Power dressing secrets

Stella Nantumbwe, Miss Uganda 2013/14

What do you love wearing?
I like dresses, usually the day or occasion determines what length I will wear. During weekends, I wear longer ones such as maxi dresses and go for knee-length or shorter ones during weekends. I do not like body-hugging clothes because I have a slightly bigger bust, so I normally opt for loose tops. I love wearing skirts as well.
The worst fashion blunder you have ever made is…
I cannot really point out one because I usually wear what I feel is appropriate. May be the fashion blunders I have made are in relation to shoes. In some instances, I have worn shoes that are not suited for a particular occasion which ends up making me uncomfortable in the end.
What would you consider as your power attire?
When I wear a pair of jeans, a vest, a colourful blazer and shoes that match the outfit, I feel good.

Julie Mutesasira, gospel artiste

Being a gospel artiste, what kind of outfits do you often wear on stage?
I love wearing dresses, usually long ones while performing. My favourite colour is black. I usually accompany the outfit with a suitable pair of heels.

How about when you are not performing?
I usually wear trousers – jeans especially, and shirts.
What do you consider as your power attire?
Trouser suits because they reflect a sort of seriousness one is attaching to their work.

Racheal Arinaitwe Mwine, News Anchor

Are there particular fashion trends you are supposed to wear while reading news on-air?
As an anchor, I am required to be formal, not wear anything flashy but rather something easy on the eye, simple and chic.

You want to be attractive without taking away the attention from the news, inotherwords, making you interesting to look at.
Things like short dresses and those that reveal too much cleavage do not work for us female anchors.

Do you do personal shopping for these outfits?
Well, I have two particular people, boutique owners, who take care of my dressing.
What’s the worst fashion blunder you have ever made while at the job?
There were dresses I wore while pregnant and recently when I came back from maternity leave, I wore one of them. It was slightly big and looked like it was hanging on my body.

I thought it was okay after looking in the mirror but on television, it looked horrible, sort of ill-fitting. My friends called me after the bulletin and said I should probably have the dress re-fitted. I eventually did that.
Another time, I wore a checkered jacket and a viewer later notified me that the pattern doesn’t work for television.

How do you normally get style tips?
I watch a lot of international media, so I see what the anchors are wearing, for instance, on BBC and CNN. Also, I pick a bit from what my other female colleagues wear and the trends at the moment.
What would you consider as your power outfit?
Dresses of knee-length and those slightly above the knees because they compliment my body.

Dr Barbara Ofwono Buyondo, Principal at Victorious Education Services
What is your style for work?
Corporate. I tend to wear suits a lot mostly comprising of formal skirts, blouses and blazers.
Share the worst fashion blunder you have made while on duty
A few years back, when I was still a head teacher at the school, I wore a pair of trousers to school. Some of the staff members later told me that since I was heading a school, it probably was not a good idea for me to be wearing trousers. Well, they made a good point since we are always urged to dress decently. May be the trousers sent a wrong message. Anyway, I resorted not to wear them again and stuck to formal skirts.
What do you tend to wear away from work?
Dresses and, for travel, trousers.
Where do you get style tips?
From my husband as he tends to follow fashion trends quite a lot. Sometimes, he tells me what to wear and what to discard.

Your fashion tips to other women
We live in a generation where women dress anyhow but it is important to always dress decently since we are role models in society. Dress to model the next generation.
Jean Byamugisha, executive director, Uganda Hotel Owners Association
Your power attire
A well-fitting suit. It makes a statement that says, “I mean business!”
Fashion blunders
I was once invited for an abrupt meeting, which was not on the calendar, a high level meeting. Everyone wore a suit as I, on the other hand, was casually dressed in a flowery short dress. I have never felt more unserious and uncomfortable like I felt that day.
What lesson did you pick from that particular incident?
As a rule of thumb, I learnt to dress as though I have a meeting from Monday to Friday.
Fashion tips to other women
Your look says a lot about you and the company you represent. Ninety per cent of people decide whether to do business with you or not, to give you that job or not, based on your appearance. You must invest in it.