Meet the Stylist: Davina

Take a walk with Davina Efetie, a stylist at Tibi's New York Flagship.

We often receive questions about our stylists—where are they from? How do we find them? Or rather, how do they find us? The beautiful thing about being a mindset brand rather than just another clothing brand is that these connections happen organically. Each of our stylists is a Creative Pragmatist at heart and, in turn, an extension of our brand’s ethos. They are curious individuals with diverse points of view—demonstrated on their individually branded Instagram accounts where they connect with clients on a personal level. If you’ve interacted with our stylists yourself— in-store, over Instagram DMs, or at a styling event overseas — you’ll know that it feels like chatting with an old friend, who just happens to be an expert at funneling their expertise through a CP lens. What you may not know, however, is how their points of view came to be. So, we’re inviting you to take a walk with our stylists and get to know them a bit better.

SMILOVIC: First of all, how long have you been in New York?

EFETIE: I've been here since June of 2023, previously I was in Richmond, Virginia at VCU. That's where I went to school. I came here from Nigeria in 2018 where there is a very class-based education program, so I actually finished high school at 16. I had to take a gap year because no one is coming to college at 16 years old, and during that time I worked for my dad's hospital back home, just doing all I could, and then I left for school almost two years in. Last year I was on the Upper East Side, but I'm in Jersey City now.

SMILOVIC: If you're going out to eat, where you like to go and what do you like to do?

EFETIE: Well, I miss home so much. I haven't been home since four years. So, I love going to Nigerian restaurants, and finding them out here, but they aren’t the best.

SMILOVIC: What kind of music are you listening to?

EFETIE: Afrobeats for sure. there's WizKid, Davido, Burna Boy. It definitely puts me in a great mood and is something that inspires me. Home is full of vibrant colors, rich textures, patterns, prints, and even in the music videos you can see the cultural influence on fashion. Afrobeats all day, every day.

SMILOVIC: Do you like to read?

EFETIE: I’m trying to read more. I'm actually reading a book that funny enough, one of our clients, Linda, recommended. I had written an article about something back home, and she told me to check out a new book called Dream Count by Chimamanda Adichie? And I was like, wow, I grew up reading her every day in school, it’s a big part of our literature and studies. And she was like, she just bought a new book. So, that's what I'm reading right now.

SMILOVIC: Was Tibi your first job out of school?

EFETIE: It is. I actually applied, probably, three months before graduating and there wasn’t an open position. I went to London for about a month for a program and while there I got the call that there was an opening and that I could come in to interview with Elaine. And then that was it, my first big job out of college and I’m still here.

Why Tibi? Were there other brands that you reached out to?

I mean, I think it ties back to our initial chat about why I enjoy working with such an independent brand, and it’s because we are able to have our own independent solutions and minds. And one thing I fell in love with at Tibi is, obviously, the philosophy of Creative Pragmatism, maintaining your personal individuality and the emphasis we place on that. It’s something that really resonated with and known is important to me, because with the way I dress, that's how I express myself, and that's how I present myself to you, to my coworkers, to everyone. I'm not the most upfront or verbal person, like I will take my time before getting to know someone, but the way I dress up every day is a good icebreaker, you know, to present myself like I do and to have those independent thoughts. And the freedom to choose the way I present myself and being in a space of people who appreciate that is one thing I really enjoy. We all have different, you know, style theories, and all these theories are subjective, it’s not your regular retail space. Tibi has done a great job of carving out areas for us to grow and evolve in our careers, the upcoming stylist shows, for example. It just makes it a more curated and unique space to, again, express yourself to people and attract people who resonate with you.

So, I’m told your father has a hospital?

Yes, he is a doctor and he runs a hospital. Actually, he owns the hospital. He’s a businessman and a doctor.

It sounds like he is a very smart and successful person, has that been an inspiration in a lot of things you're doing?

I mean, given the fact that Nigeria is a third world country, and the economic status and state there isn't the best, seeing my dad, ever since I was young, own a hospital and a private clinic, seeing what it has grown into now and the clientele that he brings in, you know, the way he runs his business, it’s definitely an influence. My mom is an accountant as well, and she helps him run the business with his books, and just seeing what they've done together, how independent they are. It’s good when you have good people, just like how Amy talks about the importance of surrounding yourself with good people.

I think all our parents have certain dreams and aspirations for us as their kids, what were those for you? For your parents? What were their dreams for you, and where does that fall in line with what you are doing?

So, if you have African friends, you'll know Africans are very traditional in their thinking. And growing up, I always wanted to be in fashion, it was a given. I always had my sketchbook and thought I was going to be in the technical design part of fashion. When it came for to start applying to colleges, I already knew the schools I wanted to go to. But then my mom was like, What are you doing? … I'm going to study fashion … And she was like, No, you're not. And then my dad, too, said No, you're not. Your mom is an accountant, and I'm a doctor. Again, I don't think our parents, especially from my country, were given the space to dream, to be able to choose exactly what you wanted. Instead, they really had to just think about how to get into a space of financial stability for their children, and they have that same frame of mind for you, to have to do the same. You could be a lawyer. You could be a doctor. But no to fashion. So, I got upset. Can I do it on the side? And the said yes, for sure, you can do it on the side. But I just hated that, it is my passion, I didn't want it to be a side project. Ultimately I studied criminal justice, and they were happy with that, my dad would always crack jokes about his daughter becoming the next forensic detective for the FBI. And that was where I was going. That was where I was moving towards. But during COVID, you know, you had that space to really think and really see what you want from yourself. And I decided, No, I'm not going to do that. I did really well in school, and it's something I'm still passionate about, but I think given my age and the time to really hope and pray for what I want, I had to go in a different direction. So yeah, this is definitely not something they saw being viable at first, and I really had to prove to them that this is what I want to do, and now, seeing me work every day, how I dress up and what I’ve started, they are happy.

