Marie Claire Prix D'Exellence De La Beaute 2011

The awards this year came at my ditziest state! You know: that time of the year, usually weeks after your birthday, when the good feelings wear-off and you find yourself feeling fragile and older... Thanks to an award ceremony that recognizes, acknowledges and celebrates Anti-ageing creams, my mood was lifted immediately upon arrival (and suffice to say: the champers did it's part too - I tell no lies!)

I arrived 2 seconds before they announced the winners - which were:

Care Category:

Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector & Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus and UV Damage Corrector.

Citations for the Care Category went to:
- La Prairie Cellular Radiance Concentrates Pure Gold Cream
(side note: if you live on a budget as I do, move fast when you see this brand - don't even embarrass yourself with trying the sample - the counter girls know what you're doing: POSING! If your skin has no budget, hop to it!)
- Decleor Aroma Night Beauty Cream - Regenerate
- Comfort Zone Range

Winner of the Make-up category:
Chanel Rouge Coco Lipstick in 05 Madamoiselle

Citations for the Mae-up Category went to:
Elizabeth Arden Pure Finish Mineral Tinted Moisturizer SPF-15
Sensai Bronzing Gel SPF 6
Maybelline Superstay 24H Makeup Micro-FLex Stretch Formula SPF 19

Local Hero Award went to:
Optiphi Range. They are a hi-tech cosmoceutical range to treat and delay the signs of ageing as well as sun damage -- see why I love local? they speak Maquenese! forget Pretoxing, Optiphi!! (ahem, Optiphi! should you ever need a copywriter... or someone to look cute at your offices while raiding your storage... my email addy is on footer of this page)


Socially, Marie Claire knows how to invite them! These were some of the DeGorgeous guests at the Radisson Blu (Sandton Eye) Hotel Lobby, where the event took place:Terry Pheto (please note the latest Thula frock on her) and Thula Sindi (who gave me a snippet about his new project - watch this space! April is the month, he said).Uyanda, Head Visual Merchandiser at Edgars Melrose Arch (one of their flagship stores), in a DeGorge Thula Sindi Jacket from his latest fall collection.Designers: Thula Sindi with Abigail Betz Savannah Walley (who manages Sandton City's social media platforms) having a chat with Sonia Booth (who is busy on a very exciting project, more on that later)Tatum Keshwar - don't you just love her new bangs?Sharon Becker (Fashion Director of Marie Claire, yup, this is our Nina Garcia and she is too fab for words), with Felipe Mazibuko who had a LMAO moment with Tamara Dey (who you obviously can't see in this pic).Miss Milli B (fashion blogger/entrepreneur) with Chris, Jenny Andrews (with a new fabu-bubu new hair cut) and Dion ChangKuli Roberts and Lucilla Booysen - long time gal-pals apparently. (then again, Kuli used to run the South African version of Fashion Police - not the current set-up but one similar to the version Robert Verdi used to host before Guga'Thandayo, Joan Rivers, took over - which explains the thread between them - not that a thread is necessary).Jen Su in a David Tlale sequin numberJane Raphaely (CEO of Associated Magazines which she runs with her daughters), being interviewed by Kuli Roberts (I should've eavesdropped on this one, her questions are always gobsmacking)Forgive me for I do not know his name (yes, that meant to sound like a cubicle conversation with the pretre), but we somehow land up at the same events (must make a point of saying hello!). This man, in my opnion, is one of thee best dressed men in South Africa. His clothes show such love and detail for fashion - just the slippers he wore alone made my day!Aspasia Karras - editor of Marie Claire South Africa.Tamara Dey enteratined us and closed with Brenda Fassie song, Promises - which she sings with so much soul! make a point of requesting that one if you book her for an event.

awesome Goodie Bag, Thank you Marie Claire (via their super-sweet Publicist, Jaco-Louis Groenewald) AND Edgars!
PS> thank you Aspasia, lol - I know you know why I laughed at that.

