ShadesGalore

Christine Coetzee and Shezi keeping it fashionable.

                                                   

If you dont own a pair of shades Im worried about you.  And if you feel you dont have a reason to get shaded google 'effects of the sun' or read some magazines.  Personally I wear shades because of fashion and trends; and my eyes have gotten used to shade (being office bound and all!) so I cannot be in the sun without them.  If I had a choice I would have an entire closet of shades from donkey years to current styles and shapes; a pair for each day(and night) of the year!

It used to be that only top brands retailed shades; which means most people couldn't afford them.  Voila local retailers blessed us all; plus most come with UV400(atleast they claim to!).  Now you find all styles, shapes, colours, prints, and no-colour everywhere at costs you wont believe.  Trendy for fun shades range from R20 - R150 (on the street - department stores); better brands from R150 to R400; then branded upwards.

Obviously shades came with some country that leads in fashion; as I do not recall people wearing shades during my childhood days.  In fact, those who wore glasses were either helpless without them(remember bo ma 4eyes!) or just beings silly and mocked by the public.  Yes I'm a farm child.  I do know though that brands like Police, and Rayban have been around for years; hey I had Raybans in Grade9 and didnt know their value!

For this post I asked my friends to assist me.  I must say I have fashionable friends; who have style and know what's current in fashion.  Lets look at the trends on peoples faces today:

1. Wayferers
 

Clear Wayferers

....are simply the most trendy and sexiest shades ever!  This shape looks good on men and women; and kids.  It comes in all kinds of frames; colours; and sizes.  The clean pairs will be referred to as vintage 10years from today; and the detailed ones are such statement makers!

Samantha Vlok wayfering life!

2. Fading coloured frames/lenses


Andiswa Nkosi romantisizing them'shades!

 People on trend find these...somewhere! As I have been searcing for these forever; I came close to owning them.  My friend gave a pair to a friend just a minute before I arrived....damn!  This colour also has a vintage feel to it; but also a certain softness about it.  Lovely!

Thepi & Lindi looking fresh.

Zama Sibaya styling it up!

3. Rounded

Andiswa Nkosi and friend setting trends!

Big or small, bright or just black, mirrored or transparen; rounded shades have been around for as long as I've been wearing shades.  They are the best shape for big round or heart shaped faces.  They are the basic pair we all have as we know they are on  trend everyday.


Zama Sibaya looking fab!

4. Frameless

Daphne Zulu branded!

Think Dior. Or high class ladies in big cars go for this look.  They are mostly branded and highly priced; or they just look tacky if not.  These scream glamour and sophistication; but I will admit they wont make it to my closet.   I just look with envy at people who look great in them; simply don't have the face for them.

5.  Aviators


Andiswa Nkosi fashionista!

The best look for most if not all men.  These are mostly two toned with thin frames(at most metal) or no frames! Imagine sailor men, pilots or soldiers....oh ok just men in uniform!  Yes that's the look; it has been around for centuries just like the wayfarers.  Also this one depends on the shape of your face; they look sophisticated too and ofcourse trendy.

Mmammotsa Makhene...ever so trendy:-)

6.  Lessons from my mother


Busisiwe Mashile (mama) 1984 in clear aviators!



Namaste from The Workshop Durban

Ta
Budgie

*Thank you to Andi, Lindi, Zama, Mmotsa, Daphne, Christine, Shezi and Sam; also polyvore.com; blogmyglasses.com; contagiousfashionfever.blogspot.com*

Trend Report Mzantsi Style

Fashion houses release trend reports almost every season; and traditionally South Africa follows these reports.  There is nothing wrong with following trends of any country; as long as we have a style we can call our own; and are able to add out touch to new trends.

1.  Blossoms - Mablomo

I love flowers; who doesnt?  Florals have been in for the past 2 or 3 years and thankfully they are still in.  The great thing about this print is that it can be on anything, from dresses to harem pants to sandals to pums to bags to jewellery to hair accessories, etc.  They are small, medium and large blossoms; anywhere and everywhere; even on men's shirts!

2. Africa - Afurika

The dark but brightest continent on earth!  It seems we have either exported or the world has stolen our swag fashion.  Prints and colour are gracing catwalks everywhere; and animal print can only originate from a place where animals are found...zebra print, leopard print, peacock!  Animal print has been around for ages and NO it wont leave; make peace and wear it. Also while you at that familiarise yourself with the different African country prints/geometric/colours; and embrace your Africanism fully.  I mean if Beyonce can, what are you waiting for. Short left to Zambia!

3.  Neon - mmala

This simply translates into extreme brightness and shower of colour.  Imagine your favourite colour in its brightest shade ever...yeah that's it.  Not getting it...think of the colours of Pedi, Tsonga, Ndebele and Venda traditional outfits; yes those colours just brighter.   Colour is what we do best in eMzantsi; our national flag says it all. This trend goes well with colour blocking; so it seems that's staying too.

4.  Sport - Geometry

Think of clear line patterns; almost like the Xhosa women's traditional attire.  In the west Victoria Beckham does it best.  This trend is inspired by sport and lines (geometry apparently).  It works well in formal office wear I believe.

