Retro Hair Please

Retro styles inspired by Old Hollywood

With movie such as "My Week With Marilyn" almost on circuit, the darlings of LaLa Land seem to be using and abusing their luscious locks. Inspired by old Hollywood, today's retro hairstyles are both chic, glam and very very daring!

Four Little Letters

It's weird how people choose one day out of a potential 365, to prove that they love their significant other/ significant cat. I am not at all opposed to receiving chocolates or flowers; in fact Valentines Day usually brings out my inner girl. But, I'm just somewhat confused as to why you would simply choose a single day on which to express your deepest desires and "fidelity".

I usually spend the day practicing my "law of attraction" techniques, imagining that some poor sod will take pity on me in the chocolate aisle of the supermarket, and proceed to wine and dine my lovely self. Sigh - a girl can dream. The day usually pans out with my friends and I ranting about how depressing the day is, filled with endless Facebook wall posts from those whom are coupled up.

"I love my *insert name* so much. He rocks my world." 
(5 minutes later)

"I love him even more than I did 5 minutes ago. *Insert name* let's run away together, have our 2.5 kids and build our white picket fence."

I really hate sounding bitter, but the fact is that an overdose of mushy love can do this to a girl. I blame it on all the corny movies that lied to me as a kid. Oh yes, I will one day get kidnapped by a bunch of short men, who will take me to the woods, and thus make way for a dashing prince to kiss me, and wake me from my slumber. Oh, and who could forget the aesthetically challenged man, whom will make me fall in love with him with a single growl and his house full of talking furniture.

The Notebook

Oh wait, I do sound bitter. Let's laugh this moment off, and pretend that we are grateful for the "kick her, she's single" signs on our backs. Girly dinners filled with rude shaped gifts and bottomless wine is the best cure for days like this. I say, spend it it with the girls who hold back your hair when things get a little too fun, the ones whom promise to beat up any guy who plays with your cardiovascular system, and the one who help you clean your flat when the fridge decides to overflow with the smell of death.  Make today a celebration of the all those you love - friends, family and pets alike.

Just try to enjoy every moment of every love and loss. It really does teach you something.

Seen at the Grammy's

The who's-who of the music industry piled out in the masses to celebrate how much they love each other on Sunday. The best part of the evening was most definitely Adele's big win; a legendary comeback for the rare talent who had surgery last year. The fashion conscious scored big on the red carpet, so here are some of my absolute favourite hits and misses.

 

 

 

HIT- Carrie Underwood

HIT - Adele

MISS - Fergie

MISS - Nicki Minaj

HIT - Katy Perry

IN-BETWEEN - Kelly Osbourne

Glamour Daaahlingggg!

Warning: heart palpitations and excessive amounts of anxiety are not good for me. I tend to waffle alot, laugh at my own jokes and begin to use corny terms of endearment. Today was the beginning of my now. I started my internship at Glamour magazine (this is the part where I become a WHOO girl).

Like any normal budding fashionista whom hopes to strike it big in the daring entertainment industry, I woke up at 4am. Yes. 4am. Hence, the somewhat sexy panda eyes and the slight yawn in my walk. BUT, I was eager to please, and needed to figure out what to wear. I decided on a vintage pencil skirt that was the mother's sometime during the pre-war years, and a bright pink blouse.

The biggest misconception about the magazine industry is that every editor is a wannabe Anna Wintour, whom thinks that making eye contact is only for us simple folk. I was in shock the moment Pnina Fenster (Glamour's very trendy editor) looked directly into my panda eyes, and uttered "Hi. I'm Pnina, the editor". Bells were suddenly ringing in my head with a huge DUH about to escape out of my mouth. In other words, I had worshipped her brogue wearing feet as if she were a demi-God, since I became acquainted with the magazine in high school. OFCOURSE I knew who she was. She was lovely.

My first day has been a bit of a blur, filled with lots of skyskraper heels, red lipstick and lots of bonding time with the computer. I am about to pass out from excitement, but I shall update you guys soon.

