The Beauty of Boho
It’s finally that time of the year – we can relax and cry with happiness at the fact that our exams are over. It’s also summer in Cape Town. Thank goodness. I don’t know about anyone else but I’m ready to pack away the boots and sweaters. It’s time for bikinis and beach weather. Another thing that summer brings us is new fashions and styles. However there is one summer trend that is here to stay. No matter what new styles summer brings us, we’ll always maintain an element of Boho – chic. Boho style , short for bohemian, is a style inspired by hippie movements in the late 1960s and 70s. Boho – chic is an obsession linked to the vintage clothing craze we have seen recently. Boho – chic fashion is described as wearing clothing that is flowy and vintage - looking and then pairing it with simpler items of clothing.Clothing is seen as a means to further reflect oneself. It is easy to see why boho - chic is so popular considering what it could imply about you. According to Wikipedia the term "Bohemian" is applied to people who live unconventional, usually artistic, lives. Who wouldn’t want to be thought of as different and unique? What is so fun about this fashion is that there are so many possibilities. A great supporter of this style is Sienna Miller. She was rumored to have made the style popular again in 2009. Music festivals such as Coachella is where we see this style often. The clothes are beautiful and I hope this trend is here to stay. I know I’ll be utilizing it these holidays!
THE RISE OF THE BLUE RINSE
Our new retro obsession would be the new found popularity of the hair rinse. This hair trend has throughout the decades been synonymous with the elderly generation however; stars such as Kelly Osbourne and Alexa Chung have brought this old fashioned trend firmly into the 21st century as a very trendy, funky new fashion.
For
those of you who are unsure of what exactly a hair rinse is, it is a form of
diluted dye which has traditionally been in the colour blue to put on elderly
women’s hair to prevent the appearance of greying hair. It first became popular
in Britain in the 1930s and was often associated with upper middle class women
whose political views were often aligned to conservative politics. The trend has now been very much scraped by
the age group that it was once associated with and has subsequently been linked
rather to the fashionable youth. The trend has changed in the sense that many
now prefer purple rinses.
CRAZY ABOUT CROCHET
I
have to admit that I am completely obsessed with crochet anything at the moment. Crochet fashion seems to keep evolving
every year and I love the results. Crochet knit work has been around since the
19th century. In the early years of crochet only wealthy people
could afford the material and for this reason it became a status symbol. From
the 1940s onwards, Christian Dior has been known as one of the most famous
crochet designers. Many other famous designers like Coco Chanel, Calvin Klein and
Dolce and Gabbana are well known for using crochet to create their designs. Crochet is a trend that comes and goes but will always be a must - have in your closet! Crochet
bikinis and crop tops are definitely my must-haves for 2015 and I’m sure they
will be yours too. Crochet adds a look of elegance to clothing and is similar in
this way to lace. Surprisingly crochet bikinis are much cheaper than I expected
them to be. You can find lovely crochet bikinis available in Cape Town at https://www.facebook.com/nvmeapparel
.
SUPERHEROES
Our new retro obsession is Superheroes.Superheroes? I know, I know. You’re thinking it all sounds
a bit nerdy but after watching The Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D. and reading the
latest instalment of the Bug, I got a little obsessed with this new fad.
Superheroes came on the scene in the 1930s
through comic strips in newspapers which were then collected into comic books. These
become an escape from the terrible time of the Great Depression and the start
of the Second World War. They offered hope and wonderment while preaching
honour and compassion. By the 1940s superheroes had radio shows, cartoons,
dolls and action figures. They were everyone’s obsession.
The first female Superhero, Wonder Woman came in
1941. Some criticised that she acted the exact opposite to the way a woman was
supposed to act. By being exactly what
she was criticised for, she became a symbol of feminism in a world that was dominated
by men. Many other female superheroes have joined her ranks including Catwoman,
Black Widow and many more.
Although it does takes a great deal of
confidence to pull off the tights and leather look, the concept of a powerful
woman will always inspire us.
By Katherine Davidson
FEMINISM
BY KATHERINE DAVIDSON
Another
Retro obsession that everyone is talking about is feminism. This concept was brought
back into our consciousness on the 20th September 2014 by Emma
Watson who delivered a speech launching the United Nation’s new campaign
HeForShe. The campaign’s official website of the defines the campaign as “HeForShe
is a solidarity movement for gender equality that brings together one half of
humanity in support of the other half of humanity, for the benefit of all.”
