David Wamambo talks fashion, styling and the importance of grooming

Affectionately dubbed “The Lord of Bath” by his growing legion of social media followers and friends alike, David Wamambo is one very stylish man.

Wherever you meet him, he is bound to be impeccably dressed and well groomed with literally nothing out of place. Oh, and he smells like a dream!

In my first interview with this style star, I am not surprised to hear that fashion has been his thing from a very young age. David, unlike many young men his age, just gets it when it comes to style. He has a good eye for colour and balance and knows how to pair items in a way that makes him stand out without being too loud.

The makings of “Lord Bath”

From the time he was a child, David loved to look good and could not stand clothing that did not meet his standards. “I remember being so particular as a young child. I remember several times I’d flush down the toilet clothes I did not like. I was a fashionable menace.”

Today, many many years later, David is just as particular about his looks. If you follow him on Twitter, you are likely to pick up on his tweets either bashing bad fashion or expressing his dislike of poor hygiene. For David, looking good starts with meticulous hygiene and cleanliness.

“Oh my word, I love being clean. Being clean is the first step to achieving an unequaled style. If you really look at what I wear, they are very simple pieces, but I wear them with confidence. That confidence comes from knowing I am clean, I smell good and I left a clean house,” he declares while adding that good grooming is an act of self-love. “One may wear the best designer pieces, but as long as the clothes aren’t clean and your body is not too clean, the first notable thing is the dirt. It spoils the style. Being clean is attractive, it is inspiring and it is self-love. There are no risks to practicing good hygiene,” he says.

Like many style stars, David's fashion sense has gone through an evolution.

He explains the transitions his aesthetic has gone through over the years: “This has been a soulful journey. I say soulful because this has been a reflection of my life. In my teens I gravitated towards the grunge look, and eventually, in my twenties, I toned down to a Scandinavian-inspired street style. Of late, my aesthetic has become more dapperly versatile. I look good in suits during the week. I have also become attentive to reading event themes, so that I attempt to match the required look at events – people love that, it shows respect and effort.”

I ask David what his biggest fashion pet peeves are and he lists dress codes that he finds the most annoying:

First on the list? Smart casual. “This is just a sneaky way to tell everyone to come dressed with their very best level of style mediocrity,” he says matter-of-factly. Next up, and sure to ruffle some feathers, is the Met Gala. “This annoys me, because the Met Gala is an event with annual themes so it is quite a confusing guideline,” he says.

Last on the list is The Great Gatsby. For this one, David has few words to spare, saying simply: “We are tired of it.”

Wardrobe staples that David can not live without…

“White shirts, I always have a white tuxedo shirt, white double cuff shirt and a white regular shirt. I restock every three months. I believe every gentleman needs a good black suit the same way every lady needs a little black dress. Another thing that every young professional gentleman needs is a light blue shirt and a good number of neckties that match the logo of each of their top clients – I would never go to the blue bank in a green tie.”

Namibian and African fashion designers on David’s radar…

Some of David’s top picks of Namibian and African fashion brands are SynEDGY by Simeone Johannes, Majesty by Miles Meroro and Maison de Rouge by Tadiwa Chimbodza. “I would like to wear suits from RIA by Maria Nepembe one day. I would do anything to be dressed by Mai Atafo, all the way from Nigeria – I mean if you can get Naomi Campbell to wear your suits and walk your show, you are definitely doing everything right. I also love Bespoke by Linda Makhanya and Relevance for Men by Tshepo Tsala.”

A communications strategist by profession, David doubles as a fashion blogger and rising style influencer, and has been building his own personal brand which he has bigger plans for in 2022. “It has been a long time coming. This year I would like to offer young professionals an image consultancy service, merging my styling skills and personal branding skills to remodel and bolster their reputation. I also intend to offer a styling master class sometime later in the year.”

Given how well he dresses, there is no doubt that these projects will be a hit.

Rukee Kaakunga is a Windhoek-based Communications Specialist, Blogger and Freelance Fashion Writer. Contact her via email: rukeekaakunga@gmail.com and follow her on Twitter @rukeeveni and on Instagram @rukeekaakunga.

Photography: Shili Munyama of Creative South