How I dress on weekends depends entirely on my plans and situation. If I'm attending a wedding, party, or other special event, I enjoy dressing up nicely. It's fun to break out elegant dresses, heels, accessories and makeup for occasions warranting a glamorous look. However, my default weekend attire skews casual when I'm relaxing at home or running errands.
As a Nigerian woman, my closet overflows with vibrant Ankara fabrics and lace gele headwraps for dressing up. But it also holds well-worn jeans and kaftans for lazy weekends in. My style choices each weekend depend entirely on my plans and mood.
If attending a lavish Yoruba wedding or celebratory owambe, only my most glamorous aso-oke wrapper tied with an ornate gele will suffice. I relish the tradition of donning agbada robes or flowing goddess gowns in shimmering aso-ebi colours to honor momentous occasions. Going all out with head-to-toe elegance makes me walk taller immersed in rich textiles celebrating our heritage.
Likewise for festivals across Lagos, dressing up in sequin blouses and multipatterned lapa skirts amplifies the spirit of communal joy. Market Sundays also call for my buzzing rainbow wax print dashiki suits to blend into the crowds of other finely dressed women buzzing between stalls. Even picking outfits for Sunday service calls for special care to show respect.
But if just spending a casual weekend at home in my pajamas, running errands or seeing only family, comfort trumps all. I rummage for my threadbare jeans or flowy cotton kaftans that feel like second skins by now. Wrapping up in my frayed abaya dressing gown as a protective shell, I can fully unwind without worrying about clothes.
Rotating the same few beloved items feels soothing as a ritual preparing my mind for Saturdays spent reading or puttering around the kitchen. My mood relaxes knowing I can slouch and lounge freely without ruining some delicate fabric. Stains and wrinkles on my knockabout shirts hold little consequence.
Of course I add subtle touches of jewelry like beaded Ankara print bracelets to feel put together even dressing down. And I reserve special weekends being extra social for amping up casual looks with vibrant headwraps andtunics without going fully glam. But comfort is key for laying low.
My style intuition restores balance between honoring Nigerian traditions through proud elaborate dressing for gatherings, while embracing downtime simplicity. One recharges me in heritage, the other in rest. Together they allow fullest expression of my complex identity through fashion that adapts to each weekend's flow.
Images used here are mine
Thanks for reading
See you in my next post ❤️❤️
