@janine_j

Miss me so much you’re in mourning? Lol! Black’s so easy, versatile, powerful RT @Mokgads: Still wearing a lot of … http://tmi.me/8iwCv

First sneakers with Vuitton, now scarves with art design firm M/M Paris? What can’t my future ex-husband not do? Sigh.

The backstory: M/M’s founders Mathias Augustyniak and Michael Amzalag designed baroque lettering for the liner notes to on Kanye’s smash hit disc My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.

They’ve taken the collabo one step further, though, with a range of silk scarves that pairs the lettering with artist George Condo’s images.

Only 250 of these scarves will be for sale (50 for each of the 5 designs) at Colette and M/M Paris.

According to Fader, Augustyniak and Amzalag allegedly described collaborating with Kanye as “a complex exploration of power”.

Pics via.

Honestly, I can’t take Steve Hofmeyr seriously. To me he was, is and will always be Bruce Beyers from ‘Agter elke man’

Solange looking hella cute with her short cut.

If today’s weather is anything to go by, it’s autumn now. Which, for me, means one thing: time to change my look. And, the first thing that needs attention and change is my hair.

I’m officially stuck in a hair rut. I’ve been rocking the short look for around a year and a half now. I’ve been through most of Rihanna’s hair look book in that time and I’m (a) bored with it and (b) tired of spending tons of money on a relaxer and cut every six weeks. It doesn’t help that my hair grows like weeds, which means I need a cut more often than a relaxer and it’s all becoming tres expensive. And did I mention boring?

I’m feeling itchy for a new style … and it’s not like I’m scared of drastic change. I’ve had long straight hair, short straight hair, long curly hair, short afro, medium afro, braids, twists, basically anything I could get away with except colour (I think my hair’s too abused to risk adding colour to the mix).

So right now I’m tempted to go back to my natural texture. A curly afro works so well in winter with all those hot winter looks - imagine a short ‘fro with a snood, a big parka, fitted track pants and hiking boots? Divine!

The only problem is that I have about 3cms of growth right now and I don’t think I can pull off a short short crop. It’s just too much ‘face’ space for me to handle! I don’t know if I’m brave enough. I think I’m a not-bad-looking girl, but I’m no Solange Knowles.

My other option is to get braids until my hair’s grown to at least 6-8cms of natural growth. But even that seems like too much work.

If you have any suggestions for me, please tweet me? Find me at @janine_j.

Pic via.

Yay, me! The lovely people at Arise magazine asked me to list my top three trends from Johannesburg Fashion Week and you can read my humble opinion here.

I basically chat about the ‘feminine 50s’, ‘cute cover-ups’ and ‘rock chic’ looks I loved at the autumn/ winter fashion extravaganza.

I’m incapable of being cold and aloof. I’m not wired that way. If that makes me a sucker, #SoWhat

Standing ovation to @lalla_hirayama for #Aid4JapanSA. Great initiative and lovely seeing so many people coming out to support

I’m so in love with this editorial in US Vogue’s March 2011 edition. It features some of the fashion industry’s top black models in bohemian inspired spring looks.

Styled by Edward Enninful and shot by Norman Jean Roy, models Ajak Deng, Joan Smalls, Jourdann Dunn, Arlenis Sosa, Chanel Iman and Anais Mali look absolutely amazing.

The models are shot alongside well known black creatives such as John Legend, Savion Glover, Antonio Douthit and Anthony Mackie.

Catch the behind-the-scenes video at Vogue’s website here.

Pics via.

Thanks so much! Appreciate it RT @REe_sQrd: I’m following you janine_j I’m so in ♥ with your work ryt now! “To thine own self be true” ♥d it

#FlatmateTy is too sweet :) RT @fcfortune: Damn the world is so small! Met janine_j flatmate at a family birthday … http://tmi.me/88sdB

Feeling so emotional! One of my chicks is now a MRS♥!!! http://plixi.com/p/87003504

Beautiful morning to you, too good Sir RT @SibaFuturesound: A beautiful morning to beautiful ppl

I found this on Refinery29 and thought it so cute, just had to share. A body language expert, Patti Wood interprets what your street style pose says about you. Such a 21st century concept, right?

The Walk Away Pose as done by Emmaneulle Alt and Stephanie La Cava. What does this say about you? ‘This stance seems to imply, ‘I don’t quite look as good as I could.” says Wood. ‘The toes pointing away from the camera, the bowed head, the slouched shoulders protecting the heart, all says, ‘I’m not up to my usual standard…I’m a little embarrassed right now.”

