Solange does it again

As if one of my ultimate style icons(Solange) couldn't get any cooler, she went on and did just that. Her new video for Lovers In The Parking Lot from my favourite song off her EP "True" which was released late last year dropped recently. All I'm going to say is that I am blown away by her uniqueness and flare for creating beautiful things. From her clothes to her retro dance moves, the video is a breath of fresh air. Here are some snaps which can be found from her blog mydamnblog.com as well as the video itself. Enjoy :)

xx

An ode to Chuck(Taylor)

An ode to Chuck(Taylor) by palesa-kgasane featuring a 80s fashion

Quick show of how to make a statement with casual Chuck Taylors and statement pieces. The orange bowler hat is definitely something that is soon to be on trend, bowler hats in general. The hat accompanied by the faux fur jacket are big eye-catchers and give the look that extra edge. I love how Chuck Taylors can instantly give a look a very street edge. As alternative to the knee-length tights, black stockings could be worn with the acid wash denim shorts.

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Alexa the quirky queen Chung

I have always loved Alexa Chung's sense of style, for as long as I can remember I would always google her on my mother's laptop and marvel at images of her out and about, always dressed so differently from what people were wearing at that time but she always looked amazing. I love that she always looks comfortable in what she wears and never compromises her body shape and height.  The way clothes look on her make it seem so effortlessly cool and natural. As much as people minimize fashion to only being something that is purely aesthetic, I feel as if she has proved that there is more to it than just the clothing. It's about being who you are and making the bold statement that is "I am who I am, so take me as I am, world". She is also undeniably beautiful and with her mixed English/ Chinese heritage it is no wonder she comes off as a cultured individual. Her current job is as an English television presenter, model and contributing editor at British Vogue. Basically, she is living my dream. 
Here are a FEW of many amazing looks she has worn :)                                                        

This wonderful woman serves as a muse for many designers because of her distinctive personal style and she is frequently featured on "best dressed" lists. Vogue’s Anna Wintour has described Chung as "a phenomenon" and Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld has described her as "beautiful and clever...a modern girl".

                                              

                                                                      

ABC's of being edgy and classy

This look speaks for itself! You cannot go wrong with stripes, red lipstick and cat-eye sunnies. Any woman could make this outfit look fresh!

ABC's of being edgy and classy by palesa-kgasane featuring lip makeup
This look speaks for itself!
xx

All That Glitters is Gold

Weird or wonderful?

The revival of the 90's grunge style has brought in so many punk inspired looks and designs. One that I've been seeing more and more of is the wet silver/ glitter look. Definitely not for the faint- hearted but it's a look that looks amazing on the runway and can also add a pop of shimmer to any look. Whether it's nails, make up or clothing this look is doing its rounds on the catwalks and I think it's just a matter of time until the retailers stock it up. This look looks best at night and usually just paired with something as basic as possible, preferably black. I'm not sure whether I'll be rushing in stores to purchase a sparkly number but I'm a sucker for 90s apparel so who knows?

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Exotic Prints and Stripes

Winter Prints

It's getting quite cold in this part of the world which means bidding farewell to the colour in our wardrobes- which isn't necessarily true. I'm not one to ever opt for a dull look just because  it's getting colder, I love prints and I still like to look edgy no matter the season. I created this look on Polyvore mixing my favourite trend  vertical stripes matched up with tribal print pants, a leather jacket to tie the look together as well as a bold ankle boot which gives the outfit that extra kick.
I guess this outfit is a bit "out there" but the printed pants could be worn with a plain white shirt instead of the striped one or swap the printed pants for plain black pants. The look will still look great.

Bralet top
 ark.co.uk

Leather jacket
 newlook.com

Topshop
topshop.com

Platform booties
 fashionunion.com


                                                   Exotic Prints and Stripes by palesa-kgasane featuring platform booties
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MET Gala 2013

Year of the punk

So for those of you like me who could only get a late dose of Met gala fashion, you must be as pleasantly surprised as I am at the number of amazing looks. It was particularly difficult to single out a particular favourite but the standouts were Nicole Richie leading the pack and Solange Knowles. Just as well of them have been getting a lot of media attention for their daring fashion sense. The overall theme for the night was "Punk: Chaos to Couture" and most of the ladies went out of their way to be showstoppers. I love that people have begun to take even greater risks with the clothes they wear. after all, it is fashion and what greater way to express who you are then through the clothes you wear. Designers have also been stepping it up in a big way in terms of how far they are willing to go beyond their design aesthetic to make their consumers look amazing. I'm all for pushing the envelope but also maintaining an amount of class while doing so. Although most people can argue that going overboard can lead to a train-smash, I think that there is a beauty that can be found in every strange outfit, it's all about artistic expression.  I'm not particularly obsessed with labels/designers but I must say I love what Kenzo and Burberry fashion houses have been creating lately. Print and structure are all the rage. You got to love something that's so daring it's almost perfect.

I skimmed through all the looks, yes all of them to bring you a few of my favourites. Enjoy :) 

Anne Hathaway- Valentino

Cameron Diaz- Valentino

Sarah Jessica Parker- Giles Deacon

Miranda Kerr- Michael Kors

Carla De Levigne- Burberry

Solange Knowles- Kenzo

Miley Cyrus- Marc Jacobs

Nicole Richie- Top Shop Couture

Sienna Miller- Burberry

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"Black is the new Black"

Age of the non-conformist/ rebel.

If it hasn't become completely obvious, black is making a big appearance in the fashion world. Not that it wasn't worn before, back then it was seen as a colour you wore when you don't want to be noticed, an understated colour. The tides have definitely changed because in 2013 and beyond, wearing black makes a big statement. Wearing a dark color means you can go crazy playing with different textures and layers and also means that your accessories are more emphasized. I love black because it shouts confident, risk-taker, queen! Anyone and everyone can play around with this colour as it accentuates and flatters as well as also being very classy but also majorly edgy. These are the essentials which I think all women need to have in black; the little black dress or maxi dress whatever you're more comfortable in, black leather jacket, black button up shirt and black ankle boots. There is a certain mystery about black, it transcends any trend and is great for nearly every occasion. Whether it's leather or lace, there is a statement to be made when wearing black. Take a look at these black numbers:

photo credits: check my tumblr (brownskinfreckles.tumblr.com) for sources.
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