I like to
think that this campaign will be the catalyst for gender equality which will
also help to make us all, men and women, rethink feminism and ask ourselves why
we are not feminists or reaffirm our belief in the need for feminism.
I have
always been a feminist like Emma Watson and until her speech had not realised
that anyone else could not think of themselves as feminists and in fact that many
dislike this concept. I would like to just say one thing to all those who
believe that feminism is about man-hating or about being labelled a victim
simply because of your sex; this is not what feminism is about and I would like
to ask you to research something before you dismiss its worth in your life. So
to right that wrong I would like to give you all a little bit of the history of
feminism and what it means to me.
Feminism,
being an idea, has no tangible beginning; however, the first document found regarding
this idea was in Mary Wollstonecraft's Vindication of the Rights of Women written
in 1792. The French Revolution was another historical time for feminism with women's
republican clubs demanding that liberty, equality, and fraternity be applied
regardless of sex; however by the time of the Code Napoléon this movement was
extinguished.
In 1848, a
feminist movement was started in North America which was led by Elizabeth Cady
Stanton and Susan Brownell Anthony who advocated for the inclusion of women in
the constitution. Sadly, it was only in 1920 that feminism eventually won some
ground when woman suffrage was won in North America. World War Two was another
historical step toward equality as it saw women doing the jobs historically
just for men and this helped women to gain further equality to men. However, it
was only in the 1960s that the idea of feminism really took hold and saw some real
tangible change in the status of women in our society. It began with the introduction
of the Pill which is still today one of the biggest moments in the emancipation
of women. Gloria Steinem, Marilyn French and the late Maya Angelou are just
some of my personal heroes in the fight for gender equality and female
emancipation.
In South
Africa, a defining moment in the campaign for the rights of South African women
was the 1956 Women March in Pretoria. This march saw 10 000 to 20 000 South
African women from all races come together to demand that some of their basic human
rights were met.
Now I think
I should stop there as this article is beginning to become a little more of a
history lesson then I had intended it to be. Feminism will never be irrelevant
until my sisters in the Middle East are not shot for simply wanting to go to
school or the city that I live in is no longer the rape capital of the world or
when all women around the world have a say over their own bodies. I will finish
my article with a quote from Gloria Steinem:
“A feminist
is anyone who recognizes the equality and full humanity of women and men.”
LOCKETS
Did you know?
m The word ‘locket’ is derived from French.
m The word ‘locket’ refers to a small case, commonly made from
metal, that is worn around the neck, and which often contains a special “memento”.
m Lockets have become popular due to the age-old belief that,
according to ancient cultures, by holding or looking at a symbol that
represents a loved one, one is in close spiritual contact with that person.
m However, in Victorian days, lockets were frequently used to
carry powder, poisons and good luck charms.
Nevertheless, lockets remain one of RETRO’s
favourite vintage pieces due to their timeless look and sentimental value.
Audrey Kathleen
Ruston
(aka Audrey Hepburn)
We celebrate the ‘would have been’ 85th birthday
of Audrey Hepburn today on May the 4th. Audrey, born as Audrey Kathleen Ruston
on 4 May 1929, passed away on 20 January 1993 at the age of 63 at home in her
sleep from appendiceal cancer.
We saw her in the movies Breakfast
at Tiffany’s and Sabrina at Retro’s movie day and
evenings, and instantly fell in love. The movie star received numerous awards and
honors during her career as an actress
and humanitarian. Audrey stands as one of few entertainers who have won
Academy, Emmy, Grammy and Tony Awards. She has been honored on United States
postage stamps and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The American Film
Institute has repeatedly recognized her talent, placing Audrey third on its
list of the top 100 female stars of all time.
Breakfast at Tiffany's
Being an icon and a personal favourite of the committee, the Retro Society of Rustenburg Girls’ High School wishes the fabulous and oh so beautiful Audrey Hepburn, a happy birthday.
By: Stéphanie
Pereira
RETRO BAND SHIRTS
One of Retro’s favorite new obsessions is the band shirt. Its rise began in the 1960's and 1970's
when bands introduced the selling of band merchandise such as shirts as a way
of increasing their income and popularity. This simple decision revolutionized a generation as
these shirts no longer just became shirts but things that symbolized the ideology
of the person wearing it.
