The annual Hollywoodbets Durban July – a celebration of fashion and style – took place yesterday at the Greyville Racecourse in Durban. Although it was a muddy week, the atmosphere was electric and the excitement was palpable.
The sun was shining, and the fashion was radiating.
Attendees came out in their best attire, embodying the “Out of This World” theme, while the internationally acclaimed Ndlovu Youth Choir opened the proceedings by performing the national anthem.
It was also a day where horse racing fans had the opportunity to bet on their favourite horses. Diego de Gouveia walked away victorious, setting the tone for the day in the first race.
Main Defender remained victorious in the second race, maintaining his record. Kabelo Matsunyane bagged his 100th win of the season, having performed incredibly good on Crimson King.
Social revellers paraded with their designer outlandish outfits on the grassy catwalk. The organisers of the event said they wanted designers to think beyond traditional fashion norms, encouraging bold experimentation and out-of-the-box ideas.
Earlier this week, Sunday World caught up with some well-known designers who always grab the opportunity to dress some of South Africa’s big celebrities.
Sello Medupe of Scalo Designs, who has made a mark in the fashion industry and has dressed some of South Africa’s biggest stars, dressed media personality and socialite Khanyi Mbau. Medupe said his interpretation of the theme meant being different in one’s own unique way.
“My interpretation of the theme is the future, so I wanted to play around the galaxy and structured shapes that sculpture the body,” said Medupe.
Sihle Masango, known as Sihle the designer, had the honour of dressing Lamiez Holworthy, Nomalanga Shozi, Gugu Khathi and Faith Nketsi.
Zamaswazi Nkosi of Zamaswazi Inventive Fashion played around with his craft on Lorraine Moropa and Mpumi Mlambo.
“As a designer I added a lot of creativity and got out of my comfort zone and did something with a different shape that you can’t wear on a normal day but compete globally. I followed the theme but still took into consideration that it is a racecourse day event, and we need to tone down on the shiny outfits,” said Nkosi.
Gert Coetzee said everything that he created was always out of this world and it was a very fitting theme for him. Coetzee dressed Lerato Kganyago and Pearl Thusi. He played around with metalics and the African elephant as he honoured the African element.
“I wanted to play a lot with Thusi’s dress, she is known for being super comfortable in her dress and wanted to celebrate femininity and take it to the next level. With Kganyago I wanted to have a high fashion moment on Mars, and I went very sexy with her, which was inspired by liquid magma,” said Coetzee.
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