The do that sparked a run on glitz
● If the city of gold has been experiencing a shortage of glitzy fabric, the cause might be the reams of lamé, lace, tulle and sequins snatched up for the land’s most fashionable swoon last Sunday evening.
In a country where the conversation has shifted from “What time is load-shedding?” to “Who should I vote for?”, the conundrum of what to wear to the South African Style Awards has been a welcome distraction.
And, arriving in the impressive lobby of the newish @Sandton Hotel in Benmore Gardens, the reply from those interpreting this year’s theme, “Shades of Gold”, was as long and eclectic as the political parties on this year’s ballot paper.
There was the curvy (rapper Nadia Nakai in figurehugging Gert-Johan Coetzee, complete with crown), the architectural (actress Sophie Ndaba, seated on a couch in yellow Otiz Seflo sporting that much-copied view-obstructing flourish first seen in the gown Nigerian artist Tems wore to the Oscars last year), a homage to old world glamour (former Mrs South Africa Jo Judnick Wilson in Tienie Boshoff Couture) and the show-stopping (aesthetics doctor Karishma Ramdev Mouton’s gold foil tiered gown from online store Frnch).
Looking dapper as he posed in front of a photo wall bearing branding from this year’s sponsor, Plascon, was Musa Motha, who went viral after his moving performance on Britain’s Got Talent that clinched Simon Cowell’s golden buzzer.
Fresh from performing in Hollywood, Musa came home to accept the Most Stylish Changemaker award on the night, and I asked the 28-year-old, who lost his leg to cancer, whether he ever thought he would make such a huge impact.
“It is something I am grateful for, something I have been dreaming to do. To touch people’s hearts,” said the dancer and choreographer, who bought his cream brocade wrap jacket and gold bow tie online and paired them with DSquared2 jeans.
Seeking respite from the stifling heat (aagh, another power outage!), it was outside for fresh air and into a tableau of impromptu photo shoots: Thembi Seete posing in her butterfly-inspired Otiz Seflo, Gomora actress Nandi Khubone (eschewing the dress code for a white cocktail dress) who brought along a whole film crew complete with portable lights, and reigning Miss South Africa Natasha Joubert in a Jolache Couture gown which appeared less gold and more bronze to my eye.
Back inside and past YouTuber Lasizwe (also not in gold, but a black leather ensemble) and up the escalators, I make my way past the E! News cable entertainment channel booth to pick up a flute of House of BNG MCC.
On to greeting celebrity chef Mogau Seshoene (The Lazy Makoti), TV personality Kim Jayde Robinson as well as Norma Mngoma (formerly married to controversial ANC politician Malusi Gigaba) and Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa (estranged wife of Black Coffee) — before heading into the sprawling ballroom for the proceedings.
Everywhere you turned were more familiar faces: billionaire businesswoman Irene Charnley chatting to wellness coach Didi Mogashoa (wife of wealthy industrialist Tebogo Mogashoa), FNB Joburg Art Fair’s Mandla Sibeko, ad guru Nathan Reddy, broadcaster Penny Lebyane and Ellerines fortune heiress Dionne Ellerine-Hirschowitz with her husband, the published author Marc Hirschowitz.
Behind me sat glamour gal Blue Mbombo while a few seats away was trend-seer Dion Chang and two-time SA Style Award winner Billie Zangewa, both holding limited edition Artycapucines 2023 Louis Vuitton handbags, which feature an adaptation of Billie’s handstitched tapestry The Swimming Lesson (there are only 200 in the series available and each will set you back a tidy sum of €9,200 — about R188,000).
Phew!
On to the actual awards, and compère for the 26th edition was Alan Ford holding the fort for the 13th time (last year his co-host was Lala Hirayama). If you’re a regular A-Listers reader, you will remember that I’d already named the recipients last year when covering the winners dinner back in November, so no need to repeat the list.
However, one of the highlights was when Sharleen Seethal exclaimed: “What the heck?” when she, husband Sherwin and their brood (Sydney, Tyrese and Alaina) came onto the stage to accept daughter Tyla’s award for Most Stylish Performing Artist in Music (the Water hitmaker had uttered the same words when accepting her Grammy last month).
And Bonang Matheba proved she knows how to snatch attention when she timed her arrival into the room just as Alan was mentioning her champopo brand as one of the night’s drink sponsors.
As for the grub?
Canapés included smoked salmon with herbed cream cheese on potato rostis, mini beef Wellingtons and prosciutto-wrapped asparagus stems, while after the awards stations set up near the hotel’s pool deck offered options including sushi, selected grills and pasta.