Cheek2chic Issue 3 April 2014

1 | Title

ALBERTUS SWANEPOEL

LOCAL LUXURY GUILD FAIR CATHERYNE GAEYLA QUAMTA

April 2014

| www.cheektochic.co.za

2 | Editor’s Letter

Editor’s letter

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ometimes you don’t have to travel far to find luxury right on your doorstep.

Cheek2Chic went off to the Cradle of Mankind to find the top places to stay: from hot air ballooning and leisure weekends at De Hoek Country House to the incredible Mosaic at The Orient.

Catheryne Gaeyla Fashions flies the French flag at her stylish showroom in the heart of Hyde Park, where she introduces shoppers to top European labels, while South African designer Craig Jacobs showcases his ethical Fundudzi designs at the best venue in town, the viewing deck at OR Tambo which is now a museum.

We chat to one of South Africa’s finest chefs, Chantel Dartnall, and explore one of the finest cellars in South Africa.

Guest movie columnist Tat Wolfen talks about what the iconic movies of yesteryear mean to him while former lead singer of Boyzone, Ronan Keating, remembers how Cape Town lit the mountain Irish-green when he performed at Kirstenbosch.

Many of the contents of the cellar are in the famous South African wine guide Platters, recently acquired by Diner’s Club SA, and two lucky readers can win copies.

This year Cape Town was in the spotlight as the Design Capital of the World and we feature some sensational images from Africa’s first International Design Fair, GUILD. If it’s hats you are after the name on everyone’s lips is New York-based milliner Albertus Swanepoel, but who knew he was originally a Pretoria boy? This very special and unassuming designer often does collaborative collections with SA Fashion Week, so read all about him and his new work in our main feature.

Cover picture by: Simon Denier / SDR Photo at SA Fashion Week 2013/2014

Local luxury brand QUAMTA, which recently launched at Yswara, showcase their gorgeous leather goods and we take a luxurious trip with Avis Point2Point.

And on the social side, meet South Africa’s most beautiful people, relive the Oscars and get bowled over by the Proteas!

Sarah Cangley Cheek2Chic Editor

PALLU P E T A

E G G I E R T H

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S Y M E S

HAS MOVED TO ROSEBANK SHOP NO GF14 ROSEBANK THE ZONE.. NEXT TO NINO’S TEL: 011-447 6366

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MERWELENE VAN DER MERWE JEWELLERY RUBY IN THE DUST

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Pictures by: Simon Denier/SDR Photo and www.albertusswanepoel.com

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outh African born milliner Albertus Swanepoel has been one of the most important names on the New York fashion scene for over 10 years. He met up with Cheek2Chic at SA Fashion Week 2014 to talk about the artisanal process of hat making, his favourite fedoras, the influence of his homeland on his work and his future plans in fashion

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WHAT STRIKES ONE MOST ABOUT YOUR HATS IS THEIR SENSE OF ARCHITECTURE. THEY SEEM DECEPTIVELY SIMPLE BUT THERE IS A THOUGHT PROCESS BEHIND THEM. DO YOU LIKE THE ELEGANCE THAT A HAT LENDS TO A PERSON’S FACE? I’m quite old fashioned at heart and think hats are chic, elegant and cool. I think it’s a wonderful accessory to change your character for the day - something a handbag or shoe can’t do! Yes, I love the elegance, but I don’t want my hats to be perceived as precious. They are meant to be worn every day.

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YOU CLEARLY DON’T DO THE BIG MERINGUEY RACEDAY HAT BUT WHICH, OUT OF THE BEWILDERING ARRAY OF SHAPES THAT YOU PRODUCE, WOULD YOU SAY IS YOUR FAVOURITE? DO YOU PREFER THE UNISEX HAT? I’m not a fan of the racing day hat. To me, only Philip Treacy and Stephen Jones do them brilliantly.

I dislike it when hats overpower the person and don’t seem to have a sense of design.

I’m known for my fedoras, and think that is my favourite shape. I love the unisex idea, in fact, a lot of women buy my men’s hats. I also love a good turban, a boater and a cowboy hat (these are all classics to me and quite unisex after all!)

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DO YOU HAVE A MUSE, A FAVOURITE PERSON THAT YOU LIKE TO DESIGN FOR?

I don’t have a muse. I’ve learned that most people you put on a pedestal fall off eventually! Sure, there are women like Ines de la Fressange and Lou Doillon that I think are very chic, but I don’t have a certain woman in mind when I design.

I’m inspired by everyday people on the street, the way they put themselves together.

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WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE HAT IN A MOVIE, OR WAS THERE A MOVIE STAR WHOSE “HAT STYLE” YOU HAVE ALWAYS LOVED?

I have to say My Fair Lady. Cecil Beaton could do no wrong in my eyes. I Love Milena Canonera’s hat designs for Out of Africa, Mia Farrow in The Great Gatsby and all of Marlene Dietrich’s movies.

