Fashion
Who Runs the Fashion Game? Bonang Matheba or Pearl Thusi?
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.
Read Also: Bonang Matheba Embraces a New Age with Style and Gratitude
ASAP Rocky has set the pace for streetwear in 2025. His fashion game is lit, and the world takes notice. His recent outings in recent months shows how he keeps pushing the conversation around fashion without forcing it.
Early in the month, Rocky wore a long-sleeve top with matching baggy trousers and paired them with black square-toe shoes. He finished the outfit with pearl-encrusted headphones. The outfit itself was simple, but the detail made the difference. He turned a casual errand run into a streetwear moment. The headphones became the highlight, proving that one accessory can shift an entire look.
Later in September, Rocky fronted the cover of ELLE magazine. The shoot featured him in Dior, Louis Vuitton, Celine, and other major houses. He moved between tailored silhouettes and loose streetwear fits with ease. He didn’t just model clothes, he showed how streetwear lives inside luxury fashion when styled with confidence. The spread confirmed his status as more than an artist in fashion campaigns.
At the Los Angeles premiere of Highest 2 Lowest, Rocky wore a designer suit, styled it with a taupe shirt, and black loafers. The look felt sharp, but the detail of the tie and pin added personality. Rocky used the red carpet to show how a suit can still carry streetwear edge when you own the styling.
Read Also : Bonang Matheba, The Gucci Blondie!
Across these September appearances, Rocky proves he doesn’t need loud prints or oversized logos to set trends. He chooses clean bases and then injects a twist, be it pearl headphones, a polka-dot tie, or the balance of tailoring and casual wear. The formula works because it feels natural. He doesn’t pile on unnecessary layers or chase viral gimmicks.
He walks with confidence, and that confidence sells the outfit. A cream top and trousers sound plain on paper, but on Rocky they read as intentional and stylish. A charcoal suit could feel corporate, but on him it becomes modern streetwear. He proves that streetwear is less about specific pieces and more about attitude and execution.
These past months show Rocky in different spaces, a fashion magazine, a film premiere, but in each setting he sets trends. Fans recreate the cream look with thrift finds. Blogs analyze the ELLE cover styling. Designers take cues from his tailoring choices. He doesn’t need to shout through his outfits. He makes clear, confident decisions that influence the culture.
ASAP Rocky continues to define streetwear in real time. He blends high fashion with casual wear, experiments with details, and carries it all with ease. In September alone, he reminded everyone that style doesn’t mean excess. It means clarity, personality, and confidence. That’s why his outfit game remains the standard for streetwear in 2025.
Yellow is often considered a tricky colour, but on Bonang Matheba it looks different, at the L’Oréal Beauty makeup Master Class 2025, Her look proved that style is not just about the clothes but also the character and grace behind them
Her outfit, designed by Kilentar, was a two-piece Ano woven top and layered skirt set that gave the classic wear a new form. The cropped top came with a V-neckline and wide, short sleeves that gave it a loose, cool shape. The fabric itself wasn’t plain, there were subtle patterns carrying them with sophistication, adding details that enriched the yellow.
Bonang Matheba
The high-waisted, ankle-length skirt carried rows of threads that created a sense of motion, underneath it is a soft sheer fabric, balancing out the strong texture of the material, turning the skirt into something more than just a piece of clothing.
The design on the dress alone made the outfit pleasant. Every step would send the threads into motion, the skilled tailoring gave the skirt an airy quality, making it flowy and feel alive, giving Bonang an effortless kind of glamour.
Bonang Matheba
Her styling choices kept the look simple. But simplicity is something that cannot be thrown out of the fashion world, and Bonang embodied that with her hair styled neatly, keeping the focus on the outfit. Gold earrings added a touch of shine and the open-toe heels let the skirt take centre stage.
Bonang Matheba
What made the look stand out was how it carried Bonang’s personality in every detail. The color was fearless, the top felt traditional and classy, and the skirt added playfulness. Together, it was a perfect balance. strong and free, bold and soft. Thinking about it, Bonang’s mastery of colour is never a surprise.
Read Also: Mihali Ndamese Rules Her World in Fashion Nova
Mihlali Ndamase has built her name as one of South Africa’s leading voices in beauty and fashion, even earning a spot on Forbes Africa’s 30 Under 30 list. Known for her strong sense of style, she often partners with brands that reflect her personality and image, her latest post in the Rule Your World sheer maxi dress by Fashion Nova quickly stood out.
Mihlali Ndamase in Fashion Nova piece
The dress is a bold magenta shade that lights up her skin beautifully. Floor-length with a daring thigh-high slit, it brings just the right amount of edge. The fitted bustier top, detailed with lace panels, gives the gown a lingerie-inspired touch. The lace runs down the midsection, cut into a V-shape above the waist, breaking the solid fabric and adding detail that keeps the outfit interesting. The lacework is one of the most eye-catching parts of the dress, which keeps the look clean. The see-through pattern around the waist creates contrast without being too revealing.
Mihlali styled the dress with gold earrings, a bracelet, and strappy heels, simple choices that let the gown shine on its own. The entire look balances fashion, making it perfect for a fancy dinner or a red-carpet night.
Mihlali Ndamase
Mihlali has a way of carrying fashion, as if she’s not just modeling a look but owning the entire mood around it. That style is what makes her Mihlali, people are watching a woman who knows exactly who she is and isn’t afraid to show it.
What makes this outfit stand out is its clean, minimal design. It has a close fit that highlights her shape, yet the fabric and cut keep it looking easy and comfortable.
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