YAURA Dresses: The Colorful Picks to Know

YAURA feels like a brand that wants getting dressed to count as part of the occasion, and I am entirely on board with that. Nigerian designer Oye Buraimo launched it in London in 2018 with a visual language of Lagos color and print meeting London's sharper cuts. She had already spent a long chapter in fashion as co-founder of Virgos Lounge, and I think that background shows.

The clothes are openly celebratory: bright pattern and polished shape, without every look having to be a floor-length gown. They are made for women who want to feel special at their biggest events. This edit pairs the occasion dresses with printed separates, so the colors get a life after one celebration. I went deeper on a related idea in h:ours Dresses: The Best Dresses to Know.

The dresses move between full-length drama and an after-dark mini. The Molade Dress in Hibiscus and Yaya Dress in Sunset Print bring the color forward, and I would let each print do the work and keep the shoes and bag quiet. The Ireti Dress is a different register, a metallic-blue mini with asymmetric layers and a little ruffle. The Zuwa Dress, Reni Dress and Ileri Dress add more evening options.

Picture her arriving at a birthday dinner in that glint of blue, with a pared-back sandal instead of another loud accessory. The Tiara Dress, Neye Dress, Keta Dress, Keta Petal Print Dress and Enitan Dress keep the same spirit going. My tip is to choose one focal point, print, shine or shape, and not stack all three.

This is where I see YAURA's colors become easier to rewear. The Faari Crop Top and Faari Skirt belong together, and the Faari Top and Faari Aquarelle Orange Skirt offer other ways into the same print family. I would compare their colors first, then add something plain, black or white, from home.

The Monife Top brings a separate floral note, and the Timoni Short is a warm-weather alternative to a flowing skirt. I like the Lagos-to-London mix most in separates: the print does the expressive work and the simple proportions keep the outfit grounded. Make one printed piece the anchor and keep everything else quiet, especially when the print already carries several colors.

Here are a few different proportions, and something to wear between the bigger occasions. Tomisin Dress and Olanna Dress add two new dress options, and Samara Dress and Solara Dress sit in the same category. The Callia Top comes in pink and mint, and the Callia Set turns the idea into a ready-made outfit. I would keep the Muse Tee in navy or orange for the casual part of the week, then use the Sasha Skirt when I want a separate that changes the feel of a simple top.

That mix is what makes these useful: I can build an outfit around one piece instead of treating each order as a complete look. My tip is to pick a bottom first, then decide whether the day calls for a dress, a tee and skirt, or one of the more polished tops. What I would skip is ordering all of it in one go. A smaller first order makes it easier to notice which shapes actually get worn.

I would come to YAURA when the invitation says dress up, and stay because the separates make the clothes feel like part of a real closet. Vivid prints and London-leaning silhouettes share the same rack, so there is room for a floor-length entrance, a metallic mini or just a bright crop and skirt. When I am deciding where to start, I would follow the print I am already drawn to and build the outfit around it. That keeps the exuberance intact without asking every part of the look to compete. Although I know which print I would pick.