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PEOPLE HAVE A HAZY IDEA OF THE ARTISANAL PROCESS OF HAT MAKING, THEY VISUALISE WOODEN BLOCKS AND MATERIAL BUT NOT MUCH ELSE. TELL ME ABOUT THE ACTUAL PROCESS OF MAKING A HAT? Hat making is a craft and the challenge for me is to keep it modern. I will explain the making of a simple felt hat briefly. The felt body (made from rabbit hair from Czechoslovakia) comes in a cone shape. This get steamed till it is mouldable and then pulled over a wooden hat form (which I can have made to my own design, or rely on a vintage block). The felt gets set in place with ropes and pins. Every hat requires its own block. It takes about 12 hours to dry naturally, and is then taken off the block. I then cut off the excess felt, put a wire in the edge of brim if required and a petersham ribbon as a head size or sweatband. Then I trim the hat to my desire, attaching it by hand. This process can take anything from 2 hours to 60 hours (the longest I’ve spent on one hat was 55 hours, using the real old couture method of creating a shape with bucrum and then covering it with fabric, as they did ages ago).

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YOU ARE NOW CONSIDERED THE “PHILIP TREACY OF NEW YORK”, EVERY TOP DESIGNER’S GO-TO HAT GUY, BUT YOU COME ACROSS AS UNASSUMING, GENTLE AND UNPUSHY. IN FACT, YOU ARE A SPECIAL PERSON. DO YOU FIND THAT THE FASHION INDUSTRY IS QUITE HARSH? Thank you for the compliment, whoever said that, but I’m no Philip Treacy! Yes, it’s a very unfair business. I have many amazing connections in the international fashion world and have worked with most of the top stylists and photographers in the world but have just never chosen to use it for my benefit. It certainly has to do with my rigid Calvinist upbringing. I’m pretty sure I would have been

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Q&A much more successful in my career if I used these contacts! I very recently worked with Carine Roitfeldt and made a hat for Princess Eugenie, but somehow prefer not to tell the world (as I am now doing now!).

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TELL ME ABOUT YOUR FASHION CONNECTIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA AND YOUR NEW CLOTHING LINE WHICH I SAW AT SA FASHION WEEK?

I started my career off in South Africa as a fashion designer in the early 80s. Things didn’t work out that way in NYC, so it was nice to get the opportunity to do something here again. We are now in our third season, the business is small, but I hope it will continue and that I will have a brand here one day. I’m trying to offer a hopefully modern, clean alternative to women here to add to their wardrobes.

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WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT NEW YORK? WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT SOUTH AFRICA?

I don’t think there are comparisons between the two places.

I love living in a big city – the energy, the noise, the crazy and the efficiency. It’s a very tough city, even after all these years.

I love the cultural diversity, the incredible offerings it has, the millions of people and the odd sense that you are only as good as you are for that moment. There are no safety nets in NYC. South Africa is still close to my heart and I have amazing friends here. People are much more compassionate here and the sense of space is amazing. There is nothing in the world I love as much as going on a safari of any kind, and that is a privilege one can only have here. I think South Africa is also tough, but in a very different sense. I think there is a lot of opportunity in SA, and not so much in NYC.

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HAVE YOUR SOUTH AFRICAN ROOTS INFLUENCED YOUR CREATIVE OUTPUT?

It’s funny ... I left SA for trying to get away from all the ethnic, Afrocentric things and now I’m very influenced by it. I’ve become known as the South African milliner. I use the fabrics that I buy here in my work all the time. The landscape really inspires me and all the amazing craft in this country. I think one has to step away from it, and see it with different eyes to be inspired on a world stage.

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WOULD YOU LIKE TO BRANCH OUT INTO OTHER AREAS OF FASHION?

I would love to design jewellery but I’m one of those people who needs to know the craft, the techniques, before doing it. I can never just lend my name to something I know nothing about. That might be an outmoded concept, but it’s my belief. So if I start studying now, I might do something in five years!

I’m known for my fedoras, and think that is my favourite shape. I love the unisex idea, in fact, a lot of women buy my men’s hats.

8 | Design

DESIGN CAPITAL

OF THE WORLD Picture by: Joshua Harker Cranium Filigree

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Picture by: Cheick Diallo Dibi chair_Dokter and Misses Sweat lamp

10 | Design

Their puppets for War Horse have

become icons of design innovation and

received the Olivier Award for Design

in London as well as a Tony Award in New York

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very two years a city is chosen to be the World Design Capital and in 2014 it was the turn of the Mother City to showcase groundbreaking limited edition design.

Africa’s first International Design Fair, GUILD, debuted at the beginning of World Design Capital Cape Town 2014.

GUILD was more than just a fair for beautiful objects: it presented the coming together of dedicated, focused curators, designers and institutions striving to preserve and provoke exceptional, ground breaking design at the V&A Waterfront.

GUILD introduced highly respected design authorities and work from Africa, South America, Britain and Europe.

Agents of the 3D Revolution was a collective of the most innovative international 3D print designers and artists, shaping new technology to serve their creative needs.

Southern GUILD was founded in 2008 by Trevyn and Julian McGowan. Devoted to encouraging South African designers and artists to explore and produce more challenging work, Southern GUILD has become an internationally recognised platform representing the southern continent’s excellence and authenticity.

The Handspring Puppet Company was another proudly South African initiative that was showcased. Handspring’s work has been instrumental in redefining boundaries between craft and art, fine art and performance art, the living and the dead. Their puppets for War Horse have become icons of design innovation and have received the Olivier Award for Design in London as well as a Tony Award in New York.

The director of the Origins Centre at Wits, Steven Sach said: “While other GUILD exhibitors explored the contemporary, ‘Design Origins South Africa’ provided references to recent and ancient objects, turning attention to the southern African aspects of the larger story of African origins.”

