beautifrill

I recently spoiled myself with a retreat, emphasis being on TREAT! And boy, oh boy, was it a spoil. Nestled between mountains just a smidge over an hour's drive out of Cape Town, lies beautiful Tulbagh. With the recent fuel prices, this little getaway has the perfect setting, far enough from the noise and neighbours in the city, yet close enough for the peace of mind that you won't be refuelling on arrival and forced to live off the free biscuits at your hotel. No no no, this is a journey of self-love and carefree living and our oil, water and tyre pressure are fine, thank you.

When you book a midweek trip at Cape Dutch Quarters it comes with a few perks, like the entrance to the town's museums and a fantastic dinner for two at The Tulbagh Hotel, and that is with drinks included. On top of this, you get to stay in a beautiful renovated Dutch house with modern finishes. A wooden floor with carefully embroidered throw pillows, white linen on the beds and electric blankets to make sure you enjoy your winter getaway. The town carries so much heritage, history and warmth in it, this comes to life while visiting all the local museums and especially De Oudekerk, which is one of South Africa's oldest churches and home to the only symphonion (the first disk-playing musical box) in SA. I find with self-care, you need to focus on your mind, body and soul. You could already have enjoyed a hearty meal which checks "body" off the list, now onto mind. Learning or discovering new things can be a great way to expand your mind and be stimulated, by visiting these historical spots I felt proud of South Africa and a tiny bit smarter for knowing what a Symphonion is.

Next up, Soul. For this one, we have come to the right place, since nothing takes care of the soul quite like a glass of good wine. You are sipping a crisp Chardonnay, fruity Shiraz or one-of-a-kind, White Pinotage from Swanepoel at De Oude Compagnie. Blissful, beautiful and grand with tones of heart and community, that's the Tulbagh way. Not just offering wine, but a piece of the town with it. If you spend a day or two here you will start noticing certain brands, bread or spreads. That every restaurant serves Montpellier wine and how the wine farms use Fynbos branded soap in the restrooms. When you are supporting one business in Tulbagh, you are helping all of them, which wasn't planned, but in books goes under being good for the soul.

A trip to Tulbagh is also incomplete without a Horse-Riding Trail. This is a beautiful way to see more of the mountain range, nature and the vineyards up close. I would however recommend an experienced rider for this activity, even though the guides are very patient, this writer's skill level needs improvement before saddling up again.

Dear fashion diary,

This weekend I spent the greatest part of my afternoons soaking up the city, sunlight and self-care. Saturday was all about self care, I went to Dis-chem to find some Freeman masks, on recommendation from a friend, and chose the Apple Cider Vinegar Scrub and Mask as my first Freeman purchase. Apple Cider has what feels like millions of great qualities when it comes to your bod, you can drink it, put it on your face or in your hair, this Freeman scrub however is FOR EXTERNAL USE ONLY! The main reason I chose it, is because Apple cider vinegar protects you from harmful environmental chemicals and for me that is worth gold. From moving to Cape Town in April, I had a lot of problems with breakouts, blemishes, pimples, you name it. I assume it is climate, environment and diet related, I have however managed to get it under control the past few weeks with some help from an Anti-pollution mask from The Body Shop and now hopefully from my Freeman mask. Just an update, after the first use I already felt so clean, cared for, healthy and dare I say pretty.

I also popped into a shop in Loop street in the city as part of my unplanned yet successful, Self-care Saturday. Koeksuster had a pop-up shop and I just had to see this Feminist lingerie brand in real life. Although I rather elevate towards an Equalists’ lifestyle and mindset, some pure female empowered t-shirts and knickers have a special place in my heart. Being overwhelmed by the experience from encountering two young women managing the store and pop-up shop and the attention to detail inside the store, I saw my purchase as a souvenir of this experience. I chose to buy a t-shirt that says, “There is power in being soft”, and for me it might as well translate too, “There is greatness in being Velesca.” I am a softy; I am fragile and somewhat shy. However soft is not weak, far from it, soft can be interpreted as being gentle, cautious, graceful and spirited. Therefore, when I saw this shirt and knowing myself I had to have it because it says a lot in one sentence and it’s a great memento of my quick adventure to Loop street.

