‘SEATED BUT NEVER SMALL’: KARABO LETS HER CLOTHES & HER CONFIDENCE SPEAK FOR HER

Photo courtesy of Karabo Molyneaux-Molloy

Right out the gate, Karabo Molyneaux-Molloy commands attention. Absolutely, a lot of it has to do with her clothes, but more so than anything, it has to do with her confidence. I even found myself sitting up a bit straighter—at attention—while writing this piece.

As someone who uses a wheelchair, Mrs. Molyneaux-Molloy maintains an intentional, no-nonsense approach to fashion and how she wants to be seen. She tells me via email that she looks for pieces “that give structure or flow in the right places, and I always think about how a full look reads while seated.”

“But beyond that, it’s about presence. I am seated, yes—but I am never small. My style is a reminder of that,” she emphasizes.

Mrs. Molyneaux-Molloy admits that using a wheelchair informs “the form and philosophy” of how she dresses.

“Sitting all day changes how clothes fall on your body, so I avoid anything that makes me feel visually diminished or cut off,” she says.

Photo courtesy of Karabo Molyneaux-Molloy

Regal Ease—it’s the style descriptor Mrs. Molyneaux-Molloy has coined for herself.

And rightly so.

The St. Croix estate planning lawyer says the term defines style that is “feminine, grounded, and unapologetically full of life.”

And if you’ve seen Mrs. Molyneaux-Molloy anywhere around St. Croix, adorned in bold prints and colors, and with regally tied headwraps, you’ll agree that the descriptor is spot on.

“I love to feel beautiful, but I don’t chase trends or wear anything that feels like a costume,” she explains. “Before I speak, my clothes are already communicating, ‘This is a woman who is rooted. This is a woman you will not overlook’. My wardrobe is my welcome mat—and my celebration of the ancestors who dreamed this life for me.”

Designers & Details

As someone who prefers not to spend her precious time ironing or fussing over fabrics, Mrs. Molyneaux-Molloy has long figured out what works for her.

“I love garments that offer timeless comfort—polyblends, soft knits, pieces that hold their shape and don’t demand constant upkeep,” she says. “I gravitate toward bold patterns, beautiful tailoring, rich color, and Afro-Caribbean touches—headwraps, statement earrings, strong jackets. If it feels like heritage and moves with ease, it’s for me.”

That makes sense. Mrs. Molyneaux-Molloy was raised in a household with a Kittitian father and a Botswanan mother and was, herself, born in Botswana and moved to St. Croix as a baby.

“That layered heritage lives in everything I wear,” she says.

Of her preferred places to shop, she says, “I love finding gently used gems from consignment stores like ThredUp, and I often shop at Zara, Mango, and Stitch Fix for wardrobe staples that feel current, but still comfortable. “

“My headwraps are a signature—I get many of them from a local Ghanian vendor African Kraal by Mary Nana Lewis, and my madras wraps from Regal Designs,” she adds. “Each piece I wear is part of how I honor myself and where I come from.”

Fashion For Now. Fashion For Always.

Mrs. Molyneaux-Molloy is clear that she doesn’t chase trends; rather, she focuses on adorning herself only with those items that have meaning.

“I’m into meaningful accessories right now—beaded necklaces, cultural jewelry, and anything that feels like it was made with intention,” she says. “I don’t try to stay on trend or chase what’s current. I’m more drawn to classic pieces and anything that makes me feel confident and fully myself.”

Leading With Authenticity. Leading With Love.

In her line of work—estate planning—which tends to be a largely conservative space, showing up as her authentic self, every day, is the only option for Mrs. Molyneaux-Molloy.

“I work in legacy, grief, and real human stories—I need to show up as a whole person,” she says. “The legal field may have its uniform, but I’ve created my own.”

“I wear clean lines, professional silhouettes, but with color and heritage woven in,” she continues. “I’m not neutral because my work isn’t neutral. I’m here to make people feel safe, seen, and supported—and how I dress helps me do that.”

Photo courtesy of Karabo Molyneaux-Molloy

In fact, she says using her style to create connection with her clients is very intentional.

“When I show up dressed with intention, it tells my clients and my community, ‘I see you—and I come as one of you’. It’s part of my approach to law and leadership,” she explains. “I don’t want to intimidate; I want to invite. I dress for that. When people see me in bold colors, beautiful prints, and rooted adornment, it softens the conversation and reminds them they’re in safe hands.”

And when Mrs. Molyneaux-Molloy says you’re in safe hands with her, she means it. She encourages other young women living with disabilities who may not always feel seen to “define yourself for yourself. Don’t let your value or your beauty be dictated by anyone else.”

“Dress like your presence is sacred—because it is,” she continues. “You deserve to be seen. Start with what feels good on your skin and then build outward from there. Don’t be afraid to mix culture with your style. You can be bold and soft, powerful and seated, feminine and free.”

In sobering words that can serve to remind all of us of who we are and what we bring to the table, Mrs. Molyneaux-Molloy offers a final nugget of wisdom: “You are what the ancestors prayed for when they imagined a better life. That’s special. That’s reason enough to take up space without apology. Let your wardrobe be your liberation, your crown, and your daily act of joy.”

Indeed, learning the story of Mrs. Molyneaux-Molloy’s unmistakable style and the substance behind it has been, for me, an act of pure joy!