Happy Youth Day

There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, 

the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, 

you will truly have defeated age.

Sophia Loren

Who Wore Tibi Better?

Blake Lively & Brooklyn Decker
wearing Tibi

Blonde actresses Blake Lively and Brooklyn Decker both wore a dress from Tibi's Spring 2011 line this week. The floral self embroidered A-line cotton dress was shown in white on the runway, with tan flat moccasins.

Blake wore the topaz blue version of the dress for her appearance on the 'Today Show' in New York. She paired the dress with leopard print Charlotte Olympia pumps. Brooklyn wore the Tibi dress for her visit on 'Good Morning America. She opted for white runway version, which she paired with an army green waistcoat and nude heels by Chloe. She also added a touch of leopard print with a sling bag.

I prefer Blake's look, the colour is so beautiful on her. Brooklyn shouldn't have dressed down this cocktail look with a military style vest. Which do you prefer?

The Savvy Girls Guide to Side Swept Waves

Side Swept Waves

I was browsing for a formal hairstyle for this weekend, and the one that appealed to me the most was side swept waves. This 1940's Veronica Lake hairstyle exudes vintage glamour and elegance. It will work for medium to long hair and suits all face shapes. If you want to show off a pretty pair of earrings, this side styled look is a great option. It's young, yet formal but not too fussy. Just Perfect. These are my favourite side swept looks.

Top Row
Julianne Hough wears her long blonde locks to the side.
Camilla Belle styled her glossy dark tresses with picture perfect make-up.
Amy Adams channels old Hollywood glamour with her side swept red hair.

Bottom Row
Lea Michele wears this hairstyle beautifully with more defined curls.
Ashley Greene added some volume to her look.
Taylor Swift wore an asymmetrical fringe with her cascading waves.


How to get Side Swept Waves

1. Shampoo and condition your hair as normal.

2. Use a protective styling product that won't weight your hair down.

3. Dry hair roughly with a hairdryer, until almost dry.

4. Use a fine tooth comb to create a deep side parting, whichever side works best for you. 

5. Separate your hair into small sections.

6. Using a wide-barreled curing tong, curl each section. Start with the top layer of your hair and work your way to the middle and bottom layers.

7. Wrap hair diagonally around the tong, starting about 5 centimeters from the root.

8. Once you've curled each piece, keep it wound up and pin it gently to your head with a small clip. By allowing it to cool this way, it will set better.

9. Once you've completed curling all your hair, you can remove all the clips and loosen the waves with your fingertips.

10. Spritz with hairspray and you're all glamed up and ready to go!

The Suitcase System

One of my pet peeves is packing. I think has something to do with my indecisiveness, I can never make up my mind on what to take and what to leave out. Also, I am a minimalist packer, I only take what's absolutely necessary and nothing more. I once met a girl who had her entire weeks' outfits planned on an Excel spreadsheet, down to the last sock. This seemed a bit extreme but maybe it's good to be that organized. So, to save on time, I developed my own 'Suitcase System'; which is a foolproof plan designed to make the agonizing packing process a smooth and easy one. Now what used to take me hours to pack a bag for a weekend away, literally takes ten minutes.

My Suitcase System works as follows:

*I only pack outfits that I have worn before and know look decent and fit well. This saves me from trying on a million different things.
*My failsafe outfits include two pairs of jeans or tights with a few pretty tops. One casual for daytime, one dressier for a night out.
*I stick to creaseproof clothes in the same colour palette, so that I only have to pack one or two pairs of shoes to match. 
*I take one neutral coloured handbag that will go with everything.
*A few accessories that can multitask with all outfits. 
*A black tailored jacket that works well over anything.
*Four items of make-up. 
*I also keep a vanity bag fully stocked with all the necessities, so I never have to pack one each time I go out. 

It all goes into a small lightweight bag that can easily fit in the passenger seat of a car. This packing procedure proved to be successful every time...until now. This week I have the daunting task of packing a bag for a 4-day wedding weekend. I tried applying the above rules to this mission, but it just doesn't work. The whole system crashed! I will tell you why.

This is what I have to pack:

*Four casual day outfits - four tops or dresses and four pairs of jeans/tights.
*Two semi-formal outfits
*Winter jackets
*A couple of cocktail dresses
*One evening gown, actually two, incase the first one doesn't pan out
*Eight pairs of shoes
*Three handbags and three clutch bags to match each outfit
*A hair iron, hair dryer and hair products.
*A clothes steamer
*A box full of fascinators
*Accessories to match each outfit. Belts, earrings, chains, bracelets and rings.
*A make-up bag with half the contents of a MAC counter.

