East meets West: Ankara Top with J Crew Stretch Cotton Pants

As a West African woman, my closet is rightfully packed full with loads of Ankara pieces (tops, dresses, pants, jumpsuits, iro-and-buba sets, you name it). Ankara (African Wax Print) is industrially produced, colorful cotton cloth with batik printing. What makes Ankara unique is the lack of difference in the color intensity of the front and back sides of the fabric. With such vibrant colors and intricate patterns, Ankara fabrics tend to be eye catching and quite versatile.

I have always been known to maximize my closet pieces by combining ankara pieces with non-ankara pieces. Sometimes, they blend so well that it looks like they came as a set. I so love it when my closet pieces inadvertently create brilliant sets–it’s like finding $50 in your pocket that you didn’t realize was there. I have found that J Crew uses such rich color fabrics that go so well with African Wax Print.

In this outfit, I combine a custom-made Ankara top with stretch cotton ankle pants by J Crew. The blouse cost me the equivalent of <$10 and the J crew pants (click here to buy) cost from $24.99 to $79.50.

Here are some beautiful Ankara Tops available for order from Etsy:

Click here to buy Click here to buy Click here to buy

The Clutch cost $65 from an Etsy Shop that no longer exists but you can find similar ones here and here, and the brooch cost $11.50 from this Etsy Shop.