Winter dreaming with Hunter Boots

 March is my favourite time of year. The abundance of bright foil-wrapped chocolate goodies may have something to do with it. Well they certainly add to the joy of Autumn anyway. But I love March because I love Winter so much. I love the beautiful layers of clothing in rich colours and textures. I love being cold and I love winter food and red wine. March is when my mind shifts in the direction of colder temperatures. Fashion also switches it's focus in the same way. Store fronts are changing, and rails are filling with cosy knits and beautiful coats. Then there are the boots.....oh the beautiful boots.
I am addicted. I need them all. I need more than that. I love boots in every length and heel.

So when I got hold of a peek at Hunter's Autumn/Winter range, I needed to share it with you quickly. I have two pairs in my collection and they have been well worth the investment. I have had four happy years with them and they haven't dated, faded or damaged even slightly. They have been walking, puddle stomping and even bird watching through swampy sanctuaries. They are a saviour for morning walks with a hound who is particularly fond of mud and dirt. I am so grateful that Cape Town enjoys a decent winter. It is never unbearably freezing, but we'll get just enough rain, frost and even snow to warrant a pair or two of wellies.

Here are my favourites from the latest range, which includes all the staples, as well as a few pretty pastels, a gorgeous deep wine red and a two-tone pair that I think would make any festival outfit complete. Being a total short shit, I am now eyeing the mid-calf ones. I love my tall pairs, but they do cover my knee instead of sit below it like they do on every model/fashion blogger with legs for days. So I've accepted my height and fate and will try out a shorter pair this season.

You can shop online here: http://www.hunterbootsa.co.za. You can also find them at selected Stuttafords and Queue Shoes stores nationwide.

New in | Surviving Summer

Surviving this heatwave in style is proving near impossible. I saw someone on Twitter refer to the constant sweating above her lip as a "sweat snor" and pretty much wet myself. A "snor" for my overseas readers, is a moustache in Afrikaans. And right now I have a salty, dewy one perched above my upper lip almost constantly. I feel like I want to ditch the outdoors in favour of being a mall-rat and watching movies all day - which I know is a sin in summer. But I can only take so many consecutive days of constant heat. I caught myself lurking aimlessly in the Woolies frozen food section this weekend and I've eaten my weight in ice cream and chilled watermelon.

I'll stop whinging now and get on with it. It is summer and it is the season to wear all things floaty and floral - but also things that are not polyester. I require soft cotton based fabrics that move and breathe with me. I also don't need any half-moon action showing up either so quick-drying and non-creasing fabrics are whats getting me through this heatwave without looking and smelling like a hot mess.

I spotted Emma's camis when I popped in to her salon in Wynberg to get my lashes done. I had a quick peruse around her showroom next door and immediately fell in love with the soft cotton and beautiful colours. I completely forgot about it until my Dubai trip with my girlfriends in December when Kirst wore this gorgeous strapless playsuit on our desert safari, and I had serious outfit envy. (Yes, I know I've been pretty shoddy with my travel posts and I will be telling you all about Dubai, Bali and Singapore very soon!).
We were hurled through the dunes in a Land Cruiser in the desert heat, followed by dinner in the middle of nowhere, sitting cross-legged on carpets on the floor and eating with our hands. In between all of this we were getting henna designs painted on our hands and feet and riding camels and smoking hookah (not all at the same time just to clarify) - and my jeans and kaftan weren't fairing as well in the style department as K and her lovely little ensemble.
So I made a mission to stalk Emma Brink and see what is new and show you a few favourites that I found. She has a perfect range of summer staples to see you through balmy days at work, the beach, cocktail hour and for your summer getaways too. I'm a big fan of the playsuits and maxi dresses - they're sexy as hell without flashing too much flesh. And they keep a girl cool and comfy.

So other than that inevitable 'sweat snor', you're stylishly sorted.

You can find out more about Emma and her pretty designs here: http://www.emmabrinkdesigns.com

New Year, New Office

My first project for 2016 is to tackle our very sad office situation at home. I will be based there a lot more this year and Dave does a fair amount of work at home as well, so we want to create a space that feels professional and inspired.

I am very into the trestle table thing at the moment - it is budget friendly, and easy to customise to fit two workspaces along a longer trestle. I've got my inspiration from good 'ol Pinterest and now I am ready to start shopping. I'll be doing all the wall art from Superbalist, but for the little details like storage boxes, pillows for the chairs and pretty little knick knacks, I've found everything I need at H&M. Their homeware section is one of my favourite sections in the new store - and here is a little shopping hack: there is never a queue up at that till so take your haul from the women's section below and go pay up there. You're welcome.

These are some of the items that will be making their way into the new Pretty Mint HQ...

Clockwise from the top left:
Wire basket: R229
Cushion Covers: R129 - R149
Silver Hanging Frame: R149
Pineapple Ceramic Holder: R89
Storage Box: R59
Cotton Rug: R349

Bronx Woman #StyleDiary

It is that crazy time of year again. You know, the one where you're supposed to be buying gifts for others - but because there are so many year-end functions, Christmas parties and general merriment, that you end up spending a fortune on outfits for yourself.

This year, I needed to think smart. I wanted to find items that I could use again and again, and even after party season has come and gone, I'd still be able to use them for life in general.
Big call isn't it?

Well, I teamed up for a little Christmas Party look with Bronx Woman and Miss Port form YDE. They challenged me to do a little StyleDiary post using some of their shoes and clothes and I turned it into a little Christmas themed bash of my own.
Instead of choosing a dress, I went for a big white lace midi-skirt that flatters every shape and helps us short girls look a little longer. I paired it with a sleeveless, structured white shirt that looks great with this silhouette - but is also perfect to use again and again after party season.
The white skirt can be dressed down too - or paired with other tops for a completely different look. So all in all, mission accomplished.

