Arts On Main

Sunday morning, sun is out and so are the beautiful people of Johannesburg. The heart of the CBD comes alive on a Sunday morning, but not with the usual hooting of the taxi's, shouting vendors and the buzzing city dwellers, No. Instead, Arts on Main is alive with the sound of vintage, Ethiopian coffee and organic veggies.

Downstairs, upstairs and outside. The buzz follows you wherever you go. Whether you're shopping, eating or viewing the art galleries placed around the square, Arts On Main has an atmosphere that no other market or mall can ever match.

I wore what?..

A little Self Portrait

Once again my Topshop tan baggy tank top is making another appearance, this time paired with a pair of black skinnies from Cotton On (one of the new stores which has opened in the Protea section in Sandton City). My shoes are the new love of my wardrobe, a pair of tan and white boat shoes from Country Road in Woolworths. 

My oversized clear stone ring is also from Cotton On and I'm wearing my usual pearls and silver Tiffany & Co. necklace, ring and bracelet. The baby blue large Longchamp bag I bought in Paris and is perfect to fit all those shopping bags in.

Stalls I Love and Need to Share

Seek and you shall find. Jewelry stalls that caught my attention and also with smiles on both our faces accepted my money. 

Silver Fly makes silver necklaces, thin chains and pendants varying in two sizes. There are stars, horse shoes, bees and their hive, hummingbirds and four leaf clovers among other darling pendants. I bought the smaller version of the hummingbird. The detail is specific and engraved into the silver body. Upstairs amongst all the vintage is Rhinestone Cowboy. Bigger is Better this season, look for bulky, rhinestoned necklaces. These two stalls are perfect for Christmas gifts.

Flatbread is my naughty pleasure. Rocket, tomatoes, parma ham, parmesan and balsamic syrup. Yum. It's more than big enough to share with a group of friends. Another treat to spoil those modelesque figures are the Crepes and Jozi Bagels stalls. If you would rather sit down and have a restaurant meal, Canteen is the joint to gather your friends to.

Heart Of Africa Barok is just one of a selection of vintage stalls you can sink your fashion loving teeth into. One of a kind pieces. Shoes, dresses and accessories to fling you back to days we yearn for yet hardly know. The trunks and antique suitcases are just small details that give this unique stall character.

Recycled, found hidden and forgotten and re-lensed. Two brothers with an idea to rummage through piles of discarded and forgotten glasses and accept donations from kind strangers who have lost their love for their own recently uncovered decades old sunglasses. And in this love, Retrospecs was born.

After relensing the diamonds in the rough they become vintage, one of a kind pair of sunglasses.

Follow on twitter and find the group on Facebook. Definitely a company to look out for. I think I'm in love.

Sunday has officially become my favourite day of the week. It is the perfect kind of day to end off the weekend on a relaxed, sophisticated and Oh-so-cool way. The buzzing beautiful people squeezing passed one and another to find those perfect vintage shoes, the stand out piece that says I ooze style and to soak up the weekend's alcohol intake with flatbread, sweet naughty pleasures.

In front of my lens

A father and his son sitting at their Ethiopian Coffee stall and one of Joburg's beautiful people unaware and utterly submerged into the Sunday newspaper. These two photographs I took mesmerised me.

Tap water in a jar. A warning sign stating the safeness of Joburg's tap water. A silly commodity but a fun gift to put in the guest loo or your work desk.

Pencil Sunday in in your diary and make your way over to Arts On Main. For more information on stalls, location and directions visit the site: 

http://www.artsonmain.co.za/

I have missed you all, but I'm Baaaack! xoxo

Flaunt Your Natural Beauty.

As a girl we spend hours in front of the mirror layering on the foundation, dabbing on the blush, lining our eyes, curling and blackening our eyelashes and fluffing our hair. A good 20 to 30 minutes extra to our morning regime is what we do best.

But what is often forgotten in the excitement of rummaging through the swirling stands of MAC, choosing from the array of colours from the lush Benefit and hand picking the perfect items from Bobbi Brown’s sophisticated range is that we don’t need it.

