Wednesday 31 December 2014

DRESS CODE CHIC AND GLAMOROUS

Having the warm temperature in mind, an all Cream suit was what I decided on for the Le Kap Lifestyle Event, with the dress code being chic & glamorous. Now I just need the wheels. When in doubt about what to wear to a daytime event like this, rely on Cream or stick to monochrome. If you have difficulty styling an outfit for such an occasion,  keep it simple, dress in one colour head to toe, ad two tone shoes, drape a similar coloured scarf around your neck and let it recede down your back,  slap on a huge hat with statement shades, and of you go. Now how did Bentley know which colour car to display that would match my outfit? 







Suit- Belle Epoque
Shoes -Manolo Blahnik
Sunglasses - Miu Miu
Lace Top - Vintage 
Shoulder Bag - Gucci
Hat - Unknown

Saturday 20 December 2014

Fur-rocious

I will always have mixed feelings about the concept of fur. Although my conscience dictates otherwise, I can associate with the idea of indulging in the luxury of fur if it is not harvested in a inhumane manner. Fur farms are notorious for using methods that do not resonate with animal protection activists. However, if it is produced in controlled circumstances, it should not be construed as cruel. My fur jacket is vintage and attracts many stares, both from critics and admirers. Travelling Eeastern Europe and trotting the baltic region, one must however resort to extreme measures to take shelter against the cold, and can I justify this work of art. I am not quite ready to abandon meat or leather shoes, and will continue to keep this lovely coat stacked away for sub zero temperatures as I am an Ice bear at heart....extreme weather calls for extreme measures.

Coat - Vintage
Leather gloves - Woolworths
Jeans - unbranded
Boots - Roma 
Handbag- Prune
Felt hat-Topshop




Thursday 18 December 2014

STYLE SNIPPETS

Sometimes a picture tells the story, and this compelling compilation of style snippets is to be enjoyed while reclining into your sofa and feasting your eyes. Hats are just so elegant.

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Saturday 13 December 2014

JACQUES LAGRANGE COUTURE

Having witnessed it first hand, there can be no doubt about the reason why Glamour magazine described Jacques LaGrange as the King of Couture. Models were sashaying their hips, strutting their stuff in dresses with thigh  high splits and clear lace on the Red carpet at the recent fashion show held at Le Kap Lifestyle Fair. Even though I am no longer in the age group where I can slip into and swing my hips in any of these slender dresses, this collection is stunningly beautiful!  

The collection displayed his remarkable ability to work in different styles, with a distinct skill to work extravagant fabric into magical garments.  Jacques is famous for making the most exquisite evening gowns and wedding dresses, and if I heard correctly trough the grapevine, he might just launch a ready to wear collection soon! I was awestruck by the flowing lines and femininity of his carefully selected fabric. I can just imagine the tactile feel of silk and lace magically draped over my body. The little peplum hemmed dress particularly appealed to me as it is unusual and not the stereo typical LBD. The subtle display  of a shoulder on the voile-like bat-winged top worn with a beautiful embellished skirt was my piece de resistance....it certainly takes a man to dress a women.










Tuesday 9 December 2014

A CHARMED LIFE AT LE KAP LIFESTYLE FAIR

With it's immaculate lawns and beautifully manicured gardens, the historic Blaauwklippen Wine Estate set the perfect stage for  Le Kap Lifestyle's Fair of splendour and  opulence. For those who preferred a more leisurely approach, the terraces were decked out in comfortable sofas allowing one to drape yourself over it, sipping away on a chilled flute of Veuve Cliquot Champagne, while savouring on the subtleties prepared by the celebrity chefs. Le Kap Lifestyle Fair provided a perfect opportunity to laze away on a balmy Saturday offering a multitude of activities, from wine tasting at the shaded stalls on the lawn, to tantalising your taste buds at the chef's table where well known chefs provided food demonstrations and served us bite size delicacies. While some were enjoying copious amounts of bubbly,  others stretched out on the expansive lawns to watch the day go by as equestrian shows entertained us with skills the Agha Khan would have admired.
 
The historical homestead served as a theatre of beauty  where make overs were performed by make up artists, and Loads of Living displaying linen and feel good things that would send any insomniac to sleep..... with the finest 1000 micron linen imaginable.
 
The regal presence of the uber elegant Bentley's  on display impregnated me with inspiration to pursue a much higher corporate ladder.... if that doesn't send a luxury motor vehicle enthusiast into a frenzy, very little will. In the meanwhile, guests were entertained with a coffee tasting to enthral any budding barista.
 
