Blogger's Alibi

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The exclusive behind-the-scenes story of VARSITY STYLE Fall 2013.

Strike A Pose

UCT Students could be Boss models. Click to read the article. 

My investigation into the world of the student model. 

Kloof Street Collections, SS12

I am overwhelmingly delighted to present to you the first fashion editorial in the history of UCT's official VARSITY newspaper - styled by yours truly.

We took a walk down Cape Town's most stylish street, Kloof, and shot the spring collections from all the best stores including renowned SA designer Stefania Morland and the UK high-street giant TopShop (above).

With photography from the amazing Sven Kristian, modelling talent from Hannah MacMillian and Hugo McLachlan, and my super amazing crazy awesome fashion assistant Barbara Fourie AKA Wedding Head, I think we managed to pull off quite a good one.

So if you like what you see, check out the full shoot - click HERE!

 

ELLE: Behind September

Okay friends, remember the September issue of ELLE I interned on? You better buy it while it's still on shelves. Of course, ELLE always uploads behind the scenes images and videos on their website, and these two are worth the view (and love).

Click HERE to see what went on behind the scenes of Poppy Evans's POP GOES AFRICA shoot. My highlights include chatting to Karyn Kruger about her time in New York shooting UK VOGUE, and working with my mother (in joke) the amazing intern Araffa. (ABOVE)

 

And HERE you can get the low down on Asanda Sizani's incredible SHE'S A LADY shoot. This one was a potential logistical nightmare - R20000 Louis bags on a not-so-safe road - but the amazing team pulled it off without a hitch.

 

Must Buy ELLE

Here are three excellent reasons why you must buy the September issue of SA ELLE.

ONE: It's the perfect intro to the new season. All the best trends, clothes and accessories are in here. There's no edit like an ELLE edit.

TWO: Suri's mom is on the cover.

THREE: Yours truly was a fashion intern on the entire issue.

 

 

These are my favourite shots from the three main fashion stories (all of which I had the honour of witnessing while they were being created). That's SA supermodel Katryn Kruger on the left and Spud actress/ former ELLE cover girl Charlbi Dean Kriek at the top right.

Want more? Go buy the issue NOW NOW NOW!

My 'War Horse' Story

 

Okay, so you may have heard of the War Horse film, and if you're cultured you may have heard of the War Horse stage production. What you probably don't know is that both are based on the War Horse book, which I found out last night is going to be translated into Afrikaans by my father, Kobus Geldenhuys (he also did Harry Potter. Swag.)

Naturally this sparked many thoughts of fashion... Earlier this year, Esquire did an editorial with the star of the WH film Jeremy Irvine. The shoot was all about the new season clothes coming fresh out the box and... Wait! Hold the phone... I did a shoot by the same theme for Ultimate PV's September 2011 issue. Literally the same concept. It's clear Esquire is stealing my ideas. (Please note the sarcasm in that statement.) seriously though, take a look at these...

 

BOX FRESH starring Jeremy Irvine. Styled by Catherine Hayward and photographed by Dan Burn-Forti. From Esquire February 2012.

 

 

 

 

 

 

SPRING UNWRAPPED starring Morgan Wolf. Styled by Daniël Geldenhuys and photographed by Kim Swarts

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you see the resemblance? Sure, the Esquire one looks a little cooler because they had a budget and stuff, but ours is just as awesome.

Moving on. I know I've got to stop referencing Vogue editorials, but I can't help myself. For their November 2011 issue, Grace Coddington styled the most amazing War Horse inspired shoot. I'm not gonna tell you how great it is - these pictures speak for themselves.

 

CALL IN THE CAVALRY starring Arizona Muse and Jeremy Irvine. Styled by Grace Coddington and photographed by David Sims.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Fashion Footprint

On Tuesday the new ELLE interns came to upper campus to do street style pics and hit the jackpot: my Art History tutorial class. See me (I'm totes flattered), my peers, and other stylish people on ELLE's new street style post HERE.


I've also just published a new Web Fashion article for Varsity newspaper. This one, a guide to Cape Town city style, was a group effort from the art students and the fashion writers - yours truly included. See it HERE.

