Posts tagged tarryn oppel

Me and Agyness at the Oyster Box Hotel, Durban.

Maybe I’m exaggerating a little in the headline… But, whatevs. It’s my blog & I can fantasize if I want to… 

This weekend, I was fortunate enough to join the entire glossy mag planisphere on a fab trip to Durban to attend the 031 Collection presented by Mr Price. 

I also had a chance to sit down with international model and fashionista, Agyness Deyn. You can read all about my chat with her in the July edition of ELLE magazine. For now, though, all I’m prepared to say is that she’s an absolute sweetheart, very down-to-earth and so nice it hurts. She’s a lot more reserved and shyer than I’d anticipated, but just so sweet and sooo beautiful. Sigh. 

 The ELLE team wasn’t just in town to swan around with one of the world’s most recognisable faces, though. The main focus was celebrating Durban design talent and unearthing the next generation.  

The 031 Collection initiative was established to give Durban-based design talent a platform to showcase their work. The Saturday night finale opened with Mr Price’s fabulous new range, which we’ll see in stores shortly. The range was co-styled by Mr Price’s Amber Jones and Agyness.  

A shimmery jumpsuit, you say? My favourite look from the range co-styled by Amber Jones and Agyness.

 Eight established design brands – Ruff Tung, Sibu Msimang, Francois Vedemme, Leigh Schubert, Holmes Bros, Terrence Bray, Amanda Laird Cherry and Nguni Shades – showed new ranges.

 But the focus was really on the newbies, with eight young designers vying for the opportunity to win the Mr Price New Designer Award. The judging panel for the award was made up of Lucilla Booyzen of SA Fashion Week, blogger Milisuthando Bongela, designer Leigh Schubert, Mr Price Trend Executive Joanne Coelho and Agyness Deyn.  

Mr Price New Designer Award-winner Cindy Armstrong and Agyness.

All of the finalists produced fresh, innovative ranges, but Cindy Armstrong’s cohesive collection (inspired by the nomadic feel of ‘The Book of Eli’) won her the R20 000 prize money, an internship with Mr Price and the chance to see her designs appear in Mr Price stores. We can’t wait to wear them, Cindy!  

 Some of Cindy’s award-winning designs.

 Here are some of the people I spotted at the show

Mr Price’s Khumo Moshimane is such a cool chicka and I loved her turban and painterly jacket.

No one can accuse Terrence Bray of being boring, that’s for sure. Here he is wearing trousers from his new sportswear range.

I also met this lovely young lady - Stacey Tyler, who designs for Amanda Laird Cherry.

I got a chance to meet and bond with Miss Tarryn Oppel, who will join the ELLE SA team in June as our Cape Town-based fashion assistant. She’s lovely.

Loved that this weekend gave me a chance to spend time with my cool neighbour - the wonderful, accomplished Milli Bongela.

Girl crush moment! Amber Jones, people! I love her work and she’s such a sweetie.

Thanks for the great time 031 Collection, Mr Price, S&A Marketing, Agyness Deyn and The Quarters hotel on Florida Road.

Pics courtesy of me and S&A Marketing.