Kutloano Molokomme and Oriel Barnard Also Hit High at Elle New Talent Awards 2010

Even though I was delighted with Cleo Droomer winning the Elle New Talent Search 2010, I have to say that there are two honorable mentions that must be made.
First there is the young man Kutloano Molokomme who has a way with patchwork and print, the likes of which we haven't seen in fashion for a long time. His combinations of shweshwe and check, tartan and print was inspired. And I loved the raffia shoulder styling. He anchored all the crazy with khaki and tweed, showing and understanding of the nuances of a fuller collection. I am excited to see what is next for this chap.
And then there was the groupie-loving Oriel Barnard (see board above) who charmed those among us who love a show. Feather coat in pink, button bra and leather granny pants were my personal, mad loves. I'm not sure where it is going but you can bet we will all have a jol on the way there.

People Who Love Shoes Should Love Tommy Ton

I don't think it is any secret that, like so many of you, I love shoes. Gorgeous, impractical, prohibitively expensive but beautiful to look at shoes. And the man who captures the best shoe images in the world is this man, Tommy Ton. It is like shoe porn paging through his blog Jack and Jil.
But very seldom do you see or hear from the sweet man himself. Today Topshop posted this pic of him and some Q&A on their site. Check it out and bookmark his blog if you call yourself a shoe-lover.

Cleo Droomer Takes Elle New Talent Win

Some time ago I was lucky enough to see Cleo's graduate collection along with many of his peers. It was clear that he had something special about his design, a maturity and lightness of touch. I picked him out and posted on this blog that he was one to watch. And now about a year later, he showed a magical collection of digitally distorted prints (I believe from the SA flag) to win the Elle New Talent Award at SA Fashion Week.
It was an astonishing moment when his first look came out. Involuntarily my head whipped round to catch the eye of Chris and Jackie of Elle and the split second eyeball conversation we had said "oh my goodness, we are on to something here."
Gossamer hues, ethereal patterns and a sprinkling of fairy dust and exaggerated female forms were tempered by design details like quilting and exception finishes. The pairing of soft, feminine colours with strong silhouettes was like nectar to a reviewer like me. I sincerely loved it.
His well deserved win sets him on a path of learning with sponsors Mr Price as well as exposure in Elle and blogs like this.
Really, really well played Cleo.
Images from www.elleMagazine.co.za with thanks

The Olsens Launch a Shoppable Video In Paris

The news from Paris this morning is that designing twins Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen will be debuting a short film after their presentation of The Row on Sunday.
More interesting for the fashion geek that I am is that try will also be launching a shoppable video for the first time! Now this is something I can get excited about. Well I can probably get excited about anything shopping related... Sigh.

SA Fashion Designers - My Lists

So SA Fashion Week starts tonight. I like to wear local designers to the shows. Mostly to show support for the industry but also because I think that some of my most striking outfit pieces are local.
So while I was packing earlier, I was assessing my collection of local gear and thinking how interesting it is that I have so many pieces from specific designers. Here is my top 10 list of local designers that I already have:
1. Michelle Ludek
2. David West
3. Tiaan Nagel (see awesome dress above)
4. Stiaan Louw
5. August
6. Colleen Eitzen
7. Carducci Women
8. Tart
9. Superella
10. Kate & Allie (shoes)

And here is my top 5 list of designers who I desire for the next season:

1. Habits - new summer collection is awesome!
2. Thula Sindi
3. Christopher Strong
4. Silver Spoon
5. Suzaan Heyns

Let me see what I can do...

Shoe Lust - The Latest Jimmy Choos that I Covet

Earlier this year I came across the most perfect pair of shoes. Beautiful, exotic, fashion forward and exquisitely made. They were a leopard print, kitten heel, sling back Jimmy Choo. Perfection. And I got them on sale.
Now I discover that the same shoe is available in a zebra print now too. Not on sale. Not happening.
But a girl can dream, can't she?
Dream with me...

Shop With Alex - The Lace Up Shoe

One of the hottest shoes for this summer is the lace-up. Different from the brogues, this one is a strappy sandal with lacing up the front and often (but not always) a low heel. Comfortable, trendy and widely available - everyone is going to be wearing these this summer. I have already got three pairs!
I sent Alex out to find the best of the rest just for you...
My number one pick is the top one which is from Woolworths and costs a mere R299. I have them in gold, but they are also available in natural tan and charcoal. Bargain!
The second from the top are from Aldo. Available in a light tan and black, these retail for a rather more hefty R899.
The Luella option is a bit different, with a sling back, a wooden heel and some studding, you get two trends for the price of one here. The clog-lace up is also priced at R999 so is on the upper end of the scale but is all natural materials.
And finally, Zoom is offering the bottom option for a reasonable R549 and it is great for those wanting a little extra height in their lace-up.
I hope you enjoy your shopping!

