Monday 23 February 2015

IN CONVO - with Chu Suwannapha

Chu Suwannapha has long been renowned for his personal sense of style. His recent SA Style Award was testament to a fashion-forward individual always pushing the envelope of men's fashion through his personal sartorial choices. When one looks at a dresser as 'avant garde' as Chu, it is a natural response to think: 'I could never wear that. He has a knack for putting items together beautifully'. Thus, it was with great excitement and anticipation that we went to Cape Town to view Chu's first collection at the inaugural Menswear Fashion Week. The point of great interest was how precisely Chu would adapt his personal style sensibility into a ready-to-wear collection for South African men. 

We often joke about the fact that we're the same height
as Chu and fit into the same sizes!

The Chulaap collection certainly did not disappoint. It was a perfect blend of Chu's Asian roots intertwined with his African abode. The collection was described as 'East meets South' and this was the perfect summary: from Origami inspired crafting to knitwear that had a distinct hybrid quality, this collection managed to marry two diverse design traditions into one seamless whole. For men not yet used to this level of stylistic interpretation, we were pleased to see that almost all of the pieces could be worn as stylish separates and dressed down or up. Of course, we loved the way it was styled for the runway: an evocative blend of an earthy South African feel combined with Chu's authentic sense of style. 

Chu's iconic looks have established him as one of the most
cutting-edge fashionistas in the country

We caught up with Chu to chat about the inspiration behind this collection. We know that Chu is well-known for his personal sense of style. Before seeing his collection, the central question on many lips was how he would take this and transform it into a collection of menswear items. In terms of inspiration for the new collection, Chu emphasised that his main aim was to celebrate Africa and that he was inspired by local street styles. 'I love mixing cultures and the idea of crossed cultures when coming up with my design ideas,' Chu explained. 'The main idea was to reinvent the existing African prints to make them cool, quirky and current.' In many senses, he wants his customers to feel like they are wearing fashionable items as opposed to traditional wear. From an Asian point of view, Chu confessed that he has always been obsessed with origami. He blended these divergent style backgrounds by choosing African prints which resembled the interpretation of Japanese paper wraps. Chu's take on this: 'You may say that I’m creating my own prints with the appliqué of origami.'
Prints for the modern man
When asked about his take on the dress sense of the average South African man, Chu believes that his collection can spruce up any man's wardrobe. He described his collection as modern and fresh. 'It’s all about being cool and unique.' We were curious as to why this was the right time for Chu to produce his first collection. 'I've always wanted to launch my own label but I took this opportunity as soon as SA Menswear Week and Cape Town Fashion Council approached me to do a show. I think you always sense when the time is right or not. But sometimes you have to take a chance and take the action to make it happen.' In this instance, Chu's gamble has certainly paid off. Judging by the response to his collection and subsequent reviews, this will be the first of many collections to come. 
Africa meets Asia
Chu expressed that he is incredibly excited but does not want to rush the progression of the Chulaap label: 'at the moment I will take one step at a time. I don’t want to go too big too soon. I’m still taking baby steps.' We expect that Chu's baby steps will soon turn into great strides - strides that will take South African menswear to the much-needed next level. The word 'Chulaap' means luck and success: hopefully, his choice of name for his label will be a sign of the many good things to come. 
The knitwear pieces were a highlight of this collection

Friday 20 February 2015

SA MENSWEAR WEEK - A/W 2015

During SA Menswear Week, we experienced a proliferation of new talent hitting the runway. You might remember the name Jenevieve Lyons from SA Fashion Week last season. She was one of the participants in the Renault New Talent competition. Despite not wining, Jenevieve is continuing to make great strides forward in the SA fashion industry. The menswear collection showed on the opening night marked that of a designer with a very clear creative vision; this is extraordinarily encouraging to see in such a young designer. The new-age man coming down the runway could best be described as a futuristic nerd: all the trappings of modernity (clean lines and structure) with some of the down-to-earth nature of the college student (sandals and socks and some more flowing garments). All in all, this collection provided a great balance between structure and flow as well as the old and the new. 


JENEVIEVE LYONS
Photos : Simon Deiner/SDR Photo

Equally cutting edge was the latest range from Augustine - no range this season has captured the distinct blend of the sporty with elements of futurism and Asian.  This idea of sporty practicality is a huge trend we have noticed this year.  We particularly loved how texture played a major role - leather jackets offset with knee length sweat pants.



AUGUSTINE
Photos : Simon Deiner/SDR Photo

Another two young designers who showcased as part of the Cape Town Fashion Council showcase were Lukhanyo Mdingi and Rich Mnisi. Lukhanyo Mdingi's collection depicted an effortless urban comfort. The use of chunky knitwear exuded warmth and softness while the tones of white and grey provided an edge. It was great to see the use of sheers and distinct Asian influences, which is a prominent menswear trend in general currently.


