32 Kitenge Dress Designs 2023 & Ankara Styles

Africa itself is known for its rich culture and tradition. And when we talk about the country’s style, bold prints, and colors, the one thing that grasps our attention is the typical Kitenge and Ankara.

These designs have been known for their tribal prints and bold colors worldwide. It has been making its mark on the fashion industry as well.

So many fashion icons and stylists are opting for Kitenge and Ankara styles in their everyday wardrobe – for formal wear, casual and even as outfits for weddings.

Read on to see some of the most beautiful and trending styles that we’re loving. Here’s everything that we’ll cover:

Styling Tips

Not that all the tips below will work for both Ankara and Kitenge, as they are both quite similar.

  • Consider your body shape before picking up the dress since it can be worn in various styles, including dresses, skirts, blouses, and pants. Choose a style that flatters your body type and complements your style. Here are some of the best Kitenge styles for plus-size women.

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  • Kitenge is all about bold prints; hence to balance your look, keep your footwear and bags dull or in neutral shades.

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  • Add a blazer to your long dress for a professional look.
  • Long flowy and embroidered dresses are ideal for weddings and fancy occasions.
  • Mix and match with other patterns and textures to create a unique and stylish look. Try pairing a Kitenge top with a pair of jeans or a kitenge skirt with a plain white t-shirt.
ankara outfits

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  • Ankara and Kitenge are known for their bold and bright colors. Choose colors that complement your skin tone and hair color. If you’re unsure which colors work best for you, try wearing neutral colors like black, white, or gray.

If you do not have time to go through the complete article, just watch this short video summary:

Latest Ankara and Kitenge Designs

Short Dresses

32 – Bold and Unique Colors

From orange to blues to hints of green and aqua, the randomness of these patterns is what attracts one the most. It is every bit of an outfit for your summer evening as it can get.

You can wear all these colors in the scorching sun and blooming flowers. Have a look at these Kitenge Dresses for Young Girls.

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31 – Short Peplum

No one can go wrong with a peplum shirt, especially when paired with a straight skirt. The chic look is perfect for your prom, grad party, or your day out with the girls.

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30 – Chic Look

I love the idea of these designs being pulled in a silk peplum shirt and straight pants. Say goodbye to your otherwise bland work outfits with these edgy yet chic ones. Brava!

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Long Dresses

29 – Halter Neckline

There’s nothing in this outfit that is not to die for. The halter-neck, joint sleeve dress in one of the intricate designs that play around with the shades of blues, aqua, and purple. Wear your favourite strap heels, accessorize with a pair of dainty dangling earrings, and make all the heads turn!

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28 – Long Dress for Curvy Ladies

We love the sunshine yellow and Black combination styled into this stylish long dress. Also, perfect to accentuate your curves.

This amazing dress features a plunging neckline, side split, and a full-length skirt. Not just this, but it has two pockets and invisible zip at the back as well.

Complete your glam look with bold lips and chandelier earrings.

Kitenge long dress

27 – Picture Perfect

Use this classic pattern in a charming flowy, floor-length, century-old style dress that screams elegance and sophistication from afar.

The dress fits any occasion perfectly and is a perfect blend of grace and charm. Ditch the beachy waves, curls, and straight hair.

Go for the ’80s 90’s fashion hair updo. Put on bold lip color, and you are picture-perfect.

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26 – Dinner Date Look

A long straight dress with joint sleeves is what every woman needs in her wardrobe. A perfect outfit for your dinner date.

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25 – Unique Checkered Prints

These patterns offer great versatility, as shown in this dress. The colorful checkered print has been transformed into a flowy floor-length gown with a halter neck.

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24 – Modest Cape Dress

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23 – Dress with a Tail for Wedding Guests

This amazingly sophisticated yet comfy outfit accentuates the patterns and gives you the perfect day outlook.

Tie your hair in a band that is in a similar print to your dress. You’ll love to wear such dresses, especially at someone’s wedding.

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22 – Wearing Them to Work

We have, unfortunately, limited the patterns to long flowy dresses to skirts only. Change your style game with this chic cape worn over a plain white dress.

Accessorize your look with a narrow belt, and you have an A-list outfit right there. Here’s a complete guide on Ankara officewear.

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21 – Mermaid Dress

Tired of seeing the plain old organza-silk gowns? This boldly patterned mermaid gown is perfect for any formal occasion.

The quirky dress adds a rather sophisticated charm and accentuates the curves very delicately. Pair up a gold choker with your mermaid dress and slay!

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20 – Luch Date Ready

Need a bright dress for your lunch date? The blue and sunshine yellow silhouettes look mesmerizing in a pin-up below-the-knee dress.

The half-puffy sleeve designs add up to the charm ten times. It is, in every way, a perfect outfit that screams spring. Put on some fresh makeup and finish the look by wearing sling-back heels.

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Casual

19 – Overlapping Dresses

Overlap dresses are back in fashion, and we love them! The chic, summery floral design is a delight to the sight in a drape-over dress with a slit.

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18 – Best Patterns for Daytime

Creating a stylish design out of a pattern is a tough job. This dress has made it look almost effortless with its chic halter neckline. Love!

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17 – Travelling in Style

Elevate your traveling look with this ruffled jumpsuit. The uniqueness of the designs is on another level.

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16 – Embroidered Dress with Ripped Jeans

Kitenge is not limited to prints and patterns only; Kitenge embroidery makes its mark rapidly over the fashion trends.

