Indulgence: Addressing the Issue

in·dul·gence

inˈdəljəns/

noun

1. 1.

   the action or fact of indulging.

   "indulgence in self-pity"

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The other day I found myself scouring the internet to entertain myself through these cold, winter-y days. I even spent a great deal of time on E! Online catching up on what feels like years of Celeb Gossip. Weddings to breakups and that Avril Lavigne music video that everyone was going on about.

Then I found all these pretty dresses and just had to share them with you. While they are wildly over priced through the American Dollar and the dying economy of South Africa, they are still nice to look at and fantasise about wearing. Maybe we can get some of our awesome South African designers to start making things like this and not those horrible tube dresses that everyone seems to wear. 

The first dress is really flattering without having to be too revealing. I really appreciate the detailing in the lace print (which is real lace, not just lino screening) and the beautiful detail in the cuffs of the sleeves.

The second I actually found under the Prom Dress section, which isn't anything like you see in those movies any more. This was the best of the lot, and with the right red lipstick you'll definitely be a knock out on the dance floor. I also really love the chunky clutch bag, I think it adds a little edge to the dress which is quite flow-y, albeit a slightly odd shape.

The next two dresses are more casual. The mint green dress has really ice detailing on the shoulders. Its really nice for summer, but hey, that's what we get living in the Southern Hemisphere - all the fashion seasons are all mixed up. 

The Boho Chic dress is my absolute favourite. I like the delicate details in the fabric, the long sleeves and the delicate neckline.

The last dress is absolutely fabulous. Look at how it flows. I think if I ever wore that dress I wouldn't stop jumping around because I'd feel like a really fabulous and stylish Flower Fairy.

So, if I was a famous movie star, that's how I would dress for sure - even on the Red Carpet. Whaaaaaaaat?! Like a G

&Kathrynwhat

Market Madness: Kamers 2014

As you probably know, I have a little bit of a Craft Market Crazy streak around December when all the Creepy Crafters Crawl out of their hiding places in time for the Christmas Craze. Well, Kamers Vol Geskenke, has just added a new Market to their bill, one that's happening right now! To keep all of us Jo'burgers sane over these long weekends for the next month, Kamers has introduced a Market over the Easter Weekend. It's still going to be on until Monday, so you have plenty of time to get your goodies.

Click HERE for some more of my Market Adventures.

This is my delightful new pillow from a lovely little Cape Town based Online Shop called ZANA. 

Their stuff is supper fresh and has a really good texture. 

I'm a sucker for good textured things. 

You can order Online or check them out at the Biscuit Mill.

Added a new ring to my ever so slightly growing collection! This one is super cool. Its paper thin, made out of copper and sterling silver. You can check out more from Liesbet Van Cappellens' Jewelry Collection on her website: http://www.lvcjewelry.com/

This, however, was the best. this chocolate is the most delicious chocolate you'll ever taste in your life and it hail from good old Pretoria. They have 6 exciting flavours and the best chocolate package design you could ask for. Check them out on Facebook to get your hand on some! 

Ah! A good day indeed!
&Kathrynwhat

The Market Place

Today I ventured out into the world to do some exploring. Weird right, I never leave my house any more. I tagged along with my Mom (classic me right) to one of my favourite South African Markets; The Mosaiek Crafts Expo. I've been before and you can read all about that little trip here.
South Africa has so many cool Markets, and because I'm a Craft Market fanatic I tend to frequent them, from the biggest to the smallest to the weirdest and of course, they're all wonderful.

This time though was a little blast from the past and a look into the future. Gahd, I'm deep.

Ice-Cream Necklace by Two on Toast

Ice-cream and Necklaces?! Damn, could it have gotten any better than this? Two on Toast is a great little South African find started by two Besties that share my passion for tea and toast. Check out their website at: www.twoontoast.co.za They have pretty cool stuff, especially the dresses.

Denim Backpack by Skinny Cow

I love Skinny Cow, they have the coolest jewellery and accessories, and to make it even better I nabbed this beauty! Good for the beach or to be super cool which is obviously what I will be doing with it. You can check out their Facebook Page or just head on over to their shop in Linden.

Wooden Stud Earrings by Net 'n Kameel

 Net 'n Kameel has the coolest wooden broaches and earrings, but if thats not your thing you can check out their silver, cut out necklaces on their Facebook Page.

Fabric Covered Tin Mugs by Jamtin

I absolutely love to collect odd and extraordinary mugs, so you can imagine my delight when I found this beauty. Jamtin have a range of awesome Fabric covered Tin Mugs and Lanterns. You can check out their website (here) and maybe even indulge your tea scenes to one of theses guys.

So that was my little outing to the Market. Yay!

Ok

&Kathryn

Cant wait for the Kramers Market in January! This is what happened last time.

South African Inspired #3

Rings are my new favourite accessory. 

I've started my own collection, here are a few of my favourites, although they're not from South Africa, they remind me of my time exploring the world, and I want to showcase them with some things that really make me Proud to be a Saffa.

Camera and Material Rings from Istanbul, Turkey
(Not to mention the delicious Buttermilk Rusks from Ouma...)

