"Fashion is a kind of communication. It's a language without words. A great hat speaks for itself."

Anyone who knows me well, will predict that being in a foreign country is an almost guarantee that I will raid the local shops. I have already posted about my Camden market finds (see here) but my most treasured purchase is this Monsoon dress, also known as the birthday dress. Every year I find myself getting a special dress for my birthday, a tradition which my Dad started years earlier, and one I continue to this day. I found the multicolour dress at Monsoon on the Lincoln High Street and instantly fell in love with it. While I have returned from England with a fair few purchases, this dress is by far my most favourite and largest indulgence of the trip. While we do have some Monsoon pieces  here in South Africa, it doesn't quite compete with the visual delights of the actual Monsoon Store. 

While in England I was also able to find this purple wide brim hat, something that I have been lusting over ever since they came into fashion. And while getting it back home without damaging it or it losing shape was a mission, I am so pleased to have this beautiful piece. What makes it even better is that the hat matches the dress perfectly. Fab! 

"A hat is a flag, a shield,  a bit of armor, and the badge of femininity. A hat is the difference between wearing clothes and wearing a costume; it's the difference between being dressed and being dressed up; it's the difference between looking adequate and looking your best. A hat is to be stylish in, to glow under, to flirt beneath, to make all others seem jealous over, and to make men feel masculine about. A piece of magic is a hat" (Martha Sliter)

S. 

Twenty-two

 Today, I turned twenty-two and as is tradition I went to my favourite little tea room, Contessa tea shop in Rivonia with my mom, gran and sister. I have posted about this pretty little place before and it still remains one of my most favourite and special places in Joburg where I have many fond memories. From a wall with dozens of different teas to the corn and spring onion crumpets for breakfast and finally, chocolate and caramel cake, Contessa never fails to disappoint this tea lover.

The Botha girls

With Rachel, my sister and amazing photographer.

Earl grey tea and Chocolate and Caramel cake. 

Jelly beans instead of peppermints. So cute!

What can I say about turning 22? Right now I'm just trying to catch my breath after being away and adjusting to life as a graduate and no longer a student. And while the next stage of life scares me, I'm thrilled with so many new possibilites and opportunities. 


S. 

Finding Magritte and Banksy in Camden market

I'm back from England with a new clothes, tons of pictures, happy memories and... a cold. The last 6 weeks of life have been intense with a lot of things changing and shifting and as is such my blog has suffered. But at the same time, I think it has been a needed break with focusing on not only leaving university but also focusing on relationships and the future. But now that I'm back I hope that posting now about my adventures and pretty things along with my birthday in a few days will jump start my blogging juices. 

So with that, I was in London this past weekend and visited my cousin in Camden on Saturday. Oh my goodness, Camden market is the ultimate market catering for all lifestyles whether you are there for vintage treasures, goth costumes, Keep calm and Carry on posters, Burberry designer finds or copies of some of Banksy's artworks (Camden is one of his favourite areas). I could have spent all day getting lost in the maze of stalls but sore feet from the day before and a train departing back to Lincoln later that day meant only a few hours and subsequently only a few purchases. 

 This shirt immediately reminds me of surrealist artist, René Magritte and his portaits of a faceless man in a bowler hat. These pictures are in fact self-portraits of the artist, pictured here on the right. My inner art freak, freshly sated after a few hours at the Tate modern the day before, had to have this Surrealist shirt immediately.  

And my second purchase was this canvas tote bag featuring graffiti artist, Banksy's Balloon girl image. Having just written an large paper discussing Banksy's work as well as being a long time fan, this tote had to come back to South Africa with me.

Some pictures of Camden. If ever you happen to be in London, be sure to explore this great area. 

Hey there Matt...

More travel pictures and English fashion pictures to come soon.
S.