Now don’t get me wrong, I am a strong believer in USE your ASSETS. So, high cheek bones? Go buy yourself some rouge or bronzer. Big pouty lips? If there is no red or nude lippy slapped on those Mick Jaggers get a move on. Beautiful big eyes your admirer can swim in? Invest in a quality mascara and add some eye blush for colour to make them lure your lover in.

 French ELLE did a series of covers of videttes sans makeup. They look fresh, healthy and are glowing. Take inspiration from their confidence in their natural beauty and embrace your own.

But even though I am a promoter and true lover of makeup, I want to emphasise the special essence natural beauty exerts. What I’m trying to say is, wear makeup, have fun with it but wear it sparingly rather than too much. Like I say with fashion, stay true to yourself. Don’t paint another you onto your face.

Kim Kardashian is beautiful but she wears an obscene amount of makeup. I will show you how to dial it down a notch, two in Kim's case. 

The last few years E! and MTV have been to blame for the Fake Tan fetish and making plastered on Makeup “pretty” (Kardashian Sisters, see Kim above) or in other cases terrible (Olivia Blois Shapre from Jerseylicious, see right). Celebrities for one are terrible when it comes to their cosmetics. They may look fabulous but they have painted on a whole new face to the extent that they are almost unrecognisable with a naked face.

Tips for Au Naturel:

My preferred order of application: 1. Foundation. 2. Eyebrows. 3. Eyes. 4. Dab off excess powder left by the eyes on the cheeks. 5. Reapply foundation to wiped off areas. 6. Blush.

Shibu and I with minimalistic makeup. I explain below how to achieve this look. See how our cheeks are glowing. Courtesy of MAC's highlighter blush.

Foundation: When you are buying a foundation (liquid or mousse), do not test it on your hand. Your hand is a completely different shade to your face. So ask the make up assistant for a brush and try a little on your face.

Make sure the foundation is not a different colour to your face. It cannot be too dark or too light. You may like the change in pigmentation but trust me your neck will give you away. Foundation's role is to cover those unwanted blotches, spots and smooth out the uneven sections of the face.

Eyebrows: not everybody needs an eyebrow pencil but if you need to pluck or have no eyebrows like me (because they are blonde) then buy a pencil. The eyebrow pencil shades must vary according to skin tone and hair colour. My advice is to go as natural as possible. Mine for example is a light brown.

Number one rule though, NO BLACK! Rather go for chocolate brown if you want to go dark. Black is too harsh and obviously not your eyebrows!

 Shibu and Khanya in the essence of their natural beauty. Their eyes are done in the same manner as I explain how I did mine below. But they also added a very thin underline of black eyeliner.

Eyes: the application of eye makeup is for me the best part of the whole process. Mascara is important so invest in. (Whatever you do, don’t pump the mascara because this lets air in and dries it out.) Brown, black or navy blue are all great colours to use as the base for any eye colour. I also like to add a simple, fine black line under my top lashes and on my eyelid to define my shape and lashes. Don’t over do the black though, keep it light and minimal.

Blush: don’t do a Kim Kardashian where you can clearly see the line of blush rubbed into the line of the cheek bone. Before applying, dab the brush on a surface so the excess powder falls off and lightly brush it down and up the check bone (smile or pout to find the definition of the apples of your cheeks). We are supposed to see the contours it creates but make it look natural and fresh. Not an obvious line.

 Khanya and I. Here you can clearly see how we did our eyelashes and eyelids. Take note of the minimal use of black. Have a steady hand when applying such thin lines.

In summer wear bronzer and wear rouge in the winter. A light pink however can create a glow on tanned summer skin. Also buy a highlighter blush from MAC. This is a white shimmer that highlights the cheekbone and colour blush used.

As you can see on an average day I do use nearly all types of makeup. However I apply them in accordance to my facial qualities. Not many people know I’m wearing make up. It’s my little secret.

Shhhh!

Visit http://www.elleuk.com/.com for make up and hair tips. That’s my bible for beauty.

I live by MAC, Max Factor and L’Oreal.

Splurge on Bobbi Brown, Victoria Secret (see right) and other quality designer brands like Dior for top of the range makeup. Remember makeup IS an investment.

