UPDATED: This post about the latest Nigerian fashion and style with pictures for ladies and men in Nigeria has just been recently updated.
Observing various clothing fabrics, styled in different designs, I so much admired the traditional styles and possible tendencies that become the end results of fashion and style in Nigeria.
The fashion concept of Nigerians have evolved through decades; the year in year out, fashionistas adjust to trending styles and designs.
How about we have a round table meeting and let’s discuss Nigeria clothing and fashion dresses.
What Is Fashion and Style In Nigeria?
What is style? What is fashion? What’s the difference? Hmm…how about you grab a sit and read this comprehensive article on Naija fashion.
Fashion is style, a trend of style. Style is who you are, your individuality, your personality.
Okay, jollof rice is jollof rice, right? But what makes party jollof rice different? Especially the one cooked with firewood?
Most African countries are into Ankara fabric styles, and styling these clothes into different fashionable outfits is already a habit for men and women. Interestingly, these clothes make every occasion colorful.
Also Read: Top 9 fashion bloggers websites in Nigeria for latest trends
They say you are fashionable or know fashion when you are wearing what is in vogue or in the season but they say you have got style when you add yourself all over what you are putting on.
Fashion changes in accordance with season but style is influenced by how factors like moral upbringing, religion, association with others, weather, etc. has affected you. No wonder Yves Saint Laurent said “fashion fades, style is eternal”.
FASHION FADES, STYLE IS ETERNAL
Jill Chivers says “fashion distracts, style connects”. The reason why fashion icons are who they are today is because of how they have created their own style from fashion and the funny thing is not all fashion designers are fashion icons but anybody can be a fashion icon.
Fashion is the paper, style is your signature
Decades ago, western fashion design was all we were satisfied with; sewing our natives with limited styles. But now, our fashion is hitting the roof!
How about you check our top Nigerian native attire styles for inspiration and over 51 bridesmaid dresses styles for more wedding outfit ideas.
It isn’t the same anymore, thanks to our designers like Mia Atafo, Toju Foyeh, Lanre Dasilva Ajayi, and Ceoluminee amongst others.
These designers have defined what fashion and style is about using our ankara prints and other materials to create mind-blowing designs.
They have connected the external fashion with our internal style which has improved the Nigerian fashion industry.
Interestingly, many of our wealthy actresses in Nigeria are rocking our traditional fashion and style.
Check out my list of top fashion schools in Lagos if you’re interested in learning fashion design in Nigeria.
And also, you’ll be in capable hands if you attend any of the makeup schools in Lagos, that’s if you want to be a makeup artist.
Latest Nigerian Fashion Styles for Ladies (Nigerian Fashion Gallery)
Before we talk about the latest fashion and styles in Nigeria, let’s take it from the beginning.
Ankara fabrics is usually a talking point when talking about Nigerian fashion for ladies. Ankara was not African-born, even though it looks the opposite as we have colonized it (I see you o, Oya please close your mouth).
I did grow up seeing Ankara around me, my mother used it to back me when I was young and I also used it as cover cloth (thanks to our mothers that sew iron and Buba then).
Ankara was useful for many things don’t get me wrong it is still useful. I even tie it to the bathroom as my towel (don’t wrinkle your nose, i no say no be only me waka come).
Possibly, the familiarization of Ankara and the assurance of its presence made some of us think or gave some of us the impression it originated in Africa. Let me take you back in time.
Once upon the 1800s, the Dutch colonized Indonesia for colonizing sake (I don’t know the reason they colonized them). The Indonesians had an advanced method, an upgrade, of dyeing which they used to produce batik.
The Dutch saw this method as a mundane method and so made cheap machine-made imitations of this beautiful batik.
The Indonesians refused for their heritage to be taken and so these imitations called Dutch wax prints did not do well in the Indonesian market.
Thanks to the Dutch stubbornness, they did not give up and started introducing these wax prints in West Africa ports. Oh my! We did love them, their beautiful tribal-like patterns created from the combination of different exciting colors.
Ankara also is known as “African wax prints” or “Dutch wax prints” speaks volumes without physically communicating.
These prints look like an artwork done by an artist with his brush on a canvas.
