M.A.C Spring / Summer makeup preview at the Old Biscuit Mill

06 Mar 2012, Posted by Cape Town Girl in Parties, beauty, beauty products, fashion, girl stuff, south africa, 0 Comments

Managed to swing by the new seasonal MAC makeup preview last week. These are obviously international trends so not terribly relevant as we go into autumn and winter, but it was informative no less. There are four key looks, Ath-Elite (which is sporty and striking and pictured above and below), Nouv-Eau which is like a romantic revival, Ore-Inspired (lots of metallics and oranges) and Neo-N (very bright).

Nouv-Eau pictured above.

Ore-inspired.

I’m a big MAC makeup fan. It’s always been the choice of makeup artists that have worked on me, and they have always made me look super awesome with it. It is, however, the kind of makeup you need to be taught how to use. I have had a few misadventures.

To me, MAC is the makeup equivalent of the triple-fold-out coki sets you used to get as a kid. Or the full range of Dala Acrylics. And it’s much like art in practise. You need to understand colour and form. You know how one of the first lessons you get in painting is that you should never use black on your canvas, because black is actually a combination of a million different colours and pot black can be too harsh and weird? It’s that vibe. Which means makeup artistry requires an eye, and confidence in your brushstrokes. God bless makeup artists.

I mean, you might have been here too, where you see a look in the magazine, and the girl has this amazing blue eyeshadow on and almost no foundation and it just looks so awesome you think I AM GOING TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT so off you go to MAC and you buy the blue and you put it on your eyes but instead of looking like a glamourous creature of the night you look like something that’s been attacked by a creature in the night and lo and behold it’s because the model’s blue eyeshadow was actually made up of pink and yellow and purple and some kind of contouring foundation that somehow makes the blue, and that magic Mac charged water they sprinkle on your face for dewy skin. You need a little guidance, especially if you’re not a trained makeup artist, so coming to an event like this and seeing the artists get creative and how they create certain looks was pretty interesting.

Thanks to MAC for the invitation.

Insight Out – Paul du Toit framed by Persol

05 Mar 2012, Posted by Cape Town Girl in Parties, art, south africa, 0 Comments

I attended the one-night-only exhibition / pop-up installation (which I actually thought would continue much longer, or I’d have blogged about it) called  Insight Out: Paul du Toit framed by Persol which was hosted by Sunglass Hut. If you’re not familiar with Paul du Toit, there is little hope for you if your aim to consider yourself someone on top of popular art culture. From his website:

“Paul du Toit is a South African artist who has carved a unique niche in the international arena. Beyond being able to access and be exhibited globally, du Toit has simultaneously continued to create a very personal form of art that has not adjusted itself to the demands of a commercial art market. Du Toit’s art is his own; a linear, phantasmic world that he has created from his mind and experiences.” – www.pauldutoit.com

In addition to showcasing some of Paul’s more familiar work, there were also Persol inspired installations, and some of the brand’s most iconic shades were on display.

It was a fantastic evening. Paul’s work is very feel-good, as were the apple martinis.

Thank you to Sunglass Hut and Persol for hosting the evening. Click here to get a feel for this season’s Persols.

A day in the sunshine at Green Point Park aka Kirstenbosch in the City

05 Mar 2012, Posted by Cape Town Girl in CTG recommends, cape town, lifestyle, non-tourist attractions, 0 Comments

This is without doubt my new favourite spot for sunny Autumn afternoon picnics.

Cape Town lately.

26 Feb 2012, Posted by Cape Town Girl in cape town, lifestyle, 0 Comments

Beach day Sunday.

Hout Bay valley as seen from the nature reserve off Main Road.

totally haasome

09 Feb 2012, Posted by Cape Town Girl in CTG recommends, cape town, lifestyle, restaurants, 0 Comments

It took me 9 billion years to get myself to Haas, one of the most awesome little coffee shops in town. Here’s some imagery to back up that statement.

Hass Coffee Collective: address: 67 rose street, bo-kaap, cape town, 8001, south africa

Check out the site. They ship their artisan coffee worldwide.

Die Antwoord – from Gardens Centre to David Letterman

07 Feb 2012, Posted by Cape Town Girl in Celebrity, cape town, lifestyle, music, 0 Comments

Am I, as a Cape Town local, allowed to get nostalgic about Die Antwoord yet? Can I reminisce about seeing Waddy and Yolandi sitting on the bench outside the Pick ‘n Pay in Gardens Centre while their daughter Sixteen kicked her mom’s shins because she wanted to go home, or do I still have to abide by the South African ‘thou shalt hate thine own’ law? Is it still too fresh to respect them, even if I fink their music is too freaky for me?

Am I allowed to say ‘I once made eye contact with Ninja’ while he was going up the escalator to Woolworths eating something out of a small clear plastic packet (a macaron from Cassis perhaps?)? Maybe I shouldn’t say anything for fear he puts my cellphone number in a music video like he did to the Mail & Guardian online editor. Just on that topic, found out today that MIA pulled that stunt like 6 months before Die Antwoord did (OMG copying the Sri Lankan Beyonce???? FYLLLLLLL). I’m going to get at least three hateful opinions to spread amongst my fellow hateful Capetonians out of that little factoid.

All the 5 for Change pics are up

27 Jan 2012, Posted by Cape Town Girl in Parties, a good cause, 0 Comments

Guy McDonald from Good Hope FM with Terminator 3 star Kristianna Loken with 5forChange founder Adriaan Dippenaar

Click here to see the full gallery.