Julianna Margulies for L'Oreal - But We Still Love Terry!

One of the international faces of L'Oreal Paris is our very own Terry Pheto. And we really adore her on this blog. She embodies everything that we believe is beautiful about being a strong South African woman.
And now she, Beyonce, Cheryl and Eva are joined by another amazing woman. This time it is The Good Wife. Julianna Margulies is the latest addition to the L'Oreal Paris distinguished list of spokespeople to be the face of RevitaLift, the brand's anti-aging line. She'll appear in ad campaigns set to debut next year.
Julianna is even older than I am, but has the grace, beauty and talent that many younger stars would kill for.
One of the supreficial things that I have always liked is her hair colour - turns out she has been colouring it with L'Oreal Preference hair colour for over 15 years!
Great to have another bold, gorgeous, strong woman - of a certain age - as a beauty role model. But we will never love her more than our very own Terry!

StyleGuideCT and O Magazine Give Away Nina Garcia's Latest Book

I don't often run competitions, but one of the joys of working at O magazine is that sometimes we get sent things that I just know readers of this blog would love. So, if you want to get your hands on the latest book by Nina Garcia (of Project Runway and Marie Claire US), What to Wear for Every Occasion Look Book, then why don't you email me at robync@assocmags.co.za with BLOG COMPETITION in the subject line and I will put all the names in a hat and get the Editor of O Magazine, Samantha Page, to draw out the winner's name on Monday morning.
Great. Good luck to all.

Yellow Dress and Red Lips - A Favourite Favourite

I was downloading a few fashion apps to my iPad on the long weekend, one of which was US Glamour magazine. Browsing through the bits on offer, I discovered a piece on how the yellow dress and red lips combination has become the winning look for red carpet dressing.
I went and had a look at the evidence. I have mentioned Michelle Williams' Oscar dress before as a stunner, and Diane Kruger managed to meet that. And then I also saw newcomer, Glee diva, Michele Lea also rocking the look at the Tony Awards this year.
All well played. All beautiful. Definitely something to think about for future events.

Uncle Koto for Louis Vuitton

Koto Bolofo is arguably one of the very best fashion photographers that this country has ever produced. And he is our intern, Kedi's, uncle. And so we feel close enough to him to call him Uncle Koto.
We also feel rather unnaturally proud of the exceptional work that he has done for the Louis Vuitton international Christmas brochure. Magical, whimsical, beautiful and showing the LV product in the best light (literally), we here at StyleGuideCT think that Uncle Koto rocks.
See for yourselves...

Temperley Blog Contest - My Pick to Win

Fashion folk like me define their life in fashion moments. Like the day that I tried on a dress by Alice Temperley. It was 2007 and the dress was a silk knit. It was also a size 12. Not my usual size. But, by gum, it looked HOT. That moment when you look in the mirror and see the body you imagine you have, you realise the magical transformative powers of the best of fashion design. Temperley is that kind of designer, that kind of fashion brand.
And then, as a gift from my best friend and her husband, I took home that very dress which will live with me forever.
Ahh, how I love Temperley. And so because we are talking blog contests this week, let me share with you a blog contest of a different kind.
To promote the brand in the US Alice by Temperley are running a competition where five fashion bloggers have styled a day and night outfit and the one who wins the public vote can take the outfits home. All the outfits are in the shop windows and online and readers can vote and get entered in a draw to win an outfit too.
I thought I would show you my pick of the bloggers - Racked by Danica Lo. (www.racked.com)
Click here for the competition.

Dirk de Waal - Idols Stylist

This is Dirk de Waal. I am telling you about him because he is the stylist for this year's new and super-improved version of SA Idols. Now I haven't really watched much of the local version, seeing as I spent 10 of the last 12 years living abroad, however, I can say that this year's Idols is much, much better in singing quality than last year. And that the styling is vastly improved.
So to give credit where it is due, here is my birthday-mate Dirk. Talented, sweet and polite. Together with being a production whizz, Dirk has taken the sponsors clothing and made it really work for each week of the show. Work with each contestant's individual style and the theme of the week.
I thought that the rock week was particularly good. And I have noticed the men noticeably more stylish. Well played Dirk!
PS: Just one thing, however, what was that waist-cape that Aneline was wearing last night? Please help.
PPS: Dirk and really do share a birthday. Ten years apart on 13th July. Love that.

