I have talked a lot about adventure, freedom, love and motivation; all those never-to-forget feelings that our clothes wear on us. But the one thing that has stayed unsaid and I still apologize to have not made it the first article on this Pearls of Fashion series, is for all the ladies that have not loved their bodies enough to stay confident in their own skin and style.

Fashion is what it is today because of the people that are confident enough to flaunt their bodies on cameras, runways, and streets. Some at this point will immediately roll their eyes saying that it’s because they are skinny and their bodies suit to be seen by everybody’s eyes. You are not wrong but before hating your figure because you think someone else has better, I want you to remember that that is your body and that’s all you got, and the only thing it asks of you is to love it because no one else owns it like you do. Fashion is not just about clothes, colors, patterns and skinny models. Fashion is about feelings, bodies, and clothes. So if you don’t feel comfortable in your body, no cloth will look comfortable on you.

I am not here to tell you that if you don’t like how your body is figured, then try to leave it as it is. Honey, put in work if you can. Maybe I have been watching a lot of Revenge Body by Khloe Kardashian, but I want you to try hard to be a better you. Good things do not come easy, they take energy and time. Work out, eat right, a little bit of sweat do you good at the end of the day. Look at yourself in the mirror and remember that there has never and will never be another you, and from there treat yourself right and love your body for the sake of fashion.

You are fashion. And I want all of you ladies to love your body and yourselves more than Kylie Jenner’s booty and curves. You are only beautiful when you let yourself be beautiful. Your style, your fashion, it all start with your body.

Pearls of Fashion – Fashion blogger and poet Olga Divine Agahozo writes about fashion in Rwanda and its social impact. The beauty, style and identity in Rwandan fashion. Only on fashionrwanda.com

“But dear Ivan, what do you mean by calling someone a peacock?” you may now ask yourself. Well let me start by defining this term: A peacock in dressing and behaving is referred to that guy who tries too hard to separate himself from the crowd but always messes up not only with his outfit but also with his conduct towards others. I believe we all know that arrogant behaving guy who hits the nightclub with sunglasses, right? That’s a peacock.

If you are reading this article I am very sure that you are not a peacock but let me give you these 3 tips and maybe you will mind your peacock friends and neighbors and share those tips with them to give them a chance to become stylish gentlemen.

1. Dress for your body.

If you read this fashion blog frequently, I am pretty sure you did read the article that I published on 24^th January 2017 and if you didn’t, then please give it some attention now (rwandaclothing.com/dress-for-your-body). Dressing for your body will make you stand out of the crowd just in a more James Bond’s style (and we all love James Bond I am sure).

2. Invest in Shoes.

Recently I came across this sentence from Mr. Potter Evans: “Ladies will notice and judge you by your shoes”. I do rarely spend money for going to parties but at the end of the month before paying house rent, I am buying a new pair of shoes. As a guy who’s got the best shoes you will edge out all the other men in the room and be known for having great attention to detail and looking good from head to toe.

3. Have Manners.

Lately I have been posting on Instagram (@Gentlemanwalkin) my A to Z of what should be defining a gentleman and I realized that I had to learn a lot more about the gentleman’s etiquette than the little that I knew about it already. One thing I learned is that you need to understand local customs and rules of conduct wherever you go. So remember the basics that you learned as a child, as for example to say please, thank you and excuse me, and develop from there your best manners in order to avoid being a peacock and become a real gentleman instead.

Truth is, I was a peacock at one point and you possibly know how much peacock you are yourself. But I believe, we are all striving to improve daily and so should we also improve our clothing and attitude as to really metamorphose into gentlemen.

Stay safe and sound.

Gentlemanwalking – Fashion Blogger and Gentleman Ivan Nyagatare writes about everything related to fashion, style and lifestyle. Only on fashionrwanda.com

I came, I saw, I conquered… said Julius Caesar in year 47 BC after winning the Battle of Zela and yes, models also have their battle and in this article I am sharing mine which I titled as “My Veni, Vidi, Vici”.

1. The “Veni”

Translated as “I came”. In Rwanda there are no such things as agents or model management companies which do all the findings and paperwork for us models. So instead every model needs to update her- or himself about any possible casting call and any other modelling related opportunities.

In my case I am lucky that I have friends at RWANDA CLOTHING so I was notified of their casting and as any other model I showed up and was casted with hopes of being selected for the event.

