Men’s fashion in recent times seems to be influenced by European and American trends, while this is true to a large extent, it is not entirely true. A lot of fashion items in vogue today are only a modification of some styles that people rocked in the ‘60s. From the wide brimmed hats to the skinny trousers, the style of the past seems to be finding expression in present day Nigeria yet again.
Walk down a Nigerian street in the 60’s and you will find stylish men regaled in dashiki, the Yoruba men of opulence decked in Agbada and of course the Igbo men in their wrappers and shirt with matching walking stick. A few were also fascinated with the European trend and would don suits and ties with sunglasses even back then.
Fashion is an evolution and I dare say in the Nigerian fashion space, we visit the past to draw inspiration for the next phase of the fashion evolution.
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Female
In the 60s, Yoruba women wore buba and iro and tie gele over their heads while placing ipele over their shoulders. Looking back then, it is only people from a royal family that do make use of beads around their necks and wrist as accessories.
The mode of dressing in the 60s compared to recent times can be said to be related because most of the styles that were worn then are still in vogue nowadays. The only difference is the way gele were being tied compared to recent time.
Hausa women in the 60s wore wrapper around robe made of colourful cloth with a matching blouse, head tie and shawl. It’s rare to see Hausa women use jewellery but nowadays Hausa women use jewellery and wear dress instead of wrapper and robe they used to wear.
The Igbo tribe’s mode of dressing in the 60s compared to recent time has not been different. Igbo women still wear wrapper popularly known as gorge for all occasions.
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