'Love Island' Star Ovie Soko Is A True Fashion Icon And This Needs To Be Acknowledged

It takes a special kind of person to stay true to themselves once thrust into the public eye, but Love Island's Ovie Soko is doing just that - and not least through his wardrobe.

The 28-year-old basketball player has remained authentic throughout the series, whether that's calling his boys out on their behaviour towards women, making jokes only he understands (such as shouting "MESSAGE" every time someone gets a text), and swerving bad vibes.

But most of all, we love how Ovie has stayed true to his imitable fashion sense.

With the girls all sponsored by I Saw It Here First, and most of the boys looking like carbon copies of one another in their skinny jeans and white crew necks, it's refreshing to see someone sticking to their pre-villa aesthetics.

Ovie's fashion has caused a stir online, with fans of the show loving his exuberant style, particularly his penchant for loud Hawaiian shirts, that come in a range of striking shades and funky, tropical prints. Some might call them garish, but on Ovie they work.

Even more iconic, perhaps, is Ovie's hat collection, which has become famed on social media. Seriously, the man loves his headwear, whether it's a boater, durag or his go-to - the safari hat. And naturally, he pulls them off like no other.

Just look at the evidence:

And do not get us wrong: The man can do smart and suave just as well as he can do cool and causal. Just look at him in a suede jacket and a pair of specs.

(Side musing: If we can keep Ovie in until end of series, we will get to see him in a tux during that cringe prom day they do. WE WILL GET TO SEE OVIE IN A TUX, PEOPLE.)

Ovie's style has even caught the attention of some major fashion brands. BoohooMAN and ASOS recently had some social media banter over who would be nicking him for a fashion deal when he's out.

Best of all, the six foot seven sportsman doesn't care what people think is 'cool' or on trend. When Ovie rocks a Hawaiian-print shirt, wears a loud co-ord, or dons a durag, you can tell he's dressing for himself and no one else.

And that's not to say we don't think he looks cool: if anyone can make Hawaiian shirts look fresh off the runway, it's our man Ovie.

In Ovie, our sartorial hero, we stan.

Featured Image Credit: ITV

Topics: Love Island

Ciara Sheppard

Ciara is a freelance journalist working for Tyla. After graduating from the University of Sussex, Ciara worked as a writer at GLAMOUR Magazine and later as the Assistant Editor of Yahoo Style UK.

@ciarasheppard