I paired the all-white look with some seriously out there tropical print pumps from Bronx Woman. It is summer and I felt like this added some colour and a whole lot of fun to the ensemble. I am involve with the gold stiletto heel!
Plus, in sticking to my versatility theme, these babies are going to look killer with skinny jeans and a black came for more casual summer soirees.

My accessories are from Tessa at YDE and my hair was done at Sorbet Dry Bar - a perfect option to level up your regular blow out. My makeup is all from Benefit - how amazing are the  lashes? Its the They're Real mascara - I am obsessed.

Now for the fun bit - you can score a massive prize in time for Christmas! A hamper consisting of an outfit form Miss Port or X&O of YDE fame, a pair of Bronx Woman shoes, some Benefit Cosmetics makeup and a blow wave form Sorbet Dry Bar.

You just need to vote for my look on the Bronx Woman page over here:
https://www.facebook.com/BronxWoman/?fref=ts
Just comment and vote for the look you prefer - which obviously better be my one!
You have until 14 December so hurry on up! Voters who pick me will also go into a draw run my me on the side for a little something extra. You know, I'm all about incentives ;)

PUMA BY RIHANNA CREEPER

Yep its a pretty odd name for a shoe - but Rihanna isn't exactly well, not odd. She's the queen of strange and all things street so its not really a surprise that PUMA collaborated with her on a range.

There are 3 new colour ways and they are all available right now! I am obsessed with the white ones. Remixing the iconic PUMA Suede, the PUMA Creeper exudes a little bit of punk and rebel with its notorious creeper platform sole and suede upper. This month’s drop features NEW colour variations of peacoat/cool blue, off white/gum, and coral cloud pink/green/oatmeal.

I have been deliberating on a pair of platform sneakers for a while now. I am terrified that they'll make me look short and chunky. But I like the neutral colour of these platform soles, they're somehow less daunting and definitely less "Spice-Girlish" than ones with white soles.

The PUMA Creeper will be available at PUMA SELECT stores in Cape Town, Bree Street and Johannesburg, Braamfontein.

Summer staples under R500

Superbalist may as well hire a delivery guy just for me. I order something every week. I wish I was joking but I get sucked into the vortex that is their "New" section every damn time. As for the apartment stuff, don't even get me started.

The thing is, they're becoming tough to beat when it comes to finding exactly what I want. You need a donut lilo? Sure thing, they have it. Vinyl, headphones, or the latest sneakers? Done. Really slim shelves because the space on either side of my bed is ridiculous and I can't have bedside tables - no problem (the struggle is real).
Although what I seem to have collected the most, is dresses. They keep updating their site with perfect summer staples, or the prettiest prints, and everything that is bang on trend that your fashionable little heart could hope for.

Being an old bag, and not particularly trendy, I stick to staples. I'll dabble in whatever current styling is chic, like the off-the-shoulder look this season, or a bit of fringe here and there - but it'll always be in simple colours like black, chambray, nudes or khaki. So neutrals basically. I find these easy to pair with pretty sandals and I am out of the door in 15 minutes. (Okay Dave is reading this and eye-rolling so I'll correct it to 30 minutes, in the interest of full disclosure).

With the festive season creeping up on us, I'm limiting spending on myself, or trying to anyway. So I've found a few must-have dresses that are easy to style for under R500. Winning!
Actually the most "winning" part about it is the free delivery and the fact that I didn't have to step into a mall. With women just about mauling each other at certain retailers this past week, I am more than okay with doing all my festive shopping online. I'll be posting more on that next week with a few online gift guides, so that you too, do not have to brave the wild.

TOP ROW:

Left: Khaki dress, R329 | Middle: Chambray scrappy dress, R329 | Right: Black slip, R399

BOTTOM ROW:

Left: Black Off Shoulder dress, R499 | Middle: Stripe shirt dress, R329 | Right: Nude shirt dress, R399

All of these just need some gladiator sandals or thongs and a denim/leather jacket and you're out the door. They're also perfect to pair with sneakers which is some brave styling, but something I am loving lately.

Happy shopping!

BALMAIN X H&M

Thursday the 5th of November sees the worldwide launch of the Balmain for H&M collection. Us lucky Capetonians thankfully had a store open in the nick of time. Joburg fashion girls will have to wait a little longer until the Sandton store opens on the 7th.

The pieces aren't priced like the rest of H&M, and many are well over the R2000 mark - but I suppose it pales in comparison to its actual Balmain equivalent which would be more like R20 000. I've put together my rich-girl wishlist of what I'd love to own from the collection. Realistically I'll probably have to narrow it down to one, in which case I'd be choosing between the green handbag or the leather jacket. Given that Christmas is coming, I might actually have to just settle for the t-shirt.

Le sigh.

What are your favourites from the collection?

Superga X Poppy

Poppy Ntshongwana's new range for Superga has finally launched and it is amaaaaazing. I love it when our local girls get scooped up by international brands for collaborations. It makes me giddy with happiness actually. She is such a rockstar - fashion forward, a media sensation and a fantastic role model. Who doesn't want to be like Poppy when they grow up? I bloody do. I know I'm gushing but this lady is probably my favourite SA celeb.

So lets take a peak at the range. Its glam. Its edgy. Its gorgeous. It'll be ready for you to shop at the end of October at Superga Concept Stores nationwide, or on Superbalist.com.
I'm eyeing the light pink satin numbers. Whats your favourite?