DEAR NAKHANE TOURE,

Listen sweety, next time you decide to let VUZU publicize a performance, please make sure that the venue is not the size of a kitchen. After a whole week of excitement and anticipation for last night's performance at The Bannister, having my Yves Saint Laurent jacket tailored and squeezing into a pair of uncomfortable jeans and studded boots, I was revolted at being refused a ticket and entry. Hell, i even had visions of me singing along to Dark Rooms and you inviting me on stage to belt the notes with you. Yes, you probably really never anticipated that much of a crowd, but sweety, you're a star now. Please realize!
 It also doesn't help that you had an entire insert on VUZU (which is practically the new SABC 1). I was further revolted by the nonchalant attitude of no remorse from your team and the boastful attitudes from your friends who got there long after I did but were allowed to come in.

Waiting for 22:30pm for the second show was not a problem. In fact, I was still there when you started the other show. I just refused to buy the ticket. Totally out of self respect. I will not be given a second grade performance, a rip off of Bongeziwe as I understand he was not part of the second show. Yes, we love you hunty but you need to start acting like you know what time it is. I'll probably never come to your shows ever again and you probably don't care but, here's a piece of unrequested advise. South Africa has no room or patience for such stunts. We chose to come see see you on a Thursday night and sacrificed a great time at home on our couches watching 10 over 10.

Your friends are YOUR friends and it sucks that they take preference over fans that love and support you. Letting them into your show while we've BEEN waiting for you like basic women waiting in line for child support is disgusting. You're still amazing and probably the best male vocalist of our time. This does not mean invincible. Get you act together. Asseblief!

Regards,
Gvru

TREND INSPITATIONS

A COSMOPOLITAN BITCH IN THE CONCRETE JUNGLE!

So, the objective was to create a shoot and a look that depicted what the average woman in Johannesburg wants to wear and what she wants to look like. Because ours is a city that is so busy with everyone rushing up and about to make an extra rand, women often forget what they really and truly want. Glamor!

Often times the stilettos are substituted with flats and the much dreaded wedge. I conducted a research of my own. I started talking to female friends, being more aware of what women wear on a regular basis on the streets and at events. It’s amazing how I discovered that every woman, rich or poor, black or white, has the burning desire to always be desirable and sexy. I also realized that, frankly, every woman has some amount of interest in fashion. You know why? It’s simple really. Fashion is the only thing that can make a woman feel the way she wants. Sexy and desirable!

 I went into leading retailers to check what it is that they design for women. I wanted to see what stores do for women in terms of the colors, the aesthetics and fabrics. I wanted to see if the market was as versatile in catering for women of all shapes and sizes and if they catered for their common needs. ZARA, Democratic Republic, Forever New. I studied it all. Seeing that these are the most common retail options in women’s wear, I was rather surprised to see that everything looks the same. It literally is the same as shopping in one store.

Is it for this reason, perhaps, that women opt to have things custom made by designers? Is it a need to look different or just the sad fact that retail stores do not cater for EVERY  woman? How do we put a size 16 woman in a spandex body-con? It makes absolutely no sense. In  my experience of customizing clothes (predominantly for women), I realize that almost 80% of my clients are plus size women. It’s the same old argument all the time. Stores do not cater for South African women. Asian sizes are the most common patterns cuts in South Africa. Truth is, Asian cuts are not kind to local hip lines and busts.

 So? What happens to the basic desires of sexiness and desirability of our women? Local designers certainly try to breach the gap and demand. Problem? Designing bigger is expensive and price points then become tricky. The demand for the skill is undeniably high but the funds seldom are.

Anyway, I took some of my own designs, fused them with basics from thrift shops, got additional wardrobe from other designers to compile a semi-glamorous shoot of what I think women in modern day South Africa really desire to wear. The point was to create a ‘functional fantasy’. I mean nobody really wears a floor sweeping gown in the city, but…’fantasy’!