I ended off my day by grabbing a drink with a friend and enjoyed the crisp weather, good food and cheerful company.

By Sunday I was feeling relaxed, radiant and ready for Thrift shopping. Me and my colleagues/Cape Town family visited the Obs-fficial Thrift fair. My first thrift market in ages, I was amazed by the amount of Second-hand clothing that was still doing their thing and continuously finding new homes and wearers, but I was beside myself by the Vintage pieces (believe me there will be a follow up blog about all my finds.) Unique, quality clothes filled with nostalgia is basically what a thrift finder has in their hands when they come across a piece that has traveled through seasons, years, hands and generations to finally be yours. Magical right?

Retail therapy is a thing, but I think Thriftapy can be word or phrase worth catching on. I admit it is not everybody’s favourite past time, but thrifting is certainly good for the soul, mine at least. So basically, my Self-care Saturday turned into a weekend of enjoying my favourite things, spoiling myself and taking care of my mind, body and soul.

I hope you had a great weekend and if not, I hear there’s talk of another one in just a few short days.

Hi Passengers, I have been one busy girl lately, I wrote exams, job hunted, hung out with friends, job hunted some more, got the job, moved to Cape Town and finally decided I am ready to let off some steam and get this locomotive running again. I know, I know, it seems as if I only write posts when I move from one town to another and to be honest, I can’t really deny it. However, what I can do is the following, I can guarantee some very interesting and unique posts from now on, all about Cape Town, a fresh fashion graduate trying to adult and being a wardrobe assistant…obviously cocktail trips in between is a given so don’t stress, I’ll still update you all on where I found the best drinks and snacks so far.

Another thing to mention is that I will being growing through my blog, I started blogging originally for a task given to me in my Second year of varsity. All my post therefore where forced, moderated or judged by a lecturer or someone official who held my marks in their opinion and hands. That said, when I say I will be growing through my blog, I want to make it clear that I will be doing my thing 100%. I will post what I find interesting, not necessarily the newest, coolest or most popular, much like me. I would like to write for me and hopefully for a crowd that appreciates the journey and my point of view about it. I want to stay in touch with the fashion world, which is actually very challenging at this point in my life (I will explain my new job and all that it entails in a future post to shed some light on my schedule☺) through this blog I want to build knowledge about trends, show you how I interpret them and how I build and style a wardrobe one key piece at a time.

As you can see my demographics and psychographics has shifted quite a lot, not only for me as a writer but I do believe my reader’s as well. Therefore, I will be brainstorming a new name for this blog, because no matter how much I have grown to love the ‘Localmotive’, I haven’t been on an actual train in months and having too much fun getting lost with my own ride to start using public transport again. So, this might be the end of the railroad but far from goodbye for good.

For a last time, thanks for choosing the Localmotive and traveling with me. Until next time,

Today I’m whisking you away to play pretend and make believe, where is this destination you might be wondering, Stark Studios of course. Stark Studios is the place that filled my life with so much wonder the past 10 weeks, that I just had to share it with all my passengers.

I was an intern in the Wardrobe department for Binnelanders, a local soapie about doctors without boundaries, with added drama, love and betrayal. Sounds hectic, you should see what happens behind the scenes! Wardrobe is magical, everything sparkles and shines, at least that’s how I saw it the first time I set foot in the department.

 My shimmering world however came to a halt when we had to start preparing clothes for the dirty, blood filled and dusty scenes lying ahead. From organizing the jewelry and handbags to coco powder and sand paper becoming my best friends, the wardrobe experience covered a lot of ground.

After spending 10 Mondays at a place like this, my life feels close to empty. I have learned so much and most of all discovered that the show is only the rainbow, and as beautiful as it is to watch, the wardrobe department is the shining sun that makes it possible.

Good day passengers, I had an exciting couple of weeks and I’m telling you all about my adventures, finding inspiration and gems. It all started at Sandton, more specifically at Ted Baker and their amazing visual displays!

I believe for this trip we’ll imagine travelling by carriage and on arrival being greeted by Shakespeare, he invites us in and starts speaking in beautiful sonnets.

