BEYOND THREADS: BEYONCE

Solange is my favourite Knowles sister. That is a fact that is not about to change. I'm not into comparing her and the older sister Beyonce, but in terms of both music and style I find Solange to be far more creative and far more superior. I don't expect the mass market to appreciate that. Moving along... I've been giving Beyonce's latest self-titled album a listen and I have to admit to being impressed and hooked by a few tracks. These include Drunk In Love, Rocket, Mine, Flawless and my absolute favourite Pretty Hurts. On the vocals, Beyonce is unsurpassed by any artist I know of today. She really does a lot with them. While I think the silent release of Beyonce's visual album (the iTunes download comes with 17 music videos) was a marketing genius I'm afraid the album itself falls short of being as close a triumph, for me at least, when compared to her previous efforts. I don't know if I expected more- a new sound or whatever it may be- from B, but I do know that this is not my favourite album from a woman many have called the Michael Jackson of our time. But this doesn't mean I hate it. I'm enjoying it; I just wish it did more to me than make me "enjoy". What do I enjoy most about it? How Beyonce responds to the criticism over feminism that was initially sparked by "Bow Down" by adding elements of Nigerian feminist writer Chamamanda Ngozi Adichie's powerful TED Talk on feminism and adds more lyrics to it to support what she started with songs like "Run The World (Girls)" and "Independent Woman" for instance. I love how she doesn't shy away from her desire to please her man in spite of all the feminist ideals she espouses. Her's is a brand of feminism that embraces reality rather than to say "I can do it ALL and I don't need a man". 

SCREENSHOT: "Pretty Hurts" music video with model Shaun Ross

ALL I WANT FOR X-MAS

I'm a very simple person. I like simple things, hence the length of my Christmas Wish List. Just two items! Never mind the fact that I don't actually celebrate Christmas, gifts are welcome anyway! I mean, who doesn't like gifts? So, if you want to charm the pants off this blogger this December, do take note (*wink). All I want is a bottle of Tom Ford Noir and these shades from Prada's cinema collection. I wouldn't mind the Poeme frames with the flower frame detail, either. See those here and go search every Sunglass Hut branch you can get to. I promise I will be obliged to love you for the summer if you get me any of these items. 

x

PART OF THE ART// MR PRICE SUMMER LAUNCH// CAPE TOWN

This post is extremely delayed, but anyway...

I was in Cape Town that other two weekends ago. If there's anything anyone who reads this blog or follows my tweets knows it is the fact that I am besotted with that city. For some reason, people in that city have a certain hotness about them. I was down there with Mr Price as they launched their summer range and the latest Henry Holland collaboration. The man himself came all the way from the UK to celebrate with us and brought along Pixie Geldof, one of the several famous friends who inspired his dress designs for this collection. Others include Rihanna and Kelly Osbourne among others.

The event was one big, bubbly and fun-filled festival style do held at a venue in Newlands, Cape Town. Being the CT-lover that I am, I allowed fellow blogger and friend Mali (of Skattie What Are You Wearing) to drag me along to the galleries in Woodstock to view some of the artworks on display at several of the galleries there. I took pics of some of the work I liked from Nandipha Mntambo and Bogosi Sekhukhune. Never mind me (pictured above) trying to make myself part of the art! Or the fact that I look half drunk. I wasn't. I was about to though ;)

WOODSTOCK

MAWANDE KA ZENZILE'S "UGOLOGOLO- INDODA YASE KOMANI"

NANDIPHA MNTAMBO

BOGOSI SEKHUKHUNE'S RATCHET OF THE EARTH

BOGOSI SEKHUKHUNE'S RATCHET OF THE EARTH

STAR WHITE SWAG// #MRPMYSUMMER

ICYMI: PEARL THUSI IS A RATHER SEXY "SPHINX" IN THE LATEST ISSUE OF GASCHETTE

The Feather Awards named her fag hag of the year. It's the gorgeous Pearl Thusi, ladies and gents! How hot is this Gaschette Magazine shoot? I don't even want to say much. Let me just let Steve Marais's visuals, Jess Lupton's styling and her Royal Hagness's *sound of water on hot surface* do the talking. Go!!!

PRETTY IN PRINTS// #TURNUP

It's summer, boo! Went to a pool party yesterday so I pulled out that print swag along with my custom designed Puma sneakers, which yank compliments even from the haters, boo! Lol. Rocked my Miu Miu shades from Sunglass Hut which are the envy of all who know what sunnie swag should look like. I had so much fun at the party and there were so many hot people; baps worthy young'ins boo! My head was turning all over the show as I got turn't. And turn't, I was!!! Good times!!!

LOOK AT WHO PUMA'S NEW CREATIVE CONSULTANT IS...

JENNIFER LAWRENCE DAZZLING IN DIOR

I can't actually wait to see the sequel to Hunger Games and what a vision is Jennifer Lawremce in this Dior creation she wore at the premiere for the movie? This dress is modern, it's sleek, it's chic. It's all those things and more! Hunger Games: Catching Fire goes on circuit this Friday. I've gotta see it!!!

FOR LACK OF A BETTER HEADING; SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

Sometimes, all you need is to keep it simple. It's summer and I've really been keeping it low key. I hate sweating and I hate feeling heavy as the sun toasts me so, for the past couple of weeks, I've been stocking up on simple tee's and trying to find nice little pieces if jewellery to pair with them. Notice the chain neck-piece around my neck? Well, I was looking for a white one initially but I could not find one. At least I found these very nice white brogue sneaks.

