Twosday Special: When Old School Swag Meets Gen Z Steeze — Who’s Really Winning?

Fashion has always been a battlefield of eras. On one side, we’ve got the old-school legends of the 80s and 90s, on the other, the Gen Z trendsetters of today. Two different vibes, one eternal goal: to look fresh, sharp and noticed!

Let’s start with hairstyles. Back then, the Afro wasn’t just hair, it was a lifestyle. The bigger, the better, round, shiny and sometimes so high it blocked the view of the person sitting behind you in church. Men carried small wooden combs in their back pockets like trophies, while women were loyal to “wash and set” and Jerry curls, sprayed with enough hair oil to fry puff-puff. Compare that with Gen Z now, low fades with designs that look like Picasso’s sketches, colored braids in every shade of Fanta and Sprite, wigs so long they sweep the ground, and edges laid so sleek you’d think they were ironed with pressing iron.

Then the fashion rituals. Old school Saturdays meant ironing till your shirt had military creases and polishing your Bata shoes till you could see your reflection. If you weren’t wearing a belt wide enough to double as a wrestling belt, were you even dressed? Ladies rocked starched Ankara with matching gele so tight, circulation had to pray for survival. Today? Gen Z says, “no stress.” Oversized hoodies, ripped jeans with more air-conditioning than trousers, Crocs decorated with cartoon charms, and sneakers that cost as much as a plot of land in your hometown.

Now, to accessories. Old school folks never joked with them, leather wristwatches that ticked louder than the wall clock, gold chains from Idumota that everyone swore were “real Italian,” and sunglasses so big they could shade a small village. Let’s not forget the famous “shoulder bag” that carried everything from prayer books to cassette tapes. Fast forward to Gen Z: it’s waist bags slung across the chest, AirPods permanently glued to their ears, rings on every finger, bucket hats, and phones in clear cases because, apparently, the phone itself is the fashion accessory.

The signature styles! Who remembers the “step” haircut, the “punk,” and the unforgettable “all-back” braids with beads that jingled like Christmas bells? Now compare that to the Gen Z obsession with butterfly locs, lace frontals that can survive a storm, and undercut fades with neon dyes that scream, “Look at me, I’m different!”

Truth is, fashion always circles back. The baggy jeans Gen Z are flexing with today? Old school rocked it first with disco pants and suspenders. The “oversized” craze? Our parents already did that with kaftans and double-breasted suits. The difference? Old school dressed to impress and intimidate while Gen Z dresses to trend and vibe.

So, this Twosday, we ask: who’s the real MVP? The Old School with their shiny Bata shoes, bell-bottom courage, and Afro glory? Or the Gen Z with their Crocs confidence, sneaker investments, and TikTok-ready drip? Either way, fashion remains one thing: a never-ending gist that keeps every generation laughing at the other while secretly borrowing ideas.

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