The style squad

We rounded up ten of the most stylish Kenyan personalities of the year writes Wambui Thimba and Silvia Njoki

Namtero Mdee

Str8 Up Presenter

Style: Very simple yet sometimes very daring.... glamorous always!

What inspires you?

My mood plays a very big role on what I wear, usually when I am in a good mood I will dress up and when I am not in a good mood I just want jeans and a Tee.

What other people are wearing also inspires me, and then I go home and tweak it to make it my own, so I could say humankind inspire my fashion sense.

Who is your style icon? Victoria Beckham, Rihanna and Blake Lively

Where do you shop?

Angelsmile who is also my stylist, Toi market, Mr Price but most of the time my stylist shops for me.

What’s your fashion don’t? It would have to be showing underwear lines and I cannot stand clear bra straps, they made strapless bras for a reason.

Annabel Onyango

Freelance fashion stylist for DRESSUPNATION

Style: Eclectic. It’s a mash-up of whatever’s trendy, vintage, ethnic, menswear, and statement jewellery. Anything goes really. I’m as much into loose harem pants and embellished shoulders as I am into vintage skinny ties.

What inspires you?

Who is your style icon?

Anyone in the ‘60s. I adore 1960s-era vintage and mod stuff. The shift mini-dresses, stockings, beehives, liquid eyeliner, nude lips (read: Amy Winehouse), it all gets me very excited. The idea of making vintage look modern is very appealing to me.

Where do you shop?

Question is where don’t I shop! In Nairobi you have to diversify your scope to stay current affordably. It’s a combo of the mall, second-hand markets, little boutiques, town stalls, Indian shops, and holiday bazaars... The exhibition stalls in town have cool finds if you have the patience to look. Also, a handful of online vendors like www.2nu.co.ke and www.hatcouture.co.ke.are treasures to be discovered.

Style tips? Colour. Contrast. Confidence. It’s pretty self-explanatory. DRESSUPNATION will help you with all your styling needs (wink).

What’s your fashion don’t? There are no real fashion don’ts in my view. People should generally be allowed to express themselves the way they want. My philosophy with DRESSUPNATION is not for people to conform to any prescribed style, but rather refine the aesthetic they already have. My biggest pet peeve though - a man in an oversized suit; never underestimate the power of a perfect fit.

Wendy Kimani

Style: I like to mix colours

What inspires you?

Colours inspire me. I don’t like prints, I prefer colour blocks instead.

Style icon?

I don’t really have one but I go online to look for styles that are good for my body shape.

Where do you shop?

I shop anywhere and everywhere. I love Mr Price because they have my size.

Styling tips?

Always wear good under wear.

Nancie Mwai — fashion blogger Style: I call my style street style. It’s a mixture of many looks. I can do glam, casual, elegant and I can also mix them all up.

What inspires you ?

I inspire myself. I also get inspired by fashion bloggers.

Style icons?

The Olsen twins and Sarah Jessica Parker’s character in Sex and The City. They’re risk takers when it comes to fashion. My favourite blogger, ‘The Glamorai’, is also one of my style icons.

Style tips

Personal style comes before fashion trends so come up with your own style first before you decide to follow every trend out there.

Fashion don’t?

I’m not really afraid to try out something or experiment. There’s no style out there that I wouldn’t try. But I do hate ‘sandaks’ with a passion!

GRACE MSALAME

Style: Comfortable, yet chic... I go with the trends,

but also stick to what works for set trends; and me.

What inspires you?

Oh Boy... when I wake up in the morning the weather usually dictates what I’ll wear, but am quite a girly girl and like dressing up, so I guess my love for clothes and fashion.

Who is your style icon? Oh! that’s a hard one, I pick tips from women who just get it right and dress for their body type, which is the secret to looking good, so my list can range from Michelle Obama to Mary J to locally Somoina and my dear cousin Grace.

Where do you shop?

Everywhere! But mostly Mr. Price really, and kind family members abroad know how to hook a sister up.

Style tips?

Be Comfortable, it will automatically give you Confidence and always wear a smile to top it off!!

What’s your fashion don’t?

Fishnet stockings!!! they make me cringe!