We move on to see displays of butterflies, flowers and forest animals all while wearing a cloak created by the tapestry wallpaper. Just as you feel you have seen it all, we make our way to the dressing room where we step into a cubical going on for miles.

Then you make your way back to the entrance and receive a final goodbye from the poet you leave feeling inspired.

And I certainly did, the very next day I visited a new thrift store and then saw a familiar face or at least material, more tapestry. I found a sixty-year-old dress with a beautiful brocade skirt. The dress ended up to be the perfect outfit for a winter wedding. The top part was crimplene, which in layman terms just means a very sturdy and warm fabric with the added bonus of being crease-resistant, which is perfect when you are traveling a far distance and need to transport your dress. The bottom was of course the brocade which is a thick and heavy material and will keep most of the winter chills out!

From entering the land of tapestry wallpaper too wearing a physical representation of the magic found in Ted Baker. My winter wedding look was created by window shopping and thrift findings.

Dear Passengers,

I formally apologize that the Localmotive has been out of order for a while. There were some issues with navigation and new schedules and terminals. I assure you all is fine now and better than ever, however the new boarding point is Johannesburg, but I’ll tell you all about that soon. I am honoured to invite you all on the Localmotive to enjoy new spots, adventures and treats. ALL ABOARD!!!

Passengers, it’s a busy ride that’s waiting for you, with multiple stops so buckle up and enjoy the journey.

I moved to Johannesburg at the start of this year and have loved every minute of it. I must admit it’s been crazy, a bit lonely, but mostly exciting. I’ve explored quite a bit in my time here, so I’ll be telling you about my Top 5 Favourite places in Johannesburg so far, and the rest we can discover and explore together!

#1 Tonic – This quint little bar tucked away in Linden has been the number one place I take friends from home who come to visit, they have the best gin cocktails and even if you don’t fancy a “Ginny” type of drink, they are so photogenic and make adorable photos! So be sure you go for a visit, odds are you’ll bump into me there.

#2 Brian Lara Rum eatery – So if you walk a block to you right from Tonic you’ll walk into Brian Lara, just in case you didn’t get your photo fix in at Tonic. This restaurant is so unique and filled with antique décor, so while sipping on yet another cocktail, you can admire the layout and innovative concepts within the bar. This can certainly be a visit when you’re in need of going out but have a tight budget, me and my brother went and got a jug full of water and some pork ears on arrival, where after we decided to only order desert to be polite and enjoyed each other’s company for the rest of the evening.

#3 Toc H Charity Shop – Moving to a new town, meant I get to find new charity shops, and throughout all my ventures, Toc H Charity shop won second hands down!!! I found Ralph Lauren, Giorgio and Trenery gems there. Certainly, my favourite shop and if you’re feeling thrifty, make your way down there and donate why don’t you!

#4 Johannesburg Botanical Gardens – It might have been because my first visit to this gem was with the man of my dreams, but I’m certain the Botanical garden will be just as beautiful without him there. It has free entrance and you can visit the Emmarentia Dam, have a picnic and take a walk through the rose garden all while enjoy some sunbeams and fresh air.

#5 7th Street in Melville – This is apparently a very popular location in Johannesburg, so sorry for arriving to the party a bit late, but luckily, I’ve discovered this street and have enjoyed it through and through! *Important Note: Happy Hour is from 12h00 to 17h00 at Six Cocktail Bar and worth a shot and a drink! ☺

There you have it, my Top 5 Favourite hangout spots. Looking at this list it’s no wonder I took so long getting back on track with my blog, but worry not passengers, I’m here to stay and will keep you up to date with future trips and adventures. As always, travel safe and wander often.

The best way to understand someone is by putting yourself in their shoes. 

This is exactly what I did with the 23rd Annual Lisof Fashion Show. In weird and mysterious ways I ended up being not only an observer of the fashion show, but an actual participant! My first fashion show definitely didn’t go as I would have imagined. This experience however did give me an amazing perspective and back stage privileges, where I could capture the garments in all their glory, as well as have a chat with the designer herself before the chaos that is, pulling of a successful fashion show, started. I am happy to report back to you dear Passengers, so grab a seat and join the party!

