As a Nigerian babe with a forehead that looks like it’s my brain’s headquarters, this article was necessary. Because I’m tired of running away from ponytails just because I fear my forehead will steal all the attention.
So, fellow forehead geng, I gat you. These are the best ponytail styles to rock.
Good ol’ bangs
Yes, I know. We’ve been there, done that and have the receipts. But bangs are just like your first ex. You’re tired of them, but you still find yourself going back. It’s worth it because it completely covers the forehead, if that’s what you’re going for.
Image source: Beahairs
The side swoop
For when you want to show off your exotic forehead, but also don’t want it to steal all the attention.
Image source: Honey bramble
Messy updo
The idea is to do styles that work for your face, not completely hide your gorgeous forehead. And this style just works — you get to stylishly draw attention away from your head, and get a cute style too.
Everyone wears the same thing to the beach these days. Either they’re in different variations of shorts, skirts and robes. We want you to stand out and prove yourself as a true fashionista. So try out these six outfits.
Two wrappers
You might be tempted to go for a little dip while at the beach. Instead of dealing with the stress of removing a lot of clothes, just untie one of your wrappers. It’s versatile because you can spread it as a beach towel. An innovative yet stylish Queen.
Marine biologist or marine spirit? Nobody will ever really know. All they’d know is that the outfit sparked something in them.
Boots
People are already wearing boots in weather they shouldn’t. I mean, why else will some Lagosians be wearing boots in this heat? But that’s old news. We want you to do something new, that’s why wearing boots to the beach is a great idea. Wearing boots to the beach isn’t common but it’ll surely get the people going and you’ll be a trend setter.
Because capitalism has you in a chokehold, you may never get an off day to properly enjoy the beach. But if you work from home, this can be solved by simply wearing a suit to the beach. In case of an impormptu zoom meeting, you’re already dressed.
If there’s one video that’ll remain iconic for years to come, it’s this interview video of the girl in the market who says, “Me on my own, I’m ashawo. Everybody on their own, ashawo,” when asked about women being slut-shamed. And honestly, where is the lie? With the way we’re wearing less and going out more, it’ll seem like we’ve fully entered an ashawo era of fashion, and I’m totally here for it.
Image credit: Nylon Magazine
Nigeria’s relationship with Ashawo fashion back in the day
Just like the world around us, fashion is constantly changing and evolving. Whether we like it or not, the clothes we wear are a tool to reflect or at least capture part of the conversation going on in a particular era. In the 1960s and 1970s, Nigerians tried to find an identity in a country that was finally independent of colonisers.
But by the 1990s, we had finally settled on a trend that embodied the saying “go big or go home”. The geles were as wide as DStv dishes, and the baggy pants were baggying like no tomorrow.
In all these eras, Nigerians have always factored in “morals”, choosing to be covered up no matter what. Wearing a backless dress or showing your belly button was scandalous in the 1990s. I mean, anyone who grew up watching old Nollywood movies will tell you miniskirts were the trademark look of a wild girl whose over-sexualisation would eventually make her barren or single to stupor.
With the 2000s came even skimpier outfits thanks to the MTV generation consuming Britney Spears and Janet Jackson. However, Nigeria’s adoption of this fashion trend (now fondly referred to as Y2K fashion) was restricted to the video vixens on screen or the bad girls in films like Abuja Connection, Sharon Stone or Girls Cot.
A scene from Girls Cot (2006)
No matter how much fashion evolved or changed in the Western world, for Nigerians, it still remained a tool used to police women’s bodies — labelling them as either good or bad girls.
Alté scene brings back y2k fashion
The first time I noticed Nigerians reclaiming the word “ashawo” and getting into our slut rhythm was in 2018, as alté culture became mainstream. Heavily influenced by the sluttiest era of all time, the late 1990s to early 2000s, alté acts came with a different sound and look. The boys had their hair dyed in crazy colours like pink and purple, while the girls rocked see-through tops and low-rise jeans.
