Cycle Chic/Style

A few weeks ago I was given a great book on bicycle fashion called Cycle Chic by Mikael Colville-Anderson.

In it he talks about The Cycle Chic Manifesto. Here are a few of the points:

• I embrace my responsibility to contribute visually to a more aesthetically pleasing urban landscape

• I will choose a bicycle that reflects my personality and style.

• I will endeavour to ensure that the total value of my clothes always exceeds that of my bicycle and I will refrain from wearing and owning any form of ‘cycle wear’.

Model of the moment: Ajuma Nasenyana

Gorgeous Kenyan model Ajuma Nasenyana will be walking the runway for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week AFRICA at the end of the month.

Designer Jacob Kimmie has confirmed on his site that Ajuma will be in his show on Wednesday, 24 October.

Nigeria comes to Fashion Week Africa

Nigerian fashion designer Deola Sagoe believes her country is leading trends on the continent and will bring that fresh style to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Africa (which starts next Wednesday at Melrose Arch, Johannesburg).

Deola Sagoe

 I asked her a few questions about her fashionable world:

 Your start in the fashion industry? 

Some serendipitous occurences led to working with my mother to put my rather revolutionary/contemporary fashion ideas (in the late 80′s) out there to a ready crop of Nigerian men and women on the brink of an African renaissance.

What is the Nigerian fashion scene like? 

Nigeria, and Lagos in particular, is being celebrated internationally  at the moment as a destination of taste and style. It is vibrant and dynaminic. Nigerians are early adopters, meaning that we are at the vanguard of embracing new trends and styles from across the globe.

Deola Sagoe dress on the catwalk

What fabrics do you use? (I read that you produce you own – please tell me a
bit about this) 

My preference and signature fabric is the Aso-Oke, but I also make my own tie-dyed designs on silks and other natural fibres. French lace is a huge favourite, as well as chiffons,crepes and other luxe fabrics.

Bags made from Aso-oke fabric

Aso-Oke is hand woven on Time honoured looms that date back to the 11th century.  Aso-Oke literally translates to Top Drawer clothing. They are our African Haute Couture fabrics of great antiquity and value.With this collection, I present the first African lace collection using Aso Oke which I have christened Laceq.

Deola Sagoe Lace Dress

Do you have any celebrity fans?

International model Alek Wek, US actress Anika Noni Rose, musician Nneka, Susan Taylor, actress Lydia Hearst, Dawn French Nigerian singer Tiwa Savage and Zainab Badawi of Rendezvous with Zeinab on BBC World.

What was your inspiration for your upcoming collection at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Africa (in Johannesburg)?

Its called the ‘Komole’ collection, inspired by the work of Shade Thomas Fahm,a designer and woman’s activist in the late 60′s and 70′s. Komole in Yoruba means dance and bend down low (not the drop it like its hot type of dance) but a deliberate swaying of the hips in an elegant fashion to the rhythm. It is a celebration of our own  retro Nigerian traditional styles, evocative of the  more risque Nigerian party-wear. Women’s roles were being redefined and Africa was making its presence felt globally.

Deola Sagoe's dress for the catwalk

What has been your best fashion moment ever? 

Last year in August my daughters launched their own fashion label, CLAN. For me it means that the
25 years I’ve spent in the industry has not been in vain. My daughters have imbibed the spirit of the brand in their own way. Their interpretation of fashion combined with the mentality of the high street guarantees the succession of the brand.

You have a Finance and Management degree. How important is it for designers
to really take control of the business side of fashion?

If there’s anything I’ve learnt its that ideas alone without careful consideration and planning as to how to make designs commercial is not enough. No one has respect for starving artists any more.

Dealo Sagoe dress on the catwalk

What do you think about the fashion scene in South Africa? 

It’s grown in leaps and bounds! South Africa has played a major role in creating global awareness and exposure for  fashion brands across Africa. The reason that Mercedes-Benz has collaborated with Africa Fashion International to present seasonal fashion weeks in Johannesburg speaks volumes. Wouldnt you agree? 

Sponsored Blog: Make the world your Oyster at the Oyster Box hotel

Follow in Princess Charlene’s royal footsteps and take a trip to the Oyster Box hotel, where Old World charm meets modern-day comfort. Set among lush tropical gardens on the coast of Umhlanga overlooking the famous lighthouse, The Oyster Box opened its doors in 1947, and since then this grand colonial hotel has become one of South Africa’s best-loved and most distinguished hotels.

