HOW DOES THE COMFY CHIC PULL THE “COMFY in STYLE” OFF ??!

Effortless and flawless style is every stylist’s pleasure and every woman’s dream. Finely dressed ladies, sculpted bodies, delicious and endless style trends that bombard us on TV, magazines and blogs dare us to imagine we should (and can) look really dope at all times. Alas, the fateful ‘nothing-to-do-gimme-a-break-lazy-day’ arrives, and putting on heels and sexy clothes to relax suddenly sounds out of place, especially if you are working and/or a mother.

For instance, I like to think of myself as a practical babe (I imagine ladies in heels and without a crack of a sweat under this hot Saharan sun think that they are practical too). When I know I won’t be chauffeur driven or I’ll be caught in a knack-about situation under the sun, I’ll wear the most casual things I have, at the risk of being uncomfortable. But is it me, or are sexy clothes actually uncomfortable? I have to say, I salute ladies who rock the sexiest heels and walk or ride a bus… (I hope u imagine what I’m trying to say). I once tried walking a quarter a mile in 5.2 inches heels and I almost tore my clothes in exasperation. LOL! Maybe I didn't feel I was moving as quickly as I should be, not to talk of the heel-inflicted pain and the almost-wobble. I cannot imagine trading my comfort for looking good anymore. I have the most practical clothes in the world. Maybe comfort should be left to street style and not to events??

The thing is, while comfort is essentially key in dressing up, from choosing fabric, to enjoying a proper fit/style, it seems almost imaginary combining glam and comfort. Nigerians love to play dress up, and we get caught up in the immense discomfort of a lacy dress that itches, or cute Jimmy Choos that give the worst corns or worse the make-up that runs in this heat and humid conditions. You know, there is always some event to attend in Nigeria, whether we are introverts or extroverts. Now when traditional wool, linen or cotton blouses and dresses become unbearable, what should a fashionable girl wear? Say we have to make an extra effort to look darn good (or picture perfect), must there be a pain/discomfort price?

How can we merge looking incredibly stylish and the ups-and-downs of moving around? 

Problem-solver-ladies, what are the most unique solutions to taking comfy and cozy along with chic and style?

EDGY FASHION: A STYLISH MESS

We have different views when it comes to how we dress, usually based on our personality and what we do. While breaking a rule about celebrity talk on here, when you think of Lady Gaga’s, Rihanna’s more recently Miley Cyrus’s personality, what comes to your mind? Obsessive in an evil way? Disobedient? Attractive in an abnormal way? You just gotta love their gutsy dress sense though. ..Bearing in mind that Lady Gaga forgets to wear clothes, anyway... It’s what is termed edgy – sartorially rebellious, enigmatic and, I daresay (with a raised eyebrow), creative. So as normal becomes boring and disobedient interesting, is edgy a personality or a fashion trend?

Edgy and funky rebellious style is used to portray ladies (and men) of the arts and social sciences, and who don’t deal seriously in “a proper work environment” because they deal with crafts, theories and behaviors (plus they are said to be more unserious than their science counterparts). Okay then there are the “serious and obedient” ladies who decide that their personal style should get a tad erratic to get revenge on authority or get more male appreciation… Oh I also need to add that edgy is used to describe an offensive way of wearing clothes that wards off attention from the opposite sex, to show a sort of “revolutionary independence” regardless of the boos and cheers of society. 

Then there are those trends we wonder why they are even popular (‘cause we don’t get it) like the harem pants, the naïveté of (or intended) obscene color combinations, cloth stains in the wrong places, peeking undergarment lines/patterns and the eye-brow-raising poor-dress-choice and jewellery that resemble violent weaponry. LOL again. Sure enough edgy is bold, almost classless (or is it?) and crazy, most definitely daring.

But, in the name of describing our style as edgy and wearing what goes against norm, I see all sorts of weird things – like a barely-butt-covering-glittery black skirt, beneath a fiery red top to a restaurant at 7pm or a high-heeled-boot and hugging leather pants with linen blouse in the middle of the day.

After sincere observation, with some exceptions, most edgy seen in our tropics can be real careless, uncreative or poorly thought-out. I imagine, edgy and crazily clad is an attack on social rules, like “suits should be worn to work”, “good boys find good girls” and “wedding gowns have to be white”… Describing one’s style seems like an excuse to act unrefined and show up at frumpy celebrity parties, as one of those hot babes.

So I ask again is edgy a personality or a fashion trend?

What are your stories of messy style and crazy fashion? Do you know any annoying fashion trends right now?....We'll love to hear them :)