Fashion heads to the beach
● Fashion shows these days are a dime a dozen. And often they’re overpopulated by posers — mostly of the “influencer” type who post what they’re paid for between filtered selfies of their latest “fits”.
The Cape Town Resort Collections sponsored by Pick n Pay Clothing, on the other hand, is one of those rare diamonds — a curated selection of the country’s leading designers and fresh new talent revealing a snapshot of what we can wear for the season. And it was attended by folk who can actually afford the clothes.
What makes it even more thrilling is the setting. In the past this fashion fest conceived by couturier Gavin Rajah has been presented in a sculpture park, on a jetty and in the bowels of a landmark museum.
For this, its fifth showing, last Saturday afternoon, the collections took to the white sands of Cabo Beach Club, a spot at the edge of the V&A Waterfront that used to be known as Shimmy Beach.
Cracking a nod to the VIP luncheon before the show, I am greeted by Gavin himself after arriving at the self-described “European-style” beach club (yes, Capetonians still love to daydream they’re the African answer to the French Riviera).
A quick hello to one of the new fashion crop, 20-year-old Kiav Mitoo, a graduate of Pick n Pay Clothing’s Futurewear incubator programme who was showing a collection of his own for the first time. Then reconnecting with Sean Summers, who was parachuted back in to resuscitate the ailing retail giant under which the brand is housed.
I remind Sean he’s familiar with putting out fires (when we last met, for a breakfast interview more than two decades ago, he was tackling a poison scare at the supermarket chain).
“I’ve given them three years,” says the 70year-old businessman, there with his sweet wife, Lorna, about his timeline for the turnaround task at hand. “This is going to be a journey — but we’re going to have a lot of fun along the way.”
Sean shares that it isn’t all gloom and doom — there are bright sparks in the portfolio, such as discount supermarket Boxer and Pick n Pay Clothing, which under GM Hazel Pillay has lured fashion lovers with their largely locally produced, affordable offering.
Certainly, the annual resort collections, where the brand also showcases a range, have helped boost the division’s profile. I’ve spotted many, including one of the land’s most loved personalities, businesswoman Basetsana Kumalo, wearing the threads.
This time around, though, Bassie arrives in a Gavin Rajah floor-length shirt dress featuring a bold 1970s print.
“This is so well attended!” she says, eyeing the crowd.
The occasion also marks the first time I have a chance to catch up with Vanessa Carreira-Coutroulis since the passing of her much-loved husband, Chris Coutroulis, two years ago. Vanessa is there with her bestie, Zuraida Jardine — they both semigrated to the Cape a year ago.
“Zuraida will follow me anywhere,” says Vanessa about her friend. “Actually, by three days,” Zuraida points out.
The move proved fruitful for the former Big Brother South Africa host — Zee is now one of the hosts of SABC3 daytime lifestyle show Afternoon Express, which is recorded in the Mother City.
I greet Julia Raphaely, daughter of legendary magazine publisher Jane, and get to whiff a few of the scents from designer Craig Port’s new fragrance line named after Atlantic seaboard sunbathing spots — Boulders Beach, Clifton Beach, Bakoven Beach and Camps Bay Beach.
Meanwhile, outside, seated at a long table with views onto the ocean, I recognise many a familiar face tucking into the al fresco style eats. They start with tofu and butternut salad and slices of margherita pizza before mains of chicken roulade, bite-sized slices of aged sirloin steak and baked line fish (with sides of more salad and triple fried chips).
Sorts like Karen Barnard (there with her daughter Lara who recently completed a masters in marketing psychology in the UK), artist Zanele Muholi, Glamour mag edin-chief Nontando, Sabine Thomas (recently appointed honorary consul for Morocco), veteran designers Jenny le Roux and Errol Arendz, Olive Hamilton Russell and glam couple Nicky van der Walt with his birthday girl wife, Lee-Ann Liebenberg.
“Where’s Anthony?” I ask Olive about her renowned winemaker hubby. “Some of us have to work you know!” laughs Lee-Ann, who ended the evening with a private birthday celebration dinner at the nearby Tang restaurant at the Waterfront.
As for the threads? Gavin went highwattage 1970s Hollywood glam; Thula Sindi’s sparkly cocktail dresses are bound to be a NYE fave; print-wise, Julia Buchanan’s black and white patterns and Kiav’s graffiti were standout; while judging by a few of the looks at both Craig Port and Pick n Pay Clothing, it’s going to be a white-hot summer.