In 2008 this iconic Durban landmark was refurbished to the tune of many millions of Rands, and as a result it now offers a wealth of modern facilities and the glamour of days gone by. In fact, it’s hard not to feel like a princess, stepping out of your gilded hotel suite onto the balcony to hear the crashes of the waves below.

Press pause on the outside world and make time for pampering at the Spa, an architectural treasure designed by the Red Carnation Hotel Collection. The spa is designed to take each individual guest on a personalised, specifically crafted journey of body and soul rejuvenation. Then enjoy the afterglow stretched out on the terrace to the chatter of monkeys, exotic birds with the perfume of flowers in the air.

Complete the experience by taking high tea on the Palm Court patio and tucking into the Oyster Box’s legendary table laden with freshly baked scones, pastries, quiches, cakes, finger sandwiches and savouries. Live piano music and Lindt chocolate brownies will ensure that high tea is a long and leisurely affair.

Special K is giving away tickets to an unforgettable experience. Can you guess what tickets you can win this week? Enter here: http://on.fb.me/Uoxt3x

If the glasses fit, wear them

Design house Maison Martin Margiela and stunning eye wear creators Culter and Gross recently launched their latest collaboration: ultra thin steel and light emulating wire rims, inspired by MMM’s 2013 Spring Summer Runway collection.

The colours for the glasses collection are high sheen silver, and polished copper and gold floating lenses.

The Spring/Summer 2013 collection also includes the new CLIP concept, in which the metal is shaped to act as an acetate frame whilst forming the base to 3D acetate rims. This makes it appear as a separate clipped-on construction.

Polished dark tortoiseshell and black acetate rims accentuate matt silver and copper gold metal.

Absolutely gorgeous. I have got to have!

Suzaan’s Sale

Suzaan Heyns is not known for her sales – she hardly ever has them. That’s why I was surprised to see the sale signs in the window of her Melville shop. Note though: it is a sample sale – which means that it’s one-off pieces in one-off sizes on the rails.

The sale is on today and tomorrow only! When I drove past at opening time this morning there were queues outside – so hurry! Items are in the price range of R40 and R400 – real steals from one of South Africa’s top designers.

They say: “We need the space! You need the clothes!”

All Access… ories

As SA Fashion Week commenced last week and a posse of posers descended on Crowne Plaza in Rosebank to get their seasonal dose of what our local designers are dishing out, accessories came out top of the fashion pops. Spiked shoes (on Tzvi Karp), enormous pixie earcuffs (on Egality’s Felicity Spies), sequined platforms impossible to walk in, wooly muff hats, stetsons and felted fedoras, and bags, bags, bags of all colours shapes and sizes caught my eye.

I grabbed some pics of the accessories that had all access passes at last weeks wonderful shows:

Always outlandishly dressed, fashion designer Tzvi Karp kicked up a fuss with his spiked brogues. A weapon of fashion for the brave…

Just back from his acclaimed show at Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week, David Tlale was spotted sporting this liquid gold hold all? Did he find it on Fifth Avenue? He wasn’t telling!

Photographer Jo looked super cute in this wooly cap with pom pom on top…

Eugenie Drake, purveyor of some of the best local art and craft and owner of the Firs store Piece, wore these wonderfully bright rope bracelets that she stocks in her shop…

Metallics were popular for the summer season and for autumn/winter 2013. I wore I flowing silver maxi that I made with the help of Guillotine’s Lisa Jaffe and gold and silver shoes showed up all over the catwalks. These were seen on the SA fashion Week Renault New Talent platform…

Whether big or small, accessories lifted outfits all over fashion week out of the mundane. Designer, Willy added something unexpected to his NY baseball cap…

It’s hotting up at Egality

Just in time for the warm weather, Egality has launched the new range of swimwear from Maaji,the leading global swimwear brand from Columbia.

The range has bikini and full cozzie shapes to suit different bodies and the brightly coloured prints are mixed and matched for optimum optical fun.

Says the brand, imagining the women wearing the collection: “We’ll explore the depths of the oceans; we’ll swim amongst seaweed and corals, conquering ever reef found. We’ll discover old shipwrecks and stumble upon treasures.”

