Up, Up and away

My friends,
I’m sitting at a fork in the road at the present. I am presently strolling aimlessly down one path; I seem to have forgotten how to be passionate about something. I am striving for a goal that I may not want to succeed, this is an unusual feeling and one that I know I am not alone in.
It has come to me that our lives are a waste if we are not doing something that we truly love. It’s important that every day we wake up for a purpose... we should be striving towards the freedom to choose a life that sets fireworks in our hearts. I cannot fathom why we are constantly waiting for that bite of passion, sometimes we actually have to stop, and go get it ourselves. It is out there, we were all given the opportunity to love different things to keep this world a diverse and interesting place. I don’t want to stroll through life; I want to feel a buzz beneath my feet. How beautiful would it be to fly out of bed knowing that what you are going to do in that one day, will make you the happiest person alive!
Dreams and aspirations are there for a purpose... we are given them to climb the highest mountain, to make a difference in someone’s life, to make a person smile or to simply wake up happy, everyday. Many of my dreams have already come true, but I am still aching for that bite in my soul... I can feel it; I just can’t see it, like faith. My friends, why should we be living our lives waiting for it to start...it's already started, we are living our lives... I am going to put out the greatest challenge yet, if you are doing something that you really have no feeling towards and you have to drag yourself to do it, STOP! Take on the risk of starting with nothing and climbing the wall to reach your dreams...they are in your reach. A wise person once told me that life is like a pyramid, it is vital to start with a good foundation, if you have that, you can build the strongest and most magnifying pyramid.
I have faith that you will all take this little bit of inspiration, it’s nice to know that we are not alone in this feeling of confusion in life... Find your passion, find that bite of life.
Good Luck in your ventures my friends x

The significance of the Pearl...

An Icon!

Thursday is finally upon us!
I sincerely love Thursdays, it’s the day just before Friday and leaves one with hope for a great weekend, feet start to tingle as we anticipate a night of dancing in our heels and our hunch back postures seem to just lift themselves! Thursdays are great people, let’s embrace it!
Seeing as though it’s Thursday I thought I would talk about something that lifts my entire spirit, this might sound slightly absurd to some, but the idea of the "Pearl" makes me feel happy. Now I am referring to the colour, the earrings, the pearl necklace or even the pearl in its original form under the sea. I was rustling through my little jewellery box and came across a pair of pearl, stud earrings. Feeling slightly eccentric, I put them on and didn’t think about them again. I was running late so I had run out of time to put a face on (make-up) and my hair was in a rough pony. Nothing in my overall look was screaming...."Wow!" However, I received more compliments of how I looked that day then I do if I am dressed up to the nine's going out on the town. I was puzzled until I glanced at myself in the mirror and thought, ok, you look like a woman! It then hit me that it was the pearl earrings! They had changed my entire look, I felt feminine and dare I say beautiful the whole day, what a confidence boost. How could one little piece of jewellery change an entire look? It got me thinking, and immediately the answer came to me...Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Audrey Hepburn, an icon, truly and someone that I constantly aspire to be like. I would call Audrey Hepburn the ultimate lady, her manners were exquisite, she was just as striking and her over all aura was feminine and fragile yet strong.

Mix it up by layering pearls

It is said that Audrey Hepburn wore pearl earrings all day, every day. I can see how a pearl necklace may be viewed as vintage for those of you "anti-vintagers" but do yourselves a favour and team a thin string of pearls with a little crotched top and high waisted salmon pants... I did it and I must say the look was impressive! I have chosen to spend a whole week wearing pearl studs to see the reaction. After all, I see them as a beautiful and timeless accessory...it all lies in the beauty of the pearl!

So much love x

Coco Chanel and her followers...

Kate Hudson looks so feminine with her pearls

Food For Life...

Happy Rainy Day Cape Town!

So this is what winter is like in Cape Town, I was starting to forget! Cold and Rainy, so grey you almost could wear the colour:) I feel the cold much more with my Durbanite blood. I can’t believe I was sitting on the beach yesterday in Durban with the warm berg wind on my back and now my blood has turned blue and I am craving gossip girl and bed....Oh to be that free to relinquish myself to temptation! Anyway my point of this blog post is to not be whimsical but practical.
Here is what I am proposing to you today; cook off! For people that know me, they might be on the floor in fits of hysteria when reading that, but let me explain myself. I cannot cook full stop. I took Home Ec. in school and watched my peers make the most glorious dishes that looked as though they had been trained by Gordon Ramsay himself, my dishes however, didn’t share the same desired effect, no, my dishes ended up with a burnt pot, stodgy pasta, lumpy sauce or soggy veggies, complete travesty to any chef! So here I am, surrendering to the urge to start cooking again. My roommate will be cringing at this point, she is a master chef in the kitchen and it is possibly heroic that every night when I walk into our flat there are delicious smells coming from the stove. Makes the wintery months so much more bearable (thank you Carla, you are a blessing) Last time I tried to cook, I burnt our favourite pan! Last night however, I felt inspired! It could have been because I had finished work early or I was trying very hard to avoid going to the gym but I decided to cook up...wait for it...Mince Mate! Laugh, but it is a challenging meal...ok maybe not but it was worth a try! Didn’t turn out to bad actually, but I have realised that it is a sad state of affairs that I run away screaming from the big bad stove! I aim to make at least 2 meals a week... For those like me, join me! Let me know how it goes! Maybe we can swop recipes, isn’t that what cooking folk do? Until then, here's some inspiration and a little bit of my favourite chef...Mr Gordon Ramsay cooking, what looks to be a beautiful steak! Yum!

