The L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate put on a fantastic day for both racing and fashion lovers, with Gimmethegreenlight winning the main race. Marie Claire was amongst the judges to find the Best Dressed, which went to Darielle Robertson, and best hat winner was Kia Johnson, see pictures below for finalists. The effort this year was as always amazing, with spectators sticking to the elegant blue and white dress code and a fun day was had by all!

Images courtesy of Sahracing and Sail

Some of the beauty products on display

Last week, the annual Prix d’Excellence de la Beaute was held at Edgars in the V&A Waterfront. The best beauty products in the world were judged by various beauty editors and some of our lucky readers even had the chance to enjoy this fabulous event. After the event everyone headed to The Twelve Apostles for a lovely lunch. Here are some of the pictures taken on the day. Find more pictures on Facebook.

A few lucky readers won the chance to attend this event

Snacks and drinks

The judges

Liezel van der Westhuizen, Aspasia Karras and Mathathle Stofile

Some of our lucky readers got the chance to sample some of these incredible products.

The judges deliberate

In our December issue, we featured the brilliant Nondumiso Tembe as an Inside Story, page 88. She is one of South Africa’s most fantastic exports, as she is taking over Tinseltown,  one role at a time. Soon we’ll be able to see her starring as a vampire in the gory drama, True Blood. Very exciting!

Now, she’s taking on a more delicate role, as she is playing the lead in the musical fairytale, Cinderella, shown at the Durban Playhouse. This is the first ever production of Cinderella to be staged in Africa, as it was adapted specifically for the stage by Tom Briggs. Be sure not to miss it!  For more info, click on the above picture.

Any brides out there? The Célébrer Luxury Wedding Workshop, in association with Estée Lauder is a traditional wedding expo with all the top names in the wedding industry all under one roof. For the Fashion and Wedding Dress element of the workshop, they will have Kobus Dippenaar, fresh from the Positive Heroes Fashion Show and top fashion designers Hendrik Vermeulen, Stefania Morland and Jenni Button on hand to share their expert advise and experience. The panel will also include Expresso’s fashion stylist to the stars, Marilize de Clercq, sharing her expert insider fashion knowledge. This once in a lifetime event will offer the bride-to-be a ‘dream team’ of fashion experts.

This luxurious day of inspiration and pampering will take place on the 4th and 5th of November 2011 at the exclusive Val de Vie Wine & Polo Estate outside Paarl and will bring an exclusive selection of the best of the best in each industry, to give expert advice, share trade secrets and offer brilliant wedding ideas. Guests will also stand a chance to WIN some amazing prizes to the value of R100 000! Tickets are available at www.valdevie.co.za,  so book now and enjoy a day of pampering and wedding planning in superior style.

Here at Marie Claire we are all about dreaming big and putting our weight behind good causes and inspiring initiatives. It is no mystery then why the vision of the Reach for a Dream Foundations tugs heavily on our heartstrings. As some may know, this well-established organisation is committed to helping children with life-threatening diseases to live out their most heart-felt dreams, even if just for a day. This goal to make dreams come true is based partly on the belief that hope and joy have the power to heal physically – something I believe many of us truly underestimate. The aim is to also just let children be children. Could there be many things more fulfilling, I ask, than giving an ill child a slice of the childhood they never had: to laugh and have fun in reckless abandon? I think not.

This October, 29^th, Reach for a Dream is having their 10^th Annual Gala Dinner at The Bay Hotel, Camps Bay, Cape Town. This means that we can all get involved while also having some good old-fashioned ‘midsummer night’s dream’-themed fun. A ticket will secure you a three-course meal, complimentary wine, and a glass of champagne. Great raffle prizes will also be up for the winning. And, for an extra treat, the highly acclaimed South African comedian, Riaad Moosa, will be present to dish out a healthy dose of laughter and joy; the order of the day.  To book call 021-555-3013 or email genevieve@rfad.org.za.

If this event does not appeal, there are many other ways to connect with the Patch Adams within you as a volunteer, sponsor, or donor. These are listed on the Reach for a Dream website.

Dayle Kavonic – Cape Town Intern

Two things I’m looking forward to this week: the opening of the 2011 FNB Joburg Art Fair tomorrow night at the Sandton Convention Centre; and Marie Claire’s initiative to amalgamate art and fashion; First Cut: Paper Scissors Block Print. The instillation will be collaboration between fashion designer Lisa Jaffe of Guillotine, print maker Jillian Ross, of David Krut Print Workshop, Joao Orecchia (musician) and artist Mary Wafer.