As usual, the first reaction was resistance: the alté boys were called gay, and the girls? Well, the worst insult Nigerians feel they can give a woman is ashawo/slut. Did the happening babe care? No. Over time, more mainstream acts tapped into this market and what once felt like a niche group on SoundCloud and a closed-up part of Instagram filtered down to regular folks.
Image credit: Alté Culture Fest
I remember turning up to a concert in Lagos in 2019 and feeling like I’d been sucked into a 2000s music video. That same year, Hot Girl Summer became a thing thanks to Megan Thee Stallion, and Old Nollywood pages started popping up randomly on Instagram, romanticising the early 2000s and turning the bad girls from that era into fashion icons. These looks quickly moved from concerts and the gram, to parking lots and regular hangouts.
In 2022, what our parents frowned on has gotten a facelift and rebranded as Y2k-inspired looks. From Ayra Starr to Odunsi The Engine, the cut-outs are everywhere, and crop-tops have become baggy shirts at this point.
Did I forget to mention that the men are also in on the ashawo fit trend? Dying your hair pink or painting your nails are no longer signs that you might be queer. Now it just means you’re either a creative, someone on Twitter with interesting opinions, or a tech-bro.
Taking men out of the equation, by reclaiming these ashawo clothes, women are finally controlling the narrative. If we unpack operation “cover yourself up”, it’s easy to see that it has nothing to do with women.
Instead, it’s always been a tool to keep women in check and excuse men of sexual misconduct. That’s why the question, “What were you wearing?” pops up when sexual harassment or abuse cases come into the light. But if there’s one thing we know, it’s that covering up hasn’t stopped these cases from happening daily.
Alté fashion icon, Ashley Okoli
These ashawo clothes are a way for women to say that their worth isn’t tied to their bodies.
With the way fashion has continued to evolve since 2018, it looks like our dress sense isn’t going to get less sluttier anytime soon. These clothes aren’t about sex or simple thirst traps; they’re about confidence and ownership. If you can’t pull it off, fine. But don’t hate on the people who can, because that’s just tacky.
Eyelash extensions are lifesavers on the days you want to look cute with minimum effort. But if you’re like me who doesn’t know the first thing about make-up, you may need details to help you decide if it’s a beauty hack you’d get into. I asked women who’ve been on the trend for the pros and cons, and here’s what they shared:
Pro: With lash extensions, you don’t have to get into the hassle of using glue to get your lashes on every single time. With proper maintenance, they last for at least three weeks.
Con: The first time you get lashes, you instinctively want to take them off at the end of the day. But sorry, sis. You’ll have them glued on for two to four weeks.
Pro: You’ll always look like a baby girl, with or without makeup. Your lashes will be on fleek semi-permanently, so you don’t need to stress.
Con: You’re stuck with one look for a month. With regular lashes, you can choose to go bare or with a dramatic or simple set, depending on the occasion. But with lashes you install, you’ll have to stick with any set you choose through thick or thin.
Pro: It’s easy to find the right people to provide the service at home or the saloon.
Con: It can be expensive depending on where you’re located, but things typically range from ₦5k – ₦30k. And you’ll still need to either re-fill in 3 – 4 weeks or completely change them.
Pro: You’ll never want to stop when you start because you’ll get so many compliments.
Con: There’s a very thin line between looking pretty and looking like a crazy person. If your installation isn’t done properly, you may end up looking like you have feathers latched onto your eyelids.
Pro: You get to go to bed with your lashes and they won’t feel heavy on your eyelids.
Con: They’ll fall off if you itch your eyes often, or pour water over your face when you bathe, because the glue gets weak. Here’s a video showing how you can wash your face without getting water all over your lashes.
If there’s one thing you can’t take away from Nigerian men, it’s that their beauty is low maintenance, and they know it. Imagine being proud of your skincare routine consisting of just Irish Spring and vaseline.
Anyway, I asked some ladies about their favourite fashion items to see on men and got interesting answers. Man dem, take notes.
Trim suits
— Ope*, 24
I absolutely love guys in suits. Bring a man wearing a trim, dapper suit my way and I may just give him all my money. I think it makes them look powerful.