LUKHANYO MDINGI
Photos : Simon Deiner/SDR Photo

Rich Mnisi packed quite a punch as usual; this time, he decided to do it in a more hypnotic way (no boxing gloves). His collection brought sleepwear silhouettes to the fore with a distinct emphasis on sexy comfort. As usual, his use of printed fabrics provided the most salient visual impact: the use of blues, whites and blacks with a dash of gold brought out the edge in this collection. He provided interesting (almost conversation piece) silhouettes such as a jacket with exaggerated drooping shoulders.



RICH MNISI
Photos : Simon Deiner/SDR Photo

CSquared once again displayed their penchant for finely tailored suits.  There were no great shakes in this collection but that is not what we expect from CSquared.  They know and understand their market and what was shown will not disappoint their established clientele.

C SQUARED
Photos : Simon Deiner/SDR Photo

Shaldon Kopman of Naked Ape is a well-established menswear designer who has recently just opened a slick new store in Rosebank, Johannebsurg. And with good reason: he knows what men want. He is able to design items for the fashion-conscious man concerned with fit and detailing while providing tailoring that remains classical and sophisticated. His use of leather detailing definitely elevated certain items beyond the realm of the average garment. Knitwear items were masculine but soft at the same time. A particular favorite was the weall-crafted plaited jersey. Sheldon also played with some draped fabrics creating more flowing silhouettes. As usual, the shoes were a highlight: either highly lacquered or making use of fabrication, they added more dimension to the collection.



NAKED APE
Photos : Simon Deiner/SDR Photo

Craig Port chose a black colour palate and went the "Asian Persuasion" route. Oversized deconstructed coats and judo shirts (complete with long fabric belts) were evident. What was of particular interest is the way Port used flowing, roomy tops but chose tighter fitting trousers - blending last season's skinny silhouette with this season's oversizing.

CRAIG PORT
Photos : Simon Deiner/SDR Photo

Lucky Luke kept the emphasis on comfort with knitwear,  loose fitting, extra-length tees in a colour palette of blacks and whites, aw well as neutral shades. This collection tended towards a hybridisation of formal and casual elements. We liked the crop tops pulled over longer t-shirts. 

LUCKY LUKE
Photos : Simon Deiner/SDR Photo

Kim Govaars of X&O made use of a eye-catching black and white bird pattern; this worked well when opposite colour ways were combined into one seamless look. Once again, this is a comfortable man who requires functional clothing: loose fitting knits, sliders and tracksuit fabrics. The visual motifs elevated this collection: we enjoyed the use of stars and birds. 

X&O
Photos : Simon Deiner/SDR Photo

Bastion Menswear drew on the word 'Fernweh' for inspiration: the intrepid traveller with a thirst for experiencing novel destinations. Travel attire needs to be comfortable and wearable while providing a stylish edge. Earthy tones and  blues grounded this collection. The use of hoodie scarves was an interesting styling element.  

BASTION MENSWEAR
Photos : Simon Deiner/SDR Photo

Craig Jacobs continued to build on the sheer fabric trend for men in the FMBCJ collection. This showing provided a 'sporty tribal' aesthetic. Some of the more sheer items would be for the more daring man to add some extra playfulness to his closet. 

FMBCJ
Photos : Simon Deiner/SDR Photo

Nguni Shades also chose the tailored route.  From cricket blazers to checked overcoats, the look was sharp and cutting edge.  Like Craig Port, belting took the form of the long fabric "karate belt".  The Asian 'kimono' element was also very evident in the work of Mzukisi Mbane - who also chose to add bright colour in his layered ensembles.

NGUNI SHADES
Photos : Simon Deiner/SDR Photo

MZUKISI MBANE

Closing the inaugural SA Menswear Week was the highly anticipated collection from Ruald Rheeder.  Gone were his figure revealing leather clothes from last year.  Instead we witnessed layered combinations of tunics, trousers and man-dresses.  Other than the coarse linens and cottons evident, Rheeder added elements of crafting via knitted detailing and also infused the current trend towards sheer fabric.

RUALD RHEEDER
Photos : Simon Deiner/SDR Photo

Sunday 15 February 2015

"SCENTSATIONAL" FRAGRANCE JOURNEY - Hyde Park Corner - Johannesburg



We love nothing more than a chance to travel and, thanks to the many stores in Hyde Park Corner, we were afforded a trip to remember.  We embarked upon a "Scentsational" fragrance journey, an exploration into the realms of perfumery to discover the notes and extracts making up some of the most exclusive fragrances in the world.  Along the way we encountered a few familiar scents as well as some we had not come across before. 


Krishen headed for the Lancome display, like a moth to a flame,
no doubt tempted by the sight of Julia Roberts - one of his favourite
actresses.

With her infectious smile and 'girl-next-door' look, Julia Roberts joined
the Lancome family in 2010 establishing herself as one of their
most enduring ambassadors. With its fruity composition, the perfume has become 
one of the fragrance house's best sellers. The name itself "Life Is Beautiful"
is one of Krishen's pet mantras

It's Krishen's dream to one day become Julia!


