IN CONVO - with Stevie French

We caught up with actress Stevie French to explore a 'few of her favourite things'. Some of you may have already seen the great fun we had when Stevie attempted to teach us dancercise steps (Alan never quite recovered). After an interview which touched on Stevie's time as a news anchor in Alaska as well as her return to SA and landing a role on 'Ihawu', we headed over to Colour Cafe to do another of Stevie's favourite things: decorating ceramic mugs. Exploring Stevie's many facets was delightful to say the least. We spent a fantastic afternoon with this incredibly engaging and bubbly personality and after all the activities, one thing was most certainly clear: we could go on talking for hours and hours. Just how we like our 'In Convos' (especially when they somehow incorporate rigorous physical activity and  creativity all in one!)

Alan was rather confused when it came to this sequence

Some post-dancercise stretching

Another of Stevie's Favourite Things: Bright copper kettles and warm
wollen mittens (or brightly painted ceramic mugs at least!)

Alan discovered something he was good at... At last!

Not too bad! Krishen and Stevie made mugs while Alan opted
for a elaborately decorated milk jug

ANDROGYNY - Are We Ready Yet?

One of the many trends to have emerged from the recent Milan and Paris Fashion Weeks was the rise of unisex clothing.  In the past women have always managed to get away with wearing more masculine clothing and turn it into a cultural statement - like the way Diane Keaton did way back in 1977 in the movie Annie Hall - but let a man experiment with female clothing (or even clothing that so much as suggests femininity) and the reaction is not always positive.

So while the lines between male and female continue to blur on the runway, we have to ask whether the local SA market is ready for this.

Yesterday local singer Jimmy Nevis arrived at the J&B Met in an outfit by Kim Gush and Ruald Rheeder that looked like he was wearing a sheer dress under his jacket.  We loved the effect and admired the fact that Nevis' look was very fashion forward but public opinion was very divided.

Some of the comments on social media showed that the general public may not take to this look just yet and we are not entirely sure our ultra-conservative society ever will.  However, we loved the fact that Jimmy Nevis (and others who are not afraid to push boundaries) stepped up to the plate and looked good doing it. Kudos!

"THROWBACK TUESDAY" - The Craft Bra Run

Last year we were invited to participate in the Craft Bra Run to place the spotlight on Breast Cancer Awareness.  The event was organised jointly by Craft Restaurant, one of our favourite hangouts in 4th Street, Parkhurst and Lorinda Voges of 4Elements Media.

Members of the public (along with celebs including Jonathan Boynton-Lee, Shashi Naidoo and Jay Anstey) all donned pink bras - yes, the men too - and either ran or walked the length of 4th Street, much to the amusement of passers-by.

This short video clip captured the highlights.

(Video courtesy of Lorinda Voges/4Elements Media)

RICK OWENS AUTUMN/WINTER 2015 - "Exposing" Men's Fashion

Last week fashion designer Rick Owens shocked everyone at Paris Fashion Week by sending his models out on the runway with their genitalia on display. 

Not even the former enfant terrible, Alexander McQueen ever pushed the boundaries this far.  The whole incident smacks of the “Rebellion” trend currently sweeping through the fashion industry. Many people outside fashion circles may not have been familiar with the name Rick Owens but, thanks to the outrage caused by his recent show, we may soon find his name up there among the better known designers. So clearly the stunt had its desired effect.

Little cut-outs in exactly the right place and no underwear
created the desired effect.

Other outfits left little to the imagination

And the message behind this? Possibly that being rebellious and the shock factor will set you above the rest. That's all very well but  isn't this supposed to be about style and taste? Different strokes ....

GUCCI AUTUMN/WINTER 2015 - Emasculating The Male

The fashion world was in a frenzy trying to predict who would take over as head of Gucci when it was announced that Frida Giannini was departing.  We can only assume the recent decline in fortunes for the fashion house had a lot to do with this decision.  Giannini was supposed to remain at the helm until February (after this month’s 2015 men’s autumn/winter collection was presented in Milan) but, in a surprise move, she left a month early.  That’s when new creative director Alessandro Michele stepped in and, in record time, created a whole new concept, redesigned the entire collection - even going so far as to recast the models.

Those in the industry know just what goes into producing a fashion collection. It takes months of conceptualising, not to mention all the blood, sweat and tears, so one can only imagine what Michele and his team must have gone through to pull this off.  So just what was it that clinched the position for Michele?  We think it was most likely the fact that that his creative vision was the complete opposite of Giannini’s .  And for a fashion house in trouble, a fresh approach is the obvious criteria that would be required to reignite public interest.

Gucci's Autumn/Winter 2015 Collection on the runway
at Milan Men's Fashion Week

The revamped range was certainly unexpected.  The effeminate models seemed to be an extension of the overall androgynous tone of the collection, from its blousy shirts with fussy detailing down to the flowing feminine lines of the trousers – in all, a very emasculated concept altogether.  However a closer look at the history of Gucci may indicate a clever approach, and perhaps a very calculated strategy.

Androgynous boys in blouses and sheer effeminate
shirt-dresses was the order of the day.

Gucci had enjoyed major success in the 70s.  After internal squabbling and ongoing legal battles saw the Gucci family lose direction in the 1980s, Tom Ford took charge in the 90s and the brand reached even greater success.  Now that things have slowed down again post-Ford, how do they regain any glory?  Repeating Ford’s formula would only make Alessandro Michele look like a copycat but perhaps looking further back and recapturing some of that 70s glamour may be the answer.  

Individual pieces resembled authentic 70s female items such as the
Ascot Blouse (right) with its bow detail.