Whether you
wear them to symbolize your ideology or just because you think they look nice,
be sure to actually have heard at least one song by the band on the shirt you
are wearing to avoid awkward.
By Katherine Davidson
CONSOL GLASS BOTTLES
Retro’s
other obsession at the moment is the CONSOL Glass Bottle. Before 1947, when the
use of plastic to make bottles was introduced, all bottles were made from
glass. Making the introduction of glass to make water bottles truly Retro.
However,
this new product is not only highly retro and trendy but also extremely good
for the environment because they do not have any of those nasty chemicals which
plastic products have.
By Katherine Davidson
Combining the PAST with the PRESENT:
Retro Phone
Covers!
Written by
Yi-Tin Michelle Yuan
Despite the fact that teenagers have the latest and
greatest cell phones, it seems that they still need that nostalgic touch of
the past!
RETRO phone covers - featuring anything and everything from
a black-and-white
image of the Eiffel Tower to a crazy and colourful pattern -
are the new must-have cell phone accessories.
BLACK-AND-WHITE PHOTOGRAPHS
Written by Yi-Tin Michelle Yuan
Have you
noticed that black-and-white filters are taking Instagram and Facebook by
storm?
Maybe it’s
the element of classiness that a black-and white filter seems to give
that has teenagers using it constantly... Or is it the fact that it instantly
makes the object of your photograph look flawless?
Then again, perhaps we’re simply just reverting to the old days
when black-and-white photographs were the norm...
Whatever the
reason, RETRO loves this current obsession!
The Retro
Bandanna
Written
by Yi-Tin Michelle Yuan
What was previously used by
cowboys, outdoor workers and soldiers as a mere cloth to keep the dust out of
their eyes, has become the 21st Century’s most stylish hair
accessory!
Whether
you’re getting ready to go to a concert or the mall, or simply just relaxing at
home, the Retro Bandanna is the perfect hair accessory to any outfit.
Flower Crowns
Written
by Katherine Davidson
Flower Crowns have truly become the centrepiece
of retro fashion with stars like Lana Del Ray, Alexa Chung, Tavi Gevinson and
even Harry Styles sporting them. So I thought I’d give you guys a quick history
of this cool retro fashion trend.
The history of the flower crown can be traced back
as far as Ancient Rome and Greece. Primarily, they were used to celebrate
weddings as they represented maidenhood, marriage, prosperity and happiness.
They were, however, also used to reward commendable behaviour and at parties to
offset liquor. I’m not sure how exactly flower crowns would offset liquor, then
again they did live in a different world without Tumblr, Facebook or Nutella.
Getting back to Flower Crowns, another age old use
for Flower Crowns is to crown the May Queen during the May Day festival which
celebrates new growth after winter. The crowning links back to Ancient Fertility
Rituals.
Another, important tradition to mention is that
of Hawaiian tradition of Lei. I’m sure we've all watch the movies with Hawaiian
dancers (Lilo and Stitch for one) and seen the flower crowns and garlands that
they wear.
The flower crown was resurrected in the 1960s
by the peace movement. Known as Flower
Children, activists and supporters used flowers of all kinds including the
flower crown to highlight their peaceful agenda.
Audrey Hepburn
Audrey Hepburn is one of film and fashion’s most
legendary icons of all time. American Film Institute ranks her as the third greatest
star of all time and New Women Magazine voted her the most beautiful women of
all time in their 2006 poll.
She was born in Brussels, Belgium on 4 May 1929
to an English banker father and Dutch Baroness mother. Much of her childhood was spent between
England, Holland, Belgium and Germany.
World War 2 destroyed her dream of becoming a ballerina as she was
unable to continue her training. As a result, she moved on to acting and, well
the rest is history.
Her break out role was as Princess Ann in Roman Holiday in 1953. It was this movie
that saw her become the first actress to win an Oscar, a Golden Globe and a
BAFTA award for one movie. She went on to act in many movies throughout her
life however; she is most famous for her role as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
Other movies include:
The
Unforgiven
The
Nun's Story
The latter part of her life was spent doing
humanitarian work with UNICEF, as a Goodwill Ambassador. She visited some of
the most disadvantaged communities in Africa, South America and Asia and raised
the profile of their plight. For her role as Goodwill Ambassador she was
awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1992. Sadly, a year after this she
passes away in Switzerland at the age of 63. Her life now stands as a testament
to the power of determination, grace, compassion and dressing well.
