GEN Z FASHION TRENDS YOU NEED IN 2021

As a millennial I thought I adapted to change quickly. I thought we were the trendy generation but I guess times have changed and the new trendy kids on the block are taking over!

In today's post, I am talking to you about the 5 Gen Z fashion trends that us older generation folks need to get up to speed with. I promise I won't make you wear socially unacceptable clothes at your age, but these Gen Z trends are pretty cool and for me, socially acceptable to be wearing out in public. Luckily the Gen Zers are really open to sharing information and when it comes to fashion trends they are all about sustainable fashion, which I love.

ONE:

The first Gen Z trend which I am loving at the moment is Athleisure. Who thought being comfy could look so chic. Whether it is a stylish tracksuit or biker shorts, expect to see a lot of coordination with matching oversized T shirts and crop tops to support that athleisure look. 

TWO:

It may seem that wearing skinny jeans, is a crime nowadays and, well, I am not against that! According to Gen Z, skinny jeans are a thing of the past, embracing a baggier silhouette pair of pants. Flared, straight and wide-leg pants are it right now! From mom jeans to boyfriend jeans these styles are the real hype now and I am loving it! Whether you are jeans or trousers girl, you can agree, loose fitting pants are the most comfy and are finally in fashion, which is something definitely to get on board with. Although Gen Z is embracing the early 2000s again, I just hope Gen Z never reintroduce low-rise pants again, like ever again!

THREE:

I kinda like this generation, they are edgy, fun and most certainly all about embracing your true natural self! Bringing back the 90s small sunglasses are such a vibe! I love Gen Z's edgy take on the 90s and early 00s small sunnies. Pair it with some over sized flared jeans and a tie-dye crop top and you are good to go! 

FOUR:

Speaking of tie-dye, at first I was not enjoying this trend, but to be honest, it has grown on me. I am not sure I am a fan of too much tie-dye but I think a cute tie-dye crop top or hoodie paired with mom jeans and chunky sneakers could actually look quite cute. The one thing I must admit is that the tie-dye trend is much better than our millennial moments of rock star t-shirts. I am a girly girl, so the subtle pastel colours is preferred over the that edgy rock star life that some of my millennial skinny jeans friends are still holding onto. 

FIVE:

The last trend that I think it worth noting, is that Gen Z is all about chunky shoes! Whether is be sneakers, boots or loafers the chunkier the better. Yep, your grandpa's walking shoes are now trendy and well, as much as I have to laugh at this thought, I also sigh in relief that fashion is now about being comfortable, practical and most scertainly more sustainable than ever. The days of tight hugging clothes and thin stilettos, where you could hardly walk, are a thing of the past. Basically Gen Z are embracing ugly but comfy shoes and I might be warming up to this idea. Don't get me wrong, I still love a good heel but I must commend Gen Z for stepping away from what society perceives a woman and accepting gender neutral fashion. 

Although, everything in the Gen Z wardrobe is oversized, chunky and yellow, I am all for it! I don't think we are too old to hop onto these trends. In my eyes, the whole working from home life has really fast tracked the Gen Z Normcore fashion trends and I do not think they are going anywhere anytime soon. What do you guys think?

Head over to my Instagram @fashionfundi for more fashion, style & beauty inspo. 

TC

xoxo

BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN SOUTH AFRICA | DISCOVER STELLENBOSCH

Looking to explore South Africa? Whether you are A local or international, South Africa is really worth exploring. There are so many beautiful hidden gems in the country and if I had all the time in the world, I would explore each place as deeply as possible.  

On our recent trip down to the Western Cape, Marc and I went to visit the beautiful town of Stellenbosch. Personally, I think February is the best time to visit Cape Town, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. The weather is perfect, the sunsets are magical and the summer holidays are over, so it means you won't have to spend your precious time waiting in queues at the top restaurants. 

Marc and I got to explore the town of Stellenbosch at it's finest this last week and I have put together the perfect itinerary for you guys!

There are two boutique hotels, I highly recommend staying at while in Stellenbosch. The first hotel is a little Victorian boutique hotel in the heart of Stellenbosch town called Bonne Esperance. Although to hotel has kept it's 1900's charm, the rooms are luxurious, modern and have spectacular views of the mountains. Bonne Esperance has recently opened their restaurant to the public, so even if you are not staying at the hotel, I highly recommend stopping over for a slice of cake and a hot cup of coffee. Whether you are a guest to a wedding in Stellenbosch or dropping off your kids at the University of Stellenbosch, Bonne Esperance is the perfect place to stay!

Our second hotel that we stayed at, while in Stellenbosch, was The River Manor Boutique Hotel. What a picturesque hotel opposite the Eerste Rivier. Entering the hotel was like entering my dream home. The french countryside feel that I got was overwhelming. Once again an über modern hotel with lush rose gardens and two swimming pools. The interior was exquisite and had we not been so busy with exploring the town of Stellenbosch, I would have spent my entire day in the lounge area reading books and getting inspired by home interior. A real elegant gem in Stellenbosch.  

In terms of eating out in Stellenbosch, there is no shortage of options. If you are looking for a luxurious fine dining experience, then I highly recommend visiting Gåte Restaurant at Quoin Rock. You can pick between a 3 course meal with wine pairing or a 5 course meal with wine pairing. As you may know, I am a big foodie so from the presentation, to the wine paring complimenting the food so well, the experience was nothing short of amazing. The Gåte Restaurant has stunning interior, design and magnificent art sculptures outside, making it the place for a perfect Instagram moment. Not only does Quoin Rock have an exquisite restaurant, it also makes for the perfect wedding venue. Quoin Rock is home to the most magnificent Manor House I have ever seen. Although Marc and I did not stay at the Manor House, it most certainly is worth passing by. The view at Quoin Rock is phenomenal and really makes for a dream wedding location. 

