Sensual swimwear and a nude palette for Summer 2010/11

Capetonian designers set the fashion mood for summer at Cape Town Fashion Week 2010

“Wear something African,” said Dr Precious Moloi Motsepe at the launch of the AFI Cape Town Fashion Week Boutique ahead of Cape Town Fashion Week 2010, “and if you don’t have something, buy something”.

There’s was plenty of chances to buy something African at this year’s showcase with the pop up fashion boutique hosting collections by South African designers from all over the country, including David Tlale, who did not present a new collection on the Cape Town catwalk this year. That, and the fact that major fashion retailers Foschini and Woolworths sponsored emerging designers who presented their collections at the respective commercial shows. That’s good news for our fashion city, as local design is becoming a lot more accessible.

Day 1: a few of our favourite things

While the palette for Summer 2010/ 11 is fairly demure – white, stone, nude, caramel, with a touch of teal and coral – there is clearly no lack of creativity on behalf of Cape Town’s fashion designers.

Suzaan Heyns wowed the audience on Day 1 with an artistic collection of technically detailed items in pastel colours bravely presented to the sound of a narrater. She successfully created a story to carry her collection and connect with the customer on a very personal level.

Day 1 ended with the most enchanting moments of the whole event, when Kluk CGDT shared their ‘favourite things’ to the ‘Sound of Music’ soundtrack. 10 key items made their way onto the ramp; followed by a fairy tale of flower princess dresses, plush feather detail, tailored romance and a loose beaded geisha outfit. A little girl playing around a doll house on a wooden runway covered with leaves added that extra touch of whimsy.

Day 2: bringing sensual back

Intimates and swimwear dominated on Day 2 as Craig Port sent a wave of sultry pieces onto the Cape Town catwalk. The Miss Port collection was all luxurious lace infused lingerie with sequined mesh, velvets and organic cottons in nude lilac, grey, mint, moss and bronze colours.

Stoned Cherrie was a runaway hit with the crowd, as always interpreting the current fashion trends in a truly South African way. Her ready-to-wear collection called Love Movement translates traditional South African wear into the mainstream fashion arena. Ndebele inspired dressed in bold colours shattered the serene mood and showed that true South African spirit of being positive no matter what.

Swimwear by Dax Martin, Lovewaterlove and Port featured sweet girly prints, retro sripes and black, black and more black. Clifton, Llundudno, pool parties; swimwear is half of any self respecting Capetonian woman’s wardrobe. We live in it. No wonder this was one of the best attended shows on the calendar.

Day 3: What you Ghana do?

On Day 3 men’s fashion had its moment. Viyella took the crowd on a journey from Camps Bay to Cairo as suits in the light shades of the season were shown. Worn with both sandals and closed leather shoes, the savvy traveler will always look their part in Viyella, with all kinds of textures giving the suits a modern edge. A live opera performance of ‘Amigos Para Siempre’ clinched the deal.

Stefania Morland was another breathtaking success. After earning the chance to drive an AudiA5 Sportback for a year thanks to her latest collection for Audi Joburg Fashion Week she sent another super collection down the runway in Cape Town. Inspired by forests, sheer and textured items transformed the models into woodlan nymphs and made her collection a standout affair.

Craig Native wrapped it all up with a street smart show to the soundtrack of live DJ’s Tech Station. Models kept their cool on skateboards wearing signature T-shirts emblazoned with “What you Ghana do?” and some break-dancing thrown in for good measure.

What are we going to do? Plan our shopping list of course.

Summer wardrobe ideas from the Cape Town catwalk

- Tiered chiffon mini skirt from Stefania Morland, matched with a sheer top in forest colours.

- White mandarin collared shirt with black trimmings from Kluk CGDT (pair with a 50's pleat skirt).

- Hydrangea printed high wasted skirt from Good Clothing colour coordinated with various tops.

- A turquoise Stoned Cherrie dress - do match it with those pink ostrich feather earrings.

- Leopard print ankle boots (as worn on the Kluk show) matched with floral dresses, forest green and brown.

- Something lacy from Miss Port.

- A thin red belt and matching shoes to accessorize the blank palette and add a touch of blush to the nude dresses and breezy shirts in the 2010/11 summer wardrobe.

- Your pick of sensual swimwear. We like the retro stripes.

- Or, just because it’s so much fun, that red dress with the bells on from Stoned Cherrie.

Bring on Summer 2010/ 11 in Cape Town. At CTMag, we’re definitely ready to wear African.

By Lize de Kock | Photographs by Gary Stemmet / SDR Photo

The Cape Town Fashion Week opening party was a swanky affair, hosted at Cape Town's most opulent restaurant and bar. We also loved the dining experience at Brio 1893.

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