Young up-and-coming Fashion Designer moves to Port Elizabeth!!!

After being based within the heart of the Limpopo Province for the past five years, a very young, up-and-coming fashion designer is about to share his sublime design talent with the Eastern Cape.

Nico Willoughby-Smith, who studied at The Design School of Southern Africa, will soon be making his mark in Port Elizabeth's world of fashion. At the tender age of twenty-six, Willoughby-Smith has already had the amazing privilege of dressing some of the biggest names within the South African entertainment arena.

Willoughby-Smith, who firmly believes that "there is no such thing as competition when you're in a class of your own", will soon be opening the doors to his new design studio in 2011. There is no doubt that it's only a matter of time before Willoughby-Smith's label sky-rockets into an orbit of it's own class. 

A Cinderella Story for Matric Farewell Winners!!!

 

Evoking Elegance Competition Winners - Joco Pieterse and Durethe Retief.

Most girls would probably love to step out looking smashing on a night that holds significance when she wishes not to attract attention for the wrong reasons.

A local schoolgirl found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow when winning the Evoking Elegance competition for matric couples earlier this year. The winning R60 000 package included everything from a designer gown to dance classes.

Last week it all became reality for a modern day Cinderella, Durethe Retief and partner Jaco Pieterse. The story would have it that they were whisked off in a pumpkin to an en suite venue at Polokwane Royal Hotel for a transformation, with the help of Focus On Style Health and Beauty Salon and MonRoe’s Hair Boutique. And off they went to a most memorable matric dance at Tom Naudé Technical High School in a stylish Peugeot; she in a red and black gown and he in an outfit dominated by a matching shirt made for them by local designer Nico Willoughby-Smith. Classic Accessories provided the finishing touches.

That was minus the awful stepsisters, of course. The couple would have solicited some jealous glances for some time to come though, because the package was inclusive of more luxuries, such as lessons by Jama Ballroom Dance Studio, dental treatments by Drrs Nic and Sybrand van Oudtshoorn, a MegaPix Photography shoot and above all, exclusive media coverage by Polokwane Observer.

Durethe’s mom, Christine, said her daughter had an unforgettable evening and entering the competition was worth the while. She was truly pampered and looked beautiful in her Nico Willoughby-Smith dress, which was surprisingly different from what she initially perceived it to be. Second place went to Anthony Shamley of Pietersburg Hoërskool and third place to Luané Meyer of the same school.

Evoking Elegance Second Place Winner - Anthony Shamley.

Evoking Elegance Third Place Winner - Luane Meyer.