My Style: Kennedy Mutua

Kennedy Mutua is a respected fashion designer and owner of Mance Apparel.

Pulse: Describe your everyday look...

Mutua: My daily style is dapper. You will always find me in a blazer because real gentlemen master the toughest of challenges in a suit.

P: What did you wear to the last fashion event you attended?

M: A Maasai-themed Scottish kilt, white crisp cotton shirt, black skinny tie, black blazer and brown leather, high-cut moccasins because it was an event depicting culture and I wanted to show the inter-relation between the Maasai and Scottish cultures.

P: What is the all-time favourite piece you have designed to date?

M: A rugby-themed suit for my friend Steve Pulei. The suit idea was borrowed from rugby which is my favourite sport and the only game played in heaven. I incorporated a Canterbury badge on the chest, the lapels form an oval shape and instead of pockets, I had lines in the shape of a rugby post. The colour of the suit is green like a rugby pitch.

P: How different are your designs?

M: My pieces are works of art. I like working with fabrics that normal people wouldn’t look at twice. I pay attention to the small details most people overlook. I also like to capitalise on mistakes most commercial designers make, like the absence of full canvas in a blazer.

P: What would you wear for a movie premiere?

M: A grey double-breasted suit, white shirt, a black polka dot pocket square, moustache themed lapel pin, black skinny tie, black crafted skinny belt, black lace up oxfords and black no show-socks.

P: Which accessories are a must-have in your wardrobe?

M: Good cologne - thank God for makers of Givenchy’s Gentlemen Only - a day watch with a metal band, well cut dark suit, perfect sunglasses, lots of white crisp cotton shirts, new socks and underwear.

P: Which old trends are you still holding onto?

M: I am still stuck on muscle tees because I like displaying my torso once in a while.

P: To you, what does grooming include?

M: How you go to the bathroom, what you use in the shower, how you use your cologne, lip-balm, clothes, lotion and much more.

P: Which local designer inspires you?

M: Ann McCreath, because her collections are very well thought out like at her recent MBFW collection in South Africa. I like what Nick Ondu does with the double breasted suits and John Kaveke has been an amazing designer - all round, he’s a creative genius.

P: What is a well-dressed woman to you?

M: Borrow from the phrase, ‘dress shabbily and they remember the dress, dress impeccably and they remember the woman.’ A little black dress is the perfect way to be classy and turn heads without being trashy.

P: What should one never wear a pair of leather boots with?

M: In my era of fashion there are no rules, it’s all about individual and personal style but I would never pair it with knee length shorts because it looks shady.

P: If you could, which body piercings would you get?

M: My mum is going to read this. I am a tattoo person but if I were to get one it would be down there hidden by clothes, for obvious reasons.

P: What is the craziest trend you have ever pulled off?

M: A pair of blue dungarees with no top.