Bow Peep

Being 21, I still have the excuse of not yet having to know who I am. During this “discovery” phase (cough, excuse, cough) I find myself experimenting with different looks, styles and moods with regards to fashion.  Although I’ve tested the limits of very many different looks, some of which I wouldn’t like to be reminded of, I have yet to really give in to my girly side.  But with spring on its way, flowers blooming all around and a lovely brand like Bow Peep, now seems like a great time to give my femininity a chance.

Bow Peep has only been around for a few months but owner and designer, Leila Badsha won me over very quickly after meeting her at the Second City Bowl Fashion Market.  Her stand was beautiful and she was extremely friendly and helpful the minute I stopped to have a look.  Although I had decided to spend as little as possible at the market, her earrings caught my eye and I needed a pair.  As someone who is hardly ever indecisive, I battled to make a decision – they were all gorgeous!  With Leila’s help, we eventually decided to settle for the pair that best suited the outfit I was wearing at the time, making my decision a lot easier.  And even though I’m happy to report I have no buyers remorse with regards to the pair I eventually chose, I do still long for the fifteen other pairs I didn’t buy.

How freaking gorgeous are the products?  Finding the Bow Peep stand at the Hope Street Fashion Market was a positive reminder of what perks come along with being a girl. The Bow Peep website is as elegant as the products it showcases as well as being simple and easy to use with shots and prices of each product – ooo, how I love an organised artsy person. Leila also has a blog in which she visually diarises all the beautiful and interesting things that inspire her and her creations.

For more of her products, visit her website or like her facebook page.  If you’d like to get to know Leila a little better, I suggest giving her blog a read.  All images © Leila Badsha and Christine Watters.

Packing for OppiKoppi

I have been excited about OppiKoppi for months now!  It’s this weekend and hosts quite a few thousand people, loads of great local and international bands and for a weekend I’ll be enjoying the farm heat like I used to back in Limpopo.  Last year was my first OppiKoppi visit and I was lucky enough to have gone with a very experienced OppiKoppian.  He organised coffee, tea and rusks for breakfast, braai-broodjies for lunch and wors rolls for supper – It was a breeze compared to other camps.  However, being a dude, he had no advice for me on packing.  “Jeans, T-shirts and nothing white” isn’t exactly festival fashion advice for the more creative.

  

While OppiKoppi can be done in style with my packing advice and tips, remember it is a dusty music festival and not a fashion show, so don’t overdo it.  Below is a simple packing list for the weekend along with some fashion and beauty tips.  This list should simplify your packing and possibly leave room for more important festival items, like alcohol!

Tops

T-shirts, as my OppiKoppian guide suggested, are definitely a basic you need to bring along.  They’re easy and cool to wear and with the right print you can get your personality across very quickly.  Communicating who you are with t-shirts is a great way to sift through crowds and find like-minded people who will share a drink and a smoke with you.  Three different t-shirts or vests are all you need for the festival.  I know it sounds like too little, but remember you’ll have dresses there too.

You’ll need a warm hoodie to bring along too.  You could go for a jacket or coat, but remember it is a dirty festival.  Don’t bring anything too special that could get ruined.  Hoodies are simple, easy and because they zip open, you can still show off your personality (read: assets) ((read: boobs)).

An oversized sweater, poncho or sweatshirt is also a good idea for the weekend.  It’s a great item to sleep in and can be thrown over a pair of tights to become a simple but cute morning outfit while lazing around the camp site.

Bottoms

A pair of trusty old jeans is a MUST! These should be the wingman jeans, the ones that were always by your side.  Don’t bring you high-fashion skinny jeans that are a little too tight as you’ll be running around or sitting on the floor all the time – crack and tummy spillage is not ideal when you’re trying to look cool. Comfortable and reliable is what you want whether skinny, bootleg, straight or high waisted.

A pair of shorts will also be needed at OppiKoppi.  I know a lot of people live in jeans in any weather, but the heat can get annoying in Limpopo, so bring along a pair that’ll go with anything and once again aren’t too tight or too short – sitting on the grass is a big thing at OppiKoppi.

A skirt is another bottom option for the festival.  Midi or short flowing skirts are great options as they can be cool and keep you feeling feminine.  If you’re more a ‘short skirt’ kinda girl, it’s definitely appreciated by the boys at OppiKoppi. But if you have a “thing” about people seeing your underwear while sitting, maybe avoid the short, tight skirts.

