An afternoon walk in Palma de Mallorca amongst the city’s cobbled streets, sherbet coloured walls, pretty balconies and contrasting shutters called for a simple outfit. Hello denims.
Denims are my staple and I probably wear them 60% of the time. I find them comfortable, versatile and no fuss. They’re the “easy going” item that can be made up or dressed down and are always included in my travel wardrobe, coming in very handy when you find yourself exploring a beautiful city such as Palma.
Each season comes with its own styles, colours and details and so a pair of denims is not usually an investment item for me – I prefer to buy the high street versions from Zara and H&M, mostly so don’t feel too bad at the end of the season when the new styles take my fancy.
Summer has brought with it the shorter ankle grazer with frayed edges and torn knees (the I-don’t-really-care-look!) and while I’m sure this won’t last for too much longer, I love that it screams suuuuuummer, especially in this lighter blue.
A simple tee and denims however deserves a lot of accessorizing, in fact I think more is more. Scarf, ring, bangles, sunglasses, handbag, flats with details (aren’t these ones super cute?) and you’re set to go. Tell me what you think – I’d love to hear.
P.S I use a light scarf often, it not only adds a little glamour to an outfit but can come in handy to wrap around your shoulders if the temperature changes or is great to use as a mini-blanket if you find yourself wanting to sit on a patch of grass (yup, I have done this loads of times!)
You don’t have to search very far to find something that charms the eye and it has spoilt me forever. Each time I step out of my apartment I’m greeted by something breath-taking which reminds me not to take each of these moments for granted.
The only problem for me is deciding which of the many impressive landmarks is my favourite, and I often hear myself telling whoever is in earshot that “this is my favourite building in Paris” and it’s never the same one – it’s just so hard to decide!
In all my shoots I’ve specifically chosen places where a landmark or special place is shown and this look is no different – and yes, ‘It’s my favourite’! The glimmering coupole of the Hôtel des Invalides is truly magnificent and lucky for me around the corner from where I live.
The final resting place of Napoleon Bonaparte, but commisioned by Louis XIV back in 1670, and is home to the Musee d’Armee (the military museum). It’s impeccably manicured gardens provide a calm place to enjoy the sunshine as well as provide a picture-perfect backdrop to show off a white summer dress accessorized with none other than gold!
I’m a big fan of this lace sleeve detail; it makes me feel pretty, feminine and slightly girly which makes it the prettiest outfit to happily picnic alongside Napoleon on a hot summer’s day, and the best part? Gold foil temporary tattoos.
A few months ago I had a third hole pierced in my ears. The last installment to my trilogy didn’t feel as extreme as when belly rings were en vogue and I had that done, or when I had the top of my ear pierced or the secret tattoo inked. However, I most definitely DID feel like a teenager when I walked into the brightly coloured neon-lit Claire’s Accessories and sat on the cheerful pink high-chair (surrounded by Hello Kitty paraphernalia!) and was presented with a plethora of rainbow coloured earring options by a young nervous working student who was about to shoot my ear with a lethal dart gun (Okay, not that dramatic I guess!). But, yes, it most definitely hurt!
If you’ve been thinking about getting another hole done then you’ll be pleased to know that now, more than ever, with earrings and piercings once again popping up on the A/W 2015 catwalks there is no better time than now after all!
Erm, okay so not quite what I had in mind as the Givenchy girls, Balenciaga babes and Manish Aurora’s models were a little extreme for my tastes, and I’m certain I’d garnish a few odd looks, however I am loving DKNY’s multi-ring ear cuff (why not fake it right?) and the myriad of great combinations on Instagram and Pinterest.
So whether you get yourself another jab in the ear or you fake it with the multitude of options out there from ear cuffs to clip-ons, be sure to adorn your ears as soon as possible. It’s a quick and easy way to accessorise yourself in the morning and add a little “rock” to your look, be sure to mix and match too – have fun!
