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Are you a religious person? Because it would take an absolute miracle to convince me that Virgil Abloh’s first collection as the creative director for Louis Vuitton was anything less than spectacular.
He might have a reputation as one of the calmest characters in the midst of the chaos especially before a show however prior to the event I think all of his followers (myself included) were on an emotional rollercoaster of anxiety and excitement in anticipation of the big reveal for the first ever black creative director of Louis Vuitton and we were not disapointed. If you’ve been reading my posts since I the start of this site, you would probably have an inkling that I’m kind of a fan of Virgil Abloh. Not only because he is currently perceived as fashions “golden boy” or a creator or an influencer. True, he is that as well but System Magazine’s feature of him, last year said it all, “What is Virgil Abloh?”. He is not a who, he is a “what” simply because he is a force to be reckoned with.
My reaction to the show – Any less progressive/ironic and it wouldn’t have been him, any more and it wouldn’t have been LV - he delivered and then some and you better believe that we'll be lapping it up like a Bloody Mary on Saturday morning.
Read: Olivier Rousteing is releasing a documentary about his life. Let's take a step back before the Nike and Ikea collabs, before he became the creative director of Louis Vuitton - his entire backstory is one that resonates with anyone and everyone who’s ever been in a situation where fashion was less than accessible to them (whether its that the internship at Helmut Lang or even the croc skin Chanel in the display cabinet its like an unrequited love story) - in this case of the creation of fashion. Virgil Abloh has proved that with hard work, anything is possible. This is an individual who a few short years ago could not get into a Paris Fashion Week even as a spectator. When he attempted to see some shows even as the creative director for Kanye during his prime, he was turned down to something like 60% of shows, whether it was due for classism or racism is up for discussion but ultimately, it seemed impossible. However in a very satisfying turn of events, he is the highlight of the entire PWF, all the while ruling from the helm of one of the biggest luxury house in fashion. And he fully recognises how powerful his story is. In his latest instagram post is a photo of him standing on the iconic PWK runway with the caption "You can do it too". All hail the king. Read: Google’s latest app is like Shazam but for outfits.
Click here for the full looks via Hypebeast.
Images: Instagram, the Business of Fashion, Alton Mason, Hype Beast.
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South Africa is a country filled to the brim with glamazons, goddesses and African queens but when these top fashion influencers put together an ensemble, you suddenly feel compelled to have an outfit you never even knew you needed. So here are my picks for top fashion influencers in SA who are shaping the way South Africans buy into trends.
If these majestic style stars have you feeling inspired then check out some of the hottest online fashion from Aldo to Zoom by tapping on the Spree and Zando affiliate banners below. Xx 
Bonang Matheba
Instagram followers: 2 million She is a TV personality, a radio host and businesswomen. Is there anything that this woman cannot do? She has her own reality TV show, a lingerie line and is the face of various major brands including Revlon, Cell C and KFC. With over 2 million followers - Bonang Matheba is indeed a force to be reckoned with and she knows it. Her style can be describe as either glam or streetstyle chic. Read: The Travel Bloggers Giving Me Life Right now. 
Aisha Baker
Instagram followers: 131k This award winning fashion blogger has been featured in Elle, Glamour, Marie Claire, Top Billing and landed her first magazine cover this year with Cosmopolitan SA. Her style can be describe as a relaxed, casual, off duty streetstyle. Her blog, Baked Online features her lifestyle and travel moments while settling into motherhood with husband, cricketer Wayne Parnell. 
Nabilah Kariem
Instagram followers: 72K Who knew that a sunhat worn over a scarf could look this chic? Even if you’re not a modest fashion dresser, you can still appreciate the creativity and artistic inspiration in the way Nabilah Kariem puts an outfit together. Her composition is flawless and her style is so inspiring. The fact that she’s also collaborated with arguably one of the most powerful bloggers in the Middle East, Ascia for the Asica’s famous RIVA Middle East collection speaks volumes, she may not have millions of followers but she's definitely recognised by the industry leaders who matter. I hope to see more of her in mainstream media. Read: Google's latest fashion app is like Shazam for outfits. 