Some Audrey Hepburn quotes that we would all do
well to remember:
‘Great Gatsby’ ̶ themed parties
It seems that ‘Great Gatsby’ ̶ themed parties are all the rage right now, and since ‘The Great
Gatsby’ is one of Retro’s all ̶ time favourite novels, and, more recently, movies, we’ve
decided to put together some tips to help YOU plan your very own ‘Great Gatsby’
party...
❶ Venue: If renting a hall is a bit too pricey, you could always have
your party in your garden and organise fun “lawn games” for your guests!
❷ Décor: Some great table pieces would be
clear champagne glasses filled with loose pearls, small candles floating in
vintage tea cups, mini mixed bouquets in glass jars, or a long glass vase
filled with black or white feathers.
❹ Food: Some yummy ideas are cucumber
finger sandwiches, stuffed mushrooms and macaroons for dessert!
Typo
Written
by Yi-Tin Michelle Yuan
Typo is the
one̶ stop destination for quirky, retro stationery and
vintage room pieces.
I
have to admit that I am completely obsessed with crochet anything at the moment. Crochet fashion seems to keep evolving
every year and I love the results. Crochet knit work has been around since the
19th century. In the early years of crochet only wealthy people
could afford the material and for this reason it became a status symbol. From
the 1940s onwards, Christian Dior has been known as one of the most famous
crochet designers. Many other famous designers like Coco Chanel, Calvin Klein and
Dolce and Gabbana are well known for using crochet to create their designs. Crochet is a trend that comes and goes but will always be a must - have in your closet! Crochet
bikinis and crop tops are definitely my must-haves for 2015 and I’m sure they
will be yours too. Crochet adds a look of elegance to clothing and is similar in
this way to lace. Surprisingly crochet bikinis are much cheaper than I expected
them to be. You can find lovely crochet bikinis available in Cape Town at https://www.facebook.com/nvmeapparel
.
SUPERHEROES
Our new retro obsession is Superheroes.Superheroes? I know, I know. You’re thinking it all sounds
a bit nerdy but after watching The Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D. and reading the
latest instalment of the Bug, I got a little obsessed with this new fad.
Superheroes came on the scene in the 1930s
through comic strips in newspapers which were then collected into comic books. These
become an escape from the terrible time of the Great Depression and the start
of the Second World War. They offered hope and wonderment while preaching
honour and compassion. By the 1940s superheroes had radio shows, cartoons,
dolls and action figures. They were everyone’s obsession.
The first female Superhero, Wonder Woman came in
1941. Some criticised that she acted the exact opposite to the way a woman was
supposed to act. By being exactly what
she was criticised for, she became a symbol of feminism in a world that was dominated
by men. Many other female superheroes have joined her ranks including Catwoman,
Black Widow and many more.
Although it does takes a great deal of
confidence to pull off the tights and leather look, the concept of a powerful
woman will always inspire us.
By Katherine Davidson
By Katherine Davidson
FEMINISM
BY KATHERINE DAVIDSON
BY KATHERINE DAVIDSON
Another
Retro obsession that everyone is talking about is feminism. This concept was brought
back into our consciousness on the 20th September 2014 by Emma
Watson who delivered a speech launching the United Nation’s new campaign
HeForShe. The campaign’s official website of the defines the campaign as “HeForShe
is a solidarity movement for gender equality that brings together one half of
humanity in support of the other half of humanity, for the benefit of all.”
I like to
think that this campaign will be the catalyst for gender equality which will
also help to make us all, men and women, rethink feminism and ask ourselves why
we are not feminists or reaffirm our belief in the need for feminism.
I have
always been a feminist like Emma Watson and until her speech had not realised
that anyone else could not think of themselves as feminists and in fact that many
dislike this concept. I would like to just say one thing to all those who
believe that feminism is about man-hating or about being labelled a victim
simply because of your sex; this is not what feminism is about and I would like
to ask you to research something before you dismiss its worth in your life. So
to right that wrong I would like to give you all a little bit of the history of
feminism and what it means to me.