ARTISAN at GUILD was a uniquely curated collection of handmade pieces that could be purchased and taken home immediately, allowing visitors to own an extraordinary smaller piece that encapsulates the essence of GUILD. The diverse selection of ARTISAN work communicated originality and vision with extraordinary objects by leading local and international designers and artisans.

GUILD featured designers also included Coletivo Amor de Matre or “Collective Mother Love”, global icon Rossana Orlandi and Nacho Carbonell from Spain.

12 | Design

In 2014 it was the turn of

the Mother City to showcase

groundbreaking limited edition design

Pictures by: Gregor Jenkin MigrantMigrate Michaella Sculpture

The Handspring Puppet Company

was another proudly South African initiative

Copy and pictures from http://GUILDdesignfair.com

Pictures by: cheick diallo Tayegadoue Nervous system Colony trio R&R

14 | Design

“The idea of coletivo amor de madre, or ‘collective mother love’, speaks to our understanding of how passionately our designers love their work, how they literally give birth to it – and we want it to be received with the same love. As a collective, we also encourage creative exchange.”

Olivia Yassuda Faria, Founder Coletivo Amor De Madre

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16 | Local Luxury

MOSAIC AT T

THE ORIENT

18 | Local Luxury

C

hantel Dartnall, one of South Africa’s most creative and inspiring young chefs, is inspired by culinary giants such as Belgian chefs Gert de Mangeleer, who runs the threeMichelin starred Hertog Jan, and Pieter Goossens of Hof van Cleve (also three-starred).

I asked her what would be her dream kitchen to cook in, besides her restaurant, Mosaic at The Orient.

“There is this tiny little gem of a restaurant in Paris called L’Astrance which is run by Pascal Barbot who started growing his own vegetables when it was unfashionable to do so.

“He cooks a simple dish of beetroot in a salt crust, cracks it open and dribbles a stream of 100-year-old balsamic over it.

“The pureness of what he presents makes my heart melt.”

Chantel has her own particular style of cooking and her garnishes are like artistry on a plate.

Her passion is edible herbs and plants and her travels have exposed her to different influences like working at Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir.

“There are seven different gardens, each with a different element.

There is even a cave where they leave the mould to flourish.”

She might not have cooked at The Fat Duck but has travelled over France and Europe with her family who shut up shop at their boutique hotel The Orient for two months of the year.

Chantel’s career began at the Prue Leith College of Food and Wine where she was awarded a Billy Gallagher scholarship to represent South Africa overseas. She ended up cooking with George Calombaris from Masterchef Australia.

Mosaic’s summer menu offers a petite, grande and vegetarian degustation of eight courses, ranging from an hors-d’oeuvre of white chocolate, chavroux and watercress to a main course of quail, garden peas and thyme jus.

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Pictures provided by: Mosaic Restaurant

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Eating at Mosaic at The Orient is an extraordinary gastronomic experience. The visual references are Parisian bistro with a lavish touch of the belle epoque, set inside the opulence of an Eastern palace, hidden within the rolling wilderness of the Crocodile River Valley.

What’s on your plate is exquisitely presented, an evocative expedition to new gastronomic heights, appealing to a sophisticated palate yet retaining its freshness. The wine lists presented at dinner are two massive tomes and there is a choice of a local wine or international wine pairing, each being equally impressive.

Thanks to Chantel’s father Cobus du Plessis who travels the world buying wine and top sommelier Germain Lehodey The Orient’s wine cellar is one of the most impressive in South Africa. The walls are lined with awards and accolades, the latest being the prestigious Diamond Award at the 2013 Diners Club Winelist Awards. Within its cool recesses are wines of every variety from around the world and there is even wi-fi and a sabrage area.

Staying at this boutique hotel is luxury of the most delightful kind as there are so many elements to explore and enjoy. From the 20-seater private cinema with its original artwork posters of

vintage films to the museum dedicated to family friend Tienie Pritchard and the four vintage Rolls Royces parked in their own bays there is an endless stimulation for the mind and soul.

There is even a special coffee room decorated with beautiful pieces of china from the family’s many trips. Driving up to the Moroccan exterior I see baby zebras grazing with their mothers and the scents of the wild trees and plants, drawn out by the recent rains, caress my nostrils. Tropical flowers float in the stone basins at the entrance and Persian rugs and artefacts from North Africa and Asia decorate the entrance and halls. There is art everywhere and a strongly feminine influence.

I asked Chantel and her mother Mari (who is so tiny and elegant that you imagine her sprouting little fairy wings) what drew them to the area.

“The old family farm was here, a big old flat roofed house.

My dad bought up the property and established The Francolin Conservancy here, as there are three kinds of francolins on the estate. We are very closely associated with the Magaliesberg biosphere and re-introduced the natural grasses. It took six years for everything to get back into the natural rhythm,” says Chantel.

Opening up the restaurant was always her dream and the hotel evolved around that. “Dad went to India for materials. We opened in October 2006 and even before we had a kitchen recruited kitchen staff.”

She describes how staying at the ten year old hotel is almost like a “condensed rejuvenation” for guests and how many of them return.

In my upstairs suite, I don Eastern-style lounging pyjamas, take lots of feel-good selfies and explore. Bright Shanghai Tang toiletries, an enormous , an old fashioned telephone and a pleated loo roll get a huge thumbs up and the recessed balcony

area overlooking a Moorish pool sets the scene for coffee and the best Eggs Benedict on the planet.

