Corporate conservatism doesn’t need to stifle your dress sense
Professionals twist stuffy office rules and follow their feelings
It’s no secret that working in a corporate environment requires conservative deportment.
How many times have we seen fashion experts dishing out advice about how to dress appropriately for an interview, or the do’s and don’ts of dressing up for the office?
This corporate bureaucracy can no doubt stifle one's fashion sense.
However, there are some fashionistas who still manage to hold on to their sense of style despite working in a conservative environment. They still give their corporate get-up a twist of style to hold onto their fashion identity. We found a lawyer, two doctors and even a member of parliament who prove that being officebound does not necessarily mean that one has to look frumpy.
Vuyolethu Madikane is a medical doctor from Pretoria. Madikane says that having a sense of style is something that is innate to him.
“I consider myself a double agent. On the one hand I'm a doctor and have to be professional in the way that I dress. On the other hand I have a bit of a crazy outgoing side. “Being a motivational speaker and meeting different people made me realise that being presentable in how you dress is of utmost importance, so I always aim to look great whether I’m at work or at play. Personal presentation is very important to me,” he says.
Madikane describes his sense of style as simple but stylish. He says he likes clothes that are fashion-forward but still understated. He goes on regular shopping sprees but does not buy too much into trends.
“I’m not into clothes that scream for attention, but I do pay a lot of detail to ensuring that my clothes fit me well and that I am comfortable in whatever I am wearing. In this way, I make the clothes look good and not the other way around.”
Nolwazi Malimela is an attorney from Scottsburgh in KwaZulu-Natal.
Malimela, 27, is a power suit queen when she is arguing her cases in court. However, she is also a style diva and ensures that she is always dressed to the nines.
“I would describe my sense of style as conservative with a spin. I am mostly in power suits and dressed all in black or navy when I’m at the magistrate’s court, but back at the office I get to let my whimsical side shine through and I can be spotted in fun and colourful dresses.
“I’m at a place in my life where I’m very comfortable in my own skin, and I believe that it is a good thing for people to see a bit of your character in the clothes that you wear because clothes do say a lot about you.
Malusi Gigaba is Finance
Minister.
Parliament is no doubt one of the most conservative places you can be in, yet the minister’s sense of style is breathtaking.
He is always spotted in suits that are tailored to perfection and is not afraid to show off his style any time on his Instagram page.
In May, Forbes Africa profiled the designer behind most of Gigaba’s stylish suits, Linda Makhaya. In the article Makhaya said the power suits were Italian made but designed by himself.
This made for a powerful fusion of African and Italian style.
Judging by how perfectly stylish our minister always looks, we certainly agree.
Zwelihle Nkosi is a medical doctor from KwaNongoma, KZN.
Another stylish doctor, Nkosi says that his poor background propelled him to want to dress like a king as he couldn’t do so when he was growing up.
“I went to a boarding school in Nongoma where I met people from different places. Those kids used to wear designer clothes and I had none because my dad and my grandmother couldn’t afford to buy them for me.”
Nkosi says that a lot of people compliment his style.
“Most doctors don’t care about style and designer clothes. I chose to differ,” he says.