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"are you from nigeria?"
just because i am dark skinned doesnt automatically mean i am from nigeria.
mind you. i LOVE being dark skinned.
when i started making multiple appearances on the nate berkus show, my inbox was flooded with emails saying. "YOUR STYLE IS SO OZWALD BOATENG!!" yea..in all caps.
i think its because both ozwald boateng and i are dark skinned and slender with a bold fashion style. those emails seemed be undergirded by a certain stereotype that im sure no one wants to talk about. however, to be mentioned in the same email as mr. boateng is mind blowing.
when i found this, i was hesitant about wearing it, but when i saw ozwald boateng wearing it, my confidence went up a little bit. now i am not afraid of color, but i am conscious not to walk out looking like a clown (that's subjective..some may differ). in any light, i think men have just as much right to explore the fun side of color with their clothing as women.
when i blogged about this look and eventually pinned it here, some of the women had a field day with it. everyone has a personal opinion about what they like on the opposite sex. me personally, i dont like wedged shoes...at all. i dont. that doesnt stop women from buying them, its just a personal opinion...right?
i pinned this image sometime ago on my personal style board. i really like the pants. they were fun and expressive and very much vibrant. as i continued my search i finally landed to the designer's website, orange culture based in nigeria.
i am all over these statement pieces. seriously i already have blue pants and an orange blazer that i picked up some time ago and just waiting for spring to officially hit.
since i uploaded these to my personal facebook page i have gotten so many emails and texts about where can they get them from. unfortunately they are not available in the states. sad.
there is definitely a beachy type going on here with orange culture. trina turk and lilly pulitzer are probably the closest brands in the states that have statement britches for men.
NO.
everyone will not like these. some may say, "oh thats too much. my man would never be caught..."
blah blah blah.
life is too short to spend 90% of your time worrying about what people will think.
i say open up a can of boldness this spring and summer and add some color to your wardrobe.
28 comments:
I am loving the clothes!! Actually my boyfriend IS from Nigeria, and although he stays pretty conservative, I could totally see him rocking some of these pieces. He surprises me sometimes and it is so great to see these pics to see men that dare to be a little different, yet are totally confidant in the look. Keep on bringing it!
*Did I read correctly that these labels are by nigerian designers? Just curious, b/c we have a trip planned for late summer.
Yes its Orange Culture.
Nigeria in the summer. I know that will be amazing!!!!
totally Californian ... I think. Or my son would wear this as Florida frat boy prep. Still I love that you mentioned Trina Turk.
Orange and blue are at the UF gator colors.
They do seem very Cali-Palm Beach dont they.
Gators!!!
Those are definitely some BOLD pants! It's funny they think you are from Nigeria...there's more than one country in Africa...plus you don't have the accent! Maybe Nigeria just seems a little more mysterious than the SC.
just based on that one picture, you and mr. boateng don't seem to have that similar of styles. unless, well dressed is enough of a similarity.
and even though nobody asked, I wouldn't kick that orange culture model out of bed for eating crackers.
Personal style isn't what the fash mags or others think you should wear...that's why they call it 'personal'!
I say, if you feel like you can rock it, wear it!
That label is AMAZING. You should be their exclusive American importer. Southern gentlemen would go mad for it!
That guy reminds me of Fonzworth Bentley with his modeling tude'. I love the pieces! I'm sure a lot of folks will have their fair share of things to say, but you only live once, might as well take some risks.
that dude looks awesome!
his printed pants are amazing!
That is such a weird question to ask someone. (Although I have gotten people just coming up to me and speaking German or Russian, so who the heck knows what goes on in people's minds? And I am not of German or Russian descent.) I think you have serious style, and if anyone can pull off bold looks, you can. But then I love Lilly Pulitzer and Trina Turk, too!
Nigerian! That is a hoot. People walk up to me speaking spanish ALL THE TIME - just assuming I'm Latin - but hey - I'm Louisiana Creole French and my Spanish is limited to what Dora the Explorer taught me. Love the orange and style is so personal - if you love it - wear it. Who cares. The same people who post negative style comments are the same ones I see at the grocery store wearing their pajama pants and hair in a scrunchie.
You look so amazing in orange! Not many men can pull this off without looking lime a pimp from the 70's, but you look absolutely dapper and fabulously stylish. I love it!
I admire this much style in a man! The world needs more of it
Glad to hear you are so confident! Those bright colors would look great with your coloring. How about an orange I <3 Thrifting T shirt? It is amazing how little Americans know about the different countries of Africa. I think Sarah Palin thought Africa was one country. Ann
i completely love this.
i love the relaxed colorful vibe and feel like i would have a blast hanging out with this model.
i can't wait to see you in your fly spring/summer colors!
I think maybe they have it backward: perhaps Mr. Ozwald Boateng's style is SO RASHON CARRAWAY!
Travel to the beat of your own drum, my dear!
hey, as an African reader, I just wanted to let you know that Boetang is a Ghanian name, I think. Also, I think the Nigeria comment actually has to do with some of your stunning features and not just your dark skin. Love the fun style, though.
I think these pants are fantastic and kind of beach boho sexy.
Please be sure to post pics of your incorporating into your wardrobe. I have followed your blog a while and I get a colorful yet very proper (maybe it's the bow ties? LOL) aesthetic, would love to see how you incorporate this!
A few things:
1. I did not know who Ozwald Boateng was until I saw him on your blog. Thank you!
2. Your styles are a bit similar, but a bit different.
3. Don't be offended about the origin question. I get asked if I'm Cuban or Brazillian all of the time. I am brown skinned with locs. *shrug
I always get asked am I from Africa. I find that funny too!
I always get asked am I from Africa. I find that funny too!
My husband would wear those in a hot minute! Yes we are Palm Beachers, but he's from a little ol town in Mississippi...it's all about style!
You have the BEST style,loved these looks!
Dude....you could totally rock that look! I love it all.....
I absolutely love this article and how well it is written. So glad I came across it through googling what to wear with my orange blazer.lol I the type of guy who love color.I even pair pink with black often and pull it off well as tacky, too bright or untastful. Regardless of what people may think of colors on guys, it just bugged the Hell out of me for everyone to live in such a colorful beautiful world and walk around in dull boring clothes and colors. Why not be different?.Daring and bold? Fashion is inventive and ever changing. So why not be original and stand out in a crowd a make a statement?. I would wear everyone of those outfits above that the guy rocked with the patterned pants.Living in a city like New York is bound to catch a standout appeal in a sea full of people.
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