CHILDREN OF AFRICA. LEGENDS. BRENDA FASSIE AND MADIBA.

CAPTION THIS....

STYLE ALERT. TOPMAN

TREND SOLDIER. @kosta_williams

LANVIN

MOMENTS IN BLACK AND WHITE

With Khanyi Mbau for Woolworths Style By Night.

With the Previdar team fot Lehasa Moloi

Planning stages of "Thrones Of Muted Angels" shown at Back To The City 2014. Totally slayed that show.

With television presenter Zizo Beda and musical genius Zonke Dikana for the Bring Back Our Girls campaign photo shoot

THE NEW SCHOOL GENTLEMAN. @chuckmbevo

 I find that often times when someone doesn’t necessarily conform to typical magazine appropriate aesthetics, we tend to look past their sense of style. Magazines and commercial blogs have taught us that all that is ‘fashionable’ and stylish is only what is mainstream and published in print. For me this aesthetic is often overdone and a tad too rehearsed. Navy suits, tan brogues, bow ties and fitted white shirts. I feel like this has been so overdone and overrated. Plus, it all looks the same. Nothing at all to be excited about. Yes, it’s not many that can get away with the often brave aesthetic of the likes of Teddy Nkonde and Felipe Mazibuko (Teddy is gonna kill me for making this comparison by the way. Lol) but I think a newer and much simpler silhouette is also one that deserves praise and recognition. Remember how old modern men kept it so simple and clean and yet only obsessed about the minute details like the pressing of the shirt and the hemming of the pants? I have always been a fan of that kind of man.

 Yes, although ours is a more fashionably progressive society and trends of London and Paris are always within reach and easily duplicated, the old gentleman still deserves his ovation. One such gentleman for me is Chuck Mbevo. His is a sense of style that is calm and yet so inviting and detailed. The way his pants are perfectly hemmed, pressed and fitted, his blazers just the right length and his shoes polished and shined is so interesting.

I recently started chatting to the Angolan beau via email and discussed a bit of fashion and trend. I was more interested in what inspires his sense of dress, which designers and stylists inspire him and how his mind works in terms of fashion and style. I find that with a lot of people, fashion, or style, is an informed process. It’s not always something picked from the pages of a magazine or a blog. There is usually a richer history that leads to the people they are in terms of fashion. In my conversation with MrMbevo, these are some of the interesting bits of information that came up:

 ‘’Well, I am Chuck Mbevo aka King Tafari. I am an Angolan national with a Congolese heritage, adopted by Namibia. I was raised by a single mother who formidably groomed me to be the gentleman that I am today. I grew up with my brother and sister whom I love dearly and I have a wonderful son that I love very much.

Growing up, I had noticed how Mama got us ready for school every morning. Mama always paid much attention to little details on our clothing. Little things like how precisely pressed the shirt, color coordinating us all accordingly. So, my attention to details has always been there since my childhood and today details is Style to me.

At 15, I finally discovered what best worked for me although there was also a phase of baggy denim and big tee. After much trials and errors though, I quickly went past that phase and decided that it was not for me.

It began in Windhoek, Namibia when I came across a modelling casting I decided to give it a shot. Fortunately for me, I went through ended up landing major campaigns in my time as a new model. One of the highlights of this time was a campaign with the Minister of Health. We did a ‘male circumcision campaign’ to raise awareness amongst men and boys as to why it is pivotal to get circumcised. I later did a ‘Back to School’ campaign for Nedbank and walked the first edition of the International Fashion Show of Namibia and had the opportunity to walk for South African designer House of Ole.

 At home in fact recently, I did Huila Fashion and walked for Alex Kangalawho is one of renowned male designer in Angola his pieces and suits are of world class material. Rising African Mega Designer Nadir Tatiher detailed her work isincredibly executed her dresses fit formidably and she actually got nice men pieces too, I think her work is exceptionally well crafted. After all of those then came a transition that needed to happen thus quickly I began to learn more and more about fashion I found that in so doing this got me hungrier for style and elegance. Personal style grew more and quicker. I developed an aesthetic that was smart and casual. I am the type of guy that won’t just put on any tee with jeans and take to the streets. Every look is carefully thought through and constructed.

What inspires me in fashion? I would say everything around mebeing Music, Art, Street Fashion,all inspire me greatly. I look at everything with a different perspective. My favorite designers would be Alex Kangala obviously, House of Ole simply cause I had had the chance to work with them and if I could be the judge I would rule Top Designers of All time on the other side I am a big fan of J Crew for his understanding of modern sophistication that transcends to casual, elegant and dapper. Another one would be Michael Bastian with his relaxed yet dandy cuts. That’s my kind of look. These designers really inspire me.

What are about stylists? I prefer female stylist to male. They seem to have a deeper and more detailed eye and understanding how modern man should appear. The likes of Soraya De Carvalho, Rachel Johnson all very glamorous ladies who are top.  Johnny Wujek is one of the most amazing street style stylists I have ever encountered. I absolutely love his work. 

In other news, I’m also totally obsessed with selfies and pictures. I absolutely love being photographed. I also an intense love for tattoos. Basically, I’m a great guy. Lol. ’’  

WHEN WE REIGNED SUPREME. STATE OF GVRU FOR "THRONES OF MUTED ANGELS". BACK TO THE CITY 2014

THROWBACK TO METRO FM AWARDS. TELEVISION PRESENTER MERICA MONAMUDI IN STATE OF GVRU.

SOMIZI MHLONGO IN STATE OF GVRU AND CL. LEGENDS!

SIMPLY BECAUSE SELFIES ARE GOOD FOR YOU. EVEN WHEN YOU ACT LIKE IT'S NOT A SELFIE.

CURRENT READ: BLOOD BENEATH THE SKIN. THE AMAZING STORY OF THE GREAT McQUEEN.

Written by Andrew Wilson, I'm not quite sure yet if it's the "truths" of the McQueen tale that are so captivating and engaging or the talent of the writer. All I know is that I have struggled to put this book down since I started reading it. For a lot of us, for the longest time, McQueen had remained the greatest enigma of our fashion time. What this book does is shed light and a dose of understanding into the troubled and dark life of fashion's greatest talent. My boss and I have had disagreements and endless debates about this unfigured-out genius. He remained a staunch fan of his craft but never of his personality. I, on the other hand, have been a fan of both. I cant say I know for sure if I'll ever be able to confidently say I understand what made this man so great even after I've put this book to rest but I do know that he remains the greatest designer of all time for me. An amazing read of the life of an even amazing visionary. Definitely one of the greatest designers that ever lived.