i am born this shade...

I am really just lucky to get involved in half the things I get involved in. Two weeks ago I was part of a shoot for Clinique South Africa’s I was Born This Shade online campaign. The final videos are up on the Clinique South Africa Facebook page and I kinda look good don’t I? I think I was feeling fun and flirty cos the camera and sound guys were so cute. Baby I was born this shade!!

fashion meets architecture

This past week I went to the opening of an exhibition at Arts On Main called Fashion Meets Architecture. Wearing an outfit inspired by Kim Kardashian or Jennifer Lopez circa ‘Jenny From The Block’ I arrived after what seemed like a prize giving session to a room filled with great looking folk and an exhibition I didn’t quite get.

Feeling a bit daft that I didn’t get it, I kept walking around the room to see if I had missed something. My sister kept telling me to just ask someone, but I kept recalling that scene in Closer when Clive Owen’s character Larry says to Natalie Portman’s character Alice “I know its vulgar to discuss the work at the opening of the work,” and we all know that openings are generally for drinking and mingling.

Unable to take it anymore, because it was killing me as someone who studied art history that I couldn’t get it, I asked around and it seemed that other people there also didn’t get it. The biggest question was “where is this architecture component that is meant to be meeting the fashion?” We could all see the fashion - beautiful gowns by Abigail Betz, pieces from Black Coffee’s SAFW collection and a host of other designers all displayed beautifully, but there was nothing that read “Fashion Meets Architecture.” Just because we’re in a building isn’t a strong enough conceptual leg to stand on in my opinion.

Anyways, I could be wrong, but I am pretty certain none of the pieces the fashion designers showed were specially commissioned for the exhibition so one can only wonder what the actual premise and concept was for this exhibition. I wish I had some time to get some answers and investigate further, but I don’t think that an exhibition, be it art, design, architecture should baffle and confuse.

Oh well... those are just my thoughts...

Love and Paddle Pops

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kiwi smiling feet

So this past weekend I debuted my Dixie Boots from Plum Shoes as well as test drove these new amazing gel cushions from Kiwi’s Smiling Feet, which are just amazing and super reasonably priced. As a firm believer and fan of gel cushions, because I have really narrow feet and a slightly flat foot, the Kiwi’s Smiling Feet range (yes I said range!) is just pure heaven in my opinion because of the fact that it has a total of 7 types of gel cushions.

I have always used gel cushions, so I thought I knew it all when it came to making sure that when I’m out my feet don’t hurt so much it feels like someone is holding a lighter underneath them, but I clearly not. I honestly believed that there was only one type or style of gel cushion you could buy.

So when I discovered that the Kiwi range has 7 types of gel cushions each designed to provide relief and comfort to the different regions of the shoe that cause discomfort I got really excited. 

My absolute favorite because they are literally what I have been looking for my entire life; are the heel liners and the mini cushions. But seriously at 25 bucks a packet you can just got the whole range, from Pick 'n Pay or Checkers stores, like I did. Its an investment people! 

spence and missibaba designer fashion day

for the love of denim

At JFW launch party with Cheska Liackman from Elle and Allana Finley from AFI

At SAFW with Luisa from O Mag (image via www.elle.co.za)

At JFW launch party at Randlords with Vuyiswa Mutshekwane

bow peep

Nothing excites Thithi more than discovering great new wonderfully whimsical accessories. The other day, and by the other day, I mean like a month ago, I asked the Twitter-sphere for references regarding awesome locally produced accessories and that's how I found out about Bow Peep.
However, the thing that excites me the most about Bow Peep is that the lovely lady who is behind it all is  an old school mate. Very proud of this ex Girls High girl and extremely pleased that she took sometime to answer some of my questions regarding her work.

 What is Bow Peep?
Bow Peep is an accessories brand which was started earlier this year in Cape Town by Leila Badsha. I started by making covered Alice-bands and expanded my range to include earrings, broaches and rings. I am also planning on making bow-ties for men.

Who is behind Bow Peep?
My name is Leila and I started Bow Peep in February of this year. I don't have a design background but I have always made accessories for myself and for friends and last year I decided to start making accessories to sell from my blog Samoosas and Slup Chips (www.samoosasandslupchips.com). It was only at the beginning of this year that I started Bow Peep and set up the blog/online shop. It's still a work in progress but I have had some great feedback on my products. I work full time and spend my evenings and weekends making products and sourcing fabric.

