AFI FASHION WEEK LAUNCH AT RANDLORDS

While I have been out to all sorts of fancy functions in Cape Town, I had somehow never been to one in Johannesburg. I was told in advance that Jozi does things a little differently, that was clear when I arrived on the top floor at Randlords in Braamfontein. Overlooking the city at such a height is quite special. I understand why locals are so patriotic about Jozi. The energy is somewhat different but I would have to spend more time out here to be able to pin it down. Fashion is another thing altogether here in Johannesburg. Men, straight men, dress to impress here. Just take a look below at my new friends Marc Graham and Tresor Junior.  While the view was amazing, it's not Cape Town of course... I kid.

The gathering allowed the press and elite to mingle before managing director Paul Leisegang and Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe discussed their plans for African Fashion International. For one, this year will see the addition of an extra day to fashion week (three shows a night) with the graduates showing off their hard work on day one. Participating graduate designers include: Kutloano Molokomme, Minette Meyer, Ndine Holloway, Melita Ngoasheng, Lebogang Moatshe, Sunette Scheepers, Jessica Sutherland (who I recently met has started a great visual blog), Pride Nkosi, Laura Kass, Nkulueko Msibi, Phumzile Langa, Anja Bredell, Nkosi Nkala, Chantelle Nascimento, Sello Medupe and Portia Moruthane.

The event itself was a whirlwind of meets and quick one-on-ones and I managed to get a few photographs of the guests in attendance. With so many photographers around I wasn't about to butt in and take identical shots of personalities, so take a look at just some of the lovely people I personally encountered at the launch. The Smarteez were certainly interesting to meet as a group, their enthusiasm was exploding on their curious audience. You may recall this post.


David Tlale and Tatum Keshwar pose with Gert-Johan Coetzee (in pink), he was the local designer who gave Kourtney Kardashian one of his dresses and she wore it to the Peoples Choice Awards. 

With the great reveal that this fashion week will take place at several landmark locations in Johannesburg, I cannot wait to see what all the designers have in store for us. 

VMAN >> Walk it off - In Copenhagen

Copenhagen was a flutter with models, photographers and generally more important folk than ourselves, where VMAN partnered up with Copenhagen Fashion Week to celebrate the launch of VMAN18: A Scandinavian Summer. Catch the gallery here.

"Tuesday night we partnered up with Copenhagen Fashion Week to celebrate the launch of VMAN 18: A Scandinavian Summer. It was a major bash uptown at Good Units, the new venue on the lower level of the Hudson Hotel, with a lot of Belvedere Vodka to drink. Harking back to the way they did it in ‘80s and early ‘90s New York, a fashion show appeared out of nowhere smack in the middle of the party. Fashion from our favorite Scandinavians including Bjørg Jewellery, Bruuns Bazaar, Cheap Monday, David Andersen for Kopenhagen Studio, Day Birger et Mikkelsen, Georg Jensen, Henrik Vibskov, Hummel, Moonspoon Saloon, Oscar Magnuson, Shamballa Jewels, Soulland, Stærk, Stine Goya, Tiger of Sweden, and Vilsbøl de Arce paraded down the runway.



Through a little fancy lighting slight of hand, each model was transformed into another half way across the runway. The slim Michael W became the buff Brad Kroenig; Julia Hafstrom became Maggie Rizer; Georgina became Sessilee; Aiden became Rainer; Lady Fag became Daphne; and so on. Then to a roar of applause, the show closed with Anna Cleveland transforming into her legendary mother Pat Cleveland.

Accompanying the whole thing, the amazing disco’d-up gospel singer Cookie sang her hit anthem “Lola’s Theme.” After the show wrapped, the Scandis and a bunch of models moshed to a high energy performance by Danish rockers New Politics. Rumor has it that after the party, most of the Danish designers then decamped to the box for a long night of further celebration. But that’s just rumor."

The British Fashion Awards 2009 - Burberry on top!