Image source: Gents coalition
Ashawo shorts
— Mavor, 20
I absolutely love those short shorts. It makes guys look very sexy. I like how it reveals the whole framework of their legs.
Anklets
— Maina*, 21
My obsession with anklets and shorts started sometime two months ago (June 2022) when I saw this fine specimen of black man walking down the road. He had on a pink “Marshmello” hoodie over the tightest ashawo shorts, white crocs and a golden anklet to compliment his legs.
I think it makes them look classy and shows how neat they are. There’s also the fact that I’ve never seen a guy with ugly fingers wear rings, so there’s that.
Image source: Hollywood life
Traditional wear
— Titi, 20
It definitely has to be traditional wear, especially when tailored properly. Take all my money! I always look forward to seeing my man in traditional wear.
There’s also something about plain coloured T-shirts on slightly buff men, Definitely sexy.
Image source: Ebuka Obi-uchendu
Sunglasses
— Lolo*, 25
There’s something about seeing a guy with cute sunglasses. It just gives them this sexy, mysterious look. I don’t know if it’s weird but I find it attractive.
Image source: Ebuka Obi-uchendu
Tiny necklaces
— Kiishi, 25
It has an appeal and I like how subtle it looks in a really fashionable way.
Image source: Ubuy Nigeria
*Some names have been changed for anonymity, and answers slightly edited for clarity.
If you still haven’t gotten the memo, serving lewks is the second most important thing at a Nigerian party — second only to party jollof, of course.
For the ladies that get it, stunting on this Tems’ internet is a full-time job, and you have to come correct every time because really, what’s the point of dressing up if you don’t get the desired reaction?
Credit: sammiesupreme
This list will prove that you absolutely need to jump on the sequins (or sequence, if you’re from Ibadan) lace train:
For when you want to make a statement
You can never go wrong with sequins if you’re going for not-so-understated elegance. You’ll be giving rich aunty vibes without even trying.
Hi, I’m Kanaan, the genius behind Vangei, the fashion brand, and I think I’m hilarious.
I’m the shortest person in my friend group, and I’m also a cancer. Yes, cue the red flags. A random fact about me is that I wanted to be a writer until I got heartbroken.
Interesting, so you didn’t just wake up one day and decide to be a fashion designer?
Nope, I was never interested. I only loved fashion when it was time to play dress-up or pretend I was walking a runway. I wanted to be a model. But then I turned 13 and my height wasn’t heightening no more, so that dream died.
I even considered blogging, but it’s too time-consuming. Guess I still won because now I make the clothes instead of modelling them.
Fighting the urge to scream but also purr. I get not wanting to blog sha. Writing is the ghetto.
To be fair, I did want to be a writer. I used to write serious love letters back then. In my high school yearbook, I wrote that I would be a writer or a poet. But after somebody broke my heart, I said fuck writing. There was no more inspiration, so I closed shop and opened Vangei instead.
How did you come up with Vangei? It’s the coolest name
Funny story, when I joined Twitter in 2019, my first Twitter name was StefflonDo. As you can see, I’m terrible at giving myself nicknames.
I hated StefflonDo, so I spoke to a friend about how I needed something that represented my brand and my being gay, and then he came up with Lolu VanGay. It was cool but too on the nose, so I changed it to VanGei, and it stuck.
Do you have a favourite collection or fashion piece made by you?
The best thing I’ve created and I feel really attached to is the Bibi co-ord, which is named after my ex. Don’t drag me; my friends already did. They were like, “This is one of your sickest pieces, and you named it after someone that’s not in your life anymore?” But I’d already made up my mind about it.
I really loved the piece, and so did a lot of people. There was something distinct about the fabric. I’ve tried looking for something like it and still haven’t found anything.
Are you sure it’s the fabric you’re attached to?
For real, fabrics make me happy. You know how drugs make people feel? That’s exactly how it is. When I’m sad, I go to Yaba market. Most times, I have no money when I do this, but as soon as I get to Tejuosho market, I get super pumped.
