Fashion

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

Published

1 year 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

Ib Kamara Exits Off-White

Published

6 days ago

1 September 2026

Fadire Olusola

Photo credit: Pause Online (@pauseonline/Instagram)

Ib Kamara has left Off-White, ending his tenure as creative director. The brand announced the departure on Monday, August 31, 2026, describing the split as a mutual decision. No successor has been announced.

Kamara first worked with Off-White as a stylist after connecting with Virgil Abloh in 2019. Following Abloh’s death in November 2021, Kamara joined the brand as Art and Image Director in 2022 and was later appointed Creative Director in 2024.

Photo credit: Pause Online (@pauseonline/Instagram)

During his time at Off-White, explores the impact of Black culture has had on America. In his 2024 show, entitled “BLACK BY POPULAR DEMAND”,he infuses elements of heritage and modernity that paint a rich vision of Black fashion.

In September 2024, Off-White held its first New York fashion show. Celebrities like Issa Rae, Victoria Monét, Sunisa Lee and Flavor Flav attended the event.

His departure comes after a change in Off-White’s ownership. In 2024, LVMH sold the brand to Bluestar Alliance.

Photo credit: Pause Online (@pauseonline/Instagram)

Bluestar Alliance CEO Joey Gabbay praised Kamara’s contribution to the company. He said they are deeply grateful for Ib’s vision, creativity, and the remarkable energy he brought to Off-White throughout his tenure.

Kamara also spoke about his time at the company.

“Working at Off-White has been an honor and a profound creative education. The teams I have worked alongside, the collections we produced, the shows we dreamt ”

Photo credit: Pause Online (@pauseonline/Instagram)

Kamara has launched his own creative agency, Raw Materials by Ib Kamara, which will be his main focus now. Off-White now faces another a new transition.

Fashion

Louis Vuitton Opens New Immersive Store at V&A Waterfront

Published

1 month ago

6 August 2026

Fadire Olusola

Photo: Instagram

Luxury shopping in Cape Town has a new attraction. Louis Vuitton has unveiled a new store at the V&A Waterfront. This will allow visitors to browse the brand’s latest collections. The new boutique is a combination of fashion, art and local design, appealing to all fashion lovers.

The boutique opened on 30 July at Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre, replacing Louis Vuitton’s previous location at the V&A Waterfront. It is part of the French fashion house’s latest retail initiative, and located at shops 6256 and 6259B, Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre.

Photo: Instagram

All parts of the store are designed to reflect Louis Vuitton’s identity. You will find Warm wood finishes, gem stone and handcrafted textures paired with contemporary furniture. Floor-to-ceiling windows bring in natural light with customers having a good view of the harbour and Table Mountain.

The expanded boutique introduces good offerings. Shoppers can check out designer leathers, handbags, luggage, footwear, accessories, and fragrances. New collections of Women’s ready-to-wear have been added to the Cape Town store. This allows local customers to gain full access to all the brands collections.

Photo: Instagram

The boutique offers personalized luxury services. Customers can book private appointments with client advisers for one-on-one styling. There are aftercare services that help maintain and repair Louis Vuitton pieces. Those who want to buy beauty products enjoy smooth refill services.

The precinct boasts popular stores that sell premium designers like Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana. Louis Vuitton and these brands have made the Waterfront an appealing destination for everyone.

This investment shows how much confidence brands have in South Africa’s luxury market. The Waterfront welcomes millions of visitors every year. The presence of this boutique appeals among both tourists and local luxury shoppers.

With its great collections and excellent customer experience, Louis Vuitton’s new home shows Cape Town’s growing influence on the luxury industry.

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Fashion

MaXHOSA to Make Paris Fashion Week Debut With First Official Runway Show

Published

1 month ago

3 August 2026

Tega Ekeri