Fashion

Who Runs the Fashion Game? Bonang Matheba or Pearl Thusi?

Published

10 months ago

2 July 2025

South African fashion has its icons. And then it has Bonang Matheba and Pearl Thusi, women who don’t just wear clothes, rather they shape conversation, ignite trends, and walk into a room like the moment belongs to them. These aren’t just celebrities with good taste. They’re fully-fledged style personalities, each commanding their own lane, and fiercely so.

But if we’re asking who really runs the fashion game? That’s a loaded question. The answer depends on what you’re looking for in a fashion queen. And more importantly, whose style speaks to you. So let’s unpack their style.

Bonang Matheba: Clean. Commanding. Consistent.

Bonang Matheba

When Bonang shows up, she looks like she’s dressed for the boardroom and the red carpet at the same time. Her style is unmistakably refined. She leans into structure: coats that know their shape, gowns that understand drama without noise, heels that mean business.

Bonang’s fashion is rarely chaotic. She doesn’t do too much. In fact, her power lies in the way she edits. It’s always the right dress, the right shoe, the right bag. Not one extra thing out of place. And that kind of quiet confidence? That’s what makes her unforgettable.

Over the years, we’ve seen her go from pageant-style gowns to designer power suits and custom evening looks that would hold their own in Paris or Milan. Her taste has matured, and she’s embraced her own fashion identity. Think muted tones. Rich fabrics. Timeless shapes. Bonang doesn’t chase trends, she commits to taste, and it shows.

Bonang Matheba

Pearl Thusi: Wild. Bold. Unapologetic.

Pearl Thusi

Pearl, on the other hand, brings fire. Not the burn-everything-down kind, the spark, the heat, the unpredictable glow. Her style is emotional. Some days she’s glam. Other days she’s in a corset, cargo pants and combat boots, serving energy that says, “I don’t follow rules, I bend them to fit me.”

There’s a rugged softness to how Pearl dresses. She’ll wear a dramatic gown with an afro puff. She’ll show up in streetwear and still make it fashion. She mixes elegance with toughness, often in the same look, and it works because it’s real. She dresses like she’s telling a story. And no two chapters look the same.

What makes Pearl stand out is her fearlessness. She takes risks, some hits, some misses, but you never get the sense that she’s dressing for applause. She dresses like someone who knows herself, and isn’t afraid to change lanes when the mood shifts.

Pearl Thusi

Same Game, Different Plays

Bonang and Pearl couldn’t be more different in how they express style. But they have one thing in common, they both understand that fashion is more than clothes. It’s how you carry yourself. It’s the attitude. Energy. Presence.

Bonang is the woman you call when the dress code says “excellence only.”

Pearl is the one who rewrites the dress code entirely, and still gets a standing ovation.

Let’s take you back a bit to the time when they both almost gave us all a heart attack from heavy fashion.

Let’s start with Pearl Thusi, aka Mama Panther, aka the woman who can give you soft glam one day and full-on high-fashion villain the next. In this particular look, Pearl stepped out like a character straight out of a billion-dollar heist film, the lead, of course. She’s dressed in a glossy crocodile-textured two-piece set in a shade of green that doesn’t whisper “luxury” it screams it. Not emerald, not lime, not neon. Money-green. The kind of green that tells you, I don’t chase, I attract.

She layered it with a dramatic fur coat casually draped over her arms like it’s just another Tuesday, then topped it off with fierce stilettos, bold sunglasses, and the kind of confidence you simply can’t borrow. Standing in front of a matching luxury sports car, it’s clear this look was no longer outfit alone but power play.

Pearl Thusi

Now, enter Bonang Matheba, the woman who’s been eating up red carpets. There’s something about Bonang that says she doesn’t just dress for the occasion, she is the occasion.

In this maroon moment, she gave us head-to-toe luxury without a single word. Wearing a sculpted leather mini dress and a matching oversized trench, both in that deep, wine-red Gucci croc texture. Bonang made minimalism feel expensive. The monochrome pairing, the pointed heels, the compact handbag in the exact same tone, this was precision styling. She didn’t over-accessorize. She didn’t need to. With her sleek hair, gold earrings, and black sunglasses, she looked like the boss lady who owns the building, not just someone attending the event.

Bonang Matheba

So Who Really Runs It?

It depends. Are you drawn to elegance that’s been fine-tuned and perfected over years? Or does the wild beauty of unpredictability pull you in?

If you value consistency, clean lines, and couture clarity, you’ll probably say Bonang.

If you live for spontaneity, statement dressing, and fearless flair, your vote might go to Pearl.

But here’s the truth: South African fashion needs both. It thrives because of both. And maybe, just maybe, the real flex is that they’ve never tried to be each other.