I have a gluttonous passion for travel and luckily not only do I come from a lineage of equally hungry voyagers but my small, cute family and I get to travel a lot. My first overseas adventure was with my mother and grandfather, I was 14-years-old and it was an unforgettable tour around Europe and the UK – Big Ben, Tower of London, The Eiffel Tower, the Black Forrest, just to name a few of the sights. Growing up, both my grandfather and my mother travelled to Europe a few times a year, they met up with work colleagues, friends and family and explored different cities all over the continent. I listened to their stories, received the postcards they sent, saw their photos and was the spoilt beneficiary of awesome travel gifts and chocolate over the years! My Grandfather has since passed away but what has been passed down is this passion for exploring different locations, the architecture, scenery, culture, food and people, being immersed in and soaking up each unique experience. One of the things I remember most about his trips was his skill for packing. He’d start a few weeks before each big trip, the bed in his spare room would be filled with piles of neatly folded shirts (often with tissue paper lining the shirts and then slipped into shirt bags), beautifully ironed trousers laid out ready and waiting to be effortlessly placed in an open suitcase. He’d have a steamer, bottles filled with exact amounts of shampoo, body wash and hair gel and shoes in spotless shoe bags with a shoe kit alongside them – his piece of advice was that you should always know where everything is packed so you can find it easily in the dark. Our household however is a little different from my grandfather’s pre-travel weeks of careful arranging. I usually end up stuffing a case around 10pm the night before our 6am airport run. We’re more than not travelling with two small boys who come with a lot of stuff, admittedly less now than before as they are growing out of that baby-phase, but now it’s a negotiation of what toys to bring along, which favourite t-shirts to pack and which snacks will be in the carry-on bag (at least babies don’t have a say!) In the last 5 months we’ve travelled to Phuket, Johannesburg, Umhlanga, Hong Kong, Brive-la-Gaillard, London and Majorca – that is a lot of packing time and jamming suitcases closed. There have been no precisely folded shirts, no tissue paper, no shoe bags and certainly no steamer BUT, unexpectedly I can find things in the dark – mostly so not to wake the kids! In light of all this travel, I was invited by the masters of the travel trunk, Louis Vuitton to discover ‘The Art of Packing’ (perhaps they had also noticed the other bulging bags under my eyes due to all the late night packing sessions of squeezing, folding, forcing and squashing EVERYTHING into my case). Of course I was curious to discover how to make taking one’s travelrobe across oceans and deserts a whole lot easier, so off I went to meet a grand master of packing at the Champs Élysées store and I was introduced to Gabriel. He had laid out an array of men’s clothing to pack into a carry-on case, perhaps he thought I was a really good wife and would pack for my better half (Lucky Husband!). However, it doesn’t matter what you’re packing as all the tips and tricks he taught me can be used with any travel wardrobe. Click below for my mini-mag on how to artfully pack a suitcase – there’ll be less huffing, puffing, sweat and growling on your future travels.
Let me know what you think and be sure to add any other tips you have – I’d love to hear them. Thank you to Louis Vuitton for the superb lesson, it’s already come in handy!For more on Louis Vuitton luggage visit www.louisvuitton.com
With the change of season and the longing for hot summer days I see no reason why not to wear a pair of ultra wide-legged trousers – also known as Palazzo pants. I love these ‘I’m really a pair of pants but look like a skirt’ pieces of fashion; they have such a cheeky sense of humour.
Finding their way onto the fashion scene in the late 60’s, these comfy, practical and elegant pants became super popular because various stuffy restaurants owners at the time didn’t like contemporary fashion trends where womenfolk were wearing trousers, and so they refused to allow these modern gals into their establishments unless they were sporting a dress. And so, some of our awesome predecessors decided to outwit these ‘rules’ and opted to introduce Palazzo trousers into their evening wardrobes (ah ha! Take that you stuffy, sexist so-and-sos). Subsequently a trend arose that reoccurs on the catwalks every few seasons – and here they are again for Spring 2015!
They shout relaxed, easy and cool whist being feminine and practical. I personally think they can be a little tricky to wear, you have to find the right pair for you, and should be worn with a tighter top to show the body’s silhouette; otherwise you risk looking like a tree-trunk with a big ass. I like them long and worn with heels – although with street-casual still being a strong trend, wearing them with sneakers is completely appropriate too. I especially love these striped, maxi ones with rope belt from Zara because they add even more length with the horizontal stripe making one seem super-human tall and the black and white means you can mix and match them with both black and white and various colours.
Go on, find yourself a pair and wear them once a week when you feel like something a little more comfy but chic – you might surprise yourself and never take them off!
I do love seeing all the recognition that moms get on International Mother’s day. Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are flooded with status updates and photographs of hardworking awesome women who receive their annual high-five from their kids, siblings, parents and other halves. It makes me think of all the skills and talent that mothers need to fulfill this always busy, sometimes annoying, super exhausting, frequently rewarding and always unconditional job.
