Day 2
” Hello from Nigeria, Vogue.co.uk! Today I am wearing an old, much-loved Carolina Herrera dress and shoes by Emanuel Ungaro. I designed the neckpiece from individually cut and twisted strips of ankara fabric bought at Lagos’ Balogun market.”
Fashion is about trends. But Style isn’t about what’s in vogue , it’s about what’s in you, how you want it expressed and what you represent. And once your style is unique enough, it may well go in vogue as whatever stands out, gets noticed.
These are the words that came to my mind when I saw Chimamanda’s style persona showcased in Vogue .
Day 3
“For a speaking event, I am wearing a Peter Pilotto skirt, Ann Taylor top, Annarita N jacket and Miu Miu shoes. The handbag is Anya Hindmarch, which I find myself reaching for very often, because it’s just big enough to hold a book and has a slight lovely retro feel.”
The Vogue Magazine UK’s ” Closet Diaries”, a fashion photo series also known as “The Today I’m Wearing” Diary features in it’s March edition, Nigerian award winning author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
And as the series stipulates, the Half Of A Yellow Sun writer will be showing what she’s wearing every day for a period of one month on Vogue UK.
Day 4
“For a speaking event, I am wearing a Peter Pilotto skirt, Ann Taylor top, Annarita N jacket and Miu Miu shoes. The handbag is Anya Hindmarch, which I find myself reaching for very often, because it’s just big enough to hold a book and has a slight lovely retro feel.”
Wearing unique pieces usually tailor made and sourced in Nigeria, her chic style aptly reflects her affinity for bold patteerns and bright colours. Among her favourite designer items incorporated in the different outfits include both foreign and Nigerian labels: Anya Hindmarch, DSquared2 Carolina Herrera, Obsidian, Peter Pilotto, Miu Miu, Stella Jean and others.
Day 5
“I am wearing a BCBG top and DSquared2 shoes. My bag is by Nigerian designer Obsidian, bought in a lovely shop called L’espace in Lagos. I designed the trousers, and my superbly-talented tailor Razak made them”
The Amerikanah author well-known for her narrative of gender roles in contemporary society had a TED x Talk in 2013, titled “We Should All Be Feminists”. The piece was sampled on American pop star Beyonce’s women empowerment song ; “Flawless” which received a Grammy nomination.
Day 6
“This wrapper and top are by Nigerian designer Itunu. My brother says my Zara shoes remind him of Cinderella, which might be ironic, the shoes being the only thing I find tolerable about the Cinderalla story. My bag is from Chloe.”
In a 2013 piece, for Elle Magazine, “Why can’t A Smart Woman Love Fashion” – she talked about her love for fashion .
I must compliment her sense of fashion as very earthy, conscious and African as well. I love that she not only wears her look, it wears her as this is who she is and how she wants to be represented.
Day 7
“To speak at the Emirates Festival of Literature in Dubai, I am wearing a BCBG Max Azria top and a Jonathan Saunders skirt. My gloriously impractical shoes are by Nicholas Kirkwood”
One can see her reflected in all these pieces. All woman. All intellect. And one can perceive her cultural influences and some of her values as well just by reading her Vogue fashion closet diary.
I don’t know about you, but that wrapper she secured around her waist in Day 6, is my best in the collection. A top and wrap around skirt by designer, Itunu photographed in a market setting .
What’s yours?
Photo credits:
www.vogue.co.uk
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