When Oreoluwa Bukola took to X (formerly Twitter) to share her experience of workplace fashion in the UK, she struck a chord with many Nigerians living abroad.

“I don’t think I can wear heels anymore. I miss Naija corporate space. The dress-up is top notch. You see this UK? Ordinary red lipstick I used the other day, my colleague asked what I was celebrating,” she wrote.

The post quickly sparked a wave of responses from fellow Nigerians and Africans in the diaspora, many of whom could relate to the cultural shift in workplace dress codes.

Two Bags of Corporate Wears

For some, the adjustment has been particularly tough. One responder recalled leaving Nigeria with two large suitcases filled with corporate and traditional outfits, only to realise they would hardly wear them again.

“My brother warned me I may never get to wear those clothes due to the Canadian weather. For five years, I never touched them. It’s been shirts, sweaters, and jeans ever since,” the user shared.

Another admitted paying extra airline fees to bring high-quality corporate clothing, only to watch them sit untouched in the wardrobe for years.

Different Worlds: UK, US and Canada

While many Nigerians in the UK and Canada say they have embraced casual wear, others in the US described the opposite experience.

“I dress up a lot more now than I used to in Nigeria,” one respondent in healthcare said. “I own over 40 pairs of heels and wear them weekly. People around me dress up a lot too, even outside the corporate world.”

But in the UK, several said the culture is more relaxed. One professional recalled wearing a tie on his first day, only to quickly drop the idea when senior colleagues turned up in T-shirts and jeans. Another joked that wearing native attire to the office prompted colleagues to ask if they were attending a wedding after work.

Missing the Nigerian Corporate Scene

Several respondents admitted they miss the glamour of Nigerian office fashion.

“One thing I really miss about corporate jobs back home is the dress code. You could rock a proper suit and tie and no one thought you were overboard. Here, people show up in rumpled T-shirts,” one person lamented.

Another said church has now become the only outlet for dressing up: “Na there I dey go show steeze!”

A Shift in Priorities

Not everyone is nostalgic though. Some said they enjoy the freedom to dress casually, without the pressure of daily suits, heels, and ties.

“I don’t miss corporate Nigeria at all. All the new suits I brought are almost growing mould,” one contributor wrote. Another said they were relieved to discover they could wear jeans, T-shirts and sneakers every day, even as CEOs opted for faded shirts and boots.

Yet, others encouraged people to continue dressing the way they enjoy: “If you like to dress well, keep doing it. Don’t let casual culture influence you. Be the influencer!”

Fashion as Identity

The discussion highlights more than just clothing choices – it touches on identity, adaptation, and the cultural contrasts between Nigeria and life abroad.

As one Nigerian neatly summed it up: “We Nigerians always look calm, colourful, and classy, like we own billions in our accounts. I love it.”