For a lot of men, the wardrobe problem is not that they don't have clothes — it's that nothing matches.
Renowned Ghanaian menswear stylist and Creative Director of AnafoBisi Clothing, Tailor Rahim, says he has seen it too many times, and his solution is simple: stop buying plenty colours, start with the foundational four.
"If you are a man and you open your wardrobe and you only see colours that you can't even match, my brother, we need to talk," he said.
In a fashion guide that has since sparked conversation among young Ghanaian men, Rahim argues that a complete, year-round kaftan wardrobe can be built on just four non-negotiable colours: WHITE, BLACK, WINE and BLUEBLACK.
According to him, these are not just fashion choices — they are culture, meaning, and mood.
1. WHITE — The Fresh Start
Rahim describes white as the colour that started it all for him.
In Ghanaian tradition, white represents purity, new life, and celebration — which is why it dominates outdooring and naming ceremonies, weddings, and thanksgiving services. In religious spaces, it carries the same power of holiness and cleanliness.
"Having a white kaftan is the number one priority in your wardrobe as a man," he notes. "One white kaftan can take you to so many places. Church, wedding, naming ceremony, that important meeting where you want to look clean and sharp."
For men worried about stains, he recommends alternatives that keep the same effect: Ivory, creamy white, Snow White and Off-white.
2. BLACK — The Power Colour
If white is his first love, black is what he fell in love with later.
An old student of Adisadel College — "Being a Santa influenced my love for this colour so much" — Rahim says he entered ADISCO as a full white lover and left with black dominating his wardrobe.
In fashion terms, he calls black power, elegance and quiet confidence. In Ghanaian formal settings, it is the uniform for class.
"Watch our officials, watch our big men when they go for important meetings — it's black suit, black kaftan, black everything. Because black has that minimalist, timeless look that never goes out of style."
From funerals where it shows respect and solidarity, to formal meetings, Sunday church and even weddings when styled with the right embroidery, Rahim says a black kaftan is not an option, it is a MUST HAVE.
3. WINE — The Arrival
Wine, he says, is the colour that doesn't shout, but everyone will notice you have entered.
In Ghanaian settings, wine depicts royalty, maturity and confidence. It's that rich, bold colour heavily rocked during engagements, traditional weddings and outdooring receptions — occasions where you want to look celebratory but still grown and classy.
"It is not as loud as red, it is not as quiet as black — it sits in the middle and commands respect," Rahim explains.
And for the fashion-conscious man worried about photos: "Wine photographs BEAUTIFULLY. On dark skin? Chale. It pops! Under evening lights? You are glowing."
4. BLUEBLACK — The Secret Weapon
His personal secret weapon is BLUEBLACK — "black's cooler, younger brother who went to private school."
"From afar, people will think it's black. When you get closer, that deep, deep midnight blue starts to show. That is the magic."
It gives all the respect and class of black, but with more depth and personality. Formal but not boring, calm and authoritative. Ideal for office meetings, evening weddings, dinners and church, it makes you look slimmer, taller and sharper — and unlike pure black, it holds up better after many washes if you buy good fabric.
"You don't need plenty of embroidery, you don't need plenty of design — the colour alone does the talking. Put small white or silver embroidery on it and you are done."
The Verdict
For men planning their yearly wardrobe change, Tailor Rahim's formula is clear:
White starts the journey, black grounds you, but WINE and BLUEBLACK give you that statement, that confidence, that "I understand fashion" look every man needs.
The four-colour rule, he says, guarantees you will never be stranded — whether the invitation says wedding, funeral, office meeting or simple Sunday service.
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