Dressing for Occasions

Fri, Mar 7, 2014

By publisher

4 MIN READ

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Ajoke Oluade, a fashion stylist, advises that people should wear clothes that are suitable for whatever occasions they attend because what they wear to an event is a reflection on one’s personality

|  By Chinwe Okafor  |  Mar. 17, 2014 @ 01:00 GMT

IJEOMA Nneji, a staff of a telecommunication company, is a lover of social occasions. She has different dresses for different occasions. According to her, what she wears at a given time depends on the event or place she is going to and that her clothes go a long way to express her personality, style and mood. “I wear different clothes on different occasions and the type of cloth I wear at a particular time depends on the social significance of the event and geographic considerations. Clothes serve many purposes which include protection from physical elements and enhancing safety during hazardous activities,” she said.

In her view, clothes protect the wearer from rough surfaces, rash-causing plants, insect bites, splinters, thorns and prickles by providing a barrier between the skin and the environment. She is not alone in her view. Ifeoma Okoro, an entrepreneur, said that there are so many outfits one can wear to different occasions. What a person wears gives an impression of who he or she is, and it is important that one knows what to wear for any occasion in order to convey a good impression. “Clothes can insulate the wearer from cold or hot conditions. They can provide a hygienic barrier, keeping infectious and toxic materials away from the body. Clothing also provides protection from harmful UV radiation,” Okoro said.

According to Nneji and Okoro, there are different clothes for different occasions. In popular cities within Nigeria, weekends are always mapped out for  many celebrations and visits.  Okoro, a journalist, loves to look classy whenever she is going out for any event. According to her, casual dresses she wears to the office are not suitable for a dinner outing with a loved. “I just love to look beautiful and attractive all the time. Asides my make-up and accessories, the dress a woman wears at a particular time enhances her beauty and outward appearance,” Okaro said.

According to Emeka Odum, in most corporate organizations, a suit is the standard attire for an interview, but there are a few appropriate alternatives to a suit that one can choose. He said that in a creative field like artistic design, a sheath dress with a wide belt and a cardigan, or a pencil skirt with a blouse and cropped jacket will show that the person has a sense of style.

Ajoke Oluade, a fashion stylist, said that some people do not wear the exact clothes which they need for a particular occasion. According to her, when one is dressing for any occasion, one should know the type of event  he or she is attending  before deciding on what to wear. She said that for a wedding party, ladies can wear a long flowing maxi gown, jean trousers and shirts with blazers or any suitable Ankara piece made for the wedding party, while men can dress in their traditional attire or shirt and trousers with blazers to go with it.

According to her, clothes for night parties and clubs could either be a skimpy dress, tops, bomb shorts and a high heeled shoes or flat shoes or sandals to match with for ladies while men can put on jeans and shirts or a t-shirt to go with it. She added that ladies should not  wear same clothes for parties for the church because it is a place of worship. She said birthday party wears could also depend on what a person deems to fit wear. “If the party is for kids, it’s advisable that one wears decent party wears while anything goes for an adult’s birthday party depending on how responsible the person wearing it wants to be.”

Said Oluade:“Wherever you go and whatever you do, there is a style for every personality. When it comes to different occasions, there is an outfit that is appropriate for each one, therefore, it is important that one really knows what the occasion is all about and how to dress for it to avoid wearing something that is completely inappropriate.