WIND SWEPT

When the wind blows in Cape Town, it brings summer rain to Johannesburg, 16 hours away by car. It also means that you cannot wear flimsy skirts as the South Eastern wind has no discretion and could easily cause you to bare it all. So if you find yourself in skirts when the Cape Doctor as it is known locally, billows, make sure you wear  drop dead  gorgeous underwear, perhaps in French lace? I have however resorted to  take shelter against the wind with a light weight mid season coat in an over sized style to conceal the blubber of my weekend binge of sweet things,  limiting my risks of being exposed up to the belly button. I note that over sized coats are big in the Northern hemisphere where winter is eminent. I seem stuck in the comfort of monochrome lately, and since I can just slip on a formal white shirt and blazer to comply with court attire if I am suddenly required to venture there, my outfit is easily adjustable from playfully casual to office like. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coat- Asos

Pants- Studio W

Breton Top - Primark

Shoes - Asos

Handbag - Louis Vuitton

Sunglasses - Prada, Sunglass Hut

VINTAGE & BLUE SUEDE SHOES

My new found love for vintage doesn't stem from my inability to discard things that I love, but because it allows me to wear things from a bygone era with a certain charm. Although I haven't quite decided if this particular linen jacket, which has earned an honorary place in my closet, actually qualifies as vintage, it somehow has quite a vintage feel. It's a  jacket from the early 90's bought as part of a suit that has a particular quality to it, being of fine linen and good structure. I  revived it with a Navy and Yellow geometric print in the skirt and spruced it up with these gorgeous suede shoes. Navy Blue shoes has been on my shopping list for a while, and thanks to my well developed research ability, I finally found these online. Perhaps I should ad this talent to my resume..........

 

 

 

 

Jacket - Queenspark, very old

Skirt - Belle Epoque

Shoes - Next

Handbag - Zara

Sunglasses - Rayban

 

MONOCHROME FRIDAY

If colour brought balance to ones style, monochrome would certainly be it for me. The concept of Yin and Yang symbolises the attraction and balancing between two completely opposite colours, being Black & White. White is often worn when we move onto another level in our lives, or undergoing changes. Our choice of colour may unconsciously symbolise completion or new direction, or perhaps when experiencing pureness and perfection. White hardly has any negative connotations, and is often worn when moving towards a new direction. If there is truth in the philosophy of Yin and Yang, I may have found the perfect balance, as Black & White is my favourite combination. The philosophy also symbolises interconnectedness, and looking at the multitude of monochrome outfits during my street style hunting safaris at Fashion Weeks across the world, it makes perfect sense to most of us. The print in the full skirt is what caught on to me.

 

 

 

 

 

Shirt - Jenni  Button

Skirt -Belle  Epoque

Mary Jane Shoes - Asos

Handbag - Chanel 2.55

 

  

SMASHBOX EVENT

When the famous author, Aldous Huxley wrote that all people were equal, but some are more equal  than others, he had no idea how revolutionary make up would become, rendering some make up much more equal than others. One such product is Smashbox.

 

Attending a Smashbox make up event, or even better, wearing the product, is liking having a face lift without the pain and suffering.  Leaving the studio yesterday all radiant like an expecting mother, I felt reluctant to remove my make up before bed time. The event was attended by Make Up Artists and Beauty bloggers who were all treated to a mini make over with on site artists and stylists attending to our hair and make up. We were then sent to the next station with the pros doing the photography. I just about abandoned my attempt to find a product wich controls redness when I received the invitation to attend the  workshop. Being a women of a certain age, most of us fall prey to the onset of sudden facial redness. Smashbox produces no less than 14 different foundations and numerous primers for  different skin types,  also including a product for redness control. Naturally, the redness control contains a green undertone, acting as a neutraliser for Red. This is definitely a product that we should all  at least try once before surrendering to the sudden attack of hormonal driven rosy cheeks.  

 

Smashbox products were born out of a photographic studio in 1990 and launched their signature foundation in 2000. From there on it seems, the  product manifested itself into the market as a product of note. Apart from the rest of the world, they now have 15 outlets selling their products, in South Africa,  including some Woolworth's stores. They provide a product that leaves your skin looking ultra radiant, even, energetic and plumped up, containing not only blemish control allowing for even skin tone, but rendering you completely photo ready, with not a trace of make up surfacing into facial lines shown to the camera. It also contains an SPF15 factor protection against the harsh rays of African sun, allowing us to stay outdoors all day without  to much concern about solar  damage or your make up having a melt down. It leaves an absolute perfect photo finish, and if you don't believe me, the proof is in the pudding.

