20 Best Ankara Tops in 2023 | African Print Fashion Worth Trying

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If you’re anything like me, and I bet you are, you’re intrigued by the beauty of ankara styles and how a “simple” wax print can be turned into elegant African print dresses, ankara tops, ankara skirts and more.

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20 best ankara tops for ladies every African print lover should have in their wardrobe. From affordable ankara peplum tops, and African print crop tops to off the shoulder tops and even more stunning ankara top styles to rock this year. And details on where to African print clothes online for less.

Lets put it into a different context if African print fashion is new to you.

Have you ever had a very delicious cake? What attracted you to the magnificence of the cake? For me it is usually the beauty of the cake’s dressing, the delicious layers that enclose the food I am about to savor tell my intuition which one to spend my money on or at least give my attention.

Now imagine a well-prepared cakeβ€”that could take your taste buds on a new experienceβ€”sitting on a beautiful cake board, but without any interesting cake dressing. Deflating right? I absolutely concur!

Blouses like ankara tops are the cake dressing of our outfit. These ankara top styles are what welcome everyone you meet. Thus, the need to invest in the right kind of tops is the same reason that pastry chefs spend hours decorating an already delicious cake.

African print ankara tops can be styled in many different ways. Wax prints like ankara, kente, kitenge & dashiki are just a few of the well known prints African prints. See 20 unique ankara tops we can’t get enough of this year.

Top 20 Ankara Tops to Inspire You

To want a beautiful Ankara top is one thing but to have it readily available is another. It is exciting to know there are very talented designers who have made these pieces of art available in several varieties that cut across dress sense and style opinions.

But for those looking for less expensive options, you might discover this Amazon fashion finds for ankara tops might just be what you need. See below for a roundup of the best-selling African print tops on Amazon.

Discover 20 best ankara tops to inspire you, bring color to your closet, and guaranteed to steal the show where ever you go.

1. L’Aviye Alexandra Peplum Wrap Top

L’aviye really knows how to bring out a woman’s elegance and style with her design and I am definitely loving this beautiful white and black, long sleeve, shawl collar, African print wrap top. I will say that this is a top for any occasion, from corporate, cocktail to casual, you can style it with anything to soothe your needs.


2. Shenbolen Peplum Top

We can all agree that peplums are here to stay! This beautiful peplum piece hugs the right places thus creating a flattering silhouette, the waist belt gives it an overall chic look. Flare and short sleeves are rarely found on a garment, therefore, making this piece a unique one, the fullness of the peplum is one desired by many.


3. Yetunde Sarumi Jodi Peplum

Yetunde always delivers with African print pieces that are well laid and tailored to fit like a glove. The Jodi blouse is no exception! The peplum’s fullness is conservative, this expresses its purpose to communicate elegance and professionalism. The beautiful and trending high neckline also attests to this fact.


4. Aikaplus Wax Print Top

Asymmetric styles have been in style for a long time because they stand out in ways that accentuates your figure. The chic cap sleeves and front zip are unique details that modernize this piece. This top comprises an asymmetric hem, center front zipper, and a cute cap sleeve that sums up the entire look. These are the exact features that will help you stand out in the crowd.


5. WithFlare Patchwork Peplum

The queen of ankara patchwork clothes does it again with this monochrome beauty. What’s not to love about this African print peplum top? The princess line bodice and circular skirt style peplum is just chic.

Ankara peplum tops like this monochrome blouse are a must-have! Maybe you are not bold enough to explore the beautiful Ankara colors yet, well that’s ok, this piece is for you!


6. Shenbolen Long Sleeve Shirt

Picture yourself in an ankara peplum top and pencil skirt. This affordable African print top would be your go-to blouse to slay your work and special event needs regardless of the weather changes.

Wear as both a jacket and a shirt, matched with pants, skirts or even a black sheath dress. Well yes! You guessed right; this wax print top will be a wardrobe staple.


7. Boriah Clothiers Nkonye Wrap Top

Ankara tops designs like this mix and match wrap top always get me excited about the versatility of African print clothes. Seriously, the styling options with the Nkonye blouse makes this top a great option any day!

The high low peplum design, collared neckline, pin-up sleeves, and attached belt are a few things that make this blouse a winner for any given shape and body type.


8. D’Iyanu Diola Cold Shoulder Fold Over Top

I got to say, this Rayen African print cold shoulder foldover top is giving that cool, sophisticated, fun vibe. Loving the raspberry and yellow kente blend and most definitely the cold shoulder fold-over design. This multiway silhouette top will definitely pop on your denim, pencil skirts, and palazzo pants.


9. Boriah Clothiers Bosede Blouse

Talk about a blouse with a lot of oomph! This Ankara cold shoulder floral top is one that speaks for itself. The beautiful piece comprises of a handkerchief style hemstitched into a peplum, a chic yet unconventional three-quarter sleeve, and a V-neckline. If you’re searching for ankara tops that pop, the Bosede blouse fits the bill.


10. Shenbolen Long Sleeve Shirt

I picture this shirt being those ankara top and trouser styles that are too good to pass up. The tie neck shirt is one you want to show off anywhere you go.

This African print shirt features classy bishop sleeves gathered up in an elastic band. The high-neck cut with pussy bow detail gives an understated elegance to your ensemble. Dress this long sleeve shirt up or down for any occasion and season.


11. Boriah Ankara Patchwork Sweatshirt

Imagine a canvas of a painting, a wall filled with art or a galley of artwork. This sweatshirt is not your traditional piece, the brilliant color composition invites one to see the light within every soul, the proximity on its black surface describes the beauty of the entrance of light in a dark place, there is no way this top would not inspire both the wearer and the beholder!


