Q&A With Philippa Green and Ida-Elsje

I posted a while ago here about an O Magazine shoot featuring exquisite stainless steel jewellery. It has garnered such a lovely positive response and I am so pleased. The team worked really hard on it and took some risks - so it is always fun when the risks pay off.
Some of the jewellery we featured was crafted by two of South Africa's most exciting jewellery talents - Philippa Green and Ida-Elsje. They have a store in Cape Town called Olive Green Cat, and the O magazine web team took some time to ask them a few questions about their brand, their work and how they got to where they are now.
I think it is a lovely read, and worth the few reading minutes. Talent is such a rare commodity that it is always worth digging a bit deeper and drawing those talents around you. Well, that's what I think.
read the Jewellery Q&A with Philippa Green and Ida-Elsje here.
Photographer: Gavin Kleinschmidt
Model: Lindsay from Y Models
Make-up: Sylvie Hurford (L'Oreal Paris)

Jennifer Lopez for L'Oreal Paris - In the Desert via Twitter

I love it when the peeps I follow on the Twitter post images of themselves that we would never have access to without the wonder of the little blue bird. Jennifer Lopez is a star that knows and understands the beneficial power of 'behind the scenes' insights and exposure.
There is no doubt that the access we have been given to her via American Idol, Twitter and the behind the scenes photos she releases have benefitted her public image and raised her profile considerably. Not everyone benefits, but people who have garnered an unfair reputation like J-Lo and Rachel Zoe are the real winners when it comes to reality TV and social networking.
Anyhoodle, Jennifer posted this picture last night of her and the mysterious Benny out in the desert shooting her latest L'Oreal Paris commercial. Looking, dare we say, not her usual glowing self. And yet, all the more lovable for it.

Her last L'Oreal campaign was sleek, smooth and chic. Effortlessly beautiful. Here's hoping we see another side to her for the next one. Go J-Lo.

PROJECT OF THE WEEK

check!

Ok so we have all had weeks like this: You know the one- where there is so much hard work to do (in my case writing a total of 4000 words in 3 different places, being interviewed, interviewing, and replying to probably 300 emails - apologies to friends I haven't got back to yet). On top of that everyone here had colds and were grumpy and high maintenance as hell. sigh. Times like these I turn to simple craft. I've made a couple of Christmas presents (don't laugh) for the little ladies next door, two gingham totes that I'll fill with some craft supplies (of course).

We broke my beautiful porcelain beaker I used to put cutlery in for couch eating - so I grabbed some scrapbooking bits and a tin - a project that Thom loved too - he stuck the little wooden knife and fork on with great pride!

I also made a set of coasters for Miss B's birthday next week. I did all of these projects as a 'reward' per 1000 words and they all took less than an hour, but they kept me sane in a tough time. Don't ask me about the housework tho, good grief. RAMONA

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Source: Numero via here

Weekend Style: Summer Edition

The Northern Hemisphere has got some sun eventually after months and months of a very cold winter. And the stars are wasting no time at all in embracing summer style. It seems churlish to point out that we enjoyed another weekend of rock-solid 30-degree temperatures here in Cape Town, so are also still embracing summer fashion-fun. But let's look at Taylor Swift, Gwyneth Paltrow and Diane Kruger and see what we can steal from them as we wind down for winter.
Pretty floral dresses and Mary-Jane shoes from our youngest, Taylor. Yup, we can defs get on board with that. Expect to see a lot of this next summer - but girls, please note the length of the dress. Above the knee, but still sufficient to cover the knickers and upper thighs. This is much more the direction to follow for next summer.
Cool, chic, classics from Gwyneth in denim button through skirt and white blouse. This is a universal outfit with longevity built in. Worth investing in a skirt like that for next summer.
And the striped romper and flats from Diane? Cute. Again, rompers are here to stay through next summer, but gang, please make sure the fabric is top class and long enough so you don't get 'crotch-creep'. Revolting, I know. But someone needs to say it.
PS: Someone also needs to ask, where's Pacey? Haven't seen him for ages Diane. Let him out to play, please. I miss his lovely face.

Weekend Style: Pregnancy and Couples Edition

Here is a round up of this weekend's notable style statements. Starting with the pregnant women who seem to be winning the style race at the moment, Selma Blair in colour, Victoria Beckham in heels and Kate Hudson in casuals. All of these looks would work equally well for a weekend, preggers or not. I am particularly loving the solar-inspired shift of Kate's and really wouldn't mind that sneaking into my closet.

Two striking couples also caught my attention this weekend. The ever-immaculate Dita von Teese and her boyfriend French model and aristocrat Louis-Marie De Castelbajac were definitely best dressed. His shoes, her belt...sigh...just lovely.
Also worth noting are brand new indie couple, Keira Knightly and James Righton (he of the Klaxons - that's a British indie rock band for those who don't know). They nail that casual look that the Cape Town/Greenside hipsters are so fond of. Expect to see couples around town dressed in these exact outfits any time now. Boom.

A Glamour Masterclass from Women Over 65

Last night we were schooled in glamorous dressing by three women over the age of 65. First, Raquel Welch (70) wore sleek, draped red and accessorised with gold. Second, Alana Stewart (65) dazzled in Grecian sparkles and third, Dame Joan Collins (77 - yes peeps she is 77) creamed the lot of them in her gown. All of the ladies wore their hair big, their clutches small, their hemlines appropriately long and all in the name of charity
Last year when Joan took young Hollywood to task for their lack of class and glamour, she was met with derision and calls of fuddy-duddy skepticism. But there is no doubt that this sort of style will never, ever go out of fashion.
There is no doubt that the older ladies of Hollywood are setting the style pace these days, and that the days of being put out to pasture once over thirty are long, long gone.
Now that is something to celebrate this Monday morning.