JUMPSUITS JUMP BACK

Jumpsuits and onzies ( The short version of a jumpsuit) are making their come back, and I dont mean we should all aspire to walk the streets looking like escaped convicts :) AKA- stay clear of orange, but the jumpsuit is a busy fashion lover's new BFF. The 80's/90's inspired gear is versatile and easy to dress up for night and down for the day by mixing it up with different accessories.
They are a dream to pack on holiday because they are lightweight and look fabulouse thrown over a bikini with a pair of sandals and big sunnies.

Here are some tips for wearing the Jumpsuit and Onezie:

1. By wearing a waistbelt with them you can create a feminine silhoette suited to all figures. Sinching in the waist will show off all the right curves or create curves that simply arn't there.

2. Jumpsuits look better with heels, chunky wedge sandals look best whilst Onzies look great with flats during the day and killer heels at night.

3. Layer and accessorize to individualize and convert them for different occasions and looks. Simple hoops with a ivory horn/claw or pendant looks great during the day but glam it up at night with some chandelier earings and bling.

4. For a casual look roll the top half of a jumpsuit down over your waist and pair it with a great baseball Tee, Tee or blouse. This looks great with a denim jumpsuit.

There are many different types of jumpsuits and onzies and they can display different looks and show off different features of ones body. Here is a break down of some styles and where and why you should wear them.

(a) The strapless jumpsuit/onzie worn with your hair up in a messy-chic pony or bun shows off a great set of shoulders.

(b) A kaftan neckline and some embroidery gives a jumpsuit/ onzie a more 70's feel helping you achieve a more boho look. Wear these to the beach.

(c) A jumpsuit in a floral chiffon material is romantic and airy and is perfect for a romantic date in the heat of summer.

(d) A stiffer fabric with a shirt collar looks great in a neutral colour (prints in heavier materials look far too over the top in the case of the jumpsuit but in a onzie however prints can look fabulous). Collared jumpsuits look very sophisticated and are perfect for the office.

Now i know that the Jumpsuit isn't very readily available in S.A stores as they have only recently been spotted largely on the catwalks of high end designers, but a thrift store is a great place to keep an eye out at. Cape Town based label La kanga has awesome onzies in African inspired prints. La kanga is stocked at Monkey Biz in C.T, Nylon adn Imibala. Hang Ten has a denim onzie on sale so be sure run down and grab one before they gone!!!!

So come on take a LEAP of faith and jump into a jumpsuit!!!

GREEN with envy

It's time to GO GREEN!!!
I first started thinking about the link between fashion and the environment in an episode of The O.C when Summer (Racheal Bilson- one of my ultimate style icons) sported a cute Tee saying 'More Trees, Less Bush'. I thought it was brilliant and immediately got going on making my own identical one since i couldn't have hers. More importantly it sparked my interest in eco-friendly clothing. With the growing threats of, for example, Global warming there has been a mad rush amongst fashion industries world wide to use environmentally friendly materials such as 100% cotton, natural dyes and fabrics and recylced plastic.

Yes i know what you thinking... it doesnt sound too appealing walking into a trendy nightclub wearing a potatoe sack, but that's where you're wrong ! Guess has recently followed this trend in an amazing way by creating their 'Go Green' line featuring organic cotton Tee's and organic denim (Featured in the pictures above). On top of that they are promising to donate 10% of every purchase to promoting environmental awareness. So who said natural couldn't be trendy.

Going Green doesn't only limit you to wearing organic and recycled materials but also reaches out to all you vintage babes! Vintage fashion is the in thing at the moment thanks to celebs such as the Olsen twins and Sienna Miller. Anyone who is anyone is frantically going through the bursting racks of vintage stores around the world. My first encounter with the vintage trend was back in 2003 when i was lucky enough the walk the pavements of Oxford street during a holiday to London. Here in Topshop i found a vintage inspired collection to die for and i have never looked back! By buying vintage clothes not only are you keeping up with the latest fashion trends and looking fabulously Indie chic, you will also be contributing to the environment by slightly lessening the market for the production of new clothes... think of it as recycling!

I was amazed to read that in Camden market, London there has been a 'Go Green' clothes swap. To explain, its like a jumble sale except instead of using money to buy someones second hand clothes, people have been bartering their own in return! So if I like yours and you like mine - It's a deal and It's FANTASTIC! What an innovative way to spring clean and shop simultaneously!

In the next couple of weeks I am going to be in search of more environmentally friendly fashions that are available in South Africa, and showing how you too can be a style star and an environmentalist! Its time to spread the word and 'GO GREEN' SA