On my pillow is a Harrods Bear with a ribbon around his neck.

“Take me home, I’m yours” he declares. I name him Marrakesh after my suite and inspect the visitor’s book, which is full of warm and congratulatory messages.

The Orient is a dream come true, a home-from-home where guests are made to feel both like members of the family and VIP superstars.

It is a very special kind of African luxury.

“Staying at this boutique hotel is luxury of the most delightful kind as there are so many elements to explore and enjoy. From the 20-seater private cinema with its original artwork posters of vintage films to the museum dedicated to family friend Tienie Pritchard and the four vintage Rolls Royces parked in their own bays there is”

22 | Local Luxury

FLOATING ON A S

weeping green lawns, flanked on the left by vigorous mielie fields belonging to a neighbouring farmer and on the right by the swiftly flowing Maglies river, greet visitors driving over the picturesque wooden bridge leading up to De Hoek, the five-star luxury country hotel outside the town of Magaliesberg.

The lawns are perfect for early morning hot air ballooning and, indeed, the hotel sees quite a few of Bill Harrop’s excursions lift off from this very lawn.

The Lesotho-stone facade, which is one of the hotel’s most charming features, is hidden by a steep flight of stairs on first approach but the hotel’s latest expansion consisting of 12 new rooms with two penthouse suites and conferencing facilities, all with a modern, contemporary look, faces out on to the lawn where sometimes croquet and archery take place.

The elegantly proportioned main hotel evolved 20 years ago from a traditional design using the “H” plan of old Cape homesteads, and expanded to 16 suites along the river.

Elements like American Oregon pine from the old Crown Mines, as well as teak, imbuia and oregon salvaged from old homes have been incorporated throughout the hotel as beams and pillars, flooring and sub-frames, lintels and cornices, doors and cupboards, and form a major part of De Hoek’s texture and style.

Luxurious touches like jars filled with chocolates and biscuits entice passerby.

Behind the hotel the property continues into stables, gardens and the family’s home.

The co-owners Michael and Michelle Holenstein make a formidable team, he as the manager and she as the PR team and interior designer.

De Hoek is known for its good cuisine and service – Michael was born in Switzerland and trained as a chef there. After working at the Gleneagles in Scotland he ran Chapters at the Sandton Sun then started his own catering company doing high-end private birthday parties.

Michael handpicks the wines for De Hoek dinners and pairs them with the food; he even started up his own wine society, the Chefs’ Table Wine Society.

AIR AT DE HOEK

Pictures provided by: De Hoek

24 | Local Luxury

Resident restaurants The Bridge Bistro and The Conservatory host many a gourmet weekend with six-course dinners with Swiss and Mediterranean influences. A particularly interesting feature is the interactive weekends with high profile South Africans. Guests meet in a relaxed environment and have conversations with whoever is in residence at the time.

De Hoek is a perfect spot for the dream wedding, especially at weekends, and offers a turnkey operation from the invitations to the photographer.

The gardens lend themselves to wedding photos, especially in the summer when the French doors are flung open, while roaring fires invite guests in during the winter.

With 12 chefs on the staff there are training programmes and apprenticeships for budding young talents.

“De Hoek’s staff have been with us for years and years,” says Michael.

“Their loyalty is important and unique to De Hoek.”

The hotel caters for a plush clientele and offers top executive conferencing and team building facilities.

A particularly interesting feature is the interactive weekends with high profile South Africans. Guests meet in a relaxed environment and have conversations with whoever is in residence at the time.

26 | Wine

Pictures provided by: Diner’s Club

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outh African wine lovers all grew up with Platter’s Guide, the best-selling wine annual guide, which is now owned by Diners Club. Over its 34 years Platter’s has become the leading guide for local oenophiles.

he started because he could not find a local guide that “told it like it was” on the market. All the restaurants are assessed by experienced diners, making it more like a Michelin guide than those that are purely driven by public input, like Zagat, he says.

Jean-Pierre (JP) Rossouw was appointed as the new publisher of Platter’s at the end of last year. Previously the food and wine editor for Condé Nast House & Garden and wine columnist for the Cape Times, he has also been the restaurant columnist for Mail & Guardian, as well as being a regular contributor to international magazine titles.

Food writer and reviewer Anna Trapido will be taking over from JP at Rossouws and the two will visit over 300 restaurants across the country over the year, choosing those that are the most compelling and important, as well as the newest.

JP was also the editor of Rossouws Restaurants guide, which

“When it comes to Platters we taste over 6000 wines – that’s nearly all the wine made in South Africa,” says JP.

Two lucky South African-based readers can win copies of Platter’s by answering this question: Who is the new editor of Platter’s Guide?

Email your answer to scangley@gmail.com

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28 | Movies

THE “GOLDEN” AGE (in the US) of colour television. Ray Dolby, the tech giant who would revolutionise cinema sound, was a growing lad during this time, and movie theatres would only start tasting his brilliance from the late ’70s.

Special effects were also light years away from the fantastical possibilities of today’s CGI (Computer Graphic Imagery) – although I still wonder at some of the effects achieved with the limited facilities that filmmakers had at their command back then.

I

’m frequently denounced as a starry-eyed romantic for saying things such as “they don’t make ’em like that any more” – despite the fact that I wasn’t even born when they were making ’em (that is, the Hollywood movies of the ’30s, ’40s and ’50s).

