Fashion

What's Hot, New & Trending on the Fashion Scene. Plus tips for fabulous fashion for women over 40!

Shimansky Christmas Gift Guide

I was recently invited on a tour of the stunning Shimansky Showroom and Diamond Muesum in the Clock Tower, in the V&A Waterfront. I felt like a wide-eyed kid at Christmas! To be surrounded by such beauty and perfection, was somewhat of a surreal experience…

The Shimansky brand owes its success to founder, designer and creator, Yair Shimansky. After embarking on a career in the jewellery industry in Japan as a young man, Yair started his own business selling jewellery at a Durban market. He then went on to open his first store in 1994.

In just two decades, the brand has expanded to include several jewellery stores located throughout South Africa. Shimansky has their own jewellery design and manufacturing workshop, a diamond cutting and polishing factory. You will also find Cape Town’s only dedicated Diamond Museum, based in the Clock Tower Precinct, at the Waterfront.

As well as finding out about the history of diamonds and discovering more about the Shimansky journey, I had the opportunity of viewing some of the most exquisite pieces of jewellery! After my first hand experience and as part of my Holiday Gift Guide, I thought I would share a few of Yair Shimansky handpicked gift ideas.

Shimansky Christmas Gift Guide

Below you will find a gorgeous selection of the world’s most desired gemstones, Diamonds and Tanzanite. Not only the birthstone of December, Tanzanite is also the perfect Festive Season gift as it is 1000 times rarer than diamonds – making this the gift that will undoubtedly be remembered. Nothing can create more happiness—and bring you closer to the girl in your life—than the perfect gift, given in the perfect way.

Dancing Diamond Heart Pendant

Dancing Diamond heart pendant set with a round brilliant cut diamond in white gold. Recommended Retail Price: starting from R3,995.

Dancing Tanzanite Pendant

Dancing Tanzanite heart pendant set with a round tanzanite in white gold. Recommended Retail Price: starting from R3,995

My Girl Cross Pendant in White Gold

My Girl diamond 0.54tcw cross pendant set in white gold. Recommended Retail Price: starting from R12,995

My Girl Cross Pendant in Rose Gold

My Girl diamond 1.10tcw cross pendant set in rose gold. Recommended Retail Price: starting from R19,995.

My Girl Lucky 8 Pendant in White Gold

My Girl diamond 0.80tcw Lucky 8 circle pendant set in white gold. Recommended Retail Price: starting from R19,995.

My Girl Lucky 8 Pendant in Rose Gold

My Girl diamond 0.80tcw Lucky 8 circle pendant set in rose gold. Recommended Retail Price: starting from R19,995.

My Girl Microset Halo Earrings

My Girl diamond and microset halo earrings 0.70tcw set in white gold. Recommended Retail Price: starting from R29,995

My Girl Three Stone Drop Earrings

My Girl diamond drop earrings 1.00tcw set in white gold. Recommended Retail Price: starting from R29,995

My Girl Diamond Microset Halo Ring in White Gold

My Girl diamond and microset halo ring 0.53tcw set in white gold. Recommended Retail Price: starting from R29,995

My Girl Diamond Microset Halo Ring in Rose Gold

My Girl diamond and microset halo ring 0.53tcw set in rose gold. Recommended Retail Price: starting from R29,995

My Girl Diamond Diagonal Microset Halo Ring

My Girl diamond and microset halo ring 0.50tcw set in white gold. Recommended Retail Price: starting from R27,995.

I hope you have been inspired by these stunning pieces of jewellery and are dropping big hints with you loved ones! Perhaps share the link with them to help them get inspired!

Details and Location:

For any queries or to book a tour of the Diamond Museum, please email [email protected] or call +27 (0)21 421 2488. ADDRESS: Level 1, The Clock Tower, Waterfront, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa

Fashion, Slider, Wine Farms

Habits Fashion Meets Wine at De Grendel

Last week I attended a fashion event with a difference! Habits Fashion Meets Wine, held at De Grendel. It was my first ever fashion and wine pairing! What a great idea – two of my favourite things in one room!

Auric Auto, very kindly, chauffeured guests from Claremont, out to De Grendel Wine Estate, in Durbanville, where the event was held. I must admit it was a rather fun experience being chauffeured – something I could quite possibly get used to!

The Habits Fashion Meets Wine, was also a celebration of the new tasting lounge at De Grendel. While the tasting room at De Grendel offers both wine tasting and platters, the new stylish tasting lounge, is exclusively reserved for wine tasting only.

Habits Fashion Meets Wine

We started off festivities with a delicious glass of De Grendel MCC Brut – not entirely sure that there is a better way to start your day!

After a brief welcome, it was over to iconic fashionista Jenny le Roux from Habits. For those of you who do not know, Habits has been a fashion institution in Cape Town, for as long as I can remember!

