‘Eko for show!’ This is not just a random slogan. It perfectly represents this city and its people, because Lagosians can package for Africa.
One thing with Lagos is everyone is trying to make it big here. But big is very relative. Big could be a few hundred thousand Naira, or single digits with six zeros, or double digits with six or nine zeros. Like I said, it is very relative.
Do not be deceived by the ‘packaging.’ There are people who seem big when you spot them in their SUVs but have only N1,000 on them and are doing the maths on how to get the next N20,000.
Whether you have made it or not, the way you are dressed is the way you will be addressed so I will hook you with 5 things that will ensure you are packaged as a Lagos big boy or girl:
Your Appearance: Lagosians tend to over-dress. I don’t know why that is so but it just is and nobody exemplifies it like people in Lagos. The average girl in Lagos would almost always rather be over- than under-dressed. I find it amusing when I see girls in stilettos at the salon or at the movies but maybe I shouldn’t laugh too much. On other, for the guys’ attention to little details like the wristwatches, footwears, nice tees, cufflinks are key.
You can never go wrong with a native attire: Big Boys rock expensive native attires. They don’t do all that Hip-Hop juvenile dressing. They rock agbadas and kaftans that are well starched. This is usually complemented with expensive slippers or a trendy shoe and they top it off with some designer shades. You can never go wrong looking like a senator who just received his monthly allowance.
Club Bills: The big boys of Lagos know how to club. As a matter of fact, they are the ones who make most nightclubs profitable. They don’t club just on the weekends, they club all week around. Lagos big boys spend serious money when they are clubbing, spending over N1m on bottles.
Look out for juicy deals: In the fashion industry, everything goes retro except the prices. Fashion doesn’t come cheap and if you are on a budget, you need to look out for affordable deals without compromise on quality.
Anyway, if you’re wondering what to wear in Lagos, I would advise you to err on the side of too much. You would fit right in.