The LV Speedy Gets an Update

Last week we shot our main fashion story for O Magazine's July issue. It was all old money classic styling and we had a great time getting the look just right. When it came to handbags, it was obvious which one to use - it had to be the favourite of it girls from Audrey Hepburn to Aggy Deyn - the Louis Vuitton Speedy. This canvas monogramed tote is the go-to, every day bag for girls with a bit of money, and has been for years, with only minor changes here and there.

Now LV has launched the latest iteration, set to go into stores this week, called the Bandoulière, and the campaign is fronted by Austrian stylist Caroline Sieber. With a slightly younger edge and a cross-the-body option, the new Speedy is sure to do just as well as it ever has. Classic handbags, ladies. You just can't go wrong.

PS: You will have to wait until the middle of June to see the story we shot for O Mag, but here is a sneaky peek at the bag we shot...it is signature StyleGuideCT, for those in the know.

Behind the Scenes Video: Who's That Girl?

The very talented film maker Daniel J Harris had nothing to do one day and so decided to follow my fashion team around as we shot the May fashion editorial for O magazine - called Who's That Girl? It was a long, hard day of shooting but made a whole lot of fun as we worked with a model called Monique (Max Models) who was a total pleasure and is currently one of the models on our season of Project Runway on Vuzu channel. 

Anyhoodle, the shoot was based on my "Charlie Girl" memories of the 70s, so you will see lots of wide-legged, positive strides on the streets of Cape Town. The styling brings together the two trends that are dominant for the season, namely camel and the 70s influence. All the garments are credited so you can see where to get them (if you pause the movie!)

To get the whole story, you will need to buy the O magazine that hits shelves on Monday - don't worry I will remind you. Click on the image at the top or here to watch the video.
Camera: Daniel J Harris
Editing: Cacod Studios, www.youtube.com/cacodstudios
Photographer: Anthony Friend
Hair & Make-up: Sylvie Hurford (L'Oreal Paris)

Q&A With Philippa Green and Ida-Elsje

I posted a while ago here about an O Magazine shoot featuring exquisite stainless steel jewellery. It has garnered such a lovely positive response and I am so pleased. The team worked really hard on it and took some risks - so it is always fun when the risks pay off.
Some of the jewellery we featured was crafted by two of South Africa's most exciting jewellery talents - Philippa Green and Ida-Elsje. They have a store in Cape Town called Olive Green Cat, and the O magazine web team took some time to ask them a few questions about their brand, their work and how they got to where they are now.
I think it is a lovely read, and worth the few reading minutes. Talent is such a rare commodity that it is always worth digging a bit deeper and drawing those talents around you. Well, that's what I think.
read the Jewellery Q&A with Philippa Green and Ida-Elsje here.
Photographer: Gavin Kleinschmidt
Model: Lindsay from Y Models
Make-up: Sylvie Hurford (L'Oreal Paris)

Christie Brinkley Heads for Broadway

One of the original super models, Christie Brinkley - another woman of 57 who looks more than a decade younger - has landed a Broadway musical role, that of Roxy Hart in Chicago. First of all, I had really only been half-interested in Christie of late as, really, her life seemed to have come down to multiple failed marriages and drama. And then Oprah interviewed her on the show, and I was taken in all over again. I busted out my 80s ramp walk (based on Christie Brinkley - no, in fact a homage to her) in the office again yesterday. Everyone loves that turn. And then today I caught sight of these images of her on US television, demonstrating some of her moves.
Seriously. Good for her. I hope that the run on Broadway is a massive success. She is really an amazingly beautiful woman. How is it even possible?
Dress is Hervé Léger, of course. I couldn't even get my right thigh into it. Sigh. But of course I don't envy the pantihose. The rest, but not the pantihose. 

Joya Collection Teams Up With SA Models Dominique Piek and Candice Boucher

Here at O magazine, we always like to support local fashion designers in our stories. As long as they are high quality and some kind of glamorous, they are in. And one of the jewellery lines we have been featuring is Joya. Cool, stone and leather and bold statement stuff, all made in Africa.
As a coincidental aside, I follow both local models and besties, Dominique Piek and Candice Boucher, on Twitter. They, like us at O, are proudly South African.
And now the two worlds collide. Spotted on Twitter last night were tweets from both women about teaming up with Joya for something special. Dominique posted this image of my favourite bracelets from the Joya collection. I am looking forward to seeing what they all come up with. I imagine it is going to be exciting and I think that it is always good news when models get involved in creative fashion projects - especially those that are proudly local. Best of luck ladies.

