Brandhunter Launch

Last week I was invited to attend the soft launch of an exciting new members-only flash-sale site, Brandhunter.
Now as I grew up in the 90s where the teen movie genre was immortalised and the majority of my book collection  consisted of The Babysitter's Club all I wanted to do was be a member of a cool club. And here was my chance! And even better I didn't have to worry about annoying kids to be part of a club :)

Along with one of my fab friends, we headed to 15 on Orange (swanky hotel) to learn more about the site and its products. On arrival, we were able to register and join the site. Brandhunter will only be taking 5000 members so if you're keen to join, sign up now. After December, there'll be a waitlist to get on. And there are no opportunities to flirt with a bouncer for admission. Not that I've ever done that...

How awesome are these key flashdrives.

Unlike other flash sites (still a new concept in South Africa but cray cray around the world) Brandhunter sells a range of premium brands including fashion, gadgets, accessories and electronics at discounted prices. Emphasis on premium. At the launch we spotted massive discounts on Lipsy, Hussein Chalayan for Puma, Paul's Boutique and Big Blue Furniture.

 

The peeps behind Brandhunter are Eugen Petersen  and Caroline Nixon, both of these guys have massive retail, online and marketing experience and can count Edcon, Zando and MIH/Kalahari.com as former employees. Eugen talked us through the beta version of the site so we knew what we could expect.

 

Like the majority of flash sites, the designer sales will only last a couple of days. Delivery will be a door-to-door courier service at a flat rate of 35 ronds. If you signup now and want to treat yo self, you can find sales from PUMA, Dell, Paul's Boutique bags and After Eden. And you can look forward to more Lipsy, The Lisa King Collection (footwear and bags), Samsung, Polo and Ferrari just to mention a few delectable brand names.

 

With Sam and FashionJazz

So what are you waiting for? Go on and signup!

Ex-Oh! Ex-Oh!

Cotton On Super Store Launch

It doesn’t take a lot to make me smile, get me excited or scream and jump up and down. However it does take a little something special to get me to act like this:

That was me on Monday when I received an email to the launch of Cotton On’s new super store in Canal Walk. I think if you could measure the time between me reading and hastily cancelling all my other plans so I could attend would make Usain Bolt jelly.

I love Cotton On. I like that they have bright colours, the sales people always tell me I’m a Medium instead of a Large and they’re affordable. For some reasons I cannot fathom I seem to have a bad relationship with money. Obviously the amounts I spend on cupcakes, take-away coffees and glitter products are not to blame. So when something stylish and in my budget comes along I am very happy.

The only problem I used to have with Cotton On is that it seemed as if we never got the good stuff. If you looked online at the Aus store (where it’s originally from) you can see so much more fashion choices and departments. It was like we got a smidgen of what was on offer.

Well, like my willpower on a diet, that has all ended. The new store is huge for a start so it can start housing all the other departments. Instead of just the smaller pickings of ladies and menswear, we are now able to shop activewear, body, swimwear and kids. And there’s even a mini Typo gifting station. They’re from the same company so score!

There are so many options that it was hard when I was walking around. I got distracted by the lace, the glitter sweaters, the retro-style swimsuits, the colourful skinnies and the cutest pairs of knickers. 

Sue getting tres excited about the swimwear.

From what I saw nothing seemed priced over R500 which was music to my ears. In fact I heard Money Money Money ringing consistently I almost expected Donald Trump to pop out.

 

And even though they’re so well-priced there are some opportunities to save more. I noticed quite a few 2 for R250 or 2 for R400 deals around the store. In fact I managed to pick up two adorable skater skirts and got a lovely surprise when I got to the till. 

Another great thing about the store is the staff. I realise it was their first day and they were out to make an impression but they were on top form. They were helpful, attentive and promised to make every shopping experience like this one. So if you’re at Canal Walk next time and wonder why the store’s closed and I’m munching away on a plate of canapés, it’s because I’m getting the ultimate shopping experience.

Love this colourful display in the kid's department.

I must give massive props to Atmosphere Communications for the invite and the awesome morning. Make sure you get on down to the new store, it’s bitching!

For those that need the proper deets about the launch:

*Cotton On has over 1000 stores and over 150 000 employees worldwide.

*They original started 21 years ago in Geelong, Victoria, Australia.

*Their target customer is 22 years old.

*South Africa currently has 17 Cotton On stores with plans to open another 12 by the end of the year.  

Ex-Oh! Ex-Oh!

Brand ID Lingerie Launch

Yesterday I attended the Brand Identity Media launch. Brand ID is the company responsible for bringing After Eden, Maidenform and Elle Macpherson Intimates to SA. So I think we owe them a lot ;)

I got to mingle with some fabulous other bloggers and writers including Rebecca from All4Women, FashionJazz, SA Fashion Girl, Kathryn from Becoming You and Leozette Roode.