Feminism,
being an idea, has no tangible beginning; however, the first document found regarding
this idea was in Mary Wollstonecraft's Vindication of the Rights of Women written
in 1792. The French Revolution was another historical time for feminism with women's
republican clubs demanding that liberty, equality, and fraternity be applied
regardless of sex; however by the time of the Code Napoléon this movement was
extinguished.
In 1848, a
feminist movement was started in North America which was led by Elizabeth Cady
Stanton and Susan Brownell Anthony who advocated for the inclusion of women in
the constitution. Sadly, it was only in 1920 that feminism eventually won some
ground when woman suffrage was won in North America. World War Two was another
historical step toward equality as it saw women doing the jobs historically
just for men and this helped women to gain further equality to men. However, it
was only in the 1960s that the idea of feminism really took hold and saw some real
tangible change in the status of women in our society. It began with the introduction
of the Pill which is still today one of the biggest moments in the emancipation
of women. Gloria Steinem, Marilyn French and the late Maya Angelou are just
some of my personal heroes in the fight for gender equality and female
emancipation.
In South
Africa, a defining moment in the campaign for the rights of South African women
was the 1956 Women March in Pretoria. This march saw 10 000 to 20 000 South
African women from all races come together to demand that some of their basic human
rights were met.
Now I think
I should stop there as this article is beginning to become a little more of a
history lesson then I had intended it to be. Feminism will never be irrelevant
until my sisters in the Middle East are not shot for simply wanting to go to
school or the city that I live in is no longer the rape capital of the world or
when all women around the world have a say over their own bodies. I will finish
my article with a quote from Gloria Steinem:
“A feminist
is anyone who recognizes the equality and full humanity of women and men.”
LOCKETS
Did you know?
m The word ‘locket’ is derived from French.
|
m The word ‘locket’ refers to a small case, commonly made from
metal, that is worn around the neck, and which often contains a special “memento”.
|
m Lockets have become popular due to the age-old belief that,
according to ancient cultures, by holding or looking at a symbol that
represents a loved one, one is in close spiritual contact with that person.
|
m However, in Victorian days, lockets were frequently used to
carry powder, poisons and good luck charms.
|
Nevertheless, lockets remain one of RETRO’s
favourite vintage pieces due to their timeless look and sentimental value.
Audrey Kathleen Ruston
(aka Audrey Hepburn)
We celebrate the ‘would have been’ 85th birthday
of Audrey Hepburn today on May the 4th. Audrey, born as Audrey Kathleen Ruston
on 4 May 1929, passed away on 20 January 1993 at the age of 63 at home in her
sleep from appendiceal cancer.
We saw her in the movies Breakfast
at Tiffany’s and Sabrina at Retro’s movie day and
evenings, and instantly fell in love. The movie star received numerous awards and
honors during her career as an actress
and humanitarian. Audrey stands as one of few entertainers who have won
Academy, Emmy, Grammy and Tony Awards. She has been honored on United States
postage stamps and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The American Film
Institute has repeatedly recognized her talent, placing Audrey third on its
list of the top 100 female stars of all time.
Breakfast at Tiffany's
Being an icon and a personal favourite of the committee, the Retro Society of Rustenburg Girls’ High School wishes the fabulous and oh so beautiful Audrey Hepburn, a happy birthday.
By: Stéphanie
Pereira
RETRO BAND SHIRTS
One of Retro’s favorite new obsessions is the band shirt. Its rise began in the 1960's and 1970's
when bands introduced the selling of band merchandise such as shirts as a way
of increasing their income and popularity. This simple decision revolutionized a generation as
these shirts no longer just became shirts but things that symbolized the ideology
of the person wearing it.
Whether you
wear them to symbolize your ideology or just because you think they look nice,
be sure to actually have heard at least one song by the band on the shirt you
are wearing to avoid awkward.
By Katherine Davidson
CONSOL GLASS BOTTLES
Retro’s
other obsession at the moment is the CONSOL Glass Bottle. Before 1947, when the
use of plastic to make bottles was introduced, all bottles were made from
glass. Making the introduction of glass to make water bottles truly Retro.
However,
this new product is not only highly retro and trendy but also extremely good
for the environment because they do not have any of those nasty chemicals which
plastic products have.
