“…I don’t want my best dressed day in a casket”

THERE’S a full length mirror mounted on the wall at the end of the hallway at our house.  

I visit it quite frequently when I’m getting ready for work every morning.

I always want to make sure I look good before I rock the streets.

This is when I decide whether or not an outfit works or whether or not I’m wearing the right shoes or appropriate jewellery.

But in the last few days, my mother says, I’ve been standing in front of the mirror in the evenings as well.

Photo Credit: Online

The other day she even asked if I was going out probably because she couldn’t understand why I’d care how I look at the end of the day.

I hadn’t realised it myself but she says as soon as I get into the house and before I change into my “home clothes”, I stand in front of the mirror.

I’m not quite sure why I’ve been doing it.

But I think I look at myself and think, “This is what people were seeing all day today”.

I think, “Was it good enough” or “could I have worn this better”. Crazy I know but welcome to my world!

I’m a serious believer of style as a form of branding and its influence on people’s perceptions of an individual.

You’re judged a certain way when you dress a certain kind of way. It’s just how people are and like it or not, you’ll always be judged for what you wear.

This is reason why your fashion choices should be well thought out and appropriate for specific occasions – work, weddings, and cocktails – whatever the case may be.

Your wardrobe should send the right message about your personality.

But this past week has been rather difficult in Bulawayo. The weather has gone from being hot to cold, cloudy then wet!

The inconsistency has really made it difficult to plan on what to wear a night before.

Maybe this is the reason why the mirror has been a closer friend than usual.

For some reason it feels like you don’t quite have enough clothes or the ones you have are not good enough.

This is the feeling you get after wearing chiffon on Monday, a blazer on Tuesday and a coat and boots on Wednesday!

But it need not be overwhelming neither should the weather dampen your spirits.

The guy that gave us “Classic man”, Jidenna, says “Now they say Jidenna, why you dressing so classic? I say I don’t want my best dressed day in a casket.”

Jidenna rose above his conditions and began to dress like the classic man he was.

He says the reason he dresses this way is because he doesn’t want to be the best dressed when he’s dead.

Photo Credit: Online

The verse “I don’t want my best dressed day in a casket” refers to how you are dressed when you are laid to rest in your casket when you die.

He says he wants to look good while he’s alive, and not wait until it is too late.

I could never agree with this sentiment any less.

Rise above your mood and the depressing weather and make every day your best dressed day.

It’s pretty simple. You already know what you have in your wardrobe; all you need to do is dress appropriately for the weather.

Don’t force a summer dress when you know you need to wear a coat; don’t bring out your suede shoes when you know it’s going to be a wet day.

Just make sure whatever the weather, you’re dressed your best. Clean and flawless, no peeping t-shirts under your collar or coats in the blazing heat.