So it is really important for models in Rwanda to keep informing themselves and follow closely the growth of the industry and one way of doing that is by keeping in touch with the social media accounts of clothing brands and designers.

2. The “Vici”

Translated as “I Saw”. All models would love to scream out that they were selected for this show I’m talking about here and if you have been chosen, this is the moment then when you have to make some changes in your agenda.

I called this part “I Saw” because I used this phrase a lot few days after leaving the casting, when every model I know was asking me if I saw a text message by RWANDA CLOTHING saying that I was picked to perform and I was like “Yeah, I saw it – I have received it!”

Helas! Seeing the message is not enough, you have to make some changes accordingly like freeing your time for rehearsals and fittings, and in my case I also did the following:

– I had 4 gym sessions just to flex the muscles

– I had to do some jogging and stretch my lazy legs a little bit

– I had to practice my runway poses to pull out a unique pose for the show

Depending on the importance that you attach to your modelling carrier you will need to work really hard off the lights.

3. The “Vici”

Translated as “I conquered”. Yes… Hearts, Smiles, Lenses and Money are to be conquered by a model. Here we are talking about the day of the show where you have to be perfect for your role.

In my case, I arrived at the venue 2 hours before the show, rehearsed with other models, took some photos and performed. One thing that I loved is that models were paid straight after the show and they all went home satisfied.

Another thing I realized is that modelling for a brand is not just about being in front of the spotlights and cameras – you are part of their show and their team and as a brand’s representative your work is also to talk to people who came to the show, say thanks to the designer and all the staff that helped in preparing the show and so on…that is called “Good Manners” and doing your work as a model well.

In concluding this tale, you may have realized that I am not as good as the ancient Roman writers were when telling the stories of Caesar but it’s always good to tell stories and so please also share with me your stories and get in touch with me on my social network accounts. Stay safe and sound.

Gentlemanwalking – Fashion Blogger and Gentleman Ivan Nyagatare writes about everything related to fashion, style and lifestyle. Only at fashionrwanda.com

Because no one should have to break the bank to be stylish.

Greetings and welcome to another piece of my Gentlemanwalking-series and for this time I have tried to collect 5 fashionable items that will improve your style and are also available for under 5000 RWF.

Please venture in town, pass the roundabout and get to the local shops. All these items can be purchased there, so all you need is to find the one that you like.

1. A Watch

Well Gentlemen, there is always a start to each greatness and so it is in getting stylish. Before getting to wear some big brands like Rolex or some other watches that will cost you over 5000 USD, why don’t you start with just a 5000 RWF watch to get you used to it?

Watches send a powerful message to others, they show that you are mature, that you are always on time and they show that you really care about time, which is the main currency of our daily life.

2. Glasses

Glasses are always the perfect touch to accessorize your style with and please don’t think of them as the medicine for eye-defected people but more of the important tool to beautify your face.

Other than providing you protection against the sun’s rays, sunglasses also add a touch of style.

3. Belt

Invest in a good belt that can last for a pretty long period of time. Black and chocolate brown are among the colors that can make huge difference for those who want to stand out in the crowd. These colors are fantastic because they can easily match with anything and also with most of the leather shoes.

I decided to go for leather belts simply because I can rock them on jeans and still put them on my suit. So please go get a good belt!

4. Wallet

A wallet stores your identification documents and the money which you work so hard to get and you can find quality wallets under 5000 RWF.

Everyone needs a clean and stylish wallet!

5. Tie

The greater the number of ties that a man has the better. Buy the kind of tie that you can afford, but you need not settle for an awful material – silk is always the best choice. I personally love vintage ties and I once did buy an Yves-St-Laurent tie at just 3000 RWF on the street.

Bow ties can be an alternative if you don’t really like ties.

BONUS: I can’t really promise you that you will get other stylish items like hats, rings and awesome bracelets for less than 5000 RWF – but give it a try as I believe they can really improve your style as well.

In concluding this article I can say that in the end quality determines the price and for a better quality of all these items mentioned above you will have to pay more than 5000 RWF but for this article I do stress a lot on the importance of trying to use our small budget/savings and invest it in styling ourselves and I promise you that it will be a pleasuring journey.

If pleased with this article, remember to subscribe to our blog and please leave a comment to me on my social network accounts. Stay safe and sound.