Was it truly a Golden Era? Or is this the merely the idiom of nostalgia geeks; the type who can recite the dialogue of ‘Casablanca’ verbatim? Sure; hindsight has rose-tinted spectacles. We tend to see the past in a more glamorous light; especially a past in which we were never present.

Some might fantasize about living in the day when Abraham Lincoln made his Gettysburg Address, or Emily Pankhurst ushered in equal suffrage for women. The truth, of course, is that, back then, medical technology was a pale shadow of its current self, nobody had Internet, and clothes were as uncomfortable as high-buttoned sandpaper.

Movies, too, were still in short pants. Synchronous sound had only arrived in the late ’20s, and although colour processes had been around before sound, it was an expensive affair during this era. Colour only started looking full-blooded from the mid-’30s, and would initially only be hauled out for big budget ‘prestige pictures’ (such as ‘Gone with the Wind’ and ‘Wizard of Oz’), the occasional musical, or for ‘happy ending sequences’ to lower-budget black-and-white musicals.

Walt Disney pioneered the multi-channel soundtrack in 1940, for ‘Fantasia’ but it, too, was a costly exercise, and multichannel sound only resurfaced in the ’50s with the arrival of the plethora of widescreen formats that rose to the challenge

So, if everything was so technically crude, why do films from this era still move me? Because the filmmakers (certainly those whose work is remembered today) worked wonders with what they had. And the films from that era that sit on my shelf are infused with artistry and heart.

And there is an iconic quality about them that still reverberates in our creative consciousness today. When one gazes upon black-and-white scenes that masters such as Gregg Toland had lit or shot, one almost wishes that colour had never been invented.

At the risk of sounding grumpy and sentimental, I would propose that the availability of advanced CGI today has given many filmmakers an enormous creative crutch. So, instead of scenes rich with character and emotion, we now get seemingly endless sci-fi or fantasy combat sequences. These mindless orgies of CGI seem to be rewarded, in large part, with good box office receipts, so it doesn’t appear that they will be going away any time soon…

Popular culture and norms have also changed, and this has robbed stars of their mystique. Whereas in the Golden Era, stars were loathe to share their private lives (and those who were less discreet, were baby-sat by studio minders), today’s movie actors flaunt their personality dysfunctions with pride.

And if they haven’t already boasted about their substance addictions, or displayed their fleshy assets in their movies, they’re all too willing to tweet about their bowel movements or other trivia. Their sex tapes and other ill-conceived romps wash around the Internet like turds in the bathtub. Could you imagine the likes of Bette Davis and Katherine Hepburn endorsing such vulgar expository antics?

The female movie stars of the Golden Era were incandescent, unattainable goddesses that we could only dream about – not trashy, girl-next-door tramps. Yes, we do have a handful of divas – women such as Meryl Streep – who begin to approach the legendary status of some of the screen goddesses of old, but do we have any sense that she has descended from the heavens in order to shoot her movies? I think not. Even those screen sirens from that far-off era who were in touch with their

E OF HOLLYWOOD

by Tat Wolfen

darker sides (stars such as Bette Davis and Joan Crawford) had a heavenly aura about them. We couldn’t imagine them indulging in banal acts such as shopping or washing dishes (much as they must’ve done), whereas movie stars today, basking in their aura of political correctness, like to portray themselves as regular ‘people of the people’ – which they certainly aren’t, in the cold financial sense.

The paparazzi and technology have also made today’s movie stars more accessible. So, whether it’s the stars who are putting out the info, or those zealous photographers, we’ve seen the cellulite, heard the marital brawls, and seen what these people look like ‘the morning after’. But where’s the mystery; the magic?

Ego is another huge stumbling block. Back during the Golden Era, the studios held real power. When a performer or, say, writer was signed up by a studio, they belonged to that studio in a very real and material way. That was the “studio system”.

What many film historians fail to acknowledge is that the studios would take big chances with new faces; it was the studio’s money and reputation on the line. It was therefore not unreasonable to have expected the studios to demand a contract in return.

The big moguls, giants such as Louis B Meyer and Jack Warner, for all their faults, had an eye for talent, and also tended to place their stars in vehicles that suited them. Today, stars have agents; greedy, sweaty cigar-puffers who pander to the egos of the actors – if the “star” is a two-bit comic who wants to play Hamlet, the agent will invariably indulge him. The lunatics, to echo an earlier pronouncement of Charlie Chaplin’s, have taken over the asylum. And what do we have? A bunch of ignoramii throwing their weight around town, inflating their salaries to obscene levels, and mouthing off on political issues.

Sean Penn, for example, has consistently championed the cause of tyrants such as Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez, and perceives himself to be some kind of informal US ambassador. Streep recently expressed some views about Walt Disney that revealed her utter ignorance of the man. And this is who we’re left with; a bunch of self-important, overpaid, banal thespians. And not one of them has the bone structure of a Garbo, the hawk-like gaze of a Davis, of the flying feet of an Astaire. And you wonder what makes me a starry-eyed romantic.

there is an iconic quality

about them that still reverberates in our creative consciousness today.

Tat Wolfen is a seasoned writer and journalist, film and theatre reviewer, and educator. His work has been enjoyed in numerous South African magazines and newspapers, and his showbiz reviews have been heard on 702 Talkradio, ChaiFM, Jacaranda FM and Kaya FM.

