Oscar Fashion

So it's that time again..... Pretend FASHION POLICE! Last night was the 84th Annual Academy Awards. So here are a few of my thoughts and musings.


On an opening note, I wasn't very impressed. I don't know if this is because it's such a big award ceremony that celebrities get nervous, and go the conservative route, or if they just don't experiment enough. But quite frankly everything was very, very dull. I felt like I was drawing nails trying to find my best dressed. 


Anyway here goes... These are my top three in nudes (which seemed to be the colour of choice this season generally): 

Giuliana Rancic looked glamorous in this textured, embellished ensemble. Not a bad choice at all.

Milla Jovovich looked regal in a white Elie Saab creation. Elie Saab is fast becoming one of my red carpet favourite designers. She manages classic without the yawn. Good on ya!

Louise Roe in Black Halo, was simply perfect in everyway. She encapsulates my theory that skin does not necessarily equal bombshell. This is classic, elegant and still very form fitting and attractive.

Ok, ok, I know they all neutrals, so here is the only colour dress I liked. The stunning mermaid green gown worn by Maria Menounos, Giuliana's colleague. It was simple, flowing and pretty. Obviously E! Stylists knew what they were doing... 

Wait, ok and Michelle Williams in Louis Vuitton was not half bad either. 

My most controversial top outfit choice is without a doubt our Gwynie in Tom Ford. I liked it, a lot! Possibly the most unique gown of the night. Most of the critics weren't to taken by the cape. But, I really feel that everyone is too narrow minded with Oscar fashion. I know classic works, and the Oscars are a remembrance of old school Hollywood, but I think it's time we embrace a bit of fun, chances and change. Capes have been so en vogue lately, why are they suddenly a faux pas on the red carpet? It doesn't make sense. Just because she is not wearing the same ol' boring Oscar standard doesn't make it a fashion no no. Open your eyes a bit people. It is simple, different and really quite exquisite. Top dressed nominee. 

Here are some of my blurgh, been there, done that choices: 

Emma Stone in Giambattista Valli. The bow, the bow, the bow, last season sadly....

Penelope, is this the only style dress you are capable of wearing? Not the best from her or Armani.

Classic McQueen, not bad, but honey we have seen this look so many times before. With your rose golden locks you could have pulled off something way more dramatic that suited YOU!

What is up the leg.... That is all I have to say.  

Another classic bore. Although we shouldn't turn our noses up to vintage Dior... Whatever, I'm still yawning. Look I get it, you not necessarily going to experiment with fashion at the Oscars. You want to be timeless, but come on guys, live a little! 

Cammie's Gucci dress was striking. BUT with all her working out, her shoulders are looking HUGE, and a boob tube is not complementary to this, she almost looks too top heavy, like a man in a gown.

This could of worked. But the shoulders of this Marchesa gown sat dreadfully, they needed more movement. It looks like they have been stuck there with double sided tape. She almost looks uncomfortable. 

Boring. All I have to say. Boring. Zuhair Murad boring. Uuurgh. 

Here are two options of what I would have worn: Oh and a personally trained body would have been a great accessory too, just saying...

I know everyone has different styles and you may even think my two choices are pretty average. But I really do think at the end of the day, everyone could have put in a little more effort to try something different. It is the Oscar's after all...

Kisses,
Namaste,
Ciao,
God Bless,
Love,
Michelle
xxxx

Koeksister

Yesterday all the talk about vintage and heirlooms got me thinking about my heritage. My heritage is pretty cut and dry. Bar about 2% English blood, and like 13% French Huguenot blood, I am a regte, egte South African Afrikaner (85% Dutch descent.) I am a very proud boeremeisie. En ek weet ek gaan met a goeie boereseun trou.

 

So recently, when I was considering travel options and looking into any possibilities of perhaps attaining some sort of ancestral visa. I had a frank chat with my dad about how far back our family has been in South Africa. He the told me the first Brinks arrived in the Cape 10 years after Jan van Riebeeck. So if I have done my math correctly, Van Riebeeck landed in the Cape on the 6th April 1652, and the Brinks arrived 1662, then my family line has been South African for 350 years. Quite a thought!

 

Although I have been brought up in English schools I will ALWAYS be very proud of my heritage. I know South Africa has been steeped in many years of battles for power by all types of nationalities, races and beliefs. But I do think this is a double edged sword, in that we should all be exceptionally proud that we are privileged enough to still live in a country, that so many people were prepared to fight for. Just shows what a special place we have the honour of calling home.

I am very fortunate to have friends from amazing and interesting heritages. Dutch, Italian, Sotho, British, Zulu, Indian, Chinese, and so the list continues… I count myself lucky to be surrounded with such diversity; uniqueness and I learn something new everyday. This is the one thing I will ALWAYS be exceptionally grateful to. South Africa I owe you one!

Just remember wherever you have come from, and wherever you are going, always appreciate your heritage. It's these roots (whether good, bad or ugly) that have molded you into the individual you are today. And lets be honest, no matter how big the world gets, or is, there is no one quite like you...