I have begun packing 2 days in advance but haven't gotten anywhere. With all the pre-wedding events and unpredictable coastal weather, I have no idea what to pack. So I'm taking as many options as possible. At this rate, I will be hiring a trailer to lug my luggage 300km across the country. You think I need luck now...just think about when I have to come back home and Unpack.

The Colour Blocking Trend

Colour Blocking

The 'Colour Blocking' trend has yet to have the mass appeal in South Africa as it does overseas. Essentially, colour blocking refers to wearing 'blocks' or a combination of different solid colours together in one outfit. Colours can be mixed, matched or clashed for maximum effect. It starts with effective colour blocking, which means wearing a single bold colour from head to toe. You can pair two or three contrasting colours, anything more than four is excessive. These are some inspiring colour blocking looks off the runway.

1. An Issa outfit in cerise and purple.

2. Nina Ricci pairs fluorescent pink with canary yellow.

3. At Giambattista Valli, orange and beige were put together.

4. Orange and turquoise are a vibrant combination at Prabal Gurung. 

5. Richard Nicoll merges salmon, tangerine and hot pink.

6. At Etro, a bright shade of blue was mixed with rust.

7. Orange, pink and black was shown together on the Jil Sander runway.

8. Diane von Furstenberg united purple and orange and added an orange clutch.
9. Avocado green, neon yellow and black is eye catching at Burberry Prorsum.
10. Louis Vuitton merged ruby red with deep violet and black.

How to Colour Block

To get the colour block trend right, you have to know which colours complement each other best. As fun as it sounds, you can't just pile on every colour you find in your wardrobe, you will end up looking like the human rainbow. It's good to anchor your outfit with a neutral colour like black, white, grey or beige. To find out which colours are complementary, the use of this colour wheel will help.

How to use the Colour Wheel

When colour blocking your outfits, try out these combinations:

*Analogous colours, which are any three colours lined up next to each other on the colour wheel. Example: blue, blue-violet and violet.
*Complementary colours. These are colours placed directly opposite each other on the wheel. Like red and green or yellow and violet.
*90 degree angles. Combine colours that are at a right angle with each other. Example: Orange-yellow and green or red and violet.
*T colours. These are colours that form a 'T' shape. Like yellow, purple and orange-red.
*Jewel Colours are equally rich and flatter each other, such as emerald green and ruby red.
*Keep colours in the same saturation. Pastels with pastels, neons with neons.
*Pink trick. You can substitute 'pink' for 'red' and use all the same combinations.

Now that you know how to efficiently use colour, it's time to put that eye-catching outfit together. There are two ways you can do this - the right way and the bright one. For me, the combination of too many bright colours in the wrong proportions look loud and garish. You will see the difference between the 'animated' and 'understated' below.

Brights

Camilla Belle wears a tri-colour ensemble by Gucci. Her tangerine blazer is worn over a purple top and emerald green pants. She also wears green Gucci heels. A fourth colour is introduced with the neutral gold belt.

Cheryl Cole is highly pigmented in an orange ruffle top, aqua belt and violet high waisted flare pants that are far too long.

Teresa Palmer wears a multi-coloured Versus dress, with handkerchief neckline, vertical and horizontal stripes.

Leona Lewis pairs a neon yellow bustier with a hot pink pencil skirt. I like these two colours together but this outfit is too tight and midriff baring.

Rihanna wears a cropped purple jersey with prison orange pants and gold pumps. Her red hair counts as a fourth colour, right?

Colour Do's

Demi Moore chooses an age appropriate colour block outfit. She wears red satin pants from H&M with a simple white top and long black jacket by Elize Overland.

Olivia Palermo looks so chic in a bright pink blazer, grey shirt and black leather Tibi shorts. Her olive green satin Charlotte Olympia pumps work with this look.

Nina Dobrev looks cute in a light grey and neon yellow colour block dress by Jay Godfrey.

Nicole Scherzinger stylishly clashes green and orange, with an addition of black accessories.

Cheryl Cole gets it right this time in a cream blazer, baby pink t-shirt and royal blue pants. I adore the electric blue and nude heels she wears, which are by Christian Louboutin.

If you're still a little colour shy, you can start off with a bright handbag, necklace, head band or belt. This trend is such a fun and exciting way to experiment with different colour combinations. It's up to you to interpret it according to your personal style.

Looks of the Week

My highs and lows of fashion this week.

Best Casual Looks of the Week

Minka Kelly looks better each time I see her. She is a knockout in Fendi. She wears a royal blue chiffon draped dress - the colour suits her so well. I like that she paired it with apricot coloured heels by Casadei.

Australian actress Isla Fisher wears a flirty floral dress by D&G. Her tan ankle strap wedges are by Tory Burch and she carried a matching clutch bag.

