Saturday 26 July
Words can’t really describe the incredible party we had to celebrate the new KlûkCGDT store opening on Bree street. It was the hottest ticket in town on Saturday, and best party I have been to in Cape Town for some years. With a Studio 54 theme, the party brought thousands of fashion fans to enter the swish new three-storey New York-style boutique and studio.
Take a look to see why it was one for the #MBFWCT history books!
Friday 25 July
As Friday set in, so did the weekend buzz.
The day started earlier with the exclusive screening of Advanced Style, the story about the phenomenal worldwide success of Ari Seth Cohen’s blog www.advancedstyle.blogspot.com. As its name might suggest, Ari has spent the last few years photographing older women and their fashion style on the streets on New York, to worldwide acclaim and success. The film was moving and beautiful, and the audience was brought to tears by the stylish women he followed throughout this 4 year personal project. What was even better was that we had Ari in the room with us: he got to explain his story and inspiration to us after the screening. I was humbled by his relaxed manner when telling us that his simple love for the subject started with his inspiring grandmother, whom he was very close to as he was growing up. He said that he always felt excited to see what she would wear and when he moved to New York, he borrowed his flatmate’s camera and started taking informal snaps of older stylish women, which led him to publish his Advanced Style book, and which lead to this film project.
If you haven’t seen the blog yet, do take a look – and try to get your hands on this documentary, as both are true and moving tributes to women of advanced years, and the marvel of fashion as art and self expression the world round.
The night then started with the AFI Next Gen show. Alexandra Blanc, of the label BLANC, presented a very smart, unisex collection, which the boys and girls swapped on the runway during the show. Smart!
Another highlight of the night for me was the Moroccan print Michelle Ludek collection, which was accessorized with crazy cool tassel earrings, belts and neckpieces by her sister Belinda Ludek. I enjoyed the jumpsuit especially!
Thursday 24 July
The first night of #MBFWCT started with my free fashion ride with Uber to the CTICC.
I must say, that every year I realise how cool it is to have our very own Cape Town Fashion Week schedule. I think, too, that because it is only once every year, it makes it a strong line-up of fashion talent and an exclusive week for South African fashion on the whole.
The first show was the much loved and respected Johannesburg based Marianne Fassler of @leopardfrock. She launched her first resort collection, to a very excited fashion FROW (Front row). The bright Afro pop prints on fluid sheer dresses, beautifully crafted swimwear with hand beading, and the coolest leather/beaded/feathered flat sandals I’ve seen on our shores, she had us hooked.
The biggest – and by far the most incredible – show I’ve seen in South Africa in my career, was the one and only Gavin Rajah.
Gavin promised us opulence, sheer luxury and decadence. And he delivered. Ten times over.
The show was so beautiful that I could have cried. From the Japanese hairstyles, to the exotic kimonos in seductive silks, floor length hand beaded metallic gowns, feathered capes and beaded boleros, the fashion seduction oozed from every look on his runway. As Bill Cunningham said in Stealing Beauty, ‘’I eat with my eyes”… Well, I gorged!
I never wanted it to end, and when it did, I was covered in bright pink confetti, which spilled from the ceiling as the impossibly perfect couture collection, perfectly fitted on each model, sashayed down the runways once more, and Gavin was greeted with a standing ovation.
The Stefania Morland, Shana Morland and Nicola W35T(pronounced WEST) shows were all later in the evening, but also succeeded in totally made my fashion heart soar. As captured in this photo by Simon Deiner, Stefania Morland’s bridal look, with hair by Kevin Epstein, was especially gorgeous.
Such exceptional talent – and more inspiring talent to rave about!
I must say, last night was one of my favourite nights in SA Fashion ever.
Wednesday 23 July
On Wednesday night I went to the exclusive Gala event dinner to celebrate AFI, MBFWCT and the business of fashion in South Africa. Set in the charming Cape Town City Hall, this venue created a backdrop of splendour and grandeur. We were invited by AFI founder Dr.Precious Moloi-Motsepe, and it was a high brow fashion celebration of note!
The evening was lavish and swish, and I could not help but hear a few lines from Iggy Azalea’s Fancy ringing in my head.
The black carpet dress code ensured that all the fashion designers, models, exclusive media and Mayor Patricia de Lille arrived looking swanky and suave. Here, a few pics to highlight the fashion show and banquet setting from the event.
Looking forward to the shows kicking off tonight, so be sure to check-in tomorrow for more coverage from #MBFWCT!
Tuesday 22 July
GLAMOUR’s Fashion Director Bronwyn Day has a busy week ahead of her with Mercedez-Benz Fashion Week Cape Town! She kicked it off by attending a luncheon hosted by designer Gavin Rajah. Read on to find out what happened:
Gavin Rajah hosted a beautiful luncheon yesterday to kick-start the Mercedez-Benz Fashion Week Cape Town collections this week.
The highlights of the lunch were the immaculate attention to detail from start to finish. We were treated to delicious cocktails, gluten-free canapés and the exquisite banquet table lined with orchids, origami birds and paper fans, all running through the heart of the wood clad room, set in the heart of the old part of the city.
Gavin welcomed us and explained his vision as a three-fold event. The first, to underline the importance of his position as a UNICEF Goodwill ambassador, and his commitment to the #endviolence global campaign, which his couture brand is closely aligned with in South Africa.
Secondly, that his Couture Spring/Summer 2015 collection is Japanese inspired this season, hence the decor details that streamlined through from the invitation illustrations, all the way through to the surreal(ism) Asian inspired 6 course meal. We will have to wait for Thursday night at 7.15pm at the CTICC to see his Japanese woodblock pattern theme, which he highlighted as the main inspiration behind the collection. The intricate couture pieces fall under “A FLOATING WORLD:UKIYO-E” , the name for his new season fashion narrative.
The last, his exciting venture into Gavin Rajah Body, his luxury beauty and lifestyle collection with perfumed candles, exotic room sprays and rich body creams, launching in September this year. Ethically sourced and blending South African floral elements, this collection captures his luxurious aesthetic even further. Annelize Visser was the food visionary, and it was honestly just scrumptious and completely decadent. The Moët was flowing, and the fashion crowd was abuzz with excitement and relishing in the afternoon’s delights.
At last, South African fashion at its best. I was truly proud of how far it’s come, thanks to Gavin Rajah. Now, it’s up to the show to complete the quest for fashion perfection. See you there!
Here are a few of my favourite moments from the luncheon.
