New Photos of Our Favourite African Models: Ajak Deng and Behati Prinsloo

Nothing makes me happier on a Monday to read about our local African girls who are taking the fashion world by storm. First up is a new image of Ajak Deng, complete with new hair colour, for her portfolio. Originally from Somalia, Ajak is currently living between Melbourne and New York.
Then we have the Namibian Victoria Secret Angel, Behati Prinsloo, who has just been styled by Nicola Formichetti for Hercules. Formichetti is, of course Lady Gaga's stylist and fashion director of Haus of Gaga, as well as being creative director of Thierry Mugler, and fashion director of Uniqlo and Vogue Hommes Japan.
These local girls is not just making good, they are dazzling up there with the best.

Where 14 Top SA Bloggers Break Bread by iDale

Click here to read all about the favourite restaurants and meals of 14 of SA's top bloggers, including yours truly. Yum.

RECAP OF THE WEEK

my pretties

Phew. Last week was just crazytown at HML headquarters. Beck seemed to be doing the work of 10 people while for me it was all about Magnolia Square.My little stand did quite a good trade over three exhausting days, so much so I did a bit of shopping myself!

I was neighbours with the very lovely illustrator Nikki Catalano. This Sydney based gal was so sweet, so talented and so genuine and her prints were walking out the door. Two of them came home with me!

Over the back fence was the lovely Andrea from Melbourne design label Odds and Ends. We loved her knitted cactus at Finders Keepers and I was thrilled to pick one up for the Intern at Magnolia Square

I bought a little tin of monster Xmas tags from illustrator Wendy June whose work is so so good, a little melancholy and little Sendak.

And you know it wouldn't be me if I didn't go nuts at the Cupcake Wrapper Company. I bought cupcake toppers, wrappers and beautiful polka dot paper lanterns! Heaven.

RAMONA

We Have a Winner for Extreme Eyewear Competition!

Congratulations to Jasmine Ho, our latest blog winner! She wins the incredibly stylish Oliver Peoples sunglasses, courtesy of StyleGuideCT and Extreme Eyewear. Lucky, lucky devil.
For the 162 other people who entered, I am so very sorry. Please go to the kiosk at the Waterfront or the Cape Quarter store before the end of the week for your discount of up to 75% on all the merchandise.
Also, keep coming back to the blog because later this week I have a staggering shoe-related prize up for grabs!
As you can see from the photographic evidence, Kedi was most scrupulous when drawing the winning name from the box. Thanks intern Kedi.

Oprah, Sandra Bullock and Meryl Streep To Star in New Comedy by SATC Director

Seriously? Seriously. Could this get any more exciting?*
My uber-boss, the Oscar nominated actress Oprah Winfrey, will be joining forces with the Best-Actress-In-Cinema-TodayTM, Meryl Streep, and the delightful Oscar winning actress Sandra Bullock in a new comendy that is going to be directed by the Sex and the City chap, Michael Patrick King.
And if that isn't enough information for one blog post, I will also tell you that it will be about a home shopping network and that it has been written especially for the three women who will star in it.
Shopping, Orpah, Sandy and Meryl together with laughs and friendship. I can't imagine this is not going to be a licence to print money.
* Yes, I know I am mixing my TV catch phrases (Grey's Anatomy and Friends, for those who didn't notice)

Was October Freida Pinto Month in the Style Stakes?

We are just about at the Salticrax end of October and I was just looking back at the month in pictures of cool outfits and was staggered to find that Freida Pinto has featured no less than seven times in the last two weeks. As part of her promotion of her new film, Miral, she has travelled to the East Coast of America, London and the middle east. And everywhere she goes she manages to look effortlessly stylish, true to herself and happy. Yes, happy. Not moaning about the paps, not complaining about all her free stuff, not half off her head on some prescription drug cocktail. Just sweet, happy, pleasant and very, very fashionable. Well played, Pinto. I hereby declare October as your style month.

SA Model Megan McKenzie International Face of Triumph Shape Sensation

South African Sports Illustrated model and FHM glamour girl, Megan McKenzie, has been named as the new face/body of Triumph Shape Sensation underwear for their global campaign.
Having seen some of the behind the scenes footage of the shoot, as well as the print campaign - one of which is above - I have to say it looks like an excellent choice.
I am a fan of shaper undergarments myself. If you consider the foundation wear that is used to get the 50s look in Mad Men, and add that to the international fashion trend that has followed, we really are going to need some help from the underwear gurus to replicate this look.
Nip in your waist with a waist slimmer (in the 50s they used a 'waspie'), lift your bust, smooth out your tummy and thighs and all very comfortably. I don't really care if I land up looking like Megan here or like Joan from Mad Men. Either will do.