Only the canvas is the “fabric”, the brush is the “instrument used in dyeing the fabric”, and the colors are “our African diversities”.
It has this cultural artistic characteristic it exudes to one’s dressing; I tell you it is a unique sight to behold. Let me give you more on the latest Nigerian fashion styles.
Another style?
Ankara is versatile and does not bore. It is no wonder it is a part of fashion and style from its use in head wears to footwears with accessories, gowns, skirts, blouses, etc in between.
So let us talk more fashion and style
Ankara Style Pictures
Latest Ankara styles feature remarkable cuts on exciting colors and extraordinary patterns of Ankara resulting in unique fashion and styles.
One of the amazing things about the Ankara aspect of fashion and style is it features any form of style from the formal to the casual to what have you.
Interestingly when it comes to Nigerian pre-wedding photos, our slay queens No dey gree; even guys self they rock ankara in different men’s shoes styles.
Peplum Tops
Peplum tops are not excluded when we talk about fashion and style.
It can be made with Ankara or other materials, but I would not bore so easily with my Ankara peplum top as I would with some other material peplum top, so pardon me if it is on my list of latest Ankara styles.
Ankara Gowns Pictures
Oh! Dear, they are not going anywhere so quit wearing those skirts and trousers already and try them out.
Don’t bother about your figure, Ankara gowns fit anybody as you can sew it in whatever style you want.
Thanks to Nigerian fashion designers on Instagram for displaying their creative designs for us all to see.
You can wear Ankara gowns casually or ceremoniously or any way you want to define it. Let me sit back for some minutes and let the pictures do the talking for me.
Yes o, the bell sleeves are still trending. An Ankara gown turned to a top, another advantage of having an Ankara gown…lol.
Front open slit styles give your dress this sexy look and besides, you find it easier to walk (don’t tell anybody I said that).
Don’t be scared of rocking casual Ankara gowns, they make you look respectfully casual…yea, they do.
You’ll agree with me that fashion designers in the African continent are doing a wonderful job with their creative styles, isn’t it? I’m sure someday, they’ll join the list of top women clothing brands in the world.
Off Shoulders Fashion Styles pictures
Off-shoulders no wan gree comot for fashion and style. This is a beautiful wedding gown inspired Ankara gown below:
Not only are off-shoulders not detaching from fashion and style, but dramatic sleeves are also setting up more tents.
Cold Shoulder Sleeves Pictures
The cold shoulders sleeves are beautiful on dresses or tops.
If you don’t like the off-shoulder thingy possibly because you don’t feel comfortable with your bony neck like me then try this out…I mean its revealing your shoulders without showing your neck…*winks*.
Fringes Pictures
Fringes do give our clothes another look but we love them like that. You can add them to any part of your dress just be creative with it and you will love it. Here is an example of it on the sleeves.
The Culottes Trousers
The culottes trousers are also trendy and beautiful in Ankara prints. I also could not help it but include this top and culottes trousers in this list.
There are some dresses you should not be scared of having excess of them in your wardrobe, why?
The reason is because they are not going anywhere. Jumpsuits have been since our mothers’ time and it is present now in our time. They are perfect fit for formal, semi-formal, casual, etc.
Try them out with unique cuts and I guarantee you cannot get bored with them easily. Remember don’t make them so tight so you don’t look like those babies in their “so mo d’obo” night wears.
Also Read: Dress for the occasion – Dress code guide
Traditional Skirts In Nigeria Pictures
We all know whatever is made from Ankara looks amazing. Ankara has been around us and it is not planning to go anywhere. The exquisiteness it exudes has moved its pace so fast into fashion and style.
Traditional skirts are plainly described as Ankara skirts. Gbam! Plain and simple. They could be made with different Ankara prints and worn formally or in whatever way you choose.
Lace Skirts and Blouse Styles
Lace has this importance attached to it, although it does not scream African heritage like ankara it is worn by Nigerians for a very important occasion.
It exudes class and the value of importance attached to it can be seen in the aso-ebi selection, expensive outings go for lace over Ankara; even the runway goes for lace.
Below is a picture of miss kwara wearing lace in one of the Nigerian beauty pageant.
