Tuesday, April 1, 2008

What To Wear?

My latent shopaholic tendencies have highlighted a key problem with retail (and the inherent lack of) in Nigeria.

I love dresses, I love shopping. I want a new dress. I don't want to fork out like $300-400 which seems to be the going rate with a lot of designers here. Yes seriously, just convert the prices. And I'm not looking for a full on ballgown anyway...which appears to be a HUGE trend here....or is it just that Nigerian women love to overdress?

And I don't want ankara. I'm suffering from ankara overload, I have enough ankara dresses and I think they're better suited to daytime anyway.

Now maybe I'm a little too obsessed with Tiger Tem and our accessories to notice a bevy of fab shops to get a good retail fix....or is it just that there aren't any?

You're a stylish, knowledgeable bevy of beauties so I thought I'd ask you.

No this isn't some clever way of doing some market reseach before I launch a clothing empire...I have no interest in being that involved in clothing. My interest starts and stops with what to wear.

So the burning question is where do you go for a satisfying retail fix in Lagos?

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

I thought u'ld never ask???..retail????..foreign ord!!!!!!...non-exsistent....there's no middle ground....so did u say retail???..Nigeria..ermmnn...HELP!!

SET said...

ARE YOU SERIOUS THERE ARE NO RETAIL HAVEN TO INDULGE WHENEVER YOU WANT A NICE DRESS OR.... (DRESS FREAK MYSELF)? WOW... IT IS TRUE CUS MOST DESIGNERS ARE INTO THOSE LONG DRESSES AND HOW OFTEN CAN YOU WEAR THOSE TYPES OF DRESSES EVERYDAY.

Bunmmy said...

for me retail therapy has always been close friends house boutiques...there are a number of ladies who make this a business selling from home with prices starting from $20 for good brand tops etc.

Anonymous said...

You know when you converted how much "B.I.G.G.E.R" girls flock out on a Tiffany Amber gown ($300) it was really shocking considering the clothes are not even tailored properly.

Some people have some serious issues in that zone, I tell ya.

Anonymous said...

Did you say dresses? unless you're willing to shell out $300-$500 per dress, they're available but outrageous prices we have here. Blame it one the skyrocket pricing system for shops, light issues and custom unofficial duties. Oh! i forgot, also include the cost of the flight ticket and one day stay at an hotel, you'll see why we're paying so much. I have confined shoping for dresses till i travel out on my annual vacation. but seriously, i think it's about time we had an online site dedicated to making dresses from foreign shop affordable for nigerians. it's a business opportunity.

Anonymous said...

Temi, actually, i'm trying to pay a server to host my website (i'm considering Yahoo cos it's much more affordable)

Anonymous said...

lol wish i knew... i didnt shop for clothes when i went to Naija in christmas.. .although i did pass by a couple of malls and boutiques... some nice stuff but nothing i couldnt find better out here... sowee... and goodluck. great blog by the way

Anonymous said...

its a tricky one...I've come across a lot of chic young women in this town who have never been on a plane and wouldnt know a Mango if it fell on thier head...well they would, but it would be a fruit and they'd eat it!....When I ask the most common response is "ANYWHERE AND EVERYWHERE!" which means trawling through Tej...suitcase sales... Collectibles (Yes really!) etc. That kind of trek takes the therapy aspect out of shopping.....but you could don some dark glasses and tell yourself its portobello.
Most local designers do occassionwear because its probably the only sector that isnt expected to bring its prices in line with primark (yuck!)....Oh! just remembered there is a shop in sandiland arcade, that never seems to be open but always has cute pieces in the window...

TigerTem said...

@naijafashionfreak...wow. That bad? I thought maybe I'd missed a couple of great spots. Why is it so non-existent? Considering we're a relatively wealthy economy? SWAZILAND has better shopping.

@SET...very serious. My numero uno retail haven is Tiger Tem....I love Deola Sagoe's spot...but her prices are strictly for extra super special occasions only!

@Bunmmy...really? I prefer shops. Just in and out with minimal fuss. I don't like the idea of just pitching up at someone's house to shop! I know about 3 Indian women that do this (who I know through work) and Lisa (Jewel by Lisa) and their's is more organised as they host proper events periodically.

@renaissance man...serious issues compounded by lots of disposable cash, different body shapes and a fundamental lack of choice!


But seriously, nobody can actually NAME a good shop? Wow people, that sucks....so who wants to open a mid priced boutique? Clearly there's a market for it! My main piece of advice would be to not waste time on cheap & cheerful..you'll never get the footfall of Primark or Forever 21. Mid range like $50-200 for dresses.

Jen Juma said...

Abuja babe here...Sorry my list might not help but those house-boutiques are almost the best shopping spots if customers are family and friends (works for me!)... Collectibles, Kuttons, Wuse Market theres this store in Hilton, and random stores...

I hardly shop at home mostly in house-boutiques if I do..lol!

Anonymous said...

I'm interested in why you think retail a la Primark and F21 won't work in Lagos. Pray tell! Thanks :)