I touch a pretty fabric and it makes me feel like I can speak french because it’s so rich. The only thing I love more than fabrics is shoes.
I wasn’t going to bring it up, but boy, you like the weirdest shoes. Or maybe I don’t know fashion…
I would judge you, but I know what it feels like to be judged, so I won’t. People have asked me if I’m all right because of the shoes I like. Can’t you all see the arc on those shoes? Several times, my friends have stopped me several times from wearing my shoes when going out with them, but they’ll be fine last last.
Maybe, but it’ll just be two other people wearing it. My target audience is outside Nigeria, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed sha.
Have you ever designed something that you weren’t proud of?
That’s the thing it would never see the light of day. I love my pieces to be perfect. I don’t keep it if it’s something I’m not proud of. I threw the last piece away.
What’s your creative process like?
I don’t have a process. I tried to get a sketchbook and draw out my designs once, but that didn’t work. I buy fabrics that speak to me, so anything coloured, playful and loud. Then I scroll through Pinterest or Instagram and get inspired.
I once had a block for three months, and then I woke up and made five outfits in a day.
What are proven steps that get you out of a creative block?
Hm. My longest block was for about four months. What got me out of it? A girl I was seeing. We were supposed to go out on a date, and I don’t like repeating outfits. I wanted to impress her because she was tall. I started to think of a theme, wrote it out and the next thing I knew, I’d made my fit. This was the day before the date, by the way.
If you ever sell your audacity, I would buy it
Not to brag, but I make my outfits in two-three hours.
Honestly, my confidence in what I do came from my friends trusting me to create stuff for them. It boosted my self-esteem and so I was able to start selling to other people. Initially, I didn’t want to own a brand because I feared criticism.
I’m curious. How does it feel creating for an audience bigger than your friends?
It was scary at first ngl, but maybe it’s because my brand is aimed at queer people who were my inspiration, so the transition has been easy. I sit with my clients and go back and forth through the creative process. I’ve even had a couple of people sketch their designs and have me recreate them. Making outfits from my friends and listening to criticism helped me grow, and now my brand is better for it.
What’re you looking forward to doing now?
I started a thrift store to fund my long-term collection, which will be released in the middle of next year. I’m thinking of collaborations, especially with Louie & Dray because they make contemporary Y2K fashion, and that’s a big influence on my brand. Finally, I’m looking forward to introducing my brand to Lagos fashion week.
What does it mean to be a man? Surely, it’s not one thing. It’s a series of little moments that add up. Man Like is a weekly Zikoko series documenting these moments to see how it adds up. It’s a series for men by men, talking about men’s issues. We try to understand what it means to “be a man” from the subject of the week’s perspective.
Aaron Ahalu refuses to be bothered by the concept of masculinity. Joining me for a virtual chat from the beach where he’s celebrating his birthday, the creative director and photographer tells me his entire existence is somehow a middle finger to society. “I do what I want because I want to”, he says. But being this self-assured in a place like Nigeria doesn’t come without consequences.
In this episode of Man Like, he talks about finding freedom of expression in makeup and fashion, breaking out of his dad’s control and how he deals with pushback from people uncomfortable with his look.
What was growing up like for you?
My childhood was anything but conventional. My parents were never married, so I spent most of my childhood with my mum in Jos while my dad lived in Lagos.
In Jos, I was surrounded by many women who taught me a lot about acceptance and what it means to be a thoughtful person. I wore one of my aunt’s heels when I was about eight and tumbled down a flight of stairs into the living room. My mum and her sisters had never seen me in heels before, but instead of freaking out, they laughed about it. That was my first experience with not being judged. I’ll never forget it.
As for my dad, I didn’t meet him until I was 13.
Why?
I was born out of wedlock, and because of that, my dad didn’t feel indebted to me. Also, my mum was doing better than him financially, so it just made sense for me to live with her.