Onse Charlize for Uniqlo

Last month Japanese high street retailer, Uniqlo, announced their new global brand ambassadors. Onse Charlize and Orlando Bloom were the two beautiful faces selected to represent the new 'Made for All' philosophy of the brand.
And today the first images from the campaign have appeared online. Check them out. Girl next door meets Hollywood beauty. And she is all made-in-Africa.

Shot by Alexi Lubomirski
Fashion direction/styling by Nicola Formichetti

Are the Floods in Asia Good For Africa? Sounds Bad, but Maybe...

I watch Sky News in the morning while I am eating my breakfast. Usually a mix of dire natural disasters and British politics. I don't know why I like it but I do. So imagine my surprise when I saw the rather spectacular floral s/s11 collection from Erdem out the corner of my eye this morning as I buttered my toast. (used to illustrated the TV insert)
Apparently the big news today is that the price of cotton in the UK is set to rise by 50% this year - meaning that the clothing inflation level is 4.4% for the year. This is staggeringly high for the UK.
Many crops across Asia have been destroyed by the floods, resulting in cotton prices rising to their highest level for 15 years. With the cheaper goods, that have the tightest margins, being most affected some people are seeing this as the right correction in a market that has been unnaturally skewed.
Ethical fashion may be the beneficiary of this spike. With organic cotton being produced largely in places like Tanzania, Uganda, Egypt, South Africa and Zambia, we may also see some benefit to production on the continent. Not nice, but we'll take it.

Gucci Harks to the Opulence of Another Time - Our Future?

Fashion never exists in a vaccum. It is always a reflection of society - our politics, our economic well being and our social mores. Watching fashion season pass through New York, London, Milan and Paris every six months is, to a fashion sociologist and analyst, like watching a life you don't know you are leading yet, reflected back at you.
So I thought it was very interesting that Gucci's latest collection was one of conspiculous abundance. It was tassles and feathers and gold and sumptuous silk. This was a collection of total decadance.
This sure bodes well for the year ahead...

BLAKE LIVELY
Robyn: This is the fashion 'it' girl of the moment. Promoting her new film, Town, she has not put a foot wrong. And this dress by Antonio Berardi is no exception. With a simplicity that hints at Victoria Beckham, this is the perfect dress for a girl previously known as Boobs Legsly to show that she is growing up into a certifiable style star.
Marco: I've always favored old lip-biter's red carpet style to Leighton Meesters. She embraces her athletic build and curves with figure hugging dresses and the right amount of accessory. Certainly one way of gaining Hollywood brownie points is to do as Blake Lively; please the men with the body and please the ladies with the outfit.

PENN BADGLEY
Marco: Mmm...Because it's completely normal for a 17 year old to wear designer suiting. Dan aka Lonely Boy grabs a cup of joe before shooting scenes for Gossip Girl. I fear another dramatic quarrel at cottilion coming on. I love the lapels and the moody colouring but combined with that hair perhaps he may be looking a little like a sports commentator or similar.
Robyn: Ooookaaay. This is a risky kinda look. All tuxedo jacket and Caledonian Society reel tie. Does this outfit know what it is and where it is going? I like me a bit of Penn, and he does sit awfully well next to the lovely Ms Lively. But this outfit? I may just fast forward through this bit of the show. Sorry.

Karen: Before and After the Hair Cut

BEFORE:


AFTER:


I just love what Karen has done with her hair. Flawless, funky, low-fi style has now been given hair to match. This is a lesson in being brave. It totally pays off.

Anele Meets Anna and the World Keeps Turning

My mate Anele Mdoda (that is she from 5FM and SA's Got Talent) has been in London recently. Yes, I was very jealous. Yes, we are still friends.
While she was there she attended the Burberry show at London Fashion Week.
Ever the opportunist, she saw Anna Wintour and went over to ask her if she could do an interview with her. Anna shook her head. A definite 'no'.
Not giving up, Keiser Karl's people were a few seats down the row. She tried them too. Again, it was a decisive 'no'.
I love that she tried. I would have been too overwhelmed, too caught up in my precious fashion industry know-how to have even thought about trying. And yet, Anele has achieved something I can only dream of.
She didn't get the result she wanted but she got more than I will ever have. Life lesson, people, life lesson.

