REMEMBERING LAST WEEK

Ja last week was fun, also a bit of a mess.  Methinks I went a little too hard, as though I was trying to make up for all the months of self imposed sobriety. It was fun though, in parts. I took these pics at a few places, some from Superdry’s store launch at the V & A Waterfront, which was a cool party except the bit where they ran out of vodka within the first. Thirsty hipsters and thirsty fashion media girls are an awkward sight to behold, they make me nervous, so I made my exit round about then. The rest of the pics I took on Saturday at the Public art exhibition gig hosted by Vansa at City Hall and some at Assembly afterwards. Took shitloads of pics, but now that I’m sober they ain’t that great, so do enjoy the few that made the cut. Hope to see some of you at the Joule City opening tonight.

SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS OPENING THIS COMING THURSDAY

I am so looking to this on Thursday. This is the launch of a project I and a group of other artists, writers, photographers, thinkers, theatremakers, etc. have been and continue to work on. It's gonna be an awesome night, i can't wait. Come and check it out, and party with us this Thursday.

FRESH MOMENTS

THURSDAY. EXHIBITION OPENINGS. FRIENDS

At Blank Projects for Jan-Henri Booysens's 'Save it till the morning after', The Goodman Gallery for Jabulani Dhlamini's 'Umama', and the Stevenson Gallery for Dineo Bopape's 'Kgotso ya go tšwa: even if you fall from a circle', and Meschac Gaba's 'Le Monde'.

MAIL & GUARDIAN 200 YOUNG SOUTH AFRICANS

MOMENTS /// A DOG. MEN

Ola skat, askies for the lack of posts over the last coupla weeks, although I’m sure some of you know by now that it happens from time to time, apologies nonetheless. Interestingly enough I’ve been out and about a lot but just really not finding much to shoot at events, dunno what the fuck that’s about. To be honest tho, that shit always happens to me when I go through extended periods of sobriety, I start thinking I’m discerning and shit. Anyway, nevermind, here are some of my favourite moments from the last coupla weeks. Enjoy.

TWO THINGS I AM SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THIS WEEK /// ELLE RISING STAR AND ATHI-PATRA RUGA

You must have heard by now, earlier this week Elle launched their Rising Star Design Award for 2013, in collaboration with Mr Price. I covered the 2012 competition last year, so if you want a refresh and to check what you can expect follow this here link. You can also check here on the elle website to keep up with the developments. Another reason I am excited is that this year I have been invited to sit on the judging panel, along with really awesome people that I've admired from a distance, I am totally looking forward to being part of this experience. Anybody who knows me knows that I am passionate about young design talent, across all sorts of disciplines.

The good stuff: apart from the opportunity to redesign a pre-determined range in collaboration with Mr Price, a cash prize of r25 000 from Mr P is also up for grabs to help the winner launch a fashion career. But wait there's more, there's the extensive mentorship programme, during the competition and for twelve months after. This includes two weeks at the Mr P head offices in Durbs, where the winner will be exposed to the complete retail cycle, from trend forecasting to merchandising. I come from 7 years as buyer in the retail background, so trust me that kind of exposure to that level of retail is a brilliant experience for a young designer. In fact, at the Elle presentation to bloggers earlier this week, 2011 winner Cleo Droomer described them two weeks as the best and most valuable part of the prize for him. Last but not least, the winner aslo receives personal coaching by a bussiness expert from the Gordon Institute of Business Science, two weeks fashion inspiration at Elle's Cape Town office with Editor Jackie Burger and her fashion team, and a year's subscription to Elle.

The competition is open to final year fashion students,  and fashion graduates with no more that 3 years design experience who are not currently employed by a South African retailer.

So what the F are you waiting for? ENTER. HERE. NOW.

The second thing I'm excited about is of a much more personal vibe. Athi is off to Venice along with the other SA artists that will be representing us at the prestigious Venice Biennale. I don't even know what to say about this skattie, so proud and beyond excited, I don't even mind being home alone, although I do wish I could be in Venice to see the performance, it's gonna be next level. Anyway,  NOTE TO MY PARTY PEOPLE: got the flat all to myself, let's party y'all.

“TELL PETA MY MINK IS DRAGGIN ON THE FLOOR”

Oh my dear hunty, where to start? Tonight I went to Cavendish to check out The Great Gatsby premiere hosted by Csquared. Okay, technically it was a screening, not a premiere, the movie opened this Friday and had been seen by many before us in the very same cinema. 

I didn't actually see the movie skattie. Ster Kinekor sold tickets for the very same movie theatre the screening was hosted in. So imagine skattie and have yourself a bit of a laugh; there we were on Csquared’s invitation, dressed up for the theme, feeling fabulous and self important as fuck, then people started streaming in and kicking us out of the seats they had paid for. A theatre full of fashionistas, kicked off their seats by a righteous army of civilians in jeanpants, priceless.

 Anyway, amidst all the drama, and shortly after my friend Bee and I got kicked of our seats, we decided to head home. Can’t figure out if the city bowl gods were punishing us for straying too far out, seriously, cavendish. Perhaps the gods are on Peta’s side, and they were punishing the fashion set for the animals that had to die for all that fur.

THURS /// FROM ADRIAAN KUITERS TO PROJECT RUNWAY WINNER ANYA AYOUNG-CHEE

I feel like a stuck record everytime I start a post with the words “I had an awesome night”, but really skat I did, what can I say. To quote the great Thembi Seete, “I don’t know whaaaaat can I do myself”. There were quite a few events happening in CT tonight, unfortunately they all started at the same time so I chose two. Adriaan Kuiters and Take Care’s Winter 2013 range launch, and a fabulous intimate little soiree at a private home in Llandudno with Anya Ayoung-Chee (@AnyadeRogue) ,winner of Project Runway season 9. Had so much fun there. Thanks to Nicoleah Ogle (@nicoleah77) who hooked it up, and singer Claire Phillips (@claire952) who entertained along with rapper Da Les (@2freshLES).

 My best though was one of the model girls at that party. Sweet girl. I was chatting to her about one of the events I missed tonight, a launch of The Exchange, a fashion boutique that doesn’t take money but rather gives you clothes in exchange for signing up as an organ donor. Your organs for fashion kinda thing. Anyway, with a straight face, sweet model girl says to me, “If you donate your organs, what happens when you die and then you get to heaven and you’re incomplete?”. I swear I almost wet my pants. Special.

BELOW: IMAGES OF SOME OF THE PIECES FROM THE NEW ADRIAAN KUITERS RANGE. SHOT BY ONE OF MY FAVOURITE PHOTOGRAPHERS, NICO KRIJNO. AWESOMENESS!

BELOW: IMAGES OF SOME OF THE PIECES FROM TAKE CARE'S NEW WINTER RANGE. SHOT BY JULIA MERRETT.

LATER, PARTYING IT UP IN LLANDUDNO. MORE AWESOMENES.