Tracey-Lee - Flower Clip

I loved this bright sunflower clip that Tracey-Lee had in her hair. With a military jacket and black basics, the clip just brings the outfit to life.

Joseph - Opening Baring Exhibition

Please note the green on the inside placket of the black shirt - highlighted with a white collar. Worn together with the classic casual glamour look of jeans and a suit jacket.

Marné - Kloof Street

You see, boys. The trilby. It works just as successfully in the sun as it does in the rain or the dark. I love this indigenous rock-chic look.

Retha - Accessories Lesson

Look at the fabulous studded bangle, the modern aviator sunglasses and the big black bag. Three simple, bold accessories can totally make an outfit. The layering a pretty hot too.

News - iafrica.com Lifestyle Column #3

This week's news story is the article I wrote for iafrica.com on Age Appropriate Dressing. With guidelines for both men and women to dress in style at any of the decades from 20 - 70 and beyond, I hope you find this a useful piece to file and keep.

To read it, go to: http://lifestyle.iafrica.com/fashion/fashion_features/943090.htm

Of course it has also given me the opportunity to place a totally gratuitous picture of The Clooney on my blog. What a day.

The Runway Fashion Weekend Update

Tickets are now available from Computicket outlets everywhere! Tickets are only R25 each and 100% of the profits from these tickets go to charity so please get buying!

Renier - AVA Church Street

I just love this look for guys - a checked work shirt with a tie and a cardigan. But lifting it from good to great is the colour combo of green and red. I love it.

Laulau - Working the Horizontal Stripes

It is the rare woman that can rock a dress entirely made up of horizontal stripes. She does it by making sure it is a draping fabric, breaking it up with the black cardigan and tights and firing that dazzling smile at you. I doff my cap.

Busi - Masculine Tailoring

Wow. Busi takes a pair of velvet skinny trousers and velvet waistcoat - combines it with a man's tie and then goes and put on killer boots. Stunning. I will leave you to your own thoughts now.

Ryan - Cavendish

It's all in the jacket. The jeans, camo t-shirt and trainers is a fine look. But adding a pinstripe jacket with intricate pocket detail is a stylish look. See, it's not so hard.

Sue - Dots and Bag

Sue really caught my eye on a very rainy day in Cape Town. With her gorgeous dotty coat and to-die-for red handbag, she stood out amidst a sea of black and grey and sloppy. Note for those looking for a great new handbag - it seems bright colour is reigning supreme right now.

Shirley - Callaghan launches Marc By Marc Jacobs

I am lucky enough to be on Shirley's mailing list and was invited to go and check out the new Marc by Marc Jacobs range now in-store at Callaghan boutiques in Cavendish and Hyde Park. Not only did I almost throw down a few Rands on a great little MbMJ t-shirt (in the photo background - brown dots), but I got totally distracted by the new line of DvF (you know it's my favourite) and the gorgeous Temperley London dresses also on the rails. If you have more money than I, you must go and see the new stuff before it all sells out. However, if like me, you need to hold on to your change, go anyway and have a real education in beautiful design and really smart buying from Shirley.

In this photo Shirley is wearing the must-have MbMJ bag in green, Prada coat and the most fabulous patent boots since Nancy Sinatra.

Instant Tailoring

Every so often you come across a product so fabulous that you can't understand how you managed without it for so long. In my personal styling business I come across so many people who have whole sections of their wardrobe that they can't wear at any given time because the hem needs fixing or a button needs replacing. Well now, these things can be sorted out instantly with Instant Hem and Instant Button, two stick on products that last through washes and tumble drying. So brilliant!

Get them at Dis-Chem, Pick 'n Pay, Shoprite Checkers and Spars across the country.

Vista - Style Guide Blogging for Joburg Fashion Week

Well, this is the very lovely Vista - PR for Joburg Fashion Week Spring/Summer 08, being held at Monte Casino from 23rd - 26th July. The rich luxury of the purple velvet jacket and the snakeskin shoes, combined with the strident trendiness of the turquoise skinny jeans is just a masterstroke in personal style.

The even better news is, gang, that I will be there at Joburg Fashion Week, blogging away to bring you all the hoopla of this fabulous event with an immediacy never before known. I will be covering the front row for you as they sit down. I will be backstage to record the drama as it unfolds and I will be at the after parties to document the whos-who. And of course, for those designers that really bring it, I will cover their runway collections as well. But only the ones that are up to the standards of The Style Guide. It's going to be ferosh people.

