I think that I may be starting to feel about head scarves the way I feel about neckerchiefs - in that if it is deployed correctly I LOVE THEM. It is so tricky though to get the look absolutely right. I know I have tried and failed on many occasions in the privacy of my own home. But this lady has hit it absolutely perfectly. Simple, classic but trendy outfit making a hero of the head scarf. Awesome. Thanks for the find Rebecca.

Brian Atwood Releases Affordable Shoes Line - in the US

The rather delicious cobbler to the stars, Brian Atwood, has just announced that he is developing an affordable line of shoes called B Brian Atwood for the major department stores in the US. I tell you this because it is news. Also because it means that maybe this will trickle down to us one day. Or when we are on holiday in the States. But mostly I tell you this because what constitutes 'affordable' in this new realm of luxury shoe brands is from $200 - $500. That's roughly R3,500 at the top end. Affordable?
I like the direction that things are moving in, however. At least half my shoes are Jimmy Choos. I don't say this to brag. I save up and invest in my shoes. They are not affordable as such. But I have recently benefited from the 24:7 range at Jimmy Choo - also a big price drop from their main line and no less comfortable and beautiful. And this, friends, is jolly good news.

This Week's Round Up of Kate Moss Stories

Wow it has been a busy week for Mossy. Starting off with her resignation from Topshop. There have been rumours and grumbling on the ground for a while but the most telling clue that something was amiss was when Sir Phillip's daughter Chloe was named as the new face of Topshop, effectively replacing Kate. Soon a press release was issued with her resignation and a swift statement from Sir Phillip saying that after 14 successful collections Mossy had other things to do. My people in London tell me that the last collection was all still hanging on the rails unlike the first few which required standing in lines around the block. Last Kate Moss for Topshop collection is in store in October. Damn, I should have held onto my original pieces.
The second, much sadder, news is that the photographer Corinne Day just passed away from cancer at the too-early age of 45. I remember all the original photos that Day took of Moss back in 1990-ish as well as the crazy styling that those two were all about in those days. These were the photos that launched Moss' career and it is a gloomy passing of an era.
Finally just launched pics of Kate's new campaign for David Yurman jewellery shot in St Barts by the legendary Peter Lindburgh, show her puffy lipped and naked. Again. I know she is a pretty girl, but I am over it. Done.

Style. It is something as unique and undefinable as a snowflake pattern. Sometimes you can craft it if you have a light touch. Sometimes it comes to you later in life. Sometimes it never will. But for those that really stand out to both the trained and the untrained eye are those for whom it is unavoidable. It just it part of them. So it is with the woman on the left. This is not fashion, this my friends is style.

Michelle Obama in Duro Oluwu

Earlier this year while judging the Africa Fashion Awards I had the opportunity to relook at much of the work of designer Duro Oluwu. We voted Duro Oluwu International Designer of the Year and I remember during our discussions, I turned to the team and I said "owning a tunic by Duro Oluwu has been an aspiration of mine forever." Famous for his almost kimono-style print tunics, he captured my imagination in my years as part of the African diaspora. I couldn't think of anything I would rather be seen in that these pieces.
And still today he combines his Nigerian roots, prints and heritage with his European design skill and wizzardry. And now he has had a new - very public - outing in the US when Michelle Obama wore one of his pieces on her holidays last week.
This is not the first time the First Lady has embraced Oluwu. She wore one of his jackets on a previous Air Force One jaunt. But it is a timely reminder that we really need to get better at celebrating our own. Why does it take the American First Lady to elevate an African designer? Why aren't we better at supporting and promoting our local talent. Sometimes what comes from abroad really isn't better. Expect to hear much more on this subject. Word.

SA's Veldskoen Makes It's Mark in the UK

Spotted in last week's UK Grazia magazine's Fashion Charts, a good old pair of veld skoen proving that they really are back in fashion and, for once, we get them at a fraction of the price. I mean £75 (nearly R900) for a pair of vellies, sies man. Get thee to a co-op for vellies priced at about R400.

A CELINE HANDBAG
One of the most desired and treasured handbags has made its way to Cape Town. This Celine handbag is like the ring in the Lord of the Rings. Precious. So totally beyond a real person's ability to own it, but boy can we love and admire it. Up close at Apsley in Joburg and Apsley 2 in our mother city. Oh dear.
When Alex told me she had seen it I nearly fainted from the desire of it all.

SHOP-LABEL WINTER SALE
Like a virtual treasure trove of fabulous fashion, shop-label is SA's very own equivalent of Net-a-Porter. So for all you dedicated followers of fashion out there, you know this is an opportunity not to be missed.
Click here to take you straight to heaven.