The 2012 collection, entitled “Underwater Conquest”, is inspired by the magic of the underwater world. Diving, aquatic animals, shells and coral reefs all feature in the designs.

The collection also features a selection of patterned and basic cover-ups.

Available at EGALITY Parkhurst, Johannesburg 071 452 2503

SPONSORED BLOG: South Africa Fashion Week – Style tips from the front row

It’s the time of the year when we put on our most fashionable frocks and air kiss our way into the darkness of the fashion theatre. The South African Fashion Week Autumn Winter 2013 collections kick off on Thursday 27 September at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

Pastel is the trend that is all over the place this season as seen  in the fashion spread of W Magazine.

Some of the most talented local designers will be showing – Colleen Eitzen, Palse HOMME, Rubicon, Black Coffee, Ephymol and it will help to get your body into top summer shape before spoiling yourself with some of this season’s hottest trends by tucking into a healthy bowl of Kellogg’s Special K to start the day.

If you’re lucky enough to score a ticket to the show, you’ll need to look just right to compete with the fashionistas in the front row. We’re never sure who gets more attention: the models on the catwalk showing next season’s hottest looks, or the fashion editors, bloggers and buyers in the front row sitting crossed-legged in the bright circle of light cast by the runway. Some are in neon, some in pastel or prints, but they all have one thing incommon. They look fabulous.

If you too want to feel at home among those on the cutting edge of South African style, start by feeling your best with Kellogg’s Special K and love the way you look this summer in South Africa’s
hottest designs.

I asked some of the best in the business what we can expect to see local editors and bloggers wearing in the front row at SAFW at the end of the month.

Sharon Becker: Fashion Director, Marie Claire South Africa Magazine

“When I’m sitting in the front row I want to show off our local designers and support their great work,” Sharon says. “Right now I’m loving Suzaan Heyns, who launched her spectacular new shop in Melrose Arch last week.”

“In the front row at SAFW this season we’ll be seeing the trends from the international Spring
Collections 2012: Lots of colour ranging from pastels – seen on the beautiful cut-out floral shapes at the Louis Vuitton Spring shows…

Source: Getty Images

to neon – which Jil Sander brought in as a huge trend last spring.

Source: Lolitaluvs Blog

“On the other end of the spectrum African prints are huge this season, as seen at Burberry’s Spring
shows.”

Source: fashionising.com

“For those that prefer a more casual, laid back look, sports-inspired attire is big in fashion this year. The London Olympics 2012 was the inspiration for this look that is sure to make an appearance in the front row of SAFW at the end of the month,” saysSharon.

Source: Rag Pony

Melissa Maxted- Henderson: Style Editor, Heat South Africa Magazine

I think we’ll see a lot of pastel shades in everything from clothing to hair colours and lots of mermaid shine and scalloped forms from feminine rose gold metallics to whack 80s dance dresses.

Pastels were all over the international runways.

The mermaid look is hot this Spring. It was a big inspiration for the Elle Rising Star winner Jane Elizabeth Kotze.

Blue shine is on everything, including nails.

Sweet pinks are in too. All images sourced by Melissa

Kirsty Stoltz: Fashion Director Grazia South Africa

Kirsty Stoltz, fashion editor of Grazia Magazine says: “This year at SA Fashion Week I’ll be wearing sports inspired pieces with touches of neon. Neon is a huge trend for summer. The best way to wear it is to pair with a ladylike pastel bag. I’m obssessed with sparkly shoes and will definitely be sporting ultra feminine low heeled court shoes.

Special K is giving away mystery tickets to an event, you should know what it is by now.
Go here to enter: http://on.fb.me/Uoxt3x.’

It’s no joke

A great big fat sale at Mememe and Two

I was at Mememe yesterday when the wonderfully stylish James behind the counter told me the news. YAY!!! ANOTHER CRAZY FLASH SALE…
TWO and mememe are hosting this Spring-starter at their shared shops – 54 6th Street, Parhurst, Friday 7th and Saturday 8th Sept – 9.30am-5.30pm on both days.

Apparently there is a lot of merch under R250 - summer and winter bargains galore. I know, I was already in there sussing out my sale purchases.