News: iafrica Lifestyle Column #53

HENI IS HAPPENING
This piece looks behind the scenes at how Heni landed up winning the ARISE Award for Most Promising Designer 2009 at the recent awards ceremony. Click here for the full story.

Layering Lady and Her Pup

The layering in this outfit bears a second look. First of all I am desperately in search of a simple cropped black jacket. Bracelet sleeves and fitted snug - like this one. This lady has layered hers over a hoodie, which I think is genius on a cold casual day, dressing down the jacket and keeping warm. And then the summer dress, made to work in winter by the opaque tights and said jacket-hoodie combo. There outfit captures the spirit of the time, where clothing has become transseasonal and the art of layer is king.
And who can resist the dog?

Silver Mac

Just typing 'silver mac' makes me think of Gary Sinise on CSI:NY because he is ageing so beautifully and his name is Mac on the show. Sigh...
Anyhoo, while not in Gary's league, this outfit still made a good impression. I like the mac itself. And the lovely coloured scarf. And the tan bag and boots. An excellent combination.

Yellow Bag Pop

Sure the boots are grand and the faux fur gillet is cool, but it was the yellow-ness of the bag that caught my eye. I have really come around to yellow as a new classic handbag colour.

Sunny Winter Day at the Market 1

It was such a beautiful sunny day yet the wind was icy. This week you will see a series of photos I took on the weekend that capture these invigorating conditions and celebrate the style that comes with it. Who says cold can't bring out the pretty?

Some More Style Guide Cosmo Girls

Have you gone to get your copy of Cosmo yet? Well why not? Sigh. Well, if you need more encouragement, here are three more of the lovely ladies who feature in my piece on style counselors. From the top they are Candice, Nthabiseng and Cath.

Style Guide Goes Cosmopolitan...July

So this month the Cosmo style counselors talk the dos and don'ts of fashion. Go and grab a copy and have a look at the full story. Such amazing women these. From the top, Siphiwe, Amanda and Zara.

Backstage: Designer Portrait

Backstage: Isn't It Ironic?

Backstage: Model Talk

Backstage: Getting Some Air

Sale Season: Lunar and Jimmy Choo

Dudes, just cos I love you, here is some critical shopping information. For those of you who have not been to Lunar in their new location in Cavendish Road, what are you waiting for? Stylish, ethical and beautiful. The shopping holy trinity. And on sale.

My Buddy Busi

To close out the photos from front of house at ARISE Africa Fashion Week, here is my gorgeous friend Busi in her fabulous skirt by Pink Ant.

Backstage: Face of Africa Kate Menson

News: iafrica Lifestyle Column #52

ARISE AFRICA FASHION WEEK - A BALANCED REVIEW
So this piece is a review of the event itself - not of specific designers, but of the outcomes of the entire concept of an African fashion week. There is nothing that the fashion media and luvvies like more than to stand around and find fault with what is going on. Some of it is justified. Often I am a part of the discussion. But taking a step back and giving the whole thing a bit of a balanced review is necessary and constructive. So here it is. To read it in full, click here.

Backstage Hair Raising

Orange Kaftan

So I loved this. It is layer upon layer of wonderful silk, built up into this divine kaftan - which is of course both comfortable and beautiful, the holy grail of outfits. I am not 100% sure, but it really does look like the work of Eric Raisina from Madagascar. I looked at his collection and then some examples in the African Mosaique store at 44 Stanley in Joburg and it certainly looks like his. If anyone can clarify, that would be lovely and helpful of you.

Penny Lebyane in Grey

After all her jewel colours at the start of the week, Penny rocked out in layered grey later in the week. A little bit gown up lady - a little bit rock chick. Which is an ideal combination really.

Brenda in Silver Vintage and Purple Pussy Bow

Colour Pops

Front Row Gossip Girls

Ajuma - ARISE Africa Fashion Award Winner for Fashion Model of the Year

Heni and his ARISE Africa Fashion Award for Most Promising Designer

Lidiwe Suttle in Kluk CGDT at the ARISE Africa Fashion Awards

Kluk CGDT won the ARISE Award for Red Carpet.

Ingrid in Lunar at the ARISE Africa Fashion Awards

Vista in David Tlale at the ARISE Africa Fashion Awards

David Tlale won the award for Designer of the Year and will show at Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week in September.

News: iafrica Lifestyle Column #51

MODELS ARE RISING TOO
Here is a piece I wrote focused on the models walking at ARISE Africa Fashion Week. They were very kind to me backstage - giving up their time to chat to me in a really busy day inside a frenetic week. And I can say that they were all eating full plates of food that I couldn't touch for its greasiness. Nice, intelligent, hard workers and really good company. I won't hear a bad word about them. Well, most of them...
This is a backstage pic I took of Naomi, a blog fave.
To read the story on the models of AAFW, click here.

ARISE Africa Fashion Week Brings Out The Stylish Boys

All with very different interpretations of the word stylish, I was particularly taken with the embellished jacket that the chap in the Kanye-glasses (sigh. why?) is wearing.

Ingrid...Again

Wearing Black Coffee

Jenny Andrews rocking it in Black Coffee harems and a hand made belt that was a gift from one of the Mr Price designers.

Wearing Thula... Again, Again

Last night Brenda donned her Thula frock and Pamela opted for a blouse this time. These girls know how to represent.

EXCLUSIVE: ARISE African Fashion Awards Categories Revealed

The ten categories for the ARISE Africa Fashion Awards have been exclusively revealed to this blog. Tomorrow night international supermodel Alek Wek will be presenting the following awards:
1. ARISE Emerging Designer of the Year
2. ARISE Award for Innovation in Design
3. ARISE Fashion Business Award
4. ARISE Award for Fashion Creative
5. ARISE Editor-in-Chief Award for International Design
6. ARISE Model of the Year
7. ARISE Designer of the Year
8. ARISE New Face of the Year
9. ARISE Style Icon of the Year
10. ARISE Lifetime Achievement Award
Of course R.Kelly will be making an appearance after the awards have been presented but I am not sure if I will be able to stay up late after my horrendous week! It is all going down at the Sandton Convention Centre from 17H30 Saturday 20th June 2009.
For those of you with more stamina than I, go and grab your tickets from Computicket and I will see you there.

Ingrid - Style Icon

Ingrid always looks stylish. Here are a selction of her outfits from fashion week, including a David Tlale dress, an ancient brocade coat and an amazing outfit by Lunar.

Lorato Shines

Another lady who has rocked the style stakes this week has been Lorato. In dresses of her own design, she has really brought it.

Wearing Thula ...Again

Pamela Rose has been breathtaking this fashion week in her series of Thula's most flatterng dresses from the last collection. She does his work proud.

Wearing Eyola

ARISE Africa Fashion Week Outfit 7

A Stiaan Louw combination shirt and trouser. The trousers are the most comfortable I think I have ever worn outside the tracksuit pants department.