AWAKEN WINTER

I can not imagine attending something more inspirational than Jackie Burger's soirees.With the Pierre Olivier Art Centre as a backdrop, it's as if real life becomes a theatrical display. The theme for her 5th soiree was Awaken Winter, beautifully curated with installation fashion, scrumptious food, motivational talks, and ending with a styling session and very captivating dance performance by a revered artist.  The morning started off with a discussion about the here and now, with the emphasis on doing and making as opposed to done and made. 

With Jackie at the helm of things, we all left in awe, and with a  clear message of rethinking our methods, obviously also wanting to remodel our wardrobes. A few models were challenged to style jackets and coats including the likes of Kluk CGDT, H&M, Adriaan Kuiters, all creating their signature and unique looks with a short fashion show. 

I wore block heels, a printed shirt, jeans and a coat from H & M's recently launched Conscious Exclusive Collection, made from recycled clothing and yarns, only to find the beautiful Bonnie Mbuli sporting the same piece with a pair of heels that turned heads. Now feast your eyes in the splendour of what announced the arrival of winter, in true style. 

Coat - H&M Conscious Exclusive

Jeans - Gucci

Crossbody satchel - Gucci

Shoes- Charles & Keith

Top - Anne Klein

WHAT'S IN STORE

Let me introduce you to someone you may already know, but let me also show you a side to them, which perhaps you didn't know. H & M is no newcomer to the fashion scene, and with stores across the world, they make a considerable contribution towards the fashion movement, retailing across the world. They supply a broad selection of garments affordable to all, and a more exclusive collection known as "studio", not to even mention "conscious exclusive". When they refer to "sustainable" fashion, they mean big business. Last week saw them launch the "conscious exclusive collection" in selected stores around the globe. Inspired from the Artwork in the Louvre, Paris, France,  their design team studied the  masters for about a year, and then  came up with prints of ethereal beauty, and a collection inspired by the likes of Boticelli. I was left in awe, and a little confused about what to buy and what not. The collection is so stunning, that I could easily have succumbed to it all, but promoting the concept of sustainable fashion myself, and not always being able to contain my obsessive compulsion to surrender to all things gorgeous, I had to exercise a considerable amount of  self control. I popped in to the flagship store in the Victoria and Alfred Mall on Saturday evening, (yes stores are open until 21h00) only to find two dresses that were both irresistible, quite befitting for a queen. I decided to sleep over it, and by the time I returned the next morning, one was gone. Sadly, I left with just one, but after having already indulged in a number of other items the day before, quickly recovered. Here is a sneak peak of what is in store. I will be styling these items in different outfits soon, so watch this space for more excitement, and off course, environmentally friendly fashion!

CORSET TOPS LAYERED

The culotte has come and gone, but always remain a welcome trend. I completely surrendered to the phenomenon and could practically  live in them. Wearing it with the corset top as seen during fashion month, takes it to the next level. It is worn just about every way imaginable,  and most successfully done in layered looks, combined with oversized shirts and dresses. The longer the sleeves of the shirt, the better. This look is left entirely to your imagination, leaving you free to move boundaries. I've even seen a shirt tied as a corset top worn over another bulky shirt, with the sleeves tied together to form a neat bow at the front. Let go of your comfort zone and experiment with the trend. I jumped with joy  in these pom pom lace up shoes.... adding some more fun with John Lennon inspired shades.

Culotte - Witchery

White Oversized Shirt - H&M

Corset Top - Country Road

Shoes - Asos

Blazer - Stuttafords, old

Sunglasses - Prada

GIRLS DAY OUT

Cape Town is abundant with shopping malls and streets, and when two Stylistas set out to play, with both having  a penchant for fashion and extravagant shoes, the only constraint would be wearing the wrong footgear! Beware when going out shopping not to destroy your venture by wearing uncomfortable shoes. Hence my decision to step out in wedges that provide ultimate comfort. Ever heard anybody say "I'd rather be dead than seen wearing ugly shoes?". I could do more justice to the culottes by stepping out in high  heels, but wasn't in the mood to squeeze my already tormented feet  into a  mould that resembles the pyramids of Giza. 

