Culture meets style—Power dressing with traditional fabrics

Dressing powerfully is seen by a lot of people as wearing western-themed clothes. This is not the entire import of power dressing; the style intends to make you commanding and comfortable in your choice of clothing. While this might mean power suits for board room executives, it comes in another shade for a politician who intends to show an alignment with his people while maintaining an air of authority.

While the fashion scene in the country is dominantly ethnic, some clothing style have spanned across geo-political or tribal borders. The Agbada is exclusively seen as a power dressing style used by male politicians in the Northern and Western parts of the country. While intending to impress and show a position of authority, people who don such attires also want to maintain association with their people.

The key to power dressing using traditional fabrics lies in its simplicity and ability to communicate emotions and feelings. While the dressing style also shows a promotion of the awesome fabrics available within the country, it is seen as an easy way to blend in among the high and mighty.

Power dressing with traditional fabrics, like any other style form has its set of tips:

It’s all in or all out: A power dressing style is one that intends to impress, you must therefore be prepared to go hard or go home. Regardless of the gender wearing the power dress made with traditional fabric, there are pieces of the puzzle that must not be left out. The head gear is one of such, while the male is expected to wear a befitting, colour-matching traditional cap, the female is expected to be decked in a gele or cap as the case may be.

Own your style: Over the years, several high-ranking public figures have created their own signature within the niche of power dressing using traditional attires and fabrics. From as little as how the cap is being tilted to the particular way the gele is tied, you could easily fish out some personalities even in the thickest crowd. While these personalities may not be trendsetters, they have found a way of staying comfortable with a style that is either self-created or tweaked from an existing style.

Don’t joke with the accessories: Your power dressing should be completed with power accessories. From the choice of shoe to the wrist watch and any other accessory, ensure that your accessories match and fit in within the colour scheme. You could even pair the accessories with the embroidery on the fabric.

Step out in style and own the center stage.