Top South African Lifestyle Blog
What's Hot, New & Trending on the Fashion Scene. Plus tips for fabulous fashion for women over 40!
[quote style=”1″]I have a bit of a pink obsession, combine this with my shoe fetish and I was in heaven when I happened upon these rather delish photographs of “pink” shoes! For me the colour pink invokes feelings of femininity, mixed with a girlish charm. I personally do not own a pair of pink shoes but feel the need for a bit of “pink” retail therapy coming up![/quote]
Images: Pinterest Pretty & Pink Board & Super Mom
Shoes are such a personal fashion statement, like diamonds they can also be a girl’s best friend! They can make or break an outfit – take your look from drab to fab in an instant. They add awesomeness to most legs – the higher the heel the better! My favourite look this season is super sensuous, with peep-toes – on a wedge or a sexy heel. Please don’t forget the glamorous polished toenails to compliment your super stylish heels!
I have picked a few of my favourite, sexy summer styles, from one of my local stores, Queue Shoes, to share with you….
So if you are looking to glam-up a pair of jeans or add a bit of bling to a sexy black number for the festive season, heels are definitely the way to go!
set 1: From the top (Left to right) Overlay Strap Wedge peep R329.00, Mary Jane on Wedge R1299.00, Platform wedge with Weave T-bar R349.00, Cut-out Peeptoe Wedge R349.00, Cork Wedge Sandal R799.00, Platform Wedge with T-bar R499.00.
set 2:From the top (Left to right) Mesh Peeptoe R399.00, Red Peeptoe R399.00, Cut-out Platform Mary Jane R1199.00, Snake Peeptoe R399.00, Satin Closed Back with Ruffels R349.00
All items: Queue Shoes
[heading style=”1″]Zara Opening in South Africa[/heading]
How exciting – Spanish retailer Zara will make its South African debut at the newly refurbished Sandton City, in Gauteng, on November 10th! Which is really great news for all of us fashion hungry – style junkies! They are by far my favourite store to shop at when I visit London – as if I need any excuse to shop!
Zara is one of the largest international fashion companies and belongs to Inditex, one of the world’s largest distribution groups. The company was established in 1975, with one store in La Coruña , Spain – they now boast 5154 stores, in 78 countries around the world. Their unique business model places the customer at the heart of their business, which includes design, production, distribution and sales through an extensive retail network.
Their South African based operation will not be franchised; they are entering the SA market through the corporate store route, which will keep retail prices as low as possible. Zara will be sure to bring some, much needed, diversity to the local retail market, with its Spanish roots and European styling.
Zara’s core concept is to provide quality fashion at an affordable price, hopefully enticing local shoppers and promoting healthy competition among local retailers. A bit of healthy competition never goes amiss and will encourage local retailers to up their game!
So I may need to find an excuse for an emergency trip to Gauteng and do a bit of shopping! Hopefully we will soon see a store opening in the Mother City(Cape Town) – the VA Waterfront would be ideal – a bit of shopping, followed by sushi and bubbly! 
Images: Zara.com
Nanette Lepore
As the weather seems to be getting warmer here, in Cape Town, the time has come to start thinking about venturing out and making a few necessary purchases. So I thought I would do something fun, to get you in the mood for summer and give you some idea of what’s out there on the swimwear scene.
The look this summer definitely has retro references, with a return to 60’s & 70’s swimwear glamour. One piece costumes are making a big come back, in either bold – solid colours or flirty florals, which are more feminine with flounces and frills.
Swimwear Trends 2011/2012 by supermomsa featuring 77kids
The trend in bikinis are nude, neutral tones and even shimmery gold’s – if you are looking for a bit more bling. To complete your look, you can shade yourself from the sun with a giant sun hat or tie a scarf around your head for a bit of 70’s styling.
So be daring and try something different this season and whatever your style just have fun with it, it is summer after all! See you on the beach! 
Items from Woolworths: Woolworths.co.za
1st Set: (Right – top to bottom) Natural Straw Hat R120.00,Coral One Piece R225.00, Beige Tote R299.00
2nd Set: Black Kaftan R275.00, Black One Piece R225.00, Black Bikini R260.00, Country Road Tote R299.00, Pink Flip Flops R120.00 (prices from the website)
Other Images: Pinterest & Vogue UK
I saw a fashion show, on style TV, the other evening, featuring a range of Alice Temperley designs and instantly fell in love with her work. Her ultra-feminine designs and romantic flair appeal to my sense of fashion.
Alice Temperley was born on 22nd July 1975; she grew up in Somerset on her parent’s cider farm before moving to London to study. She graduated from the Royal College of Art and Central Saint Martins before setting up her company “Temperley London”. She launched her fashion label “Temperley London” in 2000, along with her then boyfriend, now husband, Lars Bennigsen.
She cleverly crafted a niche for herself in the fashion industry with her attention to detail; focusing on beautiful fabrics and hand-finishes. She was hailed as “the designer making the biggest waves in British Fashion” by “American Vogue”.
Her designs, for me, are effortlessly elegant, creating a long-lean silhouette – with a side of goddess glamour!
“Temperley” produces four collections a year: Autumn/winter, Cruise, Spring/Summer, and Pre-fall. They have four stand-alone boutiques in London, New York, LA and Dubai. Their designs are also sold in 300 stores, in 37 different countries. They also ship items world-wide, yes even to South Africa – who knows I could be wearing an “Temperley London” design to my brother’s wedding in December! Well – maybe not, as the dresses start at around £800 pounds – it’s ok to dream!
For those of us with a smaller budget, the company launched a sister range called “Alice” in 2010. This more affordable, easy-to-wear range, inspired by the London girl of the moment, already has an international following. For a look at the current collection, go to “Alice by Temperley”.
Alice Temperley has also written and published a book called “True British” which catalogues the past ten years, which she has spent building the “Temperley brand”. The book includes mood-boards, detailing the colours and fabrics used to create the designs, along with pictures of the finished items. In the book she has also combined snippets of her personal life, along with the evolution of her fashion brand.
All the designs I have featured, in this post, are from the “Temperley London” Spring/ Summer 2012 collection. You can see more of the collection on the “Temperley London” website.