Right to Left: Single Band Ring from Ha' Shuk B' Eilat, Israel
Fottprint and Batman Rings from Jerusalem, Israel
Black Wooden Ring from The Karmiel Dance Festival, Israel

 Fun Fact for the Day: Milo was orrigionaly made in Australia. Bet you didn't know that...

Chamsa Good Luck Ring from Jerusalem, Israel.

xxx

South African Inspired #2

The next Crafters Market on the list to tackle before I was swept off to Cape Town for some fine friends and screaming eleven year olds, was The Parkview Market. 

There, the only treasure I found, although there were many, many talented people selling all sorts of things, was this ring. Its made by the Izimbali Group of Women from SOWETO. These women are inspired to empower themselves and started this initiative, helped by the Wire Workers of Johannesburg. You can find these rings in all different shapes, sizes and colours in Big Blue stores.

Natural Greens Button Ring

xxx

South African Inspired #1

On my arrival home from the northern Hemisphere, I was confronted by the sheer enormity of having to entertain myself for the first time in over a year. A whole week spanned in front of me, completely void of any plans. After a few days of being bored to tears, My Brothers Girlfriend treated me to the wonders that were Christmas Markets all around Jo'burg and Pretoria. These are the little beauties that caught my eye and of course, my purse strings.

Tiffany Blue Vintage Inspired HandBag

Mustache Earing Studs from Trinket

So these are my new pretties, all the way from The Karmers Vol Geskenke Market in Pretoria. You should check it out when it rolls around in the summer, and support the creative women of SA!

xxx

Owl You Need is Love

Dear Jozi,

I love owls. Especially in jewelry.

My friend Sivan bought me the little earrings and I bought myself the necklace from a random stall in a market last year. I always wear them with my Harry Potter t-shirts.

I'm that cool.

The necklace is really long, so it hangs really nicely, making seemingly uninteresting t-shirts a little more girly and lovely. 

With Love.

KathrynWhat?

Dear Jozi

The FADA Fashion Exhibition:

Here I sit with all the new additions of Business Cards from all the recently graduated fashion designers from UJ. They held a fashion exhibition, which I was lucky enough to go to. 

Here are my personal favorites:                                                                                                                    

I love the African inspired chic of this designer. This collection provides a young African women with a way to express her culture in a new, modern chic way. The designs are very contemporary yet subtle The bold pops of blue and red in among the browns and beige really bring out the spirit of Africa. The dress in the middle is my favorite because the  tailoring and the structuring is so flattering and beautiful. This dress is awe inspiring.

This dress is exquisite.  I feel like the designer really used the fabric and  technique  wonderfully. 

 The material was quite stiff ranging from brown leather to textured, but it was all balanced out by the soft use of shifon, that created a sense of wind and movement in the garments.

This designer used beautiful float-y fabrics to capture the essence of womanhood and what it really means to be a fashionable woman in todays' society. Not shown in the image are tailored pants, shorts and floral tops. The back of the long dress was open, not revealing too much but still giving the garment that young and sexy feel, perfect for summer.

 This  designer had  amazing functional ball gowns. The idea was that each dress could change by just a pull of a string, from a ball gown, into something a little more fun and versatile. The purple dress worn by the model had a small string in the middle that transformed the dress. By pulling the string, the front of the dress would gather revealing a little bit of leg, but to be more conservative, one could leave the string un-pulled for  a sleek, slimline silhouette.

The bronze and orange dress in the back ground,  would be pulled into a beautiful rose detail with the pull of a string, which doubled as a sleek, thin strap from waist to shoulder.

For more details contact: Marissa van Zyl 

mazeecreations@gmail.com   

I just loved the tailoring in this black jacket, by Mint Clothing. 

For more details contact:

 Riflwe Tema on: refilwetema@gmail.com

Alice Slab Fashion  Design and Stylist.

For the more tailored individual. The work was amazing, inspired by women in the 1950s. The colours came from grass and nature. The slight pops of purple and creme really bring out the femininity of the figure.

Roxanne Pengilly, clothing design.

These gowns were absolutely amazing. The detail was beautiful, and they were made exactly to the specifications that she outlined in her portfolio.

  For more info: roxannepengilly@gmail.com

Chinese inspired dresses and coats by various designers, showcasing their tailoring talent, and bringing cultures together.

 Coats!

Beautifully tailored and each one so different and unique.

Fashion! 

Jozi, there's some awesome new designers on the loose. 

With love,

KathrynWHAT?

I love me some floral.

Dear Jozi,

About five years ago, a little shop affectionatly dubed "The Pink Shop" by me and my mom. It's the most amazing shop in thehistory of amazing shops.
For Rizz YO!

It's reently moved from Northcliff Corner to this new small shopping mall inetween Northcliff and Cresta. Have you seen it? Its where the steeres used to be. The one with the new Woolworths...?

Its still pretty amazing though. It has all sorts of fun mugs and bath salts and jewlery and whatever else you can find in the hords of clutter, glitter, and pink stuff scattered all over the shelves.

My mom took me there a couple weeks ago to look for a present for my cousin who turned 25. we bought her a mug.

BUT THATS NOT THE POINT!

The point is, Pretty Bangles of floral glory and wonder!

With Love,
Kathryn