My Modern Working Wardrobe: The Philanthropist

As often as the word is thrown around these days, it is hardly hyperbole to call Noëlla Coursaris Musunka an inspiration. As much as she’d humbly contest the designation, as a mother of two, model, philanthropist and the founder and CEO of Malaika – a non-profit dedicated to empowering women and girls through education in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) – it feels like a more-than-apt descriptor. It also means she’s a little busier than most.

And while the mission of Malaika – which has so far opened a school for 400 girls providing free health checks, uniforms and two meals a day, opened a community centre that reaches over 5000 adults and youths and built and refurbished 23 wells in the DRC – will always come before clothes, her sense of style remains important to her (even when her diary is full). “I like to make a statement with what I wear, but I also like to feel very comfortable,” she explains. And the fact that she often has to juggle many hats, has an inevitable influence on her closet. An adaptable wardrobe – much like Paul Smith’s Modern Working Wardrobe – is therefore a must.

“Clothing helps me express myself and my passions. I love to wear African designs and patterns in celebration of my heritage and my work with Malaika. As a model and a leader my work is all about fashion mostly, and what I wear celebrates the creativity and passion within the industry,” Noëlla says. “[But], as a mum, I wear what I want to help me enjoy time with my kids.”

Her general philosophy is that a wardrobe should work around her, not the other way around – something we’d wholeheartedly agree with. “Ultimately, I wear the clothes that help me to be myself, be confident and share a positive energy with whoever I’m interacting with that day,” she says.

But that doesn’t mean there’s not a time and a place for more formal fare. As a woman in a leadership position, she recognises the authority a suit can still command. “Tailoring can make me feel calm and in control,” she says. “I think because it has clean cut shapes and strong lines and can fit really well to your figure. It also has connotations of business and powerful people, so I think it can be helpful for situations where I need to be assertive.”