Naija Babes
The pressures, oh, the pressures of being a Nigerian woman. And, no, it is not in the juggling of careers, family and personal dreams; rather, it is in the matter of fashion and grooming! Compared to the Nigerian woman, the peacock, even with the "gloriousness" of his plumage is dowdy and badly turned out! From the top of her "weave" through her ruthlessly colour-coded outfit to the tips of her false toe nails, the "Naija" babe (and "babe" does not connote "young") is meticulously turned out.
I have gone from dowdy to "fairly-funky-and-sometimes-sexy" in the space of 12 or so years. And it was because the pressures of being judged by other women that did it! That galls, but, hey, I'm cuter for it, so.....
Being invited for any function is a palpitation inducing occasion. Who's going to be there? What'll everyone be wearing? (by everyone, I mean the other women) You look through your wardrobe - is that designer bag still "in"? What colours are in season? There are at least 20 dresses hanging in your wardrobe but since they've all been worn at least once, none of them will do because, trust me, there's someone who'll remember your dress and SAY so, from that function FOUR years ago. Trust me, she's not being nice! You have to plan your "look" - never mind that you are not the celebrant nor the hostess, looking good is what matters! And did I mention that the event is 2 months away?
Come that day, most of the women are well turned out, yet they are assessing, calculating, judging every other woman there. What's it with us?
I have gradually acquired the gene that seemed to have by-passed me and with its acquisition I have gradually become susceptible to the pressures of Nigerian womanhood!
However, I shall continue to resist the lure of "total-babeness." This is the condition whereby you are clad in designer brands from head (Aunty Bola hair) to toes (Louboutin shoes) and clutching the latest bag that probably costs an arm and a leg per square inch (Jimmy Choo) all in the name of fashion dominance.
Call me "bush" or "not-with-it" or whatever, I cannot and never will understand why a handbag or a pair of shoes or even an article of clothing that are not made out of precious stones or metals should have a price tag that has more than 3 digits. Or why I should have, on my head, a weave or hair extensions that in monetary terms can feed a village. Or why I should wear jewelry, that would make Nefertiti green with envy, to the office.
Maybe a Naija Babe can tell me why?
I have gone from dowdy to "fairly-funky-and-sometimes-sexy" in the space of 12 or so years. And it was because the pressures of being judged by other women that did it! That galls, but, hey, I'm cuter for it, so.....
Being invited for any function is a palpitation inducing occasion. Who's going to be there? What'll everyone be wearing? (by everyone, I mean the other women) You look through your wardrobe - is that designer bag still "in"? What colours are in season? There are at least 20 dresses hanging in your wardrobe but since they've all been worn at least once, none of them will do because, trust me, there's someone who'll remember your dress and SAY so, from that function FOUR years ago. Trust me, she's not being nice! You have to plan your "look" - never mind that you are not the celebrant nor the hostess, looking good is what matters! And did I mention that the event is 2 months away?
Come that day, most of the women are well turned out, yet they are assessing, calculating, judging every other woman there. What's it with us?
I have gradually acquired the gene that seemed to have by-passed me and with its acquisition I have gradually become susceptible to the pressures of Nigerian womanhood!
However, I shall continue to resist the lure of "total-babeness." This is the condition whereby you are clad in designer brands from head (Aunty Bola hair) to toes (Louboutin shoes) and clutching the latest bag that probably costs an arm and a leg per square inch (Jimmy Choo) all in the name of fashion dominance.
Call me "bush" or "not-with-it" or whatever, I cannot and never will understand why a handbag or a pair of shoes or even an article of clothing that are not made out of precious stones or metals should have a price tag that has more than 3 digits. Or why I should have, on my head, a weave or hair extensions that in monetary terms can feed a village. Or why I should wear jewelry, that would make Nefertiti green with envy, to the office.
Maybe a Naija Babe can tell me why?
Actually Feyi, this is not solely a "Naija Babe" phenomenon. I read an interview a few years ago given by Eva Mendez. She noted that she was acting in two movies at the same time. In one movies she was part of an ensemble cast of mostly males. In the other movie, it was a cast of all women. She mentioned that on days where she had to appear on set with the men, she could roll to work in jeans and a top. However, when she had to appear on set with the women, she would spend obscene amounts of time planning her attire for the next day.
ReplyDeleteYes Kunle, women all over the world dress for other WOMEN. So, men out there should realize that, heh heh heh.
ReplyDeleteBut, Naija babes have no parallel out there. There is nowhere else in the world that you see women, who, even in their squalor, are so into looking good. Female beggars have their hair done, their nails are not as dirty or grubby as one would expect of a beggar; women who can barely eat from day to day still manage to look "together" never mind that the clothes are worn.
On women in general: Did you know that in the animal kingdom, it is the male of the species that is brightly colored - birds (think peacock), fish, and the male mammals have some fancy distinguishing features (the lion's mane, the he-goat's beard) in order to attract the female. However there is an exception to this - the human female is megawatts brighter and more colourful in her "plumage" than her male counterpart!