The Red Carpet Pose. The interpretation: ‘The hand on the hip is a model technique. It lifts the chest up and elongates the upper torso making you look slimmer,” says Wood. “But because of the elbow out also making the viewer excited. The elbow out creates a danger silhouette alerting the primitive brain sending it the message ‘I am dangerous.’ The foot cross—one foot protecting the other in a foot hug—show she knows how to pose the upper half of her body but behind the pose she is really not as confident. Maybe she’s not so ready for the red carpet.’

The Sassy Model Pose, which is apparently hard to pull off if you aren’t really a model.  ‘This pose shows your’re super confident, joyful, and love to be in the limelight,’ says Wood. ‘I call this ‘up’ body language. Upward body cues, up in the air foot, raised arms, upward facing palms, chest up and out, chin and head up are cues of happiness, joy and excitement. Ultimately, she knows she looks hot.’

The Sign of the Cross Pose says: ‘I know I am good, but you can’t have me. She knows how to take care of herself,’ says Wood. ‘She is confident but she doesn’t give it away for free. This is a women who on one hand says ‘come and get me!’ and on the other says, ‘but it won’t be easy.’ She is confident in her clothing and accessories choices and generally likes how she looks.’

The Alexa Chung-esque Too-Cool-To-Stand Pose: ‘This stance shows a desire to look cool and relaxed,’ says Wood. ‘The crossed feet are a unique cue, typically crossing means shyness or closure, but crossing the feet in a relaxed stance says, ‘I am not scared or threatened. The lean to the side also shows an ease and comfort. Subtle cues, like sunglasses, one hand in the pocket, and a bag covering the belly says this girl needs her privacy.’

Earlier this week, I posted news that Anna Wintour, the legendary Vogue US editrix, covers the April 2011 WSJ Magazine. Now, the people over at WSJ have been kind enough to post the article. Yay. And it’s good, hey. Here are some highlights:

The Devil Wears Prada comparisons:

A former colleague says that she ’doesn’t play against anyone’s expectations of her’, instead she has a great sense of humour about it, even wearing Prada at the ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ screening.

During a recent trip to China, she was asked whether she was really like Miranda Priestley. Her answer? ’It’s true, of course, that I beat all my assistants, lock them in a cupboard and don’t pay them.’

On her perceptions of herself: ‘I care deeply about my friends and my family and they know it, but work is work.’

Anna with her children Charlie and Bee.

RJ Cutler, ‘The September Issue’ director on Anna’s influence:

‘You can make a film in Hollywood without Steven Spielberg’s blessing, and you can publish software in Silicon Valley without Bill Gates’s blessing, but it’s pretty clear to me you can’t succeed in the fashion industry without Anna Wintour’s blessing.’

Anna on working with close friends:

‘I try to remain open to new people, but obviously there’s a stronger element of trust with people you’ve known for a long time,’ she says. ‘I think we have a Vogue vocabulary, and there are certain people we like to have as the backbone of the magazine—Vogue’s signposts. We try very hard to integrate the familiar signatures with people we feel are new and up-and-coming, but I would rather err on the side of being a little more familiar than being too … What’s the right word? … Edgy.’

Anna on rumours of her leaving Vogue:

‘With all the new media outlets out there, with all the noise, a voice of authority and calm like Vogue becomes more important than ever. The more eyes on fashion, the more opinions about fashion, the more exploration of fashion around the world, the better it is for Vogue. Vogue is like Nike or Coca-Cola—this huge global brand. I want to enhance it, I want to protect it, and I want it to be part of the conversation.’

Pics via.

Go you! RT @Ms_ELLE_Beauty: janine_j Nah-ah! I found these hidden under a mag n top of beauty cupboard! Score!! :)

So random, so funny! RT @Missy_Roberts: Whoever says Paper beats Rock is an idiot..next time I hear someone say … http://tmi.me/81okF

Tom Ford covers Another Man magazine and opens up about what it takes to be a modern gentleman. Here are his rules - read, memorise and put into practise:

1. You should put on the best version of yourself when you go out in the world because that is a show of respect to the other people around you.

2. A gentleman today has to work. People who do not work are so boring and are usually bored. You have to be passionate, you have to be engaged and you have to be contributing to the world.

