Fashion Friday: Style diary with soulful songstress Zoë Modiga

With her angelic voice and electrifying stage presence, Zoë Modiga has solidified her position as one of South Africa’s most celebrated artists. Boasting an impressive discography of three albums, Modiga’s musical prowess is undeniable. However, it’s not just her incredible talent that sets her apart — her impeccable fashion sense plays a significant role in her overall artistic expression. Modiga’s style is a masterful blend of ethnic chic, retro flair and show stopping sophistication. Her ability to curate outfits that not only complement her performances but also showcase her unique personality, is truly remarkable. Modiga’s fashion choices have become an integral part of her artistic identity.

As an emerging style icon and trendsetter, Zoë Modiga represents a new wave of artists who are redefining the intersection of music, fashion and creativity. She embodies a generation of innovators who refuse to be confined to a single medium, instead choosing to express themselves through multiple forms of artistic expression. With her captivating voice, impeccable style, and unwavering passion, Zoë Modiga continues to inspire and influence a new generation of artists and fans alike.

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GLAMOUR: How would you describe your personal style, and what inspires your aesthetic?

Zoë Modiga: Vast, regal, explorative, inspired by people I love. Intuitive, expressive, ever-evolving. I’m chasing a feeling. My body is the home in which I walk the Earth so I need to take care of it, polish the chandeliers, trim the grass and buy those quirky cushions and high art pieces for it. That’s how I feel about my personal style.

Zoë Modiga stepping into her iconic status

GLAMOUR: As a South African artist, how does your cultural heritage influence your fashion choices?

Zoë Modiga: I am a South African artist every day of the week and it’s important that my fashion exists in that knowledge. I live with cultural influences daily, with my hairstyles, jewellery, imbadada, never straying from the pieces unique to la ekhaya. I’ve championed our incredible designers as long as I’ve been a recording artist and I’m proud to be part of their stories. I also have sentimental pieces passed down to me from my family.

GLAMOUR: Do you see your fashion sense as an extension of your art, or are they separate forms of self-expression?

Zoë Modiga: What is my art and from where does it come? It’s a reflection of my experiences and the world around me. So, absolutely, fashion is an extension of my art. Every era in my discography has a clear visual home, made from the love of music translated into a visual world for music lovers.

GLAMOUR: Who are some of your style icons and influences, locally and internationally, and what draws you to their aesthetic?

Zoë Modiga: Black women and queer people through time, because they make ,impact and influence culture, religiously, everywhere.

GLAMOUR: What is your favourite fashion item and do you have a go-to piece or outfit that makes you feel confident and stylish?

Zoë Modiga: My favourite fashion items are perfume, rings and stockings.

GLAMOUR: Who are some of your most-loved South African designers, and how do you think they contribute to the country’s fashion landscape?

Zoë Modiga: There are so many South African designers who speak to me: Nao Serati, Thebe Magugu, Rich Mnisi, Lukhanyo Mdingi, Wanda Lephoto, Neimil, UniformZA, to name a few. Their contribution to the fashion landscape is monumental and we’ve seen evidenceof this in the impact they’ve made on the global market. South African people are aspirational and when the world recognises something, they begin to understand its beauty more. It’s lovely to see us love and value what is ours.

GLAMOUR: How has your personal style evolved over the years, and what triggered any significant changes?

Zoë Modiga: My style is quite intuitive. Things speak to me, and then they don’t. Because I’m an evolving human being, that’s to be expected! My outlook and the ways I see the world constantly refine themselves, so I allow exactly that. I can resonate with a garment, then feel like it’s an old skin, like it almost carries my older energy. I give clothes away, swap clothes and often buy vintage pieces, too. The funniest is looking at pictures and seeing all the many versions of myself I have been!

GLAMOUR: Are you willing to take fashion risks? If so, what’s the most daring outfit you’ve ever worn?

Zoë Modiga: I see fashion as fun more than risk; it’s a moment to create anew. How boring would it be not to be able to do that? Building an aesthetic is powerful and entertaining for me. I posed semi-nude for the cover of Nomthandazo, my third album. It shouldn’t be daring, honestly, because it’s the body that carries me every day. But I guess it is risqué as far as it being something predictable and society’s general response. I was proud to make art, loving the female form and how ethereal and shamanic we are.

GLAMOUR: What’s your take on timeless style versus trendy fashion? How do you balance the two in your own wardrobe?

Zoë Modiga: I really don’t have a take. I just think people should be at liberty to wear whatever feels innately who they are. Some people resonate with trends and who’s to say that what is timeless now isn’t the resurgence of what was popular several eras and generations ago? Style and fashion are expression, so I believe you should have fun articulating yourself to the world.