Gentlemanwalking – Fashion Blogger and Gentleman Ivan Nyagatare writes about everything related to fashion, style and lifestyle. Only at fashionrwanda.com

Modelling, much like other fields, is made up of a variety of genres or types. Some types are big while others are more niches, but they’re all types of modelling nonetheless. Let’s run them down! This article comes as a follow up of the article entitled “Can I Be A Model” and also we will view its existence in our industry.

1. High Fashion Photo Modelling

I think when people talk of modelling this is one of the first things that comes to their minds. Glossy magazine editorials, web appearances, ads for the top designer brands, gigs at top designers’ shows – this is high fashion. In Rwanda it is the second most sought type of modelling and is only done by few models and as example Alexia Uwera Mupende who modelled the special VLISCO Collection for RWANDA CLOTHING (check out at: rwandaclothing.com/collection/vlisco-2016).

2. Runway Modelling

This is the second thing that comes to people’s minds when you mention the term modelling. It involves fashion shows, walking on the catwalk to display designer clothes and showcasing items from a particular brand or theme. In Rwanda it is the most sought type of modelling as a lot of youngsters are involved in that kind of modelling since their debut in their high schools.

3. Commercial Modelling

This category covers many subcategories across various media, from print to TV to live events and surprisingly you don’t need to be good looking or have great portfolios – just good connections with the right people. In Rwanda many people who are used in this type of modelling are music artists and actors.

4. Glamour Modelling

More focused on the physical appearance of the model, and thus the models here need to conform to a certain aesthetic standard. These type of modelling hasn’t really laid it’s foot in Rwanda as some models involved in the Glamour Modelling are asked to pose naked and it also does involve a lot erotic poses and that is contrary to local discipline and culture.

5. Catalogue Modelling

Coverage depends on the kind of catalogue, but it’s mostly modelling for various products in different industries, from apparel to hardware. Models in this field are affiliated with brands and appear in their catalogues. This type of modelling is not really on the market in Rwanda but it pays well in the western world.

6. Teen/Child Modelling

This is age-based and requires permission from the parents. Basically anyone under the age of 18 can be considered a teen model and under 12 being considered a child model. Recently RWANDA CLOTHING had a model casting for children under the age of 10 – it was the first of its kind in Rwanda and I was really curious of its outcome. After I was informed that over 30 children participated in the casting and ten child models have been chosen for the runway in the RWANDA CLOTHING fashion show of the Spring Collection 2017.

7. Plus-size and Petite Modelling

The name very much explains it. This is a based on body type kind of modelling and here in Rwanda there is no such kind of modelling. Not yet!

8. Fitness Modelling

For health and sports magazines mostly and could also include modelling for nutrition-related products. Models involved in this needs toned, well-built physiques. In Rwanda there are few models in the Fitness Modelling type and they often join the Runways for catwalks.

Modelling indeed comes in many different types, so there are multiple options for aspiring models in case you’re targeting specific niches or roles. Even if you’re already doing some modelling, you can always try out other types to broaden your horizons and diversify your portfolio. Who knows, you might find one you truly like after trying out a few of these types and keep your eyes on our blog as we will be specifically studying each type in our coming posts for better understanding and their role in the fashion industry in Rwanda

Enjoyed this article? Keep in touch with me on my social network accounts and I hope you are eager to read our next blog posts. Meanwhile, stay safe and sound!

Gentlemanwalking – Fashion Blogger and Gentleman Ivan Nyagatare writes about everything related to fashion, style and lifestyle. Only at fashionrwanda.com

Rare are times that you meet a walking pearl of fashion on the street and I was lucky to meet one in my escapade of blogging in the middle of the street of Kigali, more precisely in the “Downtown-Car Park” of our so special African city.

Her exquisite smile isn’t only beautiful and warming but also welcoming as she makes it easy to be approached and talked to and that’s something rare in iconic figures. I believe everyone in this country knows the Uwase Rangira D’amour who represented the Eastern Province and went home crowned as the 3^rd runner-up in the Miss Rwanda 2016.

The 1m76 lady was born in 1997 and she shared her style and love of fashion with fashionrwanda.com

Miss Rangira describes her style as “African-rooted” with love of local fabrics. She was wearing a short Kitenge dress when I met her and she told me that she chooses her style depending on what she judges appropriate for the place she is gracing on that day. She believes that on a sunny day, a lady should be wearing casual and simple clothes with sandals on her feet plus sunglasses.

