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Hard work payed off!

The day everyone has been waiting for this whole year has finally arrived and it was over within a blink of an eye, yet every astonishing second imprinted a lifetime of amazement. LISOF’s 23rd annual fashion show truly was the best show thus far. However, it is not just about the glitz and glam of the show, but about the months of preparation, hard work, meters and meters of fabric, thread and lots of sewing that not only made this day possible, but made this show something to remember. Fortunately, I had the privilege to be a participant in this show as a model and through this I realised what hard work actually meant for the designers. I saw and experienced all their emotions attached to their specific moments of awe received from the audience and how happy that made them.

Although the show only started at 19h00, the chaos started long before. The designers arrived early, ready to set up their wardrobe back stage, equipment from all sorts were seen everywhere and models where running around between stations to get their hair and makeup done and walking up and down the ramp to memorise the order in which they had to walk. The rush of getting everything done on time was so stressful, yet so exiting!

Makeup look 1 & 2:

Finally! The show started and after seeing lots of other amazing designs, Lydia de Kock’s garment appeared on the runway. Her unique design stood out from all the other designs yet it still embodied the main theme showcased by the rest of the second-year show, which was ‘Urban Refugee’. Each garment brought the theme to life and when I saw the finale, it felt like we were approached by an army of refugees standing up for their rights as “Refugees are human beings with skills, talents and aspirations”, Alexander Betts.  It was also as if the refugee crisis was called upon stage to communicate that refugees should be welcomed anywhere into the world so that they can start their new lives.

Lydia de Kock and her design:

Lydia’s garment perfectly added awareness to the refugee crisis. It appeared as if the model wearing the garment could be seen as a refugee, ready to flee from his circumstances, looking to plant new roots somewhere else. The oversized garment can be seen as a comfortable and protective hiking suit which protects the refugee from the weather or that of other environmental influences which may cause harm. The fabric of the garment is made up of water proof canvas which can be used to make camping tents, while the garment is also geared with a rolled-up mat which someone can sleep on. This indicates that the refugee can travel from one place to another as well as rest up between travels, but most importantly he will be able to flee as quickly as possible if need be. The colour of the garment is a dark and earthly green which can be associated with someone that is poor and dirty and in this case, once again a refugee, as some of them do not have the luxury to take a nice shower and have clean clothes to wear. Green “evokes the first days of spring when nature's greens revive, restore and renew” and through this one can assume that this is what is communicated on behalf of the refugees.

Close-up of fabric used:

2nd Year Fashion Show Rehearsals, Finale: Look and feel of theme – Global/Urban Refugee:

Furthermore, I am very impressed with how Lydia takes current trends into account such as, the colour of the year which is Greenery and the use of comfortability and functionality within her designs which now, as more and more people travel, is a huge trend. The styling of her overall look is kept simple which I like because not only is makeup and accessories kept to a minimal, but the entire garment itself has its own unique style.

2nd Year Fashion Show Garment Rehearsals and Fashion Show:

I think Lydia will achieve amazing things within the fashion industry, because she knows how to clearly communicate what is happening in the world through her fashion on the runway. She would love to use fashion as a platform to make people aware of all the good and the bad things that is present in modern day society, but also in that of past events.

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Something Vintage

Vintage is not a trend, it’s a timeless classic and you can wear is whenever you want. Anything vintage excites me, and most of all I love something vintage with a modern twist.

I recently did a fun shoot where my model, my friend Velesca, was styled in a vintage/modern combination and it felt like I was reemerged with a gorgeous vintage story. However, I must admit that the location of the shoot also added to this story. Pretville is a film set in Hartbeespoort designed to imitate the 50s and for just R60 a ticket for adults and tons of photo opportunities, this place is a gem.

So next time when you drive past Hartbeerpoort, go visit Pretville and throw on something vintage to take some photos and remember, vintage doesn’t have to be expensive. Look out for vintage pieces you might like at any local thrift fair or even shops that sell second hand clothes, you’ll be surprised what amazing and unique garments you can find at a very affordable price.