12. L’Aviye Pussybow Blouse

Who’s the boss? This piece helps you achieve that look most modern women sought after. The Ankara top depicts class, strength, beauty, and maturity! The beautiful print is a patriarch of Ankara print thus well sought after, the neck bow and generous fullness of the peplum and sleeve is a connotation of rich style and elegance.


13. Remi Chiffon Bow Blouse

I overheard you saying you love African prints, but cotton isn’t your cup of tea, well, sit tight! This blouse is in unique African prints but laid on the ever-fluid and drapery chiffon, highlighted by a neck bow on a button-down shirt style.

This can be styled as a smart casual or simply as an official look with the right kind of pumps and skirt. See how I styled the short-sleeve version in this 30 days African print fashion series.


14. Flair by Ashi Adaora Peplum Top

Off-shoulder designs are definitely a fave this season especially in the hot weather and it accentuates the beautiful neck and shoulder of the feminine body. This beautiful Africa print off shoulder crop top with sexy ruffle sleeves is divine and very playful for the vibrant woman.


Looking for more African clothing inspiration? You’ll love these popular posts:


15. Shenbolen Long Cotton Top

Neck lapels is one of the highlights of suits, And this ankara top style uses that neck lapel to immediately draw the attention to you. This collared cut creates a slimming illusion.

Completed with a stunning waist belt, this African print shirt is all shades of awesome. Wear to work, weddings, church and more and transition with this piece to fall and winter as desired.


16. L’Aviye Fit and Flare Wrap Top

That outstanding neckline, the beautiful long bell sleeves, the alluring shawl collar with a waist belt, and that vibrant kente print. Get ready for super chic modern-day yet fun woman vibes in this masterpiece! This very fashion-forward Ankara wrap top will steal the show.


17. Slim Fit Wax Print Blouse

One feature this top has is its slim-fitting capabilities: the highly desired hourglass silhouette can help you achieve that illusion. This ankara peplum has raving reviews and costs under $35 plus it ships free with Prime. The wax print top is tailored to fit like a glove, enveloping your body and showing off your curves in the right proportions.


18. WithFlare Wax Print Patchwork Top

This 100% wax print peplum top puts a modern spin on traditional ankara tops. Seriously, no drama just a truckload of cuteness! It features an elegant three-quarter sleeve and a cute peplum with well-defined slash lines that forms a sea wave.

The intelligence of the patchwork certainly cannot go unnoticed, bringing together so many colors in such a cohesive way just scream beauty. See how I styled my WithFlare wax print clothes.


19. L’Aviye Ankara Pussybow Peplum Top

Truth be told, bow ties are gorgeous! But when a bow tie is intelligently placed at the back of an African print blouse, it’s hard not to pay attention. D’Iyanu brings this heat with this Kente wax print piece in an exciting mixture of fashion-forward, and outstanding style redefinition.


20. L’aviye Tiered Wrap Top

L’aviye literally brings home the trophy with the African print off the shoulder top. You’re going to rack up compliments in this showstopper.

From the ruffled sleeves and asymmetric neckline to the off-shoulder style and bow detail, this ankara print top is far from boring. If you’re ready to turn heads, scoop this up and thank me later!


Unlike cake dressing, each of these ankara tops can be styled in several ways, matched with flats or heels, pants, skirts, and even shorts. Ankara tops are indeed a true value for money and an absolute guarantee of beautiful outfits.

Ankara tops transcend occasions and lifestyle, they are amazing pieces in vibrant African prints that attempts to tell an untold story. Wearing an ankara top is wearing art, it is wearing a beautiful β€œcake dressing” that cannot be ignored, it is dressing to inspire, it is wearing Africa!

FAQ: What You Should Know About African Print and Ankara Tops

Where can I buy African fashion online?

Contrary to popular belief, you can buy genuine ankara tops online. A few places to check include big retailers like Etsy and Amazon including niche websites like Diyanu, L’Aviye, Grass-fields, Ofuure, and Dupsies.

What are African clothes?

African clothes are ethnic clothing worn by the people of Africa, which are influenced by their culture and traditions. These include wax prints like ankara, kente, kitenge, dashiki and more.

Show me how to rock ankara tops

Ankara tops can be worn in a plethora of ways. You can rock these pieces with contemporary pants, jeans, and skirts or paired with wax print pieces. Today, women typically wear ankara tops with modern pieces and reserve the head-to-toe ankara style for big events. Check out this video.

Girl gang African fashion! Love how these ladies styled ankara African print patchwork pieces. They wore these colorful pieces so well! Summer style, dutch wax, kente, kitenge, dashiki, African styles, African prints, Nigerian style, Ghana fashion #ankara #africanprint

How can I cut peplum ankara tops?

African print peplum styles are a modern take on the traditional square cut of ankara tops. This video walks you through step-by-step on how to make your own ankara top the easy way. Watch it here.

What kind of clothes do they wear in Nigeria?

As a Nigerian myself, I can tell you that we wear clothes that cuts across all spectrum from agbada and sokotos to gele, buba and iro, and even dashikis. Nigerians also wear contemporary clothes like jeans, skirts, trousers, and shorts often paired with traditional Nigeria clothes.

Iro and Buba | A contemporary spin on the traditional Nigerian Buba and Iro worn effortlessly

Fun ways to rock African print tops with jeans and skirts.

Note: This post was originally published in 2017, but was recently updated to include a fresh crop of the best African print dresses for you!

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#africanprint #ankarastyles 20 best ankara tops for ladies every African print lover should have in their wardrobe. From affordable ankara peplum tops, and African print crop tops to off the shoulder tops and even more stunning ankara top styles to rock this year. And details on where to African print clothes online for less.

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