O Magazine Fashion - Portrait of a Lady

In this April issue of O Magazine we shot a fashion story aimed at the ladies among you. Well, to be fair, most of the mags have shot a ladylike story for this month. But let me tell you why you should go and buy the O mag to see more of our story.
First, it is so very pretty. Second, we support local designers so you can see how to get the look locally. Third, I was so incredibly sick at the time and dragged myself out of hospital, literally, to do this shoot, going back in the next day for surgery. I kid you not. It was 40 degrees in Paarl where we shot this and not even the healthy on the team loved that. So we actually sweated and bled to bring you this story. Is that enough to convince you?
If not, I hope these images, which we didn't include in the story, do. The best of them are in this month's issue of O, The Oprah Magazine, on shelves now. Go. Run. Don't miss out. Good.
Photographer: Anthony Friend
Model: Natalia from Max Models
Make-up and Hair: Sylvie Hurford (L'Oreal Paris)

O Magazine April Issue Goes Hard With Stainless Steel Jewellery

See those stunning silver nails? So hot. So hip. So beautifully painted. I did that. Sure I also produced this story and styled it. But I am most proud of those nails. Who knew I could do that!? I jest, of course. We shot this story for O Magazine a few months ago, when it was boiling hot and we wanted to sizzle a bit more with the most stunning, statement-making jewellery we could find.

You don't have to look far in this town - Olive Green Cat should always be your first stop - but we also found great pieces at sores as diverse as Sass Diva, Truworths and Shimansky.
Super cool stuff.
Photographer: Gavin Kleinschmidt
Model: Lindsay from Y Models
Make-up - Sylvie Hurford (L'Oreal Paris)

Top 10 Winter Trends from AFI Joburg Fashion Week 2011

While I was swanning about London last month, attending fashion week, our very own AFI Joburg Fashion Week was taking place. I was pretty sad to miss a few of the shows and my lack of presence was noted. And commented on. Look, I don't feel great missing the local shows, but you have to take your opportunities where you can get them and I was WORKING. Right. Got it? Good.
Anyhoodle, luckily my ever-brilliant fashion assistant, Luisa, was there in my place and she put together a great slide show of the top 10 trends to emerge from Joburg Fashion Week for this winter.
It seems that there are also some great local designers who really nailed these trends, so there is simply no excuse not to buy local this season.
You can see the slide show by clicking here.
All images by SDR Photo

London Fashion Week Street Style: Top Two Picks

These two looks were my favourite from my time snapping street style at London Fashion Week this year. The first combines the skinny red jeans with this winter's must-have fedora and leopard print tote bag. Held together with a classic, black boyfriend blazer, the look is casual but hits all the necessary style notes.

The second is a 'piece'. The leather arms on a classic Burberry trench is something that really, really works when you see it in real life. You imagine it in your head and it just doesn't make sense and then you see it and all you can think is 'how do I save up for this one then?'

Thanks as ever to MasterCard and L'Oreal Paris for sponsoring the O Mag trip to London.

London Fashion Week Street Style: Tights and Socks

So here are the three key lessons for winter when it comes to tights and socks.
1. Stripes are the new patterns. Put away your lace patterns this winter and pick up a pair of striped tights. It is the more minimal and modern way to wear them this year. Henry Holland has made an industry of them in the UK, so if you can find a pair of his, so much the better.
2. Socks are knee-length and perfect for teaming with skirts in the new length. Black is fine but grey is better.
3. Opaques are, of course, ubiquitous for winter. Just remember, the freshest way to wear them is as if you have no trousers on. But you do. Shorts usually. I, of course, will not be participating in this fashion charade. I will be using my opaques as usual, as tights. But it is my job to tell you guys how it is being done, so please forgive.
Thanks as usual to MasterCard and L'Oreal Paris for making the London Fashion Week trip possible.

