SISTERLY SUCCESS

No stone is left unturned by these two sisters who are making a considerable imprint on the fashion, health and beauty industry, being health and fashion conscious! The sisters Kelly and Gabriella are hugely successful at presenting the concept of edgy, classy, fabulous and funky styles with their colourful and inspirational prints, depicting  both the African influence and timeless chic. With a bachelors degree in social science, sister Kelly surely knows exactly how to win their supporters over! Their designs can be seen at Metropolis in Kloof Street, Nirvana Blue in Tableview, and The Bromwell in Woodstock.  The best is yet to come- they are taking part in the opening show at Mercedes Benz Cape Town Fashion Week kicking of in no less than 3 weeks from now! We wish them well and cannot wait to see what they have up their sleeves! (designer sleeves of course!)   

 

This is just a glimpse of what they've done this year for SS2012/13 and W2013! Want more? Have a look at the website www.milqandhoney.co.za

 

 

 

LA FETTE NATIONALE!

Viva la France! The French commemorate the storming of the Bastille on the 14th of July every year, and by no means is Franschhoek, a small village in the heart of the wine lands, Western Cape Province, left out of the celebrations. The village has a very strong French character with the French Huguenots with surnames like Roux, de Villiers and Viviers having settled year decades ago. Every year, the village comes to life with the Bastille Festival, hosting a multitude of activities and showcasing the valley's best talent with great food and wine. No wonder Franschhoek is known as the pantry of the Western Cape. With names like Margot Janse and Ruben Riffel, the village has become an iconic place to dine and wine. The weekend's festivities were celebrated in true French tradition, and provided more than ample opportunity to savour and sample the food and wine of the valley in the food tent. Playing Boule was a favourite pastime in the street and a very entertaining minstrel parade was held, leaving the crowds in awe. Don't forget the famous barrel rolling competition! Just about everybody wears the colours of France, with the country's Blue, Red and White flag waiving high in the wind. So next year don your Red beret, slip into your Breton top, and come and join in the festivities in true French style! No need to say why I am wearing Red today.......

 

 

 

 

 

 Photograph from Wikipedia

Photograph from News2

 

 

Blazer- Oasis at Foschini (Old)

Turtle neck - Queenspark

Pants H & M

Shoes - Topshop

Bag - Celine Boston Tote

Leather gloves - Florence Street Market

Neck Piece - Epiphany

 

FASHIONABLY UPHOLSTERED

Occasionally, we should change direction, do something out of the ordinary,  and wear something completely different from our signature style, allowing ourselves to experience the powerful effect of challenging convention. Whenever I wear an item made of upholstery material, I get the distinct feeling that I am being stared at, not because the textile is any different, but because the print is normally very loud and rather bold. Having received a number of compliments on my first project to design and have a blazer made from a piece of cloth more suitable to cover a lounge couch, I decided to experiment with this type of textile. Upholstery material that is not to thick, drapes beautifully and is ideally suited to a structured jacket or coat, and so this jacket was conceived, made from curtaining material. When you become open to change, you invent a new style. Had it not been for experiment and challenging convention,  the name Coco Chanel would probably have been unknown to us.......

 

 

Turtleneck Top - Primark

Pants - H & M

Shoes - Next

Blazer - Belle Epoque

 

 

BLACK POWER

Sometimes an outfit speak for itself, and without having to analyse it, you just seem more confident wearing it. Wearing Black gives me that instant lift, and allows me to present myself with more conviction. Do you ever experience the feeling of being more confident when wearing a particular colour? The best advice I ever received in doing a training course in marketing, was to dress for success. If you need particular courage for a meeting, or require a little more confidence to be convincing, or if you have to address an audience, you will find that wearing Black gives you that extra little confidence. Perhaps that's why I gravitate towards Black whenever I am required to negotiate a settlement with my opponent? The cropped Trench or Pea coat, could be an ideal "go to" jacket in your winter staple wardrobe, especially on warmer winter days, and with our relatively mild climate, even in winter, it is ideal to sport a casual look without looking to intimidating at the office.

 

 

Pants - Studio W

Breton Top - Old

Cropped Trench - H & M

Shoes - Next

NATURES CUE

Some stylists believe in colour analysis to determine which suits you best, and some of us dance to our own tunes. Another stylist once told me that Rust was not my colour, and that I should not wear this shade close to my face. However, I decided to venture onto my own colour expedition by wearing exactly what I was told not to, and feeling great doing so!  Some outfits just allow you to exude confidence, and some, notwithstanding receiving many compliments, sometimes make you feel less confident. My style motto is to wear what suits your body and what makes you feel comfortable. There is nothing worse than watching women wearing something merely because it's trendy or fashionable, but lacking confidence!  Do any of you ever experience that? This time of the year, the vineyards in the wine lands turn reddish Brown, much like the jacket I am wearing, inspiring a new kaleidoscope of colours and winter shades, so why not take your cue from nature?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photographs taken at the beautiful Lanzerac Hotel & Spa, Wine Estate outside Stellenbosch

 

Jacket - Belle Epoque

Pants  - C & A

Shoes - Woolworths

Handbag - Mango

Neck Piece - Honey

Bracelet - unknown

STREET STYLE NAMED DESIRE

I admire street style photographers for their upfront ability to either just take a picture without your consent, pointing their lenses right towards you,  or approaching people directly, asking their permission to do so. Either way, I feel a little arrogant and forward in doing so. My first attempt was however met with a particular weariness yet the two girls happily obliged to pose for me. My further attempts were limited to taking pictures from the rear,  perhaps to some of us not the most flattering part, but still enabling me to present a fairly good idea of the particular style, but without the presumptuousness that is required for a full frontal! Considering the fact that I will be scaling the streets of Milan soon, I am giving myself the opportunity to exercise my new activity, hoping to present a bumper post after Fashion Week in Cape Town and Milan! I was immediately drawn towards the Red worn on the streets of Vienna and Budapest. Next time, I will be in your face!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WINTER STAPLES ELONGATING THE BODY

If all else fails during winter, resort to layering with your favourite staple. A coat length just above the knee  is extremely reliable and most suited for the unpredictable Cape of storms, never mind the fact that it is a hot trend! Our current weather changes at least three times a day, almost as temperamental as a menopausal women. Since you never know how hot or cold the afternoon would be, (much like hot flushes) you should not let the morning's rain and wind deter you from  covering up in layers, hence my pea coat from my favourite Italian store, Piazza Italia, combined with  multiple trends including layering, prints, and heavy statement neck pieces! My recent visit to Europe, frolicking the clothing stores, brought me to the conclusion that if there is one staple that we should invest in if you haven't already, it's this kind of coat. It looks equally perfect dressed down with jeans and ads instant glamour to your looks if combined with heels! The mid length also tends to elongate the body if by any chance you are horizontally challenged! Needless to say my fixation with animal print is continued in this blazer, representing  multiple different prints combined with leopard. It also promotes the concept of different prints worn together, as the sunglasses deviate from the print on the blazer although it is in the same colour scheme. I added a touch of Turquoise to break up the monotony of winter's darkness.

 

 

Pea coat - Piazza Italia, Florence

Blazer - Jenni Button

Top - Zara

Pants - C & A

Clutch - Prada

Neck Piece & matching bracelet - Honey

Sunglasses D & G

Shoes - Dorothy Perkins