By Katherine Davidson
Combining the PAST with the PRESENT:
Retro Phone
Covers!
Written by
Yi-Tin Michelle Yuan
Despite the fact that teenagers have the latest and
greatest cell phones, it seems that they still need that nostalgic touch of
the past!
RETRO phone covers - featuring anything and everything from
a black-and-white
image of the Eiffel Tower to a crazy and colourful pattern -
are the new must-have cell phone accessories.
BLACK-AND-WHITE PHOTOGRAPHS
Written by Yi-Tin Michelle Yuan
Have you
noticed that black-and-white filters are taking Instagram and Facebook by
storm?
Maybe it’s
the element of classiness that a black-and white filter seems to give
that has teenagers using it constantly... Or is it the fact that it instantly
makes the object of your photograph look flawless?
Then again, perhaps we’re simply just reverting to the old days
when black-and-white photographs were the norm...
Whatever the
reason, RETRO loves this current obsession!
The Retro Bandanna
Written
by Yi-Tin Michelle Yuan
What was previously used by
cowboys, outdoor workers and soldiers as a mere cloth to keep the dust out of
their eyes, has become the 21st Century’s most stylish hair
accessory!
Whether you’re getting ready to go to a concert or the mall, or simply just relaxing at home, the Retro Bandanna is the perfect hair accessory to any outfit.
Flower Crowns
Written
by Katherine Davidson
Flower Crowns have truly become the centrepiece
of retro fashion with stars like Lana Del Ray, Alexa Chung, Tavi Gevinson and
even Harry Styles sporting them. So I thought I’d give you guys a quick history
of this cool retro fashion trend.
Getting back to Flower Crowns, another age old use
for Flower Crowns is to crown the May Queen during the May Day festival which
celebrates new growth after winter. The crowning links back to Ancient Fertility
Rituals.
Another, important tradition to mention is that
of Hawaiian tradition of Lei. I’m sure we've all watch the movies with Hawaiian
dancers (Lilo and Stitch for one) and seen the flower crowns and garlands that
they wear.
The flower crown was resurrected in the 1960s
by the peace movement. Known as Flower
Children, activists and supporters used flowers of all kinds including the
flower crown to highlight their peaceful agenda.
Audrey Hepburn
Written by
Katherine Davidson
Audrey Hepburn is one of film and fashion’s most
legendary icons of all time. American Film Institute ranks her as the third greatest
star of all time and New Women Magazine voted her the most beautiful women of
all time in their 2006 poll.
She was born in Brussels, Belgium on 4 May 1929
to an English banker father and Dutch Baroness mother. Much of her childhood was spent between
England, Holland, Belgium and Germany.
World War 2 destroyed her dream of becoming a ballerina as she was
unable to continue her training. As a result, she moved on to acting and, well
the rest is history.
Her break out role was as Princess Ann in Roman Holiday in 1953. It was this movie
that saw her become the first actress to win an Oscar, a Golden Globe and a
BAFTA award for one movie. She went on to act in many movies throughout her
life however; she is most famous for her role as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
Other movies include:
The
Unforgiven
The
Nun's Story
Love
in the Afternoon
Funny
Face
War
and Peace
Sabrina
We
Go to Monte Carlo
The latter part of her life was spent doing
humanitarian work with UNICEF, as a Goodwill Ambassador. She visited some of
the most disadvantaged communities in Africa, South America and Asia and raised
the profile of their plight. For her role as Goodwill Ambassador she was
awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1992. Sadly, a year after this she
passes away in Switzerland at the age of 63. Her life now stands as a testament
to the power of determination, grace, compassion and dressing well.
Some Audrey Hepburn quotes that we would all do
well to remember:
‘Great Gatsby’ ̶ themed parties
Written
by Yi-Tin Michelle Yuan
It seems that ‘Great Gatsby’ ̶ themed parties are all the rage right now, and since ‘The Great
Gatsby’ is one of Retro’s all ̶ time favourite novels, and, more recently, movies, we’ve
decided to put together some tips to help YOU plan your very own ‘Great Gatsby’
party...
❶ Venue: If renting a hall is a bit too pricey, you could always have
your party in your garden and organise fun “lawn games” for your guests!
❷ Décor: Some great table pieces would be
clear champagne glasses filled with loose pearls, small candles floating in
vintage tea cups, mini mixed bouquets in glass jars, or a long glass vase
filled with black or white feathers.
