SAFW Superlatives

Words: Modupe Oloruntoba | Photographs: SDR Photo

If you feel like South African Fashion Week was a gorgeous blur, you're in good company. We had barely picked ourselves off the floor after taking a knocking from the wind at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Cape Town ‘17, and have since pulled ourselves towards ourselves to break down the best fashion from the Johannesburg runways.

FIRST TO SELL OUT - THEBE MAGUGU

Stripes, flared sleeves, and a reconstructed fit – is there anything more 2017 than this shirt? Any South African designer will tell you that selling the range is just as hard as making it, but we don’t think Thebe Magugu will have any trouble with this one.

BEST ACCESSORY - YOUNG ‘N LAZY

Streetwear is responsible for bringing back fanny packs and coin purses so a military inspired utility belt with storage is not a complete surprise. But who could have thought it would look this good? Young ‘n Lazy for the win.

MOST LIKELY TO BE WORN BY SOLANGE - AYA VELASE

You may remember Aya Velase from ‘The Intern’ by David Tlale, a regular showcase for emerging designers. Velase’s work has definitely evolved since his debut, but his signature remains the same: artfully manipulated volume. Mama Solo would approve of this red number.

MOST LIKELY TO BE WORN BY CHANCE THE RAPPER - NO SHADE

His standard dungarees are a $400 set by a designer from his hometown Chicago, but we think he would - and should - give this forest green corduroy number by local brand No Shade a chance (pun intended).

MOST LIKELY TO PASS FOR CLOTHING - GABRIELLE SWIMWEAR

The weather is cooling down, but your swimwear can still come to the party if it can pass for a fancy top – and this one does! One piece today, bodysuit tomorrow. Just toss on a pair of high waist jeans or a floor length skirt to go from pool to dinner in five seconds flat.

TRUEST TO SKETCH - EDDA

Fashion has a term for construction and design that makes a 3D object look 2D: Trompe L’oeil. Elsa Schiaparelli was a master of the method in the early 20th century, and Edda’s sketch prints are an effective evolution of her work.

BEST USE OF MESH - BLACK COFFEE

Black Coffee - the design house, not the DJ - have used mesh as a backdrop for their geometric patterns for a while, but somehow manage to keep it fresh! If you’re wondering how those patterns float the way they do without us seeing stitching everywhere, the answer is a velvet-like technique called flocking.

MOST ANDROGYNOUS - ELLEN MADIE

Gender bending clothes are ubiquitous now, but you’ll be hard pressed to find looks that don’t lean even a little in the direction of traditional menswear or womenswear. This Ellen Madie look blurs the lines even further, and makes use of on-trend stripes to do it.