Dos and Don’t in styling your Native Attire
Native attire often referred to as Traditional Wear, Native Outfit, or Native Attire, is a style of clothing that is particularly popular in Africa. The difference between "native wear" then and now has significantly improved over time. Some of the trends which were in existence back then are coming back now with a bit of refinement in design. Things like the popular Agbada have been in existence for a very long time and they are coming back in style today
In the 1990s, kaftans (with lengths almost reaching the floor) were also fashionable. However, they are now back in style, more refined to lengths just below the knee and with a touch of English flair, such as the employment of a double cuff design in the wrist portion so that it can be worn with cufflinks. Here are few tips on how best to style your attire
Make sure your native trouser length is reaching just on the top of the shoe and not sweeping the ground when you walk. Better still, ensure your tailor’s measurement of your trouser length stops just at your ankle and not before your ankle (unless you choose that on purpose to make a fashion statement).
Avoid wearing your simple native wears with dress shoes or any other form of Lace-Ups Men’s Shoes: The only acceptable dress shoe you can wear with a Native Attire (and it has to be a Business Casual or Formal Native Attire) is a Monkstrap dress shoe (which has been described as the “most advanced” dress shoe)
Avoid wearing socks with your shoes when wearing native wears, there is no excuse for this even if you live in the coldest region: Some people might be wondering, how are they going to survive all the sweat, stink and perspiration without socks. I would say go for “Half Socks” and not “Ankle Socks”. There are several no-show socks brand in the fashion market that place a big emphasis on comfort and style. Find them and buy if you must wear socks.
Avoid wearing your formal native wears with Canvas shoes, Running shoes or any form of Sports shoes for men: Lately, you see people wearing their native attire wrongly, rocking a formal native attires- those made from suit fabrics- with casual footwear such as running shoes, sneakers, and slippers. This has become the norm for fashionable individuals and is not right or stylish. The only exception is when you are either breaking up the look of your native attire i.e. pairing your native attire top (Tunic top) with casual trousers/jeans/pants or when you are wearing casual native attire made entirely from a non-suit fabric
Avoid wearing native wears with belts: It doesn’t matter if you are trying to match your shoe and belt color, the rule just doesn’t apply here. The trousers are supposed to fit your exact waist size or made with an adjustable strap on the side.
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