‘Sea of colour to sweep over the red carpet’

SOUTH AFRICA’s flair and panache will dominate tonight’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) red carpet instead of international fashion trends.

Two local designers believe the politicians and dignitaries attending the annual event will opt to choose attire according to their own preferences and not necessarily according to Western style standards.

Designer Gert Johan Coetzee said he expects to see a sea of colour to sweep over the red carpet outside Parliament, ahead of President Jacob Zuma’s report back on the country on the state of the nation.

“South Africans prefer to wear a lot of colour at glamorous events and I’m so excited to see this on the red carpet.”

Coetzee was the mastermind behind former public protector Thuli Madonsela’s canary yellow dress at last year’s Sona, which was considered one of the best designs in the history of the event. The bright full-length gown received rave reviews and topped many best dressed lists.

Coetzee said he was ecstatic at the way the outfit was received but credited Madonsela for wearing it with such confidence.

“This dress was a big moment for the history of the country and especially for Thuli, because she shone like the star that she is.”

He said the inspiration behind the design of the dress was Madonsela’s inspiration, light and growth. Despite the emphasis on all things bright at the 2017 Sona red carpet, Coetzee added many attendees will also choose alternative trends. “I think that gold, other metallics and white will also be a big hit on this year’s red carpet.”

But overall, Coetzee said invited guests will use the Sona to show off their culture and their traditional wear.

The designer said he would be dressing one of the minister’s wives and said her gown was inspired by “transparent glamour”.

Fellow luxury fashion brand designers Quiteria & George, who dressed Miss SA Ntandoyenkosi Kunene at last month’s Miss Universe pageant, will also be dressing one of the parliamentarians.

One of the duo, Quiteria Lebohang, agreed the Sona red carpet will be filled with colour and African prints and designs. And his advice for those attending was to opt for garments which accentuate a woman’s figure while still remaining sophisticated.