Lace can be combined with other materials and still look beautifully mature. The trick is not to overcrowd the design so you don’t cramp your style.
You should check out these 30 pictures of the latest Nigerian lace styles and designs.
Aso Ebi Styles Pictures
Remember when we were going to primary and secondary schools, we had uniform and we all know the reason why it was called uniform.
Well, aso-ebi, as the name implies, is family cloth but it is not just cloth it is uniform. I really don’t know who came up with the idea; when there is an event the family should wear the same cloth.
This adult uniform is worn with smiles on the faces of those wearing it and you see them proudly dancing together in this “uniform” when in fact they cried whenever they were wearing the school uniform.
I am guilty of this too, i mean who says aso-ebi no make sense. It is so sense making that it has not been limited to families alone; friends come together and pick the same pattern and colour of cloth to wear in different designs.
People no wan gree; fashion and stylish outfit is popping out every day!
Latest Nigerian aso-ebi styles include aso-ebi gowns, aso-ebi blouse and skirts in either aso-ebi lace or ankara.
Aso Ebi Gowns
Saturdays are for owambe, right? Unlike school uniform that was the same colour and pattern and design, aso-Ebi can be sewn in different styles like aso-Ebi gowns, etc.
Hmm, my work isn’t complete if I just stopped without giving you more Nigerian traditional styles. Yes, check the lace styles, skirts and blouse pictures below.
Did you know that you can rock these outfits with beautiful Nigerian braids hairstyles? Try it out and let me know what you think.
Aso Ebi Lace Styles Pictures
Aso-ebi is not limited to a particular kind of material, it can be Ankara or lace but in Nigeria, lace is attached with so much importance and value than ankara.
Here are some aso-ebi lace styles you can try out for that aso-ebi lace and stand out like Ebuka of the Big brother Naija show.
Aso Ebi Blouse and Skirts Pictures
Fashion and Style for Men
Hello o! At this point, you must have been wondering, nothing for the guys? Cuulu down en, trust me now, I always have something for everyone (though little this time around).
Male fashion designers are also creating and getting more inspiring. These designers are showing off their individual styles.
From clean geometric designs to more modern designs, to even more elaborate styles. Let’s have a look and carefully examine a series of male fashion styles and various outfits for different occasions.
Related: 30 beautiful low cut hairstyles for Nigerian ladies
Senators Wears Pictures
Trust me, this one is in trend. As in, forrrrrrget. Although the senator style has gained much recognition in all parts of Nigeria, the native outfit originated from the South Eastern and Niger Delta regions of Nigeria.
What makes it unique is that despite being a native style, it is usually made with fabric materials meant for formal styles such as suits and jackets.
Yes, I’ve got more…
Agbada Style Outfits
There are trendy agbada styles you might want to try out. Here are just few below:
Want more inspiration for fashion and style and dress ideas? Here are fashion and style magazines to check out:
Fashion is a Canadian fashion magazine published by St. Joseph Media. Established in 1977, it is currently based in Toronto, publishes 10 issues a year and has a total readership of 1.85 million.
The magazine covers international, national and local fashion and beauty trends and news.
Elle is a worldwide lifestyle magazine of French origin that focuses on fashion, beauty, health, and entertainment. It was founded in 1945 by Pierre Lazareff and his wife Hélène Gordon. The title, in French, means “she” or “her.”
Glamour is a women’s magazine published by Condé Nast Publications. Founded in 1939 and first published in April 1939 in the United States, it was originally called the Glamour of Hollywood.
Esquire is an American men’s magazine, published by the Hearst Corporation in the United States. Founded in 1933, it flourished during the Great Depression under the guidance of founders Arnold Gingrich, David A. Smart, and Henry L. Jackson.
Last Notes on Fashion and Style Pictures
There you have it, Nigerian fashion and style trends of all times; from styles for ladies to outfits for guys. But I won’t leave without giving my final words:
In as much as we love to look good, let us endeavor to be good on the inside also. Slay mamas and aspiring fashionistas, remember confidence is the key.
You can wear the most beautiful clothes and hottest styles, and still, lack confidence or carriage which would make it look like the opposite.
So, I’m off to go shake another table elsewhere. If you find this piece helpful, please drop your comments, like and share.