Celebs tight lipped on J&B Met outfits
Last night The Zone@Rosebank was turned into a street of desire, where art, celebs, boozy cocktails and fashion mixed together to weave the perfect launch for the 2015 J&B Met, South Africa's oldest horse race.
Lalla Hirayama poses for pictures at the J&B Met theme launch party at The Zone@Rosebank, 20 November 2014. Picture: Refilwe Modise
The evening was also the big announcement of the 2015 theme of the race.
Marketing manager for the J&B Met, Thami Silwana shared with excitement that next year the vibrant social mix of the fashionable and the famous – the movers and groovers – will have to dress as if they are ‘made for the mix’.
On 31 January the Kenilworth Racecourse in Cape Town will be transformed, when ‘made for the mix’ calls on those lucky enough to snag a ticket to showcase how they pursue the unconventional path by combining different fashion styles together.
Silwana has emerged as a style icon, and dresses to impress every year. Next year he says he’s going to mix Zulu, Asian and European influence into his garb.
“Made for the mix is supposed to inspire action, to make people mix something together and create,” he said.
But with the Met just round the corner, celebs at the event were tight lipped by what they will be wearing.
Jen Su said she likes all designers, and last year she wore HipHop. “I’m not sure what I’ll wear.”
Actress Amanda du-Pont poses for pictures at the J&B Met theme launch party at The Zone@Rosebank, 20 November 2014. Picture: Refilwe Modise
Camera darling Amanda du Pont did however share what she wore at the launch – and hopefully she won’t be wearing the same style to the actual event. She was dressed by Adidas South Africa in a tiger camo Parka she used as a dress. Perfect for the mix, but a little bizarre for a launch night.
Lalla Hirayama was dressed by Abigail Betz, in a modest one piece at the launch. Certainly something she won’t do at the real J&B Met where celebs will vie for the title of best dressed in a theme that allows them to mix and match.
Although the mixing and matching will hopefully not go so overboard for spectators to see Mika Stefano pitch dressed as a bag of liquorice allsorts.
Fashion designers open their studios early in the year to make outfits for clients to wear on the J&B Met day.
RGB presenter Sinazo Yolwa poses for pictures at the J&B Met theme launch party at The Zone@Rosebank, 20 November 2014. Picture: Refilwe Modise
Shopping centres and fashion boutiques are dedicated to help various celebs and regular folk with what to wear. This stimulates the fashion industry after the usual post-festive season slump.
And while celebs aim to dress to impress, South Africa’s fashion critics are likely already sharpening their tongues to share the fashion disasters that will may follow after the 2015 J&B Met was officially launched.