 So I got together with Nku Hlatshwayo, Thula Ndema and the talented Zakhele Maseko  on the rooftop of The Mills in Newtown over some Coca-Cola (later Smirnoff) and this is what became of three hours on the rooftop under the burning Jo'burg sun. The results were what we all agreed women want to look like. The bonus, for me, was the background of the city. For me, it allowed for my "fantasy" to be practical because these women exist in the madness of the city. The noise, the traffic, the unemployed majority sitting on balconies and minding other people's business. The whole thing. Its an idea that I'd hoped the intended market would recognize and relate to. Here...

 

*additional wardrobe by t.o.b, ndalisa and scalo. Make up- hectic DIY (nailed it after some trial and error trhough). Styling and coordination- StateOfGvru. Photographer- Zakhele Maseko

STYLE STAR: @janellemonae

THE POWER OF PHOTOGRAPHY. UNSPOKEN TRUTHS THROUGH ART

TAIBO BACAR

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WHITE PICKET FENCE.

I remember growing up in Soweto just directly in the residues of apartheid. There was always a general confusion and misplacement in society. It really seemed like everyone was trying to find their place in the world. In 1995, I was moved to a multiracial school in Horizon View just outside our township. It certainly was one of the weirdest things ever. I was one of the only 20 black students in the school. We literally stood out like a spot of black in a pool of white paint. Because this was literally 5 minutes after the democracy, things were still very fragile and hazy. Being black in these surroundings was still very weird. The white majority still had the upper hand and although a new system was in place, we were still just the awkward misfits and we were constantly reminded.

 Twenty years later, I’m still shocked at how white is STILL better than black. Difference is, it’s not so racial anymore. It’s more of a black-on-black system. Having a conversation with my friend about the unjustness of the old apartheid system brought about both interesting and conflicting insight. I, for one, said that even though it was a system that was unjust to our people, the brains behind the architecture of that system were great. I mean, have we really fully recovered from the trauma and deprivation of it? I think not. In fact, I think for ages to come, we’ll still be battling for full emancipation. Look, I’m no politician and I know just as much as the average folk living in modern day South Africa. What I do know is that I exist in a society that still battles with its own identity and still battles to see itself for who and what it is.

 Having always been the dark skinned fat nerd in my childhood, I always knew that mine would be a battle for years to come. My light-skinned peers have always been treated with a little more consideration than me. Lighter was always better.  I feel like this is why we now have the ‘yellow bone’ era.  It’s such a thing that skin treatment ointment manufacturers are making a killing and bleaching your skin is almost as normal as applying Vaseline on it. Do you not think it was the whole system and point of oppression? To make us forever believe that white or light is always better? The mind is a very tricky thing. Breaking it down is the easiest thing while building it is the accelerated opposite.

It’s always intrigued me that the European market has sold Alek Wek as the ultimate beacon of black beauty.  I know that if Alek was not the supermodel icon that she is and was just another average member of society, she’d forever be mocked and crucified. The weird part of this reality is that it would come from her people. Her beauty was ‘accepted’ and celebrated because Europe said so. How many dreadlocked supermodels do you know of? 

Look, I’m not, in any way, hating on the yellow bone phenomenon. All I’m asking is, do we really have full control and understanding of who and what we are and what we stand for? Do we know what beauty really is and would our understanding of it be the same if we didn’t have options of facial creams and skin bleaching techniques?  Are Alek Wek and Grace Jones only ‘beautiful’ because the fashion industry says so and it’s a foreign industry to the average man and we’re known to celebrate what is ‘weird’ and ‘obscure’?

Even though I’m not the blackest coal in the bag, mine is a struggle I accepted a long time ago. I knew that before people care to know that I’m smart and talented, my skinny light friend will always be more handsome and greater. The misconception of beauty has diluted the authenticity of our race and magazines and pop culture have become the gods of our pride and identity.    

         

LUPITA NYONGO IN ELIE SAAB

MENS DETAILS: LOUIS VUITTON

GENTLEMENS CLUB

LENNY KRAVITZ AND LEONARDO WHITE LOOKING TOO FINE.

MY OBSESSION. @iatemarykate. FRENCH STREET SOLDIER.

FASHIZ!