Ankara is also known as “African prints” or “African wax prints”. It is a 100% cotton fabric with various designs. It is normally very colourful and is mainly associated with Africa because of its tribal-like patterns, styles and concept. It is the beauty of the African Culture. I feel proud when I am seen in one of these, as it speaks well of my nation, in the sense that we are creative and wonderful, with a high sense of personality.

Everyone loves looking colourful and smart in any occasion we attend. If you attend any occasion without putting on a cloth, you will be termed as being “insane”. This is where we fashion designers come into play. We burden ourselves with the task of ensuring everyone looks good in any occasion or event they attend. As a result of this, we found out uniqueness is best seen in diversity; and so we have different fashion styles in the industry today.

There is a 90% probability that in any social event you attend, you may find five or more persons putting on a particular type of the trending Ankara styles listed below, though with a different concept.

These are my top best 6 Ankara picks this 2017.

1. Peplum Tops  

Whether it’s a wedding, an anniversary, or any ceremonial event you plan on attending, there’s a 64% chance you will find someone putting on a peplum top.
From the picture above, peplum tops are blouses which have short gathered, slightly flared strips of fabric attached beneath it.
Though its popularity has been predicted by most fashion experts, to fade soon, I still believe that no matter how much it fades…the splendour and beauty of this fabulous design still remains.
Peplum tops look splendid and smart on 3 quarter pencil skirts, they also look fantastic on pencil trousers as well. Need I also remind you that they are also beautiful on flared skirts.
Now you’ll get that feeling of high self-esteem like I do, when I put on a peplum top together with a pencil skirt, on high-heeled shoes. As for the high-heeled shoes, just be sure you know how to walk in one of those; else I recommend you stick to the status quo.
You might want to rock it before the year runs out.

2. Senators
                                                     

Now I’m not referring to the senators in the House of Representatives. Personally, I wouldn’t name this particular design “Senator”. Though it was named as this because most senators and people holding one political office or the other were easily recognized wearing this particular type of cloth, as it was common among them.
Now, they are not the only ones wearing this. If you love the design and feel like putting it on, you a free to do so, besides it’s a free world. Senator designs carry a smart and classy look on both male and female.
Previously it seemed good on only males, but currently both male and female alike can put on this particular design. Though, there must be a noticeable difference between the senator designed for a male and that designed for a female.
It has been trending since 2015, and I don’t think it will go out of fashion, as more and more fashion designers are springing up with different Senator designs.

3. Big blouses

If you are a Nigerian and have not heard of this fashion style, then I don’t think you have attended any traditional wedding. Big blouses don’t necessarily mean oversized blouses. It’s just a name formed by  Nigerians, which relates to special African laces, with a particular designing style fit to be worn to any traditional occasion, especially traditional weddings, thanksgivings, etc. Its common name is Ashebi. Grandmas look unique in it, and they were it often for different occasions. Not only grandmas, many fashion loving women know about this type of blouse, and that’s the main reason they order for laces from the markets. With different occasions that came, and are still coming up in 2017, this blouse has hit the mark of popularity in amongst women in Nigeria.
The beauty in this gown is dependent on the quality of the fabric used.
As we are approaching the end of 2017, more native festivals are springing up and the wearing of this blouse will be more common.

4. Peplum Blazers/Jackets

   Image credits: lapassionvoutee.com

Yes! Peplum jackets are among the latest popular design styles in this year 2017. I mentioned peplum tops as one of the popular. Well her sister, peplum jackets is among the top 5 popular dresses this 2017.
Peplum jackets are blazers designed in the form of peplum (i.e. jackets with short gathered, flared, fabric beneath it) as seen in the picture above.
So if you want to look smart, without having to put on a suit all the time, especially to your workplace…a Peplum jacket made from Ankara fabric will do more than just fine. Trust me on this.

5. Babariga (Agbada)

                                                                 
The Hausas refer to it as Babariga, which means “King of Clothes” and the Yorubas refer to it as Agbada.
Not minding the name you choose to call it, the main thing to note is that it is a cloth with a flowing wide-sleeved robe worn by both men and women.
In previous times it was worn by only men. Currently, women look cute in it. When you put on this attire, there’s that feeling of kingship and royalty. Mostly, it is worn by Yoruba traditional leaders. It is commonly worn on a pencil trouser, made of the same fabric and colour. Though, you can choose to be fashionable about this.

6. Crop gowns

Crop gowns, as the name implies, are gowns, in which the front is cropped to a desirable length, and the back of the gown is allowed to flow, longer in length than the crop at the front.

I am not going to talk much here; the beauty of this design speaks for itself. Though crop gowns have been in existence for quite some time now, its beauty never fades, especially when you use a very beautiful Ankara fabric to design one of it.

Previously, I wrote about crop gowns and crop tops. The reason was that; I had seen this particular design on different celebrities and individuals in Nigeria, throughout the first quarter of this year 2017. I was fascinated by the style and decided trying it. I made one of it and it fits perfectly well on me, with a glaring beauty. It deserves to be among my top 6 picks. Nonetheless, crop tops are also splendid.

There you have it. These are my top best 6 picks this 2017. If you haven’t tried appearing in any of the styles listed above, I advise you do so before the year runs out. I promise you at least one of them would look perfect on you.

You may have your own top best picks due to your personal reasons; but to be honest, the reviews I get each day concerning these styles are good.

I know you may have one or two things to say, the comment box is always open for comments.