Johannesburg, Gauteng, 12 August 2016
– Fashion lovers, industry influences, local celebrities and the cool
kids of fashion were all dressed to impress as they attended the second
night
of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Joburg 2016. Hosted by African Fashion
International (AFI), this premier fashion event provides the platform
for some of the continent’s eminent designers to showcase the coming
season’s hottest trends.
AFI Executive Chairperson Dr.
Precious Moloi-Motsepe and her husband Patrice Motsepe were part of a
celebrity-filled crowd that included Maps Mopanyane, Terry Pheto, and
musicians Tamara Dey and Petite Noir. Influential
media personalities including Aspasia Karras, Jackie May and Sharon
Becker were also in attendance, looking like they had walked straight
out of the pages of a slick fashion magazine.
The opening show of the evening was Philosophy
by Jennie Button. Inspired by the bright colours of India, and
with Eastern music setting the scene, the models floated down the runway
in silky, flowing, feminine dresses that gave a lesson in summer
fashion. The accessories were simple sandals and
hoop earrings, but each model had striking copper make-up, resembling a
delicate mask.
In a complete change of
direction, the next set of models were wrapped up in Basotho blankets
(designed as jackets and coats) with their hoods pulled over their heads
and their hands deep in their pockets. These were
worn over brightly coloured leggings and shirts inspired by famous
artists like Picasso. Her final three dresses were deep red, form
fitting and very striking. In keeping with the artistic theme there were
streaks of black and white painted stripes on the
dresses. With the soundtrack of African drums reverberating in the
room, the Jenni Button fashion army had a final, impressive march up the
runway.
One of the most established names in the fashion industry is
Marianne Fassler, with her distinctive signature juxtaposition of
clashing prints. She brings together different African cultures and
highlights them in a modern way through her designs. Dresses had dreamy
florals and stylistic flower motifs, accompanied
by metallic accessories, from the lips to the gloves and the sparkling
shoes.
Her glamour camo designs had
bright blue and orange lace accents, while the African prints
highlighted her proud African heritage. Her pièce de résistance was a
delicate lace wedding dress that the model wore while holding
a plant frond above her head like a lush, green umbrella. The doyenne
of fashion called all her staff to join her on the runway as she walked
to huge applause from the appreciative crowd. 
With carousel music playing in the background, Shana
presented a dusty pink and champagne collection that was reminiscent of
fun, summer days. Models wore their hair naturally and in long, loose
waves, with few
accessories. The shoes were from Nine West and the delicate jewellery
was Raya Rossi. The spring range was uber feminine, playful and
wearable. Tulle, frills and floaty fabric dominating the runway and
butterfly elements reminded everyone that summer is coming.
Stefanie Morland brought
in a touch of 70s with ruffles, tassels and lots of layers. Her silky
spring collection included retro glam dresses in a range of colours from
mustard to midnight
blue, and fun summer shorts in a pop of yellow. Morland goes
effortlessly from day to night, with eye-catching black dresses, with
the most striking having a summer field of flowers attached to the
inside of the back of the dress. Her final look was
a nod to spring, with beautiful wedding gown and the model wearing a
flower headdress. In their last walk down the runway the models had an
Audrey Hepburn moment, holding what looked like long, slim cigarette
holders, before theatrically posing together in
the final moment of the show. 
Undoubtedly the performance of the night goes to
Nhlanhla Nciza with NN Vintage. Watched by Ricky
Rick, Theo, Reason, Khanyi Mbau performed her debut single which got the
audience on their feet, setting the tone for the evening. The
collection featured outfits with black and white strips,
paired with bold pinks and oranges, while grey, layered dresses had
fuchsia accents and hidden panels. What was completely different about
this show was the models who were relaxed, evn smiling and even
high-fiving as they passed each other on the runway.
Nhlanhla Nciza
put on a show that was all about powerful, confident woman, and she did
this with a crowd-pleasing collection of celebrities including Thembi
Seete, Ntando Duma, Luthando
Shosha, Jessica Nkosi and Babalwa Mneno. However, the biggest roar of
the night came when Idols judge Somizi owned the runway by strutting his
stuff in a pair of heels. In a celebration of both Women’s Month and
South African music, it was a show that was
unashamedly African and full of passion, energy, entertainment and
fashion.
Day three of MBFWJ16 promises to
hold just as much excitement and even more incredible design with a
highly-anticipated designer line-up: Orapeleng Modutle Style Avenue,
Sello Medupe, Ruff Tung, Leigh Schubert, Laduma
and David Tlale.
No comments:
Post a Comment