Women
Colour Blocking And The Nigerian Woman
Fashion comes and goes, but it never dies, so the popular saying goes. It is said to revolve and recycle.
Often times, a current fashion can easily be identified in the designs of our mothers and fathers. Some of our parents even tell us of what style was en vogue from what we wear today.
Like the high waist skirts, afro-hair-do, pencil jeans, belly belts, and wedges, of those days, today, it is the colour blocking that is en vogue.
Colour blocking is a technique in which blocks of various fabrics are sewn together to create clothing with a few different colours. It is a combination of different colours that support and compliment each other.
In Nigeria today, both men and women are into colour blocking in the craze for fashion.
However, it is more noticeable among the women folk, sometimes even when girls do not know the a,b,c, of how to colour block to match an occasion, they still do it, just to “belong.” At the end of the day, while they succeed in colour blocking, they fail in colour blocking to suit either themselves or the occasion.
This is why it is important to note that colour blocking implies bringing complimentary colours and natural opposite colours together. Complimentary colours are pairs of colours that are of opposite hue in some colour model.
The exact hue complimentary to a given colour depends on the model in question, and perceptually uniform, addictive and sustractive colour models such as those that have differing complements for any given colour.
Many of our youths today who do not understand this basic principles about colour blocking have even taken it to another level.
Some of them do not seem to view themselves in the mirror after dressing up, most probably because they had already created a mental picture of what they ought to look like in the colour blocked attire. At the end of the day, some of them end up looking as beautifully ughly as they never intended in the eyes of those who know what they had created for themselves in their quest to look en vogue.
To 22 years Angela, “colour blocking is the latest trend this season. I think it’s very interesting that people could come out boldly to express themselves through colours.
For me, I just want to look good and trendy, so I can mix my colours as much as I want as long as I know that it makes me feel good”.
According to Uche, 28, “what fascinate me about all of this (colour blocking) is that no matter which angle fashion chooses to go, the traditional fashion never looses its value. It is a traditional/African material with a combination of art, colour, design and history”.
“For me”, Igbiki, 25, said, “I don’t want to know what it is, as long as it is reigning fashion. All I want is to look good and belong to the crowd, and if putting on colour blocked attire what it will take, who am I to say no?
But for 40 year old Susan, ” I take what I wear very serious . even when it is en vogue, I like to look unique, without just been among the crowd. I am aware that what one wears tells a great deal about who one is, so even when I colour block, I like the type that would make others want to go back home and copy me. This is why I pick my colour and styles specially to suit my personality when I colour block”.
Colour blocking is famously known as Ankara fabric (Dutch wax), or is general traditional/African contex, it is a combination of colour, history, art and design intended to portray a given people.
The graphic statement in these designs in most cases mingles with colours and sometimes creates a bold shock in designs.
Most Ankara designs are inspired by tradition, history, culture, colours etc. In order words, they usually have a story or two behind them.
Colour blocking could be in cloths, shoes, bags, Jewelry, hats and interior design. In what ever form it takes, it is done with the intention to present one as being classy.
This is why it could be fun and may seem not to follow any rule. But it sure does has tips if you really want to look trendy in colour blocking.
The key thing is to have at the back of your mind that what ever you do while colour blocking, you look classy and not trashy.
The secret to pulling off a classy colour blocking is sticking to solid colours and choosing shades that give direct opposite on the colour wheel.
Think of simple styles such as maxis, flowing gowns, and pencil skirts. You may also need to choose shades that have the same intensity to give a balanced look.
However, for a more conservative look, you may need to try colour toning such as colour blocking, which uses shades within the same family. For instance, purple and royal blue.
As had always been with previous fashion, colour blocking will stay with us for many more seasons. So if you want to bee trendy without being a follower, take it up a notch by doing a mix and match with your favourite African prints.
Women
Nigeria Deserves Stylish, Sophisticated Designs-Igiebor Daddy Lucky
IVY-K Fashion by Igiebor Daddy Lucky, a Nigerian-born designer now based in the UK, has launched the latest menswear line, Dapper Man.
One of the collection’s strengths is its classic, clean aesthetic. Dapper Man delivers sharp, structured suits in a timeless black and white color scheme that exudes a sense of luxury and professionalism. The use of high-quality fabrics like wool and silk ensures that the suits not only look high-end but also feel luxurious to the wearer. The designer’s focus on detail is evident in the meticulous tailoring, with fitted blazers and crisp trousers forming the foundation of the collection.
Where IVY-K Fashion shines is in the subtle yet elegant touches. The inclusion of beads as embellishments on lapels and cuffs adds a unique flair, blending traditional craft with modern tailoring. This nod to African heritage gives the collection a distinct identity, offering something more personal and culturally significant than your standard menswear line.