Just about all the creature comforts were on show, with luxury cars, gourmet food, fine wine, sophisticated style, and couture fashion luring us into different directions. The day ended with a fashion show by Jacques leGrange and  Rosenwerth, leaving us all in awe. And so the day came  to a charming end. All presented under  guidance of the sharp eye of the leaders in the industry, Vivid  Luxury and Le Kap Magazine, amongst South Arica's premiere promotional companies. Now all you have to do if you wish to share in more of this kind of style, is  to click on the SA Blog Awards Icon to the right.....cast your vote!














Links
 

Monday 8 December 2014

FASHION ECONOMICS

I  pay great consideration to fashion economics before I venture out shopping, but don't always succeed in applying my own rules. When shopping for clothes, one must bear in mind that fast fashion is intended to only last for one season, with the object of luring the buyer into constantly and obsessively updating trends, cashing in on the youth's  uncontrollable  vulnerability.  Some of us fall prey to the concept which is deliberately intended to rob us from our funds and to keep the fashion industry in business. When investing in key pieces, it is  necessary to distance yourself from hugely trendy items merely for the sake of being in fashion and sporting the latest trends. High end fashion items might cause you to dig deeper into the pockets but it will last you much longer, giving you optimum pleasure as you are likely to wear something that won't easily be seen worn by somebody else in the same room. A carefully thought out design is also likely to become a collectable item, adding value to your look by defining it as different and unique. Falling prey to the fast fashion trend, causes you to spend a whole lot more on clothes as opposed to collecting timeless attire and growing an estate or obtaining financial security.
 
Now you might ask what worth money has  if you cannot spend it? Fortunately our priorities change as we move on in life, and with maturity comes a steady acceptance of the fact that you don't always have to be fashionable to look good, or to be considered stylish, hence my approach to rather invest in quality and so called more "upmarket" and timeless items, as  opposed to random purchases that only last for one season. You can however remain current by merely buying less, concentrating on luxury fabrics and styles that should last a while longer. That doesn't  mean that you are not allowed to buy fast fashion, or that you should only splurge on a high end items. It just makes so much more sense to me  to buy less and to rather tick the box with that iconic piece  of interlocking CC's  that will never loose it's charm...carefully stitched in the finest lamb skin imaginable.
 
The horizontal striped jacket is couture, and hopefully it's fine fabric, cut and style will last me into a few more years. I barely returned from Martvisser Couture when I saw a similar jacket on the rails of a well known Spanish brand, manufacturing millions of each particular item, and with weekly turnovers of new stock constantly arriving, I can hardly imagine the "reproduced version" to take one into the next year...... Splurge a little, and even if you see a few copies bandied about, your investment piece will soon distinguish itself from it's rival copy....
 



Jacket- Martvisser Couture
Pants- Trenery
Blouse - Trenerey
Silk Scarf - India
Belt - Bulgari, vintage
Shoes - Zara, yes, fast fashion!
Sunglasses - Miu Miu

Wednesday 3 December 2014

LE KAP LIFESTYLE FAIR

Step out in style with glitz, glamour and grace at Blaauwklippen Vineyards.....and a day of opulence awaits you in the vineyards.
 
Ever wished you could attend an event where all the senses could be stimulated at once, experiencing a day with fashion cognoscente while sipping on a flute of champagne and tantalizing your taste buds with the delicacies of the finest food?  Well then you have to get tickets for the LE KAP LIFESTYLE FAIR to be held at Blaauwklippen Vineyards on Saturday the 6th December 2014. The scene is set in the beautiful Stellenbosch vineyards with the most scenic mountain backdrop,  and will take the form of a fair presenting gourmet food, fine wine, whisky, artisanal drinks, fashion, automobiles, design, décor and show jumping, all in one day! It is the perfect opportunity to slip into your beautiful attire and show of those pins in the latest pair of, perhaps Red soles?
 
Celebrated chefs like Brad Ball, Chef Patron at Peddlars & Co, Gregory Czarnecki from Waterkloof, Malika van Reenen from the Cape Grace,  Roland Gorgosilich from the Grand Roche and Steve Jeffery from the Bistro at Blaauwklippen will demonstrate their culinary skills with sinfully delicious food on the piazza.
 
You can rub shoulders with fashion cognoscente to view the fashion show featuring South Africa's top notch designers including Rosenwerth. Maison Mara, who will soon open  a new store  in Cape Town, will showcase some well known brands like J W Anderson, Proenza Schouler and Notify Jeans. Jacques le Grange will ad some extravagance with his glamorous couture. The prestigious brands like Bentley, Veuve Clicquot, Glenmorangie and Belvedere Vodka will be present....
 
Tickets can be bought at R500-00 per person and is available at http://www.lekaplifestylefair.com
or call 021 465 2312
 
The event is presented by Vivid Luxury, South Africa's premiere luxury brand positioning agency www.vividluxury.co.za who needs no introduction to the well heeled.......
 
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