Keep it stylish at the J&B Met

Published Jan 29, 2016

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Cape Town - Thousands of people are set to descend on Kenilworth Racecourse on Saturday for one of South Africa’s oldest and most prestigious horse racing event, the J&B Met.

While equestrian enthusiasts are excited about the opportunity to watch the country’s top thoroughbreds compete for a R2.5 million stake, fashion lovers are itching to show-off their race-day outfits.

With this year’s theme, “A Rare Blend”, celebrating unexpected collaborations, a blend of textures, prints and colours is encouraged.

Some will get it right with stylish and glamorous outfits, while others may show up dressed for a costume party. To avoid the latter, you’ll need to be traditionally stylish and not contemplate going casual in any shape or form. But keep it simple with sophisticated silhouettes, prints and colour.

Jacques LaGrange, of Jacques LaGrange Couture, known in fashion circles as the “King of Couture”, has dressed celebrities and personalities here and abroad.

 

“Don’t be too serious about your dress, the Met is not the Oscars, so long evening gowns are out. Wear comfy shoes and always keep your shoes on. Use sunscreen, hydrate and keep enough cash for the liquids. Lastly, don’t drink and drive,” he says.

I asked LaGrange to create a Met dress for me and gave him carte blanche on the design and colours. He impressed me with a dress that expressed my personality and style.

“Most of my clients are strong individuals that love the good things in life.

“Couture that fits on a person is like music to my ears and dressing you, a true diva in my eyes, was like a fish to water… everything just fell into place.

“The colour pink or fuchsia is such a Parisian colour that reminds me of Paris couture. I combined the different pink shweshwe prints to fit in with the rare blend theme. The African prints complement one another and just work very well together. The dress is modern yet playful, like your personality… serious mixed with fun.

“I kept the silhouette very couture with the lace and beaded haute couture touch on the shoulders.

“The belt-tie bow is a Jacques LaGrange couture trademark.

“After all, my clients are gifts that I love to wrap.”

* To see more of Jacques LaGrange’s creations, visit his Facebook page: Jacques LaGrange Couture.

Nontando Mposo

 

Make-up

Hair and make-up are two of the most important elements of race day, as it can make or break your entire look. Make-up artist Nabeelah Karbary shares some of her tips of how to look flawless on the day.

* To start off, use an eyeshadow primer before applying your eyeshadow to make sure that the colour is pronounced and intense.

* You don’t always have to match your eyeshadow with your outfit as this is outdated and quite difficult to pull off. Colour eyeshadow can sometimes look dull and incomplete on its own. Rather spread the eyeshadow to the outer edges of your eyes for that seamless fading effect. Don’t hesitate to add some shimmer and sparkle to your eyes.

* If you are not ready to use blue or green lipstick, apply the bright colour to the inner corners of your eyes instead to make them pop.

* Make sure you apply mascara or lashes after you have finished applying the eyeshadow to avoid it looking messy. Running eyeshadow is not a good look.

 

Dapper design

Cape Argus editor Gasant Abarder

Dressed by CSquared

When Cape Argus Editor Gasant Abarder wanted to look drop dead dapper for the J&B Met, the marketing manager for the House of Monatic, Pamela James, rose to the challenge, dressing him in CSquared – a brand that is celebrated for its cutting-edge designs.

“It was easy to style Abarder as his style resonates with one of our brands, CSquared. It is bold, boisterous and elegant. He enjoys wearing slim and fitted suits, which was just up our alley.

“Our garments are tailored to fit and follows the body’s silhouette,” she explains.

To dress Abarder: “We took one of our bold jackets in burgundy and paired it with black solid pants, and finished the outfit with a quirky bow tie.The look was just what the theme means – a rare blend,” says James.

* To find your perfect outfit, visit: www.monatic.co.za

 

Winning wear

A selection of final year fashion design students spent their summer holidays pinning folds and frills in preparation for the J&B Met Cavendish promotion.

The group from CPUT were asked to design outfits according to their interpretation of the 2016 J&B Met theme, “A Rare Blend”, and these were judged ahead of the event. Top honours went to Thabo Mondreki, whose designs were a blend of prints, colours and safety pins.

“I did a lot of research on the latest colour and prints trends beforehand. The patterns on the shirts and pants almost resemble a flower that is blooming. I am also an artist and get my inspiration from everything I see around me. The safety pins are an extra touch as I wanted my clothes to stand out,” says Mondreki.

Mondreki will compete in the J&B Met’s Most Elegant Couple Competition. Judges will include the Cape Argus’s own Lifestyle reporter, Nontando Mposo.

The prizes include Cavendish Square gift cards totalling R35 000 and an exclusive GrandWest Casino package of dinner and tickets to a show.

 

Who’s who at the Met

MCs at the J&B Met will include comedian Kurt Schoonraad, and Good Hope FM presenters DJ Loyd, Dalin Oliver and Carissa Cupido. The full line-up includes Crazy White Boy Live, Jimmy Nevis, The Kiffness, DJ Reddy D, Schoonraad and some of Cape Town’s finest DJs – Sox, Dean Fuel, Strange Lovers, Brett Aitken, Kanan K7 & Larkin.

 

The nitty gritty details

General entry tickets for the The J&B Met|Public Village are priced at R125 and are available through www.jbscotch.co.za, Computicket and designated tote outlets throughout the country. Also, call Kenilworth Race Course on|021 700 1600.

* Facebook: www.facebook.com/RACINGitsarush

* Twitter: @racing_itsarush

* Instagram: RACINGITSARUSH

Cape Argus

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