Office wear..

This is my interpretation of the reserved office look. I felt like being serious but comfortable and which a tad of whimsy. I work in a conservative banking environment where suits and ties are the order of the day. Because of this I'm always looking for cuter, edgier and just plain different ways of interpreting my office look. Wearing a plain brown accountant suit is not my idea of a goo look..

Here I try to reinterpret the pencil skirt with a shirt by wearing a peplum short skirt and sheer blouse. The neckpiece is my way of wearing the tie.

About the outfit:

- Skirt- Jo Borkett

- Shirt- Trenery

- Neck piece- 

- Shoes- 9west

SHOPPING AT SARIE!

Sarie, the Afrikaans women's magazine has the most adorable online store. They stock clothing from Christopher Strong Michelle Ludek, Habits and many more.

I did the happy dance when I found this site; just the other day I was complaining about how there aren't enough stores with local designed clothing.. 

The fact that my Afrikaans is unusable didn't matter, I would know the word skirt in any language. This site is soo much fun and it really has a wide range of clothing..from a longish list of designers.

You must visit it; the site comes in English as well if your Afrikaans is also lacking.

http:///www.koop.sarie.com

BTM TENNIS MATCH

Today was the Breaking the Mauld exhibition tennis match between the Williams sisters. I was rooting for Serena of course and she didn't disappoint fans when she won in straight sets. 

The majority of the people in the arena were rooting for Venus, she had a connection with the crowd and was overall a very likable player. 

Serena looked great in a white Nike peplum skirt with a salmon top; her body was as athletic as ever.

It was very hot, so I went for a light and fresh look..I paired a short summer dress with a denim top. 

What I wore:
Shirt dress- Edgars
Denim shirt- Edgars

Baseball Jacket

Its been a cold week in Jo'burg; the sun finally came out today. I decided to try out my new baseball jacket. I was going for a contrast of sporty and casual chic.
I am going to try the jacket again tomorrow with a different outfit..

About the outfit:
- Pants- Forever new
- Top- Forever new
- Jacket- Mr Price

Look what I found

I bought a red baseball jacket recently..I don't know yet how I'm going to wear it, I just had to have it.  I have a tennis match coming up so I figured I could work it into a look.

Watch this space to see what I come up with. Isn't it just cute though?

Where to get it: R129 @ Mr Price.

Williams sisters in Johannesburg

Serena and Venus Williams will be in the country this November to promote women's rights through their Breaking Mould campaign.  They will play two exhibition matches, one in Nigeria and one in Johannesburg's Ellis park indoor arena.

I am a big Serana Williams fan, I love her powerhouse tennis persona and her super atheletic body.

The breaking Mould initiative said the two tenis stars trip to Africa is aimed at promoting "the role that women play in shifting perceptions and encouraging development at all levels across the African continent,"

Girl power!

I am going to the match; I just could not let the chance to watch world class tennis in my back yard pass me by. See you there if you are going or you can watch the match at home, SABC3 will be broadcasting it live.
The Johannesburg match is on Sarturday the 3rd at 13:00.

ARE LOCAL DESIGNERS TOO GOOD FOR US?

Many of us really want to support the local fashion industry; not as a favor to local designers but because we simply love the clothes. The fact that we are boosting local businesses in the process is a bonus. 

The problem is we have no idea where to buy locally designed clothes.

There is 36 boutiques, which is one of the very few online stores that offer a limited range of some great local designers; its convenient, the website is simple to use, its safe and I can buy a dress at 23:00. 

Parkhurst in JHB  is the other place where you can find cute boutique stores that carry local designs.
I really don't know any other places in JHB that offer a wide range of local designers under one roof.

I feel like there is a missing link between the consumer and the designers. 

Fashion is a business like any other; the number of units sold multiplied by the price per unit gives you your turnover. Therefore to increase your turnover you need to increase the number of units sold.  You can increase the price, but only to a certain point as consumers will only buy a product at a certain price range..My point is if designers need to sell products to customers to make money why then is there such a gap between the two parties...

Are designers already selling enough?

Which stores carry local designers? And why don't designers have websites with their latest lines and more importantly where to find their latest lines? I'm not talking about a long list of stockist that at most times don't event have the latest merchandise..I am talking about a real time link with accurate information of where to buy a particular piece.
This may not apply to all designers but certainly applies to many..

Let me give at least three examples:
1. Faeeza Khan's fab shweshwe print skirts were featured on Elle magazine some months ago; I called around, googled, came up empty handed..I did however find her fabulous blog during the search(:

2. Again some months ago, I went to a fashion show courtesy of Elle magazine; there were some lovely Christopher Strong dresses I had to have..Looked around, went to Parkhurst, called the company; All I got was sorry we are based in Cape town..*sigh*

3. More recently I saw a wonderfully floral Thula Sindi dress to die for on Grazia magazine; I called the stockist's number.. and it just rang unanswered..I really love this dress so I tweeted the designer himself..

You know that feeling..like you are the only one who wants the relationship? Are local designers too good for us?