In the world of fashion there are many intricacies and there has never been a consensus as to what constitutes true fashion. Fashion means different things to different people thus many descriptions and definitions have been put forward.
For one of Nigeria’s leading fashion and lifestyle brand influencers, Sophia Chinwe Ogbueje, there is no such thing as bad fashion or good fashion.
She argues, “Fashion is lifestyle. Lifestyle shapes fashion and fashion shapes lifestyle, one cannot exist without the other once a person has achieved fashion consciousness. For instance, no one is wearing dinner dresses to the pool to swim, uniforms cannot have too many accessories and I will never wear simple jeans to a red carpet; the event will determine the fashion lane, lifestyle shapes fashion.
“Fashion trends are heavily affected by lifestyle and culture. That is why the trends differ from place to place and that is why when it comes to what is acceptable or not, the location where the outfit is worn is of utmost importance. Also, the person wearing the ensemble matters a lot, your own style should be put before fashion trends. You must feel comfortable in your own skin or your confidence will suffer. Trends are good if you have your own taste.”
Continuing, she adds, “One must understand that there is no good or bad fashion, there is just fashion and whether you can pull it off or not, confidence will serve you better than a stylist. Fashion is a means to express yourself through the clothes you wear on your body and the accessories you decide to pair with them. No two humans can be exactly the same, fashion is how you show that you are different, the same or just simply you, it is a means to let us know more about you and a venue to develop you personality.”
Speaking further, Sophia Ogbueje explains why brand influencing is so important to her, revealing how it all began for her.
“My most amazing memories occur when I see my influence in others. This is why brand influencing is important to me. I do not just want to influence young girls with my fashion and lifestyle, I want to positively influence them. I want to see the positivity of my influence. I don’t want people to see me as perfect, I want them to see me as someone that made it work so they can finally believe that they, too, can do better,” she says
“I didn’t exactly decide to be an influencer, we didn’t know what influencing was, when I decided I wanted to be in the public eye. At the age of 16, I started modeling, ushering and hosting guests, and I have always been very philanthropic. So I guess I decided very early that I wanted to set a very high and tasteful example for myself and then for others. I wanted to stand out, I wanted to spread love and I wanted to positively influence my society as much as I could, this is what influencing is to me,” she avers.
Sophia Chinwe Ogbueje hails from Idemili North in Anambra State. She studied Accounting at the prestigious Covenant University in Nigeria.