Yverischka Ivertor Bok is in the running for fashion stylist of the year at the Simply You Magazine Lifestyle and Fashion Awards (SYMLAFA), and for good reason.
In the wake of her nod, the stylist and law student is also launching her coveted website ‘She’s Gotz Style’, an impressive feat to add to her portfolio after only being in the industry for a year.
“I’ve always been into fashion,” Bok reveals as she relates her fashion background to . “I did modelling as well and a bit of runway work. During Miss Teen 2013, I was crowned ‘Miss Photogenic’.”
Because of her early exposure in the beauty industry, she quickly became entranced with showing up and showing out. “I have so much clothes, I don’t even know where to store them any more!” Bok says with a smile.
Hair down and relaxed, Bok’s vibe is sweet and serious. But don’t be fooled – her work ethic speaks volumes. “I think fashion has always been a part of me, although I didn’t fully go into it at first.”
Law may be her bread and butter, but a path into fashion was inevitable. Losing her backbone/hero/father, Bok continuously takes his life lessons with her into the courtroom but refuses to limit herself to this field. “Fashion started as an idea and hobby, but then it became a passion,” Bok states.
“It took a lot of planning; I wasn’t hasty. I thought, ‘What am I aiming for? What am I trying to achieve in the long run?’” Collaborating with fashion lovers in the beginning didn’t kick off so well, though. “I worked with a lot of people, but our personalities clashed,” Bok says. Now, she’s got a new team in the mix, including Sam Hauwanga, whom Bok describes as her “minister without portfolio”.
What is the trick to balancing both law and fashion? Bok believes time management is key. “There are a lot of sleepless nights, but I don’t believe that you have to be limited. Do as much as you can,” she advises, urging others to follow their passions.
As for her style, the first word that pops out of her mouth is “frantic!” Dressed to the T on some occasions and chilled on others, a motto Bok lives by is comfortability. “Feel comfortable about yourself in your clothes,” she says. “I’ve done a lot of closet sweeps and people had a phobia for them, but I always sit down, and talk to them, and work on their budget.”
The styling Bok does comes in various shapes, forms and sizes – personal styling, shopping for items in and around town, as well as handling online transactions. She currently works with 33 shops worldwide and sets up catalogues with exclusive pieces for clients to choose from. Customs and timelines may be a few of her challenges in the industry so far, but Bok is handling it like a boss.
As for her nomination in the SYMLAFA, she found out during the Miss Namibia pageant while the top 12 were living it up at the Windhoek Country Club and Resort. “I was busy with Yana Haenisch and figuring out time frames to get things to her. As I was working, I randomly went onto IG and saw it. I didn’t expect it, but it was a good kind of ‘shook’. I called Leah (Misika) and Melisa (Poulton) too. It was amazing!”
Hauwanga, who doubles as a creative director in Bok’s team, says it is a new challenge he is ready to face. “She (Bok) couldn’t find the pieces that fit in terms of her team but she was on the right track. She didn’t have people who understood her. When I came in, it started quite small, and I tried to resuscitate some stuff. But we started branching into a new path of PR campaigning. It’s great and she’s handling it quite well.”
