Sun, style and splash

Langalihle Mhiti

AS the dry season peaks and the sun blazes, Harare’s youths are turning sidewalks into runways and swimming pools into sanctuaries.

Summer dressing and swimming have become expressions of joy, identity, and resilience -not just reactions to the heat.

From flowy dresses and bold prints to midday dips in backyard pools, young women and men are redefining what summer means in Zimbabwe’s capital.

In the process, they tread a fine line between fashion, modesty, and social expectation.

Heavy fabrics like denim and polyester give way to chiffon, cotton, linen blends, and airy knits.

Designer Ruby Zinyawu, in an interview, recommends palazzo pants in chiffon and midi skirts with pleats as staples for the season.

“These pieces are stylish, trendy and comfortable, all in one,” she said.

She also recommends wearing white, which reflects sunlight and keeps the body cooler, while adding small colorful accessories to liven up darker pieces.

In Bulawayo, fashionistas were already stepping out in minis, crop tops, and biker shorts as the heat set in.

One local model, Prisca Zulu, said that simplicity is key.“Shorts, miniskirts as long as it allows the skin to breathe, it’s essential for summer,” she said.

A Bulawayo designer, named Chante, added a word of caution.“Ladies can dress up without crossing the ‘line’ … loose trousers and elegant dresses can still be sexy without being explicit.”Across Harare, fashion stalls in Mbare, Kuwadzana, and Highfield echo with the sounds of buyers examining tie-dye skirts, embroidered blouses, and light overcoats.

Street vendors stock shorts, camisoles, and wrap skirts as affordable options in a climate‑driven era of wardrobe urgency.

Sun-drenched weekends often find Harare’s youths flocking to swimming pools.

Whether in communal compounds or private homes, the water offers solace from scorching pavements. But swimming in Zimbabwe has a layered history.During colonial times, exclusive access to pools was a symbol of segregation. Swimming pools were often reserved for white communities, reinforcing racial and social divides. Today, the revival of swimming is seen as part of reclaiming leisure and public space.

Zimbabwe Swimming is working to place clubs in every district, aiming to democratize access and promote both recreational and competitive aquatic activity.

For many youth, swimming is more than sport it’s a social ritual. In Avondale, Simbarashe Chigora enters the pool in a stylish swimsuit trimmed with African print.

“I want clothing that blends culture and comfort. When you wear a print you’re proud of, even the water feels like home,” he said.

Millicent Gondo floats with confidence in a modest one-piece and a sheer cover-up.

“People stare but I’m confident. Summer shouldn’t shackle us,” she said.

Their ease in and out of the water reflects both body positivity and fashion comfort.

On a sunny Sunday at a Warren Park compound pool, Chido Mwonzora and her friends unload picnic baskets.

Dressed in a crochet top and high‑waisted shorts, Chido beams:

“We always come to swim, laugh, and wear summer. No stress, just sun.”

Her friend Tendai Mushayi, in a printed one-piece, echoes the sentiment.

“I’ve been waiting all year for this. Sun, water, and style it’s therapy.”

Young designer, Tanyaradzwa Chikwamba, stands by a display of linen wrap dresses and vibrant kaftans.

“Fashion is how I tell my story. In summer, I wear flowers, pastels, prints. I want people to see me to feel my mood,” she said.

For many, summer dressing is bold, visible, and sometimes controversial.