Last year Lisa collaborated with architect Eduardo Cachucho and Maja Maljevi (artist) to create Monotype -a once off performance piece at Arts on Main (This was on the SA Fashion Week’s Spring/ Summer 2010 collections schedule), where they painted and printed fabric to construct an endless train of a dress. The project is influenced by a woodcut by Mary Wafer and the production of a limited edition clothing collection by Guillotine. Mary has created four pieces of woodcut that will be hand-printed onto fabrics and later transfered on paper. Joao is responsible for backround sounds which is derived from the applicable working process. This entails everything from scissors cutting fabric, carving of wood blocks, inking of rollers and sewing machines – to grant authentic atmosphere.

Guillotine’s limited edition collection will be available at David Krut Projects Booth (No. 12), presented by Marie Claire.

Performance Times: September 23: 5.30 pm; September 24: 1.30 and 3pm; September 25: 1.30 pm

Mahlatse James, Marie Claire JHB intern

The Rococo Gallery (38 Buitenkant Str) in Cape Town is the venue for Anelisa Mangcu’s photographic exhibition, called The Moments Amidst the Chaos.

Nineteen year-old Anelisa, who first picked up a camera with no formal training three years ago, is somewhat of a child genius.  She says that the inspiration behind her photographs is the “aim to see what the public view is insignificant and make it significant again.” The image above is one of her favourites, as she feels it truly embodies and conveys the theme of her series.

The photographer also decided to document the moments in the run-up to her big solo debut on her blog.

The exhibition runs until the 1st of October.  For more information and a full list of works see the Rococo Gallery website.

So, while all of South Africa is getting ready to support our Rugby Bokke on Sunday, we have a different kind of Bok to support tomorrow:

The Bok boys - a design, illustration and events collective in Cape Town – is hosting their first ever event tomorrow (Saturday, 10 September) at Church (gift shop) in Spin Street, Cape Town. Here you can scour the latest finds from Crazy White Bitches (a collective that sells fabulous hard-to-find clothes, shoes and accessories at affordable prices), admire amazing live visuals by the brilliant Marcii Goose as well as catch DJs Fani and Young Supreme’s Sticky Las drop beats and listen to Cape Town’s coolest new bands Supercancer, The Lottery Tickets and Jakkals.

Tickets are 30 bokke (i.e. R30) pre-sale at Church, and also 30 bokke (with a free shot of vodka!) at the door between 16:00 and 18:00; whereafter it will be 50 bokke at the door.

Bring some more bokke for beer (and of course the awesomeness of Crazy White Bitches’ clothes).
Hope to see you there!

Since last year, Capetonians have been raving (sometimes quite literally) about Balkan parties making the rounds. Now, for those who don’t know, Balkanology is an amazing, mad (as in brilliant) party where DJ’s and musicians perform a fusion of Gypsy, Serbian, Macedonian, Bulgarian and Romanian melodies. An experience not to be missed out. And one where you don’t have to be the ‘wiki-wiki’ / ‘vinyl-scratching’ / ‘doof-doof’ /’in-cha in-cha’ type of person either. In fact, a love for music of the world makes you the perfect Balkanology candidate.

Now, (new) Zula Bar is hosting its first Balkan event tomorrow evening (9 September 2011) in form of a Fiddle East Party. Although a gypsie-music party, it’s not strictly a Balkanology party – this one only features DJs and no live musicians (as authentic Balkanology parties). But with DJs like Maoriginal, Toby2shoes, James Copelan, Miss Culo Grande, DJ Balcanes Hombre and Mr Hutch (plus LOADS more) on the decks, best you get your tickets now.

And if you find yourself uhm-ing and ah-ing about going, maybe this little music-sample will convince you?
Hold The Line (Niggaz On Crack Trompeta Remix) by Balkan Beat Box

Tickets cost R80 and can be prebooked on webtickets or bought directly at the door at Zula Bar tomorrow evening. For more info, visit the event’s Facebook page.

WIN! One set of double tickets to Friday, 9 September’s Fiddle East party. Email Eulogi Rheeder at eulogi@assocmags.co.za with your full name, age and the name of one of the DJs featuring at the party.*

*First person to correctly email Eulogi Rheeder will win.

The most anticipated event on the fashion calendar – the local Marie Claire Prix d’Excellence De La Mode awards – celebrates the best of South African fashion. This fabulous event took place last week at one of the most sought-after private rooftop venues in Jozi, Skyline gardens…

(Above) Milisuthando Bongela (missmillib) receiving her award for BEST SMALL EMPORIUM SUPPORTING LOCAL PRODUCTION for MeMeMe

(Above) BEST FASHION BLOGGER: Malibongwe Tyilo with super fashion blogger, Bryan Boy who we flew in for the event

(Above) The award for BEST BIG RETAILER SUPPORTING LOCAL DESIGN: Woolworths

The Arrows performed at this lovely event

Visit Marie Claire’s Facebook page for more pics.