To me motherhood is when I’m assured that my kid isn’t going to end up a complete troll even during those moments of supermarket breakdowns and just-before-bedtime tantrums. Motherhood It’s a good mix of joy, irritation, love and fear and a lifetime commitment to one career. So in the spirit of my lifelong career here’s how my current CV reads …
I’m an excellent Fast Food chef. In fact, I make 3-Michelin starred chefs look like amateurs. I don’t see them whipping up 4 different meals in ½ an hour in order to please the head-shaking, famished but fussy customer yelling “No, I don’t like that” – even though yesterday the first option was a favourite!
I am the queen of negotiation. I can bribe, cajole, entice and occasionally influence very strongly, and my best time of the day to use these skills is generally around mealtimes and bedtime when my toddler pulls out his best “I’m starving/scared of monsters/ one more story/ thirsty/ need to wee/ one more kiss” strategies.
I’m a qualified magician. I can find a snack, lollypops, water, wet wipes or toys cars (maybe just not quite a live rabbit) from the deepest darkest places of my handbag, and all just in time before my underage audience has a hunger/boredom/thirst/snot-nose melt-down.
I’m a world-class DJ. My music repertoire is better than Kanye, Sinatra, Beyonce and Mozart put together. I can un-bored a bored toddler with an immense song collection – oh yeah, and right off the top of my head. No lessons or voice training required. That is how talented I am!
I’m the Sleep Whisperer with a PhD in patience. Who needs Gina Ford’s bootcamp routine when I’ve got a pacifier/bottle/blankie? And if ALL else fails I’m so mentally strong I’ll push bébé around in his pram until he falls asleep – and HE. WILL. FALL. ASLEEP (eventually)!
I’m an IT Genius. I can YouTube a Mickey/Barney/youfillintheblack video faster than you can say meeeeellllt-doooown. Who says dining in restaurants with a toddler isn’t an awesome experience right?!
I am a Running Encyclopedia with a Diploma in Google. I know the answer to everything. Why did Dinosaurs die out? Where do babies come from? Why don’t people have tails? How does Santa get in when there’s no chimney? Are there monsters in under my bed? Why does my teacher have a moustache like Daddy? Where does the moon go during the day? While I do try to give the finest, most intelligent answers to all these profound and meaningful questions, sometimes my unsurpassed answers are “Just because” and “because it was designed like that” – Hah! I guess I do have one over Google!
I’m a Skilled Fashion Stylist and Personal Shopper. I know my way around a kids clothing store like Kim Kardashian around a tight short skirt. But when your clientele is more of a diva than Naomi Campbell with a crap assistant, it does make the job of personal shopper a little more challenging. Arguing with a 4 year old on what is “cool” is pretty taxing most mornings.
I’m a Talented Photographer. I’m lightening fast to pull out that iPhone to snap the impeccable image of blurred child seconds after the perfect image. This is when my negotiation skills come in best, to coerce child to re-do that once-in-a-lifetime moment so that it can be added to the family album, the one waiting to be put together. First milestones? Nailed them!
I’m a World Champion Weightlifter. Toddler, scooter, handbag, groceries, toy car, snacks and water bottle all carried by moi whilst pushing a baby in pram. Can anyone say Pack Horse?
I’m a Search & Rescue Expert. My assignment is in the Tiny Plastic Pieces Division. I’m tasked to seek out the smallest (most insignificant) Lego piece that is apparently the only piece good enough to complete the volcano shooting rocket car with wings and a super-fast jet pack. Guess where that piece is? I have NO idea either!
I’m also adding the skills of Social Secretary for after school playdates, Fortune Teller (I can see exactly how this scenario is going to end… and it’s usually in tears) and Family Law Enforcer. And often I’ve filled in as Head of the Department of Let’s Pretend and as a Minister of Health, Safety and Security.
But most importantly, I’m the President of the Jack and Tom fan club!
To all those mamas out there who are as brilliant as I am, pour yourself a large glass of wine and I hope you’re having an awesome day! Happy Mother’s day.
Please comment and feel free to add some more skills – I’d love to have a giggle too!