 

We were talked through the ranges from the companies and got to learn a lot about which styles, brands and even colours work for the SA market. The new ranges are all very fabulous and it's nice to know that's a style that will suit everyone's budget. When I meet Future Boyfriend and we have money I will be parading around in Elle Macpherson (I'll also have a slammin' body by that time - hence the parading in my knickers). For now I can buy After Eden and still look as seksi.

Here are some of the highlights:

Love this bra from EMI, especially the little frill detailing.

This is an example of my fave type of underwear. Sadly not an example of my fave price point. Luckily After Eden do a similar one. See below.

Almost the same as the Elle Macpherson one but cheaper :)

How cute are these little cut-outs. I want!

Thanks to everyone involved in the launch for the invite and especially for the fabulous gift below. Cannot wait to wear my new knickers!

Ex-Oh! Ex-Oh!

Open Mouth Insert Foot

When I was younger all I wanted to do was meet celebrities. The problem was, when I did meet one or two I'd act like a total spaz. Not starstruck but I look and act like I'm having a stroke. My words get all jumbled and I make weird hand gestures and then I have to shooed away by security.

I resemble these people when chatting to celebs.

These days I have things a lot more in control. That's not say that I don't embarrass myself or say the wrong thing. I just do it in a much more refined manner.

I am glad to see that I am not the only one who makes a fool of themselves in the prescence of celebs though. Or who they think is someone famous. I happened to be at media event recently where the champers was flowing and inhibitions seemed to be disappearing. At this event was the lovely Tanya Nefdt, who some of you might recognise as a journalist for E-TV. According to one guest at this launch, she is also CeCe from New Girl.

There is no way to describe the sound of an overly drunk woman shouting out "CeCe" across a room filled with people to ensure readers know just how funny and crazy it all was. But trust me it made many people's nights. And the best thing about it? She wasn't all wrong.

Here is CeCe from New Girl.

Here is Tanya. Mind blown!

Ex-Oh! Ex-Oh!

Images from here, here and here.

Hello Lover

So love at first sight...something I've always believed in. Whether it's a pair of shoes, a cupcake, a fat Asian baby or some dark-haired, blue-eyed boy I fall and I fall hard.

Last week I was doing my thang at the Press Room Summer Preview, you know chatting with the girls, lusting after the shoes the fashion editors were wearing, drinking some champers when it happened. I turned my head and I knew it was real. The heavens opened, birds chirped and violins played.

There proudly displayed was my new obsession: the Dolce and Gabbana Gold Edition sunglasses.

The collection comprises of prescription and sunglasses with an 18 carat gold-plated frame. I was particularly  enamoured with the sunglasses as you can see below.

But as all love affairs, it had to end sometime. For me, it was around the time I heard the price of these sunnies R6490. Sorry but homie don't play that.

Alas, it was good while it lasted.

Ex-Oh! Ex-Oh!

Oooh La La

Last week I was very lucky to attend the media launch of some fabulous underwear brands courtesy of Brand Identity. So along with some other blogger peeps and magazine ladies (who are all so well-dressed you feel like even your best threads are potato sacks next to them) I headed to Wembley Square to see the new collections from After Eden, Elle Macpherson and Maidenform.

We were treated to some snacks and drinks and a showcase where all the new collections were shown on girls whose bodies are to die for. A show and some motivation to go back onto diet ;)

There are some very, very seksi things coming from Elle Macpherson's collection. Future Boyfriend, I'm going to need you to step in right about now with your family money 'cause these are beautiful but would destroy my savings.

 After Eden is a great brand and is actually in my budget. When you're blessed with a little more something something on top, you know not just any old bra will do your 'girls' justice. They are the business. And something to look forward to, they'll be launching their swimwear collection. They also have a loungewear and travel collection. They explained it as the comfortable alternative clothes that you'd change into when walking the dog, travelling long-distance or popping out to the shops. Basically they're fancy fat pants. And they're very pretty.

 Then there was the Maidenform stuff. Now as you'll know as a reader to this blog, I am a big fan of magic knickers or shapewear. I probably wear mine about 3 times a week.The only thing I don't love about them is that they are not the prettiest of things. They always come in granny beige and although they work wonders, they are the *last* thing you want to be wearing if there is any chance of sexy time. That is, until you've converted to Maidenform. These shapewear items are the stuff body sculpting dreams are made of. And they're so pretty!

After the showcase we were allowed to look through the collections and walked away with a fab underwear set from After Eden.

 Thanks to the lovely ladies at Brand Identity for the invite, the insights and the seksi knickers.

Ex-Oh! Ex-Oh!