Related Topics:#AfricanFashionRoyalty #BonangMatheba #BonangVsPearl #PearlThusi #SACelebStyle #SAStyleIcons #StyleQueens #WhoRunsTheFashionGame

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Fashion

Mihlali Ndamase Styles a Blazer and Jeans With a Vintage Touch

Published

2 days ago

14 April 2026

Fadire Olusola

Photo: Instagram

Mihlali Ndamase has built a style direction defined by bold colour and body-conscious shapes. Recently, her Instagram feed has focused on figure-hugging dresses from her label, Treasury. But in a different direction, she steps away from that approach, choosing instead a blazer and wide-leg denim styled with a vintage reference.

The blazer is cut with a slightly oversized frame, giving it a balanced shape. The shoulders extend just enough to create contrast against the jeans. This proportion avoids the cropped tailoring typical of modern cuts. This outfit is styled like the late 90s and early 2000s styling. She pairs the look with cuffed loose jeans in clean-finished denim.

Photo: Instagram

The outfit carries a vintage feel through its details. The blazer and jeans pairing draws from classic styling, shown through simple details rather than bold elements. The blazer shows Mihlali’s usual style, shaped by clean lines and well-cut pieces.

Accessories are kept simple. The shoes and bag come in soft, neutral shades. She pairs the look with oversized glasses and wears her hair in a fringe that frames her face.

Photo: Instagram

This look sits close to her 27 February denim outfit, where she wore lighter-wash jeans paired with a matching long-sleeve blue shirt. She finished the look with a sweater draped around her neck, a white clutch, and half-covered shoes, styled with a bob.

Fashion

Halle Bailey Channels Romance in a Red Ruffled Blumarine Gown for ‘You, Me & Tuscany’ Promotion

Published

1 week ago

8 April 2026

Tega Ekeri

Halle Bailey - Instagram

Halle Bailey presented a more romantic look this week while promoting her upcoming project You, Me & Tuscany, stepping out in a striking red gown from Blumarine that reflects the film’s tone.

The look, covered by publications such as Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, featured layered ruffles cut from lightweight chiffon that moved easily. The gown was shaped with a softly structured bodice and a deep V neckline, before falling into cascading tiers and a trailing hem. A high slit balanced the volume, adding shape and allowing ease as she walked. She paired the dress with pointed red heels, keeping the look one colour, while gold hoop earrings and a statement ring added contrast without pulling focus from the dress.

Halle Bailey – Instagram

For Bailey, this appearance continues her recent fashion direction. In recent months, she has shifted away from more bold red carpet looks and towards pieces that focus on fabric and structure instead of heavy detailing. The Blumarine gown sits firmly within that transition, using texture, proportion and colour to create impact in a controlled way.

The red colour aligns with the film’s romantic theme. Instead of a deep, formal tone, the shade appears brighter and less formal, aligning with the romantic setting implied by You, Me & Tuscany. Styled with long braids pulled back from the face and minimal beauty choices, Bailey kept attention on the neckline and ruffles.

Halle Bailey – Instagram

The look also aligns with current promotional styling. Bailey’s wardrobe here appears deliberate. It aligns with the film’s romantic setting.

This look is defined by its simplicity. Where many promotional looks aim for attention, this one relies on proportion, flow and a clear approach. It reflects a performer who is more considered, not just in her roles, but in how she presents them visually.

With the film’s release approaching, Bailey’s fashion choices are already helping define its visual direction. If this appearance is any indication, the promotional tour will favour consistency over bold styling, using fashion as an extension of the film’s theme.

Fashion

Polka Dots Never Miss When Thabee Happy Wears Them

Published

2 weeks ago

3 April 2026

Tega Ekeri

Thabee Happy - Instagram

Thabee has maintained a clean, controlled approach to styling. This time she delivers a polka dot set built around a structured long-sleeve shirt and tailored shorts, balancing a playful print with structured tailoring.

The fit is sharp, with defined shoulders and a clean button line. The addition of front pockets adds a functional detail. The cinched waist, tied with a matching belt, defines the waist clearly. It is fitted without looking restrictive.

The shorts maintain the same structure. They are tailored enough to look deliberate but relaxed enough to keep the look from becoming too formal. The length is precise, keeping the outfit modern and wearable.

Thabee Happy – Instagram

The styling stays minimal. The white pointed heels extend the clean colour direction and sharpen the overall appearance. The colour direction stays consistent. The handbag, compact and structured, adds texture without overpowering the look. The jewellery remains minimal, keeping focus on the outfit.

The polka dot print is evenly applied, keeping the pattern balanced without clutter. It looks modern because of the cut and styling, not just the print.

The environment matches the outfit’s structure, staying polished without feeling rigid.

Thabee Happy – Instagram

Thabee Happy’s styling shows strong control of proportion. Each element is placed with purpose, from the structured shirt to the clean finish of the heels. The outfit doesn’t need extra layers or bold accessories to get attention. It works because the fit is right, everything is balanced, and it is put together properly. This look keeps things clean and modern while staying wearable, showing how a familiar print can still feel current when the execution is right.