The perfect outfit lies in you
‘The Quing Diamond’ is a stylist and his speciality lies in making people look and feel good. The name his sweet mama gave him is Thabiso Moje and he is proud of his ‘Kasi’ heritage. When he entered the beauty industry it was primarily to make himself ‘feel and look good’.
What he knows for a fact is that, ‘first impressions do count’ especially for people like him who deal with celebrities and must always look stylish, trendy and on point. Despite the illusion of flamboyance, Moje is a strong believer in the concept of originality and individuality when it comes to fashion and style; he is steadfast in the notion that ‘style is effortless’.
The make-up artist is quick to emphasise that everybody has their own sense of style regardless of how it pans out visually; more than anything one needs to start with a healthy dose of self-esteem. “Creating your unique style helps you achieve a sense of confidence and comfort in how you put on an outfit or how you groom yourself. Style is within you and how you relate with your core fashion persona.”
Leading us to his style tip number one, you do not need loads of money to look good; confidence, a great attitude and comfort make for a super outfit.
“If you are not confident a P30 000 dress will look cheap on you. I am the type of guy who will wear a P30 shirt and people will swear it’s an expensive item from Donatella Versace,” adds the style guru with a giggle.
The bottom line is that you do not need to break your budget to look good, ‘work with what you have’ and do not limit yourself only to the high end and up-market stores, venture out to the flea markets as well. “Wear something that makes you feel gorgeous. Don’t try too hard. The outfit is sexier when it appears effortless.”
Style tip number two; dress for your body and accessorise for you. Do not put on clothes or any other accessories such as make-up or hair that do not complement or sit well with you. “We must learn to dress for our bodies not dress for someone else’s body.
A plus sized woman should not pretend to have a curvy Kim Kardashian body,” advises the stylist. Make up plays an integral role in completing any look. “Both men and women must groom their faces with correctly shaped eyebrows. When you look good, you feel good, and when you feel good you do better. That alone can change your life.”
The style guru who studied for Cosmetology and majored in Professional make up, TV Special effects and Prosthetics has an inherent passion for his work. “I was born to do this.” Internationally he counts Reza Khan, a leading fashion and lifestyle advocate as his style icon. Locally he counts fashionable and trendsetting, Mpho Laing as one of his style icons.
“Mpho Laing definitely has style. The woman is simply unique, edgy and breaks new ground all the time.” As to his own fashion items or trends he cannot live without, “I am The Quing. Hence of course my favourite colour is Royal blue. I am royalty all the way. My most critical fashion item, in make-up is my Estee Lauder lip and eye Serum. I’d rather be broke than go a day without it.”