 

On that note, to my fellow Bulls supporters, here is to winning Super 15!!!! And stampeding the Sharks tonight!

Wooooohoooooooooo!

Have a fabulous weekend.

Kisses,

Namaste,

Ciao,

God Bless,

Love,

Your Koeksister,

Michelle


xxxx 

P.S Congratulations to Christian Louboutin for getting a million followers on Facebook! Glad I could contribute! Hahahahaha

The exceptional exception...

So yesterday's blog was about the ex-factor. And I got my first comment as a blogger that has genuinely warranted an explanation and a whole new blog, this one is for you Anonymous...

So, yesterday while shopping for dinner...

This message had been posted by Anonymous:

"Oi but sometimes its difficult to throw out those beautifully worn in leathers, vintage scarves, heirloom pieces...and don't old outfits sometimes come back into fashion... who would have thought we'd be back in flared jeans and palazzo pants...sometimes its worth hanging onto this cringe items... ex's included?!?"

So here was my reply: 

I totally agree with you! I thought about this at length before I wrote this blog. And, funnily enough, I never let go of vintage pieces or items that I think may come back into fashion (I'm a bit of a hoarder.) Actually just recently, I fished out a pair of palazzo pants, circa 1998. I also find it hard to let go of exes, because they might come back into your life at the right time and magic could happen! I mean, hello you dated them because they were wonderful in the first place! So I'm with you on this one!

But I also think that these are rarities. The elusive ex that comes back into your life with success and the vintage piece you can still pull off fifteen years later is rare. Special, possible, but rare. And thus I think they fall into a whole other category. The category of exception. There is after all an exception to every rule. But these exceptions are just that, exceptions. They are not at all about getting rid of clutter, and old clothes that no longer fill a function. And most importantly they are not about exes that are exes for a damn good reason (and should remain that way...)

Maybe Ill discuss exceptions tomorrow;)
Xxxx

P.S We might even be buying scrunchies again soon, and I might marry my first ever boyfriend:) 

Today we talk exceptions!!!

I love love love love vintage pieces. And I absolutely do believe that some exes may come back into your life, just like your flair jeans. But they are exceptions. Not common.

Sadly, most exes, really should remain in your past, just as some vintage pieces. No matter how cute, back in fashion or hot, they should never be worn again. An ex, or an ex piece of clothing that no longer suits who you have become, is not an exception. No matter how hard it is to let go of you favourite ripped jeans (you know you will never fit in them again) or the guy you thought you would spend the rest of your life with (you know he just wasn't the right fit). You have to let them go, for sanity, because nostalgia isn't always the healthy option, lets be honest.

As for exceptions… We are lucky to have them! They save us from being cynical and unbelieving. Exceptions get us through the rough times, and are like beacons of healthy nostalgic hope on a bad day. It's like a bunch of flowers that last longer than the rest. A person who notices you are down when no one else does. A green traffic light when you're running late. A smile from a stranger. Extra chips accidentally put in your McDonald's take out packet. The perfect worn in leather bag spotted in a vintage shop, your gran's cameo broach in perfect condition. And last but not least, the exceptional ex that might come back into your life for the right reasons, is something we all believe we might find and keep forever... And thank goodness for exceptions! 

Anonymous may think my argument is flawed, and to a certain extent it is, because boxing men into fashion is not cut and dry in any sense of the word. But I know when I find a guy who is an exception, just like my dad's vintage leather arm bracelet from his hippie days, (that nearly went into the trash) then I know I have a keeper, hey, he may even be the elusive ex... 

 

In the words of Anonymous "When the fit is right, you will know..."   

And I bet he will be exceptional!
 

Kisses,

Namaste,

Ciao,

God Bless,

Love,

Michelle


xxxx

The ex factor

Ex.

What does this word mean? Out of all the definitions I found on line, this one jumped out at me the most:

Adj.1.ex-

of fashion; "a suit of rather antique appearance"; "démodé (or outmoded) attire"; "outmoded ideas démodé, old-fashioned, outmoded, passé, passé, old-hat, antique, unfashionable, unstylish - not in accord with or not following current fashion"; "unfashionable clothes"; "melodrama of a now unfashionable kind". http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Ex

Lapsed 

One-time 

Unstylish

Erstwhile 

Lapsed 

PASSE

Antique 

Old fashioned

Démodé

ARE YOU HEARING THESE WORDS!

Hell yes, your ex is old-fashioned girlfriend! Old-hat, boring, has been, last seasons skinny jeans, that now have holes in them.

After a month of odd, awkward and pathetically annoying instances with dreaded exes. I have come to a conclusion. Why does the ex make us so upset, irrational and ridiculous? When all it means is just that: PASSE.

Exes are passé. Yeah baby! You are PASSE my 'ittle wittle snookum’s!