The secret was out, the moment the first model appeared on stage. They were walking on the Taylor Swift hit, Style. This song as Liane explained to me, has given her inspiration throughout her designing and life journey, the song is certainly never going out of style now! She will always associate this song with her grand finale of her final year at LISOF.

Even though this was only in dress rehearsals, it was in fact the first time several people saw Liane Wolmarans’s creations! The crowd sat in awe of this Secret Tea Party that was taking place in front of them. I myself was mesmerized by the clothes. As I have also only seen mere sketches and raw material. The ensemble truly was the most fine, dainty, pastel china coming to life and going for a stroll. Her attention to detail is astonishing, every ruffle, frill, button, embroidery and embellishment was put their deliberately and with pure love. Liane even told me back stage how her mom was up all hours of the night finishing the embroidery on one of the dresses!

As I got a closer look at the garments back stage, my inner Alice was only reading, Wear me! Wear me! The colours and details were right up my alley and I fell in love with the garments. Sorry Passengers, but I am only going to sing praise about Liane’s creations, no Joan Rivers here…

Soft and feminine colours were used throughout this range

Mesh, lace, chiffon and floral print fabrics were mainly used in the Secret Tea Party range

Plus!!

A bonus of arriving early, was yes… watching the dress rehearsals, but also having the pleasure to explore the venue. The fashion show was held at 012 Central in Pretoria CBD. The area had great aesthetic and creative aspects in every corner, almost like being in a cocoon of authenticity.

The one detail that caught my eye was in fact the graffiti. Most people might not have noticed this, but that’s why I’m here! There were florals painted on one of the walls in the parking lot which would usually be normal but not in this case! This art piece was very similar to Liane’s Secret Tea Party range. It was surreal making the connection, all I could think about is the brilliant words of Bill Cunningham, “The best fashion show is definitely on the street. Always has been and always will be.” Now imagine coming across a piece like this and immediately seeing it reflect in fashion. Absolute Magic! Maybe I am romanticizing the idea, but Alice walked through walls to get to Wonderland and now walls were worn to create beautiful detail for a tea party.

All and all my first fashion show was chaotic and stressful, but I wouldn’t change a thing. The “back stage” pass and the on stage experience made this fashion show one for the books and the blog.

Liane is still figuring out what is next for her, but she knows where she is going! She is driven and determined to be her own boss and if her fashion range is any indicator of her potential, success isn’t far to follow.

That’s my Fashion Show experience passengers! I hope you enjoyed the trip and remember to make every platform your runway!

There are a lot of fables and old wise tails about Gauteng and its Jacarandas when they are in bloom, my favorite being that if a Jacaranda flower falls on your head, you will pass your next big exam! The fact remains however, when the Jacarandas are in bloom, you know it’s time to start revising. Boo!

But as our shirts would suggest, we didn’t think twice to take a sneaky break away from the books to show off our new, and I mean NEW, Mevrou & Co tees. These shirts were part of a promotional range, which means we are, as we like to put it, two of the first ‘Stoute Kabouters’ in Pretoria. Another great thing about the tees and the fact that they were promotional, is that they were purchased at a marked down price! For a student who has little money but still wants to be part of the cool kids by rocking a Mevrou & Co original this was the best deal I could ever ask for.

cou·ture

ko͞oˈto͝o(ə)r/

noun

the design and manufacture of fashionable clothes to a client's specific requirements and measurements.

These tees were manufactured, printed and packaged just for us, how cool is that, so couture right?!

After our “quick” photo shoot we followed the brilliant words of Ms. Norbury from Mean Girls, “Why go home now, you’re already out?” So, we got ourselves a little treat that was equally sweet and sticky, but perfect for a hot summer day snack.

Soon after we had to face reality and head back to studying, we walked under a few more Jacaranda trees for some luck and went from Misbehaved Gnomes to Miserable Nymphs.

All aboard! You are here by invited to a secret tea party, only it’s no secret and they won’t be serving tea, it is however the inspiration behind a range by Lisof designer, Liane Wolmarans.

