Third-culture African founder building brands (and a life) across the continent, in public.
The Founder's Uniform, Part 2: The weekly uniform
In Part 1, I shared my formula for building a work look: Structure, Statement, Signature. I also shared three questions to ask before you leave the house: can I sit in it, can I walk in it and can I present in it? And a bonus question: does this outfit say what I want the room to hear before I speak?
Today, we talk about the weekly uniform.
Why a uniform at all?
As a founder, you make a lot of decisions in a day. What you wear should not be one of them, especially at the start of the day.
I have heard that Steve Jobs wore a near-identical outfit almost every day, which removed one decision from his morning.
[So here we are, you and me, ready to build our own badass uniforms.
Seven scenarios from my week in Kinshasa
Below are seven events and meetings I attend in Kinshasa. For each one, I have shared the formula I use and why it works for me.
[Binja: for each row, add one line on the outfit you wore: the print, the structure and the signature.]
| Situation | The formula | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Boardroom or investor pitch | Structure-led: a sharp suit or jacket, a bold colour or one print panel, your signature accessory. | Authority first, personality second, so the print reads as confidence, not distraction. |
| Client or brand meeting | Statement-led: a print dress or set with a structured jacket or belt. | Shows taste and brand sense, which is part of what clients are buying. |
| Studio or team day | Relaxed structure: tailored trousers or skirt, a printed shirt or top, flat or low shoes. | Approachable, movable, still unmistakably you. |
| Travel day | One print piece in a forgiving fabric, a structured layer, comfortable shoes. | Arrive ready to walk straight into a meeting. |
| Evening, panel or event | Signature-led: the boldest piece, a statement fabric or silhouette, one strong accessory. | The moment to be remembered; the room is already looking. |
| Wedding or celebration | Signature-led: an embellished or printed piece with a defined waist, plus one statement accessory. | Celebratory without competing with the couple; the craft does the talking. |
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