The Evoking Elegance Competition announces it's winners!!!

 The Evoking Elegance Matric Farewell Competition concluded on Friday, 28 May 2010. MonRoes Hair Boutique hosted an elegant cocktail evening in order to announce the winners to the competition.

Congratulations to Durethe and Jaco from Tom Naude High School in Polokwane. They were the winners of the Evoking Elegance Matric Farewell Competition for 2010. They won a matric farewell package to the value of R60 000.000!!!

Congratulations to Sarah and Anthony from PHS in Polokwane. They were the 1st runner's-up to the Evoking Elegance Matric Farewell Competition for 2010. They won a matric farewell package to the value of R10 000.000!!!

Congratulations to Luane and Ruan from PHS in Polokwane. They were the 2nd runner's-up to the Evoking Elegance Matric Farewell Competition for 2010. They won a matric farewell package to the value of R5 000.000!!!

The winners to the Evoking Elegance Matric Farewell Competition pose with the Evoking Elegance team members.

The Evoking Elegance 2010 Matric Farewell Competition!

Whether you prefer sophisticated, glamorous and elegant or chic, funky and sassy. The matric farewell season is definately a highlighted affair on every matriculants calendar.

Evoking Elegance 2010 is giving one lucky matric couple the opportunity of winning an amazing matric farewell package to the value of R60 000.00.

• Local fashion designer, Nico Willoughby-Smith will custom design and create a matric farewell gown for her and a matching matric farewell shirt for him.
• Focus on Style will treat the winning couple to facials, massages, manicures, pedicures, sunbed sessions and make-up.
• MonRoe's Hair Boutique will cut, colour/tint and style the hair of the winning couple.
• Classic Accessories will give the winning matric couple jewellery accessories for the evening.
• Peugeot will supply the winning couple with the transportation to their matric farewell.
• Jama Ballroom Dance Studio will give the winning couple professional dance classes for their matric farewell.
• MegaPix Photography will capture every memorable moment of the matric farewel couple.
• The Polokwane Royal Hotel will treat the winning couple to an elegant dinnner for two and will supply their best en-suite for the couple to get ready for their matric farewell.
• A dental practise will whiten the teeth of the matric farewell couple.

The Evoking Elegance 2010 Matric Farewell Competition enters it's second year, giving every matric couple the opportunity to put their best foot forward and enter before Friday, 21 May 2009.

May the best couple win!

Nianell and Lianie May dressed by local fashion designer!

NIANELL AND LIANIE MAY DRESSED BY LOCAL FASHION DESIGNER.

(Photos: Nianell – Informant. Lianie May – Observer Polokwane)

He only knew he would become a fashion designer the day he designed his own matric farewell outfit. Now, five years after qualifying as a fashion designer, Nico Willoughby-Smith is making a name in the fashion world in a very big way.

The latest models to wear one of his creations are internationally-known singers, songwriters and musicians. Nianell performed in Polokwane in August of 2009 wearing one of Willoughby-Smith’s divine creations, and just last week, Lianie May performed in Polokwane wearing a creation that best  represented the diva’s striking personality.

Nico Willoughby-Smith is a designer who firmly believes that there is no such thing as competitiveness if one is in a class of one’s own. Having dealt with the fashion industry in his unique way over the past five years, Willoughby-Smith realizes it takes time to live a burning passion whilst remaining humbled by experiences.

Nico Willoughby-Smith. Indeed a label to watch as he skyrockets into a different orbit.

Sublime Design!

 

After the success that followed the previous 'Trash the Dress' photo shoot three weeks ago, Nico Willoughby-Smith (local fashion designer in Polokwane) was only to thrilled at the idea of collaborating, once again, with Mega-Pix Photography for a photo shoot with a different twist. 

This time, Natasha Cilliers wore a stunning deep maroon haute couture gown made from silk-tafetta. 

After many days of rain, Natasha looked absolutely sublime as the forest trees of the Hearnetsburg mountains towered over her. Enjoy! 

