The initiative was aimed at developing and exposing young and talented clothing, footwear and jewellery designers in Joburg. The ten best designers showcased their designs in the presence of established designers and fashion lovers alike.

The showcase was attended by fashion designers like Reggie Molamo (ReggieStarred), Paledi Segapo (Palse Homme) and Hangwa Nengovhela (Rubicon Clothing) who also formed part of the judging panel.

Taking the grand prize of R10 000 was Zanozuko Sithetho who’s SKORZCH male designs belong on the catwalk of any fashion show.

Each of the finalists will be granted a sales platform at The Dope Store and Thesis Concept Store for a year, while the winner will also receive business consultancy from Palse Homme which is owned by former RJK partner Paledi Segapo. They will also showcase their designs at the SA Fashion Week Pop-Up Store in 2012.

Bongani Fassie, who’s rarely seen out and about these days, showed his support towards the initiative saying that developing designers are hungry for a breakthrough and the SA Youth in Design is the perfect platform for them to do so. Other zalebs at the showcase included Sistahood presenter and Tshisa actress Thuli Mpongolo as well as actress Zikhona Sodlaka.

Browse our gallery of photos from the event. 

Have a peek at the video below to see what was hot on Vera’s runway!

Image via Facebook/VeraWang

A softer shade of green and turquoise, mint green is a great hit for the up and coming season and we can’t get enough of this fresh shade!

Minty fashion is everywhere, from clothing to accessories, from make-up to nail polish, and even walls in our homes are painted in this flirty colour. Universally flattering for almost all skin tones and so fabulous in combination with white, black, peach, beige, navy and almost all the shades of rainbow… what’s not to love?

Article courtesy of Karla Bosch of Ka-La-La Fashions

Closer by Halle Berry is a rare blend of feminine and masculine notes, creating an intriguing scent that is as alluring for men as it is for women. Renowned master perfumer Jacques Cavallier perfectly married the opposing fragrance facets, enveloping the traditional masculine fougere accord with a luscious feminine blend of violet flowers and mimosa, one of Halle’s favorite flowers. A rich, warm woodsy center is surrounded by delicate notes and a bubbly fresh ozonic top accord. The result said Halle Berry, “is modern, sexy, versatile, yet timeless. A woman should wear this whenever she wants to feel sexy.”

Just as the fragrance has an appeal that extends to both men and women, so too does the packaging design. Streamlined and modern, it is an instant classic. Both the bottle and the carton are adorned with intricate lines that mimic the contours of the male and female body. This provocative curvature shows up on the elegant prism-shaped bottle, creating an enticing play of opposites.

In the advertising campaign photographed by Alexei Hay and directed by Francis Lawrence, Halle Berry plays with the same gender roles of her fragrance. Donning a man’s white oxford button-down accented with her monogrammed initials and tie, Halle stands confidently, a pair of bare, muscular male arms wrapped around her body. Her fragrance draws them together, a mutual attraction that cannot be denied. The bold, sexy campaign explores the innate sexual chemistry between a man and woman, triggered and magnified by the power of scent.

Closer by Halle Berry will be available at retailers worldwide in September 2012.

To view the never-before-seen Closer TV commercial starring Halle Berry, click here. 

By Sapa/PRNewswire

South Africa is the 42^nd country to launch Kiehl’s in the last 10 years, since the expansion of Kiehl’s outside of the USA. On the milestone of opening its first store in Africa, Kiehl’s Global VP of development and Education, Cammie Canella says Kiehl’s is thrilled to extend its family to South Africa. “We at Kiehl’s are thrilled to be opening at Edgars in Sandton City. We are very pleased to know that our company’s long-held values resonate so well with customers in South Africa, who seek the most effective skincare solutions, fine-quality ingredients, generous sampling, philanthropy and fair pricing. We look forward to welcoming both new and existing customers to this new store at Edgars, and we are delighted to become part of this local South African community where we hope to contribute for many years to come.”

Marketa Havlik-Liebenberg, the General Manager for L’Oreal Luxe is confident the brand will be a success in South Africa. She says the zeitgeist is right to launch an alternative luxury brand.

