Festive Fashionistas

It's come around again! Slowly seeping into our homes, crowding up the malls, emptying out our purses.. Christmas! The whole festive season leaves much to be cynical about yet I, (thanks to my gorgeous mother) never fail to see only the good that this time brings. Time for travel, time for giving, sharing good company and new memories. It's a sort of homey time, bringing up childhood joys and the need to be surrounded by family and friends. So, with the Christmas spirit in the air and plans for Christmas dinners, lunches and fabulous nights out on the town, all coming together, what will you be wearing?

If you are any form of fashionista you're all sorted, you've bought at least three new holiday looks or at least planned the reinvention of last years party dress to fall into this years trends. Whether you'll be at home or painting the town, it's time to get fashionably festive!

If like me you're spending Christmas at home or with relatives, helping in the kitchen, playing with kids, enjoying a fabulous meal. Here's the best way to stay fashionably festive. There's not much room to be over the top here, so it's definitely a toned down look. You'll need comfort and ease (especially in the waistband if you're planning on a second helping of pudding) with just a touch of Christmas glam. If you're a jeans girl, great, pair with a red T or fitted tank. White works too, then all you need is a glossy red mani or pedi. Any classically casual chic outfit works for this day and shows a little spirit when accessorised with red. I myself have two outfits planned for this day. First are my ultra cute red pyjama pants, printed with presents and bows. All the family get together and open gifts and early morning pics are shot. So even in my sleep wear I've got to show my spirit! My casual choice for the day is a new little 'onesy' or short jumpsuit, in a tiny red and white check. The jumpsuit is my favourite trend this season and when I saw one in red and white I new it was mine. Elasticated in the waist, light and cool, it's a winner!

Having Christmas cocktails? Out and about experiencing Christmas at night? Gotta glam it up girls! The easiest way to look fab and still feel comfortable, (because let's face it, I may be making Christmas about fashion, but we all know its about the food) is the sexy shift. Hiding any expanding waistlines and showing off the legs, this dress is the 'Go To'. If you find one in red and don't mind looking a little like Santa's helper, go for it, but I'm leaning towards black, white, a midnight blue or navy and even silver or gold sequins. The shape of this dress is so simple you can afford to be flashy. Accessories, like I said, RED RED RED! Red nails, red clutch, red shoes. Headbands always make a statement, don one of these in metallics, don't forget the over-sized cocktail ring and voi-la! Slip on a killer heel, stacked heels or platforms are the only way to go, and you're done. Another super hot trend for now is men's wear. A tuxedo jacket or sharp-shouldered blazer with cigarette pants and fitted T or tailored shirt are key items for edgy, evening with a twist. Keep hair slick and simple, long and straight or smoothed into a pony tail. A red lip and matching mani, the perfect shoe, and the confidence to pull this one off and you just might land yourself some fashion fame.

Those are the 'do's' for day and night to ensure you stay hip for the holidays and fabulously festive. Here are the 'don'ts' for wherever you find yourself this Christmas, at any time, in any situation.

Always carry a small make-up kit. Don't get caught with shiny skin or bare lips in holiday pics.

If you're trying out the men's wear trend and you're not quite sure if you're getting it right.. Guideline: If you actually look like a man you've got it wrong.

Cleavage and lurex during the day are never a good Idea. And unless you're attending a full on fancy dress as Santa's sexy helper, I'm going to have to say, actually, never.

If the only red bag you have is your day bag , do not pair with your evening dress. I know I say accessorise with red but I also say, never wear your day bag with your evening dress...invest in a clutch.

Cocktail in the hand, fabulous. Cocktail on the cocktail dress, trashy. Either know your limit or drink drinks that don't stain and keep the Seltzer near by.

Now this may be the small town in me rearing it's little head but I've got to say that I am a huge fan of the Santa hat. And I'm not talking about your R10 side-of-the-road special, I mean the lovely fluffy, velvety ones that look like they come straight from the North Pole.

Santa hats: 

Over Christmas morning coffee - Cute

At the dinner table - Super festive

With your favourite LBD - Fashion meets fun

During Christmas eve cocktails - A party fave

Paired with boy shorts and a tank - Ultra sexy

Having all your holiday pics screaming Christmas, Festivity and Fun - Priceless

Wishing you all a holiday filled with love and laughter and all the fashionable festivity in the world.

Yours in style,

Melissa Jane 

xoxo

There is no ideal Christmas; only the one Christmas you decide to make as a reflection of your values, desires, affections, traditions. - Bill McKibben

The Mystery Of The Godzilla Gown

Today I'm off to deliver one of my wedding gowns to the Michael Angelo in Sandton for an expo taking place there. Asked by a friend and smart enough to know that any exposure is good exposure, business cards, mannequin and garment bag in hand, I'll be off! Next week too, the bridal theme continues. I'll be meeting with a client about a gown for her big day. Now all this wedding stuff has got those good old bells a ringin'! For me, and as I'm sure for many others, there is an unsolved mystery out there.. The mystery of, 'The Godzilla Gown'.

