Fashion spills for Durban July

Through the years, this event has become more of a fashion spectacle than about the horses - well, for most of us who don't know much about horses or the knights, I mean, jockeys who ride the horses. This year will obviously be no different.

The theme for 2009 is "Games People Play". There will be garments that will hit the jackpot, ones that will 'miss a turn and not collect R200' and others that have to 'go to jail'.

Sounds like… monopoly? Ah… that's the idea! There is, as designers and fashion gurus would say: "Nothing as worse or disrespectful as not sticking to the theme" of such an event.

"Because of the Durban sun and the humidity, you do not want to wear all orange or yellow. You will look like a piece of the sun on the field," says TV personality and fashion icon, Bonang Matheba.

Bonang's do's and don'ts:

• Do sunscreen, shades, water and stay hydrated
  
• Do creativity and go crazy
  
• Do individualism
  
• Do dress accordingly for the theme, weather and your body type
  
• Do co-ordinate your colours with your skin
  
• Don't be obvious - "think of other games, not just cards or snakes and ladders."
  
• Don't be uncomfortable
  
• Don't do too much make-up - "it'll melt in the heat and humidity."
  
• Don't do night make-up for a day event - "there is a major difference"

So, what will this fashion icon be decked out in on the day? This much we know - Diamond Face Couture and she'll be taking us to the ball game.

"In the last couple of years, we've really witnessed atrocious, ridiculous and hideous things that people, I guess, deemed as clothing," says radio personality and producer, Lupi Ngcayisa. He hopes that the masses that will be attending this event, this year, will not disappoint.

"Unfortunately, since this emergence of these new, so-called celebrities, that glam, glitz and sophistication of the Durban July fashion has somehow died."

Lupi's do's and don'ts:

• Do stick to the theme
  
• Do work with colours that are comfortable for you
  
• Do colours that complement you
  
• Be subtle - "Less is more."
  
• Don't do white - "Men, NO WHITE SHOES"
  
• Don't wear your matric dance dress
  
• Don't do ball gowns
  
• Don't come up with your own nonsense - "there's a reason for the theme."

Source: Sowetan

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