Tinsel star and popular actor, Gideon Okeke, tells Ademola Olonilua about his fashion and style
Would you describe yourself as a fashion lover?
Whenever I get an invitation for an award ceremony, I am always very excited. Sometimes I go out of my way to buy clothes and get stylists. I would say because of my work, I love fashion and I love to play dress up.
But has your career enhanced your style?
To a large extent it has. If anyone has noticed, I dress in a simple manner most of the time. I wear shorts and casual clothes on a normal day until I have a job to do, then I have to play a character. I feel like whatever I do that takes away my freedom has killed me. I am always comfortable in my jeans and T-shirt or shorts any day, anytime.
Are you saying you have a different style when you are on set and off set?
There is a big difference. I think the Gideon off set is not a fashionable person. I ‘borrow’ styles from some characters that I play. I would say I adopt some looks from some stylists that have dressed me up. Gideon the actor is an aspiration image of the regular Gideon. He is a guy I will love to be.
Why do you step out for events mostly in suits and tuxedos?
It may be because for this long period of my career – about seven years – I have played the character of a sharp smart dresser. I have borrowed a lot from that character. The character is an inspiration to me when it comes to fashion.
You are hardly seen in native attires, why?
It is very true. I don’t have any in my wardrobe. To be very honest, my first native attire was given to me by Van Kere last year or thereabout. The designer called me and gave me about five different pieces because he said he had not seen me in native attire. All my life, I never had native attire till last year. That is why I don’t wear them. There was no native attire in my wardrobe till last year.
What can’t you be caught dead wearing?
You cannot see me in skinny trousers or jeans because I already have skinny legs. I have worn them before but I can’t do that anymore.
Do you still wear studs?
Wearing studs is a very personal style of mine. I have been wearing studs for about five years. It has become a part of me that on some production sets, people forget that I am wearing studs. It is until I have filmed about two episodes before they realise that I am wearing studs. I had to stop wearing them because of work.
Some guys pierce their nose and eyes, can you do that?
No I cannot. I am an actor. I only have an ear hole which is not so visible. I pierced it myself. It was momentarily painful but I used ice to numb the pain. I admire any other visible piercing and tattoos but I would not do it because of my work.
But there are actors that have tattoos?
I cannot have a tattoo because of my work. Also the word of God does not encourage that. Rather than go wrong, I will play it safe.
What is your fashion fetish?
I love jewellery but the handmade ones. I don’t like gold. I prefer beads, pearls. I love African inspired accessories. I don’t like flashy jewellery. I will never wear such; it is nice to look at but it is not who I am. When I wear African inspired accessories, it gives me a sense of origin. Flashy jewellery is too superficial for me.
How often do you go to the gym?
Seven years ago, I used to go to the gym everyday but these days, I go to the gym about three times a month. I work out when I need to look buff in a movie or I feel my clothes are getting too big for me. I just work out when I need to because it is a high maintenance culture.
Why do you like wearing body hugging clothes?
I worked hard to get the body I have right now. I used to go to the gym daily because I did not have a job and I used to live with my mother back then. All I did was go to the gym, eat and sleep. I really used to work out a lot back then, that’s why I don’t have to work out as much as I used to do before. Clothes look and feel better when they are fitted; if not, it becomes a tunic.
How true is the notion that women are attracted to guys with six packs?
I will not lie to you; that is very true. I wonder what they see in that but it is the same way a guy is attracted to a well endowed woman. We have our preferences which could be personal or generic. It is funny how the women folk love guys with six packs, so stay fit.
Has your body build ever worked to your advantage?
That is a very bedroom/private situation. The most censored one is that whenever I go to the pool and I take my clothes off, some women are shocked that my body looks that good inside the clothes.
What is that fashion item you cannot leave home without?
I cannot leave home without my hat. I have over fifteen hats. I am only 32 years old and I already have a receding hair line. I use the cap to cover it up and the only time I am not wearing a cap is when I am working. Eventually when all the hair recede, I’d be like Samuel .L. Jackson or Russel Simmons.
What is the most expensive fashion item you own?
It is a Hugo Boss suit. It cost me a lot of money. I bought it for thousands of dollars. I have never worn it before. I bought it for the Africa Movies Viewers Choice Awards but it arrived after the ceremony. That is still the most expensive fashion item I own.
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