  

  

  

 

"Haute Couture" - Not Just Another French Word

The R35,000 ball gown with 1,000 layers of tulle. The wedding dress with 10,000 hand-sewn swarovski crystals. The floor-length coat made of shredded leather and hand-dyed wool - these are all examples of "haute couture" fashions. Haute couture is a French term that refers to one of a kind, ornate "high" fashion, that are often conceptual and experimental in nature. 

Haute couture fashion represents a chance to create the best of the best - using the highest-quality textiles, and unique materials. Haute couture projects give a designer the opportunity to experiment with innovative sewing techniques, hand-sewing and beading, to create fanciful, exquisite designs that are much more prestigious than ready-to-wear (mass market) collections.

Haute couture is a multi-billion rand per-year industry - though most haute couture creations are extremely costly to produce. However, the notoriety and prestige of haute couture fashions have the unique ability to bring out the best in those who wear them.

While haute couture designs are often seen as impractical and even "costumey," there is no denying that no other form of fashion is as visually amazing as haute couture - each season designers take risks with materials, cut, and fit, and continually create stunning garments.

Local designer Nico Willoughby-Smith is one such a designer who's designs pushes the envelope with his innovative and inspiring designs. Every year Nico ensures that his clients' designs represent all that is whimsical and fresh in fashion.

Trash The Dress?!?!

 

Nico Willoughby-Smith recently joined up with Kobus Schoeman from Mega-Pix Photography for a stunning photo shoot. Kobus had the idea of shooting a dress at the Polokwane dumping site. The contrast would provide for breathtaking photographs.

After Stacey Law fitted the dress designed and made by Nico, she had her hair and make-up done by Marle van den Berg (Cell 082 845 2611) from MONROE’S HAIR BOUTIQUE, which recently opened in Polokwane, and then it was off to the dumping site for the photo shoot.

 

 

A Fresh Take On Summer!!

Story by Yolande Nel (Polokwane Observer)

He is young and not scared to take risks. Polokwane designer Nico Willoughby-Smith gives one ample reason to believe in his ability to continue stealing the limelight while making waves. This is exactly what he did when joining I-Model boss Anne Smith, in one of his stunning outfits, for a photo shoot in the water at the new Fusion Boutique Hotel earlier this week.

Fresh caught up with him amid a matric farewell rush to get hints on what is hot this season. When approached to do the extraordinary by submerging one of his many striking dresses in water to symbolise the cross-over from chilly winter to sizzling hot summer, there was no hesitation on his part. Capturing Smith in one or two poses below towering brick columns, it was soon off to the fountain where she braved the icy water for the proposed shots. And so our model got to resemble a modern day mermaid in a billowing lime green dress that caught the rays of the summer sun.
 

The focus this season, according to Willoughby-Smith, is on silhouettes, prints and colour. He reckons there is nothing better than a garment fitting the wearer well. "People should identify with their physical form and dress accordingly. Although the season offers many trends, I believe one should find the trend that best suits one’s personality and character. "We also find a lot of fitted silhouettes with ruffles and draping. Although the silhouettes are fitted it still gives the wearer the feeling of free-ness and mobility."
 

With this season’s trends focusing on prints and colour, appliqués and bold prints are in a sense inspired by Japanese art as well as famous well-known artists such as Van Gogh. Metalics are still in and it seems the brighter the better, he adds.
As big news as lace is the arrival of stripes. "Be it horizontal, diagonal or vertical, there is a stripe for every body shape." The long dress is out and the style is definitely short with balloon minis having made a comeback. Whether it is bold colours or prints, stripes and lace there is a trend out there to suit every person’s preference, Willoughby-Smith concludes.
 

*Hair and make-up were done by Salon Deo Volente, whose response to spring was the creation of their signature attention-grabbing styles in the open on Tuesday.
Phone Nico Willoughby-Smith on 083 678 2826 and Anne Smith of I Models Training Studio and Promotions on 084 978 0518 or 015 296 1380.