Women
Rains Alter Dress Code
We are in the rainy season, as the new month, July, is here. Everyone is anxiously waiting and preparing for the period when the rains will fall all day long. One notable feature about this season is the change in peoples’ dress code.
Speaking on what is available for the season, Mrs Tumuni Ifiemi, a taxi driver said women should be getting set to put away their long some time ankle length skirts and dresses as these do not favour the season.
According to her, being caught in the rain will constrain the women to fold her dress with one hand while carrying her umbrella. Besides, poodles and mud are common to see a car splash water on people.
If the person had gone out dressed up in a long outfit, she may not look very neat and decent, she stressed.
Ms Abie Hart, a caterer, also agrees that the dress code has altered, she contented that the season favours knee length skirts and dresses.
She explained that as the rains are bound to expose women to dirts, make them walk clumsily as they dodge bad spots on the road. She believes this can only be achieved with knee length clothes.
They definitely add a touch of smartness even to the most clumsy looking person. Apart from the length of the dress, the colour is very very important. Bright plain colours such as white, yellow, turquoise, lemon etc cannot be comfortably won during this season especially when used as skirts or dresses that reach the knee. This is because dirts are more likely to stand out in them and create an awful picture.
However, they can do well as tops could be blouse or jacket to brighten up the rather dull look that usually accompanies the rain.
For clothes that reach the knee, it is advisable that they come in dark colours as they are easier to manage. “With a wet handkerchief, one can easily wipe out mud from the dress. And the result can be possible.
Mrs Mercy Minimah, a business woman, maintained that there is still time to co-ordinate one’s rain wardrobe noting that it is necessary so that one cannot be tempted to ruin the sunny colours.
The dress being knee length favours the use of jacket and blazers to ward-off the cold. Every career woman needs to have a couple of this so that she does not get caught in flimsy see through fabrics.
All the same, a person that cannot do away with transparent fabrics can use them as camisole. That way, the taste buds would have been satisfied and the need of the body taken care of.
FOOTWEARS
Ideally, what suits the season are rain boots. But neither men nor women feel comfortable in them in our society.
For Patience Fubara, wearing rain boots with her clothes as a banker, will not make her feel properly dressed. She said since most women take up full time paid jobs, it is better for them to wear rubber sandals and carry their leather shoes in their bags so that they can change once they get into the offices.
She opined that it would be utterly senseless for a woman to wear her leather shoes out of the house once the rain catches her in the house.
She revealed that rain will shorten the life span of most shoes if carelessly worn. For now, the prices of good leather shoes cost from N10,000 (Ten thousand naira) and above.
According to Mrs Patience Fubara, rubber sandals that are well designed should be in every woman’s wardrobe.
In the market where different models ranging from N800, N1,500, a trader confirmed that there has been increased in price, inspite of this there is an increase in demand.
However, the men do not have the same opportunity of changing shoes here and there because they do not carry bags around. Since majority of them have cars, they only need to walk a short distance to go to their cars.
HAIR CARE
Men need not bother themselves. Their usual short hair can see them through.
However, this is a period when women will need to change their hair style. Ms Odinaka Emmanuel, a beautician stated, there is need to either go for braids, weave-on or wigs as water often changes the silky look of our day to day permed hair. Since the washed will be damp almost all the time, the curls and glossy look will be very momentary.
To maintain a glamorous look, there is need to do something about the hair.
Shampoo your hair weekly as damp hair do not smell fine.
A woman needs to smell beautiful at all times.
Coverings
The proper protective covering during the rain is raincoat – a rubber coverall that keeps the rain away, some of them come with caps for the heads and they are usually at least knee length while most are long.
Inspite of the effectiveness of raincoat, most people prefer umbrella. This is because they find it easier to carry around, while some are big, there are small and portable ones.
Abiebua Brown, a dealer in umbrella, intimated this writer that the big ones are usually more durable as they can withstand the winds that often accompany the rains especially in this part of the country.
Women, please be ready for the rain. Remember to take a warm bath after the day’s job, domestically and otherwise.
Massage yourself very well and keep your children warm with sweaters and jean jackets. Make sure you have sockings on to keep you warm in bed to beat the cold.
Aboniki, mentholatum, essential balm are all hot balms to help keep you warm during this rainy season.
All the best as you paddle on.
Julie Jumbo
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
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.
