In Uniform: A London Day With Danielle Jinadu
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Style
In Uniform: A London Day With Danielle Jinadu
December 13, 2022
We’re back with another installment of In Uniform—the series in which we dive into the wardrobe musings of the style-minded women we admire—and this time we’re tagging along for Danielle Jinadu’s well-dressed London day. From an effortless execution of elevated street style to her modern take on a timeless wardrobe, each look in her repertoire is one worth repeating—and she’s giving us a breakdown on exactly how she does it.

In Uniform: A London Day With Danielle Jinadu
Rip & Tan: How would you define your personal style? How has it evolved over time?
Danielle Jinadu: I would describe my personal style now as minimal and elegant but detail oriented. I wear a lot of classic silhouettes but I play heavily with textures: a gorgeous ribbed knit, mohair, leather—the list goes on. I dress quite monochromatically but find texture brings life to an outfit. I also rely heavily on accessories to make an otherwise seemingly plain outfit feel more elevated and stand out. I feel like accessories are where I truly show my personality. Whether that be through a pair of gorgeous shoes or my vast jewelry collection. My style has definitely evolved over time.
But I have always had a really strong fashion personality. I was telling my mum from as young as 10 what I wanted and did not want to wear. But in the last few years, I think I have become somewhat more feminine in how I dress, I used to wear even more black than I do now and a lot of baggier clothes. But in my mid-20s I think I have been enjoying more feminine silhouettes.
Rip & Tan: Do you have any personal style icons?
Danielle Jinadu: Firstly, it has to be my mum and my aunties. I come from a line of very creative women, my great-grandma was a seamstress. And I just remember growing up seeing really beautiful clothing all around me, whether that was through my Nigerian culture or in my mum’s sister’s walk-in wardrobe which was a mystical dreamland to me in my teens. My mum always had a beautiful eye for timeless pieces. Even now she has coats older than me, but they’re so well-kept and still stunning. She taught me that less is definitely more.
Rip & Tan: What are the essentials in your day-to-day uniform?
Danielle Jinadu: Knits are number one for me, and I assure you that is not just because I’m writing this for Jenni Kayne. Big coat, a pair of tailored trousers, and a stand-out shoe—a luxurious leather boot, a loafer, or a fashion girly trainer/sneaker. My day-to-day is composed of those four things religiously. I just don’t think you can go wrong with any of them. You will always look stylish and like you have made more effort than you have.
Rip & Tan: When it’s time to style a special occasion, what’s your typical approach?
Danielle Jinadu: I find one key item, the piece I want to style most, mainly a pair of shoes. As a self-diagnosed shoe addict, that’s probably the item I start with and then I just have fun with it and build from there. I play music and essentially play dress-up. I create mood boards on Instagram in my saved section and then try and recreate outfits in a way that feels like me, taking pictures of different options, and a few hours later, viola. We have a winner. That’s my formula.

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Rip & Tan: How has London influenced your wardrobe or the way you get dressed?
Danielle Jinadu: Logistically, I dress for the cold. I layer a lot! I have at least one jumper on the shoulders as a scarf and one on at all times around this time of year. But in a more fun and creative way, I think it dares me, particularly through the influence of certain parts of London, to lean into a more unique way of styling things. I think through layering you can create really beautiful shapes. You can pair those staple timeless pieces with new emerging designers, and that encourages me to be more authentic in who I am.
Rip & Tan: Location and seasons aside, what are 3 pieces you think every woman should have in her closet?
Danielle Jinadu: Cashmere sweater, knee-high leather boots, and a black and long tailored coat.
Rip & Tan: Whether it’s a piece of jewelry or a go-to pair of boots, do you have a most-loved accessory?
Danielle Jinadu: I genuinely love all accessories so much, so this is really hard to answer. Right now, my black knee-high boots are my go-to. I just want to wear them all day, every day. I feel so confident and empowered in them. It sounds dramatic but I really mean it. My whole demeanor changes when I wear them.
Rip & Tan: What does timeless style mean to you?
Danielle Jinadu: It’s style that can translate through numerous generations. It may have trendy elements, but it is those pieces of my mum that myself and my sisters talk about and adore. It’s composed of high-quality materials. It may cost a pretty penny, but when you consider its cost per wear and its longevity in your wardrobe, it is well worth it. You can create a new relevant outfit with those sorts of pieces every time.
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Photos by Danielle Jinadu