The fashion items, which were paired with various De Grendel wines, were from the Habits Fashion Week 2015 Collection. Each garment selected was thoughtfully paired with a De Grendel wine, which mirrored or enhanced the character of the design.

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Below you can see the gorgeous Habits designs, from Fashion Week 2015, each displayed with their wine pairing.

The beautiful Variegated Stripe Satin Dress below, was my absolute favourite. It was perfectly paired with the De Grendel Chardonnay. Both the design and the wine are rich and full, with an air of elegance and sophistication!

Another favourite design of mine was the Emperor Satin Caroline Skirt, below, worn with a crisp White Shirt. It was paired with the De Grendel Koetshuis Sauvignon Blanc. The Koetshuis Sauvignon Blanc grapes are handled differently, in the vineyards as well as in the cellar, to ensure a bigger and a bolder wine. This makes it a perfect pairing with the design of the Caroline Skirt, which is bold and dramatic, while still projecting a feeling classic style!

What a truly fun experience was had at the Habits Fashion Meets Wine event! Thank you to Habits for the fabulous fashion and De Grendel for the beautiful venue and superb wine. Not to forget Auric Auto for getting us safely to the venue and back to Claremont again, in BMW style!

Contact & Location:

Habits: 1 Cavendish Close, Cavendish Street, Claremont, 7708. Tel: (+27) 21 671 7330 Fax: (+27) 21 671 5201
De Grendel Wines and Restaurant: Plattekloof Road, Panorama, Western Cape, 7500. Tasting room:
Tel +27 21 558 6280

Disclosure Ranking: 4

Competitions, Fashion

Win Spanx Leggings worth over R1400

Last week I posted about the amazing Ready-to-Wow! ™ Spanx Leggings. Leggings that nip, tuck and make your bootie look amazing! They said diamonds are a girl best friend – think again!

Win Spanx Leggings

Well lovely ladies, today I am super excited to let you know I am running a competition and one lucky gal, can win a pair! Believe me these legging really are amazing, you do not want to miss out!

To enter our Spanx competition and win a pair of Spanx Leggings, worthR 1,455.00, please follow the simple steps below:

Answer this question in the comment section below: What makes the Spanx Leggings so special? Hint: read my post to find out!}
Tweet: Win a pair of @SPANX Leggings worth over R1400 from @inspired_lifeSA
Visit SPANX and/or Inspired Living on Facebook and let us know you have entered{remember to tag us in your post}.
Use the Rafflecopter form to complete your entry.
Please ensure you read the *Terms & Conditions below carefully, to ensure you comply with all the entry criteria.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Terms & Conditions:

By entering this competition you automatically accept all the Terms and Conditions laid out below.
Entries are open from 16th October 2015 until the 28th October 2015.
You must complete all the steps as stipulated above on the Rafflecopter Fome: Leave a Comment, Like and/or Share on Facebook or Instagram and/0r Tweet about the competition.
To ensure that your entry is processed correctly (please use a valid email address). Your details will only be used to validate your entry and inform you, if you are selected as a winner.
This competition is only open to South African residents and to readers who have not won a competition on Inspired Living SA in the past 6 months.
*Please note: Once the winner is selected they will need to visit a SPANX SA stockist closest to them, for a fitting and their prize will the be ordered by PDL Distributors. There will be a waiting period of a few weeks for the product to arrive.
Entries will be considered incomplete and thus disqualified if the entrant does not provide all requested information. Entry information will not be shared with any third party without the entrant’s prior knowledge and consent. The prize will go to the first name selected at random after the closing date.
The prize is not transferable and may not be exchanged for cash.
By “Liking” you enter and agree that this promotion is in no way associated with, administered by, or endorsed by Facebook; and acknowledge a complete release of Facebook by your participation.

Fashion, Fashion, Slider

Ready-to-Wow! ™ Spanx Structured Leggings

I seem to live in either leggings or jeans during the week, unless I am attending an event, as they are comfy and practical. My go-to leggings are usually black, because they go with just about anything and black hides a multitude of imperfections! When I received an email to review the Ready-to-Wow! ™ Spanx Structured Leggings, I was super excited to try them!

Spanx Structured Leggings

The Ready-to-Wow! ™ Spanx Structured Leggings have a built-in, shape your silhouette waistband and are completely opaque. The shaping waistband fully flattens your tummy, which is great for those wobbly bits and love handles. The Spanx Structured Leggings keep your butt and thighs looking better than ever and enhance all your “assets”. This is particularly appealing to me as I have always had a bit a larger “bootie”!

Made from deluxe fabric, they feel as amazing on, as they make your body look! The Spanx Structured Leggings are an extremely versatile wardrobe essential. You can wear them with boots and a loose fit knit in colder months or with trainers and a cute T-shirt in warmer weather.

I love the”sports luxe” look, especially as a busy mom, who is in and out of the car most of the day. Although functional, the look is still sexy and put-together!