Happy cooking x

That 70's Show

Dear Friends....

I have been slightly preoccupied these last few days with a little trip back to my home town Durban! Home truly is a special place to visit and I wouldn't trade the time I spend at home with anything.
As I seem to travel frequently back and forth from the mother city to Durban, I find my magazine collection is expanding. My latest buy was the new ELLE! I was inspired by their article on 70's fashion! Now, before we all start perming our hair and bringing out the bell bottoms, lets just bare in mind that times have changed and I must insist that it is merley 70's influence, NOT actual 70's fashion!

The 70's were christened as the "me decade" by the ever famous journalist Tom Wolfe. During this period the womens liberation movement was at a high both politically and economically. Pop culture possessed a strong influence on fashion at the time including the most famous designer of the era, Yves Laurent.
It is challenging to distinguish what's "fashionable" 70's clothes and what should remain locked and buried in the 70's shame box (There is one of those boxes, I'm pretty convinced.) However with that said, if I were you, I would focus on 2 types of 70's fashion; Boho and denim.

Boho- To dress like a 70's boho I would suggest focusing on the chunky goods. For example, chunky rings and bracelets, chunky shoes (wedges, clogs etc. they really are everywhere, even Mr Price and Woolies) Wide brimmed hats, again I found a beautiful suede hat at Mr Price today, so affordable and so yummy! Crotcheted gilet (little crotcheted waist coats) and for some extra shazam, how about some coral lips, just for those flirty days;)

Denim- Rememeber when wearing denim, you want to avoid coming across too masculine, I would therefore suggest teaming your jeans or denim shorts with some lace or florals! Denim shirts are highly popular at the moment so team that up with a small waist belt. Clog shoes and denim shorts NEVER fail to impress and can make your legs look like Agnes Deyns (Im really not lying, if you dont believe me, see gossip girl season 3, Vanessa pulls the look off in some other kind of stunning way) To add to the denim look, team it with some fringed accesories, really embrace the 70's vibe!

There is many more ways to explore 70's fashion, colour blocking etc. but that is worth a whole post! Stay posted peeps! <3

P.S Just for some fun, I thought Id add a little clip from "That 70's Show" seriously funny stuff

Go for Grunge

Hello Friends!

So, it's Monday! What a dull day, Mondays are notorious for depressing, hunched up people walking the streets as though the world is just the most painful place to be living. College, work or school is just not what you feel like doing on this day, bed definitely remained the better option and for the first few hours of the day, we are consumed with thoughts of faking a dire sickness and going back to our weekend sanctuary! However this is not life and Mondays will always come and go, aren't we so lucky that we get to see a Monday:) 

Back to the good stuff! I am now working on a project based on grunge and I was inspired! Grunge is back people, and I think we should embrace it rather than turn our heads in disgust! Now, this may seem hypocritical on my behalf as I am one who rather would be Blair Waldorf, strutting myself in some of Manhattan's finest! I am going to try something a little different! Grunge derived during the late 1980's and can be referred to as alternative rock (think Nirvana) It is a way of looking completely filthy and messy but doing it in a stylish way. An advantage to grunge wear is  it can be cheaper than trying to dress like Blair Waldorf (sigh) In a nutshell, grunge consists of baggy shirts, ripped denims, combat boots, morning hair, dark make-up, piercings-im sure you get the drift! 

I find grunge interesting and a seriously cool look! Why not give it a try? It is after all a timeless sub-culture! Im going to ditch the feminine and floral affair that is my wardrobe and delve into the dark waters of the Grunge monster...well maybe just for a day anyway! 

Our leading grunge ladies: Courtney Love, Mary-Kate Olsen, Taylor Momsen

Be inspired *

Saturday with Sun!

Good morning all you beautiful people!

