In fashion, few names conjure romance, grandeur and emotional storytelling quite like Valentino. In light of the designer’s passing, we look back at the maison’s most unforgettable dresses, creations that transcended red carpets and runways to become cultural moments in their own right.
Thimna Shooto is more than a familiar face on television — she is a symbol of self-belief in motion. Since winning Love Island South Africa in 2021, Thimna has used her platform to champion confidence, body positivity and a healthier, more compassionate relationship with fitness and self-image. Grounded in wellness yet deeply attuned to fashion and beauty, her approach to life is refreshingly guilt-free and unapologetically authentic.
Founded by Congolese designer Anifa Mvuemba, Hanifa has, since its inception, positioned itself as a brand for women without limits. The label speaks to women who take up space on their own terms, whether in boardrooms, creative industries, or on the world’s most visible stages. That ethos was powerfully underscored when Hanifa dressed Savannah James for the 2025 Met Gala, affirming the brand’s place in a global fashion conversation that celebrates ambition, presence and self-definition as inseparable from style. Rooted in heritage yet unbound by geography, Hanifa understands femininity not as limitation, but as limitless potential rendered through form, fit and intention.
If the Spring/Summer 2026 runways taught us anything, it’s that fashion in 2026 is nothing if not bold, expressive and unapologetically creative. From explosive bursts of colour to fresh silhouettes that redefine classic codes, designers across New York, London, Milan and Paris made one thing clear: fashion is leaning into joy, individuality and revisiting heritage with a playful wink. After scouring the catwalks, trend reports and fashion week highlights, here are the trends that will shape wardrobes around the world this year — runway first, street next.
The 83rd Golden Globe Awards brought fashion and film into perfect harmony as Hollywood’s finest turned the red carpet into a stage for sartorial storytelling. From bold silhouettes to elegant classics, this year’s arrivals set the tone for an unforgettable awards season. 
Founded in 2016 by Senegalese designer Sarah Diouf, Tongoro has emerged as one of the most compelling voices in contemporary African fashion. Designed and produced in Dakar, the brand exists at the intersection of heritage and modernity, where tradition is not preserved behind glass, but worn, lived in and reimagined. Tongoro speaks to a global audience while remaining deeply anchored in African authorship, craftsmanship and pride.
We are officially in 2026, and if fashion month confirmed anything, it’s that this year’s beauty mood is not about excess, but intention. After scouring the Spring/Summer 2026 runways, tracking the looks our favourite it-girls are already wearing off-duty, and paying close attention to what brands like Fenty Beauty, MAC Cosmetics and NYX are actively pushing right now, one thing is clear: 2026 beauty is confident, considered and quietly nostalgic.
For more than three decades, Gavin Rajah has stood as one of South Africa’s most enduring and influential fashion voices. Based out of Cape Town, the Gavin Rajah brand is synonymous with refined luxury, meticulous craftsmanship and a timeless elegance that refuses to be fleeting. What began as a singular vision has grown into a multifaceted creative atelier, one that not only celebrates sartorial beauty but also champions community empowerment and social purpose.
Couture took centre stage this year, unfolding as a study in drama, intention and meticulous craft. Across red carpets and cultural moments, African celebrities embraced fashion as both performance and narrative, delivering silhouettes that felt sculpted rather than styled. From layered textures and architectural forms to conceptual method dressing and glass-like finishes, the year’s most memorable looks proved that couture remains the ultimate language of self-expression.