Pink dress: Bellbottoms in Queenswood, Pretoria.

Black sparkle dress: Bought in a Hospice store in Hartbeespoort, North West.

Sequence jacket: Bought at a Antique market at the Voortrekker Monument, Pretoria.

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Fashion in the future with Lydia de Kock!

The fashion industry is changing constantly and Lydia will be entering this industry with a BANG, very soon!

LISOF is having their annual fashion show on the 23rd of November and I’m excited to introduce one of the design students that will be showcasing her work in the show.

She is a 2nd year fashion design student and although she still has a year left until she has her degree, she sure knows what she wants in life and how she is going to get it. She believes that aesthetic is important and for her it is all about creativity and originality which she thrives under.

Her favourite fashion periods are the 20s and 60s but fashion overall is the one thing that excites her the most and this explains why she has this unique way of expressing her insights on fashion through her designs as well as her personality by always trying to enhance our connection with the past by giving as a glimpse of the future.

I had the privilege to get the feeling of what her life in like in her designing process during the preparation for the fashion show, and how she seems to stay focused is very interesting. She always demands a strong cup of coffee before she starts her day at LISOF where her creative process usually takes place. When she is not at LISOF she procrastinates at home, convincing herself and others that it is part of the creative process. And somehow this works because her garments always leave me amazed!

This upcoming fashion show will be very exciting and I cannot wait to be once again blown away by Lydia’s designs! She herself said that we should expect something “creative, intense and surprising”. Although, for her this show is not only about the exposure and publicity but she wishes to influence, inspire and to create an effect on people’s emotions when they see her work.

If you want to get to know Lydia a little bit more, be sure to watch my video! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5GduJuvy8Q&t=74s  

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A night with Andy Warhol

As I am a fashion photography student, I love to be fascinated by other photographers and artists because they inspire me to develop my own aesthetic.

Andy Warhol, who was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art, is one of these artists I admire very much and this year Wits Art Museum in Johannesburg presented “Warhol Unscreened”, their most high profile exhibition thus far.

My visit to this exhibition sure still is something to reminisce about. From the artwork itself to the type of people visiting the art museum were all so astonishing and the whole experience made me feel as if I was part of Warhol’s world. 

What I love about Warhol is that he collapsed the boundaries between high art and popular culture and created a new platform for other artists to practice their creativity. What he pursued as an artist motivates me to push my creativity to a whole new level that is suitable to me and not just for others to see. 

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Dining in the Sky

So I’ve always wondered what it would be like to enjoy a lovely meal while floating between the clouds, and someone very dear to me made that happen.

Having brunch 60 meters high up in the sky is a very scary yet extra-ordinary experience and the view, the food, and the company makes the whole experience unforgettable. 

Dinner in the sky is litarally a table, that can accommodate 22 people,  suspended up in the sky by a crane where one is severed by three staff members in the middle of the table (chef, waiter, and entertainer). 

‘The sky is the limit’, so go check out Sky Dining - Joburg and take your senses to new heights with delicious meals and spectacular views.

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Stitching Crosses

Hi there everyone!

I have a new hobby and I am totally in love with it! And so I would like to share this new ‘cross stitching’ hobby of mine with you guys. 

Here is a tutorial on one of my latest projects that I have finished.

Ps: If you love Star Wars, then this one’s for you ;-)

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I scream, you scream, we all scream for ICE-CREAM!

There is a very special corner in Hatfield, Pretoria where one can enjoy the most delicious home made ice-cream. It’s special because it’s not just your regular ice-cream shop, but a destination where you can feel at home.

@RoyalDanishHomeMadeIce-Cream has been around for 30 years and their ice-cream is made on premises to a traditional Danish recipe. They serve about 30 different flavours of full cream ice-cream of which Copenhagen, which is my personal favourite, is their signature ice-cream. 