Marie Claire Prix D'excellence de la Beaute

The Venue (Melrose Arch) was the venue! Beautiful, Elegant, Soft Lighting; my favourite, makes everything look, umm... beautiful and dramatic.

Marie Claire, in conjunction with Edgars (who went all out with their branding, including napkins), hosted a wonderful Awards soiree and they did not spare on anything; including the goodie bags which received a fleet of mentions on twitter (just shied away from being a trending topic) - but given someone's lack of calculating-capabilities; not everybody got one, alas there'll always be a spoiler to a good event.

Many familiar faces in the beauty-fashion industry also made an appearance: Jane Raphaely (South Africa's answer to Rupert Murdoch ie. Founder and Chair of Associated Magazines), Uyanda Mbuli (socialite and owner of Diamond Face Couture and a general-glamozon), Isidingo cast members (*cringe* I only know their characters' names), Zanele Kumalo (Beauty Editor of Elle - who, word has it, is moving to Marie Claire - joining her sister, Zodwa Kumalo-Valentine, the Chief Bureau of Marie Claire Johannesburg), Sharon Becker (Marie Claire's new Fashion Editor, snatched from Elle Magazine), Phillipe Mazubuko (fashion guru), Dion Chang (swallow a pill of arsenic if you've never heard of him; CEO of Flux Trends and Fashionista-at-large for Elle magazine), and, ofcourse, the many faces of Brand managers/ambassadors of beauty powerhouses.

The Isidingo ladies - well so much for "the need"

Dion Chang with Andrissa Farreira and Sylvie Huford

Zanele Kumalo (centre) flanked by Karin Orzol (left) and Magadalena Szulfer (right)

As a fellow blogger mentioned on her website, LeloB, The Prix D'excellence de la Beaute are the Oscars of the beauty industry and "without any further ado, here are the [winners]"

Care Category: Givenchy Le Soin noir

Make-up Category: Guerlain Rouge G de Guerlain

Local Citations (these are the products that did not win, but deserved a mention) were:

Care Category:
- Elizabeth Arden Prevage Body Total Transforming Anit-ageing Moisturizer
- Chanel Precision Sublimage Essential Regenerating Fluid (don't you just looove saying sublimage? don agree? huh?)

- Lancome Genefique Youth Activator

Make-up Category:

- Givenchy Le Prisme Soft Compact Face Powder

- Lancome Oscillation Vibrating Infinite Powermascara (if memory serves me right, Estee Lauder got the recognition for their TurboLash Oscillating mascara at the 2009 ceremony- exploding the "who did it best" debates - google't!)

- Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF 15

And that marked the end of the awards CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL WINNERS!! (and not a moment to soon - I was getting abut restless)

My attention then immediately switched to other guests who made quite an impression on me:

Marie Claire (South Africa) editor, Aspasia Karras, wore a lovely pleated-tartan number by Catherine Malandrino. (BTW The April issue was her first as editor, so it should be interesting too see how things develop - but so far; job well-done!)

Aspasia Karras with Kwaito first lady (does she still go by that title?), Tamara Dey

Sharon Becker, aforementioned Fashion Editor of Marie Claire in a Tiaan Nigel stunner (from his Elle challenge collection, if my memory is on track), poses with PR Manager for Associated Magazines, Jaco-Louis Groenewald

Uyanda Mbuli's stunning killer heels by Casadei and a lovely maxi dress with minimal drama but plenty of impact (tempted to say by DFC... and if that's the case SA Fashion week is bound to be interesting - but a birdie suggested JJ Schoemann).

Cindy Nel with Uyanda Mbuli

And in keeping with my thread of the week - "animal print" - , this is how I worked it (notice how i pop my name under the list of people who made an impression on me; vain? NAH!) *yesterseason's vogue pose, embarrassed*:outfit breakdown: leopard print scarf (flea market find), royal blue shirt (revived old number from my heavy days- Edgars), Navy blue Riding pants (Marion&Lindie), super-long hook-detail belt (find out when I introduce "frugalisting," you'll love this!).

Aspasia's first cover as Editor - you know what to do...

(Pics courtesy of Max Marx)