Havlik-Liebenbery says the ingredients are the single most important component in a Kiehl’s products and only formulas with ingredients that are truly beneficial to the skin are selected. “We therefore offer the highest concentrations of the finest ingredients at an accessible price. This has always resonated with customers in existing and new markets. The sophisticated South African customer appreciates value and we believe Kiehl’s values will resonate with them.”

Kiehl’s has a unique business model, will launch Kiehl’s local yin its Edgars stores.

Kiehl’s has a unique business model – it does not and has never advertised. Kiehl’s commit their resources to quality ingredients, sampling, philanthropy and fair pricing – values that truly matter to their patrons.

Sampling, or as Kiehl’s calls it, their unique “Try before you buy” philosophy, is a real value-add to consumers. Globally, Kiehl’s samples 40 million units a year. Havlik-Liebenberg says this unique philosophy has been at the cornerstone of Kiehl’s long successful history and shows the brand’s confidence in their formulations.

The Kiehl’s signature sampling approach also resonates with the Edcon group. Further to the “try before you buy” philosophy, Kiel’s offer a 28-day 100% money back guarantee.

The Sandton City store has kept to International architectural and design guidelines to include elements that gives Kiehl’s unique shopping environment, such as the “New York red face brick wall, wooden floors, an antique chandelier, Mr Bones (Kiehl’s iconic replica human skeleton) and a Harley Davidson motorbike, a homage to Kiehl’s founding family’s love of extreme sports.

Nicole looked sweet yet sexy in a white sundress paired with gold heels.

After the event she took to Twitter with the following: “What a great night! Thank you all for coming & I hope you love your new scent @nicolefragrance xoxo”

To showcase the Zara recommendations of the hottest fashion trends for its Cape Town customers, the store has more than 30 mannequins on display, in addition to those in the shop windows, totalling more than 24 square meters of display space.

The Cape Town customers will find the new revamped Zara store image, with intimate display areas and quality furbishing that adds to the aesthetics of the layout and conveys a sense of lightness to the store. These diaphanous and unadorned spaces allow a focus on the most important element of each store, the fashion. Sustainability is priority in the architectural design and it is evident in the environmentally friendly fixtures and fittings as well as the eco-efficient installations that are used.

The space created by the new design allows us to show fashion-forward ideas without superfluous flourish and makes way for neutral and uncluttered spaces. Products are organised into cubes which serve as dressing rooms, intimate areas in which the shopper can create a personal look building from the ideas put forward by the brand. The space becomes a sort of catwalk in which they discover for themselves all the particles making up the Zara fashion universe.

Zara offers South African consumers a unique southern hemisphere collection which is constantly updated be delivering new merchandise to stores twice a week. Zara customers in South Africa can expect a customised range of apparel for women, men and kids where the latest trends in garments and fabrics, most appropriate for the season, are always present.

Mother, wife, singer, designer, fashion icon… and, now, editor too. Victoria Beckham is showing off her multi-tasking skills as guest editor of American Glamour.

In the fashion-laden September 2012 edition, the style icon talks fashion dos and don’ts, and tips and tricks when it comes to winter dressing and make-up too.

According to glamour.com, Beckham thoroughly enjoyed the role.

“It’s been exciting for me to see my ideas come to life, from type colours to photo selection to casting. I even made my own list of Glamour fashion don’ts to keep out of the issue: boat shoes (unless of course you’re designer Alber Elbaz or on a boat!), Bermuda shorts, nose rings, Crocs, and American tan tights (that’s nude pantyhose to you).”

The cover is utterly indulgent, with Beckham posing in a foam-topped bath (blowing bubbles, of course) and wearing a tiara (as customary with royalty, and she is fashion royalty in the very least).

Since launching her eponymous line in 2008, Beckham has garnered immense praise for her design aesthetic. Her dresses are feminine, silhouette defining and put simply: beautiful. In addition to her stunning women’s collection, all-things VB include denim, accessories and eyewear.

The (fashion) savvy businesswoman is slowly taking over the world with her beautiful creations, which are currently stocked in luxury department chains (in the U.S.A. and the U.K.) and sold online (net-a-porter.com).