Another restaurant worth having dinner at is the renowned Fat Butcher. If you are a meat eater, of course, this is the restaurant to visit while in Stellenbosch. I think it may have been the best fillet prepared and the most delicious lamb shank I have ever tasted. I suggest going to the Fat Butcher hungry because the portions are decent and you want to order everything on the menu! Paired with a good Cabinet Sauvignon, you will have a really memorable dining experience. 

As we were in Stellenbosch, we had to go wine tasting! You cannot go to the heart of the winelands and not go wine tasting. I know there are so many wine estates on the wine route but, from my experience (and  I have done the Stellenbosch wine route a few times) I have nailed it down to the top 5 wine estates worth visiting. 

1.) Delaire Graff Estate - even if you do not have lunch there, stop over for a wine tasting experience and enjoy the magnificent art sculptures and picturesque views of the Stellenbosch mountains. 

2.) Ernie Els - although we are not related (kinda wish we were as we have the same surname), his estate is beautiful and of course the wine is superb too. I suggest passing by and enjoying the panoramic views of Cape Town and Stellenbosch. 

3.) Peter Falke Wines, is a beautiful location to enjoy what I must say are the best cheese boards and snack platters in town, paired with some divine and well chosen wines. This contemporary wine estate is perfect for a romantic day or to meet up with a group of friends. 

4.) Uva Mira is an estate worth visiting if you are interested in learning about the making of wine. It is a place where you can learn a lot about the process of making wine and what the various climatic conditions can have on the taste of the wine.

5.) Lanzerac Wine Estate is the closets wine estate from the town of Stellenbosch. It is such a beautiful wine estate that hosts accommodation, wine tasting and divine cuisine. The interior at the front entrance of the hotel is absolutely beautiful and the attention to detail at all areas of the estate is well thought.

For more on my trip to Stellenbosch, head over to my Instagram @fashionfundi. 

TC

xoxo

WHERE TO TRAVEL IN 2021 | THE 12 APOSTLES HOTEL & SPA

One year ago, the infamous Covid-19 hit the world with a bang. Non of us really expected it to last so long and most certainly non of us expected it to hit us so hard. Thankfully the vaccine is being distributed across the globe, in the hope that we can all get some form of normality back after this pandemic. 

If you have been following my blog and Instagram for a while now, you will know that travelling the world has always been a passion of mine. Being able to explore new places, meet new people and taste different food is always such a great pleasure. Despite our travel plans being limited in 2020, Marc and I were fortunate to start 2021 with a trip down to Cape Town this past week to explore one of the most beautiful parts of the world again. If you have not yet been to Cape Town, I highly recommend it!

One of the most exquisite hotels to stay in, while in Cape Town, is the renowned Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa, located just outside Camps Bay.  The Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa is part of The Red Carnation Hotel Group which includes The Oyster Box Hotel & Spa, where Marc and I stayed at last year November in Umhlanga. Click here to read all about that stay.

Whether you are celebrating a special occasion or not, The 12 Apostles is really one for the books. The attention to detail that is displayed at the hotel is really to be noted. We stayed in a Luxury Sea Facing Suite and were spoilt with Champagne and chocolates for Marc's birthday! So it is worth going to the hotel to celebrate a special occasion!

The 12 Apostles Hotel & Spa hosts a variety of dining experiences which is definitely worth trying out. If you are like me and enjoy a hearty breakfast but a fresh and healthy breakfast, then the 12 Apostles is the place to enjoy that at. From fresh oysters and croissants to the most divine Norwegian salmon and cream cheese, the 12 Apostles breakfast is to die for! Another highlight is enjoying the 12 Apostles 3-course dining experience or sushi menu, which is delicious. Similar to The Oyster Box, the 12 Apostles offers a luxurious high tea at the Leopard Bar overlooking to breathtaking Atlantic Ocean. 

One of the niche experiences that the 12 Apostles hosts, is their own private cinema. I real treat, especially in covid times. Marc and I enjoyed a movie one night with popcorn and milkshakes. I felt like I was really living my 50s dream life! It is the perfect place for a date night! 

If you are like me and looking for a more relaxing experience while down in Cape Town, I highly recommend the 12 Apostles Spa. The Red Carnation Hotel Group has recently introduced the renowned Tata Harper Skincare range to their Spa treatments at the hotels and my oh my, is it a treat! I don't normally fall asleep during massages but when I went for the Tata Harper Organic Massage, I couldn't help but fall asleep during the 90 minutes of absolute pure relaxation.

The 12 Apostles has two magnificent pools at the hotel, namely the rock pool and the heated infinity pool over looking the majestic Atlantic Ocean. The rock pool is beautiful to say the least, it is nestled at the foot of Table Mountain in the beautiful and scenic gardens of the hotel. I wish I had more time at the hotel, as I would have lounged around the pools all day and enjoyed a bespoke lunch by the pool from the Twelve Apostles Café Grill lunch menu. 

All in all, we really enjoyed our stay at the 12 Apostles Hotel & Spa and if I had the opportunity again, I would most certainly stay there. The hotel is perfectly situated with views of Table Mountain, Lions Head and the beautiful Atlantic Oceans, with daily whale sightings, which Marc and I were lucky to witness! 

For more travel and lifestyle inspiration, follow me on Instagram @fashionfundi

TC

xoxo