YCT FASHION ZONE: 'If You Want To Dress, Think of Comfort First' - Tomisin Speaks!

Tomisin Oke

In Nigerian universities, fashion has taken a different form. So how would describe today’s fashion in Nigerian higher institutions? What is in vogue and what’s not?

In some school, they kill the dressing 

Like which schools?

Schools like Unilag, Yabatech, Uniben. You know some top schools like that, they are always on point in terms of dress sense. The only thing is that everybody can’t be the same. There are some people that would want to go extra miles, dressing indecently and all that. You mustn’t expose everything for you to be smashing. When people want to dress, don’t do it because you see someone else doing it. Do it because you feel comfortable in your clothe. Most time when I dress I make sure I am comfortable. That is the first thing on my mind. I don’t want to go somewhere looking for what to use in covering my leg, I don’t want to hop a motor-bike with the thoughts of my pants showing. I dress so cool without having to expose anything. So if you want to dress, think of comfort first. Do something different, you don’t have to follow the trend. 

In Epe campus, how would you rate fashion? And besides do you think we should dress very well considering the location of the school. It’s almost like we are in the forest. Imagine Tarzan wearing blazers/suit in the jungle, does it make sense?

Laughs. Well, basically I think it is just because of the activities in the school. In Epe we are used to going to farm, doing dirty things such as farm practice and having to touch the earth most of the time, having to touch goats and rabbits. You don’t think it makes sense wearing a blazer jacket and sneakers before washing the pens at the piggery. Also, another factor is the little time you have. You are like ‘who am I dressing for?’. I always want to look cool. Every opportunity I have, I make sure I look good.

So as somebody that dresses elegantly, it is obvious that heads turn

[Laughs and blushes]

The heads turning is mostly that of the guys. People would admire.

Definitely. 

So how many guys approach you in a day? Give us an estimate.

[Laughs]. In Yabatech I wouldn’t even know how many heads are turning. First I dress to feel good. When I am walking I notice some people looking, some whispering

Like how many?

I don’t know. Quite a number. [Laughs]. You don’t expect me to count how many guys approach me in a day. 

Just give us a rough estimate.

Are you saying for the whole week or the whole semester? I don’t keep records. [Laughs].

You were among the nominees for Miss Agric. And Azeezat said assuming she didn’t win you would have emerged as the winner. Do you have any grudge against her winning? Do you think she deserves it? 

She is a very good friend of mine. We are very close. I do not have any grudge with her. I did not even expect I was going to be nominated because I did not even know it was going to occur. Abiola Majaro was my escort for the dinner; he said he was going to mention my name. And I told him I was not interested and that I don't want to be in the spotlight.

So you don’t like the spotlight?

Not like I don’t like the spotlight, but it wasn’t on mind basically. My intention was to come to the dinner and have fun. When she was nominated as Miss Agric I did not have any grudge. Firstly, she is a pretty lady in her own way and she deserves to have it. Some people thought I would be miss agric because I was looking hot during the dinner party. Nevertheless, it was fun.