Garbo (seen here with Robert Taylor, in ‘Camille’), Joan Crawford, Bette Davis… do we have stars who can stand in their illustrious shoes today?

Picture provided: IWC

30 | Music

THE DAVID BECKHAM

T

1

he “David Beckham of Ireland”, Ronan Keating, talks to Cheek2Chic about going solo, scuba diving, South Africa and his watch collection

DID YOU EVER THINK GROWING UP THAT YOU WOULD BE WHERE YOU ARE TODAY?

No! We didn’t know any better when we were growing up but as soon as I started to travel I realised what Ireland was going through. But then the Celtic Tiger happened, the country was on fire and property was going through the roof.

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WHAT WOULD YOU CONSIDER YOUR SIGNATURE STYLE AS A SINGER AND DO PEOPLE FIND YOUR VOICE INSTANTLY RECOGNISABLE?

I hope they do, that’s one of the reasons why I’m still here today.

I am sure I have certain techniques that set me apart.

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WHAT HARDSHIPS HAVE YOU ENCOUNTERED IN YOUR CAREER?

Many, sadly. I started in Boyzone when I was only a kid of 16, 20 years ago. I guess I was thrown into the deep end. It was an incredible life and I was so lucky. But it was a whirlwind which took us all by surprise. It got mental and crazy and after six years we needed to go our own way, so the band broke up in 2000. I went solo and it was a breath of fresh air to have that control and freedom. But I separated from my wife a few years ago. The whole thing was pretty difficult. But what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger and you rise from that. Now I feel I’m Ronan Keating, the guy I’ve always wanted to be.

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ANY ADVICE FOR ASPIRING YOUNG MUSICIANS?

Be true to who you are. Celebrity is king today and people sell their souls. But make the music you want to make. Don’t let the record company bastardise you, it’s your heart and soul.

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APPARENTLY YOU LEARNT TO SCUBA DIVE IN THE MALDIVES AND TRIED OUT THE IWC AQUATIMER. HOW FAR DOWN DID YOU GO?

I was diving on the reef with the Aquatimer D2 which a depth gauge, it shows you exactly how many metres you are diving to, and my first dive was nearly 18 metres. I did two dives and then went to the open water. It’s scary when you are stepping off the boat into black, dark water about 30 to 40 metres deep. I saw a three-metre shark. A grey tip, oh man, he scared me, he was huge. To be honest I started to hyperventilate, but I got over it and got my PADI and my diver’s licence.

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YOU HAVE BEEN TO SOUTH AFRICA SEVERAL TIMES, HAVEN’T YOU?

The last time I was there I played Kirstenbosch Gardens which is the most beautiful setting underneath the mountain. They lit the mountain green for me! Those were two of my favourite shows

in my career. I also played on some of the best golf courses in the world, the Arabella, the Royal Durban, Pearl Valley and Pinnacle Point. Please put it out there, I would love to come back to South Africa.

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I AM GLAD YOU HAD GOOD EXPERIENCES AND HAPPY MEMORIES BUT YOU DID HAVE A CANCER SCARE IN CAPE TOWN IN 2009, DIDN’T YOU?

Yes, I found a lump in my testicle and called my doctor at home who told me to come and get it checked out. I was still in South Africa for eight more days and was planning my funeral because I thought I had testicular cancer but it turned out to be a small harmless cyst. You have to practise what you preach so I have to have regular checks.

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DO YOU THINK SOUTH AFRICA WOULD EVER INSPIRE YOU TO WRITE A SONG?

Yes, I really love it. I wanted to buy a house there and met with this estate agent, Pam Golding or her son maybe. We saw this beautiful house on the rocks in Clifton. I wish I had bought it.

Man, what a place.

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I’VE HEARD YOU CALLED THE DAVID BECKHAM OF IRELAND ... WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO WEAR ON THE RED CARPET?

Oh right! I like a good suit and love Tom Ford. What Tom Ford has done for male fashion has been incredible. My designer friend John Rocha who is based in Ireland also does beautiful work. Growing older is about finding your own style and being comfortable.

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AND WHAT WATCH DO YOU LIKE TO WEAR?

I will be wearing the latest Aquatimer which comes in brass.

I’ve always liked big watches and bought my big Pilot in 1997, it was 46mm. I’ve got the new Ingenieur in carbon fibre, it’s beautiful. Watches used to be used to tell the time. Now they wind themselves, show you how many metres you dive, tell you the moon phase, the day, the month, the year. The complications are incredible and IWC is at the forefront of this.

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HOW MANY WATCHES DO YOU HAVE?

Over 65 pieces, it’s like women with their handbags and shoes. I love to buy watches for my friends; a watch is a beautiful gift for life as long as you take care of it.

I played Kirstenbosch Gardens which is the most beautiful setting. They lit the mountain green for me!

OF IRELAND

32 | Limousines

GOING FROM POINT A

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ver the years I have used the Avis Point 2 Point services on several occasions. The first was when I was attending the Avis Women’s Golf at Sun City and I was chauffeured to the event in style, with several newspapers and bottle of water to keep me happy and busy, and the few hours it took to get to my destination simply flew by.

The second occasion was a chauffeur-driven drive to the Maidens Bowled Over event at Centurion to watch the cricket match between South Africa and Australia. With the promise of bubbly and cocktails on the horizon I was delighted when a gleaming, top of the line vehicle with a beautifully turned out lady chauffeur called Mpho behind the wheel swept up to my gates to pick me up for the function.