May

XXX

My Favourite's For Now

FASHION
All we see is blue! The colour of the moment seems to be exploding on the runways, and similarly  taking over the wardrobes of the fashion conscious. Most designers are using this palette staple as an accessory; handbags and shoes are giving this color it's chance to pop, while blue trimmings and straps let it make a subtle statement. 


Last week: I died, went to fashion heaven and was reincarnated into a lovely lass, who is now the owner of 3 "to die for" blue hues. I managed to kidnap a cobalt blue vintage blazer from my aunt's closet, and bully her into giving it to me. Definitely worth the crocodile tears. I also bumped into two trendy pairs of blue at Mr. Price - shoe fetish satisfied. 

DURBAN SPOTS

• The Czar is Durban's latest "you must be seen here" hotspot for who just want to satisfy their lunch time california roll fix, or a few (or more) cocktails on a Friday night. The interior is pure charm, and reminds me of being in a colonial style setting complete with an awe-inspiring staircase. Go there on a Wednesday for half-price sushi, or a Friday for half-price cocktails until 6pm.

• Wakaberry! You have probably been hibernating under a rock if you have not heard of this new self-serve frozen yoghurt bar. I have been obsessed with the delish condensed milk fro-yo topped with fudge, from this colourful explosion on Florida Road. The fro-yo is 98% fat free and clocks in at 419kj per100g, which makes it extremely hip-friendly if you're in the mood to indulge.

Alexa "Wears it Well"

Alexa Chung. It almost seems as if the syllables are flirting with each other, desperately taunting us mere mortals with it's host's sense of infinite style and va-va-voom!


Alexa's unique style is both edgy and neurotic, yet lovely enough to inspire any estrogen clad creature. She certainly "wears it well" for the March 2012 issue of Elle U.K, with all my favourite men making an appearance - Louis, Manolo and Christian D.


Photographed by Thomas Schenk, the shoot unequivocally hones in on Alexa's distinctive brand of simplistic, yet chic approach to fashion. She looks simply stunning in an array of pastel shades, with her trademark fringe acting as an accessory.

Young Hollywood Does It Again

It really is a "hard-knock" life  for the young pretty ones of La La Land. Imagine the pressure of having to look as if Photoshop had their way with you every morning? Flawless skin, hair that resembles the best weave EVER, and clothes which are envied by every young lass out there. 

The higher powers of La La Land have spoken; the "IT" girls of a new generation of starlets have been given their moment. The pretty young things have being gracing the covers of  the latest issues of thee most notable international publications. Here are a few of my favourite issues from 2012!

Vanity Fair kicked off their annual Hollywood edition. Shot by acclaimed photographer Mario Testino, starlets such as Rooney Mara, Elizabeth Olsen, Paula Patton & Jessica Chastain wore pastel satin dresses, complete with fluffy feathers.  I simply loved this look, as it had an inherent Old Hollywood feel - rich textures, muted tones and a distinct "20 and 30's Boudoir feel". 

Dakota Fanning graces the cover of the February issue of Elle UK, clearly stating that the dainty darling of Hollywood is indeed growing up. Shot by David Slijper, the shoot featured Dakota in an array of sultry poses, and a yummy seductive pout. 

Taylor Swift plays the ultimate "girl-next-door" in a yellow sweater by Rodarte, on the February 2012 cover of Vogue USA. The talented singer switches it up with dreamy, feminine pieces by Michael Kors, Miu Miu & Andrew Marc in the spread shot by the lovely Mario Testino. The shoot really seemed to capture Taylor's rock-star-meets-country-girl persona, which ticked most of my boxes.

Red Carpet Trends

The 2012 awards season has begun - complete with divas who pout a little too much, and studs whom have abandoned any qualms with penguin-esque gear. I simply love watching my favourite stars walk down the red carpet; I tend to devour every inch of their attire while engulfing an entire tub of popcorn.


