Monday, October 31, 2016

The Secret Garden

One of my favourite things to do is drive around Jozi looking for locations to shoot my whimsical outfits. As I was driving home from work one day, I found myself staring at this colourful wall and couldn't wait to do my next outfit post in front of it! 

Last Thursday Layla and I curiously wandered past beautiful flower beds and a family of chicks, to shoot the look post below in the secret garden. I was so pleased with the results.

To capture the full story that comes from an outfit you need:

1) Layla Shaik Photography 

(If the images appear blur due to the high resolution quality, click in it to see it clearly.)



2) A unique outfit - 

I found this whimsical dress, designed by the latest local designer addition to "Convoy" store: Anmari Honiball.

There's so many amazing things on offer from this designer and the other five designers that form part of the local talent that make up the store.Convoy -located in Melville - is my favourite store to shop unique SA designer looks! 



3) A location that matches your outfit perfectly 



4) The perfect accessories - which in this case was my latest buy from Cotton On-  my pom pom sandals.






Lights, camera, action...Magic!

Sunday, October 23, 2016

Give Jozi a Try:

I have become accustomed to being a fashion blogger, but more recently I've come to realize that I want to venture into lifestyle blogging too. Often, I go out to new places with friends and family and Snapchat the whole experience, but I never really put it on my blog. There's so many fun and exciting things to do in Johannesburg all the time and I want to share them all with you.

This weekend I did three exciting things and if you would like to adventure around Jozi, I would highly recommend them to you:

1) Visit Paul's Homemade Ice Cream situated in The Zone at Rosebank to try their flavour of the month. The flavour of the month is "Trick or Treat" for Halloween. The ice cream flavour itself is spiced pumpkin, butter pecan and cinnamon caramel. Yum!

2) Visit The Milk Bar, situated at 21 Keyes Avenue, Johannesburg. The Milk Bar is a vintage and eclectic look and feel restaurant. The restaurant is decorated with wooden and shweshwe printed chairs, African artwork and loads of plants. It isn't Halaal unfortunately so I had a vegetarian toasty with a lemonade and mint frozen drink, which is perfect for a light afternoon meal. If you are looking for a cool place to hang out with your friends, I'd highly recommend it. 






They have other vegetarian options for breakfast on the menu too, vegetarian pies and vegetarian bunny chows aside from the meat dishes on the menu. There's also a selection of cakes on offer.



What I like most of all about The Milk Bar is where it’s situated. For an afternoon out I'd suggest gallery hopping between Circa art gallery and Everard Read gallery which is situated on the same street as The Milk Bar. After that, lunch at The Milk Bar followed by a stroll along the street to see the other artsy stores like Anatomy Design (a minimal furniture store), Shelflife (a modern sneaker store) and Missibaba (a local luxury designer bag store.) If you're up for it, after that pop into Marble Restaurant -also on the street- for dessert with an amazing sunset view.

3) Go see a 4DX movie! Yesterday I went to see the movie Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children at Hyde Park Corner. It was my first 4D movie experience and I was amazed at how the seats move with the characters in the movie, you smell what they smell and feel the weather get chilly and gloomy as the characters do too! The movie itself was brilliant and the experience made it even more epic. It’s a must to do - in Jozi.


I can’t wait to share more of my experiences with you. Do give Jozi a try.

Sunday, October 16, 2016

DIY Your Own Runway Inspired Ballet Pumps:


Once a trend becomes popular on the runway it's not long before everyone wants to have it in their closets. Before you know it, the fast fashion retailers knock runway trends off and it becomes easily accessible for you at a fraction of the price.




Image supplied: here.

I really enjoy looking at trends and creating my own. I've decided to share a DIY tutorial on how to achieve the MIU MIU inspired ballet pump trend above. It's even more accessible than trying to buy the shoes online or going to get something similar at a fast fashion chain. Let's be honest, trends will fade so rather DIY it.

What you'll need:

  • Craft glue 
  • A scissor 
  • Two different styles of ribbon (2 metres each)
  • A cute pair of pumps 

(My mum bought me these nude pumps from Cotton On for R249, it comes in a little matching bag too! They have the same ones at the moment in rose gold, black, silver and tan.)

What to do:

  • Cut each style of ribbon into two equal halves.
  • Take one half and attach it to the inner arch of the pump by using craft glue.
  • Take the other ribbon and do the same as the above to the other side of the inner arch.
  • Repeat on the other shoe. 









Voila!

Tie the ribbon into a bow around your legs and you're ready to go.

