There’s a certain elegance in the way Liesl Laurie-Mthombeni moves; a quiet, intentional softness that feels like effortless luxury. It’s the kind of ease that continues to capture the attention of adoring followers and brands alike. It’s for this reason that her recent collaboration with Ted Baker feels less like a partnership and more like a natural extension of her style story.
Liesl has always embodied grace, but in this season of her life, she wears it with a new depth., and Ted Baker clocked it. With its classic silhouettes, romantic touches, and timeless femininity, Ted Baker mirrors the woman she has grown into: refined, grounded, soft, and self-assured. Letting us into her fabulous world, Liesl admits that the confident version we’ve come to know and love didn’t appear overnight. Her style has been shaped by years of self-discovery; evolving from dressing to please others to dressing as an act of self-love. When she speaks about cutting her hair at 30, it sounds like a plot twist in her own coming-of-age film; a defining moment where she chose authenticity over approval. It’s no surprise that brands drawn to intention and storytelling, like Ted Baker, see her as the perfect muse: a woman who treats style as an emotional language.
Today, Liesl stands firmly in her soft girl era; an era of comfort, alignment, and gentle glamour. She leans into Parisian berets, Milanese scarves, New York streetwear, or simple minimalist silhouettes back home, but somehow she always remains unmistakably Liesl. This balance; global influence with a rooted identity is what makes her such a compelling fashion figure. She doesn’t chase trends; she curates moments. She doesn’t perform softness; she lives it. Wrapped in her signature calm confidence, she opens up about her style evolution, love, legacy, and the season she’s blooming in.
Glamour: How would you describe your style evolution over the years from South Africa to the global personality you are today?
Liesl: First of all, global personality, yes please, little Liesl would be so proud! I think the evolution over the years comes from the amount of confidence I've grown over those years as well. I do believe I was a very confident young lady when I entered Miss South Africa, but I was also quite insecure. So my style in and around that era of 2015 to about 2019, 2020, was very much based on what was trending, what are people going to say and what should I be wearing. And once COVID came around, I had that huge break from dressing up every single day, wearing heels all the time, being out and about. And after that era of staying home, I definitely came back to myself. I turned 30 in 2020, and I decided to cut my hair into a pixie cut, which I believe was the big turning point of my style, where I decided I'm dressing for me. Whatever makes me happy, whatever makes me comfortable, whatever makes me feel the most beautiful, the most glamorous, and the most like myself. I was no longer dressing for what they would say. If anything, I would love for them to say at least she is her own person. Is my style groundbreaking? I don't think so at all. But am I very happy, comfortable, and feel so beautiful when I'm all dressed up in something that I feel I chose because I like it not because I was told to do so!
Glamour: So what are the key influences that have shaped your fashion sense?
Liesl: When you're younger, it is the what ifs and what are they going to say. And what then shaped it later on in life was confidence, self-awareness, and being exposed to, I think, more TikTok and Pinterest. The TikTok era definitely came about when I needed it most. Because then you could search what you would normally look at on Pintrest, but in a video version - someone actually talking you through it, and explaining certain fashion choices, breaking down designers, and how fashion trends actually work. So the TikTok era helped shaped a bit of my fashion sense, becoming who I believe I am now, which is very secure, very at ease with who I am and what I like. That has also shaped my fashion sense quite a bit. And you know what? A little bit of comfort has shaped my fashion sense too. Because one thing I am always going to strive for is to try and be comfortable. I know that the fashion critics don't always want to hear that but I promise you, I need to be comfortable to feel happy. And comfort is also relative. So for me, the level of comfort that I have managed to put together in my wardrobe and in my styling when we're at big or even smaller events, is where I'm thriving at the moment.
Glamour: When you're putting together a look, what's the one fashion rule you always live by?
Liesl: Not sure if this is this a fashion rule but I will never not smell good. I think it is part of entering a room and making a statement. Yes, people are going to see what you look like. But people know me for specific perfumes that I use, and specific perfume layering combinations. And I just feel like if you're looking, you know, a 7 out of 10 on that day because things didn’t go according to plan, but your accessories are really good, your makeup's really good, and you're SMELLING incredible, I think that could carry your look to a solid 9 out of 10.
