i heart your outfit

Testing as Emily

Emily — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:57:16 +0000

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Morbi commodo, ipsum sed pharetra gravida, orci magna rhoncus neque, id pulvinar odio lorem non turpis. Nullam sit amet enim. Suspendisse id velit vitae ligula volutpat condimentum. Aliquam erat volutpat. Sed quis velit. Nulla facilisi. Nulla libero. Vivamus pharetra posuere sapien. Nam consectetuer. Sed aliquam, nunc eget euismod ullamcorper, lectus nunc ullamcorper orci, fermentum bibendum enim nibh eget ipsum. Donec porttitor ligula eu dolor. Maecenas vitae nulla consequat libero cursus venenatis.

— Emily

cupcake class with the cookie cutter

Liza — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 13:31:47 +0000

Last week we spent our Youth Day evening learning how to make gorgeous, delicate flowers to decorate cupcakes. My sister, who I’ve mentioned before, is super creative and runs her own baking business called The Cookie Cutter. As part of her business, she hosts classes where she teaches you some tricks of her trade. And we were lucky enough that she visited from Durban to host two classes in Cape Town…

We took loads of pics to show you how much fun we had.

Nadine started to set out all the little tools we needed to use… and I did wonder to myself how on earth these worked?

Before all the guests arrived for the class, Nadine spent the afternoon baking the cupcakes and preparing the icing.

Once we’d all arrived, Nadine did a little demonstration for us by rolling out some ganache icing over a dusting of cornflour sprinkled onto a clear plastic sheet. She then proceeded to cut out all sorts of flower shapes, and then it was time for us to give it a whirl.

This was my workstation.

And this was Emily’s workstation.

After making a few flowers and butterflies (it’s not as easy as it sounds or looks!), we went to ice our cupcakes.

Then it was time to decorate! Emily chose gorgeous orange and brown and white, and we had a good laugh at her one flower that looked like a squished spider.

I chose an array of pastel colours, and I dusted them with lustre powder at the end to make them look pretty and shiny!

Thanks Nadine, we had so much fun! See you in November for more classes, can we do Christmas stuff?

— Liza

on the bench

Designer — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 14:44:51 +0000

I discovered Bench about six years ago, wandering the lanes of my old home town of Brighton in Sussex. It was pretty small then, a little shop with a few very fab jerseys and coats, designed to keep out the British coastal chill. I invested in what was then quite an expense – a knee-length Bench coat in jersey fabric, with a high neck and little thumb holes in the sleeves. I was extremely chuffed and rightly so, because I’m still wearing it.

I longed for Bench to come to South Africa. And now they are here. All good things come to those who wait (am holding thumbs that my longing for Zara has the same result). The winter 2011 collection from Bench is made up of cosy wardrobe staples, which they do so well, with an edgy twist, so don’t forget to pop your head in when you wander past.

I speak from experience when I say a Bench zip up hoodie may well be the best thing that ever happened to your winter wardrobe.

Bench is available from:
Bloemfontein: Loch Logan Mall
Cape Town: V&A Waterfront
Johannesburg: Fourways Mall, Sandton and Bedford Centre

— Designer

our favourite four letter word is…

Designer — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 08:23:39 +0000

SALE… especially when it features brands like Missibaba and Skinny laMinx. Saturday, from 10am to 3pm at the Missibaba Workshop.

— Designer

chanel is beautiful… in animation too

Liza — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 11:20:29 +0000

My friend Stacey (who is Art Director at Edgars Club) is pretty much immersed in beautiful design and visuals all day. She sent me this Chanel animation the other day… how insanely cute?

— Liza

bloggers get together

Liza — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 08:07:10 +0000

How fun? A get together with all our fellow Cape Town bloggers. We’re going. Are you? RSVP on the Facebook page here. Oh, and the venue is now at Grand Daddy so more people can come. Thanks Betty Bake and Being Brazen for organising!

— Liza

louboutin’s works of art

Designer — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 12:11:18 +0000

Christian Louboutin’s shoes are works of art. And in recognition of this he has shot his autumn/winter 2011 collection in the style of world-renowned historical works of art. The images are beautiful, but because of their detail they do take something away from the shoe or bag that’s nestled somewhere on the model. We love the concept though. Pure class.

Whistler’s mother must not know quite what hit her… her handkerchief replaced by a spike-heeled ‘Tootsie’ ankle boot with studded piping.

Credit | images from fashion.telegraph.co.uk

— Designer

my father the hero

Designer — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 07:04:09 +0000

As a die-hard Daddy’s girl who lost her father a few years ago, Father’s Day has had its ups and downs, but is now a day I generally ignore. For my own sanity. However this year, being weeks away from having my first baby, I wanted to take the opportunity to pay tribute to him, as the man who not only gave me life, but who taught me what it meant to actually live it.

As a man of integrity he taught me to have faith, to trust in what you can’t necessarily see and to always love… even the unlovely. To laugh loudly and with feeling, to generously give what you can’t afford and to believe in the impossible. Every day I miss him and I wish my daughter could meet him. Instead, I’ll do my best to teach her something of what he taught me and to hope that she’ll carry something of her granddad inside her always, like I do.

“He was the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings the grass from the earth…”

me and dad

— Designer

a june special from collect jewellery

Designer — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 09:33:32 +0000

I’ve had so many people comment on my lovely bird necklace by Collect Jewellery, so I thought you’d be pleased to know that they are having a special for the month of June. Their little silk thread necklaces are going for R150, or two for R290.

The silk is available in red, black and grey, and you can choose between the rabbit, bird or heart charm. Place your orders with julzpatterson@gmail.com

— Designer

a shower for baby

Designer — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 14:23:06 +0000

Last weekend, a group of some of my most special peeps got together to throw me a baby shower. In the past, I have to admit to not being the best baby shower attendee. When you don’t have one (a baby) and are not particularly interested in them, then it’s hard to appreciate what pure, wonderful indulgence they are for the person on the receiving end. I have grouchily sat through many a shower, recovering from the night before, wondering when it would be too early to slip out (over share)…

However I have been converted. Because on Sunday it was all about me, and I will never be glib about such an occasion ever again.

I opened more presents than a very spoilt kid at Christmas. And, now baby Pettit-Coetzee has a wardrobe full of Country Road and Burberry she can officially be born. Thanks to my patient friends for giving up their Sunday afternoon to watch me open presents and to Liza and my sisters Alice and Barbara for planning it… and of course, Mum for hosting. Loves x

All her little clothes got hung out on a washing line across the room. My friends clearly felt that a designer outfit sure beats bum cream. They have a point… Below, Liza with Bailey on the left and my sister-in-law Barbara.

Below is my gorgeous niece Lily-Belle. She wasn’t feeling great on the day (as her wane expression shows) but she found enthusiasm for opening presents every now and then. Until Rapunzel was put on the DVD and then she lost all interest in me and my presents. On the right is my friend Anna’s daughter Chloe. She has great dress sense for a three-year-old.

My sister Alice (next to me in the pic below) helped me by writing out who bought me what on a beautiful list, which I promptly lost. I think I can remember most things, but if I haven’t said thank you, I am so sorry and I will… once I find the list!

Credit | pics by Rebecca Groves

— Designer