GQ's Number Two. Our Number One.

So this is a bit different to what I’m usually posting on my blog, but I think with the South African GQ Best Dressed Man Awards last Monday it is only appropriate to do a focus on an amazing person with impeccable style.

Masego Maps Maponyane was one of the first people I met when I moved to South Africa from Germany and instantly I knew there was something different about him. He wandered without a care in the world away from the status quo and brought something new and exciting to the table.

 Maps' photograph in the November issue. His personality is beaming off the page. GQ really caught his true self in this shoot.

His wardrobe embodies himself. He is not trying to fool anybody like a lot of celebrities because he knows who he is.

He believes also in what I stand for, which is being yourself in the world of fashion. True style is not something you can simply buy and pull out of a catalogue. The latest trends are purely a guide and this is often forgotten. Buyers at Fashion Weeks, fashions forecasters and the Anna Wintours of the world tell us what to wear and how to wear it, but that is not true style.

True style is wearing what you are comfortable in, what looks fabulous on your body and it matches your personality. Fashion is not imitating the fashion spreads and celebrities. YOU are YOUR own inspiration*

And Maps believes in exactly this notion. He epitomises genuine style. And if you don’t believe me, why not ask the GQ 2^nd Best Dressed Man of the Year himself.

Maps came second to Oscar Pistorius. A shame, yes. And yet, such an achievement at the age of 21. His ambition cannot be tamed. Last year Maps attended the exact same awards but simply as an unknown newcomer to the fashion scene. But little did GQ know, he was the dark horse to look out for, thank goodness they woke up and smelt the Daisies.

Maps and Oscar posing together on the night. Maps is wearing his notorious Tiger of Sweden blazer with the perfect touch, his Paul Smith pocket square. You're going to see for yourself the love Maps has for Paul Smith. Classy.

Already just hours after the announcement for second best dressed man of 2011, the interest in the down-to-earth model came rolling in, business cards were thrust into his hands and the phone began to ring off the hook.

 Maps with his beautiful date, his mother, Meisie Maponyane.

I have seen this man shopping in London myself. He is like an unstoppable natural force. You’d be nuts to stand between him and the door to Zara. With his trademark items like his Paul Smith formal shoes, his Zara straightleg trousers in tan and navy, his array of beautiful, sharp blazers like his Tiger of Sweden one, his nerdy shirts with bow/skinny ties and his V-neck tops in every colour of the rainbow from Topman, Maps always dresses right for the occasion. And let us not forget the mark of his style and who he is, the Paul Smith thick rimmed glasses. Nerdy swagg indeed.

I love what he wore in his shoot for the magazine shoot. He didn’t dress to impress, he dressed to be Maps. He actually wore most of the above trademark garments mentioned.

Maps is on the path of fashion greatness. I saw it from the beginning, it just took the media and the fashion world a little longer to work that out. They must feel silly now. He is so ambitious and driven, qualities that are getting him so far. Nothing can stand in his way.

  

You can’t put Mapsy in the corner. This is the Time Of His Life.

 Two years ago Maps and I going to my dance. Like I said, he was always stylish. Even when he was supposed to be going through his awkward stage. What awkward stage?

Look out for Maps in the future because I'm telling you now, this won't be last you see of this up and coming star.

Watch behind the scenes footage on www.gq.co.za  

 And buy the November edition of the South African GQ and read more on Maps, Oscar and the other 8 Best Dressed Men for yourself.

Also if you like some of his clothes, make sure to check out:

Paul Smith's online store http://www.paulsmith.co.uk/

Tiger Of Sweden's website http://tigerofsweden.com/

Zara's collections http://www.zara.com/

The photographs were taken from www.gq.co.za site, my personal albums and Maps' phone.

21st Century Great Gatsby

So last Saturday was our beautiful friend’s 21st birthday party celebrations, Bulelwa. Her dress code was pastels, and strictly NO black. A challenge for a lot of us was to find something to wear, especially for me. A true believer in the LBD. But we all put our thinking caps on scrambled together soft pastels.