But the year I turned 13 was when the crisis in Jos began to intensify, and my mum thought it best to send me to Lagos to live with my dad. She mentioned she didn’t want to burden any of her relatives, so she called my dad and sent me over. When my aunt and I got to the park, she was like, “Oh, there’s your dad,” and I remember just looking at all the random men there, trying to figure out which one was my dad. He eventually walked up to both of us.
Did he meet your expectations? What was your expectation?
I’d never seen this man before, and as a material gworl, I was hoping not to end up with a raggedy-looking dad. He looked really good in his white jalabiya, which was a relief. It was a weird first encounter. I didn’t know what to ask him. He didn’t know what to ask me either. We just rode in silence until we got home. And even then, we never had a proper conversation during the two months I spent with him.
What happened during those two months?
Nothing spectacular. When we got to the house in Lagos, I realised my dad was married. He showed me where I’d sleep and introduced me to my half-siblings, which was weird because I was meeting these people for the first time, and now I had to call them “brother” and “sister”. I was also very frustrated because, like I mentioned earlier, he didn’t have as much as my mum financially, so I had to manage and share a lot of things with my half-siblings.
Ironically, the best part of my stay with my dad was meeting and bonding with them. This was the first time I had other children who looked up to me because I was older, and we all got along. Given a choice, I doubt I’d choose to meet my dad under the circumstances we met. But they’re the one thing I wouldn’t change about that trip.
After two months with my Dad in Lagos, my mum sent for me after things calmed down and I went back home to Jos.
Hmm. Did you and your mum talk about your time in Lagos?
We spoke about it briefly, but it was mostly me complaining about how jaga jaga my dad’s house was compared to hers. LOL. She still teases me about the way I described his house.
After my return to Jos, one thing that changed was my dad started to communicate with me more often. He eventually moved to Abuja and I moved in with him. Living with him again, we got closer until things fell apart between us.
Let’s not rush. Why did you move in with your dad again after the last time?
I didn’t have a choice, sis. My mum was tired of my bullshit, so she sent me to go live with him.
LOL. What did you do?
I was pretty rebellious as a child. I got expelled from school for jumping the fence and this was like the third secondary school I was attending. I’ve never been a fan of rules and regulations, yet they kept sending me to boarding schools rife with oppression and people I didn’t want to be around. I think my mum was just over everything, considering this was my third expulsion. I had to go live with my dad, and that’s how I started attending a day school, which was a better fit for me.
Did anything change when you moved in with your dad for the second time?
It was a completely different experience. I was older and more present, which made everything feel better. But I’m mostly glad for being old enough to provide emotional support for my younger step-siblings. We had bonded, so it wasn’t all fresh and confusing like before. Abuja was fun for me because I had them around. I also got to finish secondary school, attend university, and eventually get a job. Life was good. Until it wasn’t.
How so?
The older I got, the more I started changing in terms of experimenting with fashion and going out to events. My dad saw me as this “good boy”, so the change was too much for him to handle. It’s not like I became bad. I just started to evolve into who I am today. My dad became very good at making me feel small. He did that to my siblings as well and it messed us up.
The oppression I’d complained about in boarding school moved to my own house from my family. My dad and step-mum couldn’t handle that I wasn’t a child anymore, so I had to break free.
Damn
The fact that he couldn’t control who I wanted to be as a person triggered a weird anger in him. I used to go out a lot back then because I was getting into the events business space I currently work in, and I remember coming home one day when I was about 24, just to find all my belongings thrown out of our house. Even my fucking mattress.
I thought it was stupid, so I tried to let myself in, but they refused. At some point during the whole back and forth, my dad had police officers drag me to a police station, where I was beaten and threatened. All of that shit was toxic AF, and I couldn’t take it anymore. If they couldn’t handle who I was becoming, there was no point staying with them, so I left.
I’m so sorry you went through all that. Did your mum know about this?
Thank you. I wanted to reach out to her that day, but my dad had seized my phone. I later got through to her, and she was pissed. She tried to call her contacts in the police to get back at my dad. That was the most challenging part because I could hear the pain in her voice. All of it hurt her. I’ve tried to repress these memories and move on from them.
I get that. So what did you do when you left?