Glamour: How does your style shift depending on where you are in the world?
Liesl: I think I get a little carried away when it comes to this, but I absolutely love it because you get to explore a lot of fashion from other spaces, and where their influence stems from. So when I'm travelling to a specific place, I generally pull up a Pinterest board or some TikToks and ask, what are the girlies wearing in Paris in winter? And I will then choose a couple of things that are closest to my style, and try to put those together in my own way. A lot of the time, I use items I already own, so that makes things really easy. But my style does shift about 40% to the side of the country I'm travelling to. I will wear more berets when I'm in Paris, and more scarves when I'm in Milan.
I will wear a little bit more street style, kind of baggy, edgy clothing when I'm in New York. So I definitely lean more in toward their street style. But I also keep it Liesl. And if I'm just going to a country where it's hot and it's beachy, I mean a summer dress and a yummy bikini is just always going to be a must-have.
What are your top three must-have items in your carry-on?
Liesl: Number one, an iPad and headphones. I do not watch the movies that are available on the plane. I watch what I'm currently watching at home. So the last couple of times I travelled, I was watching The Summer I Turned Pretty, and I would honestly leave it for my airport watch.
Number two would be hand sanitiser and sanitiser wipes. Anything sanitising, because as much as they say it's been cleaned for your convenience, I don't fully believe them. And I will be wiping down the areas that I'll be touching.
And then number three would probably be a coat, or an additional long sleeve top.
I'm always cold. So on the plane, I'm definitely going to be icey cold. I am generally already wearing a sweater, but I will have my coat as a backup, just to make sure that I'm not uncomfortable on the plane because those little blankets can only do so much.
Which city or destination has influenced your style and mindset the most?
Liesl: Most likely New York! Growing up watching that New York lifestyle on television also played a huge role. I grew up on Gossip Girl, Sex and the City, The Bold Type… And all I ever wanted to do was travel there, go out to the Upper East Side and, you know, be in Times Square over New Year's and visit Central Park going for a run with my doggies. I've managed to do all of those things, minus the doggies, because we can't have Cashew travel for that long. He only believes in travelling by car!
We enjoy seeing you be intentionally loved out loud. What does that feel like for you?
Liesl: In the beginning, it was scary, because when you come from relationships where you weren't fully valued, this seems so foreign and it definitely took me a really long time to adjust. Well, if I’m being honest, not really long time, because I love being spoiled and I love being told I'm beautiful. It just took me a while to get used to it. But right now, and in this current season, we've been married for four years. It feels like it was always meant for me. I remember growing up, my grandma said to me that I am extremely special, and I'm going to have a beautiful life and have a wonderful partner. And that I'm going to have a partner who is kind and loving, because she felt like I deserved it. I had a difficult upbringing, and she would always instil these things in me and remind me of them periodically. And my 14-year old self would honestly just shake my head or shrug it off, because what do you mean I'm going to have a kind, aware and loving partner? At 14, that means nothing. But I'm so grateful that she instilled that in me because her dreams for me definitely came to life in the best way possible. My granny's prayers carried me here, and I'm so grateful for it. Imagine living a life where every single day of your life with your husband is a solid 10 out of 10.
Glamour: What does living fabulously mean to you in your day-to-day life?
Liesl: Right now in my 30s, living fabulously means having time. Having the time to be able to do what I want to do. Going on a spa date on a Thursday afternoon after lunch, being able to wake up and have a very easy morning. Being able to hop on a plane and go see my grandmother for the day, or see my mother for lunch, because my mom is an Educator and always deserves a spoil.
Glamour: How do you stay grounded whilst juggling travel, work, and personal commitments?
