Issue 1 - HOW IMPORTANT IS PERSONALITY NOWADAYS?

Photograph:J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere

I think everyone would answer this question with: “very important.” Right? But if we truly find it important, why are we so afraid of genuine feelings, of showing character, of expressing ourselves, especially through clothing? Because honestly, what do we really see on the street and online? We all see the same things, don’t we? Even if we move in different circles, we’re still part of one.

My man told me last week he finds me most sexy in a jeans and a simple white T or a perfect silk slip-on dress. “So simple,” I answered. But it is true, I am not big on colour combination or prints, until I saw an elderly lady sitting yesterday. Bright blue Adidas capri, washed red-white country blouse, flipflops and jewellery covering her neck and ears. Beautiful, from head to toe. She became immediately my inspiration for today. This is how influences work, don’t you think? We see and make it our own, if we make it our own. But that is the thing, do we take is as inspiration or do we sample the exact same? I’m not a big follower of social media (I don’t have a TikTok account) but even without being online, I can see what the trends are just by walking down the street. Trends, and constantly following others, are things we can never truly keep up with. And that’s the thing: it’s all temporary.

Photograph: Malick Sidibé

What are we so afraid of?

What you wear is an expression of your emotions. Being yourself and deciding who you want to be can never be expressed through following a trend. Getting dressed, day by day, moment by moment - from waking up to going to bed - is influenced by who you are. Take those moments, let yourself be inspired by the world, the people you see, how you feel, but all I can say is; follow no one but yourself. 

I would love to see who you truly are.

Levine Louise