Dresses

Dresses are an easy option for music festivals in general and require very little thinking, something you’ll thank me for when you’re hungover.  Although maxi dresses are very in at the moment and absolutely beautiful, the camping areas are grassless and dusty.  If you’d prefer to avoid dust/alcohol/bodily fluids on your dress hem, try stick to short or mid-length dresses.

Shoes

If you have any Y chromosomes, you too feel the way I do about shoes.  DO NOT bring your favourite pair to OppiKoppi! Bring comfortable, old, crappy sneakers that know how to withstand all the elements.  A closed pair of shoes like sneakers, oxfords or brogues are a must at the festival, especially since it starts to get cold at night.

An extra pair of sandals is optional if you’d like to mix things up or feel a little softer in your dresses but it’s not necessary if you’re cool with your trusty kicks.

Accessories

Accessories should be kept to a minimum at OppiKoppi to save time, prevent loss and because too much jewellery at a music festival can make you look like a douche (someone had to say it).  When it comes to jewellery, pick a ring (or two) and a necklace (or set) that go with all of your chosen clothing items.  A simple ring that you can sleep in is a great idea to avoid misplacing it (I find things mysteriously go missing when you’re intoxicated) while a simple necklace can easily be hung in your tent (hooked through zips or mesh).

If you find you’ve forgotten a pair of sunglasses, you might as well go home.  Besides wetwipes, these are probably the most important item on your packing list.  I wouldn’t suggest bringing your designer brand as sunglasses have a way breaking at OppiKoppi.  Rather have a look around for a cheap pair or two of plastic sunnies to wear all day, every day.

As we all know, showering at OppiKoppi or any festival or camp site, is not usually a pleasurable experience.  Luckily, no one there judges you for the lack of personal hygiene.  Wetwipes and deodorant are great ways to stay “sort-of” fresh during the festival, but another great trick is to wear a hat.  Yup, beanies, fadoras, bowlers, caps, beret’s, whatever your preferred style, hats not only keep the sun off your face but are a great way to disguise your soon-to-be dirty hair.

Other

More underwear and socks than you think you’ll need to bring is definitely advisable.  A change of one or both of these items is a great way to feel cleaner.  Thick black tights are also an important item as they can be used to run around in, sleep in, or worn under jeans to keep you warmer.

Batiste is an amazing product I’ll be bringing along this year.  The dry shampoo comes in an aerosol can (also available in smaller sizes for handbags or purses) and removes or disguises the dirt in your hair.  It’s a great replacement for washing your hair as I find with all the dust in the area, washing your hair at Koppi ends up with you having dirtier hair than when you started! Wet hair + dust = dreadlocks.  Batiste is available at clicks and only costs R54.95. If you’d like a cheat item, talcolm powder works just as well although I wouldn’t suggest it for ladies with dark hair.

Another nice trick for OppiKoppi, one my male guide did not think of, is to paint your nails. I know this sounds silly as they’re bound to chip but remember it’s very dirty.  Chipped, painted nails are way cooler than dirty nails, trust me.

There you go, my girls guide to packing for OppiKoppi.  Obviously, all items you pack should blend easily as it makes mixing and matching one less thing to worry about. If you have other suggestions, I’d love to hear them! Here’s the short version for the list obsessed among us (yeah, I’m one of them):

Packing list

3 T shirts
1 Jeans
1 Shorts
1 Skirt
3 Dresses
1 Pair of Thick Tights
Loads of underwear and socks
1 Pair of Closed Shoes
1 Pair of Sandals
1 Hoodie
1 Pair of Sunglasses
2 Hats
1 Necklace
1 Ring

Enjoy Oppikoppi and remember, packing should be fun, not a chore.

Grown-Up Friendship Bracelets

I was never one for friendship bracelets.  That could have been due to my inherent style from birth or because I had horrible friends and missed out on a valuable stage in life, but I like to think it’s the first.  I do find the recent adult friendship bracelets trend just charming though.  It suits my wannabe 70’s hippie style and a few would work perfectly with my OppiKoppi entrance bracelet this year.

Don’t be fooled though, friendship bracelets aren’t free home-made gifts from friends like they used to be. Designer bracelets can cost you a pretty penny.  An Alyssa Norton bracelet (as seen above) can cost you $240 dollars, while an Aurélie Bidermann (as seen below) design can cost you between $250 and $670 a piece.  Ouch. They are pretty though, aren’t they?

There are alternatives to selling your body for new jewellery.  Scocha, an Australian born New York designer, creates simpler, elegant version (below) for as little as $25 a bracelet and she promises to send your friend one too - for free!  I think it’s a great idea and sticks to the spirit behind the design inspiration. 

