Year: 2026

See How Asake Made Tan Corduroy and Platform Boots Feel Effortlessly Cool in Jozi

If there’s one thing Frugal Chic Is the New Luxe teaches us, it’s this: looking expensive has less to do with price tags and more to do with intention. Case in point? Asake in Johannesburg. For his highly anticipated South African debut and the closing stop of his Africa tour — Asake didn’t reach for anything loud or overdesigned. Instead, he pulled up in a tan corduroy matching set and platform boots, proving once again that strong style doesn’t need to scream to make an impact. This is Asake’s sweet spot. His fashion choices move the same way his music does: confident, fluid, and never stuck in one gear. One day he’s in a sharply tailored grey two-piece for a Red Bull Symphonic performance, the next he’s switching things up entirely with electric blue hair. No panic, no overthinking just range. In Johannesburg, the look was refreshingly grounded. The tan corduroy set did most of the work, reminding us that texture is one of the easiest ways to elevate an outfit without overdoing it. The collarless jacket featured contrast black piping along the edges, clean white buttons, and front patch pockets small details that quietly sharpened the silhouette. The wide-leg trousers echoed the same piping down the sides, creating a sense of flow from top to bottom. Underneath, he kept it simple with a crisp white shirt. Nothing fancy, nothing distracting. And then came the boots, chunky tan platform soles that felt practical for the stage but still very much on brand. Dark rectangular sunglasses and stud earrings sealed the look without pulling focus. What makes this outfit work isn’t excess, it’s balance. Boxy tailoring meets soft corduroy. Neutral tones meet subtle contrast. It’s the kind of look that feels throwback and current at the same time and one that could easily be recreated without breaking the bank. A well-cut matching set, thoughtful proportions, and one strong shoe choice go a long way. The night itself matched the energy. Johannesburg showed up as Asake took the stage at the Goldrush Dome, delivering a high-energy set that closed out his Africa tour on a high. Orchestral arrangements blended seamlessly with the Soweto Choir’s harmonies, while appearances from Focalistic and Young Jonn kept the momentum going.

See Why We’re Taking Style Inspiration from Zlatan and Davita Lamai

Mondays are rarely kind, but Zlatan and Davita Lamai make a strong case for starting the week looking this good. The couple stepped out in coordinated suiting that struck a confident balance between workwear polish and date-night ease, proving that style doesn’t have to clock in late. Davita led the look in a crisp white tailored suit that felt equal parts powerful and polished. Her double-breasted blazer featured peaked lapels and structured shoulders, setting a strong silhouette that instantly read “CEO energy.” She paired it with a white midi pencil skirt finished with a subtle frayed hem, adding just enough texture to keep things interesting. Soft waves framed her face, while pointed white heels completed the look with quiet confidence. Zlatan complemented her effortlessly in a charcoal grey pinstripe double-breasted suit. The classic tailoring was elevated with subtle pinstripes, while a burgundy tie and matching pocket square introduced a rich contrast. A crisp white shirt and black dress shoes with white detailing pulled the look together, keeping things sharp without feeling overdone. Side by side, their coordination felt intentional without being matchy. Contrasting colours, similar tailoring, and a shared sense of ease made the pairing work. Whether for the office, a smart event, or a stylish work-date moment, the duo showed how suiting can feel modern, relaxed and undeniably cool. If Monday needed a style reboot, Zlatan and Davita just delivered it.

The Best Fashion Looks at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards

The 2026 Critics Choice Awards rang in the new year with a red carpet that felt intentional, expressive and undeniably stylish. This year, Black fashion moments led the conversation, bringing together sharp tailoring, sculptural drama and soft, romantic detailing that reminded us just how expansive style can be. Red quickly established itself as the colour of the night. Ego Nwodim commanded attention in a thigh-slit crimson Carolina Herrera gown that balanced confidence with high drama. The silhouette was sleek, the energy undeniable, and the impact instant. Classic menswear elegance also had its moment. Michael B. Jordan stepped out in a sharply tailored Louis Vuitton tuxedo, proving that timeless style, when done right, never feels boring. Effortless, polished and precise, the look was a masterclass in red carpet restraint. Colour continued to shine across the carpet. Chase Infiniti brought bold energy in a sleeveless, draped bright-yellow two-piece that stood out against the sea of neutrals. Denée Benton followed with a custom Bach Mai burgundy bralette and skirt set, delivering a modern, fashion-forward take on evening wear. Jessica Williams leaned into romance with a dreamy white folkloric dress, its softness offering a striking contrast to the night’s darker tones. And then there was Teyana Taylor. Once again, she made a compelling case for best dressed in Saint Laurent, ushering in the year wearing a feathered double-breasted jacket paired with over-the-knee boots. Equal parts power and performance, the look felt both editorial and effortless. Old-Hollywood glamour found its way onto the carpet through Danielle Brooks, whose curve-hugging black gown gave unmistakable Breakfast at Tiffany’s energy. Meanwhile, Abbott Elementary star Quinta Brunson reminded us that power dressing still reigns supreme, arriving in a pale peach suit that felt confident, modern and refreshingly unfussy. From dramatic silhouettes to refined tailoring, the 2026 Critics Choice Awards delivered a red carpet that celebrated range, individuality and cultural fluency. These were the looks that defined the night. Teyana Taylor Chase Infiniti Sheryl Lee Ralph Quinta Brunson Michael B. Jordan Denée Benton Wunmi Mosaku Danielle Brooks Ryan Coogler and Zinzi Evans Paul Tazewell Sterling K. Brown Jessica Williams