My friend Boipelo said it looked as if we had stepped back in time. With all the soft colours and the flowy fabrics and the pastel couches we looked like a scene from the Great Gatsby brought to the 21^st Century. But of course with legal champagne. It was beautiful.

The cutest thing about this event was the small decorations making this birthday celebration so special. The decorations were thought out to the very last detail. Making the final outcome just too darling.

B put “B” beads in the glasses of champagne. It looked like a happy pill, of course putting a smile on our faces, until we nearly swallowed them. B made sure to remind us not to gulp down the champagne. Clever way to ensure the champagne wasn’t guzzled down and finished before the night had begun.

The rainbow cupcakes were covered in glitter and flowers. They were so cute we didn’t want to eat them! Let alone take one off the golden platters.

The night was magical and everybody dressed the part. A night full of memories and beauty.

Happy 21st Birthday my darling Bulelwa 

Much Love xoxo

Oh I wish I was a Rocker with Flowers in My Hair Last Look

Look 3


I believe every girl should own a sheer cream, white or pastel shirt, as it is perfect with a pair of skinny jeans, high-wasted shorts or relaxed leggings or in my case to bring a little bit of me into the universal rocker image.

This look puts focus on the shiny leather leggings. And what is a better pair of shoes to match them with but a pair of leather gladiator edgy high heels from Zoom. If you have long skinny legs then wear these sexy leggings with flats like ballerinas or no-heel ankle boots, you will look stunning. The pansy rocker is then achieved with my flowy, sheer sleeveless shirt from Wardrobe (see September post ‘Brand New Wardrobe’).

The juicy red cherry on top of my vanilla ice cream is my red lips. My favourite lippy brand is MAC. It is decently priced, fabulous quality and has all shades of the rainbow. Ignore his moves, we want lips like Mick Jagger.

The red lips compliment the black and white, in fact any colour of lippy will suit the palette so have fun experimenting. If the leggings aren’t shouting loud enough by now, those lips will have all the Lenny Kravitz’s falling at your feet. (Tip: If you are wearing bright impact lippy, don’t clash it with the eyes. Like me, go the simple mascara and thin layer of black eyeliner route.)

Take inspiration from style icons like Kate Moss for this look and also Zoe Kravitz and Daisy Lowe (see below).

Now you are ready to hit Baby Shambles in an outfit Miss Moss will be proud of and yet you are still you! Fashion is a space to be experimental in, take risks but at the same time don’t wear it if you are not comfortable. Clothes are made for you, not the other way around. So be a Rock Chic with flowers in your hair, an AC/DC lover in pearls or a classic Beatles lover dressed in a ball gown and leather jacket.

Photographs of me by Khanya Mashalaba. Visit her fabulous fashion blog : candychampagne.blogspt.com

Rock the Love xoxo

Oh I wish I was a Rocker with Flowers in My Hair

The Rock Chic look is a difficult look to pull off unless you are 100% dedicated to it. Kate Moss is perhaps the epitome of the sexy rock girl, especially in the simplicity of her street wear; a tank top and skinny jeans paired with military boots. Moss always looks effortlessly flawless rocker chic whether she is gracing tabloid covers or fashion magazines’ looks of the week.

But even though Kate Moss is someone to take detailed notes from, she is only the inspiration for the look I am posing. Perhaps a contradiction to the edginess associated with this look, but I introduce the Softer Rock Chic.  If, like me, you love the look but aren’t a true and firm follower to the cause like Miss Moss, my advice on Rock Chic Goes Soft may be the perfect mix up for your next night out to make that oomph you’ve been waiting for, but still owning it as your own. I give you three looks.

Look 1

Faux fur is my brand new statement piece I bought in a vintage clothes stall at Johannesburg’s Arts on Main (which is a market in town open every Sunday). It is a risky jacket so it must be planned wisely, which means a simple palette and the right occasion. I paired my cropped faux fur with H&M staple black leggings with gold zips and a beige baggy tank from Topshop. i bought my black suede shoes from the main Zara in Milan two Christmases ago, and I still love them


My hair is slicked back off my face and twisted into a bun on the top of my head to give the look a clean look, especially as I have charcoaled all around my eyes. Freddy Mercury eyes like the accessories are the finishing touch. So, now the accessories.. 

