Lady Luck

As I walked into the lavender smelling room, I was warmly greeted by a poised welcoming face. Thando Mafu was dressed impeccably; she sat very lady like, with her legs neatly crossed and her hands were placed gracefully on her lap. Rhodes University is known to transform even the most conservative of students. Coming from a well knitted home environment, to a whole new culture where students strive to be independent and stand out, was an awkward feeling. But Miss Mafu also known as “Lady Luck” is determined to show this small town that she is not just another pretty face.
Growing up as a child with a single mother was difficult but Thando’s mother made sure that her only daughter was always dressed well in pretty pinks and reds. Being the only girl in the house Mrs. Mafu made sure Thando always wore very girly things incase she turned out like a Tom boy. Thando’s mom had a very influential role in the clothes her little girl bought. Thando said her mom and herself bonded over shopping trips, but her mom insisted on coming along to so that Thando would not buy boyish clothing. One of Thando’s favorite memories of clothing is her Mickey Mouse tops and matching tights.
Just like many kids who come here after growing up in a bit city Thando felt it hard to adapt from big city life to a small student town environment. The biggest challenge of any first year is adapting into the life of a university student, but Thando had one more challenge to deal with the news of her step father’s death came as a shock. Her defense strategy was to put on a brave face for the sake of her family and friends. Going through pain usually makes a person stronger, In Thando’s case she remained herself to a certain degree, and this incident just showed her that one should cherish the people you have in life while they are alive. Thando said “as a person you grow and some habits you decide to leave and carry after, but some remain the same but when you venture into other grounds you discover yourself even more”.
Since coming to Rhodes Thando’s fashion sense has broadened because of the different people she has met and had come across. On an average day her dress code would be a standard jeans and t-shirts. With widened eyes and flowing hand movements she expressed her love for wearing pretty things once in a while. She has a fetish for long hanging ear rings and her thumb ring which is a family heirloom. Her character can be compared to a princess due to the fact that her timeless class, charming smiles her delicate poise and graceful walk.
Her choices of clothes always look sleek and trendy, when shopping our Lady Luck is also a smart and economical shopper. To take this piece to another level Thando and I went on our own little shopping spree, and with wide glowing eyes sparkling bright when she came across the perfect mini skirt which made me waft back to the image of a little child enjoying an ice cream. As I exited the room after a very productive I saw that timeless million dollar smile, which just made my day.

Been there, done that...got the jacket!

Dear me,

You may think that this letter is strange at first but I am who you will become so keep reading...it’s for your own good.At this stage, you probably can’t wait to escape the confinement of high school, but let me tell you friend that university is more than parties, fun and the occasional lecture. There are other issues that crop up along the way...like fashion! You may not believe it, but deciding what to wear every morning will take up a substantial amount of your time.

Grahamstown weather is somewhat unpredictable. Sometimes you will experience four seasons in a day so when you pack, I hope that you are more practical than ambitious. However, this doesn’t mean you need to abandon your style completely. Oh and you will soon find that you have become a frequent customer at Mr. Price as this is one of (only) eight clothing stores. Yep, that’s the small town life of Grahamstown!You can’t really escape fashion here at Rhodes, people express their creativity through their fashion but sometimes everybody ends up looking the same. For example, at least twice a day you should encounter someone with a Steve Biko/Che Guevara (or some freedom fighter) imprinted on an item of clothing. People here seriously embrace their inner political activist / hippie through their fashion.

Do you remember the time when someone accused you of stealing a jacket just because you wore an identical one? And then, you had to prove that the jacket was indeed yours. Yes, people are serious about fashion here and somehow it always turns political.Just remember to wear you genes with pride, first year is going to be the year when you create first impressions and learn new things about your strength of character.

Trust me – been there, done that, got the jacket!

Yours in spirit
Me