Remember Mother’s Day – Sunday 12th May

Update Your Winter Wardrobe!

Ease your way into Winter with the Fashion Editor’s choice: MONOCHROME.

This is quite possibly the simplest way to update your Autumn/Winter wardrobe.  And with such easy colours, these scarves will last you for seasons to come.  100% Cashmere AND machine-washable – low maintenance luxe at it’s best!

Email info@alabaste.com for more details.

NEW WEBSITE COMING SOON…

Mwah! x

A Bright Winter

I think this year I may well avoid my trusty navy, grey and black-hued coats for something rather more cheery.  What do you think of this green gem?

Colour Clash!

I was feeling inspired whilst watching the Oscars tonight to do a little drawing.  I think it was all to do with the beautiful dresses on show.  My goodness though – this year’s awards ceremony was a tearjerker.  When Barbs sang Memories. And then all of those non-A-listers doing what they love and winning.  Amazing!

Kristen Stewart made me cringe at her half-hearted efforts to present. When will she get over her teenage petulance and realise her awkwardness is not endearing? Bleh.  Smile love, it could be worse.

How cute when Naomi Watts and her gorgeous hubbie Liev Schreiber caught an intimate smile together.

So, not at all an Oscar-related post, but I like this colour combo.  What do you think?  Maybe a gown or two tomorrow…  Mwah! x

Hair Rebel.

Well, I’ve bloody done it and there’s no going back now!

Last night, as I was flicking through my latest copy of  British Vogue,  I was finally persuaded into doing something I previously never had the stomach for.

I cut my own hair.  Sounds dramatic, but really I created a heavy temple-to-temple fringe hoping to achieve that ‘I-don’t-give-a-f@*k’ styling steeped in irony that (exceptionally wealthy) fashion trendzoids pull off.

The first snip was nerve-wracking, but then I knew I had to commit.  Stopping now meant that there would be no other outcome than wearing my Fedora everyday for a few weeks.  I kept checking the article, re-reading the tips in the hope that whatever I was doing was right.   The first pair of scissors I used were blunt and kept pushing the hair from between the blades.  The result was a slightly graduated, hacked mess.  Vogue says this is not what you want. You want JUST a hacked mess.  Apparently, to the rest of the world this shows you have balls of steel when it comes to personal style.  As much as I know my style, what works and what doesn’t, my old-school grooming habits leave me feeling torn between a neat hairdresser cut and this DYI version.  But hell!  That’s why I am doing this in the first place.  I feel too stiff, too groomed.  I want to appear less rigid and more fun.  Surely a home-cut with my second, not-so-blunt, pair of scissors will be just the thing to give me an air of arrogant youth and womanly flair?

Maybe.

So at once, brimming with confidence and trepidation, the latter kicks in and I remember why I haven’t done this before:

1. I am not a qualified hairdresser.  If Picasso had painted his abstract works without mastering technique first, he wouldn’t have been able to create the chaos of his later works.  Chaos, like a hacked haircut requires consummate skill.

2.  Hairdressers have always warned me, heavy fringes require heavy attention.  Unless you are blessed with thick, straight hair, or a personal hairdresser who follows you everywhere, bangs’ll be high maintenance.  Which leads me to my next point.

3.  My hair type. I have a cowlick and natural wave.  Let me picture the scene.  If a touch of water hits my hair, my hair curls, frizzes and my hair ends up looking like a cross between Pippy Longstocking and the horns of a buffalo.

Pippi Longstocking. Image: Jacob Forsell

How my fringe could end up looking. Image: http://www.true-wildlife.blogspot.com

Needless to say, these three fundamental points were pooh-poohed by me in the quest for achieving perfectly imperfect hair. I would get Alexa-style tresses if it killed me.  Or maybe not.

My Hair Icon. Alexa Chung. Image: © Ava Edwards 2012

I sliced through and the end result, although not quite styled messy perfection, is fine.  I think I may have to keep practising, but now that I have made the leap this could be the way forward.  Next, perfecting the self-styled messy plait…  Quite enjoying the beginning of thrifty beauty.

Didn’t turn out too badly (in my opinion)… All I need now is a hair stylist on-hand 24/7

Have a great weekend peeps.

Mwah! x

DIARISE: Shop-Label Pop-Up Shop

Brilliant news – my friend Sarah Dickson, owner of the chic e-commerce site, www.shop-label.com, is hosting a Pop-Up Shop in Stellenbosch.  This store has a cult following locally and overseas – no surprise when you see the gorgeous goodies on offer.  Please pop in to share a glass of bubbles with us and shop, shop, shop!   We at ADRESS (the “we” being myself and Jules) will be mingling amongst the crowd for any style advice questions.  And I will be showcasing my brand ALABASTE.

A must-see for all those luxury essentials

Remember to RSVP!

Mwah! xx

Wrap Up! OFFICIAL World Record Attempt

I love knitwear. So much so, that I get stupidly overexcited when I talk about it.  Imagine my delight when one of my favourite yarns became the subject of a very cool campaign.

Wrapped in Merino is the aptly titled attempt to create the World’s longest scarf.  There are prizes to be won and it is also a fabulous way to grow awareness of a natural fibre that is used in so many diverse ways.

They need 14,000 contributors to reach their goal.

Take a look and be inspired.

My contribution…