Gold Gold Gold and some more sparkling Gold. The clutch is a beautiful vintage handbag from Wardrobe (see September post ‘Brand New Wardrobe’). The material is scrunched up and adds another dynamic to the simple, classic clutch. Finally, after the ankle boots and clutch comes the finishing touches, the jewellery.


A long necklace with 4 keys in 4 shades of gold, stretching from matted to bright. And then secondly the flower rings, one white and gold from a boutique in Blu Bird near Melrose Arch in Johannesburg, and the other is black and gold with a crystal from Accessorize I bought years and years ago. That is one fabulous thing about jewellery, they last forever.

Look 2

The wild child who has turned to the dark side. My Zara ankle boots are making another appearance as well as the Topshop top (a true stylish girl knows how to mix up pieces already worn into brand new outfits never seen before).

My elastic mid-waisted grey leopard/snake/zebra/tiger print skirt is from Atmosphere from the UK. An open top like mine adds to the sexy element to a rocker lover however, the mirror has to follow you around I’m afraid, nobody wants to see booby exposure. So wear a smart strapless bra and don’t distract people by fiddling with the top.

 Hair straight down but not sleek, rather go fluffy, a little back brushing, a lot of mousse and hairspray and have a sexy flick now and again to maintain the messy yet controlled look, as you don’t want to sport the Dragged Through the Bush look.

You can have fun with jewellery here, bigger and spikier the better, Kim Kardashian is a helpful model for how to wear spikes on shoes, jewellery and accessories. Or like me, play it down with simple silver chains to maintain the dainty rock chic.

Here as you can see I have had fun with the traditional smokey eye but rather than going dark and smouldering I kept it light and used a range of shades of browns and greys to effectively achieve the smokey eye but maintaining a degree of sophistication. Once again I breathe by MAC, but I also adore Sephora.  

Photographs taken by the beautiful Khanya Mashalaba. Visit her fashion blog candychampagne.blogspot.com

Look 3 TO BE CONTINUED.........

Pretty in Pink

Nights out in Cape Town is an excuse to wear outfits we ordinarily wouldn't wear in Grahamstown. Mpumi's Cape Town wardrobe is based on splatters of Pink on solid black canvas. She has also mastered the art of mixing South African based brands with European and International brands. Most people buy complete outfits from a store, but the art of true style is knowing how to mix and match different brands for a one of a kind outfit.

Mpumi is wearing her black blazer from Spanish brand Zara with a sheer soft Pink blouse from Australian brand Forever New (the new favourite brand of the Sandton, Gateway and V&A girl). The danger with a brand like Forever New is that the mannequins look stunning but individual pieces can be tricky to match with your wardrobe. So, Mpumi decided to go a classic staple route by purchasing a blouse but with an added edge being sheer soft Pink. Her black skinny jeans are from America’s renowned jeans brand Guess. The black suede shoes are an adaptation of the universal loafer called a “slipper” all the way from Britain’s Topshop. Finally to finish off the “classic working girl off duty and out for drinks with the girls” look, Mpumi is wearing a diamante studded matching pink headband from Forever New (I can’t deny Forever New’s taste in jewellery and accessories, you are guaranteed to find the statement piece you’ve been waiting for, plus their shoes are always fabulous).

A risky blazer for some but a striking bright Pink statement for Mpumi from Forever New. This blazer is that blazer, if you know what I mean? This blazer is stunning with the perfect under-outfit and occasion. She paired this up with a simple black tank top from Australian brand JayJays and plain black skinny jeans from America’s Paige Denim. Her black, cute high heel shoes with a buckle strap are from British brand River Island. The marriage between the black palette and the stunning flowy, button-less Pink blazer is the perfect pairing.

If you like some of the pieces from Mpumi's night outs in Cape Town visit:

http://www.riverisland.com/Online/ (Available in the UK only & random boutiques around SA)

www.topshop.com (Available in UK only)

http://www.forevernew.com.au/ (Available in SA)

Cape Town Love xoxo