When it comes to fashion there are 2 groups of people, those who follow trends and those who create them. Of course there are those who couldn’t be bothered about what they wear or how they look, yet they have style even if it’s no style at all. There is a growing misconception that fashion is only for a certain kind of people. Perhaps those who don’t have anything better to bother their heads about or those who can afford it. Well, i beg to differ. In my opinion you can keep a low budget and yet look suave.
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ashion over the years has evolved. The height of fashion cannot here in GH. cannot be compared to that of Italy, France and the rest of Europe with the biggest names in fashion. Fashion has always existed and it takes on new forms every now and then yet there is that constant thing that can be generalized. Philosophically speaking everything has contrary properties and yet remains the same. No matter how many different and new trends fashion takes on its still fashion.
Remember the 70s? The era produced some of the great musicians of time here in Ghana such as the Ashanti Brothers, Nana Ampadu & the African Brothers, the City Boys, King Bruce as well as Ben Brako. Stepping out of Ghana you would remember Tina Turner, Kenny Rogers, Al Green, and the Beatles. The 70s was memorable for its disco fashion. Those of you over 40yrs remember the spandex, hot pants, shinny lycra disco pants, sequin tops, leopard skin, jumpsuits, mini topcoats, satin jackets, tank tops, bell bottoms, flared trousers and the platform soled shoes. The disco look was what would get you into discos back in the day. Many of you folks deny ever following these trends but the loyal ones keep the flame burning. Go 70s! The 70s hair and make-up focused on the “natural look”. Hair was long, smooth, often very straight, but with a flip on the ends, flicked up haircuts and large curls. Famous women of the 70s Jane Fonda, Farra Faucet, Tina Turna and Dixie Carter. 
The 70s look might have seemed a bit crazy, on the contrary the 80s trend was a tailored look which was over the top and influence by Margaret Thatcher and Princess Diana and TV dramas such as ‘The Bold And The Beautiful’. There were the shoulder pads, big earrings; the neck chains, the pearls, night time jewellery, make-up and clothes worn day and night, bead work & decorations on t-shirts and suits. Hair had grown bigger from the 70s and make-up less natural and more colourful. What’s more there was also in high demand the clutch hand bags, bags with gold chain handles and matching shoes, the huge hats of all colours and designs. Women followed the low pumps which were a trade mark Princess of Wales. Men just simply laced up their shoes properly and that was the trend. The 80s lifestyle in my opinion was the most glamorous and had the biggest upshot in the history of fashion; it was expensive and folks didn’t mind running into debts just to look great. 
The 90s was known for pop culture however towards the millennium people dressed down as they were occupied with new discoveries such as the internet and sms. The World Wide Web project was published by CERN in 1991 and in 1992 the first text message was sent. With so much being offered globally less became more and the look was very simple and influenced by hip hop and also popular girl group spice girls. The 90s was dominated by the grungy look with mini skirts, blue jeans, t-shirts, baggy (trousers for everyone), cropped trousers, skimpy, clingy or stretch clothes made from lycra and block heels, with the early trends having little influence. Woollen clothes, cardigans, scarves, silk, velvet and petty coats were also in vogue. For the ladies cleavage returned and so did wonder bra from the 70s helping the less endowed. There was also the invention of the new Bioform Bra for fuller busted women. 
The wearing of flannel shirts locally known as ‘check’ with matching t-shirts underneath, athletic shoes or trainers and stone washed jeans took over the millennium but slightly altering and maintaining some of the early trends of the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. Hoop earrings from the 80s and 90s were popular and so were base ball caps. I remember ‘’spaghetti’ tops were really popular for girls and i think bell bottom pants had already returned from the 70s and ‘skinny’ jeans or trousers emerged in the millennium. | T |
he millennium has seen an escalating popularity of tattoos and piercings. Scarves are still in vogue especially what Middle East men have on. Stiletto heels made a major comeback after the year 2000 after disappearing somewhat in the early 80s.
The millennium has also seen loafers, moccasins, converse, flats, gladiator shoes and boots.
Sun glasses became very fashionable from the year 2000 but the interesting thing is that they have been growing bigger and bigger since then and even lenses are bigger and fashionable, the most popular being aviator sun glasses which is the favourite of former president Rawlings.
Typically women’s hair was long and straight later hair cut emerged influenced by music stars Rihanna and Keri Hilson. We have also seen perm, afro, dreadlocks, spikey hair, shave and the style of The A-team’s BA Baracus, Caesar cut, jheri curls and mohawk.
Hip hop fashion has progressed in the millennium with hood jacket, sweat pants, jersey tops worn by rappers and so on. Whale tails as known in the UK or in Ghana ‘apuskeleke’ in the early 2000s was popular but is dying out. The gypsy culture has also influenced fashion of the millennium, i bet y’all ladies remember gypsy top. Leggings or tights returned and they worn especially under dresses.
Beards, moustaches and goatee by men have also made a comeback.
Fashion is really fun. It only takes creativity to make an outstanding fashion statement, not necessarily lots of cash. Of course you can follow trends of others but i always prefer that you add something that’s just YOU because it adds more spunk to your personality.
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