Hollywood never fails. A few stars somehow managed to resemble a child playing dress-up in Lady Gaga's closet, while most looked sparkly, elegant and absolutely red carpet ready. The trend this season seems to be the fringe, or in American terms - bangs. The retro hairstyle is back with a force as it transforms an ordinary face into an "attitude". My favourite looks from the Golden Globe Awards, and the Screen Actor's Guild Awards, all point me in the direction of starlets aiming to make a statement. High-fashion. Elegance. Muted tones. And just the right amount of attitude. 

Charlize Theron

My favourite surprise for the night was definitely Charlize Theron. It's been a long time since this once show-stopping actress has created a buzz by simply sporting a huge bow on her hip. I don't hate the nude Dior gown, but the extra padding on the side is never good for a grown woman. It could have been potential perfection, so I vouch for Charlize dressing for her age. However, the dress is pure romance, and saves itself from being trashy with the subtle make-up and jewellery.

Rose Byrne

There is no fence or middle-ground on this one. You either love it or you hate it! Rose Byrne took the biggest fashion risk of the night at the SAG Awards, and it paid off. Deciding to wear a plunging Ellie Saab jumpsuit to one of the biggest nights in La-La land translates to "mediocrity is not part of my vocabulary". The 70's inspired look, complete with a gold clutch and a sparkling pout is absolutely heavenly. Fresh. Different. Form fitting. My favourite so far.

Salma Hayek

This is one of those moments in which I find myself staring, drool-faced and gobsmacked. Salma Hayek pulls of the sultry and sexy look without showing too much. Her loose curls accentuated the strapless African inspired Gucci gown, with metal plating and Black sequins. Salma continuously manages to show off her best assets without crawling into "trashy land". 

..Because we like them different.

The fashion industry is not a polite one. The standards that are set for a potential model often translate to skinny,a waif-like physique, a "feed me" face and legs that seem to have been made in a Chinese factory. Every now and then, a model comes along, sets their own boundaries and challenges us to question their beauty. Meet Andrej Pejic.

He. She. I wonder sometimes. Andrej is indeed all testosterone, but borders on the "pretty-boy" side of life. Androgynous models have been around for eons, but this is the first time that a male model has been given cult status simply for being different.

The 20-year-old has walked the runway for Jean-Paul Gaultier and Marc Jacobs which certifies him as a major "happening" in the fashion industry. I honestly feel like throwing my own little happy party, complete with balloons and cupcakes that taste like sand. Society is changing; values are changing. Yes, we are indeed beginning to move along with the times.

Andrej proves that being caught in between can be empowering. Making a career out of your imperfections is what drives your soul; it can turn the world upside down, and question our thoughts on what gender identity really entails.

This man is gorgeous. Beautiful. Pretty-ugly. He smizes with his eyes. He is the polar opposite of what we are expected to like when we open a men's magazine (unless you are adventurous enough to bat for both teams, which in that case, kudos to you).

Andrej IS high fashion; his look defies expectations, complete with a sultry pout and Adam's apple."The photographers seemed to like my look,” he says. "They talked about the extreme androgyny and commented a lot on how thin I am.” Andrej proves that being comfortable in your own skin is really all it takes to shake things up. Who likes normal anyway?

Another slice of cake PLEASE!?

Christmas has come and gone leaving you with an extended waistline, and far too many pairs of Bridget Jones granny panties. SUCK IT IN. The fact is that this leaves you sounding like the long lost member of Alvin and the Chipmunks, while walking like you have something stuck up your (now larger) derriere.


Indulging in far too many mince pies and mojitos over the festive season is a MUST; it really is my motivation for listening to Boney M everyday during this "sunshine and rainbows" phase. Sadly, it also leaves you with a flair for wearing black all day, while chewing on a celery stick. Dropping the extra pounds during the post-festive season period should not mean that you have to starve yourself, while channelling your inner 1980's aerobics child (Think Madonna's Like a Virgin).

