ask the experts
We picked our style icons’ brains for advice, chatted about their favourite shops and got some insight into their look. Here’s a snapshot of what we learnt.
You’re clearly a vintage fan; is there a specific era that you gravitate towards?
Not necessarily. I can play with anything, as long as the fabrics and the colours speak to me. Most of the time, it’s a beautiful print or a fabric that leads the way. I love colour-blocking, putting texture and patterns together, and accessorising with things that make noise.
You mentioned most of your clothing is custom-made… Yes! I have a wonderful dressmaker who lives in Betty’s Bay. There are fabric shops all around Woodstock, so I usually buy some Italian linen, something like a Liberty print, some colour or texture that appeals to me. My favourite place is Studio 47
– it used to be a strip joint, but now it’s a vast fabric place. I go there or to Lowry Fabrics. Then on Pinterest I harvest a whole lot of ideas, which I pin on my dressmaking and tailoring board. It’s really helped me to hone the things I like.
When I see Lauché, the dressmaker, we lay everything out and I say: ‘I like this blouse, but I want you to cut it a little bit higher,’ ‘Can we make this sleeve a little bit different?’ or ‘I like these tucks over here.’ I basically pull together all these different ideas, then Lauché will go, ‘Yes, Karen, that will be very nice.’
Next thing, a whole season’s wardrobe is delivered to me.
I find that when you have the conviction of loving a thing very much, things play together. And it feels great. That’s my process.
Where do you do your vintage shopping?
I often buy from Yasmine who owns Myrtle’s Vintage Bazaar at the back of Gardens Shopping Centre. Her taste is impeccable. I also love Glitterati in the Long Street Antique Arcade. When I’m sad, I go there to buy earrings.
What is your go-to power outfit?
Some people use makeup as armour; I like to use clothes as armour. I dress to feel like my true self. Invariably it would be a pleated skirt with a high-neck T-shirt and a belt. And some very nice sandals.
Are you mostly in flats if you’re on your feet all day? I don’t have the kind of life for wearing heels. At times when I have worn heels, I think, why is no one talking about this conspiracy? All these women are swallowing this pain! Sometimes I’ll wear a little heel that’s in the comfort range, like a court shoe or a thicker heel – one that will support you rather than cause you to wobble.
We’ve noticed you have some beautiful rings…
I love chunky rings because I like the weight of them. One is from Ida Elsje and Philippa Green – they have a partnership called Nunc – and it looks like the facade of a Woodstock building. I have another one with partially polished diamonds set in resin, which I absolutely love.
I really love accessories – belts, necklaces and earrings.
Sometimes I’m inspired just by opening my earring drawer, and just pull something together with that.
Any fashion no-nos?
I like colour, but I’m not mad about purple, and I’m not mad about colour for colour’s sake. And no latex, please.
Which local shops do you support?
I used to shop at The Space a lot, and I’ve seen some beautiful things at Sitting Pretty. I sort of admire Mungo & Jemima and Good Clothing from afar. If I wasn’t lucky enough to have my clothes made, I’d persuade them to make things to fit me.
What about shoes?
Shoes are tricky. I have trainers, which you’ve got to have. I was quite into the granny tennis shoe vibe before it became hot. And I quite fancy a good leather sandal. Sitting Pretty does beautiful ones. I follow Thom Nguka (@thom_ nguka) on Instagram, who’s a friend of a friend; he sells Tanzanian plastic sandals, and for a colour person like me it’s mad delicious. It’s a cross between a young-girl sandal and a granny sandal. The colours are quite electrifying, so they really add value. They’re also ridiculously comfortable.
You just have to fork out the money for…
A pair of good leather sandals. It’s really worth investing in; you need a good flattie. And a good heel. In winter I sometimes wear men’s shoes, loafers and stuff. Shoes either need to be fun, or really, really good.