Cape Town Fashion Week: Details for Diaries

For all you local fashionistas, here are the details that you need to have to hand for the Virgin Mobile Cape Town Fashion Week, featuring previews of the Spring/Summer 08 collections from the best in local design talent and the exciting new emerging talent. More than 16 collections will be on show, and the opening day will be dedicated to the never-before-seen talent of young designers, presented by the Cape Town Fashion Council.

Dates: 13th - 16th August 2008

Venue: Cape Town International Convention Centre

Tickets: available at Computicket

Get it in your diaries now to see beautiful outfits like this one from Maya Prass!

Stiaan - SA Menswear for the Stylish

Thanks to our friends at SASS, http://southafricanstreetstyle.wordpress.com/, the SA fashion blog that brings all things newsworthy to our attention, I found out about the coolest thing in SA menswear to date. SASS featured local designer Stiaan Louw's autumn/winter menswear range back at the beginning of the month, and through a series of Capetonian interactions, I landed up visiting Stiaan's studio for a good old look see the other day. I have got to say it is pretty exciting. I may even have squealed a bit. For the sophisticated gentleman who refuses to grow up, this is club wear for the properly stylish and casual wear for the beautiful. The hoodie made of wool and pleather, the cardigans fashioned from velvet and sequins. The skinny pants that actually flatter. I am on the list for the first glimpse of the Spring/Summer range out soon.

News: iafrica.com Lifestyle Column #2

Well blog readers, the juggernaut presses on and iafrica.com Lifestyle section on Fashion & Beauty now features a piece I did on Buying a Coat in SA. You can click on this link to go and check it out. Hopefully it is full of useful information for you.

http://lifestyle.iafrica.com/fashion/local_fashion/772344.htm

News: A Minute With...women24.com

More good news. The lovely people at Women24.com have spent a minute or two with yours truely and featured my blog, and my rather passionate thoughts, on their A Minute With... column today. Which is jolly nice of them, I think. Check it out by clicking on this link: http://www.women24.com/Women24/FashionBeauty/NewsTrends/Article/0,,1-7-163_19192,00.html

Rashida - Greenpoint

Gorgeous dress, fabulous tights, great layering and the cutest Dorothy shoes ever. Look and learn lovely people.

Sophie and The Scarf

Well everyone is talking about it, but this is how we roll in Cape Town. Sophie is wearing her keffiyea with her rock star leather jacket and soft pink t-shirt. She looks pretty cool and no one thinks she is a terrorist, because that would be silly.

Rohan - Greenmarket Square

Rohan has a touch of The Clooney about him, with his laid back attitude and jeans smoothed over with a touch of glamour in the black pin tucked shirt. Salt & pepper hair and leather flip flops in winter have an insouciance about them that can't be faked.

Fatima - Long Street

With her metallic handbag, headscarf and beads, Fatima shows us how to blend urban and traditional in a stylish fell swoop. A shirt dress is a wardrobe classic too.

News: Weekend Argus Blog in Action

Well it's a big weeek for the blog. The Weekend Argus is running this story and I couldn't be happier. Lynette Johns, the journalist is such an astute lady and managed to capture the real essence of this blog without me having to spell it out. She has really done a fabulous job and I am so appreciative that she took time out from applying her considerable talents to the real news, to accompany me on one of my photo forays around town. She made it even more fun than usual.

Danielle - Long Street

All it takes is a scarf... Danielle is a designer of scarves, and wears her blue silk one in beautiful simplicity with her white broderie anglais blouse. Currently studing surface design at CPUT, Danielle hope to produce a range of scarves for sale shortly. Regular readers know how I feel about the scarf - I can't wait to see what she produces.

News: Article on Mail & Guardian online

Another good news day, blog gang. M&G online has published another wonderful article about Style Guide Cape Town. This is the lovely Lynley, the journalist who wrote the piece, rocking a cool hat and bright red bag combo. Click on this link to go and read the article:

http://www.chico.mweb.co.za/art/2008/2008Jun/080613-netting.html

Claire - Vintage Cheap & Chic

Wearing her mum's vintage sunglasses, a top from Woolies and some other bargain finds, Claire has crafted a fantastic retro look that is complimented by her red lips and great hair. Proof that individuality does not need to come at a price.

Rupert - o.live Chemistry of Living

Spotted in his gorgeous shop in Kloof Street, Rupert has done a great job of layering the blacks and adding the scarf for flair.

Announcement: The Runway Fashion Weekend 16th - 17th August 2008

I am so excited to let my blog readers know that, together with Liam from the fabulous venue The Runway, I am organising THE shopping experience of the year.