• Eat foods which naturally speed up your metabolism, while lowering your blood glucose level - cayenne pepper, green tea, apple cider vinegar, grapefruit, merthi seeds, black coffee, really hot water, cinnamon and tons of spicy food.

• Breakfast please. I really recommend eating a big breakfast, preferably high in protein. I often opt for eggs, as they are so high in protein that they keep you full for longer, and your body uses more energy in order to digest it. Wholegrain cereals such as All Bran flakes or oats are also amazing if you want to curb that appetite.

• No fruit juices or soft drinks. I prefer to stick to green tea and water throughout the day, as you really do not want the extra kilojoules that come with sugar-laden juices.

• I try to stick to fat free dairy products whenever I can. Think fat free cottage cheese on a toasted wholewheat pita when a pizza craving kicks in, and plain yoghurt with a sprinkling of cinnamon when you feel for a sugary snack.

• People often focus on fat free products, but forget about the hidden sugar content of these sneaky foods. So NO 2min noodles (approximately 6tspoons of sugar), or white flour foods.
• Try your best to stick to 5000kj a day, and 10 000 steps if you dare!

Have fun, indulge a little and do not deprive yourself. Tis the season to start over, a fresh start while learning to love your body. It really is about maximising your curves, so try not to turn into a boney little pooch who simply wants to look like the masses.

My Oprah Moment

Expiry Date. Deadline. Terms that are usually met with a bit of hesitance, a little trepidation and one too many "can we press the pause button" moments. I sat down at my desk, with the purest of intentions - the latest shoe trends of 2012. YES PLEASE! However, The Oprah Winfrey Show was on t.v, and so began my somewhat weird affair with love, family and loss. This specific episode of the show highlighted the story of the intelligent, wise and witty Erin Kramp. Huh? Okay, so most of you have probably never heard of her, and so I urge you to turn to my favourite friend Google. This might force you to turn to my other favourite friend Jose Cuervo, as this heart-wrenching tale of a mother dying of breast cancer is far too emotive to be put into words.

Erin constantly lived with the end in mind. She was well aware of her fate, which prompted her to record videotapes for her young daughter to watch one day. Pieces of hope, love and advice that were created with the knowledge that this would be the only way in which she would be remembered. Living with the intention of creating awe-inspiring memories that can be crammed within a time frame is mind boggling. Life does not usually have a deadline, and yet we encounter selfless individuals who have no other option other than to simply breathe, create, inspire - LIVE.

Time often runs out far before we expect it to. Trust me. Experience in this realm of the ticking time bomb can instigate feelings of reslessness, anger, procrastination, angst and far too many "let's-pretend-that-we-are-other-people" cocktail sessions. Personally, I have experienced death in the most ugly of ways. UGLY - not a word that I use often, but one that describes cancer in a freakishly accurate manner.

Sharing inner turmoil is not meant to depress, or force someone to grab the nearest bottle of vino so that they can gladly forget anything not worth remembering.. I really believe that this canvas of a blog is my attempt to inspire; to urge people to create and to live each day with purpose and with intention. Yes, I am having my very own Oprah/Dr.Phil moment.

I often think that we are bombarded with far too many "live each day as if it were your last moment" lectures, which is really not my intention. I simply believe that we are responsible for creating our own unforgettable moments in life, and these moments deserve to be lived. Every person deserves to have their very own story to tell at the old age home, while screaming "BINGO" at the top of their (collapsing) lungs.
 
Life is a crazy, weird and wonderful journey. Seize it. Own it. Live it.

Bottoms Up!

Jack, Johnny and our generous four cousins - a fun night out with our favourite men who deinitely advocate eating before a binge drinking session on a night out on the town. The problem begins when we eat too less, or too much before downing one too many tequilas. Alcohol can really mess up your diet programme, as most drinks are loaded with empty kilojoules - goodbye pride and hello larger waist-line! 