She expressed her appreciation for the government’s initiative of “Made in Rwanda” and believes it will benefit designers even more and she would love to see Rwandans learn to love and buy what is locally made and also to see local products being exported on international markets thus show the world what we have.

The passionate Uwase revealed to me that she doesn’t really know a lot of designers but names like Rupari, Gucci Tanga, Sonia Mugabo and Moshions have crossed her ears and also heard from friends that RWANDA CLOTHING are having a show soon. She continued telling me that she keeps updating herself on new trends and styles and that leads to the fact that she always needs to visit a lot of shops to find what she really loves – so while you are doing your shopping you may bump into her.

Miss Uwase Rangira D’amour who uses “Damzy” on her Instagram is an example of a fashion enthusiast who keeps hunting for the perfect outfit daily as the sun rises and I am thankful she shared a portion of her life with us.

Interested in sharing your story with us? Please get in touch with me on my social accounts or via my e-mail. Stay safe and sound!

Modelling is an incredibly multi-faceted career and that means a whole assortment of skills is necessary to be great at it. Not only do you need to be healthy for the physical demands of shoots and being on your feet for hours at a time, but it also takes confidence, preparedness, professionalism and more. Here are some fun – (keyword: FUN!) – hobbies that will also help you be a better model, improve your confidence and expand your worldly knowledge.

1. Photography

Wouldn’t it be useful to know exactly what photographers are talking about when you’re at a photo shoot? Luckily, getting into photography is a lot more fun than simply reading a list of photography terminology! An understanding of photography basics will also make jobs a lot more fun because you’ll feel more involved in the whole process. An understanding and interest in photography will also help you perform much better when you’re in front of the camera rather than behind it because you’ll work with the photographers rather than against them once you know exactly what they’re asking for.

2. Reading

In this digital age, there are records of everything online. Take advantage of that and scour old fashion magazines. Not only will you learn a lot about the history of fashion and fashion modelling, but you’ll also get endless inspiration for new poses and looks! While it’s important to understand the history of fashion, it’s equally critical to get a look at where the future of fashion is going, and keep your mind on blogs such as this and you will see that staying up to date with models, designers and photographers of the moment is easy too if you make it a habit of reading fashion magazines and blogs.

3. Public Speaking

Now you may ask yourself why I have brought this one in our list as we know models won’t need to talk much but I believe public speaking can be one of the most powerful tools to have in your pocket for anything you do. Public speaking will help you to become comfortable in front of crowds and vastly improve your self-confidence and these are essential for models. If you can stand in a crowd and give a 5 minutes speech then it’s easy for you as well to walk down a runway or doing a photo shoot in front of a crowd of people.

Dear readers, keep sharing your questions with me on my social media accounts and if you enjoyed this articles, keep up with our blog for more … stay Safe and Sound.

Gentlemanwalking – Fashion Blogger and Gentleman Ivan Nyagatare writes about everything related to fashion, style and lifestyle. Only at fashionrwanda.com

Any successful model knows that just staring blankly into a camera and having a pretty face is not nearly enough to be considered great at their job. The expressions you use when being photographed convey all sorts of emotions, and depending on the demands of the particular job you are doing, these expressions can make or break the success of the campaign.

So, how can you know if the expressions you are making are conveying what you intend them to or if you are totally off-track and making a photographer’s job way harder than it has to be?

A photographer will often give you instructions and feedback on how you are posing and how your poses are translating on camera, but you can do your part by making sure you are working with them, rather than against their instructions. To save photographers the extra work of correcting everything you do, make sure you know your own face and how it moves before heading into a photo shoot. One of the best ways to master your expressions and movements is by doing mirror work. Mirror work is the practice of watching yourself in the mirror and doing several different poses and expressions so that you can gain muscle memory to recall what those poses feel like so you can easily re-create them when you’re in front of the camera.

Here are 3 ways to do it:

1. Practise daily in front of a mirror and try to find your perfect pose.
2. Master the pose you liked and have a lot of them in mind
3. Re-create the poses that you liked in front of the camera.

This is not only for models, but any other photo-enthusiasts must know the mirror work tricks and since I have started using this technique I can witness that my posing game evolved and I no longer have to fight with photographers (and they love the new me, hahah!).

If pleased with this article, remember to leave a comment and get in touch with me on my social network accounts. Stay Safe and Sound.