I never thought the day would come where I would find a way to compare exes to something that makes so much sense in my head. So from now, every time you think of that damn ex, imagine him wearing the most cringe worthy outfit you can remember in your wardrobe history. You will soon associate him with a feeling that you once had a lapse of bad taste. How cool is that? Hey, my ex was a moment of bad taste; thank the fashion critiques I discovered Christian Louboutin and ditched the Jimmy's Choo’s. 

Maybe Jimmy is a bad example, because don’t get me wrong we still love Jimmy, but honey with Loubi around how could we still be stuck on the Choo! Think fondly of your exes as a bygone era (sorry Jimmy but for now that’s true), and move forth into the future. We have a jumble sale to get rid of the outdated for a reason. It is cluttering our lives! So why on earth would you let your exes bother you if you sure as hell don't let your old scrunchies bother you! 

A friend of mine, who henceforth will be known as Pauly D,(yes, he wears wife beaters, gyms and thinks he is hardcore, and he is very over-protective of me) said something very profound recently,

“I want the best for you. You deserve the best, which is why I get irritated with you for allowing the exes, who are losers already by virtue of being an ex, because that means they’ve let you slip through their fingers, to affect you so much.”

YES! Why am I still SO worried about the damn Jimmy Choo's when the Loubi's are waiting for me? Jimmy you have lost me, and Loubi you are looking mighty fashionable! So why am I, and all you wonderful souls out there still letting Jimmy affect US? Maybe it is because Jimmy still looks good. I get it. But hello when there is a newer model around why for getting a new pair of shoes name, would you stick with the old? 

In the words of Adele, "I wish nothing but the best for you." 

Because lets be honest, ladies those exes are SERIOUSLY defunct, antiquated and outworn, and us trendy selves don't need anything dated in our cupboards! Wish the archaic the best, and embrace the vogue in you, because the next person you date is sure, as Loubi is hot, going to be way more fashionable! 

See ya! Wouldn't wanna wear ya!

Kisses,

Namaste,

Ciao,

God Bless,

Love,

Michelle

xxxx

Oranges

So when I think of the colour orange. I think of two things....


One,

Two, 

Both represent two conflicting parts of my personality.

One, the desire to be grown up, sophisticated, well groomed, mature and most importantly attaining perfection. Just like the regal brand of Hermès. 

On the other hand I want to be free, fun loving, full of life, crazy, unpredictable and most importantly bubbly and relaxed just like Fanta Orange...

It is hard acting grown up, when in your heart you are still a kid. We all try and pretend that the allure of playing fairies in the garden is above us. But it is not. Being young at heart is a privilege. Something we take for granted in this adult world we are forced into when we are not ready.

I was so lucky growing up. I had such amazing friends. We honestly had such fantastical childhoods. And, I think none of us have fully managed to let go of what once was. It makes it hard for us to fully embrace adulthood. Hence, probably why we all still so nuts. Audrey, Husband, Posh and Ex-pat, this one is for you:) 

I'd like to think that even though I don't know which personality I lean towards, that I at least act like a kid with style. Maybe that is the trick here. Not to be one or the other, but why the hell not both. Because I don't think we ever really grow up. 

Mantra for the day:

relaxed perfection

unpredictable maturity

crazy sophistication

free grown up

So whether today you are leaning towards being young and carefree,

Or mature and sophisticated,

remember that, you should never neglect the urge to be a kid. Dive bomb in the pool, eat too many sweets, fly with the fairies and have a fabulous weekend. 

Kisses,
Namaste,
Ciao,
God Bless,
Love,
Michelle
xxxx

You are A WHOLE HUMAN!

So I know yesterday was Valentines Day and in my blog I was very positive about love and all that. But I was holding back something I really wanted to say, so I am saying it now...


A wise woman I once knew pointed something out to me and I want to share it to you all...


Humans everywhere. A NOTE: When talking about yourself as a couple you are NOT, I repeat not a half. So, NO, your boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife/lover is not your better half, other half, or worse half. You are an entire person! The same way he/she is an ENTIRE person. You are two individual human beings.


I mean hello, are you a floating torso?

No!
You are two unique special separate living organisms that make A COUPLE.

  

So it is not Happy Valentines to my better half. Its Happy Valentines to an EXCLUSIVE person that makes up your duo...


Maybe this is part of the reason why ninety percent of relationships end in heartache or heartbreak. Hello? If you are not confident enough in who you are to call yourself a whole person, how the hell do you intend on loving another WHOLE person?


You have to, have to, have to, have to, love yourself. And have enough respect for yourself to acknowledge that you are a whole person. Otherwise it is completely and utterly pointless attempting to be in couple. 


Look, I am not perfect. Far from it. In fact I fall victim to this kind of thing all the time. Am I good enough, do I deserve someone special, on and on the self-doubt goes. But this blog is my contract. It is a contract to myself that I will always believe that I am no-ones half. I am someone's whole. 

Kisses,

Namaste,

Ciao,

God Bless,

Love and Life!

Michelle

xxxx