Standing Out in a Sea of Grey

So everyone who reads this blog knows that grey is the must-have neutral of the season, right? And it is lovely. I am wearing it myself today. Having said that, it is always nice to see a bold statement of individuality in the sea of grey. Lilac and yellow both work beautifully with grey, but were still different enough to grab my attention at a function the other day.

Behind the Scenes: Just One Shot

I always think it is interesting to break down the glamour myth of shooting fashion. Sure, we have a lot of fun working together - make-up, photographer, models, assistants and editor - but we also have to actually create the glamour for you. So here is the towel for warmth, the clogs to walk to set in, the primping and fussing - all the background details that go into getting just one shot.

Behind the Scenes: The Fashion Office

This is what the fashion office looks like when you have called in hundreds of pairs of shoes for a shoe feature - 40 Killer Shoes That Won't Kill Your Feet. I know it is hard to stare at gorgeous shoes all day - even worse to have to try them all on. It is definitely very hard.

Vintage Shopping Part 4

This is the fourth and final part of my Vintage Shopping series that was designed to make you feel like you were hanging with me and my mates as we browsed and chatted and shopped. I hope you liked it.
Don't forget to go for yourself, if you can. Afraid of Mice vintage store is by appointment or at the Old Biscuit Mill on a Saturday morning. Call Bianca on 082 755 1002. Good.

Vintage Shopping Part 3

Vintage Shopping Part 2

Vintage Shopping Part 1

Two girls having a blast as they try all the gorgeous goodies at Afraid of Mice vintage store. By appointment or at the Old Biscuit Mill on a Saturday morning. Call Bianca on 082 755 1002.

Awesome Handbag

Sometimes it is the details that make me happy. Like the quilting and silver edge. I know it is a summer bag but I think that breaking the rules is totally fine.

Transitional Dressing: O Magazine May 2010

So if you want some fresh ideas on how to transition your wardrobe from summer to winter without spending loads of cash, go and pick up the latest May issue of O Magazine. Also a great fashion story on how to wear leggings at any age and the best in hats, scarves and a arm load of beautiful, locally made cuffs.
So much fashion bang for your buck.
Photographer: Anthony Friend
Hair and Makeup: Sylvie Hurford (L'Oreal Paris)
Model: Akoul from Elite
Dress: Mango, Jersey: Fabiani, Necklace: Stefania Morland

Look of Love

I am absolutely smitten with the grey brogues and the pink stocking feet. What a fabulous look.

Ian: Vintage Jacket

What I liked about this was that Ian made a vintange girls's DB jacket look like it had masculinity. Kind of in that undefined rock zone of Captain Jack and Keith Richards.

Joonji: Vintage Leather Skirt

This is Joonji - the deputy editor here at O Mag. And this is her amazing vintage leather skirt. I literally stopped and stared and let my jaw hang open when I saw it. Pockets. Flare. I love it.

Anna Wintour: A Lesson in Life

I have just finished reading the unauthorised biography of Anna Wintour. It took me ages to get through. Not because it was bad - to the contrary - but because I was getting so much out of it. I needed to read a chapter, assimilate the information, make sense of it and then move on. Despite all the Machiavellian, brutish, unfeeling actions of her life, Anna Wintour has influenced an enormous part of mine without me even knowing it.
As the Editor-in-Chief of Vogue US, her life couldn't be more dissimilar to mine - in fact in my fashion self-identity I see myself far more as Suzy Menkes as opposed to Nuclear Wintour. However, I am inextricably connected to her in all that I do as she has set the pace in this industry, impervious to criticism, for so many years.
Read it if you can.
Thanks to Dan Pinch for the lending of the book.

Pre-SAMA Red Carpet Dressing Post

With just over a week to go ahead of the 16th annual SA Music Awards at Sun City, I feel compelled to offer the Cape Town musicians who are attending some advice. As the only real 'red' carpet in SA (the carpet is in fact yellow - you know, for MTN, the sponsors...) if behoves the attendees to make some kind of effort. By which I mean turn up in an outfit with intent and swagger.
I do not mean shiny. Although a bit of a sequin is always cheerful.
I do not mean made by some random designer. Although it is always best to be fitted for such ocassions. And there are some very talented designers on offer.
What I do mean is that know what you want to communicate about yourself and then do it with charm.
Cape Town bands always get a bad rap for not trying hard enough. Apparently in Jozi a clean t-shirt and skinny jeans just doesn't cut it. Nor should it. Where exactly is the swagger in that?
But what I think is worth remembering is that it is a good thing to represent the brand of your band or music. It is also a good thing not to look exactly like everyone else in their shiny suits. I mean, whatever else marvelous is happening in music, CT bands will always be rock 'n roll.
And so my advice to you all is this:
1. Think Meryl Streep. Cool. Understated. Honest. Comfortable. Unexpected.
2. Make sure your hair, nails, shoes and clothes are all clean.
3. Know who you are and then do the dress-up version of you.
4. Be witty. But not cheesy. Quirky is rad but you have to keep it subtle else they will be laughing at you and not with you. (i.e. NO TIGER HOODIES JDT)
5. And yes, employ a fantastic local designer like Lara Klawakowski, Christopher Strong, Stiaan Louw, Nazir, David West, Kluk boys, Gav-to-the-Raj or any number of other talents to interpret and showcase the very 'ness' of you in a way that is all those Meryl Streep things.
You can't go wrong.
Oh, and one last thing that I learned from the FUG Girls. Get someone to snap a photo of you before you head out so that you can see how your outfit will look in the Sunday papers. It just gives you the chance to make changes if necessary.
And good luck. Represent.

SA Fashion Week Front Row Solos

Sometimes in this industry the packaging is better than the contents - and the front row is better than the show. It happens.

SA Fashion Week Front Row Crew