What’s not to love in this mustard jacket and necklace embroidery worn over ripped jeans and accessorize with a belt?

You can wear it to your friend’s birthday or even to an office meeting. Always style the best no matter where you are headed to.

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15 – Funky Maxi Dress

We love how the deep magenta dress has been styled. It brings out the uniqueness in the design and gives that extra feminine touch to your look.

Style with a pair of hoops and some bangles, and you are good to go.

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14 -Contrasting Colors

Along with intricate prints and patterns, these fabrics also offer a vast range of designs printed over the fabric in all sizes.

The contrast between the beautiful red and blue hues speaks volumes of style in this flowy, off-shoulder dress. Add an edge to your style with a long slit over the leg.

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Best Skirt Outfits

13 – Blouse Ideas for Ankara Skirts

long kitenge dress

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12 – Colorful But Professional

Whether it’s a presentation day or high-level meeting time, wear your colorful skirts with a white collared button-down shirt along with comfy footwear and ace the look.

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Kitenge long dress

11 – Hot and Happening

Take your style game up by mixing different designs into an amazing outfit . Accessorize your look with a pair of hoops.

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10 – Long Flowy but Subtle Maxi Skirt

This seems like the perfect dress to wear to a festival!

Kitenge long dress

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9 – Twinning With Your Man

Wearing the same clothes as your man can be really cute. Why not wear kitenge and so a little bold and funky touch this year to your anniversary party?

You can also gift your man this Ankara bow tie neck west set. Here are some Celebrity Couples Matching Outfits for your inspiration.

Kitenge long dress

8 – Long Skirt with Off Shoulder Top

Pleated skirts never go out of fashion.

Match up your skirt with an odd shoulder plain blouse tucked in. Pair up your brightly colored earrings with the shades of your dress, and take your work style up several notches.

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7 – Long or Short? You Decide

Alright, Girls!! This is something you all are going to love because I’m a fan of this dress already!  This double dress that has a removable high-low skirt is so amazing.

You can easily create two outfits, two looks with the help of this double skirt dress. It is ideal for a hectic day when you have to attend events one after the other.

Kitenge long dress

Semi-Formal & Formal

6 – Charming Sophistication

We can’t limit Kitenge to patterns and colors.

The embroidered and embellished part is even better! This embroidered mermaid gown is every bit of a sophisticated and charming outfit for your New Year Eve party.

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5 – Mix and Match

Mix and match designs in a beautiful outfit comprising of a pencil skirt and a button-down shirt. Who said you couldn’t mash patterns together?

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4 – Long Cocktail Dress

The best thing about such designs is that you can style them any way you want without looking like a hobo.

This chic white below-the-knee dress proves it. It seems on point with its stylish off-shoulder design.

Moreover, the maroon and yellow color on the white base makes the dress ten times chicer.  For the latest and modern styles and ideas, give Modern Kitenge Dress Designs a quick look.

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3 – Add a Belt and Statement Sleeves

African designs serve attractive-looking patterns with a range of ways to style them. A stylishly fitted single-sleeve dress is a perfect look for your evening date.

We love the ruffled sleeves here.

Ladies, if you are fashion enthusiast, then you must know that adding a belt to a long dress is the secret to making it on point.

Add neutral footwear and match your bag with the color of the belt. Also, don’t forget to wear your loop earrings and complete your look with a smile.

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2 – Rock That Thigh High Slit

Take that feminine touch-up a couple of notches with dipping your entire outfit in Kitenge designs. The Jasmine blouse looks chic and elegant with a flowy skirt.

The slit adds an extra oomph to the outfit, along with the Kitenge print headscarf. Complete your look with bold accessories and heel sandals.

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1 – Perfect Party Look

Girls! We think it’s time to experiment with the otherwise bland ideas of dresses.

Adding a collar to the bodice and an edgy cut of the skirt looks like one of the best ways to take your taste in patterned dresses up a notch. We love the sleekness the look offers. How about you?

Here is another strapless mermaid dress for you to try out. It has a plunging neckline and an eye-catching fishtail.

Rock the look with a golden choker and bracelet. How about painting your nails in the dress’s color?

Kitenge long dress

reign Ankara gown $130.00

Where to shop for Kitenge and Ankara dresses?

Here are some of our favorite places to shop for these fabrics:

Long kitenge dress

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How to Accessoriese Kitenge Outfits?

There are times when you are supposed to dress up a little funky. Ankara and kitenge are the best options for this for sure.

You must give Kente headwrap a try, at least. It is a chance to look and feel like the queen you are! What are you waiting for, girls?

Crown your head and protect your hair from dust and pollution with this beautiful African kitenge print headwrap

Kitenge long dress

You might also want to try out an African print bonnet that is lined with silk on the inside for maximum hair protection.

You can wear the bonnet to go to the gym, to run errands down the road, during days you do not feel like wearing your wig, or to guard your natural hair.

You can also use it in replacement for hijab. It is a multi-purpose thing.

Kitenge long dress

African Prints Bonnet | IRE Bonnet – £19.99

Finally, when it comes to jewelry, such colorful fabrics look best with simple and elegant jewelry such as pearls or diamond studs. If you feel like going a bit festive, hoop earrings would be a good choice.

We hope you liked the article and found your favorite outfit. Have a good day!

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