It was a Monday. Tunde was anxious. He had to be at Agro Allied Enterprise by 7:30am for an interview with the Managing Director. He had ironed his clothes a day before. It was a red shirt and a yellow tie on black trousers, a black belt and a brown shoe. He put on his clothes and was out of his house by 6 a.m. The venue of the interview was just 20 minutes away from his house. He was right on time. While he was about to open the gate, his neighbour, Funmi who is a fashion stylist called his attention..
Funmi: Stop there. Where are you going?
Tunde: To the interview I spoke to you about.
Funmi: You won’t get the job.
Tunde: Why will you say that? Thought you were my friend? You are supposed to wish me well not uttering this negative statement.
Funmi: I am but your choice of colour of clothes and the way you combined everything says it all. Just look at the colour riot. Your interviewer will dismiss you at first glance.
Tunde: How please? Funmi, I know you are a stylist and all but I don’t have time for all this. I have to get there on time.
Funmi: Well, I can’t let you leave o. What’s this? You are wearing a wrong combination.
Tunde: Enlighten me.
Funmi: First of all, a red shirt and yellow tie? Are you a DHL officer? Hanhan Tunde. Two primary colours shouldn’t mix except you are wearing a white shirt and black tie.
Tunde: You are using style to insult me like that o. Oya, is that all?
Funmi: No o, look at your belt and shoe. It must be same colour. You can’t wear a black belt on a brown shoe. It can either be a black belt on black shoes or brown belt on brown shoes.
Tunde: (rolling his eyes) Is that all?
Funmi: No, your hair is not well combed. You see why I said you can’t get the job. Just go back inside and do the needful.
Tunde: Okay fine.
(Tunde rushed inside. He changed his black belt to a brown belt. He changed his red shirt to a white shirt and his yellow tie to a dark blue tie. He also combed his hair).
Funmi: Now you look good. You know you are a believer. Let it reflect. Fashion is not to be overlooked o. Dress the way you want to be addressed. These are important fashion pointers everyone should know.
Tunde: Alright, thanks for the tip.
Funmi: You are welcome.
(Tunde leaves)
Clothes are a major accessory that everyone should have. It speaks and tells a lot about a person even without the person saying a word. God is interested in every aspect of our lives including our dressing, that is why it is included in the Bible. Our standard as believers is modesty. We should lay a standard that the world must look up to and not us, following theirs. Apostle Paul spoke about modesty in 1 Timothy 2:9-10
“In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works”.1 Timothy 2:9-10
Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 1 Peter 3:3-4.
There is a saying that we should dress the way we want to be addressed. Believers ought to dress well with clean, well-ironed clothes depicting modesty and should also put into consideration certain fashion tips or rules that serve as guide on how to dress well. Some of these rules include:
1) SECURE THE BASICs
The basics are the major clothing and clothing accessory men and women should possess. These include shoes, top, skirt, gown, shirt, blazer, belt, underwear for women and shoes, shirt, T-shirt, trouser, belt, underwear, tie, cufflinks, suit for men. Basic colours are neutral colours that are versatile and can be combined with any colours such as black, white, navy blue, etc. The basics help you to build a solid wardrobe foundation. They will also keep you safe from making mistakes when you do not know how to match clothes yet.
After you’ve built your basics, you can add more eye-catching clothes to your garment collection, and you’ll always have items in your wardrobe to wear them with.
2) WEAR THE APPROPRIATE CLOTHES THAT SUIT THE OCCASION
Always consider the dress code of the place or event you are going, and dress accordingly. An occasion can determine what we wear. It is important to wear the right clothes for the occasion. There are clothes to wear to church and clothes to wear for an interview. There are clothes to wear to hangout with friends. You don’t wear a suit when it is a beach hangout or a T- shirt and jean to an interview at a corporate organization. The dress you wear must fit the occasion. In Esther 5:1, Esther had to wear a royal apparel while going to see the king. She didn’t say it didn’t matter because God was with her. She had to look the part. She had to look presentable for the King.
Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, over against the king’s house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house.
And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.
Esther 5:1-2.
For most situations, you can probably figure it out. Just try and imagine the clothes all the other people will be wearing, and take it one step up. That way you’ll never be underdressed, but you’re safe from being too overdressed as well.
3) WEAR CLOTHES THAT FIT
This is one of the Golden rules of fashion. Buy clothes that fit. Fit doesn’t mean too tight. FIT means that it is appropriate for your body shape. It is not too tight or too baggy. For example, when selecting your shirt style, it is crucial to nail your size. Ensure your shirt sleeves end where your wrist meets your hand, and your collar has a finger-width of space when fully fastened.
4) KEEP IT SIMPLE
Leonardo Davinci once said, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication”. You don’t have to wear 60 items at a time. Simplicity speaks class, and being extravagant isn’t necessary. You don’t need to break the bank and you don’t a lot of bells and whistles to look great. You must feel comfortable. Apostle Paul talked about being modest and simple in 1st Timothy 2:9-10
In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
Keep this in mind when you’re putting your outfit together. Stop over-complicating things. You don’t need to overdo it. Just keep it simple.