It’s just our theory, but maybe he decided to take the female silhouette of the 70s and add a twist by reinventing it for the male form.  The concept of 70s androgyny is by no means new;  David Bowie, Marc Bolan and Mick Jagger were just a few of the style icons of the Glam Rock era to popularise the trend but it had been a look that was reserved for Gucci’s female customers at the time. By updating it for men in 2015, they have created something that appears fresh, but with just the right dose of nostalgia to generate that all important feeling of familiarity.

The silhouette of David Bowie's "Thin White Duke" era wide trousers (left)
and "Ziggy Stardust" chiffon shirts (right) was a prominent influence.

The 70s "Poet's Shirt" was a favourite for both men and women
as seen here worn by Jacqueline Bisset (left) and Mick Jagger (right).
The idea of genderless clothing was a major influence on the latest Gucci
Menswear Collection.

The use of androgynous models clearly harks back to Bowie's
early days of sexual ambiguity. 

The collection was perhaps not as well received as everyone had hoped but that could be put down to it being a radical move on the part of Gucci.  Many critics have stated that the deciding factor as to whether Michele’s appointment was a wise move or not, will be the upcoming Women’s Autumn/Winter 2015 range.  We can only but wait and see. 

Alessandro Michele take a bow.

FLYING FISH PREMIUM FLAVOURED BEER - #Flashback Flavour

When people are dancing in time to the Hustle, when there are afro wigs everywhere you look and everybody looks like they've been transported from another decade, it can only mean one thing... A far-out, flashback 70s party. We took it to the max with Flying Fish Premium Flavoured Beer at a recent 70s party at the Living Room in Maboneng Precinct... 

The perfect beverage for any party

Having a groovy moment
with our fab hostess, Shannon

Shane was definitely 'The Man' of the party:
looking like a Cool Cat in this 70s getup

We loved this chilled hippie look

Close up moment with some of the girls, Lee-Anne (rocking a pink wig)
and Nastassja donning some cool shades

Hey Good Looking! Shannon and Leon were in head-to-toe 70s gear

Far out suspenders dude!

Dyno-mite hair!

Boogie, boogie, boogie 

Flying Fish made the evening fab!

We loved the 70s inspired fashion:
Like this awesome tasseled skirt worn by Diana

Singing along to our favourite Donna Summer songs...

And getting down on the dance floor to some disco tracks with Sandi

Can you dig it?
We totally dig this look!

We had a fantastic time with Flying Fish Premium Flavoured Beer at this 70s party. We'll 'catch you on the flip-side' with a some Flying Fish! #Add Some Flavour to your parties... 

TRENDS FORECAST 2015 - Part III

In the final installment of our Trends Forecast, we look at a few trends that have developed in our collective mindset.  It is only a matter of time before these forms of expression transfer from being social phenomenons to fashion statements.

Futurism

The influence of technology on production techniques is enabling designers to become more cutting edge than ever before. This includes techniques such as laser cutting as well as working with fabrics in previously unseen ways.  Visual elements are coming to life: on fabric as well in other spheres, such as motion-sensitive billboards that are triggered by passers-by.  

In our world of visual stimulation, advertising has become more
interactive, as this billboard in a Swedish tube station shows.
At first the ad appears to be pretty standard until a train passes
and triggers a motion sensor.

Visual elements for fashion are becoming more important: the idea is that your clothing literally has to ‘speak’ for you. The more daring your choice of wording or print, the more courageous you are in your fashion choices. Even designers such as Carolina Herrera are re-engineering traditional motifs such as floral prints in more futuristic ways (so that they almost appear holographic or 3D) as extension of this trend.

An extension of slogan T-shirts, our formal designer
clothing will start to speak for us as this Moschino gown
shows.

Fabrics will become more futuristic in composition (synthetic, made made fibres
will prevail) and new techniques such as foam injecting fabric - as seen in the
latest Alexander Wang collection (left) or subjected to laser embossing as
shown in the Calvin Klein 2015 range (right)

Space Age Futurism will become more mainstream as shown in
the latest collections from Alexander McQueen (left) and
South African designer Jenevieve Lyons (right).

The trend doesn't necessarily need to be too left-of-centre - it can also be expressed in subtle ways.
Carolina Herrera's Spring/Summer 2015 range looks fairly conventional but it includes floral
motifs that have a 3D or holographic quality.

Rebellion

Socially there is a worldwide mistrust of government institutions.  They are perceived as ineffectual or corrupt and, coupled with a financial crisis that appears never-ending, this is leading to an uneasy feeling of anger, helplessness and the idea that chaos is inevitable. In the design sphere this is already starting to emerge in the way fashion is being displayed.  Male models are sporting more tattoos and not shaving – even going so far as to grow bushy beards - a look that has now become completely acceptable, not only in fashion but in every day life too.

The growing feeling that the world in general no longer
cares about the individual will start to manifest in continued use
of our bodies and clothing as ways to express our anger.

Girls now proudly display disheveled hair and a ‘devil may care’ attitude.  These elements embody what we would have previously perceived as anti-establishment. As badly behaved celebrities, such as Miley Cyrus (with her severely cut unstructured hair) and Justin Bieber (with his "rap-sheet" and array of tattoos), continue to land top endorsement deals – the idea that being anti-establishment will get you further will start to manifest itself in a much bigger way in 2015. 

Role models now include celebrities who court controversy and
are famous less for their artistic achievements but more for their
anti-social behaviour as seen in the latest ad campaigns;
Courtney Love for Yves Saint Laurent (above), Miley Cyrus for
Marc Jacobs (middle) and Justin Bieber for Calvin Klein (below).

The difference between the ripped look of the 70s DIY Punk fashions
and its modern counterpart, is that today we are not afraid to
abuse designer clothing in our efforts to be rebellious.