 

As the beautiful presenter mentioned, your foundation should not enter the room before you do, and with Smashbox, you'll certainly enter with a lasting impression. I could'nt think of a name being more appropriate than "Liquid Halo" for their foundations, and the make up is intended to last all day, whether you're exposed to the demanding effects of studio lights or warm sun light. I had to look twice when the photographer showed me my own picture, no editing, no air brushing, just Smashbox and his excellent ability to  capture the essence with his lens.

 

And no, this is not a sponsored post, but  worth trying if you are in the market for new beauty products and make up. The beauty is in the lasting effect it has, I admire it for it's staying power.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Smashbox.com

THE COLOUR OF MY MOOD

I am overjoyed to share in Ms P's subject of Orange today, for those of you who read my last post on the subject of colour, the psychology of Orange will be old news. It is so much in line with the hint of spring in the air, yet not completely warm enough to welcome the new season in bright prints. If you need a lift, warm up the mood with this electrifying and energetic tone! There is an expression in Latin used by lawyers that says the facts speak for itself. I won't however bore you with legal jargon, but rest my case on the subject and efficacy of Orange.

 

 

 

 

 

Jacket - Daniel Hechter

Pants -  H & M

Top - Zara

Handbag - Mango

Shoes - Woolworths

Sunglasses - Prada

 

 

 

 

EMBRACING OUR CURVES

Being able to laugh at ourselves is a virtue, and accepting our curves even more so. None of us are ever satisfied with our shape, no matter what you look like, pears want to be straight, the tall ones want to be short and so the list goes on...... Whatever shape and size you are, and if you cannot change it by following a balanced diet, embrace it and accept the curves or whatever it is that pains you, with open arms. The most effective way to do so is to accept that we have to adjust our personal dress style in accordance with our body types. Embracing a flaw doesn't mean you have to flaunt it, nor do you have to conceal it. We can however live with it by wearing cuts and styles that actually flatter our particular shapes. I've spent years trying to blow my hair straight and finally one day came to realise that no matter how hard I try, a shoulder length bob blown out straight would never work. The slightest bit of mist or fog, and my hair goes into a frenzy of  curls. I also tried wearing shift dresses but being pear shaped, it resembles the Westminster Abbey's bell in tights, with the emphasise on the widest part of my body. So I moved onto bell shaped skirts which does not conceal, nor emphasise the shape of my hips.  A pencil skirt however should not necessarily be avoided, and can the width of the hips easily be balanced with a jacket that has shoulder pads. Fortunately for fashion, one can now again find jackets with a little structure above, and if you find a good jacket without proper construction, one could easily fix that with ready made shoulder pads inserted by hand. The width of the jacket immediately distracts from the pear shaped hips and leads the eye to the shoulders. So come on girls, don't steer away from the pencil skirt if you are pear shaped, take advantage of the fact that bigger shoulders are back in vogue and slip into that little skirt! For the lucky ones who are lesser blessed with wide hips, don the shift dress with pizazz!

 

 

Jacket - Mart Visser

Skirt - Belle Epoque

Top - Primark

Shoes - Artigiana

Leather & Suede Tote - Unbranded

Sunglasses - Prada

 

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

There are things in life that we take for granted, like a beautiful face, a toned body, and good posture, but have you ever given any thought to what defines beauty, or what causes women to turn heads? To my mind, being beautiful isn't being born with a beautiful face, but the way you walk, the way you talk, the way you dress, and the way you groom yourself. Some women sees dressing up and grooming as being frivolous, some go overboard and needs to be "made under" as opposed to being "made over". Whatever it is that distinguishes you  from the crowd, it has to do with owning the look and caring about your appearance.  Taking care of yourself gives a women confidence, and a little acknowledgement or flattery, takes most women to the next level of walking tall. My initial idea of taking pictures of the fashion editors and other unknown faces during Milan Fashion Week, was to capture expression, but when I started studying the photos, I realised that all of these women were groomed in a different way, and they all exuded a considerable measure of confidence. Some didn't wear any jewellery, others no lipstick or any make up at all, another group had sharp haircuts sporting a glow that portraits the look of health and good maintenance. Each of these women were immaculately groomed, and the absence of make up or jewellery did not distract from their beauty or attraction as their ensembles were so carefully selected, walking with such great posture, that it once again reminded me that confidence weighs just as much as the bank balance that fits the bill for the designer labels they were sporting, and that one could still achieve the same level of awareness without a high price tag. A clever way of tying your hair, adding special detail with accessories, wearing clothes that are designed with architectural precision, nails painted to perfection and having the perfect manicure, having a sharp haircut,  the shape of the eye brows, the  addition of earrings, it's all in the detail, and all it takes, is walking tall.