Christopher Bailey must be pretty damn chuffed with himself. Not only did he turn Burberry around by saving them from financial ruin but he's doing exceptionally well with the brand too. He made Burberry the British icon it once was.  Proven last night when he won not only Brand of the year, but Designer of the year at the British Fashion Awards! When receiving the Brand of the Year award, Christopher announced that Burberry would be showing its upcoming Autumn Winter womenswear show in London during London Fashion Week.

And then on top of it all our Golden Boy's efforts were recognised by HRH Queen Elizabeth II. Bailey, who joined the company as creative director in May 2001 bur was this year made the brand's chief creative officer, attended a ceremony at Buckingham Palace to receive his Member of the Order of the British Empire from HRH The princess Royal.

"I am both honoured and humbled," Bailey told WWD, as he collected the honour for services to the fashion industry. "This award also recognizes the incredible team that I work with, and it is a privilege to be a part of Burberry, a great British brand." 

Bailey's parents joined him at the Palace to see him receive his MBE and were later enjoying a lunch to celebrate the victorious success of their son. I hope for his sake he follows this with a tall stiff drink and a holiday! Well deserved.

{Credits: Vogue}

Mercedes Benz Award for Fashion 2009

I attended the above mentioned event on Thursday evening with my friend Riaan in tow. It was all in honor of the winners and participants of the 2009 Mercedes Benz Award for Fashion. It was only appropriate that the event was held at the Century City Mercedes Benz Showroom, seeing as Quality, Fashion and Lifestyle are all elements of a Mercedes owner. Well hopefully.

The garments arrived back from Germany where they have been stationed for some time at the Daimler Contemporary House Huth in Berlin.



The intimate event had us steered to the front window where the participants designs were lined up for viewing. Stiaan Louw and his gang of black were downstairs where I snapped up this photo of the chain-vest which took 3 weeks to finish!



The rest of Stiaan's garments can be viewed here.



I met up with Stiaan's muse and friend Morne' for a chat in the above picture and my friend Riaan checks out some of the other garmets below.









Participants included David Tlale, Abigail Betz, Darkie, Mantsho, Craig Native and Maya Prass. Thanks to Stiaan for the Invite!

GHD Revelations 2009

The lovely people over at GHD invited me to attend their Revelations event on thursday night, which I'm happy to say was worth cutting my holiday short for. The event took place on Hope Street in Cape Town's CBD with a line of mostly black-wearing fashionista's (and the odd fashionisto) down the street.

Styled by the very talented Mari Groenewald, the event was a maze of dark but delightful fashion installations. One immediately got the feeling of a school-like ghost house but with a larger budget and a sexy fashion twist. I took along my friend Amy and we sipped on champagne as we were ushered by security from one room to the next.

The first installment was a gorgeous lantern-inspired tree display. I believe the dresses were of David Tlale's talents.



Next was a room with two tiny windows. Inside was a women I interpreted as some kind of courtesan, dressed in beautiful Lingerie walking from one side of the room to other, talking on the phone or looking at a lover in a picture frame. Hauntingly Beautiful.



Following this were a series of interaction-rooms. A telephone booth (where Amy and I were too tall to stand in) with creepy, sad voices coming out of nowhere. The night cafe with the lady hanging from a suspended hoop, where a waitress with shocking make-up offered popcorn and champagne. In the next room voyeurs had the tables turned momentarily with bright lights facing the stage and suddenly reversed to reveal an act of models in a french cafe setting where the audience should be.





Photography was encouraged in this room with frames hanging all over the walls.





Down the stairs in a wall papered corner twins sat in identical outfits to hand out paper to guests. On the paper you were meant to write your deepest desires and hang it on a tree out in the courtyard.



My favorite (as it was for many others) was a Marie Antoinette-like girl lying around drunk because no one came to her party. A literal interpretation of 'It's my party and I'll get wasted if I want to'.







After the entire walk-through you're led to a room upstairs filled with people, music and waiters carrying champagne. A perfect finish indeed, a little networking between photo moments while ladies got their hair and make-up done on stage and a chance to talk about the show.







All the details of the show must have taken weeks to plan and execute, and it was thoroughly enjoyable! Thanks to MAC cosmetics and GHD for doing such a great job!