5) FORGET TRENDS
As believers, you don’t need to follow the standards and trends of the world, instead we should make God trend. Trends keep changing. They come and go. The issue with following trends is the motive behind it. You keep acquiring the clothes as they come to show off to people that you are in vogue or to feel among. At this point, it is tending towards idolatry. Our body is far more than clothes.
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:25, 31-33.
6) BE OPEN TO FEEDBACK
Be open to the advice of other people as regards your dress sense. Consider the person the advice comes from and what they have to say. Usually, you can tell when a criticism is genuine, or when someone is just trying to cut you down a few inches. Men, listen to the women in your life, as they often are happy to give their honest feedback.
Hint: People who provide sincere counsel will usually be people that dress fairly well themselves.
7) MASTERING THE BASICS (For men)
Mastering the basics in clothing alone will benefit you greatly in your quest to be stylist and fashionable while still modest. After securing your basics, you have to begin to combine them and put them together to depict style and professionalism, depending on the occasion you are going to attend whether it is a casual or formal event. To combine your basics, you need to put into consideration the following:
a) Wear neat, well-ironed clothes: Make sure your clothes are washed, well-ironed and fit.
b) Always wear a belt when your shirt is tucked in: A belt is a major clothing accessory. Make sure that you wear one when your shirt is tucked in. The waistband looks weird when the belt hole is there doing nothing. The only exception would be if you’re going to try to pull off suspenders.
c) It is important to match your colours in two places (Belt and shoes, pants and socks): Belt and shoes must be exact same colour, not different shades of same colour or two different colours. Same thing applies to your pants and socks. Tunde made this mistake. Don’t be like Tunde.
d) When selecting a fabric for your tie, consider the occasion. Traditional silk ties tend to be reserved for formal business settings, while more textured fabrics such as wool work well for smart- and business-casual events.
e) The size of your tie should also be considered. In general, the width of the tie should match the width of the lapels on the suit it’s being worn with, which, in turn, should complement your body type. Lastly, always tie a tie in a way that fits both your face shape and the type of collar on the shirt.
f) Don’t let your shirt and tie bleed together. Keep it in the realm of ‘light tie/dark shirt’ or ‘light shirt/dark tie.
g) You can pair a patterned shirt and patterned tie only if the patterns are not the same or similar sizes. That means, wear a small check on the shirt with a large stripe or check on the tie, or a small stripe on the shirt with a large stripe or check on the tie. Also, the pattern on the tie must be different from that on the shirt. For instance, a vertical striped shirt pairs best with a horizontal or diagonal striped tie as it offers a clear contrast between each piece.
h) Don’t wear primary colors together except it is a black tie with a white shirt; it’s always a classic. But don’t turn it the other way around with a black shirt and white tie.
i) The traditional rule of thumb (literally) says that the hem of your suit jacket should hit around the knuckle of your thumb, the one between the end of your thumb and where the joint meets the palm. Your suit should cover your butt but it shouldn’t be overly long either.
j) How to button your jacket depends on how many buttons it has. If it is a single breasted single buttoned suit, button while standing but unbutton your suit while seated. Keeping the button fastened maintains a balanced proportion.
When seated, unbuttoning allows you to sit more comfortable, and keeps the buttons from popping. For a single-breasted two buttoned suit, the top button must be fastened when standing and the second button must not be fastened. Fastening the bottom button causes the sides of the jacket to flare out a little bit around your torso, throwing your silhouette out of proportion. Jacket must be unbuttoned when seated. For a single-breasted, three buttoned suit, there are two options. Fasten the top two buttons and unbutton the last one while standing or fasten only the middle. For a double – breasted jacket, all buttons should be buttoned. It is unusual to unbutton a double breasted jacket.
k) Wear good shoes: Shoes have a way of making your outfit look dapper. Wear good shoes. It is smart to have basic colours of shoes..a black and brown shoe…every other colour can come after.
It was 12pm. Tunde got home feeling excited. Funmi heard someone whistling. She peeped through her window and saw Tunde. She rushed out of her apartment.
Funmi: How did it go?
Tunde: Thank God o. I got the job..
Funmi: Yaaay…Oya gist me.
Tunde: I was the first person to be interviewed. As soon as the interviewer saw me, the first thing he said was ” I love your look..You look like a boss”. That one already scored a point with him. Thank God for His favour and wisdom. I answered the questions boldly. I’m so happy. Thank you Funmi. Thank God I listened to you o. It’s true when they say we should listen to women on this dressing issue. Thank God.
Funmi: My own is that you will give me cut o…(laughs). I’m just joking. I’m excited for you. Thank God.
Tunde: Erm..can I take you to lunch tomorrow. It’s the least I can do.
Funmi: (blushing) Of course…
Mastering the basics (For female) to be continued
SOURCES
Restartyourstyle.com
Fashionbeans.com
Realmenrealstyle.com