Just for Fun

Koto Bolofo

I am indulging in my usual junkie habits of reading magazines, and I come across this article in my South African Elle. What attracts me to the article is a picture of a small black man, who looks South African, holding an old school camera. Quick squeeze over the caption, and the words ‘iconic status’ pop up, so I tell myself I will come back to this article when I can read it at my real leisure, in my ‘library’. Fast forward a few hours, one KFC burger later, and I finally get around to it.

It’s an article about a man, indeed South African; his name is Koto Bolofo, an iconic photographer. A page into his (story), and my mind is already swarming in admiration, reverence, oohs and aahs, and wows! Why have I never read about this man before? I wish I had known about him earlier. In any case, three pages later, a brief look into a 20 – year – and – on – going – career, and I am already on the Internet. Type in Koto Bolofo and thousands of results appear.

Wow I repeat, kgape le kgape (again and again), scanning through fashion spreads for influential publications, and advertisements for revered clothing labels. How can you not respect this man? Well, if you cannot admire him for his body of work, admire him for where he comes from. From being rejected by his country, losing his mother, being stuck in an orphanage, being victimized for his existence, being kicked out school, and being told he sucks at what he loves, to supreme success. Not only has he overcome obstacles, he has surpassed them, and totally obliterated stereotypes.

Article over, search done, and now I am in love. Stop your thoughts! I am in love with his (story): his ability to transform his passion into a type of weapon, which dispelled people’s skepticism about his capabilities as a black man from Africa. And soon I will embark on a journey that is driven by my passion, in hopes that I can use it in ways similar to Mr. Bolofo. Passion: every artist’s staple, or at least it should be. My ‘in-loveness’ also leads me to dream that one day I may work with Koto Bolofo (yes, the euphoria of being in love compels you to believe that anything is possible).

Big sigh! It’s a no wonder he also finds himself among the Sartorialist’s list of favourites.

Click on the title of the post to see Koto Bolofo's bio and portfolio of work.

Creative Recreation: The Revolution Begins

With the sale of Creative Recreations on Saturday, and with the official opening of the Tiltt store opening tomorrow (Wednesday 27th February), I thinks it's only appropriate that I make this post.

Check out the sneakers (takkies in South African) that my friend is wearing. Hot hot hot!!! Tiltt (check out the online store at www.tiltt.co.za) is starting a revolution! And yes, I've joined the revolution, bought a pair myself this past Saturday...

Yum!

Just looking yummy in the yellow jersey! Works well with the complexion...

Lollipop Seduction

I went to a party the other night, the name, Lollipop Seduction, that’s where I took this photo. So, I enjoyed this outfit because he took dressing for the occasion to another level. In fact it comes down to what I was talking about earlier about Fashion v Expression. He expressed the theme through his clothing, and did it so well that he reminded me of those sherbet filled suckers, or maybe even a Yoghuetta. So now, I’m sure this outfit doesn’t fall into the ‘popular trend’ category i.e. fashion because I haven’t seen many people dressed like this. But it so does remind me of a piece of pop art with all the flashes of colour. Finding this expression delectable!!!

Berlin

So my new friend, in the previous post, took this photo. I know you’ve seen the top before, but I had to post the picture. The lighting is amazing and I am in love with the painting in the back. I’m brushing up on my photographic skills and hopefully I’ll be able to produce pictures like this soon enough, not just the same old posed pictures in front of a wall…

Hott Top!

I have to say the best part about this blog, I’m finding out, is that it allows for the potential to meet new people. So I have to say that this picture will forever remind me of one of my coolest moments, in 2008.

So, I have a friend (really one of my closest friends) who works in the entertainment industry and she often invites me to events and functions where there are, what some people might consider, high profile people (in South Africa), as well as personalities who often mingle with these people, and thus, sometimes, consider themselves somewhat important. Now, these people often take themselves too seriously, and as a result, don’t have the time or space to be pleasant/polite to the ‘average’ individual, like myself. But on Friday night I was approached by the person you see in the above photo, who just took an interest in the outfit I was wearing. Strangely enough I had already spotted him earlier, as a result of his top, and was contemplating approaching him to ask if I could take his photo. In any case what made this moment so memorable is the genuine amiability that existed in the conversation, his sincere interest in my passion for fashion, and the mutual appreciation of clothing. Basically, it comes down to the fact that this is one such individual, who in his own right did not have to find the time or space to be pleasant/polite to the ‘average’ individual, like myself, but he was, that is both polite and pleasant. In fact, he took it further, and maybe, just maybe, or at least hopefully, I have a new friend.

Okay, but let’s not forget the main premise of this blog, that is Jozi street fashion. I am totally feeling the shirt. Tres cool! Plus I dig the expression on his face, in this photo. The little smile is so cute!