What inspires the work done by Bow Peep?
Bow Peep products are all made using fabric (mostly printed cotton). The fabric inspires the designs. I spend a lot of time rummaging through haberdasheries and fabric shops to find interesting fabrics, buttons, ribbon and other trims.

Are the products sold on Bow Peep all made in house? Are there plans to stock other brands or designers on the site?
I make everything myself and at the moment I only sell my products from the Bow Peep blog. In the next week or two my products will be available from a retailer in Cape Town.
I am hoping to find retailers in Johannesburg and Durban. In the future I would love to open a shop. My dream has always been to open a stationery shop but recently I have been thinking about expanding on this idea by opening a shop where local crafters and designers can sell their products. A YDE type platform but for accessories and homeware.

What can't a girl live without on the Bow Peep platform?
The Bow Peep Alice-bands are a great addition to any outfit, they add a playful touch and they are super comfortable unlike other Alice-bands which hurt after a few hours of wearing them. The brooches are also a great way to accessorize a winter coat, an interesting brooch is always a conversation piece.

flat on the flatform

Okay, so the weather is getting chillier by the second and soon I'll be enjoying the lovely coats I have in my wardrobe and running around in suede platform boots (if the weather doesn't all of a sudden decide to get all Cape Town on us and rain the entire winter).

Anyways, so the other day I posted the new Solestruck lookbook and for some or other reason I said something ridiculous like "I am actually quite in love with the idea of the flatform." Oh my Gaawd what was I thinking and why didn't anyone comment and tell me that I am completely nuts!?

In my defense, the Jeffery Campbell flatforms pictured are styled quite nicely in the shot so there was some method to my madness, but still. Apparently according to The Shoe Experts blog women are asking for a change and want the height with the comfort. Who are these women? Where do they come from? Do they have no respect for Roger Vivier?

However I will say that if next spring / summer you feel like trying out the flatforms or flat-platform, then my suggestion is that you choose a pair that has straps or leather panel detailing that create the illusion of an arched heel, like the black leather and wooden flatform from Phillip Lim and the green and red wooden flat platform from Fendi.

Just please don't decide to purchase or wear any of the styles / types pictured in the last image. You'll look like a granny. Because all of those look like granny shoes.

I will now spend my entire time from now until spring, masterminding a malevolent plan to  get rid of flatforms, or atleast convincing everyone in my social circle that they are a terrible idea.

solestruck: the checklist - introducing the summer lookbook

There is nothing more exciting for me than shoes. Which is why I love getting a glimpse at the Solestruck lookbooks when they come out. Here are some of my favourite pictures.

I am actually quite in love with the idea of a flatform - these are from Jeffrey Campbell

These dreams are from Senso. I am going to buy these. Come hell or high water!

These life changers are from Matiko. Also in the shopping cart

good heavens these ties are lovely

Not sure if I have shared my love for menswear before, but menswear and masculine looks on girls are literally like my favourite - in fact, Marlene Dietrich is one of my style icons.

One of the great things about working with the team at Twenty Two on some of the planning components of Fashion Fridays is that you get to fond new designers or brands like Good Heavens.

me me me sale on again!

met gala favourite picks

Daphne Guinness in Alexander McQueen

Image via Style Frizz

Christina Ricci in Zac Posen

Image via Catwalk Queen

i'm in the cosmo!

I have been very lucky to be featured in several publications like Elle Magazine, House & Leisure, Glamour, Cleo and now Cosmopolitan Magazine! I guess it pays to know people in high and influential places right? So if you haven't purchased the mag already, go and get it, because I'm in it!

cleo magazine march 2011...me again

So in March I was lucky enough to be featured in Cleo Magazine's career issue. I loved answering the questions on '10 Things Not To Do At Work'. Plus Leighton Meester was on the cover, which just made the issue an all round good one to get right?

in february elle magazine asked me...

about the moment I fell in love with fashion... and here's how I responded in 150 words:

"I suppose the moment I fell in love with fashion was around the time I owned and wore, what now looks like a very 80’s outfit, but from what I can ascertain from my parents relaying of the story the moment they realised that their little girl didn’t see clothes as just clothes. Apparently when my father bought me the pleather skirt I am wearing in the picture, I pointed out to him that it wasn’t real leather like the boots my mother had bought me. Who knew a four year old could have so much to say about the quality of her clothing?"

fashion fridays:hello winter