Scene Around: Elle Fresh Face 2010

At Fashion 2010 - 2011 you don't see a lot of females. And for obvious reasons, we are a MENWEAR blog. But from time to time I like to show an event I have attended and inadvertently allow the boys to enjoy the sight of pretty ladies too! Much like last week Thursday where an intimate group of the magazine and fashion world flocked to Woodstock to witness the unveiling of the 'Elle Fresh Face' for 2010.

17 year old Alexandra Robertshaw nabbed the top prize and will receive quite the package of winnings, which include a two year contract with Boss and R45 000 in prizes from various sponsors. In attendance was fellow blogger Robyn Cooke, Expresso presenter Liezel Van der Westhuizen and of course Elle Editor Jackie Burger who was wearing local label Christopher Strong. The event was a clean and very well catered success, it was also an opportunity to meet Thulane Hadebe after a year of talking over emails and BBMs. The online world always amazes me. Congrats to Alexandra!

SA BLOG AWARDS 2010

With the public voting officially over, and with Robyn Cooke locked in as one of two finalists for the "Best Fashion Blog" award at the SA Blog Awards, we did as expected and made the effort to dress up and find out who won. Building up to this day there was blog plugging, friendly requests and even campaigns to get people to sit down and cast their votes for the top blogs in their respective categories. Some needed help and others didn't even need to lift a finger to get in. But either way we assembled into the One and Only and mingled with the best of the blogging world. 

The ceremony itself was enjoyable, with a host of speeches which included that of Helen Zille and it ran smoothly apart from a blunder with a blank envelope when the best new blog was announced. There are a lot of opinions on the blog awards but it is a fairly young project and I expect it will grow into the large, respected summit of the blogging world it deserves to be.   

All Access - Stiaan Louw Feature

Last Friday Mnet's "All Access" showcased an interview with menswear great Stiaan Louw. I was invited along to give my own opinions of Stiaan's work. Included in the interview, Morne Visagie (who modeled in Louw's "Design Indaba" show last year) and studio-mate and fellow designer Maya Prass.

The insert is embedded below for your viewing:

Elle magazine October scans

In the October Issue of Elle magazine,  Industry insiders were asked about their first and favorite purchases from Woolworths. Included in the survey was me and Robyn Cooke (our sister site 'Styleguide CT').  What about you?

The beauty about VIP/Media Parties coinciding with your birthday is that you get to knock two birds with one stone. The Patron "Day of the Dead" party called for fancy dress but like I've mentioned before Cape Town isn't really the type to "dress up" at the risk of looking like an idiot. On the other hand I don't mind so much.



While the masses descended on Vaudeville to celebrate the Mexican Cirque De Los Muertos, those who were already inside were enjoying the free Patron. Soon after the doors closed and a condensed version of Vaudevilles fantastic show took place. Host Paul Snodrass (who shares my birthday) gave away free gift-bags of Patron (thank you for mine) and the winners of the best-dressed couple got a prize to jet off to some fantastic destination I can't remember.

SUNGLASSES: RAY BAN AVIATORS FROM SUNGLASS HUT

It was my birthday on Friday the 13th and what was my choice of celebration you ask? Fashion Week of course! I really didn't mind because I got to watch the shows and in between spend time with my mentor and friend Robyn Cooke and our growing posse. So while it was in fact our first Friday Fashion Face-off we concerned ourselves with champagne while our internet selves battled it out online.

Fornarina, with the lobby of the Upper East Side Hotel in Woodstock as their catwalk, launched not only their latest range but in doing so announced the South African arrival of their brand. Excited guests arrived to be welcomed by Burlesque dancers and clowns dressed in theme to the latest Alice in Wonderland movie. Guests were encouraged to do the same but in classic Cape Town style few did.

I went along with Dylan Jack who gussied up in a green frill-front 70's inspired shirt and polka dot bow-tie. Clearly he got the memo. You may remember him (although he since then peroxided his hair) from the Fair Lady "Style Intern" reality show from earlier this year. Today he works as production assistant for AFI Cape Town Fashion week which commenced this evening. More about that later.

Models, sportsmen and local personalities busied the VIP section which seemed to comprise of 70% of the attendees. We got straight into the usual networking one does at these events and before long a fashion show began. "Alice" in full burlesque attire, stripped and then ran off to be replaced by another stripping character, this time the Cheshire cat. The men suddenly found themselves intrigued by the show. Models strutted to the familiar sounds of Stefani and GaGa and ten minutes later it was all over.

Jeannie D from the lifestyle shows Top Billing and Top Travel played hostess and surprised me when they had chosen me as Best-Dressed male of the evening. You can see my reaction above. It was Jeannie who then swore it wasn't fixed because the judges didn't know I was "Fashion 2010 - 2011". Chloe in the yellow bow (above) won Best-Female, so Congrats to her!