Shot in Cape Town, South Africa and directed by Melina Matsoukas, the video shows Solange Solanges exploring the town with a gang of friends and a crew of ultra-drapper dudes drapped in threads which marry their African flair to that of their former European colonizers. These men are called the Les Sapeurs or in more common vernacular “Congolese dandies”; they are also the muse of Italian photographer Daniele Tamagni who was so enthralled with their ostentatious use of color and commitment to elegance that he made them the subject of his book, “The Importance of Being Elegant”.
In her own words: “When Melina and I decided to film ‘Losing You’ in South Africa, we really didn’t have a real firm concept in place. It was sort of a grab a camera and let’s go moment. I knew I wanted to capture a couple things: the vibe of our friendship and all of the crazy escapades we’ve gotten ourselves into all over the world, and the abstract and elegant Le Sape Society (Society for the Advancement of People of Elegance) formed in the Congo which was documented by Daniele Tamagni in his Gentleman of Bacongo book. We called Daniele to guide us, and some of my friends from New York came down to Cape Town and we all had a very damn good time,” Solange told Pitchfork.com.
The history of the Sapeurs is rooted in French colonization of Congo and the glorification of the Parisian lifestyle; these men stand out in world deeply enmeshed in abject poverty. Clad in suits by Yves Saint Laurent, Jean Paul Gaultier and Armani as well as Japanese labels such Kenzo and Yamamoto they strut the impoverished streets of Brazzaville and Kinshasa with a certain je ne sais quoi. When it comes to shoes, only the exclusive French label Weston and British label Church’s will do. No knock-offs allowed! That is tantamount to blasphemy. These men are style gods and their style has spilled over into female fashions and quite a few runways, i.e. Paul Smith’s Spring 2010 line. Have a look at Solange’s new video and watch these men dazzle the screen.
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