Thanks to Mpho and everyone at Avis I felt spoilt and special, a VIP for the day, and could don my heels and lipstick to join the other maidens and not worry about traffic, parking or directions.

What maiden could ask for a better experience?

The glamour is, of course, not the only advantage of an Avis Point 2 Point experience.

Whether someone needs to get to the airport, an event or attend an important meeting in another city or the other side of town, Avis Point 2 Point is the perfect solution to transport people from one point to the next, any day of the week, 24 hours a day.

Avis Point 2 Point has maintained a consistent leadership position in the market since its inception. It is a position that can be attributed to three key factors – service, reliability and safety.

As Avis says: No worries about parking. No concerns about parties going on till early hours of the morning. No stress in negotiating traffic.

You can have peace of mind knowing that your transport is in the hands of highly professional chauffeurs and at affordable rates.

Customers are charged per vehicle, covering all passengers that are on board.

The Avis Point 2 Point service keeps growing in popularity, as more and more people discover its benefits. The types of vehicles available suit any occasion, from the economy classed Toyota Corolla 1.6, which is extensively used by individuals, couples and small families and seating up to three people, to the Volkwagen T5 Minibus which can seat up to seven people.

Pictures provided: Avis

A TO POINT B, IN STYLE

34 | Fashion

PARIS IN THE HEAR

The chic Catheryne Gaeyla showroom, in the heart of Hyde Park, offers South Africa’s fashion conscious community a “complete European luxury shopping experience”.

RT OF HYDE PARK

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his luxurious Parisian style concept shop was launched in Johannesburg in 2000 and offers a fine and handpicked selection of French and Italian luxury brands.

These range from such well known giants like Dolce and Gabbana, Dior, Roberto Cavalli, Ermanno Scervino and Kenzo to fun, fashion-forward entrepreneurial French labels like Paul & Joe. The latter is a charismatic brand sold throughout the world.

Several dozen boutiques and hundreds of retail shops internationally carry the brand, and the main women’s line fashion show has been on the official calendar of Paris Fashion Week since 1998.

Pictures provided: Paul & Joe

Not only does Catheryne have a great sense for fashion but her new concept for her showroom includes refurbishing it with a selection of artworks, glassware and homeware to create the sense of a French destination. “I want my clients to feel as though they have been transported to another world,” she says, “one that is more open to the public and less intimidating.”

For sale are French bonbons and chocolates, beautifully packaged, and she serves her customers coffee in exquisite cups to make sure their experience is nothing short of perfect.The showroom has been a venue for several stylish parties, with clients ranging from La Mer to Bollinger and Moët.

36 | Fashion

CRAIG JACOBS F

“South Africa’s leading ethical fashion label” presented its forthcoming Spring/Summer 2014 collection at Airports Company South Africa’s flagship O.R. Tambo International Airport in the city of Ekurhuleni.

FOR FUNDUDZI

SA Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2014 saw some interesting off site collections, including that by Fundudzi by Craig Jacobs.

had wanted to hold a show on the runway but that would have meant every guest would have had to clear customs and bring along their passport ...

Craig had attended a meeting at the airport and came across the space which he found interesting. Originally he

The glassed in space on the third floor was more appealing and the models had a perfect takeoff down the runway.

Pictures provided: Simon Denier/ SDR Photo

38 | By Invitation

BOWLED

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aidens and Captains alike married style and tradition at the Sunfoil Test match at SuperSport Park this year.

SuperSport Park in Centurion offered an extravaganza of style, with the first instalment of ‘Captains Bowled Over” hosted on the second day of the first Sunfoil Test between South Africa and Australia.

The event harks back to old fashioned gentlemen’s clubs, where influential and wealthy members would gather to watch sport. This matches the elusive and elite spirit of test cricket, said co-host Ina Smith of Menu Solutions.

The inaugural “Captains’ Bowled Over”, which saw the men dressed exclusively in white, was the male equivalent of the ‘Maidens’ Bowled Over event, which took place on the first day of the first Sunfoil Test, and was the sixth instalment of this ladies’ event.

Hailed as a remarkable success by sponsors, guests and cricket management alike, the “Maidens’ Bowled Over” event is arguably one of the largest ladies’ events of its kind in the world.

With an enviable position alongside the field, and under marquees, business women were invited to network and enjoy the cricket, while experiencing massages, snacks and refreshments.

The CEO of Titans Cricket, Jacques Faul, commented: “The Maidens event has grown over the years and now we are excited about the addition of the Captains event as it can only add to the fans’ experience.”

Co-host Ansie Fouche said: “The styling and structure of the ‘Maidens’ Bowled Over event pays homage to the ultimate format of the gentleman’s game, Test Cricket.”

“The traditional dress code for the event is all white, to truly honour the cricket whites worn during test matches.”

A stylish hat completed the look.

Adding to the glamour and extravaganza, the MC, Edith Venter, ensured that everybody stayed informed and entertained and the ladies were treated to an appearance by the 2014/2015 Miss SA finalists.

In their first official appearance of the competition, they were led by Former Miss SA Melinda Bam. The inaugural Captains Bowled Over Men’s Event was also a huge success. To many this was a ghost event until they entered the Captains Garden. Guests included 150 men, who were spoilt with neck and back massages by Spa de la Veille’s therapists,

Pictures provided: by Menu Solutions

40 | By Invitation

ice cold beverages from SAB Miller & ABI, a Sushi Bar from Stone Cradle, coffee from Miele and haircuts from Biosense.