 I had the great honor to go behind the scenes and learn a bit more about the designer, her love for fashion and achievements thus far. To set the scene of how crazy things are during the preparation of a fashion show, I’ve created this little teaser video of our interview featuring bits and pieces of Liane’s range. Enjoyyyy… https://youtu.be/gNG4pd5HhMI

Her overall theme for her range is a high society tea party, with added secret garden vibes and a dash of Alice in Wonderland added to the mix. Liane loves pastel colours and this is why a Tea party seemed only fitting for her final fashion show at Lisof. Even though this lovely lady is immensely relieved that all the hard work, blood, sweat and tears are almost a thing of the past, she did say she is leaving Lisof with a heavy heart and remains to think that the past couple of years have been her greatest achievement, pushing through the hard and difficult times and finally making it to this point.

What I loved the most of her designs is the uniqueness, and the little embroidery detail. Embroidery is something I love and treasure myself so as soon as I saw this feature in her designs, I immediately new she was the perfect designer I had chosen to interview. We also share a deep desire to visit Italy. Can you say soul sister?

I popped in some quick “Top of the Head” questions during the interview to get some insight on her style and this is what went down:

·         Red lipstick / Nude lipstick

·         Vintage / Modern

·         Matte/ Gloss

·         Earrings / Necklace

·         Pearls / Sequence

·         Paper / Plastic

·         Pastel colours / Shocking colours

·         Ball gowns / Cocktail dresses

·         Champagne / Cocktails

I can go on and on about what a great designer and individual Liane is, but at the end of the day seeing is believing, so save the date, the Lisof Fashion Show is 23 November at the Lisof Campus in Hatfield. Head over to their Instagram page for more details.

On Wednesdays I go thrift shopping. This is a dear hobby of mine, as I only have class at 13:00 and feel I have all the time in the world. Today’s thrift find got me so excited I had to share it immediately. I found a high waisted corduroy skirt in pine green! Unfortunately all the labels are cut off, which is kind of my favourite part of a vintage piece, seeing the brand and guessing the time frame it had to be made in. Luckily I have a great imagination and decided that this skirt was purchased by a Goth girl in the early 1990s but was then donated not long after as the pine green was too bright for her façade. But it’s the perfect colour for me!

 My mother loved dressing both me and my brother in corduroy, which would make you think that I myself would never revisit my childhood by buying something made from this material, but here I am, a 20 year old woman in a green corduroy skirt thinking how mothers always know best!

Speaking of mothers, a while ago we had an interview with Leandi du Randt Bosch about her new clothing line, Skoonma. It was, even though for academic purposes, so exciting learning more about her, and where she gets her inspiration from. One of the questions that popped into my head as I was rummaging through my closet to find a top that matches with my skirt, was this one:

In your opinion, what do you classify as stylish in today’s fashion regarding young ladies? If they have their own interpretation of the newest trends, that show a bit of their personality and soul.  

After reminiscing on her answer I knew a choker vest was the way to go. This type of style is all over the place and ranges from shirts to dresses. Pairing an on trend piece like this with my “new” skirt made it the perfect combination of vintages meets today’s generation, which is also the ideal silhouette that the Skoonma brand wants to achieve.

I am lucky enough to live minutes away from not only one, but two thrift shops. These types of stores are not easy to come by for others though.  Skoonma, as mothers do, has come to the rescue and made it easier than ever. The brand offers both vintage and vintage inspired clothing, and as of this month a lovely daily planner journal which I can’t wait to get my hands on! Feel free to check out the website over here!

I’m not saying to rock that 101 Dalmatian print you wore as a child, but give some childhood favourites or least favourites another go and see where it takes you!

GOOD DAY PASSENGERS, sorry for being a bit quiet the past few weeks, but you’d be happy to hear the water and oil is checked, destinations mapped out, engines ready and the Localmotive is back on track!

So what should you do?

When you have a party but need to drive too

Look no further to learn something new

I’ll be writing about a great alternative in this product review

The past weekend was Heritage Day, which most South Africans call “Braai Day”. A day of relaxing, socializing and enjoying a cold one.  But then the worst thing happens… you are voted the Designated Driver of Heritage Day 2017! You can’t drink but you still want to look social and have a good time.

