When you are overdressed

Nigerians have been severally rated by women of style as a people with great fashion sense. We love to dress up there is no denying that and this is irrespective of our social status. Both the rich and the poor like to impress.

quest to be the one to be noticed, is perhaps, responsible for why many people particularly women go over board with their dressing.

With the many fashion magazines and fashion catalogues on the newsstand, you can almost predict that you will find a space in those magazines if you dress well to an event. But should it be too much?

Angela a 30 year old business woman says, she wouldn’t call turning out in a skirt suit at a party where everyone is wearing jeans and t-shirt being overdressed. “I may just perhaps look better than many others there and I don’t see what is wrong with that”.

Like Angela, others spoken to also agree that it is better to be overdressed than to be under-dressed. “I’d feel so bad and depressed to come into a place casually dressed while everybody else is all done up says Tolu a banker.

“If I dare enter such a room, I’m not sure I’d be able to leave my seat until the event is over because I’d be too ashamed to move around”.

While the argument rages, it is better to dress appropriately to what event one is invited. If you don’t know what is appropriate, there is no harm in asking those who know. However, once in a while, people miss the dress code stipulated for certain events.

If you are invited to have a drink with some friends, what good will it do to turn out in a ball dress with chandelier ear rings and embellished evening sandals? Even though you may be the best dressed, you’d agree that you’d feel a bit out of place because you are indeed over dressed. When such happens, here is what you should do.

Nicely explain to your host or hostess that you were on your way from a very important formal party and because you didn’t want to disappoint her, you thought you should drop by and explain. Exchange a few pleasant greetings and take your leave. If you do feel like coming back, you can then go home and change into what is appropriate for that event.