Related
Flipside to host J&B Met's after-party
20 Jan 2016
Hats and horses at the J&B Met
Cari Van Wyk 6 Feb 2015
Mixing it up at the J&B Met launch
Cari Van Wyk 29 Jan 2015
Made To Fly Met
Jordan Scott 6 Feb 2013
Large larger largest
2 Feb 2011
One of the biggest highlights on the South African horse-racing, social and fashion calender took place on Saturday, 29 January. The J&B Met celebrated its 34th anniversary this year and took place at Kenilworth Racecourse in Cape Town. It's a well-known fact that this is the one day in the Mother City when you are guaranteed to be blown away by super-spontaneous personalities and stunning designer outfits.
This year's theme for the J&B Met was "Larger than Life" and, as a first timer at this prestigious event, I was absolutely fascinated by the guests' portrayal of their "larger than life" personalities through their amazing outfits and accessories. But seriously - it felt like I was on the set of Pretty Woman - you know, the horse-racing scene with the big hats and dresses, but with a touch of Alice in Wonderland. What can I say, people got pretty creative!
Simplicity and beauty is larger than life
The Most Elegant Couple competition did not disappoint with its carefully selected finalists and fantastic prizes. A Brazilian couple won first prize, which included a Seekers travel voucher worth R25 000, a L'Oreal Paris make-up, a skin-care and hair-care product hamper to the value of R15 000, and each received a pair of stylish Police sunglasses worth R1950 each. The inspiration for her winning most elegant dress was "Simplicity and Beauty is larger than life" - which, by the way, is my new favourite quote. Okay, maybe it was her Brazilian accent that made it sound so cool.
Pocket Power says farewell
After all the hype and excitement, a day full of socialising, racing and parading (humans as well as horses) thousands of Pocket Power fans were sad to say farewell to their favourite horse, which is retiring after approximately eight years. Pocket Power has won 20 of his 42 starts and is the only horse to have won the Met three times consecutively. It was quite an emotional moment, but even though he will not be going to Durban this year he might surprise us with a few more local races in 2011. Now I know I am no horse-racing expert, but I do know that this is one special and very talented horse - so if I don't see you again Pocket Power, it really was nice to have "Met" you.
Photography by Sofi Buys
About Ilse van den Berg
Ilse is a freelance journalist and editor with a passion for people & their stories (check out Passing Stories). She is also the editor of Go & Travel, a platform connecting all the stakeholders in the travel & tourism industry. You can check out her work here and here. Contact Ilse through her website here.