Alan on the other hand likes a touch of the exotic and no perfume
(in his eyes - or should that be 'his nose') is more exotic than
Black Opium from Yves Saint Laurent.

The latest YSL fragrance was launched in September last
year. Black Opium blends notes of coffee with jasmine, vanilla
and cedar in a bottle embellished with sequins to give a
glam rock star feel.
Sorry Alan, Edie Campbell does a much better job as
the face of Black Opium


Some journeys and explorations can be treacherous - you could
meet opponents at every turn.  Krishen and Irina Doman found
themselves dueling with cameras along the way.



Next it was off to Britain for a sniff of the classic Burberry cologne
 Brit Rhythm - its blend of citrus notes lending an air of the casual swinging
60s.  Krishen was keen to exchange his standard bottle for the
"help-me-get-it-to-the-car-size" version on display.

There were diversions along the way, including an awesome
performance of excerpts from Swan Lake by the Johannesburg Ballet 


Alan then came across some old friends - his favourite range of
fragrances from Paul Smith - the perfect thing to compliment.
the brightly-coloured Paul Smith socks he has become known for.
The combination of top notes of lemon and bottom notes of musk has made
Paul Smith's 'Extreme' one of Alan's all time favourite colognes.

Kevin McLennan was overwhelmed and
decided to step one side and "reflect" on
his own personal fragrance journey.

Thank you Hyde Park Corner - a big kiss from each of us.  Now
the problem of deciding which of the numerous fragrances to buy
for ourselves on Valentine's Day.










Thursday 12 February 2015

IN THE CLOSET - with Yasmin Furmie

We first encountered Yasmin Furmie on instagram and immediately admired her wonderful eclectic style. Imagine our surprise when we found ourselves sitting next to her at the theatre that very evening and, within no time, a friendship formed.  So we were determined to have a sit down with Yasmin and hear all about her personal style journey and have a peek into her Aladdin's Cave of a closet.





From dresses by SA designer Tiaan Nagel to jewellery from Diana Vreelend, 
Yasmin's wardrobe has been acquired over many years and
on many international trips









Yasmin's closet contains an array of shoes ranging from the
quirky to the masculine - this diversity comes together as part
of her unique style


In this video clip, Yasmin tells us how her style has developed over the years, from being influenced by her stylish father to the evolution of her signature hairstyle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrKhi4toXz0







Tuesday 10 February 2015

MISS VEET SA 2015 - Finalists & Stylists

We spent a wonderful morning with the Miss Veet SA finalists at Rosebank Mall recently. After a spread of sushi washed down with some bubbly at Nicci Boutique, each 'stylist' team was paired with a Miss Veet SA finalist and made our way to a store in the centre to style our finalist. 

The Dream Team: posed and 'at work' 

Seen here with the Miss Veet SA 2015 finalists - ready, set and... style!

We were paired with Samantha Pascoe and found ourselves in 'Sea Weeds'. This fashionable store caters to the stylish woman seeking beachwear as well as relaxed causal looks and more formal options. We decided to incorporate some of the most recent trends that we have seen on runways: we decided to transform Samantha into a 70s film star going on an incredibly stylish beach holiday. Think Faye Dunaway sipping cocktails on a fabulous getaway... 

That '70s trend: an emphasis on crafting and fabric with knitted detailing 
that looks hand-made.

We were very happy with this effortlessly chic look incorporating
an knitted overlay that added a sheer, sexy element 

Another beach-ready look: print and colour thrown in in the form of a
flowing scarf tied around the waist

After our fun styling experience, we had a chance to sit down at the luxurious 54 on Bath Hotel with each finalist to hear a few of their thoughts on fashion, style and why they decided to participate in Miss Veet SA 2015. 

We love that each of the finalists bring a different aspect to the competition: these are confident, young women ready to take on the world. There can only be one winner but each of these ladies will definitely have learnt a few things and grown immeasurably in confidence once the competition is over. We look forward to crowning the new Miss Veet SA 2015 next month. 

But first... Let's take a selfie!

Some of the Miss Veet SA 2015 finalists:





Odirile - 'If you feel good on the inside, you look good on the outside. The biggest resource is your mind.'










Olorato - Her beauty routine is all-natural: she gets lots of sleep, water and loves sushi! She would encourage confidence for girls if she becomes Miss Veet SA 2015. 








Melissa - She prefers a sown-to-earth fashion sensibility. The one item she cannot do without? Her leather jacket. 









Hape - She believes that Miss Veet can provide a larger platform, a possibility of greater experiences and a way of encouraging change. 





Samantha - Her main aim would be to represent the Veet brand and to really be out there: to be 'loud and proud'. 










Kopano - What does she think of when she hears the word 'beauty'? Softness and confidence - a sense of an assured woman making a difference in the world.