I had some savings from my job, so I moved to Lagos where I stayed with my aunt until I could get back on my feet. I later moved in with some friends here and there, and now, I have a place I share with my friends. Things were slow, but I somehow pulled through.
That’s great to hear. How have all of these experiences influenced who you are today?
I think it has made me a better judge of character and energy. I meet people now, and I can read them better because I’ve experienced the good and the bad. I can’t fully explain it, but I get people now.
We are shifting gears. Let’s talk about fashion and beauty
Yassss.
How has having a style that doesn’t conform to society’s definition of masculine influenced your interaction with people?
Hmm. So I like to tell people there’ll always be barriers to happiness in life. I’ve met several people who disrespected me based on my outfit and appearance. Today’s my birthday, and police officers stopped and searched our boat on the way to the beach. Because I was wearing makeup, one of them threatened to slap me and throw me into the water. It’s nothing new.
But one thing I’ve told myself is never to let these things get to me or prevent me from expressing my true self. I get a lot of love and support from the people around me. I refuse to let the negative reactions I get drown out the love because I have more of that in my life.
So you’ve never felt the need to fit into the mould?
I’m human, and sometimes, it happens. I’ve walked into a place and thought, “Oh, shit! Maybe I shouldn’t have worn this today.” Or the times when I’m walking on the street and get catcalled. It’s unintentional. But, yeah, I try to get over those feelings as soon as possible. I also try to avoid spaces where I’m not welcome.
Preach! Why is your expression of fashion and beauty an important part of your identity considering the backlash it comes with?
For me, it’s all about how I’m feeling and finding creative ways to express that. I could wake up in the morning, get my face beat and sit at home. I’m doing it because I feel like having fun with my looks and also because I can. I don’t take life or myself too seriously.
I also don’t believe anything is gender-specific regarding fashion and beauty. Everything belongs to everyone because we’re all human before anything else. We have these systems that have kept us down for so long, believing that we should be one way or another. Who makes the fucking rules? I wear what I want and use makeup because I want to.
Also, my pronouns are he/him/they. The “they” is there because I can be whoever I want to be.
Inject it! Your thoughts make me really interested in how you view masculinity
What’s that? I feel like that term is stupid. It’s such a weird question. I don’t know what masculinity is abeg.
Fair. So it’s pride month! What does this period signify for you?
It means a lot to me, but I also feel like it should mean more to other people. June is the one month in a year when we celebrate people who are continuously marginalised. It’s an important period for me because I also get to celebrate with an annual pride ball that I’m excited about.
K-pop idols have the best style. Watch their interviews and music videos to see for yourself. As a K-pop fan, it makes sense to want to copy them. To pull off the gorgeous aesthetic, you have to note a few things like wearing many silver accessories and owning lots of rings. Here are all the other awesome ways to look like your favourite K-pop idol.
Lots of soft coloured dye
Hair dye is obviously not an accessory, but with the way K-pop idols do it, it might as well be. Will you get disowned by your Nigerian parents? Probably. But at least you’ll maintain beauty.
And I mean long ones. If it’s not the type that’ll make amebo people take another look when you pass by them, then you’ve not even started. Bonus points if you have multiple piercings.
Buy leather accessories
So what if the searing Nigerian sun peels off the leather and people look at you funny? What do they know? In fact, make it afro-fusion, leather belt and native wear, or leather vest and agbada. Go wild with it.
Own boots
You won’t even look too far off from most Nigerians these days because everyone owns boots. Boots will elevate your outfit and give you that K-pop “look”, but don’t go for the basic ones. Think spikes and platforms that’ll increase your height by seven.
Always wear leg warmers and hand warmers. You get to look like your favourite K-pop idol while manifesting a life in a country where you can’t wear those without fainting.
Chains
At your discretion, layer the fuck out of your chains until your neck is heavy. It doesn’t even have to match or anything. Your neck is your oyster; go ham.
Fake tattoos
Whether you want to believe it or not, your favourite idol probably uses fake tattoos. You too can do it, and the best part? It’s not permanent enough for you to get disowned!