❸ Dress code: Encourage your guests to go all̶ out in dressing up according to the theme, or as their
favourite character ̶ in
doing this you can award a prize for the best̶ dressed!
❹ Food: Some yummy ideas are cucumber
finger sandwiches, stuffed mushrooms and macaroons for dessert!
Thrift Shopping Retro-style
Written by Oriana Esau, E5
Spent all your pocket money on the Justin
Bieber concert and in still indebted to your parents? Grade 12s, has the matric
ball dried up the last coins in that poor piggy bank? Well, thrift-shopping may
just be the answer to those woes.
We’re all familiar with the song (some of
us may be bold enough to admit to singing along to it) but are we all clear on
what thrift shopping is? Better yet, how many of us have even tried, I daresay risked,
it?
Thrift shopping is by definition, the
shopping for 2nd hand or vintage clothing items at their 2nd
hand price. It has proven to be more affordable and able to give a
one-of-a-kind vintage touch to a special outfit
However, good 2nd hand vintage
stores are as rare to come by these days as the clothing items in their shops. Added
to that, when someone says “vintage clothing” don’t we all think “hipster”
immediately? And everyone doesn’t want to be labelled as a hipster, as that’s
way too mainstream.
The key to defeating these woes? Wear that
vintage blazer with pride and flip your retro-inspired hair-do in the face of
the hipster name-callers as you walk into one of the trusted and fabulous
vintage stores in the list below - a
list which has been compiled to aid you on your journey to Retro-inspired style:
Second Time Around 196 Long Street, City Centre,021 423 1674
Stockists of items from the roaring
twenties to the rocking nineties - you’re bound to find a vintage piece or two
here.
Meanwhile
287 Long Street, City Centre, Cape Town, 021 422 5646
From crocheted frocks to lacy blazers,
retro is the order of the day in this funky store.
Vintage
Junkies https://www.facebook.com/Vintage.Junkies.SouthAfrica
Fast becoming one of Cape Town’s most
recognisable online vintage clothing store, Vintage Junkies will satisfy the
junky within you.
The Dollhouse Clothing https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Dollhouse-Clothing/101402119959987
A designer collective, if you’re looking
for originality and exclusivity, The Dollhouse is the place to go.
Guard The Vintage http://www.guardthevintage.com/
Find that leather jacket to complete the
biker look, and more, here.
ZAHRAH PERRY
What is your favourite fashion trend at the moment?
At the moment I have a real love for emerald green. Monochrome is also a big thing this season and it is flattering to almost all shapes and sizes.
Who is your style icon?
I love Jessica Alba. Her style is simple yet she always looks fabulous especially as a mum on the go.
During your time at Rustenburg, who do you think was the most on trend teacher?
I never placed too much emphasis on what teachers wore but my design teacher, Miss Cronje always wore well put together outfits and great winter boots.
Who is your celebrity crush?
I am not fazed by celebrities but I love the One Direction boys. They are fabulous, especially Zayn and Harry!
If you could choose the outfit you would die in, what clothing items would it comprise of?
Probably a fitted lace black dress with a simple patent pair of stilettos and a mesh black veil to give it that dark funeral feel.
Are you a heels, flats or takkies kind of girl?
Wow, I’m not sure… I rotate each of these many times during the week. I love heels so I wear them quite a bit to compensate for my height and when I attend events. For university, I am in boots or my wedge sneakers. I also tend to like in my flip flops through summer.
Tell us one thing that we would be surprised to know about you.
I am just about half deaf. Through school I struggled with a tumour behind my eardrum. After much medical treatment and operations, I am now left partially deaf with a prostheses to support my right ear. I don’t think it helps though and I hope it won’t get any worse!
What is your biggest dream?
I’m quite simple. I would like to be a stay at home mum, publish my book and perhaps become a radio DJ. I have always enjoyed talking to all kinds of people and cannot think of anything better that I would enjoy doing with my time.
Name one thing you can’t live without?
I can’t live without…socks, hehe. But honestly in this industry, connecting is everything, so my mobile is possibly my life line, my bread and butter, with a huge blob of strawberry jam.
Go check out her blog: The Perry Book
Interviewer: Nuzhah Jacobs