2010 Emmy Awards Red Carpet - Return to Classic or a Total Snoozefest?

I woke this morning at the bottom tip of Africa to a twitterverse abuzz with the red carpet fashions from the 2010 Primetime Emmy Awards show. What was immediately obvious was how consistent people were in their thumbs up. Almost everyone was waxing lyrical about the same people and dresses. That was until I got to a tweet from the mighty Diane von Furstenburg: @InsideDVF Watching the Emmys...everyone looks good after the summer but there are too many strapless dresses!!!
Her thoughts echoed something I said on Twitter after the Oscars in January this year, when I too complained about the prevelance of samey-same strapless frocks.
As I paged through all the many images that flood the wires after an event like this, it became apparent almost immediately that those that chose a more interesting neckline stood out for me. It wasn't colour, it wasn't age, it certainly wasn't the diamonds they all seemed to have - it was a simple design choice that made everything seem modern, fresh, exciting.
Let's just look at the evidence. Taking only the best looks of the night, the following wore strapless: Lea Michelle from Glee in midnight blue Oscar de la Renta, Claire Danes in sequin Armarni Prive, Dianna Agron in floral organza Carolina Herrera, Heidi Klum in short black Marchesa, January Jones in blue Atelier Versace, Eva Longoria Parker in black Robert Rodriguez, Jayma Mays (sadly usually a style fave), Toni Collette, Katrina Bowden, Mariska Hargitay, Julia Ormond, Sofia Vergara, Jenna Fisher, etc, etc, zzzzz.
No one is saying they looked baaaad as such. In fact it is a classic prom look that has lasted through the ages and when done by the haute couture houses, fits so beautifully that anyone can look exquisite. And many of them did.
But mixed in amoung these beautiful yet predictable looks was stand outs from some of my favourite women - Tina Fey in de la Renta with a neckline and cap sleeves, gasp, Christina Hendricks in lavender ice cream coloured Zac Posen with feathered sleeves, sigh, Susan Sarandon in black sequin in an off the shoulder number, sexy, and Julianna Margulies in simple scoop neck L'Wren Scot. Add to that some of the younger bunch like an awesome looking Kelly Osbourne, stunning-in-red Jenna Urshkowitz and her Glee co-star Heather Morris in a head-to-foot sequin sheath. And in the winners Jane Lynch in midnight blue one-shoulder and Archie Panjabi in 60s inspired black chiffon overlay and you get the rare few who, together with their designers, made the extra effort to delight our eyes and inspire our red carpet dreams.
While a strapless dress is classically beautiful, a clever neckline is a thing of joy. Over the years the most beautiful red carpet dresses are always ones with a twist worn by women of character and consequence.
I hope that this plethora of strapless dresses doesn't inspire matric dance designs as a real person who eats and doesn't have Dior on speed dial is just not going to look the same. I know I would rather be someone who takes the road less travelled like some of this year's red carpet stunners.
PS: The boys who really brought it need a name check too. Jon Hamm, Chris Colfer and the The Clooney. A humanitarian and metaphorical poster on my wall forever ever.

If you are looking for cool sale shopping this weekend you can try:
1. Saturday 28th vintage sale at Lembrancas, bottom of Kloof Nek St
2. Sunday 29th washing line sale at Moth - everything under R100! Flat 2, Villa Menton, Weltevreden Street, just off Kloof Street.

Isaiah Mustafa
ROBYN: So the delicious Isaiah Mustafa has won an Emmy for his turn as The Man Your Man Could Smell Like (if they didn't use lady-scented body wash) in the epic Old Spice ads. I say well played. On that and this impeccable dinner suit and tie. Modern, sleek and effortlessly cool. Like him. If only he was on a horse, then it would be perfect. PS: I think that I love him.
MARCO: Not since Barney Stinson appeared before me on-screen have I felt such an instance bromance develop. Often stylists choose a look that wears the actor they dress but if you have any idea who Mustafa is, or more accurately how he smells, you'll see that HE wears THAT suit. Catch his hilarious Old Spice commercial below. Now excuse me while I look for a stable in Cape Town...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owGykVbfgUE
Reese Witherspoon
MARCO: My heart skips a beat when I see Reese Witherspoon. She's adorable and sexy and just the epitome of 'Southern Belle'. What's better is she can actually act which makes her that more of a commodity in this Hollywood salad of 'talent'. This green Shirt dress is so perfect for her colouring and the accessories make sense. Note to the Jersey Shore fans, this is what class looks like.
ROBYN: On the money. This dress is the definitive main course for a summer fashion lunch. The belt and gold gladiators, the perfect side dish and the straw trilby, a shortcut to a cool iced pudding. But mixed in with all this style-nailing is the fact that it is totally do-able by you. Or me. Or our girl friends. This is not some unattainable fashion mission. It is real. And maybe it loses some magic for me in this truth.

This is the very lovely Amber from the Mr Price blog www.inthefashionloop.com. She is incredibly stylish and adventurous. She knows what she likes and considers an entire outfit. We can all learn from her.

Planet Janet: Origami Tuxedo Collar

Tuxedo Collar from The Summit
Out shopping with Janet at the Old Biscuit Mill this weekend was a revelation. The most exciting of her purchases was this leather Tuxedo Collar. It is a simple, beautiful quality piece that can be worn in about eight different ways. Available from Cindy Poole at The Summit, this collar cost just over R800 but can transform so many outfits that it is probably worth a lot more.

WEDGES
Alex has already told us that we need wedges for the summer season. Good. Now she has gone out and found the very best that are available at an affordable price. Yippeee. So the top ones are from Aldo and they are very similar to the Massimo Dutti ones Alex got in Dubai. And not a million miles from the Miu Miu ones (you can get these from Nina Roche if you can aford it. Sigh.) The bottom ones are from Woolies and they are amazing and totally in budget. Excellent. You have been told.

Nautical Nice and Naughty
It's the head scarf, obviously. I totally love it. I want so badly to be able to do this. Sigh. Of course the stripes, the blazer, the high waist and the lace-up shoes speak to every tick box imaginable. And yet she still looks individual. Excellent work Rebecca for finding her. Excellent work nautical lady for being awesome.

Georgie Muirhead on Woolworths Social Media and Online Fashion

Shopping With Alex - New Store Sitting Pretty

Just opened on the Long Street intersection with Church Street (aka the fashion axis of delight - current stores incumbent are Mememe, Mungo & Jemima and Imagenius) is a new den of lovliness called Sitting Pretty. Gorgeous girlie dresses and thingimijigs. Alex went and checked it out and brought back proof of scrumptuousness in these photos. Go and see and let me know what you think.