Out of the Blue, My Precious Woolies Hurts Me!

This is the part of the day when I rant. But in this instance I do it with love. I love, love, love Woolies. I always have, and probably always will, buy a significant part of my wardrobe every season at WW. I know the difference. I have worked for the difference. I love the difference.
So now that we have that out of the way, there is something I need to say. And I am not a happy bunny.
For those of you who have to, want to or need to buy standard Woolies clothing (i.e. not premium brands), you will pay more for an item if it is a size 18, rising incrementally as the size does. Did you know this? Have they told anyone?
I was buying pyjamas recently and decided to go super big on the bottoms. It makes me feel like a little girl and cute. Yes, I have moments of cute. But only when I am alone. You will never see them.
Anyhoo. I looked at my size and then I took a size 20 to the till. When I saw what she was charging me, I said STOP! That's not the price! And she explained that it was - FOR THIS LARGER SIZE AS IT COSTS MORE TO MAKE. Seriously?
First of all, they don't charge less for an 8 than for a 10. All suppliers simply amortise their costs over all the sizes and standardise the price. Why penalise one (very lucrative and traditional) part of the cutomer base?
And second, why keep it hidden? With all the Woolies advertising going on recently you would have thought they could have put a sign up. But no. Sneaky.
To quote Kevin Klein in A Fish Called Wanda, "DISAPPOINTED!"

Carey Mulligan's Masterclass in High Fashion

Elfin Carey Mulligan has been on a bit of a red carpet tour in the past two weeks to promote the release of her film Wall Street 2 - The Money Never Sleeps. (Seriously, if that doesn't have some street dancing in it, I will feel cheated after reading that title.)
You probably wouldn't even have noticed her in all the press pics from the photo calls - she is just so unbelievably LOW KEY. But I noticed her for three key reasons. Reasons that I am, in fact, going to share with you. You lucky devils.
1. Look at how cute her hair is! The Fug Girls were worried about how she was going to grow it out after she cut it. Well, lookee here. Brilliant.
2. Look at how lovely the length of her skirts are! Name one other starlet in her twenties who routinely wears a skirt length of dignity. Of course I know it is the new fashion length, but I would put money on the fact that not one of the other girls under 25 will embrace it.
3. Look at how fashion-forward she is! You can barely notice it, but everything she has on is bang up-to-the-minute on trend. It is a master class in how to wear high fashion without letting it wear you. Subtle and beautiful. Such a lady.

Sylvie's Five Minute Morning Face

In the spirit of graciousness and the interests of transparency I though it best to properly introduce myself So, this is me, or at least how many of you may know me...

Cute huh?
But the truth is, is that without a little help in the mornings, this is actually me.

And its my job to make people who are at least one hundred times better looker (and younger) than me, look one hundred times better than that, BEFORE we’ve even lit and shuffled them around in Photoshop a little Hence you can imagine my resistance to putting goo on my own face when erm, faced with that…
But the truth is, it makes us all feel better… here’s something I did earlier (while the children were eating their breakfast)

1. Pretty (BLEAK)


2. Conceal around the dark and discoloured areas only. Nose, inner and outer corners of the eye, lower eye and top and bottom lip – blend well into a moisturized skin to get a sheer and even cover...


3. Fill in and extend your brows using a powder not more than one shade darker or two shades lighter than your actual hair colour...


4. Swirl a lively peach toned blush onto the apples of your cheeks...


5. Recess any overhang on tired eyes using a taupey or dirty colour to create the illusion of shadow – this pops out the bulbs of the eye making you look instantly fresher...


6. Curl and twirl. Mascara is your BEST friend...


7. Tap on a little berry lip colour with some gloss...


8. And smile!


With a little Photoshop and the right light… Voila!
I look like this...

Well no, I still look like pic 8 – we’ll leave the Cosmo covers to my cuz. But I’m ok with that!

Truly 5 minutes to fresher… we can all spare that, I promise you (p.s. Photobooth really does make a great mirror).

So let me know what you think? Perhaps next time we can take a look from day to night, if, of course I manage to get a day face on again before 5pm!
XXX