Nadia Jaftha
Instagram followers: 161K Although not strictly a fashion influencer, vlogger Nadia Jaftha is definitely shaping the way South Africans see… well shape. Her message is one hundred percent self-acceptance of your body shape fused with relate-ability and humour. She has a fashion blog discussing the latest trends and her effortless chic called the Birdline blog but appears to be more active on Instagram and Youtube these days where she posts hilarious vines featuring her mother and grandfather. She’s also released some music this year which is pretty good. You can see the music video, shot in Cape Town here. Read: Olivier Rousteing is Releasing a Documentary About His Life. 
Kefilwe Mabote
Instagram Followers: 497K She’s the winner of the 2017 SA style Awards last year and it’s not hard to see why. Her style is boss and she has the attitude to match. In her acceptance speech, the self-described entrepreneur and stylist to the elite thanked her haters for not believing in here because it only made her stronger. Her style can be described as a good mix of flattering silhouettes from local designers such as Gert Johan Coetzee and international fashion houses. 
Lalla Hirayama
Instagram followers: 153K This fashion ninja is 50% Japanese, 50% South African and 100% elegant. She’s a tv host on her own popular entertainment show, Lalla’s world making her no stranger to red carpet glam and off duty celebrity style. She has also featured in numerous publications. She’s a style chameleon with her outfits going from bold statement swag while staying true to her African roots. Her promotion of African designers has definitely contributed in her becoming a stylish fashion influencer in South Africa. Tap here to see the most insta-famous spots in Cape Town, making it to feeds around the world. Images: Instagram
Olivier Rousteing will be releasing a documentary about his life this far. He has acknowledged that a documentary at age 32 might seem a bit premature but told WWD that “its going to be a beautiful message, it’s going to be a big thing”.
Read: Visiting Dubai soon? Check out the Moschino x H&M collab here. 
Read: Google's Latest Fashion App is like Shazam but for outfits.
He is possibly one the most intriguing yet relatable designers of this generation not only as an icon within the powerhouse that is Balmain but in many other aspects. I’m referring, of course to his impeccably timed courtship with social media in 2014, his merging of iconic celebrities and supermodels with reality show figures and by simply overcoming odds that most would regard as justifiable excuses for settling for a lesser level of success. 
He was adopted at the age of 1 in Bordeaux in France, he started working for Robertor Cavalli as a designer by age 18 and became the first black creative director for Balmain by age 25. His other most well-known accomplishment, which landed him on everybody’s fashion radar was the collaboration with H&M in 2015 - even the highlight reel is enough to pique ones interest so I cannot wait to hear his perspective. The documentary is set to be shot this summer by the team behind 2009’s Valentino: Last Emperor. The release is scheduled for early 2019.
Images: Balmain Resort 2019, Instagram/Olivier Rousteing Who are the local celebrities influencing fashion trends in 2018? Click here for my list of Top Fashion influencers in South Africa.
Hypebae recently reported that Google had just released a fashion app - and when a tech giant like that taps into any market. You know they're going to bring something quality to the table. Introducing Style Match – it’s like Shazam but for clothing (and décor).
Here’s how it works. Perhaps you are out and about and you spot someone with killer style or maybe they are wearing an item of clothing you absolutely must add to your collection, you simply point your phones camera at the item of clothing and Google will then pull up the exact same piece or similar pieces through Google shopping. If you have a Pinterest account, you will be familiar with the` principal but this is the first time ever that image recognition has been built into a camera.
It also works on home decor - for just in case you're keen on that lamp in your friend’s living room too. The app also pulls up reviews for the piece of clothing or furniture, so you can make informed buying decisions about the item. Pretty awesome.
Style Match is currently only available on Android phones or through Google assistant as its part of Google Lens but will hopefully be available on iPhone soon. Olivier Rousteing is currently shooting a documentary about his life, read more here. Read: These are some of the beauty technology advancements are coming to Dubai in 2018. |
