THE WHY, THE WHICH & the wardrobe

We really got into it this month! Read on for more on the allure of a loosey-goosey jumpsuit, vintage-hunting and jingle-jangling jewellery, the best places to find quality African design and short-girl styling tips.

- LIESL ROBERTSON

1 Danielle Weakley

What are some of the pieces in your wardrobe getting a lot of wear at the moment?

1 Black trousers. As Miranda Priestly would say, ‘Groundbreaking’ – but a good pair of black trousers will take you everywhere. I have a wide-legged pair from Me&B, a drawstring jogger from Hannah Lavery, the perennially sold-out pleather leggings from Bena Woman, and a cropped basic from H&M. I wear them all to death!

2 Cowboy boots. Not just thanks to Beyoncé’s new album! I love cowboy boots. In heavy rotation are a pair of beaten gold ones, a short embossed pair I’ve had for 20 years, and a tooled leather pair from Zara.

3 Statement knits. I hate a scratchy knit, so I love Romaria, a local knitwear brand that does the most gorgeous shapes and prints. And they’re not woolly knits, so I can breathe. That’s equal parts a problem of menopause and scratchy wool!

4 A navy belted coat. I feel like a cross between Mick Jagger and Charles Dickens in it; it’s navy with a red silk lining.

5 A silky jumpsuit. It’s a loosey-goosey number with cuffed sleeves and legs, and is equal parts comfortable and stylish. It makes dressing up for a winter shindig very easy. Dionne Campbell-Young dreams them into being in her studio in Tamboerskloof.

Any fashion advice?

Understand your style, know what suits you, and buy for long-time wear. I am old enough to know what I like and what suits me, so I am not massively blown to and fro by trends. I like to buy pieces that I can hold on to for a long time. And if I am supporting some of our incredible local brands, then I am also supporting small South African (often femalerun) businesses and not just buying fashion.

Any particular prints, styles or silhouettes that you are drawn to?