OK, I'm just gonna put it out there. Where in the world does this obsession with having to look like an over-iced cupcake come from? Mortifying meringue dresses, over the top Cinderella dresses, dresses so large they might eat you alive! No, no, these should never be an option. For me a wedding gown should be a reflection of self, and I may be shattering some 'little-girl' dreams but some parts of the fairy tale just have to be brought to reality. Why this trend didn't die back in 1981 with Princess Diana is beyond me. How can anyone forget the horror the Emmanuels gave us with her bridal gown. Looking back, most of the eighties brings with it a bit of a gag reflex, but for me, never more than this image. She was the personification of every girls dream and they drowned her, neck deep in puffs, flounces and frills! Even in my own experience, just last month actually, 'The Godzilla Gown' took me down. I entered the Bridal Africa Young Designers Competition and made it through two selection processes to the top ten. The theme being 'Absolute Bridal' I took a very real approach in designing the dress and looked at what a marriage and the actual event symbolises. It symbolises love, joy, new beginnings, commitment and a touch of romance. It brings up feelings of happiness, ethereal visions and light. So it had to be feminine, soft, flowing, white and whimsical with a touch of glam just for the runway. So proud was I and so sure of my design when, low and behold, on the day, Godzilla gown kicked my little gown straight to the kerb and claimed first place! A dress so large it swallowed the ramp (and probably some front row fashionistas). I say this with no disrespect to the designer, the craftsmanship she displayed was truly brilliant, and in that regard she deservedly won.

Where in history does this phenomenon come from? And when I say history, I mean the better part of the last hundred years with the obvious exception of the eighties. Hardly anywhere do the gowns of our past reflect this 'faux pas'. It even filters down to 'sweet sixteens', matric farewell or prom dresses. Save these poor people the tragedy! The tulle must be stopped, the taffeta torn, and replaced with refinement and radiance. As I said before, a bridal gown should be a reflection of self. Do you normally wear over sized clothing? Are you a practising princess? If not, then why so on your wedding day? Really think of how you want people to view you. If cultural traditions dictate your attire take full advantage of the direction, these are difficult decisions. You should look like the best and most beautiful version of yourself. The only glow should be coming from your smiling face, not the glare from meters of a blinding white monstrosity!

So now that you've felt my passion for the subject, I'll take a breath and end calmly. It comes down to this. If you're marrying the man of your dreams he's dying to see you, not your dress. He wants to see your face, your figure. Forget shock value or what you think a wedding gown should be. The dress should simply be a fabric extension of you. If you keep this in mind when talking to designers or shopping around you'll end up with the most beautiful version of self, you at your best. And seeing as weddings are a showcase of love, what's not to love about that?

 Top: Jordan's wedding dress - Wow..

 Bottom:  Princess Diana - Beautiful woman, ghastly attack of Godzilla gown.

Yours in style,

Melissa Jane

xoxo

Stay present, Stay in fashion, Stay fabulous

 The beautiful friends that inspired this post.

British Statesman, Lord Chesterfield was once quoted as saying, 'If you are not in fashion you are nobody.' To what form of fashion he was relating to I'm not quite sure, however being such a bold statement, and with my slight fetish for the brutality of the fashion world, I take it as the obvious.. A large warning to not sink into oblivion, but to stand up and take charge of the fabulous facade that fashion allows us.

Yes, clothing is mearly a fraction of who we are, but it is first to be judged before the opportunity to speak and a lasting image as you leave a room. Fashion is the beginning and the end, the first impression, the cherry on top. Like it or not fashion completes us. I admit to chasing the 'fabulous life', a life filled with glamour and a never ending supply of shoes but just because my idea of fashion and dressing seems superficial, does not mean yours has to.

For me there are no excuses for bad styling or simlpy no styling at all, only ignorance. Dressing is something we cannot avoid so why see it as a chore or a burden? Stop thinking of fashion as a single item of clothing, or a tiring trend. Open your eyes and allow yourself an experience. Feel it, hold it, take it in.

Last week myself and a few friends were lucky enough to take a break and spend a week at the beach. Among these friends were two lovely ladies my closest friends and fellow fashionistas, who I couldn't wait to spend time with. The day we arrived, the heat hit us with a massive weight and any hopes of a hairstyle holding up or make up staying in place quickly faded. We were passed the lady-like glow of perspiration, we were full on sweating! At this point the week for me was looking very bleek. 

Like a miracle, (well for me anyway) the next day we were woken by rain, grey skies and cool temperatures. So even though we couldn't enjoy the beach as planned I was relieved to not have to sweat it out for another day. What now though, what to do with ourselves in a creaky log cabin with limited television channels? 

After moping around a bit on the couch and eating the breakfast of champions, (coffee, muesli and chocolate with a side of nik naks) three best friends found themselves freshly showered and wondering what to wear. Seeing as the weather afforded us all the time in the world we gathered in one room and began trying on options. If one decided she was unhappy or uninspired to wear her own clothing, she could go 'shopping' in another's suitcase. Forgot to bring some much needed accessories? You just top that ensemble off with mine! Nail polish came out, as did bronzer and eye-shadow and all the added extras that you never quite take the time to do when you're on holiday. In this small, somewhat insignificant moment I looked around at my favourite girls, my favourite floral print dress, the way a borrowed dress suddenly fitted perfectly and transformed into styled perfection with the addition of a skinny belt, and I realised an exciting truth. Fashion is the fabric of our friendship, a fabric that even on a rainy day with no where to go and no one to see us, held us together and kept up our holiday spirit.

Now you see, fashion is not just a 'look' or the perfect outfit. It's a moment in time, a clever idea, the joy in a friendship, the saviour on a dreary day. So pick up on a trend and share it with a friend, 'get dressed' in the morning don't just clothe yourself. Make fashion the celebration it should be. Being in fashion is not about following the masses or wearing designer jeans, being in fashion is being present, present in life.

  

     Adornment is never anything except a reflection of the heart.

~ Gabrielle 'Coco" Chanel

Still ended up on the beach that cloudy day with my favourite fashionista sistas!

Yours in style,

Melissa Jane

xoxo