As if this were not enough, over R100 000 lucky draw prizes were given away, and everyone was holding thumbs for the R25 000 Miele coffee machine and R10 000 Nokia Phone from Windows Phone.

The two lucky winners were ecstatic!

TOPS spoilt the men with a beautiful 1.5 litre wine and wine glass gift pack and they left with a goodie bag worth over R1000.

This was the men’s event of the year... and it was all happening on the grass embankment at SuperSport Park!

The master of ceremonies was the former South African swing bowler Fanie de Villiers, who captured 85 wickets during in eighteen tests from 1993 to 1998, and managed to slip in a few risquĂŠ jokes during his speech.

The event harks back to old fashioned gentlemen’s clubs, where influential and wealthy members would gather to watch sport.

42 | By Invitation

GLAMOURous PEOPLE

S

outh Africa boasts a high percentage of beautiful people and Glamour magazine celebrated its 10th anniversary with a GLAMOURous party to honour ten local beauties, chosen for their style and glamour.

The cameras rolled as the beauties arrived, looking gorgeous.

Even the new Miss South Africa, Rolene Strauss, with an impressive up style which she did herself, was at the party.

The magazine held a sophisticated soirée at Le Chatelat in Hyde Park, which was presided over by a bright half moon.

The lanky and loquacious Loyiso Gola was the MC, announcing the 10 winners, and was joined on stage by Glamour editor Pnina Fenster.

The winners were: Bonang Matheba, Terry Pheto, Melinda Bam, Tarryn Alberts, Nicole Flint, Lalla Hirayama,Jeannie D, Lindiwe Suttle, Leanne Liebenberg and Pearl Thusi.

The Glamour team was “Kluk’d” for the evening and editor Pnina Fenster was ultra-polished after having her hair styled by Carlton.

All the winners had their makeup expertly applied by L’Oréal Paris makeup artist Sylvie Hurford and selected their accessories for the evening from the range available to them from Mimco, a great new accessories line which is now in Woolworths.

She congratulated the gorgeous lineup of ladies, then said a few words on the impressive upsurge in South Africans’ stylishness.

Cocktails mixed with Sheckter’s Organic Energy Drink provided a delicious boost to energy levels, while KWV’s fine wines made for ultra-stylish sipping, as guests danced the night away to the sounds selected by Poppy Nstongwana.

Guests arrived in style thanks to the app, Uber Joburg, which saw them safely to and from the venue.

They were greeted with a signature GLAMOURtini with a splash of Cruz Vintage vodka after which the Glamour team, contributors, friends and guests met the women who have been named the most GLAMOURous in the country.

At the end of the evening, winners left the beautiful Le Chatelat laden with gifts from Mimco and goodie bags packed with LAMY pens, Cruz Vintage Black vodka, Carlton Hair and Camelot spa vouchers and L’Oréal Paris products, while guests’ goodie bags held Pravda vodka minis, L’Oréal Paris products, Magnum Cream Liquer Sachets and a Mimco gift.

44 | By Invitation 1

The cameras rolled as the beauties arrived, looking gorgeous. Even the new Miss South Africa, Rolene Strauss, with an impressive up style which she did herself, was at the party.

1. Two glamorous readers 2. Terry Pheto 3. Bonang Matheba, Rolene Strauss and Melinda Bam 4. Jessica Motaung with the ladies who make Jozi great 5. Tarina Patel, Lalla Hirayama and friends 6. The Glamour team 7. Nicole Flint and a fan Pictures by: Glamour

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46 | By Invitation

HOLLYWOOD’S RED

I

t was a night of stars, selfies and Oscars at the 86th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

During the ceremony, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presented Oscars (otherwise known as Academy Awards) in 24 categories which honoured the films which were released in 2013.

Oscars host Ellen DeGeneres, who previously hosted the Oscars in 2007, managed to bring down Twitter by posting a celebritypacked selfie to the site which was retweeted 2,6 million times.

The picture, which was actually a “long arm selfie” taken

by Bradley Cooper, showed him with DeGeneres, Jennifer Lawrence, Lupita Nyong’o, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Meryl Streep, Jared Leto and Kevin Spacey.

The selfie broke the previous record held by Barack Obama.

Degeneres was overheard saying she wished Bradley’s arms had been longer so more people could be included in the picture.

Once the red carpet was done it was time for the serious part of the evening.

And the Oscars went to: Gravity, which won seven awards including Best Director; 12 Years A Slave, which won three awards, including Best Picture; Dallas Buyers Club; Frozen and the Great Gatsby which won two awards; Blue Jasmine, The Great Beauty, Helium, The Lady in Number 6, Mr Hublot and 20 Feet From Stardom.

The televised awards were the most watched Oscar ceremony since the 72nd Academy Awards in 2000.

Oscars host Ellen DeGeneres, who previously hosted the Oscars in 2007, managed to bring down Twitter by posting a celebrity-packed selfie to the site which was retweeted 2,6 million times.

Pictures by: Getty Images

D CARPET MOMENT

QUAMTA produces leather luxury accessories inspired by the unique natural beauty of Africa and are influenced by the renaissance of art and design movements across the continent