HOT TICKETS - Yes we heard back from Elle



Lately I get asked ‘So when are we hearing back from Elle?’ So I thought I should put everyone’s mind at ease. Last week Friday we had to put in our 2^nd challenge, which will then help them settle on their 6. The following poster is for the BIG EVENT! This is where that 1 winner will be announced. We all hoping it’s me right? I know, thank you and I love you right back!!! The support has been immense. I am so grateful to all J

For more detail visit them here

 OMG! What am I going to wear? Ideas anyone?

SOUTH AFRICAN STYLE

Introducing SA Style:

September is known as the month in which we commemorate who we are as a country. Our history? Who we are? What influences us? What we are known off? Our narration and etc? Visit our country during this time of year and you will see a lot of us priding ourselves in our cultural gears but that’s not the only time we do. We seem to be familiar everywhere and at any occasion of late. We’ve seen our uniqueness influencing trends, designs and style across. Not only do we inspire our own citizens but we have also become a tourist attraction country for our Heritage. While trying to connect the dots as to how the South African society influences South African style, I hooked up with our fellow citizens to give meaning to these dots and this is what they had to say…I mean who else knows us best right?

WHEN I THINK SA. I THINKdot dot dot

                                               dot dot dotTHE BIG 5

The Expressionist

                           dot dot dotOUR DIVERSE CULTURES

                     dot dot dotGOLD

They don't just make jewellery! Gold has inspired a lot of clothing items but never attempt to melt your clothes :)

              dot dot dotFLAG COLOURS

Nothing shouts South African colours like our flag. Has this influenced our love for colour blocking? This colour blocking trend feels new but is it really?

            dot dot dotOUR UNIQUE MUSIC BEAT

            dot dot dotOUR LANGUAGE

            dot dot dotOUR CURRENCY...

                                               

Do you see where I am going with this?
1^st dot - Design
You ask yourself what fashion would be without our diverse cultures and all other miraculous things we are known for? In most cases inspiration comes where there is variety which is greatly offered here, earning us a distinction all over! Not only do we influence the style in which they’ll create their pieces but we go as far as giving them the right material. Pride yourselves because our ‘skin’ is felt and embraced everywhere. I’m sure you’ve seen OUR print; fur; gold; used for shoes, clothes, accessory items, you name it! Yes, I did also mention style. You ask how? Check how the Tsonga piece named xibelani has influenced upcoming designer ‘Sheena Unwin’ who was one of the finalists on the Elle Rising Star Design Awards. Need I say more?

2^nd dot–Style
This is a different kind of style. It hubs on how people incorporate looks? The trend! Have you seen the head wrap going around? Me too! Giving props to iduku- another SA piece. I mentioned colour blocking earlier. Remember?

3^rd dot-Design & Style
 Are people priding themselves in who they are? YEBO YES! Where does it start? From the designers to the Stylists or vise versa? I think they both complement each other completing the dots. Stay proud!

WHO's world is it anyway?

Meet the gentleman:

Spr1ng - PT1

I think it's safe to say that we enjoying the spring season in SA. Our weather is a 'not sure' type of weather. It's got us debating all the time, so if it's equivalent for more than a month then you can finally breathe because that determines where we are. One thing I love about the spring season are your one item clothing, just that jumpsuit or that dress that completes your look, it’s like magic. This is just a few of many to come… I captured me and a friend today. You might wanna add that smile to your outfit, its accomplice.

I think by now you have grown familiar with me? This is how I played my 1 item. I can feel that laundry bag going lighter this Spring YIPPIE :)

Meet Tumi Moropoli. I think she takes the cup on this one. We'll continue with this contest and by the end of the week you'll get to enjoy more poses from the winner and we'll see what else we can get from them, maybe they'll share with us where they got that item that got them the crown :) Stay tuned! 

A glimpse of what would be expected from the Elle Stylist Reporter.

This man certainly has an eye for beauty! I am not just saying this because he's one of the judges for the Elle Stylist Reporter search in association with Blackberry but you should check out his book titled Sharp Sharp which covers all his amazing work captured on the streets. You might want to check his website www.edsuter.com to check his portfolio. I advise you to not take my word for it. Exclusive books have enough to feed all so get on with it! He does bring all things exclusive by the way...

When I pulled out the July issue of the Elle magazine there was something very different about it, I wasn’t just looking for it, it was also screaming for me. Firstly because I always enjoy sitting and perusing through their pages and checking out what they have worked hard to get for me(which is simply a pleasure!) What I didn’t know was that while I have been planning to approach them for an opportunity they’ve also been thinking of me. This is it! This magazine not only caters desert for me but it’s gone all the way to making sure that I have all three courses… This is how? They are offering me; yes me, an opportunity to be a stylist reporter. Isn’t this what I have been dreaming to live? Well let me give you the low down. Elle and Blackberry have been on a Stylist Reporter search for a few months now and I could never have missed out on such an opportunity so I got my hands dirty, cried, shouted, screamed, almost got a nervous breakdown, got close to death, yelled, starved myself for 3 days, did all sorts just to get this price. Visit their site to read more about it. So after all that 'fun' I finally sent through the post (Vintage dated: 10 Sep) and I am now standing on number 2 in their TOP 18 semi-finalists. 'Whaaaaaaaat? Shut the front door!!!!!!' The joy when such an email came through...We now have our second/ last assignment to hand in by the 5th of October which will then help them choose their 6 and then after that they'll crown their 1st Stylist Reporter. This opportunity was open for all but now we've come to this 18. You might want to hang around for this one to get more tips especially since it will go on even next year. So if you are a fashion lover like me and you are sad because you missed out this time? Don't despair! It's an ongoing lifetime opportunity. Tip: Make sure you subscribe to the Elle magazine, not only for their incredible competitions, but also because they are a school of fashion and yes there's additional at a close to the ground cost...

The fun I had putting this together :)




 
This is how I knew it is vintage? I saw it in my old family album...I get a lot of compliments from the old age whenever I am dressed in it...I looked into the archives and there it was...The first issue of Elle magazine was flooded with models dressed in it...There was never a colour photo of it...

 


Marilyn Monroe is well known to be one of the inspirations for this trend. Reminding me of when we would be found messing around with our mother's lipstick...

 

Lets take a closer look at the detail...

 

   

 

  



Tip: You can always transform a vintage piece into something CURRENT by making little adjustments like adding that waist belt to that vintage dress...or team up a jean with that vintage blouse...have fun with it! 

BLOGGERS AND OTHERS THAT GET IT

                                      THE CELEBRITY THAT VOTED FOR IT

Noni Gasa - she always lives me speechless...



You can either do it like Sienna Miller, adding that one vintage piece to your outfit



Solange on the other is known to give this trend a full defintion

Images courtesty of the following sites: Freshwallstreet ; I see a different you ; Guard the vintage ; Google images and many more others which had a great hand in putting this together. Thanks