Thread week 1! shoo

This week's thread ended with me getting a little tired of the leopard print scarf - it started feeling more like a noose than an accessory worth displaying like a peacock.

There are only a handful of methods one can implore to display (the same) scarf;

-the neck (as meant to be worn)

-the obi belt (by far the most difficult)

-a belt (except the scarf was not chiffon - and too chunky - therefore making the look too hippy to be hip)

-on another accessory - ie bag

Are there any other great ides? and sarong or me hiring a seamstress is not my idea of an idea. Just to digress a little - I've always said to a friend that one of my biggest dreams is to learn how to stitch, cut and general sewing skills and owning a domestic sewing machine. I would be Chanel Coco-ing all the way before any event... make that everyday (definition of Chanel Coco-ing, please watch Coco avant garde and note what she does whenever she has to dress-up a little).

This is how i rocqued the looks this week:

My Obi belt attempts never saw the otherside of my Apartment door... and until that day comes; that pic will stay in my laugh-a-minute album.

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)

Introducing: Mondays as Thread alerts!

Having been inspired by the one too many fashion weeks that took place in the past two and a half months and Elle dress for a month (here)- I thought I'd have a little fun and introduce thread weeks.

This is how it's going to work (and I hope you join in and let's share thoughts, creativity and just have good ol' fun):

Sunday I gather thread week ideas (post them on this blog, email or tweet it if you have any ideas) share it via twitter (that evening) so that we are all on the same page and Monday we start "threading". In short - pick one item that you are willing to wear the whole week (yes - you can wash it in between); style it up, dress it up, dress it down; whatever but just wear it for a week. Typical examples are gloves, scarfs, a shirt... get the drift?

Irrespective of your situation, you have to carry the thread through! it could be a high profile meeting or a typical week - you need to carry it through. Post pics to my email addy which I'll upload on friday to see who rocqued the thread!

A thread, for those who raised an eyebrow in confusion, is that one key element (usually in a fashion collection) that carries over from one outfit to the next and therefore linking items in a fashion show. Comprende?
So let's have fun?