Celeb Style - Nautical Stripes

This Week's Trend
Black and White Nautical Stripes

Wearing horizontal stripes can be intimidating. There's always the fear that it will make you look 'wider' than you actually are. If worn in a flattering fabric, accompanied by the right attire, stripes can look very stylish. There are so many ways to wear this nautical print - t-shirts, blouses, mid-length dresses, jackets and shorts. On a negative point, a fully striped dress could end up looking like designer prison wear. Striped leggings can come off as sleepwear and will draw attention to your thighs & calves.

If you're not sure how to wear them, view the style file below for ideas.

Famke Janssen wears a short striped top with black blazer, dark bootleg jeans and a red scarf. She carries a Balenciaga 'Twiggy' bag.

Taylor Swift wears her striped t-shirt with skinny jeans and a black boyfriend blazer. She paired the look with a navy knitted hat and Ralph Lauren crossbody bag. Not crazy about the dark purple brogues.

Jessica Alba wears a floaty striped 'Delia' dress by Elizabeth and James with a black blazer and tights. Her lace and leather bag is by Dolce & Gabbana and her tie-up boots are by All Saints.

Selena Gomez chose a tunic with thicker stripes, which she wore over black tights with slouchy suede boots. She added a pop of colour with a red wraparound scarf.

Nicky Hilton looks like she's stepped off a yacht in stripey Madewell 'Set Sail' shorts, a black tank top and Panama hat. She wears it with a red Chanel bag and espadrilles by Christian Louboutin.

Friday Frills

Red Carpet Trend - Blush Tone Dresses

Red Carpet Fashion

Blush Tone Dresses

Below are some blush tone dresses worn on the red carpet this past week. Each of them have completely different designs, in a graduation of pretty blush tones.

Olivia Palermo wears a long-sleeved maxi dress by Mango, in a subtle nude shade. She accessorized the 'Frankly' dress with a tan belt. 

Bryce Dallas Howard attended the premiere of 'Ceremony' wearing a soft pink tea-length dress by Reem Acra, which is adorned with gold embroidery. She wore similar toned satin pumps by Brian Atwood - I would have liked to see it with strappy sandals. 

The beautiful Cheryl Cole wears a peachy silk dress by Sass & Bide, with embroidered detailing at the waist and shoulders. She paired the dress with Nicholas Kirkwood heels and a Diane von Furstenberg clutch.

Wild Fig - Autumn/Winter 2011

Wild Fig
Autumn/Winter 2011 Collection

South African fashion label Wild Fig expressed simple femininity in their Autumn/Winter 2011 Collection. Beautiful fabrics combine with ladylike designs and soft colours to create a sophisticated and refined range of clothing. 

50's style dresses were accentuated with pretty bows at the waist. The style of dresses are girly, however the fabrics in contrast are not. So you can wear them even if you're not a fan of the ultra-feminine trend. The gray knitted dresses would be a great addition to your winter wardrobe; either worn on their own or over tights. 

Tasteful fabrics, frills, lace and matt satins added character to the beautifully designed outfits. Sheer printed stockings and floral fascinators complemented the feminine theme. The Wild Fig 2011 collection is an unpretentious range of clothes, providing relaxed glamour without the unnecessary ostentation. 

This stunning range is available at Salvation in Menlyn and Rosebank, Johannesburg. Selected pieces will also be available at French Kisses in Knysna, Ques in Bloemfontein and Dell'cious Clothing in Bryanston.

Wakkerstroom Arts Festival 2011

Wakkerstroom is the Jewel of Mpumalanga, known for it's calm countryside fare. This tiny town, which is 3 hours from Johannesburg, is a world renowned bird watching destination, retirement village and a peaceful place that city folk visit to get away from it all. This long weekend bird watchers, music lovers and art enthusiasts from all over the country flocked to this little dorp to attend the Wakkerstroom Arts Festival. I was lured there by an advertisement I had seen in a magazine. I arrived on Saturday and was surprised to see that this (usually) sleepy town had magically sprung to life. The streets and restaurants were crowded with local and international tourists, jazz filled the air and amazing artworks were on display everywhere.

Beautiful pictures, antique furniture and luxurious home decor can be found at House of Baxburg, which used to be the old bank. The Health Shop stocks all natural beauty products and organic ingredients. A fountain outside the Bistro, where food and art combined to occupy the afternoon. At Bits 'n Pieces, you will find historic home ware, antique tea sets, old books and one-of-a-kind heirlooms.

Mooi is a treasure chest of vintage finds as well as modern home decor pieces. The Birdsong offers whimsical clothes, bags and beadwork.

The Arts Festival took place over three days at various venues. The entire town was abuzz with activity, each event taking place at a different time and specified venue. There were arts and crafts exhibitions, showcasing the remarkable talent of local artists. The Glass Art Studio of Wakkerstroom had a stall selling their decorative handmade glassware. They also offer classes on the subject. The Mucky Duck screened classic movies at their quaint tavern. The Wetlands Country House was the venue for 'Jazz in the Garden' concerts each afternoon. Guests were entertained by internationally and nationally renowned musicians such as the Pam Mortimer Jazz Trio, Gaabho Motho Tenors, Bena Opera Quartet, The Northern KZN Youth Choir, harpists, pianists, violinists and many more. 

