Charles Finch & Chanel Pre BAFTA Party: An Editorial Red Carpet

Events make a big deal of the heavily branded step and repeat, and no matter how chic the backdrop is, it really isn't. 

So of course Charles Finch and Chanel had to knock the Pre BAFTA party out of the park by scrapping the step and repeat entirely and instead, photographing each of their celeb guests in an editorial-meets-casting fashion, which translated into something so purely fashionable and stunning that I can't help but wonder why this wasn't done before?

Just, just look at it...

iMerchandise: A Fashion Buyer's Dream

The life of a fashion buyer is one that is fraught with rushed shopping trips, hurried runway analysis and a stack of invoices (whether physical or in your inbox) that will bury you before the season has even begun.

Cue David Secul's brainchild, the iPhone app iMerchandise.

Here's an app that simplifies the life of a buyer by allowing them to not only order the items they want, but also to create moodboards, share the hottest items on social media, keep a track of the best events, organise their images, suppliers, invoices, and even export the contents whenever you need to. 

DKNY Pre Fall 2014: Nothing Short of Amazing

Let's take some time out to talk about DKNY, where the brand has been, and how far its come. The "fast fashion" essence has come a long way, from body-sculpted dresses, to the street style showstoppers we've been seeing recently. It's clear that DKNY is the brand to watch, not just because the designs are easy-on-the-eye, but because of the brand's complete dedication to what the brand has always been about, innovation.

DKNY's Twitter campaign set across 10 different countries for example, the DKNY PR Girl who has changed how a fashion house should talk to its fans and followers, these are only two examples outside of the store-windows where DKNY has put itself way ahead of its competitors. Forget the Rita Ora hype

 or the fact that DKNY brought the Onesie back in spectacular style

 here's a brand that knows who its dressing, and isn't afraid to get with the people, and get with the program.

And so, we arrive at what is going to set the Street Style scene alight next year, the DKNY Pre Fall 2014 collection, a series of punchy luxe sportswear and yet, items that can move between formal and casual with ease. I guess, as usual, DKNY has provided an entire wardrobe for the fast woman, the DKNY woman that its been dressing since the start.

The SA Fashion Disorder

Now here's the thing, Fashion may be dictated by the season's trends whether they be local or international, but there is no excuse for stealing another designer's work and calling it your 'interpretation' of the trend. Especially not when any person who compares the two can see your blatant disregard for creative intellectual property.

Most of my readers and followers are aware of my former client Rina Chunga who is the mastermind behind Ri.Ch by Rina Chunga. Her signature direction for ready to wear is vibrant prints, unconventional materials and luxe sportswear, and her designs are set apart from the average Afrocentric Print Designer by the workmanship and contemporary crafting of her pieces.

So this girl, who goes by the Instagram handle of @stylealert_thuli has been jumping on a few of Rina's designs and replicating them for a while (Please Note: she is not referencing ideas or trends, you can see in the comparisons below that she is blatantly copying) but the real shocker was when she replicated an entire Ri.Ch by Rina ensemble, posted it on Instagram and acted like nothing was wrong.

Now this is Rina's Tulle Skirt which she'd been making since last year, she wasn't too upset about this because she regarded it as quite a broad trend that was everywhere.

This is @stylealert_thuli 's tulle skirt posted on the 17th of October:

This is Rina's Bandana Print Bustier which we showcased around May this year and her Leather Pencil Skirt from June:

This is @stylealer_thuli 's post on the 19th of November, the plagiarism is obvious, as is the terrible workmanship.

Rina's fiance commented on it expressing his disapproval of her antics and she responded with this:

"U'll probably make more money instead of having those sleepless night[s], and thinking about how Style Alert SA operates!"

These are just two examples of what has been going on for quite a while now.

When did it become ok for designers to steal other designers entire concepts and run with it on the basis that bigger brands do the same thing? Where on earth is the integrity of our design industry that people like this can still be supported and funded?

I'm not writing this post purely because Rina is a good friend of mine, but because I love the SA fashion industry, and I want to see it grow into something that becomes a global commodity, something to uplift us as creatives, but I absolutely refuse to support an industry that supports trashy ethics like this and I'd like to know if other fashionistas and designers feel the same.

