Rainy Tuesday Music

It’s the first cold wet rainy day of the winter season in Cape Town and here is the perfect track to match the melancholy weather. Cuddle up and stay warm Cape Town… this is only the beginning.

KEANU & CHARLIZE Oh la la…

Yeah okay… I’m mildly interested in the Royal Wedding.

There is a great big buzz surrounding the upcoming Royal wedding, I have seen some pretty funny adds, my favourite one is from T – Mobile, so hilarious. In the advert they use a pretty standard wedding dress, and that got me thinking about the actual dress. Will Kate go with a massive over the top vibe, or will she tone it down? Will she pick a big white puffy dress or perhaps a short dress…?

What we do know:

Kate has picked a little known designer Sophie Cranston of Libélula.

Sophie Cranston has worked with Alexander McQueen.

Libélula means Dragonfly in Spanish.

Sophie Cranston’s designs draw from flamenco-influenced dresses.

Flamenco dresses were traditionally worn by peasant women married to livestock dealers. These women were mostly gypsies and they were poor.

Prince William and Kate Middleton have agreed to have their wedding put on YouTube and will take their vows in front of millions of on line viewers when their wedding is streamed live. The whole thing will last about four hours including the church service, the procession and their first kiss on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. Personally I think this is a bit odd, but hey… not my wedding.

Lessons on a Tuesday: How to be Preppy 101

I have been watching A LOT of gossip girl, after completing season 4 in a record 2 days I see the world in a different (more perfect) light. I simply love the clothes, and yes, the story line is a bit weak but even that is addictive. I have found a preppy guide, it made me laugh and I thought I would share it with you, in the hopes that it would make you laugh too.

Excerpted from True Prep, by Lisa Birnbach with Chip Kidd

Fashion Rules

We know that many of you understand the principles of preppy style. But just to be sure, let’s review them again.

We wear sportswear. This makes it easier to go from sporting events to social events (not that there is much difference) without changing.

We generally underdress. We prefer it to overdressing.

Your underwear must not show. Wear a nude-colored strapless bra. Pull up your pants. Wear a belt. Do something. Use a tie!

We do not display our wit through T-shirt slogans.

Every single one of us—no matter the age or gender or sexual preference—owns a blue blazer.

We take care of our clothes, but we’re not obsessive. A tiny hole in a sweater, a teensy stain on the knee of our trousers, doesn’t throw us. (We are the people who brought you duct-taped Blucher moccasins.)

We do, however, wear a lot of white in the summer, and it must be spotless.

Don’t knock seersucker till you’ve tried it. (Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, unless you live in Palm Beach or Southern California, or the southern Mediterranean, please.)

Bags and shoes need not match.

Jewelry should not match, though metals should.

On the other hand, your watch doesn’t have to be the same metal as your jewelry.

And you can wear gold with a platinum wedding band and/or engagement ring.

Men’s jewelry should be restricted to a handsome watch, a wedding band if he is American and married, and nothing else. If he has a family-crest ring, it may be worn as well. For black-tie, of course, shirt studs and matching cuff links are de rigueur.

Nose rings are never preppy.

Neither (shudder) are belly-button piercings.

Nor are (two shudders) tongue studs.

And that goes for ankle bracelets.

Tattoos: Men who have been in a war have them, and that’s one thing. (Gang wars don’t count.) Anyone else looks like she is trying hard to be cool. Since the body ages, if youmust tattoo, find a spot that won’t stretch too much. One day you will want to wear a halter-necked backless gown. Will you want everyone at the party to know you once loved John Krasinski?

Sneakers (a.k.a. tennis shoes, running shoes, trainers) are not worn with skirts.

Men may wear sneakers with linen or cotton trousers to casual summer parties.

Women over the age of 15 may wear a simple black dress. Women over the age of 21 must have several in rotation.

High-heel rule: You must be able to run in them—on cobblestones, on a dock, in case of a spontaneous foot race.

Clothes can cost any amount, but they must fit. Many a preppy has an item from a vintage shop or a lost-and-found bin at the club that was tailored and looks incredibly chic.

Do not fret if cashmere is too pricey. Preppies love cotton and merino-wool sweaters.

We do not wear our cell phones or BlackBerrys suspended from our belts. (That includes you, President Obama.)

Real suspenders are attached with buttons. We do not wear the clip versions.

Learn how to tie your bow tie. Do not invest in clip-ons.

Preppies are considerate about dressing our age. It is for you, not for us.

Men, if you made the mistake of buying Tevas or leather sandals, please give them to Goodwill.

You may, however, wear flip-flops to the beach if your toes are presentable. Be vigilant!

Pareos (sarongs) are for the beach, not for the mall. (Even if it’s near the beach.)

Riding boots may be worn by non-riders; cowboy boots may be worn by those who have never been on a horse. However, cowboy hats may not be worn by anyone who isn’t technically a cowboy or a cowgirl.

You may wear a Harvard sweatshirt if: you attended Harvard, your spouse attended Harvard, or your children attend Harvard. Otherwise, you are inviting an uncomfortable question.

If your best friend is a designer (clothes, accessories, jewelry), you should wear a piece from his or her collection. If his or her taste and yours don’t coincide, buy a piece or two to show your loyal support—but don’t wear them.

Every preppy woman has a friend who is a jewelry designer.

No man bags.

Preppies don’t perm their hair.

Preppy men do not believe that comb-overs disguise anything.

You can never go wrong with a trench coat.

Sweat suits are for sweating. You can try to get away with wearing sweats to carpool, to pick up the newspaper, or to drive to the dump, but last time you were at the dump, the drop-dead-attractive widower from Maple Lane was there, too.

And finally:

The best fashion statement is no fashion statement.

I fell in love with JAKLYN

I was wandering around in the V&A Waterfront yesterday afternoon, and I found a stunning pair of shoes… They are super comfortable and I am pretty sure you could run the two oceans in these – if you were so inclined. They price at ZAR 799.00 from Daniella Michelle at Zoom, not bad at all.

KEEP CALM & CARRY ON

This whole week has just been one big mess after the other, things going awry at work, losing car keys, late for work EVERY day, messing things on myself, in short, this was a shit week, notably.

At some point during the week I was having a coffee at YOURS TRULY in Long street, and I saw a poster on their wall saying “KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON” I had seen this before in a stunning house in Bakoven and have loved it since.

It has a strangely calming effect on me.

I was wondering where I could procure such a calming poster and came across the history behind it and found it quite interesting.

http://www.keepcalmandcarryon.com/

I also like the improvised alternatives I found on line, my favorite is this one…

But I also love the calendar.

I want one, my check is in the mail 🙂