Purchase stunning crystal chandeliers & other ornamentation at Country Home. Wakkerstroom is the second oldest town in the (old) Transvaal, and the church building (pictured above) in the town square is a historical monument. The Brie Street Deli is a charming coffee shop where you will also find a wide range of cheeses, chocolate, home-made preserves and spices from around the world. Local artists showcased their spectacular paintings (bottom right).

Festival Round-up:

Best place to shop...Mooi for their delightful vintage trinkets.
Best place to eat out...Wakkerstroom Country Inn for the delicious freshly baked scones with strawberry jam, whipped cream and seasonal berries. Yum.
Biggest Mistake...Not pre-booking for the concerts. They were all sold out by the time we got there.
Best experience...The lively atmosphere on the main street, where dozens of tourists of all ages from all over South Africa enjoyed a serene afternoon in this small town. 
Verdict...I had a wonderful time at the festival. Wakkerstroom is an enchanting and placid place, filled with friendly people, beautiful boutiques, lovely restaurants, B&B's and old-fashioned charm. It will leave you with a feeling of tranquility. I will definitely be returning very soon.

Tuesday Thrills - Christian Louboutin Pigalle Pumps

Pigalle Pumps

by Christian Louboutin

If you're going to invest in a pair of designer heels, the Pigalle 120 Pumps by Christian Louboutin is a good way to start. The classic low-cut pointed-toe design with 120mm stiletto heel is most popular in black and nude patent leather. The simple silhouette is constantly being reinvented, most recently in eye-catching colours, interesting fabrics, metallics, studs and sparkly spiked heels. They can be paired with just about anything; a casual pair of jeans, work suit or a cocktail dress. 

"The design that encapsulates my career is the Pigalle, a low-cut, high-heeled pump. It's so subtle in that it adds something sexy to the body, but you don't immediately realise that it's the shoe that's making the difference." Christian Louboutin

 German model Heidi Klum wears teal coloured Pigalle pumps with a cropped pair of jeans and red blouse. Spanish Model Clara Alonso wears them in basic black with a Christian Dior LBD. Actress Katie Cassidy matches her belt and clutch to her plum pumps. Sarah Jessica Parker wears the gold glittery version of the Pigalle. Marchesa designer Georgina Chapman wears a metallic gold pair of Louboutin's with a printed bustier dress.

Unlike celebs, most of us sadly can't strut our stuff in a pair of Louboutin's. However you can start a 'Pigalle Pump Savings Fund'. You will need to collect $457.49 (about R3 182) to buy the plain black patent pair on Net-A-Porter. Anything fancier and the price goes up. 

Blake Lively For Chanel Handbags

Chanel Mademoiselle Handbag Collection 2011
Featuring Blake Lively

Blake Lively has come a long way since we first saw her in The Sisterhood of The Traveling Pants. In the movie she played a soccer playing, tank-top wearing tomboy. A far cry from the stylish Serena van der Woodsen we all know on Gossip Girl. These days, Blake is not only a style icon, but also the face of Chanel's Mademoiselle Handbag Campaign for 2011. 

This upper-east side mademoiselle is the latest muse of designer Karl Lagerfeld, who created the line with her in mind. The mood of the photo shoot is dusky and minimalistic, so that optimal focus is placed on the bags. The collection sees a modern take on the classic Chanel bag. 

This quilted wonder is a timeless and high-end accessory, perfectly suited for both casual and formal attire. All the bags in the range have a rounded trapeze shape and are available in red, deep blue, gray, black and white. The glossy red one has my name on it :)

Celeb Style - Tan and Leopard Print

This Week's Trends
Tan & Leopard Print

This week's style inspiration sees how leopard print and the colour tan can be worn. Tan is a wintry shade that's accessible and suits any skin tone - as shown below. It can be worn with black, white or denim. Or wear it with prints from a similar circle of colours. 

I love leopard print - as long as it's worn appropriately. Too much and it starts to look tacky. If you're not keen on the leopard print clothing trend, add small aspects of it with shoes, bags, belts or scarves.

Brittany Snow wears a tiered leopard print top with black skinny jeans and heels.

Emma Roberts wears a classic cropped suede cardigan in tan by Chanel Resort. She paired it with a white tee, black skinnies and Christian Louboutin 'Daffodil' platforms. 

Zoe Saldana is stylish in a tan draped-front leather jacket and 'Stephanie' bag by Diane von Furstenburg. Her 'Angelique' jeans are by Decades Denim and leopard print pumps by Brian Atwood.

Kim Kardashian teams her tan top with a sleek black blazer with tasselled shoulders. She carries a black Chanel 2.55 flap bag and wears the very popular Louboutin 'Daffodil' platforms. 

Jaime King and Nicky Hilton wore the exact same dress to the UK Style launch party. They didn't seem to mind matching and posed for photos together. The fully sequined animal print mini is by French Connection. Nicky wore it with a black belt and patent black 'Pigalle' heels by Christian Louboutin. Jaime wore it with Yves Saint Laurent shoes. I won't ask "Who wore it better?" because I find this dress too shiny and kitsch.