AMAZING AFRICAN MENSWEAR

 Basic contemporary silhouettes paired with vision can give amazing results when it comes to designer menswear. This is what Laurence Airline, an African designer brand I only recently discovered, proved with their gorgeous take on menswear at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Africa. And, yes, it was under the #AmazeAfrica banner. I took the trouble of finding out more about the label and it turns out they draw from ethnic African culture and value sustainable manufacturing. The line is manufactured at the brand's workshop in Ivory Coast by trained locals. I'm totally in love with what they produced in their collaboration with Missibaba, a collection called "Sankes and Chelonians". 

IMAGES: STEVE TACHEL/ SAMSUNG AMAZE AFRICA

COLLABORATIONS THAT WILL #AMAZEAFRICA

I love collaborations and I found Samsung's #AmazeAfrica show at the recent Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Africa quite interesting. The electronics giant gathered 14 designers from across the continent under the #AmazeAfrica banner pairing them to produce collaborative collections inspired by prehistoric African fauna and animals. More often than not, they had never previously met their collaborators and had to use technology in completing the task.

Although based in South Africa, Anisa Mpungwe was born in Tanzania. The designer, whose label is called Loin, Cloth & Ashes, was paired with fellow Tanzanian Doreen Mashika whose career as a designer began on her return to her home country after spending time working in Switzerland where she specialised in luxury goods management in the finance sector. The two of them used Skype to execute their collaborative collection.

“It was really challenging. I’ve always been a solo player. I have a team that I bounce ideas with but I’ve never worked with an entity that is totally separate from my own brand and in another country. I think it's a good opportunity to work on a project that is not solely involved with my brand ethos. As an established brand it is rare that you get to do something that challenges you creatively.” Anisa said.

The only way she could think of in communicating her vision to Doreen and vice versa was through fabric. “I didn’t know what her aesthetic was and I doubt she knew mine. We literally spoke through fabric. So I would say something like I am doing some layering with lots of metallics, I am using silk organza and that allowed her to also be creative on her side in order for the whole thing to come together.”

As their inspiration, Anisa and Doreen looked to insects- bees, wasps and ants. Doreen made the accessories and Anisa made the garments using tafetta, silk organza and mesh thereby interpreting the inspiration through colour and texture.

“I looked at how to replicate the surface the insect’s body, for instance; the colour of their wings if they are next to water or if light reflects through them. I found it quite interesting approaching design in that way.”

The silhouettes are still very much a Loin, Cloth & Ashes signature but Anisa said she purposely stepped away from the bright and graphic prints her label has become known for.

IMAGES: Samsung Amaze Africa/Steve Tanchel

ADDING HER TO MY FAVOURITE ACTRESS LIST

I went to the promotional press conference for Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom this past Saturday and got to see Naomie Harris who, I must say, is a super gorgeous being. Having watched the movie a few days earlier I instantly added her to my list of favourite actresses. I kid you not; her portrayal of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela is POWERFUL!!! I had an interview arranged with her yesterday but was later informed that she can't make it. To say this destroyed my day, let alone my soul would be an understatement. It was a complete dev. I was driven to such depths of depression that I had to stuff my face with Chicken Licken hot-wings! Still love this belle though. Go see the movie when it opens on the 28th.

POEME OBSESSION @ SUNGLASS HUT ZA

I am obsessed with the Prada Poeme collection currently available at Sunglass Hut. A tad disappointed that they didn't have the flower frame pair that I've been obsessing over for as long as I care to remember. Anyway! My buddy S'manga and I were just fooling around the shops today and, naturally, because we both love sunnies we stopped by Sunglass Hut and tried on all the Prada shades available to try on. Just look at that cabinet and tell me you don't find those sunnies a stunner! Love the pic I took of S'mangz even though the shades got a price tag still. Lol. #funtimes boo!

THE BEST RUNWAY EVER!!!

What an eventful weekend I had. Between fashion week and events around the upcoming movie Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, I had a lot on my plate. I survive to tell the tale. But anyway. I just wanted to share how impressed I was with the set up for the KLUK CGDT show last night at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Africa. The show was held at Freedom Park in Pretoria. No, the models did not walk on water- they only did that at the end of the show- but rather the paved area as we sat on the grass watching with green laser beams shotting above us in the night sky. It was such a spectacle. I thoroughly enjoyed being there. Never mind that I was also on happy juice! *wink*

SUNGLASSHUT VIP SUMMER SOIREE

As the case usually is at this time of the year Sunglass Hut is preparing for a VIP summer party experience filled with glamour, celebrities and, of course, sunnies you want to get your hands on. The 'Come and Play' celebration coincides with the launch of Sunglass Hut South Africa's summer campaign and you are invited to come and play (with me, nogal *big grin*)! All you have to do is follow @SunglasshutSA on twitter. Use #SGHComeandPlay in your tweets or visit Inner Circle, the brand's blog platform (click on the Sunglass Hut banner on the right pane of this blogsite).

Well... What are you waiting for? Come play with me (us)! Lol.

PICHULIK SS14

Beautiful proudly South African jewellery by Cape Town-based Katherine Puchulik. This is her SS14 range. Model is dressed in clothing from Adriaan Kuiters, Mungo & Jemima and Afraid of Mice.