Saturday Morning Coffee Club

Apparently there is this enormous local coffee club that meets at different locations around town. Sounds like a great idea to me. And with a fun t-shirt and shoes this gorgeous involved, where do I sign up?

Lonesome Dave Ferguson Style

Lonesome Dave used to play in a band called The Mavericks back in the day when The Crow Bar was the cool place to hang in town. Waaaaay back when. These days he has his own solo gig going on, which is low-fi and red-neck jazzy, with a little Lou Reed thrown in.
I have managed to see him around town twice this week - once at Julep where he was playing and it happened to be the venue for my friend Vanessa's birthday gathering. And then last night at Boo Radleys he walked in - headed for the kitchen and then left again. Mmmmm. Interesting.
His personal style is very distinctive. Always has been. It started as a bit of an early-days Elvis thing. These days the quiff has got smaller but the style has escalated in the down-south, 50s Americana, cowboy vibe. It's cool.
To listen to some beats click here:

Anticipating Stiaan's New Campaign

So mens wear designer extrodiaire, Stiaan Louw, is launching a new campaign for the season, shot by the esteemed Brett Rubin, styled by Nicole van Heerden and featuring fashion ingenue Christopher Wagner of Super Sneaky Street Scene blog. It is launching next Tuesday and Stiaan has been taunting me with just how fantastic it looks. Serves me right for stalking him, but if I stay strong and hold out he will give me (and therefore you) an early run on the photos - YEEHA - so make sure you come and look on Monday to be the first to see what has emerged from this powerhouse fashion collaboration.
The photo today is by Shaun Strydomm, styled by the lovely Dirk de Waal.

News: iafrica Lifestyle Column #57

BEAT THE HEAT WITH EXPERT LAYERING LESSONS
It's been pretty mild this winter and so we have all struggled with dressing appropriately and comfortably. Here are three lessons in expert winter-into-spring layering that will see you through the season. Click here to read in full.

More Sales - Klûk CGDT and Purr

If you are looking for amazing day wear and even some dazzling evening wear, then look no further than sales at two of my favourite local stores. First get your good selves down to Green Point (Cnr Main Road and Portswood) for the once-in-a-lifetime type of sale at award winning local designer boutique, Klûk CGDT. Hurry.
And then mosey on up to Purr at the Lifestyle Centre in Kloof Street for some great knits (buy one get second one at half price) and other lovely tunics and dresses.
I am personally recommending these two stores, not something I do very often. And on sale, so really a win-win.

Boy-Meets-Girl Style

I was out the other night enjoying a tipple when I glanced over and saw this cute outfit. Authentic androgeny with no irony. And she was very polite. I really like polite people.

Day and Night Sylvia

More Cosmopolitan Street Style

August edition of Cosmo also features fun, fearless females Lilo, Jeanne and Alathea in the style feature that I write/shoot.

Style Guide Goes Cosmopolitan - August

Time to rush out and snap up your copy of Cosmo for August, featuring my street stylings. This month the very lovely Deborah, Busi and Roxan feature and share their style secrets.

Day and Night Janet

Proving that style is timeless (ha - see what I did there), Janet rocks two different outfits on the same day. One for brunch, the other for clubbing. Travel safe lady.

Winter Style

Comfy jersey knits and Converse jazzed up with some beads a mini 'fro. Exactly.

Folklore Trend

I am a huge fan of this pretty dress with folksy tapestry detailing. Cheesecloth fabric is also perfect for the warm winter days that we have been experiencing in Cape Town this year.

News: iafrica Lifestyle Column #56

FINDING THE PERFECT HEELS
I really did discover the secret to perfect heels last week so I thought that I would write about it here. You want to know more? Well click here then to read the story.

Talia - Maxi and Cardigan

This is a great outfit for all the summery days we are having in Cape Town this winter. By combining a vibrant summer maxi dress with a cute cardigan, adding some leopard print pumps and a brooch, all the key style elements are there and it is totally weather-appropriate.

Chloe in Vintage Stiaan Louw

Ok, so not technically vintage, but from his women's wear collection that has not been around for some time. Beautiful colour on a beautiful lady.

Cath - Sequin Bolero

Love the little sparkle detail on a cool casual outfit for a night out.

Turquoise Treat

Leigh really looks lovely in turquoise. And a frock.

Janet Gives Good Glasses

Vintage + wet look leggings + layers + brilliant glasses = one of the hot looks out in CT last night. The others to follow.