What to do? What to do? I came across the perfect solution, The Duchess. This is a Virgin Gin & Tonic, the best one on the market in my opinion. It’s a sugar free, non-alcoholic drink.

This beverage is also bottled in the most classy and elegant way, which for me was one of the reasons it caught my eye. It is both a great alternative to alcohol and a fashion accessory! But it’s what’s on the inside that counts, right? Therefore, I am happy to report that it is very close to the real McCoy and by adding a bit of lemon in to the mix it is a recipe for success!

This drink is available in most liquor stores in South Africa, but if you want to know a bit more about the drink or how to get your hands on now, just follow this link - :-)

That’s all for now! Feel free to let me know what you think of this revolutionary drink, and if this G&T is your cup of tea.

Welcome passengers, I’m going to take you on a trip down memory lane, my gran’s memory to be exact…

The Matric Farewell season is in full swing, which made me very eager on writing this post! I have been meaning to share this unique heirloom with the world for a while now, and this seems as good a time as any.

This moss green and yellow ocher floral number was my grandmother’s Matric farewell dress.

She finished matric in 1962 in Namibia. Although this dress was worn in the 60’s, it is actually a classic 1950′s look… guess that’s what we get for being a third world country.

 WARNING RANDOM FACTS AHEAD!!!

THE 1950s TEA-LENGTH DRESS

In the '50s, full-skirted dresses became highly fashionable. Commonly these dresses were tea-length, hitting mid-calf, but they certainly could be longer. Ruffles were optional for those who were into the Little Bow Peep look.

All my efforts in trying to create a more modern look with this dress failed, so in the end I just embraced it and lived in the 1960′s for a while! 

There was once a girl who lived in a concrete jungle.

She was feeling adventurous and looking for something to do.

So she took three R20 notes in a bundle,

and payed entrance to go to the zoo

Welcome passengers! Spoiler alert* I’m the girl who went to visit the zoo! And I’m telling you all about it...

We went bright and early, thanks to my brother who attended the zoo run(if you consider yourself a fit biscuit, be sure to check out Entrytime for future runs). I on the other hand only enjoyed a relaxed stroll through the zoo while seeing most of the animals waking up and enjoying the morning sun with me.

It almost felt like even they knew it was Sunday, not a care in the world but still not wanting to waste a perfectly good day. Being there from 08:00 meant that we got to see most of the park and also ventured up the mountain. The National Zoological Gardens of South Africa  is one of my favorite parks to visit. Not only is the park and it’s enclosures in excellent condition, but in most areas you can still see the skyscrapers of the CBD. This left me feeling like I was visiting a diamond in the rough, when in fact I was simply visiting nature in a concrete jungle.

You can be sure a visit to the Pretoria Zoo will not be a waste of time, with over 3000 individual animals representing 500 species(...always be sure to grab a brochure, so you know these fun facts!!!) there is something for everyone!

Hello passengers, hold on to your seats… it’s going to be a wacky ride.

If you’re ever in the mood to invest in a trip that will enrich your culture, the Keys Art Mile is the place to be, whether you take the 15 min walk from the Rosebank station, or 5 min drive… you will not regret visiting this avenue.

I recently went to visited an art gallery, more specifically Justine Mahoney’s exhibition, Tainted. It was on show in Johannesburg, from the 4th of May until the 30th of June, so I was very lucky to still be able to go and have a look. As always, it was not just about the destination, but more the journey that went with it.

After arriving in Rosebank just in time to enjoy that lovely midday sun to get rid of the winter chills, we directly set out to go see Tainted. This was the first and last time we arrived at a destination without any distractions along the way. This area was filled with culture, which made it impossible to remain focused. The Tainted series showcased a study between an almost playful façade and a contrasting darker element which lurks beneath the surface. To me art is what you make of it, so with my limited knowledge about both the artist and the rational of her work, I enjoyed the exhibition in my own way. Looking at a miniature Darth Vader and a bronze Powerful Girls sculpture, was more than enough for me.

