Chit and Chat with... Doreen Southwood

Ok, so I am taking my Doreen Southwood obsession to the next level. I got a chance to interview her and she is great. Interviews are really interesting because you get such a great sense of the person from them. I hope you will find her as insightful as I do:

What is the concept & inspiration for the new collection?

Two extremes make up the whole of this collection; dark heavy fabrics develop into lighter colours with transparent movement. Shape and surface also play a large role in this collection. The idea of 'Four seasons in one day' set the tone from which I worked.

What are your personal favourite pieces from your new collection & how would you put them together?

I love the shiny skinny pants for a night out in black or off-white, combined with an awesome pair of high heels and a cotton shirt with a high collar. I also think my summer dress with scarf (that forms part of neck tie) is going to be a classic dress to wear for many years.

The most challenging garment was the last piece on the show where we created shape by manipulating the frill size. I love this piece.


What are your favourite SA designers? And international designers?

My favourite local designer is Suzaan Heyns. Internationally some of my favourites are Marni, Dries van Noten and Anne Demeule-meester. I love many things at different times.


What sort of woman shops at mememe/ wears Doreen Southwood?

A person who is has an awareness of clothing and identity. We offer well-considered design in wearable form.


What is great about the SA market compared to international markets?

I think we still manage to celebrate the personal in various ways, in the content of what we make as well as relationships.


How can it be improved?

So much information and opportunity have been created by initiatives such as the CTFC, AFI, Clotex and so forth. There is assistance available to take what ever you do as designer to another level, people need to actively pursue this.

What's your favourite fashion era?

Love all these incredible era's. I love nostalgia. In winter I enjoy the simple drama of the forties. In summer I love Sixties and fifties styles with a sporty edge and a sensual twenties look for the evening. I love them all, depending on interpretation.

Who's your fashion icon?

Locally, Jackie Burger's classic beauty and style, she always looks incredible. On the international side, I love the personal interpretations of Vivienne Westwood.


Best movie moment?

Here I am thinking of writing 'dirty dancing' the moment Patrick Swayze manages to lift the female lead into a mid air mid river pose, ha-ha. On a more serious note anything that is truly silly but not stupid. On a real note, my all time favourite movie for its playful innocence and tragedy "Life is beautiful".


Soundtrack to Summer?

Siouxsie and the Banshees (re-living my youth),

Doreen Southwood had a show at Arise Cape Town Fashion Week. I am loving this brand, as you all know. It's just great, easy Summer style and colours that are great for layering.

I love white for Summer and I think this is a good way to do it :

A splash of juisy colour:

Stylish Import

I first noticed laLESSO about three years ago in Topshop in London. It was the first internationally successful African brand, who used African prints and modernised them, to create something entirely unique. Of course, since then there has been an emmergence of such brands, many of which were featured at Arise Africa Fashion Week in June.

I like laLESSO's bohemian aesthetic, and to me, every piece seems like a one-of-a-kind. They use Kenyan khanga or lesso materials which are unique in themselves- on every Khanga there is a message printed in Swahili, in the form of a riddle or proverb. An example of one is: Wema hauozi- Kindness is never wasted. I like that idea that even if there are a number of the same dresses made, you know yours is unique in some way.

Here are some pics of the store on Kloof Street (just off Long St.) & the merchandise that they have. Enjoy & stay fabulous! xxx

Conceptualising

The Darkie concept store opened last year and has been a popular Long St. destination since. For me this store is intriguing for it's lay-out, more than the clothes. It would be so cool if they stuck a cafe in the back or something, because it's the sort of place that you want to sit in and get into a good book, in the presence of cute vintage shoes no lesss. The clothing, with it's trademark Afro Comb is recycled vintage. The designer, Themba Mngomezulu, grew up wearing second-hand clothing and customising it, and this is where Darkie started. He says the designs are made for:

“Sexy men and women who want to look and feel

good, no matter what their body shape,”

Enjoy & stay fabulous xxx

Reworking the iconic image.

More window shopping

Mungo & Jemima is another favourite of mine on Long St. It has some quicky clothes and even quirkier shoppers. Check them out:

This jersey is a great vintage find. It reminds me of Prada AW06/07

I like how she wears this African print without making it look afro-centric. It's a very cute & charming look
She totally works it!

The Long & Short of Long St.

As soon a I jetted into Cape Town, I knew that my main destination would be Long St. I have fond memories from last year of quirky boutiques and even more quirky shoppers. In a city where malls and shopping centres dominate, Long St. is a like a much-needed splash of individuality in a sea of chain stores. I will feature a few of my favourite boutiques, and some new ones that I found along the way.

MeMeMe

mememe is my favourite of all the Cape Town boutiques. It just has the cutest clothes, and the nicest shopgirl-Lisa.

The owner of the store is called Doreen Southwood. She designs most of the clothes stocked in the store and even had a show at Fashion Week.

They also have a few pieces by other designers such as the much feted Suzanne Heynes, who was the darling of Fashion Week.

There are a lot of great slouchy, structured pieces in basic colours, which are great for layering on accessories to create an individual and interesting look. I am obsessed with grey at the moment, and I could have literally nabbed half the store!

It is a dangerous store because everything in there encourages you to shop! I managed to hold myself back this time, but check out the pics for yourself, and see if you like!

ps. Ignore that little face of mine, and focus on the clothes ;)

I know in one of my last posts I wrote about embracing colour, but I've been finding myself in a very grey area these days. I think it's such a cute colour. These pieces can be accessorised with statement jewellery, modern shoes and bags, so that's how I'll be adding colour this Summer.

They even have the accessories ready for you!

Throw a bit of luxe navy in there for a night out:

And tea florals are great for the upcoming Summer. Pretty them up with candy-coloured heels, or toughen the look with leather ankle boots.

This shift is gorgeous! Another simple/chic piece that mememe do so well. I wouldn't even do much accessorising with this dress. Patent adds an extra bit of drama to simple heels & a clutch, or simple gold jewellery, which is great for Summer nights!

ftv, the party ground for fashionistas!

The official Fashion Week party on Friday night was held at club ftv. For those of you who do not know, fashiontv is a chain of bars in South Africa owned by Michel Adam, the owner of the television channel of the same name.

What would you expect from ftv other than the utmost in glamour? Guest walked up the red carpet into the mirrored venue, decorated with crystal chandeliers and screens showing all things fabulous & fashion related, on ftv. Most importantly they had a superbly stocked bar for the night (they made a mean Martini), which I am sure was the fuel for the pumping party in the club downstairs. I have heard that these bars have a reputation for a rather pretentious crowd, but at this party, no one was standing on the wall. The fashionable revellers were rocking the dance floor, the speakers and the chairs!

I got a few snaps, although it was quite difficult with the intense crowd in there! Enjoy & stay fabulous! xxx

The dapper South African. It's all about the details here: I love the tie (of course), but can you see the checks on his jacket? And how they match some of the elements on the tie?.... Loves!

The punk South African. He looks cool because it looks thrown together, but it works as an outfit, and he also doesn't look like he's trying to be whacky. It's just another day in the fashion playground for him!

Regardless of popular conventions on size, one still has to look good (and feel good) in one's skin! South African girls are very curvy, and aren't afraid to flaunt it!

Ladies, we get statement jewellery, and clearly the trend for men is statement ties. Even I rocked one this weekend. I love to borrow from the boys!

Kicking it at the bar, in belted nudes. One of my favourites right now.