By Josephine Agbonkhese & Anino Aganbi

THE age-old assumption is that women spend hours searching their wardrobes, making up their faces and standing in front of a mirror simply to impress the opposite sex(or their men).

As such, it isn’t uncommon to hear words like “You think say you still dey market?” when a married woman, for example, dresses up in some breathtaking ways—insinuating she’s all out to impress the opposite sex. Though women often say they find this quite embarrassing, deconstructing the deep-seated belief has remained almost impossible.

But how true is this assumption? What or who do women primarily consider each time they stand in their underwear in front of the wardrobe, contemplating what to wear— or when applying their makeup? Is it men, themselves or other women?

Respondents
Woman’s Own posed this question to different women and got several interesting answers.

“For myself first. I love it when I dress well. I’m content. I feel like I can rule the world dressed well. I can knock on any door. I can speak to anybody. For me, it is me first. Why should I dress up for a man? His compliments are only added perks,” a veteran journalist who preferred to be identified as Tope, said.

A younger mother, Tolulope Oluwole, who works with one of the new generation banks, however said she has a man who doesn’t see the need to dictate her style, and as such, dresses up in ways that primarily appeal to her.

One of our respondents, a style consultant cum writer with a national daily, who spoke on anonymity, strongly disagreed that women spend hours in front of the mirror just to impress the opposite sex, whether married or unmarried.

“You dress for yourself first and be happy. It builds your esteem. Then the man will notice you look good,” she said.

In her view, any woman who depends on men for affirmation might get hurt when she isn’t noticed or commended.

“Sometimes, you dress well and the man does not notice. If he notices, he also may not say it just to hurt you. So, if your happiness is tied to your man and what he has to say, you may never be happy,” she said.

Poll
As the debate got hotter, Woman’s Own conducted an online poll with 50 women aged between 20 and 50, and the result unearthed other issues that factor when women dress up.

Six out of ten women aged between 20 and 35 said they dressed to impress other women. In fact, the poll showed they bear girlfriends in mind when they ransack their wardrobes and wear their make-up—up to deciding what shoes to wear. It revealed they just love to attract compliments or envy from their peers. To a large extent, about 70 percent of the participants confessed they dress to impress other women because they find their compliments most genuine– more than that of men. Explaining this factor, they said their friends were much more likely to comment if they had changed their hair or make-up than their husbands or boyfriends. There is also the fact that women are much more in the know when it comes to clothes, make-up and style.

Explaining this factor, they said their friends were much more likely to comment if they had changed their hair or make-up than their husbands or boyfriends. There is also the fact that women are much more in the know when it comes to clothes, make-up and style.

Woman’s Own particularly noticed almost all the participants thought compliments from men were the least sincere because they felt men say they look good regardless of what they actually look like; they compliment them as a tradition, without thinking.

So, who do women dress to impress? Men, themselves or other women? We leave you to decide.