Do the Met in style: book your ticket for the Sunglass Hut Luxury Inner Circle tent now

24 Jan 2012, Posted by Cape Town Girl in CTG recommends, Parties, fashion, 0 Comments

There is only one way to do the Met, and that is from the comfort of the Sunglass Hut Inner Circle Tent, for a number of  reasons. Firstly, it’s the Luxury tent. And secondly, a ticket costs R1 500 and you get a R2 000 Sunglass Hut gift card to spend at the Sunglass Hut pop-up store on the day.

Yes let’s do the maths – you win here in every way. And as if the maths isn’t enough, here’s what you can expect:

1. Stylish VIP marquee complete with bar and lounge area
2. A perfect view of the races, with live feed on TV screens
3. Socialising with Sunglass Hut’s Inner Circle a-list friends
4. One pair of designer sunglasses to the value of R2000
5. Delicious canapés and drinks (non-premium drinks available until 19h30)
6. Partying to some of SA’s hottest DJs and musicians

To book yourself  a ticket email events@sunglasshut.co.za

See you there!

X

5 for Change, fun for charity

24 Jan 2012, Posted by Cape Town Girl in CTG, Parties, cape town, fashion, girl stuff, south africa, weekend in pictures, 0 Comments

We had loads of fun at the 5forchange ball on Saturday. I went with a 3/4 Catherine Moore black dress from Our Wardrobe with gold woven into the fabric with a red vintage clutch, gold earrings and black patent platform peep-toes. Over R30 000 was raised during the auction and while I didn’t win any of the lucky draw prizes I totally ate my ticket’s worth in Lindt Balls through the course of the evening.

Pictured are the guys who threw the party, Ross McKernan, Dave Deetlefs and Adriaan Dippenaar. Well done to them for delivering a seriously good time. It was SO great to have an event to dress up for that wasn’t some form of horseracing event outside in the sun where you melt into your heels which have sunken into the ground. Okay horseraces are fun darling but there’s so much to be said for not being in Kenilworth. And then there’s the part where the money spent is going towards 5 very good causes, namely Let there be light, MyLife, GreenPop, African Brothers Football Association and Write On Africa.

Really enjoyed the performance by I Scream & The Chocolate Stix, it was super charged and the usual good fun. They seem to have a new member in their band… WHO IS DJ MYSTERY GUY IN THE BACK THERE???

Cape Town’s socialites came out en force including the ever-glamourous power blondes Kate White & Lexi Leih (above).

5forChange founder Adriaan Dippenaar with Kate White & James White

5forChange founder Ross McKernan with James White, and a burger.

Posing outside with another of Cape Town’s power blondes, Emma Jackson.

Things got groovy on the dancefloor later, see above.

The lovely Andrea O’ Donnel, Kate White and James White.

Beauties and power brunettes Lauren Marshall and Nicola de Wet.

Good show everyone. Can’t wait for next year!

Click here to read an article about the evening on TimesLive.

Click here to follow 5 for Change on Facebook.

Dress-up time: Win 2 x tickets to the 5 For Change Event

18 Jan 2012, Posted by Cape Town Girl in CTG recommends, Parties, cape town, competitions, fashion, shopping, south africa, 7 Comments

Have you got your ticket for 5 For Change yet? If you don’t know about it, it’s a Black Tie fundraiser that is raising money for 5 charities that are making a change in our world. Click here to read about the beneficiaries. Tickets are R200, and include performances by Jeremy Loops, I Scream & The Chocolate Stix as well as The Wedding DJs. There will also be great prize giveaways, and everyone will look like they stepped out of Gossip Girl. All for 5 really good causes. Party of the year I’d say, and we’re only in January! Book a ticket here.

I do have a pair of tickets to give to a CTG reader though. If you’d like to win them, just comment here or email editor@capetowngirl.com and tell me how, if you could change the world in one way for the better, what you would do. I’ll announce the winner earl Friday morning, so you still have a chance to organise something gorgeous to wear.

On that topic, I can’t resist the excuse to dress up, especially Black Tie, so yesterday went through to Our Wardrobe to pick out something pretty to wear. How gorgeous is this sequinned number by Catherine Moore? Ah, obsessed!

Best you bookmark and sign up for updates with this site ladies – ourwardrobe.co.za - because it’s going to change your life when they open for business in March.

You know how we’d all love to have a new designer dress for every event? Except designer dresses cost so much you often end up going for dresses you can wear over and over again (ie. safe options)? Well now you can go for the show-stoppers by renting them from Our Wardrobe. You have the option to buy as well, so if you just can’t let go of your dress after a magical night out, you can pay the balance of the cost in and keep it. Because it’s not just a dress. It’s an evening of memories that will last a lifetime (let’s just take a moment for this gorgeous red number, also Catherine Moore).

Now Black Tie – as most of you should have googled – is about 3 main things.

1.) Dresses should cover the knee – 3/4 or full length gowns. Tonight is not the night of the LBD. Showing leg is generally seen as being casual (unless it’s through a side-slit).

2.) Elegant, flattering cuts. Plunging necklines, slits, low backs. Drama over skin.

3.) Shimmering, sparkling fabrics, sequins, satins, lace. Bring out the bling, Black Tie is your time to sparkle and shine.

Some more sequinned inspiration from Our Wardrobe below:

I won’t show you the dress I chose just yet because I’m saving that for the night. But I hope to see you all there! X