Thursday 19 May 2016

HIGH ON PRINT

From a very early age, my maternal grandmother contributed towards my sense of style. I always admired her outfits, and stood in  awe in front of her closet which used to burst at the seems with fashionable and stylish clothes. There were numerous hats, gloves, fur capes, stoles, and accessories to fill an entire store.  Then  there were shoes, very many shoes, multiple pairs, neatly packed in a row allowing her to decide with one glance which pair to match to her carefully curated outfits. I was always romancing the idea of going to the races in one of her outfits, which in my mind was most befitting for the Met.  It represented a collection fit for any occasion. Yet she never made it to the races, but she new how to dress and invoke a measure of envy from her friends and grand daughter! Granny use to teach me what not to wear, and how to style it. 
 
Being taken shopping with her was an adventure, being lured into a world of magical dresses and beautiful fabric. The trend of wearing print on print was taboo, not to even mention wearing shoes lighter than the seem! The rule of matching was deeply instilled, until I became aware of the success of the trend. It's almost as if one rebels against it, by challenging convention. A need I seem to develop more often as I get older, or shall I say more mature?  
 
Need I say more about my combination of animal print and stripes? I had a little chuckle when I looked at myself in the mirror, imagining granny's faint shadow behind me, haunting me...... saying, what are you wearing my child?
 



 
Top and Pin stripe Palazzo - Belle Epoque
Shoes - Milano
Leather Moto - Thrifted
Silk Scarf - Como Silk
Specs - Miu Miu

Friday 6 May 2016

GUEST STYLIST, A LESSON IN COLOUR

My guest today is none other than stylist and blogger from  the "Klerekas" blog, soon entering the "blogasphere"!  Her style is fun, funky, fabulous, colourful and befitting for most body types. She knows how to accentuate good features, and how to emphasize your strengths. She is an ardent bag collector, and sports them with envy. I adore her ability to work accessories, and to combine things that create mood. Her enthusiasm for style and zest for life is expressed in this colourful outfit, perfect for a summer's day out shopping the V&A Cape Town. Do drop by her Instagram gallery for more style ideas. Karin's promotes the concept of not being afraid of colour. A lesson well taken.