The A-LISTERS
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It was billed as the social event of the year, with a dress code “inspired by the Met Gala”.
So, my expectations were soaring as I made my way up the grand marble staircase of the Cape Town city hall for the African Odyssey-style icon gala dinner on Friday evening last week.
Dreamt up by businesswoman and TV producer Carol Bouwer, the day was dedicated to all things empowering women, with US celebrity stylist June Ambrose flown in as guest of honour.
The dinner was the highpoint of the event.
I expected a memorable night filled with glamorous frocks and great company, and while both of the latter were on offer, they’re not what made it unforgettable (more about that later . . . ).
If you’re wondering who exactly Ambrose is, she’s the style maven famous for dressing Missy Elliott in a patent-leather and vinyl blow-up suit in one of the female rapper’s best-known music videos.
June looked as gorgeous in the flesh as she does in her promo pics, showing off her boundary-pushing style in a monochrome combo of white with swirled embroidery, offset by reams of black duchess-satin. The outfit was designed by New York-based Bibhu Mohapatra, who has also dressed former US first lady Michelle Obama.
The queen of the ball, though, was without a doubt Basetsana Kumalo in a Met-worthy iridescent cape over a lace gown by Gavin Rajah.
By now the room was teeming with the bold and the beautiful: Deputy Agriculture Minister Bheki Cele’s drop-dead gorgeous wife Thandeka; ex-Jenni Button head designer Warrick Gautier with leggy model and mum Rosette Ncwana; Mafikizolo’s Nhlanhla Nciza; and Bantu Holomisa, who was holding court on the other side of the room.
This being Cape Town, you’re bound to spy an Expresso presenter or two and they came in the form of Katlego Maboe, holding hands with his girlfriend Monique Muller (who sports a tattoo proclaiming Love Life Laugh above her right boob), and LeighAnne Williams in a flowing white gown.
Also in white was the serene-looking lady of the hour, Carol Bouwer; and, dressed like she’d just arrived from a board meeting, was Norma Gigaba, wife of our Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba.
Obvs, I had to ask Mrs Gigaba when we can expect her to grace us with another TV appearance — pointing out that Twitter can hardly wait — to which she quickly replied: “Not in a while. I’m going to take things easy and when they [least] expect it I’m going to shake things up again . . .” Er . . . can’t wait! Now for the memorable part. Imagine turning up in all your finery to a top do only to be told — after you’ve made it through registration and had a drink or two — that some of you are actually not invited.
And that’s exactly what happened as we entered the dining area to discover, much to our horror, that there were fewer chairs than guests.
Hashtag Hot Mess ensued, as bewildered guests were asked to vacate the room, and told they would be allowed to re-enter only if their names were called. Awkward! Not quite how you treat guests, with dignitaries like first lady Bongi Ngema-Zuma, Minister of Tourism Tokozile Xasa and Unicef rep for South Africa Hervé Ludovic de Lys and his wife Maya in attendance.
My heart went out to Carol, who tried to remain composed throughout the ordeal.
Friend, please do yourself a favour and fire the fools who ruined what should have been a moving occasion in aid of women survivors of abuse!
I couldn’t help but wonder what legendary social columnist Gwen Gill might be thinking from her perch in the sky