I Got Published

At VARSITY, the official student newspaper of the University of Cape Town, I have been given the unofficial title of Web Fashion Coordinator. This means that I'm in charge or producing all the fashion related stories for the paper's website. I've got some really cool projects in the pipeline at the moment, but until they're ready for public consumption here are my works so far.

First, a review on London Fashion Week, AW12. My intense enthusiasm for LFW is no secret... so click HERE to feel the love.

And then there is the winter fashion TREND GUIDE: the the lovely Alicia Okeyo wrote the article about how to wear an outfit to suit your personal style, and I edited the fashion part. Although my name isn't actually on this one, it really was me. I'd swear it on a Prada SS12 shoe. (and if you've read this blod at all you'll recognise my tone on the image captions)

I do hope you enjoy them. I'm working on more - and loving every second of it.

 

My Next Move

Last year I was given the amazing opportunity of editing the first issue of the new Oude Libertas digital magazine. It celebrates all things local and all things culture.

Yours truly styled the cover and wrote both cover stories – I’m very proud of them. But let me not ramble on… check it out for yourself!
http://issuu.com/thessner/docs/libertas-mag-first-edition

Imprinted

Just before packing my bags for UCT, I decided to style one last shoot for my school magazine, ULTIMATE. The story is a sort of last-of-the-summer-clothes situation with fun and eccentric prints against the colour of SS12, white. I had a really great team on this shoot: everyone from the model to the photographer and the makeup artist did an outstanding job. Here's the result.

 

 

Missibaba Memories.

This is a shoot I styled just over a year ago for my school’s digital magazine: ULTIMATE. It’s an accessories shoot featuring merchandise from South African label Missibaba. The model is Esther van Zyl (the next big thing in acting) and the photographer is the incomparable Kim Swarts.

The shoes, belts, earrings and necklaces are all made from leather and are sure to delight anyone with an appetite for fun in fashion. A huge fan of the label myself, I’m not going to try and convince you to join the club, I’ll just let the pieces speak for themselves…  

 

In these sweltering summer days, style minimal basics with leather and suede accessories from one of South Africa’s hottest designers, Missibaba.

Leather bird mask, price on request, leather ‘feather’ shoulder piece, R2400 both Missibaba; dress, Milla at YDE.

Fan earrings R300, peacock pendant necklace R550, Bronco belt, R1050,Nevada beach bags, R675 each, all Missibaba; floral print dress, YDE

From left: striped appliqué possum bag, R3300, black zigzag printed prairie clutch R2790, African waxed cotton possum bag R2400, black Seraphine sandals R800, all Missibaba; dress, Milla at YDE

Tasseled Gaucho bag R3700, sweetie necklace, R200, both Missibaba; wayfarers, stylist’s own; top, American Eagle Outfitters; shorts, rt at Mr Price

Hand-painted orchid headpiece R1450, skinny spotty belts R450 each, all Missibaba; shirt, Port at YDE

Hand-embroidered fan clutch R3100, flower belt worn as headpiece, price on request, both Missibaba; shirt, Port at YDE

Clockwise from top: small wallet R550, small Wild West wallet R690, small Wild West wallet R690, all Missibaba; floral print dress, YDE.

Striped appliqué possum bag R3300, Missibaba; dress, Milla at YDE

Peacock cut-out possum bag R3600, sweetie necklace R200, Freya sandals R700, all Missibaba; wayfarers, stylist’s own; top, American Eagle Outfitters; shorts, rt at Mr Price

Teardrop necklace R1200, suede hand-cut gloves, price on request, both Missibaba; top, model’s own.

Model: Esther Van Zyl. Director of photography: Kim Swarts. Fashion and layout editor: Daniël Geldenhuys. Shot on location in and around the Missibaba workshop in Woodstock, Cape Town, South Africa.

Shop the latest Missibaba collections at missibaba.com.

You may also have noticed it’s the subject of my latest header…

First Shot

A good friend of mine is considering a career in modelling. We’ve shot many fashion stories together, but she’s usually the one behind the camera. So these pictures have a lot of first shots: mine as a photographer and hers as a model. I’m pretty pleased with the end result. (The sequin chilli dress in the last shot makes quite the impression.)

Model: Kim Swarts

Stylist & Photographer: Daniël Geldenhuys

Hair & Make-up: Sarah Howard-Browne