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

LEOPARD SPOTTED RAINCOAT?

Murphy's law has it that it never rains when you are wearing a rain coat, perhaps because it is commonly perceived as a utility item, and not a fashion accessory. So it follows that when I have an umbrella with me, it doesn't rain either! I changed my mind about the raincoat's function when I walked into Bershka recently and saw this little animal print parka. It is as light as a feather, and can be folded up neatly to fit into your hand luggage for travelling, or perhaps just worn as a fun item. I thought it was a little funky, adding something quirky to my otherwise rather quite closet. Now I look forward to the next rain, unless Murphy continues to reign...

 

 

 

Raincoat / Parka - Bershka

Turtleneck Top - Primark

Pants - Country Road

Shoes - Dorothy Perkins

Bag  - Mulberry

Neck Piece- Epiphany

CAMEL IN THE CAPE OF STORMS

Unlike most other people, I look forward to winter since I associate it with all things that brings nostalgia to mind, milk porridge as a child, soup, pancakes, log fires, white holidays, and last but not the least, warm winter woollies and boots for frolicking in the cold! Winter just allows you to wear so much more variety, as opposed to summer that gets sweltering hot in Africa, leaving you with fewer dressy options.  This brings me back to the efficacy of layering, when indoors, just remove the top layer, and when you're cold, step right back into your coat of arms, guarding you against the onslaught of the Western Cape's fierce wind and rain in winter. The cape has made it's come back, and is always a welcome guest in my closet for it can easily hide bulk collected around the waist due to warm stews and winter delights, and leaves you enough room to manoeuvre around with comfort. It has a certain allure, making me feel all dressed up. Although it may be perceived as a little formal, it could just as well be worn with jeans and boots, creating a more casual look. This little Camel cape was bought about 3 years ago, but was instantly revived from the trend archive when I scrolled down the street style pictorials of February's fashion weeks in Europe. If the likes of Giovanna Bataglia wore it then, it must still be a great trend here.....

 

Cape - Miss Selfridge

Gloves - River Island

Bag - Louis Vuitton

 

ENDANGERED SPECIES ON THE CATWALK

The vast land, and the bounty of Africa's animal kingdom, is part of my genetic composition. Hence my passion for animal print, allowing me to nurture the trend and simultaneously promoting the abundance of my homeland. The Zebra is probably one of the most beautiful animals in the wild, defending it's young with a kick that could leave even a lioness breathless. Yet it does not deter the lion from preying on the Zebra, with their young being a favourite meal to the king of the jungle. Their Black & White coats exude beauty, and they move with such elegance, no wonder the trend returns to the catwalk with such conviction. The print allows this blazer to by re-styled in so many ways, the next combination would probably include the introduction of a third colour, adding some spice to Africa!

 

 

Blazer - Belle Epoque

Pants - Country Road

Shoes - Next

Bag - Celine Boston Tote

Sunglasses - Bucharest Street Market find

MIXED PRINTS REMIXED

The greatest fun about winter is that you could wear short skirts without having to concern yourself with pale legs due to lack of sunshine, by merely covering up in tights! The texture of winter fabric is just so soft and warm to the skin, and the tights ad a little quirkiness to an otherwise plain outfit. The concept of mixing trends continues in my outfit today as I have mixed different textures, prints and styles, creating a smorgasbord of trends. It also allows me to comply with dress requirements for the office, being slightly formal or corporate but not to intimidating. Short cropped jackets are just so versatile, and this one leans itself to being styled up or down, perhaps also with a longer shirt or top revealed under the jacket, but for now, I have styled it a little less casual. The Chanel type style and fabric works vey well combined with jeans, adding a little chic to an otherwise casual outfit. How would you wear this type of jacket for a casual look?

Jacket - TLD

Skirt - Country Road

Scarf - San Remo Street Market

Tights - Primark

Suede Wedge Shoes - Dorothy Perkins

Jewellery - Chanel Vintage, Nice, France Street Market

WINTER SOLSTICE AND THE ART OF LAYERING

If you live in the Southern hemisphere, today sees the winter solstice, with the sun being at it's most Northern point in the sky. Technically, this is the middle of winter for us, and to optimists, the dawn of improving weather conditions! The reality is, that the Western Cape will most likely still see a lot of rain and wind before things warm up. This brings me to appropriate winter clothing. Travelling  Norway in search of the elusive Northern lights before, taught me that there was no such thing as bad weather, just poor clothing, as canvassed by the locals in Lapland. They wear layers of clothing with thermal underwear and peel away the different items as they warm up during outdoor activities. The moral of the story is, if you are not correctly dressed, you will be cold, but if you consider the elements and not allow the harsh conditions of cold weather to dampen your spirit, you could happily frolic in the snow  without attracting frost bite! With that in mind, my husband and I set off last year on a snow safari, hunting for the Northern lights, wearing layers of clothes that protected us from the cold, and allowing us to linger around a fire at a Sami tent in anticipation of the Aurora flirting with us. Being dressed in Canada Goose snow proof clothes, and sub-zero boots protecting our feet, we could extend our time outdoors, awaiting the kaleidoscope of colour of the Aurora Borealis. She slowly made her entry, briefly blinked at us, and disappeared into the dark of night......The key to my survival in today's cold weather, was to heed to the advice of the snow people, hence the layering in my look today.

 

 

 

Coat - Zara (Old)

Skirt - Queenspark (Old)

Collar - Unknown

Cuff- Foschini's

Boots - Taft Shoes

Tights - Debenhams (Old)

Handbag- Prune

Red Snowproof jacket - Canada Goose