The thing I love most about Spanx leggings, is the extra body confidence they give you, as they fit in all the right places. As well as flattering all your good bits, they hide your potential problem areas, which you are less confident about. The most important aspect of body confidence is to love the body you have and to learn how to dress it, to help accentuate your best features! So all in all the Spanx leggings get a big thumbs up from me!

Have you tried any of the Spanx products before? If you have or would like to know more about the leggings, please leave a comment below.

Product details:

RRP R 1,455.00. For a list of stockist please visit the PDL Distributors Website. Fabric: 89% Polyester, 11% Spandex/Elastin. Exclusive of Trim. Care Instructions: Machine Wash Cold, with like colors. Do not use fabric softener, Do Not Bleach, Tumble Dry Low, Low iron if needed.

Disclosure Ranking: 2

Fashion, Interviews, Style Inspiration

My Style Spotlight on Blogger Rayne Alexander

Hello all my fashion forward friends! We took a bit of a break from publishing our Style Spotlight but it is high time to get back into the swing of things. Today our Style Spotlight is on Blogger Rayne Alexander…

Hi there! My name is Rayne, I am 21 and I stay in Fish Hoek (Cape Town) right next to the beach. I still live at home with my dad, two crazy sisters and two insane dogs.

Style Spotlight

Please tell me a bit about yourself – what you do, where you are from & any interesting facts.

I currently work as the Beauty & Fashion and Event Liaison for the biggest Event and Nightlife blog in SA. I also au-pair part-time and I work on my blog ‘Make It Rayne’ constantly.

How important is Style & Looking Good, to you?

This question has my opinion jumping all over the place! Everyone is entitled to their own style, and who is to say which style “looks good”? I do feel it is important to look neat and presentable at all times but to try and stay true to your personality’s style. That being said, I myself tend to jump all over the place when it comes to style.

Please describe your own Personal Fashion Style?

I am definitely a style chameleon. I love to play with all sorts of styles when it comes to fashion and make-up. You would find me in ripped jeans, a grunge top and vampy make-up but then next day I could be wearing a lace dress with heels and a clutch handbag. I love to play but if I had to whittle my style down to a sentence it would be ‘classic but comfy’. Most days I work from home or with small children so you would generally find me in very comfy jeans or leggings and a sweater. But I LOVE getting dressed up.

Where do you draw your most of your Fashion & Style Inspiration from?

I definitely prefer to draw inspiration from overseas because most of our stores in SA are very behind in fashion trends. It can be very difficult to find those items which are in fashion though.

Who is your ultimate Fashion or Style Icon and why?

Audrey Hepburn personifies style. She was all class no matter what she wore.

Do you have a current Fashion or Style Crush and what do they have sets them apart from the rest?

I really admire Blake Lively. She is so classy and sophisticated yet she is still fun. She is one of those women who looks amazing on the red carpet, when she’s walking in the street and when she is nine months pregnant.

Where do you shop for most of your Fashion items and do you have a favourite local Fashion Brand or Designer?

I love shopping at Cotton On. They are all about affordability and comfort. When it comes to designers I would have to go for Amanda Laird Cherry. She is just so inventive! Every single piece is a work of art.

What do you consider to be the 5 Must Have Fashion Staples, all woman should have in their wardrobe?

Brown winter boots or booties
A classic winter coat to see you through the entire season (or two)
A LBD of course. But one that can be worked many different ways.
I may get slaughtered for saying this; but I have a weakness for some comfy leggings.
That perfect handbag which can go with any outfit.

If you could own an item or items from any Designer Fashion Label what would it be?An Hermes Birkin handbag. Handsdown.

What is the most expensive Fashion related purchase you have ever made?

I was gifted with a Gucci hand bag and a Gucci wallet for my 16^th birthday by family members but that cannot count, can it? I do not really go overboard as I try to find bargains wherever possible but I do have a fabulous Lou Harvey ostrich skin oversized handbag which cost R1800.

Do you have a Signature Fragrance you cannot live without?

Call me clichéd, but I love the original Donna Karan New York Be Delicous.

How important do you think Hair & Makeup is to your overall look?

I would rate them as highly as fashion. You could wear a paper bag but, if you look fabulous from the neck up, no one will ever know.

What is your most important, never leave home without it Makeup Item/s?

Concealer. Always. Thanks for the bags, Dad. And also mascara, lipbalm and highlighter.

Do you follow international Fashion Trends? What is your favourite trend this season?

Fashion wise I would say the longer length trenchcoat is seriously growing on me. Make-up wise I am really into natural looking skin but dark and vampy lips. And of course, strobing.

Thank you Rayne for being featured on Style Spotlight! If you would like to connect with Rayne you can find her here:

That concludes our Style Spotlight for the month! I hope you have enjoyed it! If you would like to be featured or have a fashion forward person in mind {male or female}, who you would like to see featured here, please leave a comment below or email Fiona.