So for all your ice-cream lovers, go treat yourself to a delicious serving of ice-cream in a crunchy home made waver cone. 

Have a great week!

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Thrifting...

I guess it is safe to say that it’s cool to have something old or vintage to wear in your closet.

Just imagine going back in time and walking around at a market where the only thing you can see is beautiful clothes and where the prices of these clothes were just as appealing. Well there’s no need because, fortunately this fantasy already exists so do yourself a favour and visit the The Vintage Square Thrift Fair in Hatfield, Pretoria. And when you do, make sure you have a purse stuffed with lots of cash because you’ll definitely want to buy almost everything!

This is not just some junk yard sale where people are trying to get rid of their old clothes, but a place where people get together to share their memories and stories attached to these clothes with others instead of holding on to it. Everything is there to find, especially the very classic garments that will never go out of fashion like the denim & jacket, jerseys and t-shirts. If you are lucky enough you can even find old designer pieces or be that person who finds a rock t-shirt of the most famous band of a specific era.

Walking around and noticing all the interesting garments, one can not help to be curious as to why these people are selling their old clothes. So I had a chat with one of the participants, standing in for his girlfriend, who shared his girlfriend’s story with me. She is an artist who loves abstract and unusual art. This love I could see in the type of clothes that she chose to sell. Everything was unusual, from the colour to the cut of the garments. She believes that art tells a story and for her fashion is art. If a garment’s story is no longer interesting for one person it will most likely be loved by another and for her that is what this whole Thrift Fair is about.  

I had another lovely conversation with a lady selling her clothes just because she feels that she had too much of it. When she was younger she used to travel a lot and everywhere she went she would buy clothes. Now she has this urge to give other people the chance to enjoy them.

Surely, I think all the participants have their own story and it is definitely encouraging the buyers to buy their second hand garments. I felt so amazed that a had to buy some pieces and I have never felt so proud to wear, as most people would call it, ‘hand me downs’.

But that’s all for now. I hope you feel inspired by the stories of second hand garments just as much as i am. 

Have a great week!

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A walk in The Village…

I have come to notice that not only is this the perfect location to have lunch with the family or to take a coffee break from your studies, but a funky environment for taking photographs as well.

@TheVillageHazelwood is Pretoria’s new restaurant hotspot in Hazelwood, situated on 16th Street. It has a very unique vintage vibe where not only the people are entertaining but the whole atmosphere. Every restaurant is set up and designed in different themes and somehow it makes one feel as if their taken back to, as most people would say, “the olden days”.

When you go their real early in the morning you might catch that lovely ‘golden hour’ which is perfect for taking photos, and when you’re done you can enjoy a tasty breakfast at a restaurant of your choice. What I love most of the idea of taking pictures in The Village is that your photo can end up telling a pretentious story. A story reminiscing about “the olden days”.

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Insight on the lovely Velesca’s blog.

Hello seekers of adventure! This week I had the privilege to have a chat with one of my good friends, Velesca Fawell, about her very creative and unique way of blogging. Her blog, Localmotive, is all about documenting her travels and everything interesting that she comes across. What makes her blog so creative is that she goes around by Gautrain and where ever she stops is where she will start to explore the lifestyle based around the station.

Her curiosity and love for observing people and her surrounding is what inspired her to create her own blog. She loves meeting new and interesting people as well as visiting new places and her blog gives her the opportunity to share everything that she has experienced with her followers and fellow bloggers so that they too can be a part of it.

When she’s in the field she is always on the lookout for something tangible and exciting. Basically anything with a unique aesthetic such as unusual coffee shops, boutiques, bookshops, art as well as the best local ice cream. She is also always on the search for the best local entertainment, inexpensive outing and great scenery to street style.

I hope Velesca’s creativity inspires and excites you to join her on her journey so you guys can experience the same beauty as she does.

I hope you guys enjoy the weekend!