WOMEN AND WHEELS

Ecstatic, is how I would describe the feeling of slipping into the driving seat of the new C Class Mercedes Benz, a motor vehicle in a league of it's own. Perhaps not specifically designed with the women driver in mind, it certainly succeeded in building a motor vehicle that wraps around the female figure like a custom made dress. With it's ergonomic design and lumbar support, the seats engulf you with comfort.  It's captive and modern design is what caught my attention, and perhaps the final blow in coming to the decision to upgrade to this saloon. It's safety on the road speaks for itself, and once you have driven it around the bends, you will be sure about it's ability to hold to the road, in style off course!

 

As described by the brand, it sets itself apart from the predecessor. The aesthetics have been perfected with it's distinct curves and lines, and brings it much in line with the resolute design of the S-Class. The soft lines of the uncluttered rear   gives it somewhat of a feminine edge contributing towards it's appeal to female drivers. It's comfort and stability on the road cannot be expressed in words, and if you are fortunate enough  to indulge in a new set of wheels, I strongly recommend that you head  down to your local dealer and take this car for a test drive. It certainly knows how to hold her own........

 

The premium craftsmanship is evident from every angle, and repeated in the interior with it's sleek sporty finish, allowing you to enjoy your vehicle as an extension of your poise.......the all new C-Class. Glad to make your acquaintance.....

 

Why not arrive at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in Cape Town starting on the 24th July 2014 in the all new C Class?

 

 

MY COMFORT ZONE

Black has always been a colour of choice, not because it's prescribed for my professional attire, but simply because it has a lasting elegance leaving you feeling confident and ready to pursue any task, fit to conquer the world. I veered into some more adventurous combinations introducing Brown to my palette, another taboo that established itself in my new set of self imposed rules of do's and dont's. The combination needed something else to take it to the next level, and all of a sudden, this polka dot scarf fulfilled it's function adding a little spunk to an otherwise bland colour scheme. Don't be afraid of introducing something unexpected, more often than not, you will be delighted about the results of the experiment!

Coat - Zara

Clutch bag - Zara

Skirt - Country Road

Scarf - Laos 

Boots - Moda in Pelle

Necklace - Zuri

Gloves - Primark

CUSTOM MADE

If ever you find yourself in Shanghai, China, the South Bund Fabric Market is a place where one could happily get lost, with a plethora of textiles ranging from cottons to the  purest silk and finest boucle. Whatever you want, can virtually be manufactured here. However, venturing there without an interpreter, leaves much lost in translation as English is not very widely spoken and if you want to be understood, you had better have it explained in Mandarin. Our charming guide and very sweet Jessica, took it upon her to introduce us to the market as an optional extra, and never reckoned with the fact that we may become totally distracted.......The choice of fabric is so vast, that you would  need at least two days just to explore the haven of fabric and get a feel for the market. It is an indoor market and provides for a cool shelter against the summer heat. If I had any idea just how capable these people were, and how quickly they could produce a garment, I would have travelled with empty luggage, or even better, no luggage at all. They take your measurements in a jiffy and tailor make whatever it is you want to fit you like a glove. Although I was not asked to come in for a fitting, this coat fitted me perfectly. The joy about having things custom made is that they make it in exactly the length and width required. Being tall, I can actually have something made of which the sleeves are long enough! If you plan on travelling that way, do include a visit to the fabric market and take along pictures or samples of things you would like to have custom made. If only I did my homework in advance..... I teamed the coat with lace stockings and a fit and flair skirt from the Australian brand, Country Road, and Suede boots with a faux fur trim.

Coat - South Bund Fabric Market, Shanghai, custom made

Skirt - Country Road

Sweater - Thrifted

Handbag - Unbranded, from Orchid Road store, Singapore

Boots - Faith

Sunglasses - Rayban

Leather gloves - Woolworths

Necklace & Oversized glass pearl bracelet - Zurri

Lace tights - New Look

CAPE TOWN FASHION WEEK DATES ANNOUNCED!

Save the date girls, wiggle your tail feathers and start planning what to wear, the dates for the next Mercedes Benz Cape Town Fashion Week has been announced! Shake them up a little by being there from 24 to 26 July 2014 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre! Show us you've got style! The beauty of dressing for fashion week is that you can be a little creative, and break the barrier with a little more imagination than usual. Some do however think it's an opportunity to show their freakiest outfits, remember, it's a fashion show, not a freak show! After all, Cape Town has been crowned the design capital, so allow yourself some freedom in creating something spectacular and awesome.