Mavic Chijioke Okeugo Presents Where Light Learns Our Faces Fine Art Photography Solo Exhibition | January 18, 2026 | The African Centre, London

London, UK Fine art photographer Mavic Chijioke Okeugo presents Where Light Learns Our Faces, a solo photography exhibition opening on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at The African Centre in London. The exhibition will launch with a private view from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM, welcoming invited guests to experience the work ahead of the public opening. Where Light Learns Our Faces is a contemplative photographic series that explores identity, presence, and the quiet dialogue between light and the human face. Through carefully composed portraits, Okeugo examines how illumination shapes perception revealing emotional depth, vulnerability, and inner stillness. Light functions not merely as a technical tool, but as an active participant, engaging with the subject in moments of introspection and recognition. Rooted in an intimate and deliberate visual language, Okeugo’s photography foregrounds Black subjects with dignity and attentiveness, challenging habitual modes of seeing. The exhibition reflects on how faces hold memory, history, and becoming, and how photography can serve as a space of pause in an accelerated visual culture. This solo exhibition marks a significant moment in Okeugo’s practice, presenting a cohesive body of work that invites viewers to slow down, look closely, and encounter portraiture as an act of connection rather than consumption. Exhibition Details Title: Where Light Learns Our FacesArtist: Mavic Chijioke OkeugoDate: Sunday, January 18, 2026Private View: 2:00 PMVenue: The African CentreAddress: 66 Great Suffolk Street, London SE1 0BL

La Mode Magazine Interview: In Conversation with Mavic Chijioke Okeugo

Ahead of his solo photography exhibition, January 18, 2026, La Mode Magazine Interviewed Mavic Chijioke Okeugo. La Mode Magazine: Mavic, you’re presenting a solo exhibition titled Where Light Learns Our Faces on January 18th at The African Centre in Central London. What does this moment represent for you? Mavic Chijioke Okeugo: This exhibition feels like a pause I’ve been working toward for a long time. It’s not just about showing photographs it’s about creating a space where people can sit with faces, with presence, with light. Showing this body of work at The African Centre is deeply meaningful because it’s a place rooted in Black histories, conversations, and futures. It feels aligned with the spirit of the work. La Mode Magazine: The title Where Light Learns Our Faces is striking and poetic. How did it come about? Mavic: I wanted the title to suggest patience. Light is usually seen as something that exposes instantly, but I’m interested in light as something that studies, that listens. These photographs were made slowly, with care. The title speaks to the idea that our faces especially Black faces are not immediately legible or consumable. They deserve time to be learned. La Mode Magazine: Your practice centers on fine art photography, particularly portraiture. What draws you to the face as a primary site of exploration? Mavic: The face holds contradiction. It’s where vulnerability and strength coexist. Historically, Black faces have been overexposed or misread, so I’m interested in reclaiming the face as a space of autonomy. In my work, the face isn’t performing. It’s resting, thinking, being. Photography allows me to honor that stillness. La Mode Magazine: How does light function in this exhibition technically and conceptually? Mavic: Technically, I work with controlled, intentional lighting, often minimal. Conceptually, light becomes a collaborator. It doesn’t dominate the subject; it responds to them. Sometimes it reveals, sometimes it withholds. That balance mirrors how we come to know people in real life never all at once. La Mode Magazine: There’s a quiet intensity in your images. What emotional experience do you hope viewers walk away with? Mavic: I hope they feel slowed down. We’re used to consuming images rapidly, scrolling past faces without consequence. This exhibition asks viewers to look longer, to recognize the humanity in front of them, and maybe to reflect on how they look at others in their daily lives. La Mode Magazine: The African Centre is a powerful cultural venue. How does the space shape the exhibition? Mavic: The African Centre carries history and intention. Exhibiting there situates the work within a larger diasporic dialogue. The space encourages reflection it’s not neutral, and that matters. The photographs don’t exist in isolation; they’re in conversation with the people who walk through that building and the stories they carry. La Mode Magazine: What can audiences expect from the private view on January 18th? Mavic: The private view is intimate by design. It’s a moment to encounter the work quietly, without distraction. I’ll be present, but the focus is on the images and the conversations they spark between viewers, and within themselves. La Mode Magazine: Finally, what does success look like for you with Where Light Learns Our Faces? Mavic: Success is someone standing in front of a photograph and feeling seen rather than entertained. If the work lingers with people if it stays with them beyond the gallery then it’s done what it needed to do. Exhibition DetailsWhere Light Learns Our FacesSolo Fine Art Photography ExhibitionJanuary 18, 2026Private View: 2pmThe African Centre66 Great Suffolk StreetLondon SE1 0BL, United Kingdom