For an even cheaper option and that more personal touch, Honestly. . . wtf has an entire blog post on how to make your own version of the Aurélie Bidermann friendship bracelet.  I’m so trying it out for OppiKoppi! 

Top Image: Jak & Jil

Today is not my kind of day in Cape Town.  It’s wet and cold and windy.  I don’t wanna do anything in weather like this.  The simplest task of walking outside will involve water falling on me, that’s just not natural.

So to brighten up my day, I’m going to completely ignore my windows, put my lights and heater on and pretend it’s sunny and warm.  In celebration of my imagined world, here are some striking sunglasses by the Australian Ksubi Spring/Summer 2011 Collection.

Look out for their interesting shapes, floral patterns and industrial materials.  I’d wear these creations any day, they’re definitely worthy of giving my wayfarers a well deserved break.

See more from their collection here.

P.S. Ksubi is pronounced "soobie."

Friday Freebie with Swagger Accessories

Cape Town is unbelievably unique and I’m loving it here, but I’ll admit there are a few things I miss about Pretoria. I miss ordering a double brandy and coke without getting a strange look, I miss wearing 'plakkies' (flip-flops) in winter and I miss Swagger Accessories. 

Swagger Accessories is a quirky brand specialising in Perspex and wooden accessories.  Tharien Lotz, the creator, is a Pretoria born girl whose love for brooches brought about the idea to design her own accessories.  Inspiration, an artistic eye and great friends helped Tharien produce some gorgeous creations which now include earrings, pendants, rings, brooches and even home ware.

Tharien was nice enough to sit down with me for an interview and even give one lucky reader some great Swagger Accessories!  Read the interview with Tharien after the jump and don’t forget to enter the awesome giveaway!

5 Things You Should Stop Wearing

It’s difficult enough trying to figure out what’s still in fashion, what’s going out, what’s a trend and what’s a fad.  Because it can be hard to keep up with all the do’s of the season, here are some don’ts that should help relieve your morning dressing dramas (and my judgemental eyes).

Boob tubes

Boob tubes had their time but it’s over now, so stop it.  There’s no doubt they’re cool, comfortable and easy to wear in summer but the silhouette just isn’t in anymore.  No, it’s not just because it’s winter and you’d be silly to expose your shoulders in this weather.  It’s because the vintage, nostalgic and predominantly wistful feel to the season just doesn’t have room for the unflattering cut. If you are planning on going strapless though, opt for a sweetheart cut instead.

Chandelier Earrings

Don’t be depressed ladies, they had their time and it’ll be back soon, just not right now.  Once again, the silhouette is wrong for the season.  We’re not looking to overindulge this winter, we’re looking to entice.  Less flashy, quirkier earrings like small studs, bold buttons or brooch-like earrings are the more mysterious option for the season.   Think Audrey Hepburn. 

Gloss

As I’ve discovered, gloss is a b*tch to wear in Cape Town. With all the wind, your hair is almost guaranteed to stick to your lips and as a woman, I find it surprisingly hard to be suave with a moustache.  Gloss was huge three years ago and beyond, a quick and easy way to glam up a look without much effort or thought.  Now, eh, not so much. Matte matches the maturity of this season’s look so stock up on stains and lipsticks rather than gloss.

Rose Rings

I know, you’re shocked, “Florals are so in right now?!” They are and they’re gorgeous, but the rose ring thing was overdone. I totally fell for it too, they’re adorable and add an awesome splash of colour to your wardrobe but they don’t make the cut this season.  Don’t regret the purchase, they weren’t expensive and can sit at the back of your jewellery box till the next rose revolution.  Here are some rose-alternative options for the diehard fans.

1. Rose Ball Ring – Diva 

2. Summer Cluster Flower Ring – Accessorize 

3.  Flower and Pearl Look Stack Ring– Top Shop (they deliver to South Africa!)

Designer Sunglasses

Branding should never be the main reason behind any purchase.  Just because it says “Guess” or “Hugo Boss” on your sunglasses does not make it a good choice.  Both men and women find themselves being more adventurous with sunglasses and their colours today, opting for cheaper, no-name brands. It’s hard to keep up with the colour trends or your outfit changes when your entire eyewear budget has been blown on one designer pair so stock up with loads of colourful or neutral pairs in different shapes instead.  It’s also great for the forgetful types (one in my bag, one in my car, one at my mom’s, etc. . .)

P.S. Just in case you never got the memo, here are three things that were never in:

• Scrunchies 
• Crocs
• Nickelback