Rings
Come on, if you didn’t know to stock up on rings, do you even like K-pop? With rings, the chunkier, the better. Think giant skulls or recent decorations.
If you don’t have these 13 staples in your closet, you’re not the modern corporate queen you think you are. Follow these tips, curated especially for our tropical weather, to perfect the minimalist smart-casual look.
Low-heeled mules/sandals
Say bye-bye to those plain stuffy court shoes with the ridiculous heels that hurt our ankles after a long day. These low-heeled, no-stress mules or sandals are in. And they come in as many styles and colours as you want.
You probably remember these from secondary school. Only the cool girls whose parents actually put out wardrobe allowance for them owned these. Now, as a working-class gal, you can finally buy them for yourself. They are still as cool, classy, and most importantly, comfortable as ever.
Neutral-coloured oversized dress shirt
They are your regular office buttoned-down shirts but with a twist. Dress shirts are better tailored, made from finer fabric like silk, linen, or pure cotton, and have intricate details that set them apart from the regular. Get them slightly oversized and in natural tones — white, brown, faded blues and greens — and just like that, you’ve turned your plain old work outfit into a stylish number.
White cami top
A basic item that serves as a clean slate on which to build all your effortlessly elegant looks, this unbothered queen is a must-have. Wear it and then throw on that oversized dress shirt with a couple of buttons undone, or a simple sweater, blazer, light jacket… can you see what I’m saying?
Tailored cigarette pants
Cigarette pants are the sweet in-between where skinny pants and regular straight pants meet. In their expertly-tailored, just above the ankle-length form, they scream smart-casual like nothing else does.
Once relegated to the teachers’ and headmistresses’ closets, the midi skirts have staged a protest. They’ve come back rebranded, and nothing says boujee like these new versions of the “Mary Amaka” skirts. You get extra marks if yours are asymmetrical or come with a nice side-slit.
Black sheath dress
This work-closet staple is an underrated versatile queen. It is simple and quiet, while it does the Lord’s work, sliming a working girl’s figure, emphasising her femininity and giving off “cultured” vibes. The sleeveless version can be paired with sleeved dress shirts to create a whole new outfit each time. Switch up your work shoes with a pair of going-out sandals, and you have a perfect dinner-date look. I said “versatile”, didn’t I?
Print shift dress
A shift dress in ankara, adire, kente, batik, or any other print fabric is the perfect item to add some colour (and spice) to this neutral-toned list. It is guaranteed to inject a fun vibe into your work life, even if you can only wear it on Fridays (tell HR we said office dress codes need to die a quick but painful death).
Neutral-coloured summer pantsuit
Pantsuits are generally hard to wear in this our climate, but sometimes, the occasion calls for a power suit and all your “boss lady” attitude. Summer pantsuits were invented particularly for hot weather, and you need to get some. They come in a lighter fabric and with less lining than the regular pantsuit. Some have shorter sleeves too.
No one knows who invented the golden hoops, but I’m sure it has African roots because they suit our ears and skin so well. They are a good standalone, but they go well with chunky single or double-layered chain-link necklaces too.
Tarnish-proof gold and stone jewellery set
The gold and clear stone necklace and earrings set is the perfect finishing touch to the polished minimalist work look we want to achieve. Just make sure you buy the set that won’t fade after some weeks.
50+ SPF sunscreen moisturiser
If you’re not applying sunscreen to your face every time you step out of your house, you’re wrong. Global warming is upon us, and not to get into the complicated science of it, the sun’s rays are not very safe for our skin. It doesn’t matter if you’re black or white, dark-skinned or light, sunscreen is a must. And for the bountiful gift of sunlight we enjoy in Africa, you’ll need one that’s 50 SPF or higher. The best sunscreens keep our faces smooth and dewy. Don’t you want that?
Moisturising lip balm
We can’t talk style staples without throwing in basic skincare. Whether you’re a makeup person or not, you should always have a good organic lip balm in your closet and everyday bag. Let’s keep our lips supple and hydrated, shall we?
