Sometime in August last year, men gave their verdict on fashion items women paraded that they actually hated (see https://tribuneonlineng.com/female-fashion-items-men-actually-hate/). In today’s edition, the men are on the hot seat as women take a swipe at fashion items and actions men embrace that they would rather see hidden from the public eye. As it turns out, some of these items are trend-setting outfits, which sadly, many women do not approve of – except, in some cases, you’re on the celebrity fashion parade.
Sagging/skinny jeans
This trend has come, gone, and for some reason, still hangs along the fringes, as there are still a few men who favour the sag or the skinny. However, as studies have shown, this style is favoured by inmates, who – not by choice – have their trousers sag because of the lack of a belt. “Let me just state it. I hate skinny jeans – it’s for immature men. And for those who sag, are they trying to advertise the fact that he wears a particular kind of underwear? Unless, the man is practising his style for forced incarceration, sagging is nothing but irresponsible,” says Bunmi, a hair stylist.
Socks on sandals
For Dayo, a banker, “socks on sandals in public, has got to be one of the most annoying sights on a man. When I see a man dressed like that, two things come to mind: he’s a child in a man’s skin; he is trying to make some sort of misguided statement. And every single time, it’s a very sad fashion fail. Sometimes, I want to walk up to such men, shake their shoulders and say: ‘grow up, man.”’
Necklaces
It would seem the necklace tradition for men isn’t anything new to the Nigerian male fashion scene. However, for some women, it’s a big turn-off. Mary, an insurance broker says: “There is just something shady about men who wear necklaces. It’s like there’s something they are trying to distract you from with the necklace. Interestingly, a few of them I’ve met turn out to be playboys or those with some sort of complex. Although, I don’t like to make general statements, I think a man can look just as dashing without the necklace, and if he has to, something almost invisible.”
Bold-buckled belts
There is a difference between a teenager and a man, and a belt with big buckles makes the difference. “Why, in the name of all that is pure fashion would a man – someone who actually calls himself a man – wear such belt? To where? With what? How will he combine it? I’m thinking of the places men frequent, and honestly, I can’t think of any that will accommodate a big buckle. Or maybe if he’s a celebrity” asks Queen, a model.
Badly-fitted clothes
Another banker, Sola, says that “maybe, it’s because I work in a bank and there’s focus on how fitting clothes should be. However, it’s very annoying to see a man in clothes that don’t fit. Suits are the worst. Why would you step out of your house wearing such? And you actually expect people to take you serious?”
Overgrooming
It turns out that some bit of makeup, for men, is not a bad idea. That also goes for certain levels of grooming, such as trimming the beard, getting a haircut, and generally looking presentable. However, if you’re not preparing to model something, Anne, an entrepreneur, states that “it only seems that you have so much time on your hands, that you can groom your face so. And for a man, it only makes you seem jobless, which is not a good look for any serious man. In fact, if a man stares at a mirror too much beside me, there’s the tendency I’ll dislike him eventually.”
Shiny fabrics
Whether it’s sequins or glitter, as long as the fabric has some kind of shimmer, it would seem a no-no for many women. Ms Tochi, a teacher, describes her feelings for such fabric thus: “Unless it’s on the runway – many of those kind of clothes don’t get worn by men in real life – such materials that have some kind of shimmer don’t work well for me when men wear them. It’s like you’re putting yourself up for some kind of display and want to contest attention with women. It makes the man lose his sense of masculinity.”
and then