Lovely Links | 31.09.13

(image source: fancy)

• Lady Gaga and Katy Perry have both released (well, the songs were leaked, but anyway) new singles that I've listened to more than what could be regarded as a healthy amount! Take a listen to Gaga's Applause and Katy's Roar.

• Victor Hertz has recreated some popular logos in a very amusing, and insanely accurate series called If Corporate Logos Were Honest.

• I was recently introduced to a brilliant film maker by the name of Casey Neistat. The first video of his that I watched was this one, which was commissioned by Nike, with the aim of illustrating the words "Make It Count." Neistat has done the job so creatively, it just fills me with all sorts of inspiration.

• It's been said that people will do crazy things for love, and that's never been more true than in the case of Jessica Walsh and Timothy Goodman, and their 40 Days of Dating.

• Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Cape Town took place a few weeks ago, with more fashion and flair than ever before. Check out some highlights of the event here.

• I absolutely love short films. They're like little slices of video heaven. I came across this short film titled Beyond The City, and created for Stills' Fall Collection 2013 (Dutch fashion brand). It was shot and directed by Annemarieke van Drimmelen, and stars Dutch model, Kim Noorda.

• I've had a link to Taibo Bacar's collection opened in my Safari tabs for a straight week now. It's just so so stunning! Bacar is a Mozambican designer who has drawn inspiration from traditional capulana sarongs to create his gorgeous Autumn/Winter 2013 collection. Pssst... Can I have it?

• I think it's pretty evident when watching Justin Timberlake's brilliant VMA performance that he is back in the music scene with a vengeance! This past Sunday, he performed a medley of his greatest hits, as well as a surprise performance with 'N Sync! Watch it here.

(Gee, I hadn't realised how many videos this post consists of... Oh well, they're all great, and all worth watching!)

So, yet again, I've missed a Lovely Links fortnightly deadline. I think that from now on, instead of pressuring myself into searching every surface of the web to reach the deadline with truly mediocre links, I'll scrap the deadline entirely and wait for truly LOVELY links to find their way to me in due time. It only makes sense, right?

In other news, here in sunny South Africa, it's a wee-bit on the chilly side... As a result, I'll be spending my weekend re-reading The Outsiders (I'm obsessed) and watching the new season of Suits (Eeeeek!), while sipping on oceans of tea. Sounds like a plan!

xo,

Trend Alert: Denim on Denim

The fashion industry has time-traveled to the 80s & 90s, and brought back the double denim trend to the present day. I always find fashion time travel a little amusing, especially seeing that over the last decade, the majority of us have sworn off Denim on Denim as a complete and utter no-no...

For today's post, I've collaborated with the Megan, Christine and Mzcocoh who are all really great fashion bloggers. They've each styled a denim on denim look in their own way and added a little creative blogger flair, so as to show you how easy it is to wear double denim without looking like you've literally stepped out of the 80s.

Megan - The Thread Affect

Christine - Petite Hues

Mzcocoh - Mzcocoh (Blog)

Accessorizing is key when wearing denim on denim. As you can see in the first picture, Megan's clutch is the only factor of the outfit apart from the denim. It's one simple piece, but the pop of colour totally ties the look together. Neutral, strappy sandals are a great addition too!

To tone down the trend, wearing a blazer like Christine has done in the second picture will draw away attention from the denim. You barely notice that she's wearing double denim, and yet the little peaks of blue keep you on trend. The scarf if the main accessory which kicks the outfit up a notch!

It's often said that when wearing double denim, you should wear a different wash from the top to the bottom, and yet Mzcocoh gives a flawless example of how to break that rule. The look is casual but sophisticated, and the bright red pumps give a cute twist to the whole outfit.

Here's my take on the look:

Denim on Denim by kenzolm

I think it's refreshing to see new faces on the blog, so here's a HUGE thanks to the three lovely ladies and their sense of style for helping me out! Make sure to check out all of their blogs, because, evidently, they all know their stuff! ;)

xo,

Diet Coke x Marc Jacobs

I first found out about this lovely collaboration of Diet Coke (Coke Light) and designer Marc Jacobs about a month ago. I thought that since it isn't really the newest thing on the block, everyone would have already seen it.  Now Coke has done the whole designer-collaboration thing before with Jean-Paul Gaultier here, but I think Marc's version is a little more successful. The packaging is distinctly Coke's, but has the high fashion finesse needed to make it look a little extra.

This particular rendition of the Coke bottles and tins are a celebration of 30 years of Diet Coke, and the three available designs portray women of the 80's, 90's and 00's. I fought the urge to post about it, until now, because the design is so beautiful that I couldn't help it. It's quirky, fun and flirty, and incorporates both brands really brilliantly. 

Unfortunately, only the tins are available in South Africa, which breaks my heart a bit, seeing as the bottles have a sort of chic-ness about them.

Anyway, just take a look for yourself!

xo,

Kenzo

Lovely Links | 03.08.13

(image source: Carly Zinga)

• What I'd expected to be tedious hours of art research proved to be a rather entertaining and speedy scavenger hunt for inspiration, which I found in this these sculptures by Emil Alzamora and these paintings/illustrations by Adara Sánchez.

• Among the many people I follow on Instagram, Carly Zinga is a fashion photographer who consistently makes my feed considerably more beautiful. Follow her Instagram page and view her blog. Her photos are simply stunning (Eg. the cover photo above!)

• In the spirit of blogger love, I'd like to send you over to check out What I Wore and eat.sleep.wear! To be entirely honest, I highly doubt I would've discovered the wonderful world of blogging, let alone become a part of it, had I not come across these two lovely sites. Love, love, love!

• If there's one local contest (of sorts) that I faithfully follow, it's most definitely the ELLE Rising Star Design Award in association with Mr Price. Their mission is to find the best rising fashion designer in South Africa, and as far as this year's search goes, the judges have selected 8 insanely talented finalists. Check them out here!

• I stumbled upon this really retro Classic Horror Book Series by Nikola Klímová. The layout is minimal, which is right up my alley, and the illustrations are great! 

• While procrastinating with the help of the ever faithful Twitter, I found a short documentary series by The Sartorialist (Scott Schuman). He, being the creative genius that he is, came up with the idea to show us a side of behind-the-scenes Fashion Week we virtually never get to see; the Pit Photographers...     Take a look at Part I and II.

• Moving right along on the documentary train, I happened to encounter yet another short, fashion documentary that's worth a look (totally by chance, I swear!) It's appropriately titled 'Take My Picture', as it explores the phenomenon that street style photography and fashion blogging has become.

Alright, so this is my awful apology for the delay of a 'Lovely Links' post, which was scheduled for the 20th of July. Along with returning to school and being piled with work, I received an incredibly strong dosage of writer's block. 

*breathes in*

Now that I've listed those poor excuses, here is the actual reason for the delay: I hadn't found any links that I felt were worth sharing, and having grown up with a quality > quantity mindset, my heart wouldn't allow me to type out rubbish I found through Google. Sorry.

*breathes out*

Now that we're done with formalities, I hope you have a month of greatness ahead of you, and that you're currently enjoying a relaxing weekend on behalf of those of us who aren't!

xo,