Article courtesy of Ka-La-La Fashion.

VIP seats were available to the media and a few lucky Top Billing fans where they were introduced to the Top 8 My Top Billing Dream contestants, namely, Greg Kriek, Lauren Wallett, Chamendran Naidoo, Zama Ngcobo, Jonathan Boynton-Lee, Khanya Ngumbela and Lynelle Kenned (with the exception of Lauren Blackwell, who is currently on a Top Billing shoot).

Vivacious Top Billing presenter Jeannie D took to the stage to MC the event, while fellow presenters, Lorna Maseko and Jo-Ann Strauss headed the contestant’s Q & A sessions, where members of the audience were able to find out more about the Top 8.
A night of entertainment was promised and the audience got their fill when the models, presenters and contestants showcased the latest ranges from top designers including, Forever New, Country Road/Trenery, Sas Diva, Ruald Rheeder, Woolworths, Dax Martin, Stuttafords, House of Monetic, Hip Hop and Fabiani.

With the smooth electro-swing sounds of Goodluck, beautiful garments displayed on the catwalk and the Best of the Good Life displayed for all, the My Top Billing Fashion Show was the place to be.

See all the glitz and glam of how the fashion show unfolded on My Top Billing Dream 2, Tuesday 31 July 2012, 8pm only on SABC3.

Tanzanian-born Anisa Mpungwe, the creative design genius behind Loin Cloth and Ashes (LCA) is at the helm of this new revolution, creating designs that humbly show an intrinsic understanding of the new African woman.

The LCA store will bring a bright spark to the Maboneng Precinct, which is fast becoming the new hub for Africa’s creative spirit and provides just the perfect environment for people to come experience the LCA brand and flirt with the gorgeous garments.

“This is a big step for me and a daring move for my label.  I’m thrilled to have found just the perfect spot for people to come shop and try on our clothes. We’ve been working so hard towards this and I’m glad it has finally come. It’s been a divine journey,” says Mpungwe.

For women who don’t reside in Johannesburg, Mpungwe is proud to announce that along with the flagship store opening, LCA will also launch online via 36Boutiques.com on the same day of the launch, providing a virtual shopping experience for local and international clients.

In an industry that is dominated by established fashion powerhouses and male designers, LCA stands its own ground with a label that caters to urban Africa and tells the story of a more cosmopolitan African woman.

Mpungwe’s Tanzanian background, matched with her global travels and studies in fashion design, puts a stamp of authenticity to her use and understanding of African fabrics and qualifies her pride as an African designer.

True to the brand’s identity as a modern African label operating in a cosmopolitan African era, LCA teamed-up with a band of like-minded African creatives who are all part of the new African renaissance and passionate believers in shining the spotlight on the continent’s ingenious talent.

Mpungwe’s team features the Namibian-born and renowned international show producer Jan Malan of Umzingeli Productions. To complement Malan’s acclaimed showmanship; Mpungwe’s has hired the services of a pioneer in Afro-fusion music, the Mozambican-born Dino Moran who is a preferred DJ and music producer.

Loin Cloth and Ashes first burst on to the local fashion scene in 2008 when designer Anisa Mpungwe became the first black woman to win the Elle New Design Talent.

For Mpungwe, that was just the beginning of her journey. Since then, Loin Cloth and Ashes has appeared on the local catwalks along with making its debut on the international catwalks when she showcased at the prestigious New York Fashion Week as part of the Arise Magazine African Collective in 2010.

Mpungwe’s label has been adorned by an impressive list of clientele, including former South African First Lady Zanele Mbeki and the famed radio personality Anele Mdoda who has become the official ambassador and face of the brand.

Soon, women from all walks of life will be able to embrace a true African identity and embody a proudly African aesthetic when the Loin Cloth and Ashes store opens.

The store details are as follows:

Loin Cloth & Ashes Store
The Main Change – Retail Space One
20 Kruger Street, Maboneng Precinct, Johannesburg, 2094
072 143 231 2
www.loinclothandashes.com