As the culmination of Cape Town Fashion Week, The Runway Fashion Weekend guerrilla store will open for two days only, selling a selection of established and young South African designers’ lines at discount prices to you, the public.

Showcasing the best of South African design talent and making it all accessible to you, in one place at one time, for a limited period only is a new concept for South Africa and this store will be the first of its kind on our shores.

Based on the same concept as the highly successful London Fashion Weekend, held twice a year for the past eight years, the Cape Town store will keep its designers exclusive and its visitors highly entertained.

There is a small entrance fee of R25.00 for visitors to the store, and 100% of the profits from the door will be donated to a fashion-related charity in the Cape Town area. In addition a fashion-amnesty will be run at the same time where people can bring along their clothes from last season and hand them in at the store – these will all be given to needy people suffering from the cold in the Western Cape winter.

I will keep you posted with updates, new designers as they sign up and any special information for my blog readers. This is the place to get the information on this cool new event, so keep coming back for more!

Rachel - Kloof Street

Such a great cropped green jacket, layered over black.

Colour Bounce

I just love this incredible colour mix of teal and pink. Also, see the clutch in the same shades. Brilliant. Of course the 'fro is pretty hot too.

News - iafrica.com Lifestyle Column #1

Excellent news blog readers - I have been invited to do a weekly column in the Lifestyle - Fashion & Beauty section of iafrica.com. The first of these went live today and you can go and check it out by clicking on this link.

http://lifestyle.iafrica.com/fashion/local_fashion/671279.htm

The image, by the way, is of my very own, favouristist favourite Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress that takes me everywhere. A style basic indeed.

Liam - The Runway

This is Liam who is the managing director of this great new fashion and style venue in Woodstock, called The Runway.

Set up as a space for corporate events, launches, fashion shows and other creative occassions, it is a versatile and accessible location with really stand-out support and service from Liam and his team.

Sizwe - Pink Cadi-Mac

How divine is this pink mac?? And worn with the chocolate trousers and silk scarf, it is totally brilliant. Well played serious financial journo-lady.

News: Business Day The Weekender

Great piece from Annaleigh Vallie who I met at the fashion Exchange +27 conference. She is a fab writer and really good fun to hang out with. What a pleasure. (Especially since they used one of the nicer photos of me!)

Frida - Clubbing

Frida breaks all the rules around wearing denim-on-denim and leopard print, and yet somehow gets it absolutely right. Let this be a lesson to all the image consultants out there who think that following a set of rules will result in great style.

Asne - Norwegian Green & Gold

A visitor to Cape Town from Norway, Asne blew me away with her high contrast use of colour, fabrics and her own natural assets.

Seen at Fashion Exchange +27 (Closing Party)

Seen at Fashion Exchange +27 (vol.2)

This is Elizabeth Galloway, and some of the young designers from her fashion academy, based out in Stellenbosch.

I loved Elizabeth's citrus accessories and silver trainers, worn with her business suit.

Seen at Fashion Exchange +27 (vol.1)

Alex from Autralia in a fabulous belted tunic dress and brown accessories.

Carol from Central St Martins College in London, in a skirt made locally and great accessories.

Mosa, a fashion designer from Pretoria, demonstrating how to do tweed jackets and hats.

Yves Saint Laurent - R.I.P.

When I heard of YSL's untimely passing on the weekend in Paris, I had ocassion to reflect on my only direct experience of the great man. When in Morocco just over a year ago, I visited his gardens in the city and found it to be an amazing lesson in beauty, tolerence and co-existence.

Of course he has created so many objects of beauty in his time - and it is safe to say that his style certainly shall be eternal.

Regina - Give it Bag

This is how fashion and style can bring the good back into our community, right here in Cape Town. Regina, with her partner Philip, have founded this initiative that produces cool bags, each with it's own unique identity and code, from recycled materials and utilising local craftsmen and women. They go on to donate 50% of the profits to local deserving causes, and have created a community online that allows other people to share their own good deeds or request assistance from someone who is willing to perform some small act of kindness.

People who are actively bringing style and substance into our lives is what this blog celebrates. Note Regina's boots and bubble skirt - and the bag of course.

Taariq - Clubbing

Ok chaps, listen up. This is the way to do smart casual - or casual glamour - the way I like it. Mix up some jeans, a waistcoat, a vintage tuxedo jacket and a monochrome shirt and tie. Stir in some serious attitude. Let it set. Serve with sweet surprise and a kiss on the cheek.