London Fashion Week Street Style: Furs and Skins

I read the other day that the garment worn most frequently by fashion juniors, interns, assistants and editors at London Fashion Week 2011 was their grandmother's fur stole. Certianly it struck me while I was there that there was an inordinate amount of real fur around. And not just fur stoles and gilets. Sheepskin coats, shearling jackets and rabbit collars were big too. Everywhere you looked the cold was being combatted with furry creature comforts.
Now, let me say I am not someone who wears fur. I do wear very carefully chosen leather shoes and accessories and I limit my consumption of animal food products. In other words, I am a very conscious consumer of products that impact on animal's lives and our environment. And I would never, ever promote the use of animal fur for fashion.
I am simply reporting the trends as I see them. And real fur is back. Sorry.
There is also the small issue that vintage fur is a grey area that has allowed fur back into vogue, back onto the front row, back into permissible use. I won't be wearing it myself, but I do understand the reuse of vintage pieces. Nothing was killed in your lifetime for the garment to exist and the vintage, granny-chic look is massive this winter. So do what you feel is appropriate, but never take our planet or its inhabitants for granted please! That's all I ask. Good.

London Fashion Week Street Style: Turban Head Scarves

It is not very often these days that I play dress-up at home, experimenting with new fashions and trends. But I have done so twice in the past week, one of the times to try out this trend I spotted at London Fashion Week - and have subsequently already seen in Cape Town (albeit at uber-hip Design Indaba). We are of course talking about the turban head scarf.
I have seen it done it two different ways - largely dependent, it turns out from my experimenting, on the size of the scarf. The first is as a narrow and around the head - this is better suited to the long scarf or the smaller scarf. And the other is what I would call a 'nanny' style, covering the whole head and better for the square scarf.
I am defs going to be rocking this look this winter - if I can stop my nearest and dearest laughing loudly at me when I do. You should too. It's cool.
Thanks must go to MasterCard and L'Oreal Paris for sponsoring our trip to London Fashion week.

How to Wear Red Shoes

Whether they are heels, flats or accessories to a print, red shoes add dazzle to your wardrobe. Have a look on Sunday's Oscar red carpet to see how clever stylists have become in deploying the red shoe!
And now there is a great little piece on how to wear red shoes on the O Magazine web site that may be worth checking out.
It is always fun to get new ideas on wearing your key wardrobe pieces.

Hunter Wellington Now in South Africa!

In the middle of last year I was shooting a story for O Magazine for which I thought that a pair of classic British Hunter wellies would work really well. And so we set the interns on the case to hunt some down in Cape Town, To absolutely no avail. I mean total zip.
Last month I was shooting in the countryside of England for another O Mag fashion story. This time I was determined. And even though you couldn't get them here in SA, I used them in my shoot. I mean they are just so perfect and evocative of winter walks in the country and music festivals. Nothing else would do.
I am such a rebel.

Only I got an email yesterday from one of my fave PRs. Hunter wellies are now available in SA!! For a very reasonable price of R1500 for a boot that will last your lifetime. And look equally good walking the dogs on the mountain and moshing to The Dirty Skirts at Rocking the Daises. Right? Right.
How absolutely perfectly timed for winter too. So happy.
I will let you know as soon as I find out what stores they will be in across SA. In the mean while you can call 0828530477 for stockists details.

O Magazine March Fashion Editorial

Hey all. If you haven't got your latest issue of O Mag, well, why not? Go and get it before the month is over. And you will get to see the whole of this wonderful fashion story we shot as a minimalist narrative in the Old Town House on Greenmarket Square. Those wooden stairs had magic in them!
We shot great, clean pieces on a girl who lived a life of impossibly chic days and nights. It was so beautiful.

The whole story should have concluded with this shot of the most divine Louis Vuitton shoes, but was cut on page edit. It actually made me cry with frustration. But that is the life of a fashion editor. You can create the most beautiful stories and once it gets into layout it can change totally. Luckily, the story still stands and I think you will love it like I do.
Photographer: Anthony Friend
Model: Amanda (Max Models)
Hair and Make-up: Sylvie Hurford (L'Oreal Paris)

Oscars Red Carpet 2011: Nude - Who Wore it Best?