Moloko Remix

My favourite thing about this outfit is the setting I found it in. Moloko, is one of Johannesburg's upmarket clubs, where people are expected to dress in a particular way and on this night in particular, women were dressed in the usual short dresses, short skirts, short shorts, masking their hair with that from Korea, donning hookers heals and looking like something out of a hip hop music video. But then, in walks this young women, a breath of fresh air.

I love the natural hairstyle adorned with shells, the simple dress that works for Moloko, but doesn't look video vixen style: sexy with a dash of sophistication. But my favourite touch has to be the bag. Not your usual clutch, that most girls use on a night out, but it still works! Hott outfit!

The Guy from 88: Fashion vs Expression

Disclaimer: The following conveys my individual thoughts and opinions, and does not represent expert or authoritative views. Feel free to agree, disagree and pass judgment by leaving a comment.

Now on Friday I went to a party at 88, in Norwood (not my usual scene but fun due to the different experience). So anyway, one of my friends, who I was with, decided to point out some guy dressed in a way not familiar to us, and asked for my opinion on whether I would consider the way he was dressed fashion. My answer was, maybe it’s not fashion but it’s definitely expression. This was not enough for him. He wanted to know the difference between fashion and expression, so I tried giving him a succinct answer without delving into a tedious discussion for the rest of the night. However, it did spark an ongoing thought-provoking dialogue, with Ntokozo, me, myself and I, which lasted the entire weekend.

Fashion by definition of the online Oxford dictionary is a popular trend, especially in clothing. Now to me this definition easily disqualifies the guy from 88 because he wasn’t dressed in a mainstream, ‘popular’ manner, well at least not for a black South Africa male (the one time I didn’t have my camera!). Nothing really about him represented ‘popular’, or at least in my mind what I would expect to see in Men’s/L’uomo Vogue or GQ for example. But then again, there’s the other side of the coin. See the party was a drum and bass party, what I consider the more alternative scene in Johannesburg. So now, in terms of this scene, the way the guy from 88 was dressed could be considered trendy, ‘popular’ and thus fashionable.

In contrast, self – expression by definition is the expression of one’s feelings or thoughts, especially in writing, art, music or dance. So again, in my eyes, I think that the guy from 88 was expressing his thoughts and feelings expressed through music, in his clothing. Of course, I do think the two (fashion and expression) can be combined, hence the reason for my blog. People can take the mainstream, the popular, and the trendy, and turn it into their own; self – expression.

I guess you could consider it a grey area. Regardless, I am all for grey this season, next season, in vintage and à la mode. Just dress in manner that makes you feel comfortable, and makes you feel good. And if by chance it appeals to my eye, or my camera lens, you may find you and your attire making an appearance in my blog.

The Force

Just a random photo of my friend's Nike Air Force One sneaker. Hot shoes!

Tres Street! Tres Chic!

So I went to this Nike Dunk, Be True shoot thingy the other day and spotted this tres hot bag. At a glance the print on the bag looks like a mixed masala of something or other, but on closer inspection its actually a print of Nike sneakers. It's tres street! Tres chic!

Mixed Prints

Simple, I was bored, decided to mess with my camera a little, and came up with the above. I just enjoyed the print/embellishment on the back of my shirt, mixed with the Asian 'inspired' print on my pants and the polka dots on the scarf. And of course I had to add that splash of colour, cos apparently colour is in this Summer...

Fashion Illustration

Another thing I discovered while studying at LISOF last year, is Fashion Illustration; yes, a real profession. I did not know that the drawings of fashion designs were actually used by others, other than the fashion designers, and are actual art pieces. This of course excited me and I have discovered some amazing fashion illustrations. One of the more well known illustrators is David Downton, and I discovered a tight picture of Iman, the Somali model, on his website...

If in Doubt, WINK, PEACE & POUT!

Now I'm thinking that this blog is turning into a showcase of things I dig in fashion, expressed through different mediums. Nonetheless, the focus still remains Jozi street fashion. So, that means I'll can still catch you, with my drunken digicam, adorning the streets of Johannesburg.

Anyway, I went to Exclusive books today looking for the latest edition of i-D mag, but didn't find it. Decided I'd check out the website instead, and found one of the coolest magazine covers; cool because of the words. Words that I think I might live by this year... Check it out...

Mzansi Flavaro

I am an avid reader and collector of various publications. One of the magazines I started reading recently is True Love Babe, which I initially had my reservations about, but now it has become one of best tools for inspiration in terms of fashion. The January 2008 issued featured a fashion spread inspired by South African culture. This has now become my favourite fashion spread, and Khaya Sibiya (the stylist), is definitely an inspiration especially since his was able to take the traditional and morph it into something unconventional yet remarkable. What you find is not the usual take on ethnicity, which usually takes the form of traditional Xhosa attire (a la Sun Goddess etc) or outfits made in shoeshoe print fabric. Of course these traditional looks are still beautiful, and Sibiya has managed to incorporate this in his spread, making use of items such as the traditional Shangaan cloth. I am absolutely LOVING it!!!!

The Spread...









Also check out Chris Saunders's blog, the photographer for the spread.