Fine feathers on show at parliament

The men and women who year-long push bureaucratic pens in dull professional attire were out in all their fine feathers yesterday afternoon for the opening of parliament.

While the EFF made calls to rescue the opening of parliament from becoming a fashion parade it was these very politicians who wore this season’s most fashionable item: the onesie.

They prefer the term “overall” but let’s call a spade a shovel.

The one-piece outfit may be a staple in modern tween, teen, buppie and yuppie wardrobes but mixed with politics the look loses its appeal.

There was a gobsmacking lack of tailoring, tapering and tweaking. Khanyisile Litchfield-Tshabalala’s lopsided couture headwrap and the politician’s Hunter-esque boots kept us glued to the screen.

The EFF’s attempt at camouflage on the red carpet was a flop.

The DA wore black to commemorate a country in darkness, offering much-needed contrast to the red sea (where fashion presumably goes to die); a dash of minstrels march-inspired outfits courtesy of Patricia de Lille and a flick of Helen Zille’s modern haircut would’ve added a dash of excitement to this dark fashion wilderness.

It was a picture of ANC MP Thabiswa Nkwana in her feather dress which by 5pm had gone viral.

Nkwana set fingers flying in cyber space with an untimely resurfacing of songstress Bjork’s infamous swan gown she wore in 2011 to the Academy Awards.

Here it was sadly deconstructed to perfection and sadly reconstructed on a muddy swamp.

Meanwhile, Transport Minister Dipuo Peters opted for a frugal fashion moment by upcycling a frumpy morning robe.

Chester Missing made an honourable statement with his choice of a navy suit, crisp shirt and immaculately knotted tie – very modern, dare I say chic?

Following Chester’s tiny shoes was Nathi Mthetwa, Minister of Arts and Culture, and kwaito artist Arthur Mafokate – but if asked for our best-dressed gent thus far, Chester Missing may take this trophy.

Besides the red and black worn by two opposition parties, yellow – the colour of wisdom and joy – was trending.

Dali and Judy Tambo arrived dressed for Hollywood in their matching canary yellow outfits.

Baleka Mbete, speaker of the House, opted for a pleasant yellow autumn print dress with a dowdy black sheer top underneath reminding us that with the yin comes the yang.