Liesl: Family. When I am home in Eldorado Park and I see my family, I am not the Glamazon, Liesl, Laurie-Mthombeni, or the media personality, television or radio presenter. I am just Liesl. And that really helps me stay present and self-aware. Myself and my husband also have monthly check-ins where we look at what we set out to do for the year. If we're not on track, how do we get back on track? And if we are, should we up the list? Should we do better? And it's a mental check-in, a physical check-in, and a financial check-in. It's all of the necessary things in my opinion. I always say, if you don't plan, you are setting yourself up for failure. So a lot of things that I embark on have been in the works for months, sometimes years. They've been on my vision board. Sometimes life will happen and you'll veer on an off-ramp onto different roads that you didn't plan on. But there are still things that I know, at the end of the day, I'm working toward. And having those check-ins based on the level of checklist I created for myself, whether it be the beginning of the year or at the end I know it will bring me back to centre.
Glamour: You've collaborated with incredible brands. What qualities matter most to you when choosing a partner?
Liesl: Longevity and honestly a kind working team. I have partnered with a lot of brands on long-term partnerships and being able to have a healthy conversation with the team where everyone can be kind, share feedback, share struggles, and share plans is so, so important. So the loyalty, respect, and kindness of a team working on the ground, working with me, is honestly one of the things that are most important to me when it comes to choosing a brand partner. When I was a bit younger, I was only focused on the pay cheque. But as you get older, you realise that there is more to life than just getting paid. Don't get me wrong. The pay cheque is lovely. It is needed. It is wanted. But you also need to have a healthy and happy and long relationship with the brand that you are working with. So therefore, choosing to work with someone that has the similar or same morals and values as you is probably going to be the easier option in choosing that partnership.
Glamour: What's one tradition you hope to pass down in the future? Liesl: It's something that my grandmother passed on to me, and I will definitely be passing on to my children, and that is the act of giving back. As Christmas is right around the corner, my family does a huge Christmas lunch in Eldorado Park, where we give back to those that are less fortunate and not able to provide themselves with a happy, healthy, yummy Christmas lunch on the day. I've been doing this since I was 11 years old, where I just used to run around and enjoy it. And now I actually run it with my big sister and a few of my aunts and my mother. And what we do is we make sure that everyone visiting on that day has an amazing meal, some great dessert, a party pack and gift to take home. It's mainly for the kiddies, but the adults are also welcome to join on the day.
Glamour: What is an era you are stepping into as you welcome the new year?
Liesl: I recently said at a Glade event that I was in my era of softness, and the era I want to step into in the new year is still my era of softness. I think I was in my era of survival and struggle for such a long time that I deserve to stay in my era of softness for as long as possible. So for the new year, I will continue being in my era of softness, softness to self, softness to others.
Glamour: What is the next destination on your bucket list, and why is it calling your name?
Liesl: So this one is one that has been on my husband's bucket list for a long time. And recently, I asked him to explain to me why it's on his bucket list, and it automatically shot up to number one on my bucket list too - Japan. I'm excited about the fashion. I'm excited sooo for the food. Knowing that New York is one of my favourite cities to visit, I feel like Japan would be similar yet also very different and I’m really looking forward to that! Second on our bucket list is to travel more of Africa. We've been travelling a lot more in South Africa, because why not visit your own backyard? But also keen to do a bit more of Africa, so Egypt or Kenya should be coming soon.
Let’s talk about your recent Ted Baker collaboration, what drew you to this partnership?
Liesl: Have you seen their goodies? Perfection! But in all seriousness, I have always been a Ted Baker girly since 2015 when Stuttafords used to stock the brand. I have coats and dresses that have been in my closet for close to 10 years and you would think I purchased them yesterday. So knowing that everything at Ted Baker is of the most amazing quality was something I was keen to put my name next to. I have also met some on the behind the scenes team and we got along like a house on fire. I am always excited about a brand that is looking to empower women especially the women of South Africa!
Ted Baker has such a distinct British femininity. What elements of the brand feel most aligned with your personal style?
Liesl: Off the top of my head I would say the tailoring with the meticulous attention to detail. I love that the brand is a perfect combination of sophistication with a vibrant, spirited personality. That speaks to who I strive to be on a day-to-day basis.
What’s one Ted Baker piece you think every woman should own and why?
Liesl: A long, black tailored coat! Trust me, its timeless.
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