Kilojoule-wise, the best mixers are water, soda water or lime cordial, so aim to stay away from fizzy drinks, which can contain the equivalent of 10 teaspoons of sugar. Grenadine, juices and sugary syrups are a no-no!

• glass of red wine (448 kilojoules) = 1 piece of brie cheese (459 kj) 
• strawberry daquiri (670 kj) = 2 servings of mash & gravy from KFC (658 kj)
• glass of champagne (473 kj) = 1 tablespoon of peanut butter (492 kj)
• beer (563 kj) = 3 McDonald's chicken nuggets (578 kj)
• Smirnoff Spin (747 kj) = a large slice of Club Pizza from Debonairs (808 kj)  

Waking up with a sore head, dry mouth and a loss of pride (think: beer goggles) is usually the result of eating too little before downing a few shooters at the bar. You wake up swearing that you will never look at a vodka and lime again, but nevertheless you find yourself standing at the bar the next Friday.

Think Lil' Jon's Shots - yes, this song speaks to any drunk soul who's willing to sacrifice their liver for a night of binge drinking. Avoding a hangover is pretty easy if you eat the RIGHT food about an hour before drinking - lining your stomach is a MUST! 

You want to try to eat specific food that will slow down the absorption of alcohol into your bloodstream, leading to a little more shuffling, and a little less bonding time with the toilet bowl. Avoid hot, spicy food as this is absorbed faster and could get you tipsy far too quickly! 

• Try carbohydrate rich food, which serves as a buffer before going on a drinking spree. My favourites are oats, toasted low-G.I brown bread or cereal. 
• Eat food high in vitamin B, as this is heavily depleted when the body processes alcohol. Basically if these levels are too low before a night of fist pumping and tequila, the body cannot break down alcohol fast enough. So aim to eat vitamin B rich foods, such as lean meat, fish and green vegetables.
• Eating food that has a small amount of fat in it is recommended, as this slows down the rate at which alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream. Choose foods such as fish, nuts, avocado and hummus on low-G.I bread. 

I really do not recommend eating anything with feta or spinach. Bad incident. Really bad. If I could actually remember the events of the said incident then I would happily share it. Sadly, I do not.  


Bottoms Up - Eating is really NOT cheating!

Fashion Forward..Grad Style!

2011..almost over. Graduation - BRING IT ON! It really is weird to picture myself and several others, as being potentially ready to run wild in the big-bad-world. I feel as though it was just yesterday that I was watching cartooned dogs talk, while attempting to solve murder mysteries. Oh wait, that was yesterday (trust Scooby Doo on Boomerang to bring out my inner kid).

The point is that being a kid is fun. It comes with all sorts of perks, such as not looking shame-faced when you "ooh" and "ahh" while you run amok in Sweets from Heaven, or order a Happy Meal simply because the toy looks like potential late night fun. Try setting your PVR for the Zac Efron marathon when you're in your dreaded 30's! Yupp, does not really sound appropriate right? 

I had contemplated wearing black to graduation, as a sort of commemorative goodbye to my childhood. But, I then realised that embracing my inner kid in my 20s is ME. I will never stop "ooh'ing" over the latest novelty at Reggies, or press pause when Justin Bieber graces the screen (Bieber Fever YES PLEASE). SO, instead I chose a bright emerald green dress, something that said "I am ready to take on the world, so do not mess with my swag. Thank you. Sincerely, Girl-With-Degree". 

Graduation does not have to be a tedious and serious affair, complete with Gaudeamus Igitur ringing in the background. Dress to impress with a touch of "I am young, carefree and still think that Rascals need to be brought back". In my words, imagine that Michelle Obama and Lady Gaga went on a date, and had a baby (yes, the dreaded Gaga spawn would be your grad gear). So keep it cool, sparkly and HAVE FUN. You have earned that piece of paper! 

P.S. Sequins, numerous zips, jeans, leather and fur do not seem like good ideas. Just saying.