Aso Ebi Styles: Pink and Silver
Aso Ebi styles – this post is the penultimate installment of my Lagos trip and I’m finally sharing the Aso Ebi styles at my mother’s 70th birthday. The colour code was pink and siler. Take note, we didn’t come to play, we came to slay. Continue Reading…
Aso Ebi Styles
Traditional African Clothing: What is Aso Ebi?
When it comes to traditional African clothing, the Aso Ebi style is just one piece of the puzzle.
Aso Ebi means ‘cloth of the family’. It is a term used to refer to a uniform style worn by family members or anyone who wishes to wear the style (that was invited for the occassion). The style is often worn at social events like weddings. It symbolises support, unity and is used to identify guests as part of a group during an event.
Popular Aso Ebi fabrics include lace and Ankara.
Aso Ebi is not just reserved for Nigerians but is a style practiced in other West African countries. However, the name often changes to suit the country.
What are the typical pieces in an Aso Ebi outfit?
This diagram breaks down an Aso Ebi outfit ever so well:
The diagram shows a lady wearing:
- Gele: the headtie
- Buba: a blouse
- Pele: the shawl that goes round the waist
- Iborun: scarf/shawl
- Iro: the wrapper/large piece of fabric worn as a wrap-around skirt
I wore four out of the five pieces: the gele, buba, iborun and iro. The fabric of my iro and buba is grey lace embellished with faux pearls.
My gele and pele are handwoven Aso Oke’s. Aso Oke is hand loomed cloth woven by the Yoruba people of western Nigeria.
I chose to accessorize my pink and silver outfit with gold jewellery and a pink pedi ( :
Aso Ebi Styles: Old Vs New
Aso Ebi styles come in different colours and silhouettes.
My mother let us have full control in how we wanted our Aso Ebi’s to be designed. Whilst my sister opted for the more modern style Aso Ebi, I in true vintage form went for the old-fashion style (much to my ma’s horror).
I asked my mum what some of the differences were between the more old-fashioned Aso Ebi’s and the modern looks. She told me that the old styles carry blouses with simple round necklines and big sleeves.
In contrast, contemporary Aso Ebi’s have more elaborate necklines. Furthermore, the necklines can be designed in any way the wearer wants. Also, the sleeves have a lot more pizzazz (as you can see from my sister’s pimped out sleeves).
My sister’s wrapper was more fitted than mine and designed to look more like a skirt. My wrap-around material was fashioned into more of a blatant wrapper.
I will try this more trend-focused style one day: the diva in me demands it!
Now can we just pause on how gorge my oldest sister looked? My sister owns her own medical practice and has three children. She is wife, mother, sister, DR and so much more and she juggles her duties and responsibilities like no other.
And when it’s time to slay, you best believe she comes alllll the way through. I find her beyond inspiring.
Aso Ebi: Advanced Style
My ma wore a coral pink wrapper and silver blouse, she didn’t follow the theme strictly as she was the celebrant.
This is what being happy at 70 looks like Peeps ( ;
I took this picture during my mother’s Thanksgiving mass in church. I like the contrast in style and colour between what my ma is wearing and one of our guests.
Aso Ebi Style: Pink and Silver
During my mother’s event, I was torn between wanting to savour the event and capture the event via pictures and videos.
But I had to give myself a stern talking to. Yes, there were so many Instagram moments during my ma’s 70th bash but I wasn’t going to stress myself with trying to capture each one. At best, I just had to store and cherish the memories in my mind.
Do you ever get like that? You’re at an event or holiday and you feel overwhelmed with all the moments you feel you have/need to photograph, film, etc? Ya know coz if it didn’t happen on social media, it kinda never did?
…another image I love because it shows how differently you can wear the Pink and Silver theme.
I am so happy I was able to get the below shot. If you follow me on Instagram you would have seen video clips of the traditional dancing that went down at my ma’s 70th. This image is of me and the dancers from my mother’s Ishan tribe.
In the earlier days of my blog I used to feature my favourite Aso Ebi wedding slays, and my mum’s event was a great opporunity to get an Aso and Ebi makeover. If you can have one in your lifetime – go for it, it’s so much fun!
How would you have worn this Aso Ebi, pink and silver theme? Would you have chosen pink or silver as your dominant colour? Gold, silver, multicoloured beads or gems: what would have been your jewellery of choice?
Do tell, I’d love to know!
Bisous