After our first stop at the Tainted exhibition our next destination, which was just across the road, was the Everard Read Gallery. It took forever to get there. And NO! Not because we couldn’t find our way, simply because we couldn’t help but notice all the art that stood between us and the building across the road. We stumbled across another exhibition, Spectrum. This was the most amazing, authentic, avant-garde pieces of art; we just had to have a closer look! …and take some pictures of course.

Finally managing to focus long enough to mission across Keys avenue, not knowing what to expect and find there, our journey continued. I was surprised when the second and final gallery was everything I’d ever imagined an art gallery would be. A large room with white walls, five or six paintings hanging on them, and a gigantic sofa in the middle of it with the sense of undiscovered thoughts you might have when entering.

Walking room to room and exploring all the works of art surly worked up an appetite; we then decided to end of the day with a treat from the Milk Bar.

An art gallery visit has become one of my favorite past times, still not sure if it was the art itself or the passenger I took along for the journey. Either way it’s a trip worth taking.

Hey Passengers, are you ready to take a quick trip and hear all about my journey, going from a stud earring to a tassel.

Now it might sound silly, but this was a major decision. In high school we had very strict rules when it came to earrings. Basically silver or gold tiny hoops or basic stud earrings was the acceptable accessory. 2 years out of high school and I still only paraded around with studs. Until a couple of weeks ago. When I decided to trade up.

I have had my eyes on tassels for quite some time now, seeing it grow as a trend on Pinterest and Instagram. I also visited Lovisa several times a week, with several different friends to look at their new range and hear everyone’s opinion. The reason I took this purchase so seriously is because... One! It was completely out of my comfort zone. For 12 years of school my earrings varied between small hoops and studs. And now I’m looking at 3 inch tassels! The second reason being, my wardrobe does not necessarily cater for an outfit paired with tassels. Which means I’m not buying just a pair of earrings, but an entire new style. 

But finally the day came, where I headed to the nearest Lovisa to finally buy some tassel earrings... And I did, without a single regret! Since then I’ve received multiple compliments on my new accessory, including the girl from the thrift fair. I also found that it didn’t change the essence of my personal style, is only improved any garment I would pair it with. Bonus!!! 

Even though it is something as simple as a pair of earrings, the only words that come to mind is, “A little can go a long way.” And I see the journey with my tassel earrings going the distance.

Welcome Passengers, we’re going off the rails for awhile to visit some clothing rails instead…

Imagine a clothing rail stocked with diverse and unique vintage pieces, now think about having to pick only one item… well you can’t, you have to know a bit more about each piece, right? This was basically me the past Saturday, only with clothes and people alike.

I went to the May edition of The Vintage Square Thrift Fair on Saturday, searching for a new “something old”. For all my passengers wanting to visit for themselves, it is only 7 km from the Hatfield Gautrain station and also situated among several trendy restaurants which means it’s worth taking a day trip for. My mission was clear, I wanted a unique piece, something that I can wear in a million different ways and not spend a lot on…as is the reason behind many thrifters I guess. The task at hand was quickly interrupted by a girl inviting me into her shop… more accurately a fancy gazebo. When I stepped in, I saw a rail of leather bags and at that stage didn’t know with what amazing back story they would come. The girl told me that the creator of these 100% leather tote bags is a car guard for the University of Pretoria who hand crafts them. I honestly can’t imagine anything more authentic and local!

Speaking of local, my second encounter was fast like the Leopard she wore in her ears. “Oh my goodness, I love your earrings!!!” I heard a girl say in the crowd of thrifters. As I looked back at her, I realized that I should’ve been the one complimenting her. There was no significance behind the earrings she wore, other than it being totally unique, authentic and proudly South African, I just had to capture it.

I also gave her a high five for representing one of the Big Five, it’s only polite!

The crowd at the event started to grow; you could feel the energy of all the thrifters wanting that new “something old”. That’s what I love about thrift markets. The combination of fear and excitement of knowing that there’s only one of a kind of everything you see there and you might lose out on a deal or find something you can’t even imagine. It was a beautiful Saturday morning, I had already seen and heard so much from the people I spoke to, I couldn’t help but feel optimistic in finding my new “something old”.

