HOW OUR TV CULTURE PIONEERS FASHION
ACTORS, ACTRESSES INFLUENCE TRENDS AND STYLES
IT IS no secret that television culture has a huge influence on the masses. Who can forget the chaos that erupted in schools when Yizo Yizo was on our screens, and scholars were trying to emulate “Papa Action ”?
On the positive side, television actors, actresses and musicians have been the pioneers of trends and style for decades.
Remember the classic Boom Shaka braids and sky-high platform shoes that everybody wanted?
How about when Sthandiwe Kgoroge, as Zoleka, dotted her face for her wedding to Archie (Sello Maake ka-Ncube) in an episode of Generations , and it became the “”in thing?
Sowetan wanted to find out what trends have been learnt and emulated from our screen sirens – from make-up to hair and clothing over the years.
Also, what television star is influencing your current style?
Beauty and fashion editor and celebrity stylist Alexis Tshangana walks us through trends to show us exactly how powerful television can be.
“I think viewers tend to emulate actors and actresses because they each play a role that they [the viewers] can identify with.
“Be it a powerful woman in the boardroom, a stylish student or a mother, viewers aspire to be that person on their screens, and it often translates to fashion and trends,” says Tshangana, who has styled many celebrities over the years including Pearl Thusi, Maps Maponyane and Cassper Nyovest.
HAIR
It ’ s no secret that celebrities have had a huge influence on what hairdos we adorn ourselves with. Walk into any hair salon and ask for “The Rihanna ”, and chances are they will know exactly what you are talking about.
Rihanna caused quite a stir when she shaved off the side of her head and we all ran for the clippers. Many will also remember the bleached blonde style that Vinolia Mashego introduced us to decades ago.
Nowadays, Tshangana says, one of the biggest trends people have emulated is keeping it natural.
“The business of synthetic hair might be worth billions, but some celebrities such as Hollywood actress Lupita Nyong ’ o, Boity Thulo and songstress Zonke Dikana are all too happy to stick to their roots.”
Their following comes from women citing that natural hair is easy to maintain and kind to their wallets, she says.
Women everywhere are also seen rocking the “Thuli ” braided look, played by Simphiwe Ngema on Muvhango.
MAKE-UP:
Thankfully, make-up on our screens has evolved.
Although no one wants to claim responsibility for being its pioneer, who can forget the classic “hungry lip ” lipstick trend?
Many actresses, most notably Sophie Ndaba of Generations fame, was one of those who donned this trend, and women followed suit. There was also the trend of drawing the edges of your outer lips with black eyeliner, which TV presenter Kamogelo Bombe admitted to once doing back in the day.
Celebrities like Marilyn Monroe and Anna Nicole Smith also influenced women everywhere to draw a fake mole on their faces.
Of late, Tshangana says, the make-up trend of 2013 and 2014 nwas all about the brightest colours you could find.
“For 2015, trends on television have taken to nude lips, rosy cheeks and shimmer eye shadows. We see this on Jennifer Lopez in American Idol, Olivia played by Kerry Washington in
The Fixer and Bonang Matheba
on Top Billing.”
CLOTHING:
Clothes are probably the biggest influence that celebrities have on television viewers. From young girls trying to emulate a certain celebrity red carpet look for their matric farewells, to the “hip-hop look ” that saw many people wearing baggy clothes, reversed caps and chunky pendants. Remember how Thandiswa Mazwai popularised the “soul sister ” look of wearing All Star sneakers with long, African print skirts – a trend which took off like wildfire.
Lebo Mathosa was a big trendsetter, and popularised the likes of thigh-high boots and the skimpy pleated skirt, later called the “please call me ”.
Tshangana says today one of the most emulated looks is the shift dress – an iconic piece of clothing that she says has made a 360° turnaround. “Women such as Thuli on
Muvhango and Gina Torres on the American legal drama Suits have made it a staple piece in many viewers ’ wardrobes. It now comes in amazing patterns, colours and beautiful fabrics.
“Many TV shows are also flaunting the floral-on-floral, and bright-on-bright trend. Thando Thabethe on Genera
tions, Denise Zimba on Vuzu and Tamar Braxton are perfect examples and role models on this hot trend which many people are emulating.”