WHY I STOPPED WEARING JEANS

So, this happened kind of randomly...there was no great epiphany that informed this decision. I suddenly realized last Saturday that I could not consciously recall the last time I was in a pair of jeans!

This seemingly inconsequential fact brought up a lot of emotions and made me start thinking about my life and my age most especially. I mean I am not old. I don't feel old .in fact in mind I am all of 30! a grand young age so how have I possibly stopped wearing jeans. My most beloved apparel.

Power Bonding aka Business Network

As I started my musing, I began to unpick the memories in my mind like forgotten clothing from a dusty trunk box. See what had happened was that I was to attend this networking event for women in business and management.

When I was nominated from my office I was excited because it’s an event I have lusted after from a distance but refused to attend at my own expense...I know I know but I had a bit of an insecurity about it. I had gone for another conference previously for my professional group and everyone there was sent by their company and were in groups.

I had self-sponsored and felt very empowered but unfortunately when I arrived everyone was in a clique; the employer clique. It was a bit depressing to be honest but I plastered a smile on my face chest out and was networking like mad representing a company that did not deem it appropriate to expend money on this venture. I was making contacts that the same company profited from at my expense!

Anyway, I digress...because I knew that ultimately any contacts I would make at these networking events will be used by my employer directly I had decided for now not to pursue self-sponsored. so, imagine my great pleasure when I was nominated. I was psyched!!! networking professional women what a dream what could go wrong .... we are taking over the world.

Sadly, my story does not have a happy ending, well it does but not without a few dramatic interludes.

A few days before the event I began to review my wardrobe...

I mean this was my "coming out" event. new job, new role; professional woman role type. this was a biggie! also I was in the fashion capital of Nigeria...LAGOS. dressing in Lagos to a public event is a bit of a dance of wits.

How bold are you, how funky, how retro how polished, how cool, how causal, how sophisticated? every time you dress to go out to a public place the understanding is that you will be judged.

It’s a test of how much can you manage at a time without buckling under the pressure, before the stiff upper lip begins to quiver and before you say I think I better take my leave now... in some instances you may triumph... that new designer is a childhood friend and scored you some new collection items or you have enough disposable income to put a dent with your Louboutin on the floors of wherever you have been invited.

The drill is hair, clothes, shoes, bags, jewelry and attitude. You must check all as a woman in Lagos....if not I advise you take a bottle of Pepto-Bismol with you as the bad belles you will get most certainly will be epic.

So, I carefully considered my outfit for this event. I was not taking chances. I spoke to my reflection and I said madam respect yourself here. It’s show time! I always feel like a show pony at public events but that is a story for another day.

I opted for 2 Ankara dresses

I reasoned that I am not even going to attempt some cosmopolitan outfit. my tailor Abdul in Ikorodu is a designer in his own right! also opted for dresses because it was an all-day affair so I thought I might as well be comfortable. then shoes basic black and a nice signature bright orange bag...Nigerian designer (madame coquette).

It was the proudly Nigerian theme all the way with my outfit.  With my outfit sorted, wig firmly in place, bag on hand, and of course, the compulsory complimentary cards nicely stacked in easy access pouch, I was set.

As soon as I arrived and set out to arrange my game face, I saw her! Standing right there before me was a woman in jeans!! I was for the lack of a better word, scandalized!!! Jeans!!!! What is going on here, I thought in righteous indignation. Why on earth is this otherwise nicely packaged woman wearing jeans? I was so quite put out.

But then I began to wonder - what’s wrong with jeans? She might be an entrepreneur; she might be an artist or one of those new age free thinkers. Still, I struggled. This woman had the effrontery to show up in jeans. I was wondering how she was going to effectively network and if anyone will take her seriously.

Yes, jeans are comfy they can be flattering even. And when well tapered, they can suit perfectly. There dark wash types look almost like pants. What’s the big deal then?

That’s when it hit me: I had stopped wearing jeans sometime in the last quarter

The thing is, I had stopped working out which was the first thing ...so my jeans felt more like control pants with a cruel form of spandex that caught off my air supply.

Somehow, I always felt like I was trying too hard when I wore jeans....so I’ll have to wear a cute top then maybe a belt and then the right shoes. It wasn’t working for a me, I could just as easily slip on a free-flowing max dress with flats and pony tail and feel fabulous!

I realized also that as I got "older", time became more crucial to me. No more multiple choice pieces. My go-to is a 1 piece: dress, jumpsuit or caftan, and that is just it.

So yes, I love jeans as most people do. But not until I can go back to being rail thin where my hip bones supported my jeans so I look like I just threw it on. And not like I had the Heimlich maneuver performed on me to get into them. Until then, I dare say my love affair might just be over.

Back to my conference sister at the event - I salute your courage because from what I encountered fully dressed in my politically correct Ankara dress, our sisters must have chewed you out or as was the norm, just blatantly ignored you.