Styles is the most accessible and affordable form of art,” says the recipient of one of this year’s SA Style Awards Maps Maponyane. This weekend, the 16th SA Style Awards’ red carpet will be rolled out of for Maps and nine other personalities who’ve kept our local social calendar sartorially savvy this past year.
“I’m really excited to be counted among the list of people to get this award, “says Maps, who wins the Most Stylish Model/TV Personality award.
“Being stylish is having the ability to express yourself and your opinions through your dress, and being recognised for that is a really great thing.”
The other winners include artist Conor McCreedy as the Most Stylish Business Person and John Jacob (the guy who designed Luminance’s interior) as Most Stylish Designer, and Thando Hop, the face of Gert-Johan Coetzee, wins Most Stylish Model. ‘Being an albino was always portrayed as weak, as meek, as basically negative,” says Thando.
“But now it’s finally been embraced and recognised as positive, as beautiful, as strong and inspiring. I am immensely appreciative that I have been chosen as a symbol of this transformation.”
Top Billing’s Simba Mnhere gets top honours for being the Most Stylish Media Personality, while J-Something, frontman of local house music band Mi Casa, snaps up the Most Innovative Style Award.
“Style for me is portraying who I am through my fashion sense,” he says. “Everyone has some sort of style but finding a unique style through your personality is key.”
The artist, who’s also the face of US men’s clothing brand Arrow Clothing, says he puts effort into looking good. “Getting this award is a push in the right direction, plus it’s so prestigious. I’m really proud, thankful and humbled!”
But this list won’t be complete without this year’s It Girl Minnie Dlamini, who has certainly earned the Most Stylish Performing Artist in Film Award. “It’s always great when someone recognises your efforts because I don’t just pick a dress and then I’m off to an event,” Minnie confides. “When I conceptualise an outfit with a designer, it’s a proper discussion about what looks good on my body. I carefully select the accessories and shoes to go with the look.” But Minnie says style is not just about clothing.
“Confidence plays the biggest part because if you don’t have the self-confidence to carry even the most stylish of clothes, you won’t look convincing.”
ChianoSky gets the Most Stylish Performing Artist in Music Award, and Kerry McGregor and her cricketer husband Neil McKenzie, will now be known as The Most Stylish Couple. At the top of the list sits the Princess of Africa, singer and humanitarian Yvonne Chaka Chaka, who leads as Style Icon. Three cheers for the snappy dressers!