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Keeping it under wraps

I was thinking of interesting, creative ways to wrap a friend of mine's birthday present this morning (I must admit part of it had to do with the fact that I had no wrapping paper at home!), and it got me thinking about Christmas. Too often, we just wander out to the shops, pick up any remotely decent-looking stick of wrapping paper, take it home and mindlessly wrap our presents.

Linked to my earlier blog post about taking the time to send out hand written cards this festive season, why not take some time out as well to creatively wrap your presents? I find it a great creative outlet for me - so here are some other pics that Ive found which will make for great inspiration come gift-wrapping time.

Holiday

If you're anything like me and worked your butt off this year, then you will probably also be needing a holiday right about now. There are only 9 weeks left of the year, just a little bit more to go...

I heart you

Just wanting to share the love...

Ladies in Red

The international campaign, Go Red For Women, presented by MasterCard, will have its inaugural South African show - the Little Red Dress - during its Style in the City at the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town from the 29 October to 1 November 2009.

This initiative, in support of the Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa, will see eight South African designers each creating their own unique red dress, which will be worn by eight well-known South African female personalities on the runway during gala dinner on 29 October.

The dresses will be on auction on the night with a reserved minimum bid for each dress and all proceeds raised will benefit The Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa. The dresses will then be put on display for the duration of MasterCard Style in the City to give all attendees an opportunity to view the beautiful designs, and how much was raised for the Foundation.

“The Go Red for Women initiative, symbolised by the little red dress, is an important platform for us to bring home the message of heart health to women in South Africa. Our collaboration with MasterCard will enable us to get our message across in a way that is close to women's hearts: fashion,” says Ashleigh Kuttner, programme director projects, Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa.

The models and designers are:

1. Jackie Burger, editor, Elle, for Abigail Betz

2. Jill Docherty, business leader, MasterCard Africa, for Gavin Rajah

3. Jo-Ann Strauss, presenter, Top Billing and host of MasterCard Style in the City, for Gabi Rosenwerth

4. Kate Wilson, editor, Marie Claire, for Marianne Fassler

5. Lerato Tshabalala, editor, Sunday Times, Lifestyle for David Tlale

6. Michelle van Breda, editor, Sarie, for Stefania Morland

7. Pnina Venster, editor, Glamour, for Jacques Lagrange

8. Samantha Page, editor, O Magazine, for Bongiwe Walaza

This four-day interactive fashion, beauty and health event will feature the fabulous fashion-duo Trinny and Susannah of BBC's Undress the Nation, who will be entertaining South African audiences with their Style Academy that has already proved its popularity internationally.

Scarf Update

I am a big fan of scarves - winter or summer. During the colder months, I wear more thick-knit varieties, while in summer I indulge in light weight assortments. And because I wear them all year round, I like to experiment with different ways of wearing them so as to keep the novelty alive.

Here is a fresh way of tying a scarf. Try it the next time you wear one:

1. Place the scarf around your neck - evenly spaced on either side


2. Knot the scarf in the middle below your collar bone once


3. Then tie it into a bow - as if you were tying your shoelaces.

Et voila!

Card Game

With Christmas looming around the corner, it's a good time to start thinking about presents and gift cards (so as to avoid the inevitable last minute shopping!). Here are some beautiful cards to get you thinking...

What with the technological advances of late, it's too easy to pop someone an sms or send off an email. Why not take the time this year to send a personalised card?

Feet Fairies

How awesome are these?

They are called FEET FAIRIES and are pretty ballet flats that can be squashed and folded to fit in your clutch bag!

Wearing heels to your party this weekend? No stress, just whip out your fairies in the car ride home or when you simply cannot take the pain anymore!

Happy Friday

Another week, another rainy Friday afternoon in Durban.

Just before I end off for the day, I thought I would post a few pics to get you excited for the weekend and the various fashions that you can clothe yourself in - whatever it is you get up to this weekend.

Skinny Jeans health hazard - Real or hoax?

What are your thoughts on this issue?

I was recently interviewed by Cosmo on this - read it here:

http://www.cosmopolitan.co.za/Fashion/HowtoWear/too-close-for-comfort#

For the birds

For whatever reason - I find the silhouette of a bird quite a lovely one. Im even contemplating getting a tattoo with this shape. Here is some of my inspiration, first of all, my little bird Kiff Oke (don't ask). We rescued him after a particularly nasty thunderstorm in Durban, and he's been a part of the family ever since.

Ive found "birdy" inspiration in other places too, from tea cups to paperbags, to logos and light fittings:

I love Fridays

I love Fridays - they bring with them the satisfaction of a knowing that you put in 5 days of hard graft, as well as the promise of a relaxing weekend ahead. This weekend I have family event after family event given that my sister is visiting from Australia (and I have a young cousin to doll up for a special dance tomorrow night) so this weekend should be good!

But just before I sign off for the weekend (and pop on the couch to paint my nails for this weekend's festivities) I thought that I would leave you with some beautiful pics.

I find that my fashion inspiration comes from a variety of sources - not just runways or mannequins but from interiors, art and music. Here are some pics that have inspired me of late: