The beauty of the rainbow is in its distinct (yet complementary) colours. No wonder Archbishop Desmond Tutu chose the name, ‘rainbow nation’, to best illuminate South Africa and its people. South Africa is characterised by cultural diversity; a nation of over 49 million people made up of 11 different official languages, a multiplicity of traditions and cultures, and skin tones ranging from ebony to white. Irrespective of their unique differences, they are better defined by their similarities and unity; unity in fashion, artistry, music, etc.
Speaking of South African music and fashion, the musical duo, Mafikizolo, seem to be getting double checks in these categories. Didn’t we all catch the Khona fever? Not even being unaware of its meaning nor could having untrained tongues to sing along cure us. However, what seemed to catch fashion conscious souls (like mine) wasn’t just their captivating musical prowess, but their stylishness also.
Theo Kgosinkwe and Nhlanhla Nciza put eccentricity, energy and fun into style which is quite impossible to ignore. I’m particularly drawn to Theo Kgosinkwe and his effortlessly modish style (okay maybe his looks too). His love for bright colours merged with the ‘modern meets traditional’ and ‘western meets African’ twist is just the right dose dapper raised to the power snazzy to equal HOT!!!
So who says you can’t get the best of both worlds? Let’s take a cue from Theo and prove you can. His fashion forward style is quite easy to duplicate; all that’s needed is a Senegalese caftan (plain or printed), a modern blazer and as always, confidence!
For those who aren’t conversant with the Senegalese caftan (or bou bou like the French call it), it is a common pullover men’s robe with long sleeves worn mostly by men in West Africa. This garment is normally made of cotton, brocade and lace and is worn over matching pants. The caftan can function as a multi-purpose outfit; it can be worn as an every-other-day casual outfit, but – like those from the Hausa tribe – it can also be worn as a formal outfit to events and social gatherings.
To get the ‘Theo-ish’ look, pair your blazer with a caftan.
Think of rainbows and don’t be afraid to experiment with bright colours; pair a white caftan with a green or red blazer, but make sure to keep the blazer in one block colour, thinking of rainbows doesn’t equate looking like one. Stay away from printed blazers if your caftan has prints, like Ankara, to avoid a print clash.
If you don’t think you can pull off bright colours and you are one to shy away from the attention it draws or you are experiencing one of those laid back days, opt for warmer and neutral hues. Pair a brown caftan with a black blazer or a black caftan with a black blazer to get that ‘men in black’ vibe – Will Smith will have nothing on you.
Dare to be an unconventional man by pushing your fashion boundaries; Theo Kgosinkwe can’t take all that shine!