Blake Lively was out promoting her new movie, 'The Green Lantern'. Blake looked chic in a chartreuse shirt and matching pleated skirt by Chloé. This is such a lovely bold colour. She paired it with a skinny belt and Brian Atwood heels. 

Kirsten Dunst is delightful in Louis Vuitton. She wears a blue and white printed dress with pleated skirt which has a retro feel to it. She carries an LV handbag and wears pretty gold criss-cross sandals.

Best Evening Looks of the Week

Jessica Alba has the best maternity wardrobe in Hollywood. The actress looked angelic in a white anglaise maxi dress by Dolce and Gabbana. I like how she's had her hair done. Jessica carries a gold metallic clutch by Diane von Furstenberg.

Gisele Bundchen dazzles in a smokey grey beaded gown with fishtail train by Oscar de la Renta. Don't you just love the pop of pink?

British model Laura Bailey is dreamy in Valentino. The taupe dress has a nude coloured tulle overlay. I love this dress. It features ruffled tulle layers on the asymmetrical neckline. Laura wore nude suede shoes with it and carried a metallic grey clutch.

Not the Best Week for...

The adorable Elle Fanning had such a stylish week...until she met those shoes. Maybe with something else, but the plank like platform is too heavy for this girly embellished dress by Vintage.

Kim Kardashian was in London to launch her new perfume (yes another one). This purple and orange Gucci dress has been exhausted by celebs and fashion magazines. I'm tired of seeing it and doesn't fit so well either. It was worn on the red carpet just last week, see it here. 

Nicole Kidman attended the CMT Awards in Proenza Schouler. It's the colour combination of green velvet and two-tone brown with lilac strappy sandals that puts me off this dress.

Kylie Minogue was in Australia to kick off her 'Aphrodite: Les Folies' tour. Her beige mini with the black leather circular cutouts is harassing my vision.

Kate Middleton & Blair Waldorf in Jenny Packham

Off The Catwalk
Kate Middleton & Blair Waldorf

The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton looked gorgeous at the ARK 10th Anniversary Gala Dinner held in London last night. The brunette beauty wore a romantic pale rose gown from Jenny Packham's Spring 2011 collection. The dress has soft tulle sleeves and is encrusted with tonal sequins and Swarovski crystals. Kate paired her dress with a matching blush tone clutch and peep toe sandals.

You may recognize the dress, as Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester) wore a very similar version on this weeks' episode of Gossip Girl, entitled 'The Princesses and the Frog'. From a real life princess to a TV's fashion princess, the dress is a stunning colour on both. I prefer the design of Blair's dress, but like Kate's hairstyle better.

Below is the original runway version of Blair's tea-length dress.

Gossip Girls

Declarations of a Drama Queen

This is for anyone who's ever had anything said about them behind their back - which is probably everyone. I'm sure we've all been victims of the wicked word hurl called Gossip. It stems from half truths, hearsay, secret slipping, eavesdropping and a whole lot of miscommunication. Isn't it strange how rumours grow as they are spread along from person to person? What starts out as just one made up line about someone ends up being a descriptive, deceitful and damaging novel about them. According to Earl Wilson, 'Gossip' is "hearing something you like about someone you don't." No wonder it's so popular...

I have learnt that you can't stop people from talking about you, but you can chose not to let their words get the better of you. I have also learnt that you can't believe everything everyone tells you. You have to take rumours with a pinch of salt, or rather, a whole canister. I share with you some interesting, insightful, funny and slightly dramatic sayings about gossip.

*The only time people dislike gossip is when you gossip about them. Will Rogers.
*For anyone who talks about me, it's mind over matter. I don't mind and you don't matter.
*What you don't see with your eyes, you shouldn't invent with your mouth.
*The best gift for those who judge you are your shoes. Let them walk in it so that they know and understand what you've been through.
*A rumour without a leg to stand on will get around some other way. John Tudor.
*The only reason people talk behind your back is because you are already ahead of them.
*The best way to keep one's word is not to give it. Napoleon Bonaparte.
*People's words affect you only as much as you let them.
*In our appetite for gossip, we tend to gobble down everything before us, only to find, too late that it is our ideals we have consumed, and we have not been enlarged by the feasts, but only diminished. Pico Iyer.
*The easiest way to keep a secret is without help.
*Calling someone fat won't make you any skinnier. Calling someone ugly doesn't make you prettier. Calling someone stupid doesn't make you any smarter. Ruining someone's life won't make yours any better. Adapted from Mean Girls. 
*The only thing worse than being talked about, is not being talked about. Oscar Wilde.
*I love my life...and apparently you do too. Drama Queen Quote