The Sunday Mail
THE link between music and fashion is undeniable – musicians have had an impact on the fashion scene for many years, sometimes as the innovators of a certain style and sometimes just as popularisers.
Musicians feed into the popular culture, as their music becomes popular their style becomes a starting point for trends. Some musicians hire stylists, but the influential ones like Lady Gaga, Michael Jackson, Nicki Minaj and Janet Jackson, to name a few, create their own flair.
Luckily for us this summer, Zimbabwe has had a taste for fashion as the concert season began in August. Zimbabweans like concerts more so if the artiste has stage presence and wears an outfit that is unique and trendy. This is because the outfits add to the swagger of the artistes.
What we can learn is perhaps not to dress in costume but rather translate celebrity into the everyday wardrobe.
After the glitz and the glamour of the shows, style lessons and tips can come from concert costumes. Style Corner identified two elements that stood out from the celebrities from abroad as well as local ones that can help fashion lovers style like the superstars.
Celebrate your culture
After launching his shoe line at a department store in Harare earlier this year, internationally acclaimed music icon, Oliver Mtukudzi, again took the fashion world by storm last week when he showcased his stage outfits as the final act at this year’s Zimbabwe Fashion Week.
The collection featured shirts and trousers with Shona batik block prints, rock painting inspired prints, among many other hints of African prints. Style statements can be made by embedding hints of culture in your everyday style through accessories, prints or traditional gear.
When one colour is
a statement
Colour blocking is no longer fashionable, wearing the same colour is a style statement we should take on now. Matching colours is what is in fashion these days.
Grammy award-winning stars Toni Braxton and Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds performed in Harare recently and their stage outfits were memorable. Braxton had an all-white ensemble in lace and flowing garments that had a wow factor on stage.
Not only did her outfit match her diamond jewellery and white and silver shoes but her choice to go all white made her shine. Similarly, Babyface’s stage outfits included an all-black suit with wardrobe changes being bright solid coloured blazers.
South African jazz icon, Dorothy “Aunty Dot” Masuka, chose to wear solid colours at her 80th birthday celebrations in Avondale last week, she wore a yellow gown and golden jewellery. Even sungura star, Peter “Young Igwe” Moyo wore a solid colour suit with a black shirt at his album launch at the 7 Arts Theatre in Avondale last weekend.
It is important to use the exact same colour tone when deciding on a same colour outfit as different tones of same colour will cheapen a look. The final tip to emulate a celebrity style, is confidence.
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