By this time every year after a few months of heavy winter coats, cozy scarves, thick socks and hardcore boots I’m itching to get some sun, sea and beach. May in France is full of holidays so gives the ideal time to break away and find some much-needed soleil au bord de la mer – although I don’t need any excuse to explore and travel! Our spring destination this year is Majorca, the ancient and largest island in the Balearic Islands archipelago in Spain in the Mediterranean Sea. Majorca has a long history that dates back to the Neolithic period of history, but the Phoenicians were the first to colonise the Island and then it was the Romans who founded the capital, Palma. After being conquered over the centuries and changing hands many times now the Island is part of Spain and attracts plenty of tourists and travellers with it’s beautiful coastlines, interesting history and picturesque architecture. Big blue sunny skies, long hot days, late tapas dinners, sand and sea… So what does a girl pack for such a holiday?
Well, I’ve done a little bit of wardrobe prepping and this is what is inspiring me. Sheer textures, white and blue hues, light denim cover-ups, flowing dresses and colourful, scarves and bold accessories – textbook style for a Mediterranean island get-away and bang on-trend for summer 2015. Be sure to catch my ‘Summer capsule wardrobe’ and ‘The Art of Packing with Louis Vuitton’ – both up on the blog soon, plus follow me @labellecrush to glimpse what I’ll be wearing day by day and join me on my travels around Majorca!
I’m sitting at my desk tonight catching up on a whoooole lot of admin but finding myself distracted by the stream of tweets and IG posts lighting up my iPhone screen with the hashtag #LVjozi (have I mentioned how much I hate admin?)
Tonight, the who’s who of my home town, Johannesburg, have donned their best and highest heels to celebrate the newly re-launched Louis Vuitton store in Sandton City’s Diamond Walk – can anyone say “homesick”?
Not only is this store the continent’s flagship (and modelled on the new look as seen in the Avenue Montaigne store by architect Peter Marino) but Louis Vuitton was also the first major luxury brand to arrive in South Africa in 2004, which fits perfectly with the maison’s rich history in exploration and travel.
In 1865 Monsieur Louis Vuitton even designed the trunk bed, a bed that fitted inside one of his famous trunks which was used by the notorious French explorer and establisher of French colonies in Africa, Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza – yup, trust only the French to have come up with the origional “Glamping”!
Even though I’m not standing on the super chic, highly polished, LV flooring in stilletos tonight and toasting the opening with the Jozi fashpack (sigh!), I will be sharing “The Art of Packing” with you soon. Where I was given a personal demonstration on how to pack the perfect travel case. Just like Glamping – but way better!
Check out more from the store opening on Twitter and Instagram #LVjozi.
As I watched the top headlines on the weekend, I couldn’t helping being fixated on the footage of the eight-story commercial building that crashed down on top of helpless garment workers just near Dhaka in Bangladesh two years ago. It wasn’t the first time I’d seen the footage, the news stories were to mark the anniversary of the Rana Plaza tragedy which happened on 24th April 2013, but each time I watch the stories of heartbroken mothers who have lost their children, who were probably making something that I have bought or from a fashion brand that I support, it feels more personal.
It’s hard to ignore the stories of the workers who were forced to work in a building that was reported to have serious structural damage, that could come crashing down at any minute. This was a factory that produced garments for some of the most well known brands, such as Mango, Primark, Le Bon Marché and Walmart. Due to threats that these employees would not be paid their wages for an entire month if they didn’t come to work, so they did. An hour after starting their shifts the building collapsed, and in under 90 seconds crushed more than 3 500 people. 1 133 people were killed, 2500 injured and at least 800 children orphaned.
In the aftermath, stories in the media began highlighting the horrific working conditions, illegitimately run and inadequately built factories, desperately awful pay, as well as the exploitation of employees as well as under-age workers.
To this day no-one has been held accountable – not the building owner, not the Bangladesh government, not any of the retailers whose merchandise was made there – nothing stands where the building fell and there are still bodies missing buried too deeply in the rubble.
Everybody loves fashion in some form – a luxury handbag, high street t-shirt or old pair of slippers – and with more and more clothing companies outsourcing their production to countries with cheaper labour costs and almost no worker protection rights there is no guarantee as to who is making our clothes and under what circumstances which makes us all accountable.
However, out of this horrific story there is some light. The industry, governments, companies and consumers are finally coming together to ask questions and create awareness around WHO the individuals are that are making our clothes.
