Style can almost never be objective because we’re individuals. We’re different.
Kopano Selebano.
Disclaimer: Just like my dress sense, this is my own opinion. If you wanna catch feelings, I could care less.
When my timeline was set alight with comments about a viral TikTok video that showed the Chinese streetwear scene, two things came to mind:
1) Ok, that’s nice;
2) And then what must I do?
For context, Sunday morning saw a TikTok video make the rounds on Twitter. Basically, it was just nice looking people in nice looking clothes walking. A Chinese fashion district, if I’m correct. Nothing here or there. Now, many people were so in love with the video and South African Twitter went gaga over the “dope fits.”
Cue the Twitter war.
Now, this – the fanfare surrounding the video – attracted some disapproval from many South African fashionistas (for lack of a better term, in case you get offended.)
The beef? Well, these fashionistas brought up the fact when South Africans dress the same, it attracts criticism & many are made fun of. And a lot of other arguments I don’t want to bore you with.
And a bunch of other stuff.
The South African fashion scene is one that has been blossoming off late. I must admit, I don’t keep tabs, but names like Thebe Magugu & Rich Mnisi come to the fore and you can’t help but look up in awe. It has always been incredible, looking at photos of our parents in the 70s & 80s & thinking, “damn Ma, you had drip for dayz, #lit”. Fashion here has always been somewhat revolutionary & daring, at times disobeying the gender binary (Which is why when you see uncultured nonces like a particular girl who shall not be named say stuff like this:
& stuff like this;
they warrant weird looks.
Anyway, fashion has always changed. Globally. It has never stayed linear. Years ago, Amakipkip was the in thing & today, many frown at it. So generally, I have always wondered why people judge one’s fashion tastes. And that basically was the bulk of Sunday afternoons timeline fiasco.
I am sure you noted my nonchalant tone when talking about this. Now, when it comes to fashion, give me zero, ma’am. I couldn’t give a toss about possessing the power of a faulty tap – drip? – and really, I could wear shorts and flip flops all year long. I’m a Durbanite at heart.
I’ve never taken fashion to heart. There was a phase where I also bought the factorie tops and used shoelaces from old TOMY takkies as a makeshift belt. Oh, and there was the beanie that needed to cover 3/4 of my head. We couldn’t forget a crystal necklace from Lovisa. I still love those though.
However, I got tired of trying to keep up with the trends. Also, I had no cash to buy “OFF-WHITE” construction belts. All the better, because I had rid myself of the pressure to try to look #dope #lit #swaggaboi. And my wardrobe now consists of t-shirts & hoodies I adore from Cotton:ON that I buy when it’s 50% off season & a plethora of other things from Mr Price.
However, there are times when I do think I need a wardrobe overhaul. Like I could do with Dr. Maartens and a really hot trenchcoat. My best mate, Thato Motheogane, who unlike me is quite a sucker for the threads, advised me to get style icons – people whose fashion tastes mirrored mine and as a result, I would in time be inspired by them. Which I tried to do, but really, I like my Black Friday bought hoodies better than “bell-bottoms that flow in harmony with monochromatic tones.” You still look good. But I wouldn’t look good in that.
And it dawned on me, why would I need a style icon if I just wanna dress comfortably? Why do I need drip? Why should I care about “aEsThEtIcS?”
But that has a perfectly good explanation. Like my music tastes & reading tastes, what I want to dress in won’t be important to someone else. And in the same manner that I consider radio & writing to be an expression of my art, threads prove to be the creative language of other individuals.
I must admit, when my Instagram was filled with baggy clothes, I was first to be puzzled and ask “Why have you bought XXL clothes?”
So, in a bid to gain an understanding of the love of the threads, I figured I’d ask someone who feels strongly about the topic.
If ever I were to have a style icon, one of them would be Kopano Selebano. I don’t fangirl a lot, but Kopano, an absolute future VOGUE cover star (see, I’m fangirling right now), is – in addition to being a student – a model, a multidisciplinary artist & a digital entrepreneur, who tweeted:
Knowing that Kopano is one who probably garners attention – perhaps both good and bad – for his long locks and his flowy fashion, I decided to ask what his stance on the entire fashion fracas was.
“I don’t primarily dress to make statements or be different. I do this because it’s the way I wanna communicate and it so just happens that it’s unconventional.
“Jeans and hoodies do cut it on days where I don’t want I to say anything about myself, when I just wanna “chill” And not be seen. I mean, also, dressing up is not eventful. I just dress the way that I do because… expression. People – external forces – make it an event for me because they stop me, compliment, laugh and ask questions, which I sometimes hate. So I rock jeans and hoodies when I don’t wanna be ‘seen.’”
“If anything, I think people need to start seeing style and fashion as a form of expression & not being obsessed with to trying to look good based on opinions. What if you look objectively good but the fit doesn’t make you feel good ? What’s the point of putting it on ?”
“Naturally, we’re different and will of course be into different things. Style can almost never be objective because we’re individuals. We’re different in the ways we relate to art & creativity & how we express through art. I mean, people have & are entitled to their own opinions & that’s ok. Then your style isn’t palatable to them”
“Also it’s just not that deep! Fashion is fun and people should be allowed to express the way the feel need!”
Fashion, like many other forms of art, is unique to someone’s taste. As a result, we probably all won’t agree on it. Which is why when my friend wears the FILA shoes that have the crocodile teeth soles, I must retreat (this, after making fun of my friend of course) & understand that their threads are their statements. Their forms of expressions.
So what am I saying?
Flip-flops or Fendis, Braam to Beijing and whether you’re Scars or Shu-hui,
Wear whatever the hell you want. Who cares? If you like it, go crazy, man.
My 2 cents.
