In the spotlight today: New York-based Club member Tonna Obaze knows that fashion is intention—and that the smallest of details tell the most extensive of stories. Let’s find out more…
Full name/pronouns: Tonna Obaze (she/her)
Location: New York City
Vogue Club member since: 2024
Instagram handle: @t.obaze
My signature look: Fashion is about intention: The small details that tell a story before you ever say a word. I believe everyone should have a signature that is quintessentially them—something that speaks before you do, and lingers long after. For me, it’s my dimples and my pearls. One I was born with, the other I chose.
Now, even when I’m in full incognito mode walking around the city (hat low, sunglasses on), my friends can still spot me from a mile away.
I often hear: “You’re not fooling anyone — the dimples and pearls are a dead giveaway!”
My favorite designers: I love to wear Thebe Magugu, Wales Bonner, Hanifa, DVF, and Fuzzi—but when it comes to designers that utterly inspire me with their collections, it’s Daniel Roseberry at Schiaparelli, JW Anderson (for both his namesake brand and his work with Loewe), Olivier Rousteing at Balmain, and Giorgio Armani. And then there’s Dior—from Christian Dior to Yves and from Galliano to Kim Jones (particularly his collaborations, like the recent ski collection with Lewis Hamilton). Staying true to both the aura of the house and your aura as a designer is not easy. I’m fascinated by the creative directors who create with conviction, but still invite their collaborators and muses into the process. Ultimately, I love designers who treat fashion as a living, breathing dialogue between heritage, culture, and identity.
On my fashion wish list: Anything from John Galliano’s time at Dior—always, forever, all of it: The saddle bags, the structured jackets, the otherworldly gowns—Galliano’s Dior wasn’t just fashion; it was theater, art, and storytelling intertwined. To own a piece of that era is to own a moment in history.
A fun fact about me: Growing up as a dual citizen of Nigeria and America, I learned early on that while talent is widespread, opportunity is not. My mission has always been to use my skills to help others discover their purpose and pursue their potential—living life with a “we” vs. “I” mentality. Now I get to channel that energy into my work every day as the founder of a boutique consulting agency. At the core of my work is storytelling, and fashion is one of storytelling’s purest forms—an unspoken language that communicates power, identity, and culture.
Want to be the star of a future Member Spotlight? Check out our submissions page!