The biggest dress trend at the Oscars last night was the shimmery, iridescent nude shades that so many of the leading ladies wore. They all looked lovely, but who wore it best? I couldn't decide, so I asked the office here at O Magazine to vote out of these four. They all had something going for them. For example Gwyneth's Calvin Klein sheath was sleek and sophisticated and was accessorised with gorgeous Louis Vuitton jewellery. But Luisa and Megan couldn't get past the shiny trashiness of the dress and Luisa says, 'I can never trust a smiling Gwyneth.' So she was out. 

Michelle Williams looked quiet and pretty and classy in her Chanel. But Kerry's cry of 'she's a ghost' put everyone off it. Best Supporting Actress, Melissa Leo's dress, (she of the f-word) is intriguing, made as it is from hundreds of mirrors by SA-born designer Mark Bouwer. I was pushing for the local angle, but the design didn't get the sign-off from any of the panel.

And so, by default, the win goes to Mandy Moore who looked 'most Oscar-ish' but the memo has been sent out for nest year - step away from the nude shades ladies, it washes you out. The last word on the matter is anonymous, "couldn't any of them have stretched to putting on a damn necklace to brighten things up?" I will leave it there.

The Two and Mememe Cheapy McCheap Cheap End of Summer Sale

I never just cut and paste PR copy. First of all, I always have my own crazy story to tell you, so it is almost never relevant. In fact, unless the press release is great, I seldom read past the second paragraph. And second, PR copy sounds like PR copy, and you guys would totes give me a hard time about it. But this headline is copied verbatim from my friend Miss Milli B's email. Anything that uses the phrase "Cheapy McCheap Cheap" gets my vote.
So gang, if you are in Jozi next week, get your stylish selves down to the Two/Mememe sale in Parkhurst and  then come back here and boast about your fashion bargains.
Milisuthando works tirelessly to promote local fashion and has been the rallying voice behind wearing SA fashion on a Friday in Joburg. Blogger, retailer, fashionista, writer, she is also magazine star in the latest March issue of O Magazine. Go and check her out now if you haven't bought your copy!

StyleGuideCT at London Fashion Week 2011

I thought that I might prove to you that I was actually at LFW by posting a lovely photo of moi. I like this photo because (as is traditional with street style photography at the shows) I am small and the background is large. No not really. I am actually shamelessly free of issues. I like it because it features my lovely bright new scarf from Zara. Also my quilted utility from Uniqlo. And my Tods loafers. Combined as they are with my old favourite David West dress and a Craducci Women boyfriend blazer under the puffer. Yes, it was that cold. And then some. Brrrr.
It is of course shot at Somerset House last Friday, the first day of LFW this season.
Comments are welcome, naturally.

Top 10 London Fashion Week Must Have Trends

We are going to have an entire conversation at some point about what people dress for at fashion weeks these days. However, just for you, I braved the cold at London Fashion Week this year and tried to capture all the street style trends that I could see. There are some trends that need their own posts, but here are the 10 must-have trends for this winter.

1. Leopard print scarf
2. Wider leg jeans
3. Platform ankle boots
4. A cape. Maybe more than one.
5. A bright red coat or jacket. Or cape.
6. Flatform shoes. (Although I will not be embracing this one. Sorry.)
7. Ombre hair (see above)
8. A furry jacket
9. A fedora
10. Brogues. Lots of them.

Behind the Scenes at London Fashion Week 2011

As you all know, I headed out to London last week to shoot some editorial for O Magazine, and was lucky enough to get behind the scenes at London Fashion Week, and attend some of the shows. I will post loads of pics this week, but first, here is the team at the registration at Somerset House, where the base tents were situated.

Sylvie from L'Oreal Paris was our make-up artist and thanks must go to L'Oreal Paris for the sponsorship. Anthony Friend was the photographer (although obvs these snappy snaps were just by me) and Alex, now based in London, was the first assistant stylist. Sylvie and Alex are, of course, blog favourites.

We must also thank MasterCard for trip sponsorship. Shopping photos to come soon.