As I was about to enter another stall, a voice in my head told me to stop and talk to the shop owner. I would like to give a word of thanks to that little voice. This lady turned out to be a design teacher at Pro Arte in Pretoria and gave class to my current principle, Pierre du Pisani. What a small world! After learning our small ,but interesting connection. I felt I had to know more about this teacher gone small business owner. I went on to ask her how she managed to start a Vintage clothing brand. Her answer was one that I personally can relate to. “Me and my friends discovered that we have way too many clothes…”  She carried on saying, “…so much pieces we just don’t wear anymore.” Preaching to the choir, only difference between me and her is that she had the strength to part with her clothes and decided to start selling it. She told me that over the years they have collected so much local and overseas pieces, that the time has come to share them with souls that will wear them and give them a second life. Her last quote to me was, “It’s all about sharing, you might think it’s the end for a garment, while someone would be overjoyed to find it and argue it is only the beginning.”

After those final words and finding a familiar face in her store. It could not be more suited. Dené, a fashion design student who studies and shares the love for second hand clothes with me, I found hunting through the rails.! I put my own hunt for my thrift find aside and had a quick chat with her. She was buying second hand clothes, but not for the fit or construction, for the material. “I’m a student and material is expensive, my plan is to start a new business...” A new business? I had to know more…

She told me that she wants to stay true to her own style and using second hand clothes helps her do just that. ”Some items I find, I might just tweak and up-cycle, with others I want to design and create an entire new garment. Second hand thrift finds gives me that opportunity.”  For her, old clothes can only mean endless possibilities. Finding her inspiration on YouTube tutorials and being a design student, I see nothing but success for this new venture. As well as a lot of anticipation as to what she has in store for her thrift finds.

So you see, a lot like the endless rails of vintage clothes, my rail of people were fully stocked and I got to know something about everyone and saw something beautiful in each of them, so how does a girl decide which to pick… well I don’t. I just share all of them and leave my passengers to choose their favorite for themselves. Much like I did with my thrift find.

After all of this my eyes were still fixed on finding that special something. And I did!!! The lady who sold it to me neatly wrapped it up; it was in that moment that I realized as she wrapped up my tangible blouse, she was also wrapping the stories and memories of the day with it. Not a lot of events leave you with something left after; but this event on the other hand left me feeling richer than ever. Taking my memories and the stories home with me, not only in my mind but attached to my garment.

That’s all for now passengers! Hope you enjoyed the trip and depart with a feeling of inspiration for finding people and listening to their stories or even sharing your own.

LOCAL NOTICE!!!

Make sure to pop in early next week, I will be taking a detour trip where I tell a bit more about my newest thrift find and the earrings that stopped a stranger in her tracks…

Hi Passengers!!! This week I’ll be telling you all about one of my dearest friends and fellow blogger, Mariné Badenhorst also known as the blogger of Hidden Gems of Vision.

One of my personal philosophies is to never travel alone and always share the journey, for this exact reason I decided to take a trip with Mariné. One, because she is also new to the blogging world and starting this journey with me and two, she has the same love for adventures as I do.

Hidden Gems of Vision is a blog that explores the little hidden treasures we so easily miss. She travels to local places in and around her area to find these gems for us and then blogs about them so we can go on the same treasure hunt to find amazement and beauty. In a quick interview I had with her she had this to say:

Q –What inspires you?

A – I have a love for photography and want to make a career from it. My love for photos inspires me to seek the gems.

Q – How would you describe your style?

A – Minimalistic and comfortable with monochromatic use of colour.

Q – How would you say you incorporate your style into your blog?

A – My photography reflects my style perfectly. My photographs are simple, clean and uncomplicated.

Q – And finally where do you see your blog going?

A – I hope I can have my own website where people can make bookings for photoshoots.

So now that we are all on the same track, Marine also shared her favourite track with me, Home from Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros.

As always passengers, I hope you all enjoyed the ride and create adventures of your own. Happy Travels!!

P.S. Sorry for delaying your departure, but I would love to hear from all of you! Tell me what is your favorite track you could listen over and over, maybe we can create a playlist and call it, Train tracks?