Living in Maseru, the capital city of Lesotho is an experience that is both captivating and intriguing. Unlike bigger cities like New York City, Chicago, Bangkok, Rome, Paris, Cape Town and Johannesburg that I have been able to travel to, Maseru has its unique personality and sense of style that blends traditional elegance with modern chic.
Even though living in Maseru can sometimes feel claustrophobic because of how āsmallā it is and the likelihood of seeing the same people at every event or restaurant, it is hard to ignore this cityās vibrancy.
In my opinion, Maseru is home to some of the most stylish people, who dress up, show up and express themselves through what they wear. Not only do these people shape the culture but have their unique style and express individuality. In this blog and those to follow, I will introduce you to some of the most stylish people living in Maseru whose unique style fascinates me.
What is style?
In her blog titled āFashion vs. Style: What is the difference?ā, Abrams defines style as the unique way of speaking the language of fashion that is deeply personal. She describes style as less about following trends but expressing oneās taste, lifestyle and experiences that influence their style. Fashion on the other hand is about what you see on runways, magazines and stores which is different from style. She defines fashion as the constantly changing and evolving trends set by designers and influences.
While I may not be a style/fashion blogger, but I am fortunate to attend many lifestyle events, so it would be remiss of me not to share a list of some of my favourite style icons and this is in no order of preference or exhaustive.
So, who are some of my favourite style icons?
First up is Lungile Matutoane, host of Konnichiwassup podcast on YouTube, podcaster and content curator from Botha-Bothe, residing in Maseru. Lungileās style fuses vintage and modern chic, where he can easily rock a āpoor boyā hat, Tee and Demin or switch things up with a kimono or poncho. Lungile is truly comfortable in his own skin, and it shows.
Next is, Matsāeliso Mota, also known as Adv Tshada. Tshada is a breath of fresh air with bold hairstyles and contemporary looks. Tshada can rock a tutu with the same confidence as she would rock a Seshoeshoe outfit that could easily be spotted on the Milan Fashion Week Runway.
A style icon you cannot miss whenever he enters a room is Chere Mongangane of Bonono Merchants. Where do I even begin with Chere? I do not even know if this makes sense, but Chere is able to fuse Asian and African cultural elements into a cohesive look. It is his eclectic, visionary and fearless approach to style for me. His wardrobe is kaleidoscope of colours, textures, and patterns, each piece telling a unique story.
Someone who effortless makes black look really dope is Kaizer Matsumunyane, businessman and owner of CafĆ© What? Often spotted rocking all black, monochrome or sometimes outfits with a dash of colour, Kaizerās style is versatile with his outfits often elevated by bold accessories that compliment his looks. Kaizer is a style icon you should be following.
āMamochochi Selialia co-founder of Ross Lesotho Boutique is someone you would want to follow. āMamochochiās sense of style is a blend of contemporary trends, elegance and poise. She creatively and carefully incorporates accessories that compliment her outfits and looks confident and empowered in every outfit she rocks. Though she keeps to herself, she expresses her individuality and is sure to turn heads whenever she walks into a room, event or boardroom.
Someone who is very reserved but whose style is incredible is businesswoman,Ā Mpho Manaka. Very soft spoken, you may not hear Mpho speak or walk in, but you notice her presence and style when she walks in. Mphoās style embodies elegance and sophistication in every outfit.
Taking a sneak peek into the world of modelling and freelancing, Tlhox Kose (The Guy with Scars on Instagram) is also on my radar. Though I do not know him well, he is an MC/Entertainer, freelance model and social media promoter. His style is somewhat a mix of streetwear, classic and high fashion, characterised by denim, sleeves shirts, bold patterns and statement shades.
Last on this blogās list of style icons to follow we have Natane Makhalanyane also known Boom Shakuurr on Instagram. Boom Shakuurr is a model and fashion designer who is not afraid to push boundaries. Not only is he fashionable but is also stylish where his outfits are a mix of electric piece, featuring unconventional materials and artistic prints.
Maseru, also popularly known as āhabo Matlamaā is home to diverse styles and an array of style icons each bringing their unique and captivating style. From the modern traditionalist to the avant-garde creative, these icons and those to follow in the coming blogs are shaping Lesotho, one outfit at a time.
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This was an interesting read TKay, given the fact that we really donāt have fashion bloggers or podcasters. Glad that someone had to start.
However, given that this is the first, we expected to see more of those style icons like Katiso Joachim Tsoho. Some people on the list just know how to dress good, but can they really be labeled as style or fashion icons? How are they influencing fashion?
Maybe they could fit into other fashion categories but not style icons. Another thing, some names donāt have pictures, and as the audience, makes it harder to see their style.
There is room for improvement.
All in all, I liked it!
Hi Mo, thank you for the lovely and positive feedback. By so doing, my hope is that more fashion, style and lifestyle bloggers, creators and Vloggers will start. It is such a big and exciting industry, right?
What makes the fashion industry very fascinating, at least for me, is the fact that it’s very subjective and each person has their own perspective. This I believe makes for interesting conversations. I’ve had to do some research to try understand the difference between style, fashion and dressing well. For me, Katiso is more of a fashion icon because he is setting new trends and influencing the industry, hence he is not on this first list of style icons. I am currently working on Part 2, which is exciting and I do have many more planned posts that will feature fashion icons and people who dress well. But, that is not to say I have all the right answers. So I would love to hear more and get suggestions of people who you believe are icons in their own right (style, fashion or dress well). I look forward to more engagements and feedback as I venture into the intricacies of the fashion industry, something I do not know very much about (for now at least).
This is so spot Tkay, well, apart from that I didn’t make the list (kidding). Thank you for such an insightful article.
Why thank you Chris, means a lot coming from you and I am glad you agree. Who knows, maybe you are featured in the next coming blogs. Looks like there are many more style and fashion icons that yet to feature, so stay tuned.
Stories we love to hear about Maseru and Lesotho at large. I was looking forward to see the gent you mentioned wears blackš¤, my fav colour. Would love to see icons from other districts as well in the future. I do understand that it is investment in time and moola. Very beautiful pieceššæ
Oh trust me I am working tirelessly to feature more style icons especially in the districts. It would really make for amazing and wholesome content. I am trying to get his picture so I can include it in the blog Thank you so much for the positive feedback. I am excited about the next few blogs.
Well, this list certainly features a diverse array of styles, each one certainly unique in its own way. š„
Now this is amazing and positive feedback, thank you. I am sure you will love and enjoy the next few blogs.