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.

Design Indaba: David West

Ahh, David West. Never has a designer appealed so much to a personal aesthetic I never knew I had. I'm serious. David West breaks all my rules. Resets my expectations every time. And schools me, I mean really schools me, in re-imagining what is possible with fabric and fashion. To my mind, he is the most exciting and innovative designer of wearable clothes in the country.
This time out, David showed his collection in two related parts. The first was the Victorian funeral procession looks - all austere monochrome and bustles. Obviously I loved it. Right up my alley. And so much detail there, guys. I asked David afterwards how easy it is to produce these magnificent skirts for sale, and he told me that he has never done so much unpicking in his life, but now that have it sorted and shouldn't be a problem. Good. Because I want one.
Then we moved on to, what I call the "Aztec Warrior" section. David had a very good and rational explanation of how they interrelated and the evolution of the narrative. And I totally appreciated that. But really, I just liked it a lot. I loved the introduction of pattern and how the different fabrications co-existed in a non-intuitive way. It made my heart soar. I liked that he could take Victoriana and warrior and make a 70s trend nod with both. He is so very talented. Well played West.
David West is available from his store in Long Street, Cape Town.

Design Indaba: Doreen Southwood Review

As I said to Doreen Southwood on Sunday afternoon, after she had presented her collection at Design Indaba for the final time, "I am worried that you are toning things down." With a deliberate attempt to go more mainstream and appeal to the commercial buyers, Doreen presented a lovely collection of contemporary fashion, beautifully styled for the season, with standout pieces that will almost certainly get her the attention she deserves.
Despite what I call the "lack of crazy", Doreen still managed to be the first to present the new Gaucho pants on the runway. Alongside exaggerated, flowing palazzos. Still intriguing and compelling me to look closer, her collection was deceptive in its simplicity, being in fact incredibly detailed and intricate. I think it was a fantastic achievement and one that takes her another step forward.
The only reason that I miss the more avante garde presentations is that Doreen is one of the few designers in the country whose clothes will appear normal and then you look closer and you have an authentic WTF moment as you wonder how that happened. And I always like it when a designer can do that.
But this is an edgy collection, designed to sell. And I hope it does. I have my eye on that blue frock with the pleat insets, so back off.
Doreen Southwood available at Mememe in Long Street, Cape Town and soon Johannesburg.

GIFT OF THE WEEK

stop me if you think that you've heard this one before

I think I knew when I made the first rabbit they'd start multiplying as rabbits have a tendency to do! I couldn't resist making a little blue one to celebrate the imminent arrival of our newest staff member, a new bro for Max and buddy for Thom. Of course even as a type this I realise that I should make ones for the two year old hml boys just so everyone has a rabbit. And then there's the intern.

I'll have to set up a rabbit Flickr of course, and a blog and a tumbr and a facebook page (or not)...hop to it! RAMONA

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)

Design Indaba: Coppelia Review

The greatest delight for any fashion editor or commentator is when the seventy-fifth fashion show you see of the year (and it is only February), surprises, delights and makes you happy. The collection by Coppelia at the Design Indaba Expo on the weekend did just that. What a visual and stylistic treat.
Of course it is completely commercial - that is the explicit intent of the DI shows. But it was also very bold. And it was very, very different from the last couple of collections Kirsty Bannerman (one half of the Mungo&Jemima team) designed. I really loved it. And I enjoyed it all over again looking at the images of the show. That is a good test of the longevity and authenticity of the designs.
My favourite look was the blue midi skirt and boxy top. It is the perfect look for this season, in wonderful, soft, flowing fabrications. And the bright, block colour in simple silhouettes is flattering and exciting for our market here in SA.
You can get Coppelia at Mungo&Jemima and the Biscuit Mill Market in Cape Town and at The Space in Rosebank, I believe.

Design Indaba: Christopher Strong Review

This weekend the Design Indaba Expo 2011 delivered some surprisingly good, fresh fashion. My favourite of which was the small collection by Christopher Strong. First let me give props to the Cape Town Fashion Council, under the current leadership of Sylvia Gruber, who curated an excellent selection of designers. I can say that six out of eight collections were better than I expected.
Also, I tip my hat to Annelise Le Breton who produced the shows. They ran 100% to time. They were easy to see. They were mercifully short and sweet and just right to show off the fashion. They were even fun. Less of the smoke effects and the man-handler door keeps, and they would have been perfect.
And so to the review. C-Strong are a fashionista favourite. And so they get a lot of the fashion-riff-raff raving about them for no other reason than they are cool. David West and Stiaan Louw suffer the same fate. And yet, in these instances they are also very, very good. And we must commit ourselves to doing whatever we can to help them succeed.
In this collection of achingly perfect basics for next season, I will be ordering five pieces for myself. Yes, five. And paying my own good money for them. The perfect wider-leg trouser - so flattering, classic and yet modern. The sheer dress with the button down collar. Two trends in one there. And the great thing about the C-Strong designs is that no matter how many of us wear the same garment, we won't look the same because we can infuse them with our own style and personality. So many of us default to the big retailers for our basics. I vote instead for Christopher Strong. If you have ever complained that you can't get or afford Celine or Chloe or Stella in South Africa, do yourselves a favour and swing by the Christopher Strong guys. It is a great local alternative and you will be helping to build a deserving business. Good. Now go.