Nigerian singer Tems has definitely become a lot more adventurous with her fashion. The singer who was known for always ‘covering up’ has recently been showing more skin and trying new styles that she normally didn’t before.
These new styles have, as expected, brought with it some people who do not like the new mode of dressing and much preferred the old aesthetic. Speaking in a new interview with Essence Magazine, Tems opens up about why her sense of style has become adventurous, and also addresses those who may not like what she’s wearing or have different kinds of expectations for her. Here’s what Tems had to say.
Speaking about why she’s started being more adventurous with her dressing, Tems said:
TEMS: I feel like with me traveling, meeting different people, exploring and being exposed to new cultures, and just seeing new fashion ideas, I find myself more interested in trying new things. I could see a balloon skirt, and maybe two years ago I would not even be thinking of one. But today that would be interesting. I want to try it. I want to see how I feel in that. So I do a lot of experimentation now, but it has nothing to do with the outside world. It’s just my inner creativity trying to burst out—just waiting to be expressed, really. I just find myself wanting to try new clothes, new styles, new outfits, new hairstyles, just new everything.
And then speaking about those who have an expectation on what she should be wearing and who may not like what she’s wearing, Tems said:
TEMS: You should be yourself even if something else is expected of you. You win, automatically, when you are yourself, no matter what that looks like. That’s why there’s variety. We’re different and are not all meant to be the same. And I know there’s a standard, but there shouldn’t be one. There shouldn’t be a standard of what people should dress like if they’re artists, or what people should dress like if they’re women. I just feel like we’re all unique. There shouldn’t be a requirement. That’s what I mean by standard. There shouldn’t be a requirement or some kind of expectation that you dress a certain way.
I have to think about why I’m doing this and who I’m doing this for. Otherwise, once you give in to considering what people think about you, and what you should be doing to be seen a certain way, then you kind of enter this race. You enter this unsustainable way of living. And it is fine for some people. You’re not meant to be liked by everybody. So that’s why you have to really think about what you’re doing and who you’re doing it for, and why—because people who are for you are going to love you regardless, just by you being who you are. You’re not going to have to try to be anything. You’re just going to receive love. Because you were living your life before all these people came along.