Gentlemanwalking – Fashion Blogger and Gentleman Ivan Nyagatare writes about everything related to fashion, style and lifestyle. Only at fashionrwanda.com

“Wow! Very good photos! I wish I’d look like this on photos.” Have you ever been complimented with those or similar words? In my case yes and it is always a pleasure when I get such feedback because people are now seeing the result of the efforts that I invested to improve my “behind the camera game”. Yes, one doesn’t wake up and is photogenic all of a sudden. Looking good on pictures is an art that requires a lot. But I have collected 3 main points that will help you to look more photogenic:

1. Know yourself! This is very important if you want to look good on pictures. You should know your body more than anyone else and be ready to reveal your best points which make you beautiful and also know your unattractive sides and hide them very well. Knowing your body will help you discover the poses that will make you look charming in the picture.

Example: You know you recently lost some teeth maybe due to an accident and at work there is a group photo session coming soon. So would you smile in the picture even if they ask you to do so? I believe your answer is a big NO.

Exactly, know your assets and use them to look good in pictures.

2. Use a good device! I have decided to use the term “device” to include all the electronic machines able to pull out a nice picture of you and this very much includes modern phones which are really built with absolutely amazing photo-capturing functions. No one is really photogenic if the picture is not even clear or simply blurred. Use a really good device to take your picture and don’t worry even if you don’t own the Canon D7100 but think about the camera when you decide to buy a smartphone.

Example: I don’t own a camera and my smartphone is just a Samsung J3 but I compensate that by creating good connections with photographers and also with photo studios. And why shouldn’t you try this as well?

3. Look good! This words go far beyond just your clothes but also includes your haircut, shoes, nails, skin, etc. and simply means that if you are to go in the front of the lens, make sure you classify yourself into the “beautiful princess” category or as the “charming prince”. Looking good also envelopes the fact that you need to be in a beautiful spot.

Example: I personally like suits but it’s very hard to find a good spot for an outdoor (outside) photo session when someone is in a suit. So I make sure I invest myself in a good indoor (within the studio) shoot.

And as I told you a bit earlier: get to know photographers if you really love photos and always continue to develop your photogenic skills.

If pleased with this article, remember to leave a comment and get in touch with me on my social network accounts, Stay Safe and Sound.

Gentlemanwalking – Fashion Blogger and Gentleman Ivan Nyagatare writes about everything related to fashion, style and lifestyle. Only at fashionrwanda.com

Last Friday RWANDA CLOTHING held a Model Casting at their store for their upcoming show and I was lucky to participate in it, but also disappointed with the unprofessionalism shown by a lot of models during the casting and very sad to see how someone (seeking for work) behaves on what is their “job interview”.

Castings are notices of modelling jobs which are made to models via different channels. They show details of the types of models required for an upcoming fashion show. This could mean a call where every model can apply (online on a form or sending their portfolios) or a date on which models introduce themselves to the client (designers, photographers, …) who will then make the final decision.

In my words, I define castings as job interviews and so should you, if you are a model. With that in mind models should behave accordingly and in a disciplined manner.

Do I need to wear a suit?

I wish it were appropriate (ohh, suits!) but helas… NO! The text inviting models to RWANDA CLOTHING STORE had the words: “Please come dressed naturally…” and yes that is the secret: “Simple and Natural”. Your clothes should be simple and your appearance natural. As a model, I pretty much wear the same things on every casting I attend, I just put on a plain T-Shirt, jeans and black boots.

The secret is: wear something simple, good looking on you and clean of course. For a male model just try a plain T-shirt, jeans, a matching belt and dress shoes and for ladies same style with High-heels type of shoes if you are set to walk a mock runway or in little black flattering dress and please be natural with no wigs, no distracting jewelleries, short hair combed and long hairs in a pony tail style.

Remember that a casting call is simply a call for a job interview so make sure that you value it by expressing an appropriate attitude and be clothed well. That is not to say that you cannot look sharp for a casting – feel free to dress it up and look your best if you feel – but in the main scheme of things, keep it simple and natural.

Enjoyed the article? Feel free to leave a comment, share with a friend and chat with me on my social network accounts. Stay safe and sound!

Gentlemanwalking – Fashion Blogger and Gentleman Ivan Nyagatare writes about everything related to fashion, style and lifestyle. Only at fashionrwanda.com