However, despite the elegance of the Dapper Man collection, there is a lingering sense of missed opportunity. The black-and-white color palette, while classic, feels overly safe. In a fashion landscape where bold colors and daring patterns often make the strongest impact, the collection could benefit from incorporating more vibrant hues or experimenting with unconventional fabrics. Pushing the envelope with color or texture could elevate these designs from simply elegant to truly memorable.
In addition, while the tailoring of the blazers and trousers is immaculate, the collection lacks a sense of playfulness or modern edge that many contemporary menswear lines are embracing. The suits are undoubtedly stylish, but the collection as a whole leans heavily on tradition. Experimenting with asymmetrical cuts, bold patterns, or even layering could add an exciting dimension to Dapper Man. The challenge is to maintain the sleek sophistication of the collection while infusing it with a fresh, innovative spirit.
Another area that could use improvement is the overall cohesion of the collection. While the suits are well-crafted, there is a feeling of repetition across the pieces. More variation in design, such as different lapel styles, pocket configurations, or even bolder accessories, would give the collection greater diversity and visual interest.
In conclusion, Dapper Man by Igiebor Daddy Lucky showcases the designer’s strong grasp of classic tailoring and elegant design, but to truly capture the attention of a broader audience, IVY-K Fashion would benefit from more daring choices. By infusing the collection with bold colors, unexpected textures, and a more modern edge, Dapper Man could move from a well-crafted line to a trendsetting force in men’s fashion. With such a solid foundation, there’s no doubt that Igiebor Daddy Lucky has the potential to lead his brand toward greater heights
Women
Women Can Curb Indecent Dressing
The trend of indecent dressing all in the name of fashion is fast becoming a norm in our generation and society at large. Most married women embrace this fashion as competition with single ladies.
Different scholars have given an in depth insight about dressing as a tool of communication. Non-verbal communication has been asserted as the communication between people by the means of signs or symbols. It conveys what we wish to disseminate to the public as either intentionally or not.
According to Paul Ekman and Michael Argyle, communication is carried out through what has been classified as “Presentational Code”. He listed nine codes of non-verbal communication, as body contact, facial expression, gestures, postures, eye movement, proximity, orientation, head nods and appearance.
This, being stated, married and single ladies should understand that their mode of dressing is communicative be it directly or indirectly as such body parts we call “private” are now being made public because of the trends or wearing of transparent dresses and this in turn calls on the attention of men who are weak and prone to illicit thoughts thus, resulting to most rape cases in our society.
This indecent dressing by most ladies has denied many their future husbands. The truth is that a man is attracted to his kind; his desires in marriage. It is often asserted that decency and beauty are in the eyes of the beholder, yet, in trending times of this 21st century, dress code and fashion in nudity form is gaining popularity.
This has become complicated as most men tend to toggle between their emotions (lust) and sanity (rationality) in terms of marriage, thereby setting a wrong foundation upon which most marriages are consummated.
On the other hand, most married women have embraced the trend of indecent dressing nipping it on the state of it being the choice dressing, approved by their spouses, leaving society with the question of what “responsible” man would prefer that the secrecy of the benefit of his marital vow has become the centre of attraction and viewership by the general public.
Hence, communicating with their dressing gas given licence to every male gender who is interested or attracted to what they see to make unsolicited sexual passes at them, which might be considered embarrassing.
At this juncture, it is important to state that ladies should dress decently knowing that they are the epitome of nation-building, they are nation-builders, character moulders and pacesetters not just in the lives of their families but to the society at large.
In most occasions, there are no clear border lines between the married women and the single ladies because of the rate of scanty dressing which has close the gap of differences.
Women and girls should embrace this call awakening to decent mode of dressing. Dresses that are meant to be worn indoors should remain indoors.
It is worrisome to see ladies wear shorts that are supposed to be worn in the living room on the streets without shame. This is an awakening call to our ladies, married and singles that the opposite sex do not expose their private body parts for the public. Sometimes, the ladies go about in the streets without wearing brazziers as to showcase their nipples.
The society should be sanitised of the menace of indecent dressing that is lurking and taking over the entire nooks and crannies of the society and the nation at large.
Let it be known that he or she is addressed in the manner he or she is dressed. There may be no room for a second impression. To the single ladies, your dressing decently will not stop you from meeting your Mr Right rather, it will increase your stake and place you on the list of most valued women in the society.
Dressing speaks louder than words.
Kate Chisom Isiocha
Isiocha is an OND final year student of Temple Gate Polytechnic.