oluwaseeto: If I’m wearing a tank and a regular skirt, I would amp up on the rings and necklaces and everything, because the outfit is basic and I need your eyes to go someplace else other than the fact that I’m wearing a basic tank and skirt. 

Latifah: That makes so much sense, honestly. If you think about it, that’s the point of accessories – to elevate what we wear. So whenever I’m dressed so simply, I’m less bothered because I know that by the time I accessorise, my entire look will transform. And that’s one thing I love about accessories.

 

 

• You’ve talked a bit about how your jewellery can serve as a conversation starter. Can you tell me about that one piece of jewellery that sparked an interesting conversation with someone?

Oluwaseeto: That’s a very nice question, to be honest.

My friend Senero Ibukun makes faith-based jewellery. One of them is a Heart and Cross Necklace. Whenever I wear them as a set together, it’s always a lovely experience. People are always like, ‘Oh my God, I really like them.’ It’s also an opportunity to express my faith because I’m a Christian. 

Also, when I wear my big rings, because they’re large compared to the rest of my hand, people ask, ‘Why is your ring this big!?’

Latifah: I had an experience recently. I attended a friend’s naming ceremony during Eid. I wore this rich auntie Abaya and a long necklace to go with it. One of her sisters saw it and just kept staring at it. She couldn’t stop herself from touching it and she said, “I really like your necklace, where did you get it?” I told her, I made it. And she was like, “wow.” Then she asked, “Your Abaya too is nice, did you make it as well?”

Oluwaseeto: Haha haha

Latifah: I told her I bought it nearby. Later on, when we were taking pictures with the baby, she kept staring at it and finally brought herself to touch it and then she went, “I want! How much?’” In my mind, I was like, Oh, interesting! This was the second encounter that I had since I moved here. 

The first was when I attended a tech event. That was the last place I imagined this to happen. I met someone else who is also a jewellery lover and it just got us talking. It was thrilling. It’s always lovely when people appreciate your jewellery and you two kick off things from there.

Oluwaseeto: Exactly

 

 

• Many of your posts showcase jewellery alongside stylish outfits. How do you use jewellery to complement or elevate your overall look?

Oluwaseeto: It depends on how I style my hair. For example, when my hair is packed in a bun, I like to wear studs. The activity I’m going to be doing also determines what I’m going to wear. Another consideration is my outfit. Is it an outfit that calls for something that drops? Or calls for hoops. Also, where I’m going. Is it somewhere that is conservative, or where I can express myself as much as possible? 

Another thing I consider is what exactly I want to achieve with the outfit. There’s a way that you would accessorise that would make an outfit look more formal or playful, that kind of thing. 

So it just depends on a bunch of things – how I feel, the accessories I’ll be wearing like my bag, shoes, and so on. So those are some of the things that I consider when I’m trying to pick my accessories.

Latifah: These are things I consider as well. And sometimes I simply break the rules. I’m like, okay, I know this is what I’m supposed to wear with this, but based on how I’m feeling right now, this is what I’m going to go for.

There are usually no rules anyway, but people tend to want to put rules in fashion. But it’s more about how you feel, who you are, and what your style is than any rule.

Oluwaseeto: Exactly

 

 

• You’ve featured several vintage and antique pieces. What is it about vintage jewellery that appeals to you?

Oluwaseeto: The biggest appeal for me is that they are handmade, so no two pieces are the same. Even if they look the same, the presence of gemstones in them and the fact that they are made by humans not machines presents a little bit of inconsistency in the designs. That’s the best appeal of those pieces.

Latifah: Oh, the fact that they don’t look perfect?

Oluwaseeto: Yes

 

 

• In your opinion, what makes a piece of jewellery truly special, beyond its monetary value?

Oluwaseeto: The biggest for me is the memories attached to it, like a family heirloom or something my parents got me. Even if it’s as cheap as N200, the fact that my parents bought it for me is the biggest attraction ever.

Latifah: As for me, it’s how it makes me feel and the meanings attached to it. I usually want to find meaning in the pieces I wear and in the ones that I make. When I wear them, I don’t just want them to feel like a piece of jewellery, I want them to contribute to what I’m wearing. 

 

 

• Do you have any dream jewellery pieces you’d love to add to your collection someday? 

Oluwaseeto: If we’re counting watches, I want a really, really nice one from Cartier – a Cartier tank. I want a nice luxury watch at some point in the future.

I want all those permanent bracelets and anklets too. 

Latifah: Oh, really!

Oluwaseeto: Yeah, I’m just curious.

I’d like to start buying gold sometime in the future… I guess something from Schiaparelli as well.

Latifah: Ah, yeah! I’m always stalking those guys! I love what they do. Beyond jewellery itself, I love how they infuse adornments into the clothes they make. Whenever I see their designs, I go, “Yes, you guys get it!”

Oluwaseeto: Exactly. So something from Schiaparelli would be on my list. I know that I want more dainty bracelets. Really, skinny ones. I don’t think it’s every time I want to wear a chunky one. There are a lot of brands that do cool things with jewellery, to be honest. But these are some of the ones that come to mind right now.

 

 

• What advice would you give to someone who wants to develop their unique jewellery style or wants to start exploring jewellery?

Oluwaseeto: Jewellery is a very personal thing and it’s nice to get inspired, but don’t use the inspiration as a direct guide because everything looks different for everyone.

Wear whatever makes you comfortable. If everyone says that you should wear gold and all these things, but you love wearing beads, just do you.  Also, people say you should have statement pieces and everyday pieces. But once again, it’s very personal. If you feel like every day deserves a statement piece, go for it. If you like it, I love it.

If you feel like every day deserves a statement piece, go for it.

Always buy extra earring backs. because now I have to switch my backs around and it’s so frustrating.

Learn to store your jewellery properly. Get a jewellery bowl for the pieces you wear every day and a jewellery box for general storage. 

Most of the jewellery we buy are hypoallergenic; they are not gold so try to take care of them. Don’t spray perfume on them and don’t shower with them. They would still work but putting them in water would shorten their lifecycle.

Fridge magnets are cool, but I think jewellery is another way to remember the places that you’ve been to.

Start with a mood board. It’d help you figure out what you’re buying and prevent you from spending money on things that you’re not supposed to or regret what you’ve bought after.

Latifah: Some very helpful and useful advice there! For anyone looking to develop their personal jewellery style, your advice is spot-on. Experiment, embrace what makes you feel confident, and don’t be afraid to break the rules! And that tip about extra earring backs is pure gold!

 

Latifah: Oluwaseeto, this has been an absolute delight! Your journey with jewellery is truly inspiring – from those childhood frustrations with lost earrings to discovering the power of self-expression through unique pieces.

Your insights on using jewellery to elevate outfits, spark conversations, and even command respect are incredibly valuable. I especially love your concept of jewellery as a way to collect memories from your travels.

Thank you so much for coming! I can’t wait to see what fabulous pieces you add to your collection next!

 

Guys, we’ve come to the end of episode 1.  A huge thank you to all of you for joining us on this debut episode. Mark your calendars, because next episode, we’ll be diving into the world of a fashion lover obsessed with bold accessories.

In the meantime, I’d love to hear from you! What part of Oluwaseeto’s journey inspired you? 

This is just the beginning! Stay tuned for more captivating stories and insights in the episodes to come.