When someone walks into the Tibi store, what's the ideal situation for you as a stylist? I’d guess it to be open-mindedness, but when you look at someone new, and obviously everyone's different, what are some keys and clues that you hone in on that guide your approach to styling?

So I have a good array of people in my mind. They come in knowing that they enjoy contrast and they enjoy playing with ironies, juxtapositions, and from there, I'm able to be say, Okay, I can easily put you in a Calder sweatpant, for example, and I can put a belt on it because you're going to enjoy that. You walked in with a sweatpant and then you wore something funky, like an unexpected shoe, so I know the playfulness is there, and that if I'm able to maintain that, you're going to enjoy the exploration that we're going for. I just kind of look for the cues, what you’re already wearing, and try to ensure that you're comfortable, because I can always push my own ideas on a person, but it’s important we get to talk, and I get to learn what they do, what their life is like.

How important is what someone does versus what they love to do? I have started to reframe that question, when I meet someone new, instead of asking what do you do? I ask, What do you love to do? If you ask someone what they do, they might say, I work as a real estate agent at this firm, or I work as an analyst at this bank. If that's all the knowledge that you have about them, then it can shape your perspective, what you would expect them to want to wear, to do in their free time. But if you ask someone, what do you love to do? They might be an analyst, but the way that they frame their work may shift to, I love to work with numbers, and I love to analyze how, if we make this shift in this business, the numbers will change in this way. You receive a much more in-depth perspective and view into their personality. Originally you may have thought, this is a buttoned-up person that really needs narrow, tight, and tailored items. But now, seeing that they love to play with numbers and seeing that they love to test their boundaries, you may now understand that their style could be a little different.

I mean, that so much makes sense, and it ties back to the first question about Tibi being an independent brand, and explains why that ties in. I have other friends who work in retail at other businesses, and, you know, they come into work wearing with their suits, all black, and that doesn't really give them the space to really express who they are. Every day, people see me and they're like, where are you going? I'm like, I'm going to work, you know, I'm not going to like, an event, or I'm not going to a dinner and a date.

That’s so interesting. I recognized that when you walk into any luxury store and there's a uniform, but I never gave it much thought, which is probably precisely the problem.

Totally, and so, like you said, it's not what they love to look like in the day, but it's what they have to look like. For a banker who doesn't love to wear button ups every day, or doesn't love to wear a blazer, we can meet in the middle and ask, How can we alter that? How can we make that fun? How can we find other silhouettes that are alterable, modifiable, that can make you feel like yourself, but still, you know, have that balance with being a banker by day and then having fun at night. So, yeah, that's another thing about working in an independent realm, it actually allow us to come as we are and want to be. I’m living as I am. If I have dinner plans after work, I know I won’t have to rush home and change. But I like the way you raise that question, because I'm going to start doing that, what do you love to do? And then we can meet in the middle and find that balance, right? Because that's also smart shopping and smart investing with your clothes, rather than having to buy clothes separately for going out and for going to work.

What are the without fails for you that allow you to work in the charms from the various phases of your life, that you can style with, representative of a previous version of you mixed in with where you stand today?

I think the number one thing for me would be the Liam Blazer because it has so many different technical facets to it. Maybe there’s a side button I can use, for example, and wear a couple ties, some heels, wear that to work, and then also go out to dinner later at night. The second would be the Winslow Sweatpant. I love them because I'm very sporty, and when I tap into that, that's another way for me to enjoy playing with the silhouette and proportion. The Sid Jean is my favorite denim pant. I always recommend that to people who come into the store if they’re looking for a good jean, and especially if you're someone who enjoys something voluminous. They allow me to lean into the volume I enjoy, and can be dressed up, dressed down, very easily with the Gabe shirt. I have learned since working here, there are also so many ways to turn the Gabe shirt into a completely different piece. During the summer, I might wear it as a bandeau, I can also cinch the sleeves in the back with a scrunchy and then turn it into a whole new top.

And are there any have to haves, or any statement pieces you like to work in? Those pieces that allow you to wear that you love, maybe they bring back memories, or you've just had them forever.

I guess that is a very interesting question, because honestly, me two years ago, or me even 10 years ago, I don't recognize that person. And I say this because, for example, what I wore last summer, I'm not wearing it this summer. All my life I was in a uniform, and I went to a private boarding school back home, which called for even more of a uniform, so there wasn't really anything back home that I could really channel as a personal style because I was just in the same outfit all the time. The only thing I would say that is kind of reminiscent of back home is this, it’s an Aso Oke. It’s basically my DNA, part of my culture back home. Think of events, weddings, birthdays. It's part of our tribe, and so I just kind of find ways to incorporate it into my outfits. So I would say that is one piece that has stuck with me from birth until now. But anything else? No, I don't, I don't claim that person, hahaha.

You can visit @davina.tibi on instagram or at the Tibi Flagship, 120 Wooster St. Soho, NYC.