If the true fashion lovers in SA don't weed out the people in the shadows who are more concerned with money than the love of art in fashion, then we'll be looking at a very very sad future.

She says she doesn't call herself a designer, so can we call her a leech instead?

Muse of the Day: Cindy Bruna

Fashion Week means a lot of things for the fashion community, but for me it means trend analysis, all day everyday for the next month, and I guess it all comes down to the way my brain works.

I don't just see shows as designs I might want to own. I spot items that I know will be all over every street style blog for the next year, I see fashion trends that will shape the creative direction for fashion publications for the next season and what I enjoy, is spotting the new hot young models that will be gracing covers and fronting campiagns.

One of these Fashion Week Finds is French model Cindy Bruna who this season walked for Balmain, Antonio Berardi and more.

Muse of the Week: Kerry Washington

Look, i should start by apologising to all of you, I haven't posted anything in AGES and i feel properly awful about that. But i'm back! And i'm still as obsessed as ever. 

Let's talk about Kerry Washington, or rather, let's shriek!

Who Wore It Better: Rihanna vs Ciara

Hear Hear, the Queens of the Mid-Section are at war, remember when Ciara had a slight twitter beef with the current style leader Rihanna? Well methinks that she is hell bent on copying her now.. 

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery dears.. 

Rihanna in T by Alexander Wang vs Ciara in Saint Laurent

Who Wore It Better

Black Cake: Haute Headpieces

The West has the likes of Phillip Treacy, but all the way at the tip of Africa, is a label which has an aesthetic so outrageous, but still so elegant, that it has become something of a legend among fashionistas. 

Black Cake, founded by Junaid Moosajee in 2012, has grown fast to become one of the most sought after headpiece labels in the country, particularly because of the brand's attention to detail and consideration of geographical trends. If there's one thing that's evident, it's that Black Cake is as African as it is relevant, and is at the forefront of South African designers that are keeping with their own style, and thus, catapulting themselves to global recognition.

Black Cake is one of SA's best kept high fashion secrets, what was the inspiration behind the brand?

The love of art and fashion inspired the brand. We see headpieces as functional art and feel that this is lacking in SA. We draw inspiration from nature, other designers and all things avant garde.

What's your trend pick for the coming season and why?

I think fur and lace will be big this coming season. Black and white and splashes if colour are key for Winter.  

Give us your opinion on the South African fashion industry. Do you think there is room for improvement? Where and how?

There is certainly room for improvement, however, SA designers have done amazing things and we can compete with the best of them. Just looking at designs showcased on hellopretty.co.za is testament to that.



What has been your favourite Black Cake design or collection thus far?

Green affair is our favorite piece :) it epitomizes avant garde and is a real eye catcher.



If you could go to dinner with one person and only wear one designer, who would you dine with and who would you be wearing?

Alexander Wang and locally Stefania Morland. We live the cutting edge designs of Wang and the beautiful feminine pieces by Morland.

I would like to dine with Emilio Pucci.

South African Fashion PR: Nothing But Mediocre

Why South Africa? Why? Why would you make a client pay for services that do nothing to grow their label, expand their brand's reach or showcase what makes their brand's product The Best?

This is my bone to pick with South African Fashion PR agencies, if your client isn't blowing up, you aren't doing enough. 

PR in fashion is not just about maintaining good relations with your consumers, it isn't about merely representing your client when an opportunity arises. The goal of PR is to pursue opportunities that will benefit your client's image, extend their consumer base and put them above their competition, so why oh why, are there so many talented designers in SA who are represented in the most mediocre manner? 

Like, dude, what's with David Tlale's PR girl? Her tweets (or severe lack thereof) compounded with glaring PR white noise shocked me in the time leading up to NYFW. The country should have been on their toes for at least a month before Fashion Week, the twitter-sphere should have been on fire with congrats and motivation and most importantly, Tlale Traffic! But we heard nothing. WHY? Two tweets a day just isn't enough for a designer of that caliber. 

It isn't just David Tlale's twitter rep though, it seems like our designers have no presence outside of Fashion Week, something that needs to change and fast. 

We don't see nearly enough campaigns from our designers, we don't see nearly enough interaction between local labels and consumers. We aren't forced to take notice of the upcoming powerhouses because their representatives act as though they should only do something worthwhile if approached. Where's the initiative? People, you get paid to initiate great things for your clients, so what are you getting paid for?