 

There is a certain stage in your life when comfort starts taking preference, especially after having subjected your poor feet to the misshapes of certain sought after shoes..... painted Red on the soles for extra dazzle. It might be cute to succumb to the luring aspects of those triangular shapes walking on stratospheric heights,  but it's poor punishment to your feet. Take my word for it, been there, got the T shirt. And the surgeon's knife to undo my indiscretions of the past...... It's hard to find a shoe that is both befitting to a shoe fanatic and allowing your feet to be enveloped in it's natural shape. So for now, I am settling for comfort.

 

So what's the style point of departure ? When wearing culottes, you need height. Strutting the cropped pants with  flat shoes is like squashing a chocolate cake into a pizza shape,  so the solution is to find balance between a slight heel that instantly gives a more slender look to the legs. If higher heels is not an option for you, opt for culottes that are slightly skinny and tapered down, and be mindful of the length by carefully studying your profile before you embark on a mission. Best is to take a photograph to look at yourself and adjust the length from a distance. Perspective, that's what it's all about. The kimono jacket is a staple item in my wardrobe, and this cropped version in animal print Suedette by Michelle Ludek, is a perfect workable piece. To get an honest picture, I  admit that I look somewhat shorter than my statuesque 1,78m in my lower heels.  Shop Michelle Ludek at the Watershed, V & A Cape Town.

 

 Cullotte - Country Road

Shoes - W Collection at Woolworths

Kimono Top -  Michelle Ludek

Tote - Michael  Kors

Sunnies - Prada

Make Up - Bobbi Brown

WIDE LEG PANTS

The high waisted wide leg pants is a no stranger to the fashion scene, and comes and goes in different styles. This is a great trend to create height, wear them longer with high heels to even elongate long legs more! At a statuesque 1,78 metre tall, I take pride in succumbing to this trend, towering over the rest of the world!  This is not a style that suits every body shape, but very forgiving to pear shapes. I often take shelter in wide legs as it conceals the accentuated and well rounded shape of my child bearing hips, and it creates a little drama to the look. It's a great trend for work clothes as it could be teamed with a crisp White cotton shirt to create a more serious look. I sometimes wear heels that give you vertigo extending the impact of wide leg pants to a dizzy height. It leans itself to a multitude of styles, and if the length gets to much, don't feel shy to cut it to size to give a cropped look and turning it into culottes instead.  To avoid creating to much bulk, keep the top to fitted styles when wearing this trend. My look was inspired by flamenco dancers for SA Menswear Fashion Week.  I knew it was  a little dramatic when I bumped into someone who asked if I was going to a theme party. I replied "yes", I'm on my way to fashion week..... after all, challenging convention is what fashion is all about. My flare sleeves contributed towards the drama and the hat was carefully shipped as hand luggage all the way from Ronda, Spain. I added some hoop earrings and a low bun with flower embellishment to resemble the flamenco dancer. 

 

 

A GRAND OLD DAME

In the heart of Woodstock, Cape Town, stands a grand old dame who was once rescued from destruction, and lovingly restored to her former glory during 2008. She was given life during 1927, and came close to falling apart. She was beautifully restored with even the Burmese teak windows being stripped down to reveal it's original beauty. Today she accommodates the Bread Boulangerie, Cafe and Deli, proudly sharing space with a Fashion Mall showcasing some of the best of South African design, from fashionable garments to artwork. It is here where I discovered the miraculous Myri dress, the secrets of which will be revealed on this site later on, so keep your eyes fixed to share in the secret in our next post. 

The variety of designers include South African master of design, David Tlale, who has a pret a porter range in store. The list include the likes of Leigh Schubert, Ruff Tung, Erre and a multitude of other well known designers. The variety is small but exclusive, allowing the shopper to find something unusual for that special occasion. My previous visit was very brief, and followed by a scrumptious lunch at the boulangerie downstairs, serving a most delicious meal with a hint of Thai spice. The proof is definitely in the pudding here. The Bromwell Mall, a landmark leaving us all in awe, and not be missed if you are in the area. With it's imposing Red colour, it's hard to miss.