10 STU Must-Haves Inspired by Mikka Padua

by Nasia Cammayo Reyes September 24, 2021

10 STU Must-Haves Inspired by Mikka Padua

Seek the Uniq will always represent our dear Mikka Padua. To this moment, she is our guiding light and inspiration as we strive to continue her legacy. We miss everything about her: her creativity, the joy she brings, and of course, her OOTD posts (and fun videos!). In case you didn't notice, our recent collections are actually renditions of her favorite STU styles. These are special pieces that will always remind us of Mikka. 

The "best dressed/most stylish" gal that she is, we can't help but look back on her outfits for daily style inspo. Take fashion cues from Mikka and seek these 10 über chic pieces to liven up your wardrobe.

It's a Wrap!

We love a good wrap maxi dress for dressy occasions and beyond. Wear your fleurs via the Lebidoti dress.

A true fashionista, Mikka loves to experiment with fashion. Here she shows us how to do print-on-print without going overboard. She completes her wrap maxi dress with a quirky handbag and skips the accessories. Check out the Lebidoti dress and werk it for date night or a garden wedding.

Stripes For Days

STU is known for its wide-leg pants! Get a bang for your buck with the Ramotswa set and enjoy mixing and matching it with other pieces in your closet.

Look and feel as if you're 5'9" with striped wide-leg pants like these from the Ramotswa set. No need to be shy about showing some skin (when worn with a crop top) since these have a high waist. Accessorize with a belt like Mikka, or add a head scarf à la Audrey Hepburn

Ties That Bind

The Benguela dress is one of Mikka's closet staples—she had this in almost all variants. We love how she layers it on a trip abroad.

A dress for all seasons? That's the Benguela for you! From a no-fuss look for a beach getaway to layering it over a turtleneck-and-leggings/jeans combo for a cooler climate, this piece proves to be weatherproof. 

Skirting the Issue

The Vaslui wrap skirt is another must-have STU piece. The styling possibilities are endless with this one!

The Vaslui skirt is an evolution of STU's wrap skirts. It's more minimal but it still has that uniq flair. Like Mikka, you can wear it with your trusty white button-down, or with a fitted top. A basket bag always adds a nice touch.

Caftans Are Forever

You can always turn to our shop for caftans (seen here is the Cayman). For Mikka, they're meant to be worn all year long.

We now look at caftans differently, thanks to Mikka. From throwing it over your swimsuit to wearing it for lounging, this piece will surely boost your mood. We're loving the latest print of the Cayman caftan—a mood booster indeed!

The New Shirt Dress

The Himora gets an update with nautical stripes. Should we bring back the chambray one on Mikka?

The Himora is your new shirt dress with more pizazz. It's incredibly flattering with its waist-cinching belt tie and a-line silhouette. Like most of our frocks, it has functional pockets which Seekers adore. Team with sandals or sneakers and you're all set for the day.

Ready, SET, Go!

The pandemic got us inspired to create more chic loungewear like the Teslic set. Nothing wrong with looking cute at home right?

The Teslic set is comfy enough for lounging, but also still very stylish to wear on casual days. Mikka elevates her set with a printed scarf and weave hat; plus, adding a necklace or two won't hurt. This set is also perfect for the beach!
  
Make You Puff
 
A balance of flounce and tailoring: the Caazapa dress. The puff sleeve trend may come and go, but you'll always find it in STU.
                                                                                                                                
We'll never get tired of puff sleeves and Mikka always made sure to have it in our collections. In the Tied Down story, we've whipped up the Caazapa dress—a more tailored take on the puff sleeve style. Would you wear yours with eye-catching danglers too?
 
Foxy and Boxy
 
The Castillos set is a look borrowed from the boys. Mikka did her magic and made it one of those 'sold out' STU styles.
                                                                                                                                
Didn't catch the earlier Castillos colors? Fret not! This Seeker fave now comes in a fun rainbow print that sparks joy. Mikka loved styling this set with a bikini top and of course, a headscarf and basket bag. Fun fact: she took inspiration from men's boxer shorts for this set's bottoms.
 
Faith, Rope, and Love
 
The Gweru is another STU classic. Now cut in striped linen, it still makes a statement.
                                                                                                                             
If STU had a top ten designs list, the Gweru dress with rope straps would make the cut. Not only does it speak volumes about Mikka, but also the brand. Style with platforms, little to no accessories, and a conversation starter bag.
  
Mikka used fashion to celebrate life and looked fab every step of the way, even while battling cancer. She'll always be our style icon! We hope you enjoyed reminiscing her style as much as we did.
 
What pieces are you adding to cart? :p
   
Happy seeking,
Nasia
 
Mikka's photos are from her Instagram, @mikkapadua



Nasia Cammayo Reyes
Nasia Cammayo Reyes

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