Let’s keep it sizzling in our own lane

#FASHIONISSUES

Whisper the words ‘street style’ and creative, even lively, noise materialises in my mind: I picture grey urban landscapes suddenly brightened by with splashes of bold spray paint; I envision a horde of speed-skaters and leaping hip-hop dancers disrupt the unremitting pace of our lives; I see colours and patterns energise everyone’s clothes. The words have power: ‘street style’ promises energy and self-expression, a vibrant antidote to George Orwell’s depression-inducing 1984 and his dark spectra of Big Brother.

Street statements are essential: they are distilled through music, sport, the arts and fashion. They influence cultures and modes worldwide. Here, they are an interpretation of high fashion; there, they are a sign of rebellion or a simple showcase of one’s uniqueness, one’s talent or one’s belonging to a distinct ethnicity. Everywhere they feed our social media feeds, flocks of influencers stocking the style stratosphere with images of their daily outfits, snapshots of their city or community; street style is a palette of inspiration, a mutable canvas for all of us to draw on. So it seemed natural to make ‘street style’ the theme for an entire issue. As Holly Meadows, our assistant editor digital, said in one of our planning sessions, ‘It has become a fashion force to be reckoned with, challenging the status quo that trends are born on the runway. These days we’re seeing a trickle-up effect as opposed to a trickle-down effect, and street style is used as a benchmark for what to wear next season.’ From our digital desk, Jaime Waddington said, “[It] is an exhibition. We are all artists and clothes are our paint,’ while Naazneen Baulackey added ‘The Street is a giant runway and everyone is a model. After all, we are all models of our own wardrobe!’

On the Continent, the expression of one’s individuality is incredibly powerful; the voice of the street pulsates on all levels of culture and reverberates our extraordinary diversity. Today, thanks to the talented Malibongwe Tyilo, a hunter-gatherer of life photographs that with nonchalant poetry expose socialites having a jolt (or not), Trevor Stuurman’s colourful chronicle of our country’s youth culture and style, Lulama Wolf or Niquita Bento’s sleek photographic aesthetics, Yoliswa Mqoco’s daring and fabulous take on fashion, Chu Suwannapha’s fascination with prints, to name but a few of the creatives, walking through the streets of our city, country, continent has never been so moving and soul-satisfying. With these influences and influencers in mind, we decided to turn our July issue into a wide and eclectic canvas filled with stories of energy and fun, of movement and migrations. But being ELLE, we decided to be different and unique. We wanted your voice to mix with ours, so together they could sing in unbridled harmonies. ‘Street style reminds me of the dance battles that happened in my backyard, with the kids from down the street,’ is how intern Thandolwethu fashion

Jean Chirwa described street style to me. Therefore let it be that this issue makes you want to join the dance battle: the music is on, the street is yours. Let’s see what you have.