Ingo Shanyenge’s Style Advice For Men

One of Namibia’s undisputed top designers, Ingo Shanyenge has broken barriers over the years dressing everyone from A-list celebs to prominent personalities.

With a successful career and strong brand behind him, Shanyenge is an authority when it comes to fashion, style and everything in between.

Fashion conscious men often feel left out of the loop, with designers and media often shining the spotlight on women’s attire. Shanyenge shares a few of his top tips to help Namibian men look like they just stepped off the runway.

Many believe wearing accessories, especially during winter, is a huge no-no, but not according to Shanyenge, whose African Print collection ‘Royalty’ took the country by storm in 2017.

He believes accessories are important to frame a look and points to watches, waistcoats, scarves and hats as trendy additions to any outfit.

Waistcoats, says Shanyenge, serve to show off a beautifully designed shirt.

“When it comes to styling accessories, the key is to coordinate. Many men make the mistake of wearing too many accessories at once. It looks confusing. Never over-decorate yourself.”

Shanyenge says what always impresses is a blazer with gold buttons and a gold watch.

Scarves are affordable and have the potential to make anyone look stylish instantly.

“With a plain look of pants, a T-shirt and shoes, why not also rock that scarf? Scarves are great, because they bring elegance to any look,” he says.

Shanyenge says one of the first things any man must make sure of when buying clothes is the fit.

“I have noticed that many men struggle with this. We all have different body sizes and shapes, so what will work for your friend might not work for you. If you wear clothes that are not your size, you will almost look like some sort of grandpa, and that is not what you want. You want to stand out and always make an impression. So, it is key to always dress according to your body shape and size,” he says.

Shanyenge warns against wearing too many bright colours in the colder months because it can cause a well put together outfit to look too busy.

“So, you have a bright pink suit and want to wear it. Don’t! Put it back in your wardrobe because now is not the time for it just yet. Instead, rock it during summer. I promise you will look great. The last thing you need is to look like some sort of Christmas tree at an event.”

The designer, who launched his well-loved ‘Waterfall’ collection at Windhoek Fashion Week 2016, says earthy colours are on trend.

“You can easily get away with wearing an item even twice a week versus if you wear something too bright which is noticeable. People remember bright clothes easily which is why it makes them more difficult to repeat.”

Another advantage of earthy colours is that they are easier to style, he says. They can be worn with almost anything and still look great.

“When it comes to earthy colours, you don’t have to work so hard to pair them to complete your look.

Shanyenge points out that vintage is trendy, but it won’t be around forever. Like all trends, it will probably fade.

“It will however not be gone forever, it will come back again. I personally like the vintage look because it gives the impression that someone has really made an effort to look tops,” Shanyenge says.

Vintage is very hard to style, says Shanyenge, and many people often get it wrong. “It is very important to know how to put your outfit together. It is essential to do some research first and learn more about the style,” says the designer who has dressed local celebrities such as Gazza, Luis Munana, Dillish Mathews, Maria Nepembe and Micheal Pulse.

Wearing accessories with African prints is tricky, says Shanyenge. He rather advises men to stick to plain accessories that do not compete with bold prints.

Shanyenge adds that most men often prefer black shoes, but they are out of fashion at the moment. He instead suggests opting for brown or other colours. “I want men to know that not everything must be worn with black shoes. Try other coloured shoes and trust me, you won’t be sorry. You will look great. It is very important to make effort when you style yourself,” he says.

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