Does crime affect South African style?

South Africa is making headlines around the globe for all the wrong reasons at the moment. British tabloids shout ‘Racial Bloodbath in SA!’ My knee jerk reaction is to defend our country and insist that it’s not the lawless disaster it appears in print. However, the reality is we do live in a land of extremes.

While one woman slings on a pair of Prada heels in Sandton City, a single mother is battling to feed and protect her children in a gang-riddled township just a few kilometers away. The divide between rich and poor is massive and despite our best efforts to overcome our dodgy past, cultures continue to clash in our cities and government. As political tension tightens, my mind turns to…clothes!  It’s a question I’ve been meaning to explore for some time, ‘Does crime affect the way we dress in South Africa?’

For me, the answer is without a doubt, yes.

Those of us who fall into what you could loosely term ‘middle-class suburban South Africa’ were taught from a young age to be vigilant and aware of our surroundings. Our mental safety check-list is automatic – arm the house, lock the house, lock the gate, get into car, hide handbag under seat, lock doors, keep windows up, stop car, lock car, don’t dawdle in parking lot, disarm office alarm and so on. While we enjoy many first-world trimmings - movies, McDonalds and malls - we live with a third-world sensibility that stretches to our dress sense. I personally don’t want to draw excessive attention to myself for fear of being followed, mugged or something far worse. That means nothing too blingy, revealing or avant-garde. Not that I long to wear Gaga-style getups but I’d like to know that I could venture out in six-inch platforms, knee-highs socks and a vintage frock (read: normal London outfit) if I so pleased without someone sniggering, ‘she’s asking for it.’

It’s not like us South Africans are a hopeless bunch of fashion misfits – we’re just more concerned with getting by in a sensitive society than with this season’s hem length. Although frankly, I think we could do with more sartorial distraction from time to time. As Alex said, sometimes you just need to eat a macaroon and get on with things.

But what do you think? When you're getting dressed in the morning, do our hairy crime stats ever consciously or subconsciously factor into your outfit choices? I’d really appreciate your thoughts and views on this topic.

If you live overseas and are visiting SA for the World Cup, please don’t be freaked out! There are parts of our country which could be mistaken for Wisteria Lane. You just need to have your wits about you when you head out your hotel. Tomorrow I'm going to make some suggestions on what to pack and expect from your South African experience! Speak to you then. x