So what has been done in the aftermath of the Rana Plaza tragedy? Last year, to mark the first anniversary of the disaster, a group of fashion activists, Carry Somers, Orsola de Castro, Lucy Siegal and Livia Firth launched the now annual “Fashion Revolution Day”, which calls for consumers like you and I to share photos on social media showing the labels on our clothes and the hashtag #fashrev – to create awareness on the true cost of fashion and calls for more transparency in the fashion industry supply chain, in the hope that consumers will be encouraged to ask retailers where their merchandise comes from.
www.fashionrevolution.org’s mission statement says it best, “On 24th April each year, Fashion Revolution Day will bring everyone in the fashion value chain together and help to raise awareness of the true cost of fashion, show the world that change is possible, and celebrate all those involved in creating a more sustainable future.”
This year, the campaign has been taken a step further. Once again driven by The Fashion Revolution, now a global coalition of designers, academics, writers, business leaders and parliamentarians, and again using social media as the main driver, we’re encouraged to get involved by taking a snap of your item of clothing with the label showing and uploading it to any of your preferred social media platforms, but this time tagging the brand and asking the question“Who made my clothes?”
Along with this campaign, this coalition of revolutionaries has also launched the initiative, #TraceMyFashion. Which aims to promote transparency within fashion supply chains. The project intends to track and document changes that are occurring within the industry to make significant improvements in the ready-made-garment (RMG) factories in Bangladesh. They want to “rally the high street, the high end, the innovators, the fashion students, the media, the public, the activists, the makers, the wearers – and everyone in between.”
What does TraceMyFashion mean exactly?
As a start, there have been a few of these large RMG companies, like BexTex and Desh Garments as well as social initiatives like Living Blue and Friendship Bangladesh, who have willingly come forward and been transparent about their brand, supply chain and the steps they are taking to improve their factories – in particular the wages and safely of their workers in order to form more ethical practices for the future. The long-term plan is to add Audit firm certificates (from Accord and Alliance for example) to these companies forcing the whole industry to eventually comply with higher ethical standards protecting all RMG workers. As the TracemyFashion website reads, “The positive side is that various stakeholders in the RMG industry are actively taking part in improving the overall situation because they want to remain on top of this billion dollar industry and gradually aim to achieve even a higher standard through ethical practices within their capacity. Since the movement has begun, change is inevitable.”
The Fashion Revolution is compelling us to care about the person who is literally making the shirt on our back, from the farmer who grew the cotton to the machinist who sewed each thread. There are now over 65 countries taking part in this uprising, which is a step to show the world that change is possible and hopefully build a more ethical fashion industry with a sustainable future. “We at #FASHREV, believe in a fashion industry that values the people, the environment, creativity and profit in equal measures. Our mission is to bring everyone together to make that happen.”
So, as I get dressed today, tomorrow and the next I’m going to think about all the people who have been involved in creating the beautiful clothes that I’ll be wearing. To be conscious of the fact that I am the last person in a long line, that involves hundreds of “invisible individuals”, to touch the items that I put on.
That I can make a difference, be more mindful and outspoken about where my clothing comes from and that a fair portion of the price I pay for the article goes to creating a safe environment and a better life for the individuals producing the item, and not just lining the pockets of retailers and shareholders.
Okay, stop the bus! These shoes are screaming what one calls STATEMENT heels!
You knows those shoes that spice-up any “I’m having an un-inspired fashion day” outfit? Well Sophia Webster’s designs are those shoes.
They are dazzling and you’ll start to notice that celebs, online influencers and fashionistas are all over them.
Ms Webster debuted her first collection of quirky shoes just two years ago. Before going solo she graduated from the Royal College of Art in a specialised MA footwear course and has a BA degree from Cordwainers College before being snapped up as a design assistant to Nicolas Kirkwood (also well known for fantasy heels that turn heads).
This super-talented gal has not only won numerous awards for her designs but is applauded for creating modern, fun, sophisticated footwear that is both unique in its aesthetic as well as commercially viable.
She started by launching her collection in the summer of 2013 in a pop-up shop in Burlington Arcade in London and due to it’s success, she opened a second in Covent Garden which ran from December 2013 through to February 2014. From here it’s been upward and onward for the British born blonde whose latest SS15 collection, “Jungle is Massive” is wildly imaginative.
You only have to look at the shoes, a concoction of flowers, leopard print, neon and monochromatic colours, beads and whimsical cut-outs of leaves, angel wings, butterflies and flamingos, to desire a pair. There’s an acid-infused, 90’s underground rave happening on every shoe – with girl-warrior embellishments, Aztec patterns and African prints, neon colours with black glitter – it’s hard not to love the playful sexiness of each design.
labellecrush.com 