Ballet inspired outfit:


Top: Zara

Skirt: Zara
Pumps: Cotton On 

All photos of me taken by: Layla Shaik Photography

Monday, October 10, 2016

Timeless Spa Boutique, the perfect retreat before The Hunger Games begin:

In a dark room, you sit tense. A line of sweat brushes over your forehead. The week ahead is going to be grueling. Waves of panic rush over you. How will you cope with the pressure of the upcoming days. Fashion Week aka the Hunger Games is about to begin.

First you need to get through the day of preparation - a nine to five job.  Then make sure your you paint on your best war face markings and get into your suit of armour.  Repeat, over five days. May the best outfit win and the odds be ever in your favour. Okay jokes aside, Fashion Week isn't THAT intense but the stress that comes with it makes you feel as though you need to prepare the weekend before. 

Luckily for my friends and I, Timeless Spa Boutique located in Parkview, Johannesburg, had us covered. 


(If the images appear blur due to its high resolution quality, click on it to see it clearly.)




We all have stressful weeks in our lives. It could be that you're starting with matric finals next week, your not-so-favourite family members are coming to visit next week and are staying for a month! You could be getting ready for the interview of your dreams to get the ultimate job or well just another stressful week at work.

My point is, It's important to have some downtime before the Hunger Games begin to relax and to ensure that you're ready for anything that comes your way. Timeless Spa Boutique is run by the lovely Zaheera. Her private and intimate spa is the perfect place to de-stress and will have you ready for whatever is coming at you in the coming week.






My favourite part about it is that in every room there is a touch of pink. As we walked through her spa she had pink and grey robes waiting for us in the dressing room with fluffy Slippers, making us very comfortable. Layla and I got settled into couches and had a luxurious mani and pedi along with a scalp and shoulder massage that was perfect to relieve any unwanted stress. We sipped on tea in pink mugs, while enjoying the treats Zaheera had set out for us and gazed at the lush garden outside.











Raeesa had a full body polish done and it's safe to say she enjoyed it completely. She walked towards us after the full body exfoliating massage in a dreamy haze, almost as if she was floating. 

"Timeless Spa Boutique promises spa luxuries in a tranquil garden setting . Professional treatments, with all the added indulgence . " 

Contact Zaheera at: info@timelessspa.co.za for the full menu of treatments available, for all booking inquiries and to enjoy a private retreat with your girlfriends! I highly recommend it.

Instagram : @timelessboutiquespa

All photos taken by: Layla Shaik Photography

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

A local shopping list to die for:

At this point I'm sure you are aware that I love to support local fashion brands. I try to wear local clothing and accessories for fashion events. However, I realized that many people don't know where to buy local fashion.

It's not necessarily a bad thing, it's just that international brands are much easier to find in traditional shopping malls, while local brands are sprawled all over the city (of Johannesburg in my case). I've decided to compile a local shopping list - for you - which contains things that I myself want to purchase. I will include the prices, images, locations and contact details of all the items on my shopping list as well for your own ease.

Before I get to the shopping list I want to show you what I've already ticked off from my imaginary list of things I'd like to purchase.

I purchased a variation of the dress I wore for fashion week (from Heart & Heritage) and since then I have worn it in three different ways. I've worn this dress with a waist belt and pumps; with a shirt under and heels (to dress it up) and with a tee over and sneakers (for a casual look). I love how versatile it is! 

(If the image appears blur due to the high resolution quality, click on it to see it clearly).





Photography by: Layla Shaik Photography.
Hair by Runway Rae (tutorial coming soon).

Now for the fun part...

The Shopping list:
1) Heart & Heritage


Tops, both priced at R699

Where: Convoy, The Bamboo Centre, Melville, Johannesburg/ Also available online at Zando
Contact: 083 548 5321

2)Pichulik 
Where: Available online at Pichulik.com and in Newtown Junction
Contact: +27 74 869 7979 

Earrings priced at R680

Bracelets priced at R380




3)Crystal Birch
 
Hat price R850

Where: The Cosmopolitan, Maboneng Precinct, Joahnnesburg
Contact: See their facebook page here.

4) Somerset Jane
Jumpsuit priced at R980

Where: Available at severeal Burgundy Fly retailers across Johannesburg
Contact: somersetjane@gmail.com

5) Mantsho BY PALESA MOKUBUNG 
Top priced at R799

Where: Available online at Zando
Contact: info@mantsho.co 

6)Maria Mccloy 

Bag price on request

Where: Workshop Newtown, Johannesburg
Contact: maria@rage.co.za 
I hope you all enjoy the shopping!