5. Peplums
                                                                             
The first time I heard this word I loved it.  A peplum is merely the piece that flares out on a top or skirt(as in picture).  It adds a feminine touch to an outfit; makes it pretty.  These can be found on skirts, dresses, shirts, costs, jackets, sleeves and pants.

6. From the past
20s

Think of the jazz era; pearls, red lips, cigarettes, feathers, whisky, tassells, mary jane shoes and pantyhose.  This look has a theatre look about it; as if you are about to perform.  I do own a tassel dress and have worn it once as the style simply doesn't complement my pear body.  I am waiting for a tassel dress that will look good on most females in South Africa. 

50s

Think of the pretty perfect Stepford wife; immaculate, clinched at the waist and a full skirt.  At most these dresses were in delicate colours, fabrics and finishes.  Florals, lace, ribbons, on full cotton skirts.  Heeled and flat pumps go well with this look.

7.  Sorbet

Do you remember ice-block?  Do you remember the milky ones?  This colour trend is exactly that; the opposite of  Neon.  Think of all the colours in the lightest and softest shade; a shade that brings peace to your soul and makes you think of romance.  Also here soft fabrics like lace, anglaise(crochet) and chiffon are a hit.

8.  Shimmer/Shine - Tjarara

The only colours allowed to shine are all metallic shades and black.  All the other colours cannot be allowed to shine, especially not if its tight at the same time(shiny leggings!).  Metallics look great on handbags, accessories and footwear; you can get away with a shiny dress or jacket. Good luck!

9. White

Oh my! Star white outfits used to scare me; like denim suits!  Well white is in or atleast coming back soon.  First item on my mind is a maxi dress with large amounts of accessories.  Or linen pants(thick linen please).  Not sure about white shoes unless its an Allstar sneaker; white handbags look great with metallic finishes and hardware embellishment.

10.  Paisley - Mantariane

Not much to say except this reminds me of my childhood; and those always-wrinkled shirts/dresses men and girls wore.

There are more trends instore for 2012; visit harperbazaar.com, vogue.co.uk, marieclaire.com, wordpress.com, and oodora.com, shadders.net, opalescentminx.com to see more.

Ta
Budgie

Research and pictures: from harperbazaar.com, vogue.co.uk, marieclaire.com, wordpress.com, and oodora.com, shadders.net, opalescentminx.com

what figure?

It is not news that the world relates sexiness or ‘hotness’ to a body shape; and in most cases the hourglass figure leads the pack.  Think of Kim Kardashian or Scarlett Johansson.  South Africa is no different to this; there is a certain shape that is thought to be hot; this shape gets a double take, a whistle, and most possible a Zulu marriage proposal when it strolls down the street.  

First lets clarify the shapes that the world (or some professor) has classified women body shapes into. There are apparently 4 shapes: hourglass, pear, apple and banana.  Each resemble the literal noun meaning of each word.  Hourglass shaped women have their weight at the top and bottom, and a small midsection.  This means they have ample bust and bottom. Pear shaped (right way up) women have more weight at the bottom; and get smaller as we go to the top.  Apple shaped people have their weight spread almost evenly on bust, waist and bottom.  Banana shaped women have a boyish look; could be described as straight.  

My body shape gave my mother grey hairs in my teenage years because it was so different to hers.  My mother was boyish in her teen pictures; and now I believe an apple shape. I have a narrow waist, round bottom, and smaller top. My bottom (along with my thighs) appeared first outgrowing my entire body; to hide this mother bought me 1-size-too-big clothes; which only made me even bigger.  Her biggest concern was that I would get so much attention from men; and she was right and still is.

I will discuss the pear shape from a personal view as I choose to be this shape.  I knew there was something different about me in High school when my netball coach shouted at me for sticking my bum out while running.  The more I tried to explain to her that I wasn’t, the more she called me lazy.  By Grade10 I had gone from ‘Sara Bartman’ to ‘bumgie’ to whatever else names I do not want to remember.  All these experiences made me fearful of exposing my derriere; I did not and still do not appreciate the comments I get about it.  

It is true that we want what we don’t and at most times cannot have.  I have met a few ladies who think women with a big/large derriere are 'hott' and blessed as all South African men want a big bum.  I never know how to respond to this because from my experience most black South African men like big anything/everything; most white men like slim anything/everything; and then there are all the in-between men who challenge the majority.  My body shape taught me that I need more that just a body to be relevant; I need a personality, a purpose and substance.  I cannot and do not rely or ever use my body to achieve anything; except maybe fashion.

To all the ladies that think they are not sexy or hot; sexy is not entirely defined by your body shape.  It should come from somewhere else; whether it is your heart, brain, achievements, etc.  Look at the world, they call people like Alicia Keys, Beyonce Knowles and Kim Kardashian sexy but they cannot be on a fashion ramp.  The fashion industry’s sexy is a size 0! And all countries have their own type of sexy; so do all cultures.  In my family the rounder you are the prettier; loose weight and endure all the questioning stares.  God was not stupid in making us all different; and it makes life that much more exciting.  The trick is to know yourself; your body; your needs and most important how to show off your body well by not doing too much.  I have all shapes amongst my friends and family, and they are all sexy (not a lie!).

All pics via Google!