Rocking Wanjira’s Closet

Fresh off the boat—from New York City, is Capital FM’s newest face, Wanjira Longauer. She comes to the hit-music station not only with her bubbly personality and enchanting voice, but more importantly with her fabulous closet!

Growing up, Wanjira was surrounded by artists. Her mom—a Kenyan writer, professor and public speaker —was very boho Chic, artsy and funky. “She could always be found wearing African prints and jewelry.” Her father, a Slovak filmmaker, had a style that was more crisp and classic European. Wanjira goes on to explain that both her parents and both their cultures always influenced her, having visited both countries consistently throughout her childhood. The clothes her parents would dress her up in were the usual very girly outfits, but they occasionally impressed fragmants of their style upon her. “There’s a photo of me as a small girl in Central Park. I’m wearing bright orange overalls, with that thick hand-woven material from a country like Chile. That’s very typical of my mom’s style.”

Unlike many of us, Wanjira veered away from the Tomboy phase. Instead she was always a deep lover of make-up and jewelry. “I have always had very sensitive skin, so as a small child, I was often pictured naked. My favourite photo is of me, sitting at my grandmother’s vanity case at her home in Slovak, plastering mounds of make-up on my face, looking completely content.”

It seems all that dress-up practice has paid off for her because today, she has blossomed into quite the lady and fashionista. Her style could be described as very “New York City”, although she’s not exactly sure what that means. “I would say my style is eclectic, like my taste in music. It also depends on my mood, my hair or what I have to do that day. I’m very practical.”

When it comes to trends, Wanjira is a firm believer in the fact that fashion is fleeting but style is forever. “Find out what’s in, but a classic look will always be your friend.” A self-professed shoe addict, she can pretty much always be found in a pair of boots and—where practical—in one of her many pairs of beloved heels. “With shoes, it’s important to be practical and comfortable. Getting stuck in pavement crevices and limping is not cute. Nothing kills fashion more than looking silly because you’re uncomfortable.” Accessories are also a huge part of her look, namely bags and jewelry. She can always be found wearing rings and earrings—her bread and butter—along with her favorite green scarf.

Her typical work outfit is a pair of leggings, shirt either loose or tight, a bit of colour, all the usual accessories and probably a boot. Wanjira’s final word on style is “Beyond your clothes, style is more about respecting your body, mind and your health. It should from inside and then out.”

Catch her funky personality about the Nairobi streets or, more conveniently, on her show—The Fuse, every Monday to Friday from 10:00am to 02:00pm.

 

By Liz Maelane