I am planning to work bright colours into my Fashion week outfits and will be combining it with bold prints, and perhaps sport a few current winter trends like over the knee boots, fringe, plaids and perhaps some leather......... What are your styling tips for fashion week? The fail safe option is off course, monochrome..... right, that's enough said.

 

CULOTTE, HOT OR NOT?

The culotte has come and gone, and the current version has seen a number of new styles, above the knee, below the knee or right down to the bottom, straight down or wide legs, allowing all body types to wear it, be it short or tall. The culotte was rather hot in the 80's when we sported it with platform heels and bell sleeved tops. The pleats make this pair quite bulky and flamboyant, and if you dress it up with a rather loud jacket the way I did, it's just the right look for a morning wedding or fancy occasion. I prefer dressing it down for the office by adding a simple crisp White shirt with minimal accessories to give an edge. How do you sport the trend? I think I'll keep this for a while, in spite of it's almost apparent demise, a trend that becomes a "go to" item in my closet.... add some killer heels and you're off to clinch the deal.

Snake Print Jacket - Jenni Button

Lace top - Thrifted

Culotte - Pringle of Scotland

Shoes - Milano Outlet Store

Silk scarf - Como Silk

Purse - Jimmy Choo

Silver accessories - Sass Diva

GIRLS DAY OUT

When my longstanding friend Juliana and I set off on an excursion to lake Como, we were dressed to be comfortable. Dressing for holidays should be effortless with fashion following form, and not the other way around! However, when meandering the alleys of the Italian villages , you come to realise just how chic and stylish these women are, even when they are dressed for comfort. Trotting in high heels on cobblestones is not for the faint hearted, and if you dare to do so, you will soon find yourself hovering over a bench praying for comfortable shoes. That would be the ultimate opportunity to validate shoe shopping, but if you do not wish to spend the rest of your holiday on crutches, it's advisable to pack flat shoes with comfortable inner soles, allowing you to move about easily. The best travel advice my mother has ever given me, is to travel with a light parka. I also heed to Juliana's advice to travel with a pashmina or scarf that provides you with an instant head cover, especially handy when you enter cathedrals and other religious places of worship. My survival kit contains a pair of flat ballerina pumps that folds up to the size of a wallet, and off course, the ever so useful scarf. My light parka is actually weatherproof and provides cover against sudden summer showers, and not a burden to carry is it takes up very little space. My favourite travel bag is a back pack from MCM, big enough to hold it all, and very handy for cameras and  lenses. It has very comfortable shoulder straps pulling your shoulders back preventing you from slumping under the weight  of  a shoulder bag or tote not allowing even distribution of weight. Bon voyage! A small cross body bag that holds your valuables, will become invaluable when travelling!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Parka - Bershka

Pants - H & M

Shoes - Camieu

 

CUT TO SIZE

Those of you who are familiar with the British designer, Marc Schwab, will know that he designs with the average women in mind, and not the rickety frame of catwalk models starved to dizzy heights. Whenever I walk into a store trying on something that features high on the trend list, it seams to be way to small or totally unbecoming for my body shape. The conclusion is that most of the trendy clothes promoted by high street stores, are in tiny sizes intended for skinny girls. Once the fashion world realizes that older girls, or shall I say, girls of a certain age, have the financial means to dress, or have the same needs to wear stylish clothes, they may come to the realization that there is a huge gap between petite and plus size women. Somewhere in between, lurks a fashion starved women stalking stores for in between sizes that do not date from Noahs ark or are reminiscent of charity finds and bargain stores. I find much delight in strolling through stores like Dorothy Perkins since they actually make clothes for real people, and not clothes horses. In the same breath, I welcome the trend of oversized coats as we girls who hover on the in between sizes, can actually sport a current trend without spending more energy than money on finding something fashionable. Trenery, Country Road, and recently added Witchery, all being Australian brands, are hugely popular here, and a pleasure to shop at as their size spectrum ranges from small to extra large, and when the say large, they mean large, not the Korean version of large which is more likely to fit a 16 year old.... I am by no means a small girl, and not exactly a plus size either, so I often turn to these Aussie brands for good, classy and timeless finds. This wrap around skirt was bought from Country Road a while ago but it's high quality fabric and cut makes it a classic item, updated with Witchery's over the knee suede boots, allowing the look more currency. My cape is a sale find, duly revived from 2012 when it was bought from Topshop's Oxford street flagship store. My ruffled blouse was the final addition to the Musketeer look.... 

Cape - Topshop

Skirt - Country Road

Over the Knee boots - Witchery

Ruffled blouse - Oasis

Sunglasses - Dior