3. Manners are very important and actually knowing when things are appropriate. I always open doors for women, I carry their coat, I make sure that they’re walking on the inside of the street. Stand up when people arrive at and leave the dinner table.

4. Don’t be pretentious or racist or sexist or judge people by their background. 

5. A man should never wear shorts in the city. Flip-flops and shorts in the city are never appropriate. Shorts should only be worn on the tennis court or on the beach.

I love all of these rules and I think they’re all suitable for everyone, gentleman or gentlewoman. I especially love Rule Number Four. Absolutely brilliant!

Pic via.

One of Hollywood’s greatest beauties, Elizabeth Taylor, passed away today. Her career spanned 70 years and she featured in more than 50 movies. She won two Academy Awards for Best Actress - for Butterfield 8 (1960) and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966). Liz was also famously married eight times - to seven men (she married Richard Burton twice).

I love Solange so, when she recently mentioned that she’s going to start consulting for a top design house, I didn’t do my usual ‘some-celebs-think-they’re-designers’ eye roll. Besides, I think Miss Knowles has amazing personal style.

Solange, who is one of the faces of Rimmel, told Contact Music that she’s always been hesitant to start up a clothing line:

‘It’s a funny thing because initially I got asked that question (to design a range of clothing) and I was absolutely that person who frowned upon random artists and models and musicians for crossing over into that design process and I always said, I feel like there are so many talented people who’ve studied this and know the skill of the craft of designing because it is an art, that I would be reluctant to call myself a designer.’

So what made her change her mind? Apparently she’s in talks to work with someone she really respects.

‘A line that I really respect and was already a fan of reached out and had a great idea of us collaborating on maybe a particular collection and me just sharing ideas and prints (in a consultancy role) and being involved in that way I would absolutely love. It’s still in the early stages so I can’t really reveal (much) but hopefully something will develop.’

I hope this isn’t an all talk situation. I’d love to see what Solange could come up with.

Pics via here and here.

Michael Kors flatforms.

Flatforms are an actual thing. I promise. I didn’t just randomly make that up.

Proving that the fugly shoe trend is definitely not abating, flat platforms (ergo, flatforms) are set to be the new shoes for spring/ summer 2011.

Flatform’s are being called the comfortable update to the wedge (see what the wedge revival has wraught?) and come in various formats, although the espadrille style seems to be the least hideous.

Designers such as Chloé and Michael Kors are doing them and they already have one celeb fan: the ever-stylish Rachel Bilson. When asked what she’s most excited to be wearing as warmer weather hits the USA, she told American ELLE:

‘I kind of like those like flatforms, or whatever they’re called. I kind of think they’re cool. They’re definitely different, but they look really comfortable.’

Personally, I’m not a huge fan of comfort when it comes to footwear.

Four beautiful girls + great photography + a talented glam squad = one amazing cover.

Putting together a magazine cover isn’t all glitz and glam - it’s hard work, guys. ELLE put up some cute behind-the-scenes shots (all pictures in this post are courtesy of ELLE).

Have a look at how Alexandra, Gabrielle, Neo and Sharleen worked the camera:

The editor as cover girl: Anna Wintour (shot by Mario Testino) covers the April 2011 edition of Wall Street Journal magazine, with the accompanying article investigating Ms Wintour’s power in the fashion industry.  

‘She’s a really powerful figure in America … someone whose power extends beyond what she does,’ WSJ editor Deborah Needleman told the Associated Press.

One person who’s benefitted from her influence is Marc Jacobs - she suggested his name to LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault when he was looking for a designer to take over Louis Vuitton in 1997.

Of course this isn’t always a good thing. Marc’s quoted in the WSJ article as saying because of this, there’s no way he can ever turn down any of her requests. ’If I get a request for something, there aren’t two possible answers. First I get an email, then a phone call from someone at Vogue, and now I don’t even bother to say no — I know the next call is from her.’

Pic via.

This beat. Smdh. It’s that beat that plays in every Manenberg/hanover park/mitchell’s plain to cape town taxi. Feel me?

Baie dankie, Suzanne!!! ♥! RT @SuzannelouiseB: #ff janine_j- she is just fab and a great journalist.

Thanks for the love, Zinhle. Appreciate it! ♥! RT @zinchmdli: Lovin yo article in @ELLEmagazine ! :-) nt much of a tweeter until nw janine_j