What to Wear in Nairobi's Cold Season: Layering with Upcycled Pieces

Anyone who has stood at a matatu stage at seven in the morning in July knows that Nairobi can be properly cold. By lunchtime the sun is out, and by evening you may be dodging drizzle. The cool months reward one skill above all others: layering.

Here is how to dress for the day you actually get, using pieces with character rather than a pile of plain fleeces.

The three-layer rule

Think of your outfit in three parts, each easy to add or remove.

1. Base layer: a breathable cotton top, shirt or light dress that is comfortable on its own when the afternoon warms up.
2. Middle layer: an overshirt, knit or light jacket for the commute and air-conditioned offices.
3. Outer layer: a denim or heavier jacket for early mornings and evenings out.

The trick is that every layer should look finished when worn alone. That way, taking off your jacket at noon never leaves you looking half dressed.

Let the jacket do the talking

In the cold season, your jacket is the piece people see most. It is worth choosing one with a story. A reworked denim jacket with kitenge patchwork, such as our Patchwork Denim Kitenge Jacket at KES 4,500, turns a practical layer into the centre of the outfit. Pair it with plain trousers and a simple top, and let the print carry the look.

Denim is also a sensible Nairobi fabric. It blocks a chilly breeze, handles a light shower and softens beautifully the more you wear it.

Dresses for cool weather

You do not have to put dresses away until December. A few combinations that work:

• A shirt dress belted over trousers or leggings, with a jacket on top.
• A midi dress with a fitted knit pulled over, turning it into a skirt for the day.
• An asymmetric kitenge dress with closed shoes and a cropped denim jacket that shows off the hemline.
• Any dress with a long overshirt left open, sleeves rolled once the sun appears.

Streetwear for drizzly evenings

Oversized hoodies, cargo trousers and bold reworked sweatshirts are made for cool evenings. Choose roomy cuts that allow a T-shirt underneath. If you are heading into town after work, a remade streetwear piece over your office shirt can switch your look in seconds.

Colour for grey days

Nairobi's overcast skies make colour feel even more welcome. Kanga and kitenge prints bring warmth to a muted morning, and they sit beautifully against charcoal, navy, olive and denim. If you prefer a calmer palette, choose one patterned piece and keep everything else in a single neutral tone.

A quick cold-season checklist

• One reliable outer jacket you love wearing.
• Two or three overshirts or knits for the middle layer.
• Breathable base tops that look good on their own.
• Closed shoes that cope with muddy pavements.
• A scarf or wrap that folds small enough for your bag.

Care during the cool months

Damp air means clothes take longer to dry. Hang remade pieces in a well-aired room, inside out and away from direct heat, and never put a slightly damp jacket away in a closed wardrobe.

Dress for the whole day

The cold season is the best time of year for clothes that show your personality, because you get to wear more of them at once. Each upcycled piece we make is remade from mitumba garments, so your layers will not look like anyone else's.

Browse jackets, shirts and streetwear in the shop, and check our delivery information if you are outside Nairobi.