Tales of GHD

I have been pretty obsessed with my hair since I had it chopped. And to be honest, it is much more demanding of me. I can't just tie it up anymore. Now I have to actually style it. And styling it means I need product and technology. Sigh.
Luckily for me, I am equipped with a ghd styler (black of course) and plenty of their miracle products. But really I only do one thing with it all and that is make my hair behave. Not much more I can do.
But for those of you who seek fame and forture, AND have the potential to do fabulous things with your tresses, you may be interested in becoming the new ghd online video star. Enter and you could become the official ghd style diarist for the year and, through a series of video blogs, bestow upon others the knowledge and tools to create the hottest looks for every season through filming the creation of four hairstyles. Visit www.ghdstylediary.co.za/videodiary, before 31st July to nominate yourself.
Pic of my ghd'd hair taken last night just before my birthday party.

Good Boot Application

Boots are trickier than you think to get right. Heel, toe and embellishment can all render a lovely leather boot off sides in the fashion stakes. But these ones work well - and they are brown. Brown was always a poor cousin to black for boots, but this season it has really come to the fore and can work with most of your winter wardrobe - and your transeasonal wardrobe too, as seen here.

Great Bag

News: iafrica Lifestyle Column #55

THULA SINDI: FOR LOVE OR MONEY?
One of my more controversial pieces - really looking at whether money can really influence how well a designer is received. Or how good he is considered to be. Click here for a good read.

Some Lovely Things

So it was a big birthday yesterday and here is a small taste of my gifts. More will follow, but this is family stuff. Antique pearl earrings and beautiful flowers.

Summer 2010 Look

Remember last week when it was summer in Cape Town? Well, I thought that this outfit was cute - a little wife beater vest and a pair of yellow pantaloon shorts. Very next summer.

Boys on the Move

Fringed Bag

It really is all about the fringing this season, and one of the easiest ways to do it is through the bag. Here is a great example, all gussied up with a folk-lore-esque outfit too.

Kwela Tebza Rock the House

Having been lucky enough to have been front row at the Carducci show at Arise Africa Fashion Week as well as invited along to their centenery celebrations this Thursday, I was able to enjoy brand ambassadors, Kwela Tebza's musical stylings. Energetic, co-ordinated, stylish, entertaining and foot-tappingly fun, these brothers really know how to throw down the party gauntlet. Hopefully we will see more of them down here in Cape Town soon.

(First pic is from Thursday night - note the MJ tribute socks and glove, second pic is from AAFW and features their dance squad - both outfits by C2)

News: iafrica Lifestyle Column #54

CRAIG JACOBS - JACK OF ALL TRADES
This is a profile piece I wrote on designer and Sunday Times gossip columnist Craig Jacobs after he recently showed at Africa Fashion Week. Click here to read it in full.

The Money Guy

This was the guy in charge of the money for the 'strange days' event on Tuesday. But he is pretty cute in his wife beater vest, skinny jeans, Converse and checked shirt. Excellent neutral-trendy look.

Mike In Red

Always looks rockin in the red. Urban dressing without looking grubby. It's an art.

Strange Things Happening in Cape Town #2

Pretty girl in a cute outfit handing out money to people who need it? Totally parallel universe and therefore fantastic. She couldn't tell me what it was all about, but I can't wait to find out. Put a smile on my dial!

Strange Things Happening in Cape Town #1

Has anyone else noticed how you can't seem to eat or drink outside these days without an influx of bees? In the past month I have been in four separate locations across the peninsula and suffered from the bee-issue. Now accordingly to the sexy-ginger-character in the TV show Life, 40% of our food is reliant on bee pollination, so that's a good thing. But while I am enjoying the glorious winter sunshine over a delicious double decaf skinny latte - no thanks.

Dior...and then there was the hats

Silly old me forgot to mention the utter splendidness of the hats by Stephen Jones in my ode to Dior earlier. Wrist is slapped and I will not do it again.

I Heart Dior

The legacy of the Dior New Look is eternal. The latest collection from genius designer John Galliano for Christian Dior autumn/winter Paris 09/10 Haute Couture collections has made me love it (and fashion) all over again. Shown just yesterday, here are my reasons why:
1. The purest essence of Dior in the golden age is present and correct.
2. The craftsmanship, humour and detailing reminds us that this is Galliano in full couture flight, rather than just a Dior copy.
3. The colour is so tasty that even I want to go there.
4. The brilliance of breaking it down so that you can see how a couture garment is built onto a woman's body - it's a deconstructionist ethic, without the clichés.
5. The foundation wear that is in itself exquisite.
6. The beauty of the garments.
7. The reality of the zeitgeist - even within the realms of haute couture fantasy.
Stick a fork in me, I'm done.

Photos courtesy of AFP