I do take my hat off for designers who understand that a fan-base goes far beyond being a Diva and engage with their consumers on social media, most notably, Thula Sindi and Gavin Rajah, it gives me hope that SA designers will pull themselves out of this elitist hell-hole and get to know the people they dress. 

A final word to the wise PR agents. 

Make an effort. 

Your number one priority as a PR agent should be to see your client be successful beyond measure. Let your clients' victory trump how much you charge and not vice-versa. 

Rayne Fashion: Vintage Vamps Up

Vintage is not something that many South African fashion lovers outside of the Western Cape get to experience, and as a Jozi girl, my first head-over-heels collision with vintage was in Kalk Bay, when a pair of white leather gloves stole my heart. The dilemma for most vintage lovers is finding the sort of garment that goes beyond collectible and crosses over into the category of Timeless. 

So what better way than to reconstruct vintage pieces without forsaking the integrity of the items? And what better person to take on the mammoth task than a Central St. Martins student and LISOF graduate?

Meet Jessica Rayne, founder of fashion label Rayne and savior to vintage fashion yearning to be worn in the modern age. 

Tell me more about the mastermind behind Rayne.

I am the founder and designer of the label.

My team is very small- Just myself and an amazingly talented seamstress.

What does Rayne bring to the table that sets it apart from most labels?

I feel like my main focus in terms of separating myself from other designers is that I play a lot with the relationship between ready to wear (or rather every day wear) and haute couture- I make a point to mix the two notions.

All pieces are one of a kind and in turn are treated like little stories and art pieces- 

that's where the couture element comes in- there is a lot of time and love that goes into each individual piece from sourcing to concept to design- 

The ready to wear element is that the pieces are still 'affordable' and can be worn every day for any occasion.

The concept of reworking vintage pieces is absolutely genius, what inspired the idea?

Thank-you! 

I have always had a pull towards vintage and antiques- partially because I'm incredibly sentimental and romantic and I think growing up I have been surrounded by collectors of treasures (my mom and gran).

I studied in London for a year which only inspired and added fuel to an appreciation for vintage- it's a big part of their culture. 

As an avid vintage shopper the only problem that I found was that a lot of the shapes were outdated and unflattering-

This, teamed with a moral concern of factory staff treatment in the industry and environmental factors which are constantly changing and in a lot of ways diminishing.

It was a collection of thoughts and concerns that bought about the creative process behind my label. 

I like the idea of remodelling things and reconsidering their original form- there is an element of art in that. 

I love that each piece has a story, it's come from something which life span is coming to an end and just before it's done with, all the memories of the previous owner drenched into the seams, Rayne gives it another chance, another opportunity to create more memories, more life.

I feel it's important to consider society and the worlds obsession with MORE- alot of my brand is built on the idea of quality & uniqueness- and of course LESS. Staying away from mass production has always been a priority for me.

People like to feel special. I like to create things that are special and precious and in turn make people feel that way.

In college I researched sustainability within the fashion world and that really created an alertness for me with regard to sustainable living and the impact its going to have on the fashion industry- with clothing being a luxury purchase. 

I wanted to almost put out that you don't need to buy more- you just need to be clever about what you have already. Pieces can be changed and remodelled a million times over.

I love that about my label.

I never set out to be a conceptual designer- I was just kind of doing what I loved because it made me happy, but actually I'm really seeing there is a lot behind my label then just pretty clothes. 

What I'm realising more and more that my label is just an extension of myself as an artist- the clothing is my medium.

Is there any particular aspect of where you're located that affects the design process of your garments?

I do believe culture and lifestyle impacts you as a creative- If I think back to the period in my life where I was living abroad, that place made me feel different and dress differently so I'm sure that will in turn impact on your work.

My designs aren't specifically African  inspired or affected but I'm proudly South African and find JHB such a motivating, romantic, beautiful place to live!

If you could give one piece of advice to anyone about to jump into the empty swimming pool that is the fashion industry, what would it be?

                               Work hard.

Be willing to learn and grow- everyone is a teacher.

Just when you think you're ready to give up, you need to push that much harder!

For full collections and stockist details go to rayne.co.za