Don't you all just love Saturday's? Waking up late, sharing some morning coffee with family or friends, eating breakfast like Louis XVI just because it's Saturday or simply burying yourself deeper and deeper into your duvet to have a extra few shut-eyes, Saturdays are Awesome!
Today, I get the added bonus of sharing my Saturday with my parents who are visiting from Durban, so Im going to keep this post short because time is precious!

Perfect escape on a Saturday!

If you are living in the Wintery Cape Town may I suggest "cozying" up your home with heaters, blankets, maybe a crackling, burning fire or by simply putting on that wooly jacket and lighting a braai! It is obviously SA vs. Aus Rugby today... (5 o clock game-oh yeah, I know that!) For those of you who would rather not watch Rugby, why not have a little late breakfast at Starlings in Claremont, one of my personal favourites, followed by a good shopping spree round Cavendish, make sure you check out Michiko London, the Wardrobe and The Lot, and obviously Vertigo, Woolies and a sneak peak into La Senza for those of you feeling cheeky! Ooh that sounds delicious and if I was flying solo this weekend, something I would gladly partake in.
But whatever you do, love your Saturday, spend it with those special people in your life and just take it easy (No drinking and driving...we have Goodfella's after all)

Tranquilty of Note!

How great is the sunshine Cape-Town? <3

Viva La Vintage!!

I have only recently fallen in love with the idea of vintage clothing! It's taken me too long, I must confess, and the thought of 2nd hand shopping still makes me nervous but when thinking back on our iconic designers, Chanel, Dior etc. I feel the urge to give myself a smack! How can we forget these masters of fashion! As a fashion student, I feel guilty and a little embarrassed that I have not embraced the idea of Vintage clothing. Its a divine way to have fun with clothes. One can transport themselves into another era, perhaps you have an obsession with the 1920's? Why not try a sleek shift dress and some long pearls? Bit too far back, maybe, like myself, you are completely enchanted by the 1950's...the glamour, the elegance and the celebration of the curvy woman. High-waisted anything is by far my most favourite style of dress... I cant resist a pair of a high waisted pants or shorts and a little crop..Makes my life beautiful!

Vintage clothing is stylish, glamorous and, if worn correctly, completely modern! For thos of you Cape-tonians, you will probably laugh when I say I had my first visit to Annie's Wardrobe (now called Annie's Angels) just the other day! That was me, 100% sold on the idea of vintage clothing! My heart broke when I found out the clothes were not for sale... what a  "bleh" moment! However, I have since completely changed my view on vintage clothing! Coco Chanel is still my firm favourite, it would do all fashionista's good service to do a little research on her!

Here's to celebrating Vintage clothing! Im excited to try out some second hand stores! Join me:)

Marilyn!!!!

"Kimo, founder of Effie's Heart, melds vintage elements with modern styling."

London Bridge is falling Down...

Good Morning!
I woke up this morning feeling slightly heavy on the heart...I cannot seem to fathom the riots going on in London!Its truly heartbreaking to see my second most favourite city going up in flames. Only a few months ago we watched the city in all its grandeur with the royal wedding and now we are watching a war zone caused solely by its on inhabitants! It's sad to see how people can treat their country, its a vicious way of handling things, and at the end of the day, very little will be resolved! Violence is only causing more of what they are fighting for. BIG up's to Mr David Cameron and his speech, I really think he's one of the best! However, with that said, we, on the outside, know very little! It is hard to therefore criticise both sides of this small war! I am proud to have a British citizenship and I'd really like to see the country leave all this ugliness alone now!

I guess it's true what they say..."Once you get tired of London, you get tired of Life!"
Love to all our brothers and sisters over there...your in our hearts!

Here's some video's and photo's in case your a bit behind on the whole thing!

Pretty empowering Stuff! Hope it reaches out to someone!

This video says it all....Lets all just a live a little in the moment! Its time I learnt to do the same...Completely inspired by this video! *

Girl Talk on womens day!

What a beautiful Womens Day it has been in Cape-Town! Couldn't think of a better day to start my blog!

I'm excited to start writing again...There's been a twitch in my fingers for too long! 

Since it's been Women's Day for a whole day, I think it's only appropriate to celebrate the beautiful women in my life! To my incredible Sister, my amazing friends and my beautiful Mum, you are all truly beautiful and I have been blessed to have had a little bit of all of you throughout my life! 
To ALL our women ancestors, a BIG thank you for fighting for our rights to live as we do now! If I look back on the womens suffrage and the black sash groups, all I can muster up to say is thank you...thank you for giving me the opportunity to study, to  work and to succeed in whatever I choose to become.

You are all Godesses! 
I feel the urge to quote one of our favourite icons girls...just for a bit of fun...here's a little bit of Marilyn, enjoy <3

"If you can make a girl laugh, you can make her do anything."
"Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring." - Miss Marilyn Manroe