Sunday Times The Edit Man Spring/Summer 2017

T-SHIRT, R699, DIESEL; GOLFER, R1 499, POLO; SHIRT, R699, TOPSHOP; BRENTWOOD TROUSERS, R1 100, SKYE; DIOR SUNGLASSES, R5 301, THE EYEMAKERS; BELT, R140, MRP; HERITAGE BLACK BAY RED WATCH, R47 740, TUDOR; SATCHEL, R2 799, MAT & MAY

JACKET, R2 299, HERSCHEL SUPPLY CO; JACK & JONES SHIRT, R895, DESIGN OF EUROPE; GOLFER, R799, PRINGLE OF SCOTLAND; BRENTWOOD TROUSERS, R1 100, SKYE; DIOR GLASSES, R5 301, THE EYEMAKERS; BELT, R349, TRENERY; BLACK BAY CHRONO WATCH, R67 140, TUDOR

THE POOL PARTY

Dolce & Gabbana

The One For Men EDT, 100ml, R1 465

This one is a real luxury, so reserve it for only the best of summer events.

Take advantage of sweltering days that will allow this intense, aromatic, spicy scent to settle

Tackle the end-of-year festivities with skin that can withstand the toughest of schedules, and statement-making fragrances THE COCKTAIL DINNER Yardley English Blazer Black, 100ml, R200 Make sure you have a scent that will last all day, should a surprise event pop up. This aromatic fragrance with thyme, lavender, cedarwood, and citrus gives you a fresh

THE TEAMBUILDING EXCURSION

Versace Dylan Blue EDT, 100ml, R1 230

Distinct notes such as bergamot, grapefruit, black pepper, ambrox and saffron make this a spicy zesty scent that will outlast the toughest obstacle course.

3 WAYS... TO SURVIVE HANGOVER SKIN

THE REMEDY

After a long night, especially one containing one too many shots, the skin loses a lot of water since alcohol is a diuretic. After cleansing your skin, use a serum or moisturiser rich in hyaluronic acid to inject moisture into the cells or try a mask for intense hydration.

THE REMEDY Blame it on the alcohol, but those flushed cheeks aren’t going anywhere. Drinking causes blood vessels to dilate, resulting in redness and even burst capillaries. Combat this by using products containing cucumber, chamomile, or aloe vera to reduce redness.

THE SAXON HOTEL, VILLA AND SPA

@thesaxonhotel

THE REMEDY Antioxidants are your little helpers when skin needs to look healthy and revived. Concentrate on giving your skin a serum or moisturiser with doses of vitamin C to brighten the skin, or vitamin A to increase cell turnover and make skin appear more youthful.

Expert’s corner STOFFEL VAN WYK, NEWLY KNIGHTED BY THE INTERCOIFFURE IN PARIS, SHARES WHAT KNIGHTHOOD IS LIKE AND HIS FAVOURITE HAIRCARE TIPS

am a member of, and our local delegates nominated me to the head office in Paris. It requires a number of years dedicated to adding value to our industry through education and fashion work. In 2016 I was elected, with seven other stylists from all over the world, to be part of an artistic team to create and shoot a collection for Intercoiffure Mondial that would become part of the inspiration for the next trend forecast. I guess that formed part of the reason for my nomination. Paris awarded me and I was fortunate enough to receive the award during an amazing 60-year anniversary gala event of Intercoiffure South Africa in Cape Town. What are some haircare tips that you swear by and why? Co-washing is a great new shampooless concept for squeaky clean but not dehydrated hair, especially for active guys. Use a professionally formulated conditioner as a shampoo: most well formulated conditioners have certain ingredients that have cleansing and conditioning agents. Always have a medium-to-strong-hold styling paste, such as Kevin Murphy’s Knight Rider, R455, for shorter hair. It’s handy to get immediate touch control on drier hair. If you have longer hair try L’ Anza’s Molding Paste, R320, or Kevin Murphy’s Easy Rider, R455, on wet hair and then style afterwards. What are the summer hair trends for men that we should look out for? The pompadour and hipster vibes are still around, and there is a trend towards very short fades, combined with angular and asymmetrical top line. Of course, longer, more textured hair is a must for the next season — please don’t mistake a man bun for longer hair.

ED’S PICK: MALE TREATMENTS TO TRY NOW

TREATMENT

Omorovizca Gentleman’s Back Treatment, 75 minutes, from R1 000

BEST FOR That well-deserved splurge that relaxes the body with a mud mask, exfoliation, and back and foot massage.

“CO-WASHING IS A GREAT NEW, SHAMPOOLESS CONCEPT FOR SQUEAKY CLEAN BUT NOT DEHYDRATED HAIR, ESPECIALLY FOR ACTIVE GUYS”

boys in bloom

Lemaire’s effortless Spring/Summer 2018 collection modifies simple , timeless pieces with sepia-toned florals, baggy contours , and textural variety, for a contemporary, elegant effect

street smarts

Loosen

mish-mash

N21 is exploding into colour , with festive, ’70s-style prints and fabrics galore. Make a statement with eye-catching combinations of matte and lustre, muted hues, and arresting patterns worn in tandem

AFRICA AT LARGE, and South

Africa in particular, is informing a global design aesthetic, inspired by the pace, the potential, and the cultural plurality of the continent.

Tristan du Plessis is a Johannesburg-born designer whose projects span locations as disparate as Cape Town and Rome. His career began at property-development agency MKB in 2007, where he was eventually promoted to the role of design director. “It was there that I found my calling for design, and my love for architecture,” he says.

In 2015, du Plessis established Studio A, the boutique architecture and design firm responsible for the redesign of the flagship News Café space in Rosebank. The rejuvenated bistro — a hybrid of old-world sophistication and experimental garnishing — recently won Studio A the International Restaurant & Bar Design Award in the Middle East and Africa category.

Studio A’s reputation (and, by extension, du Plessis’) has been cemented by its role in the creation of Mesh Club, in the epicentre of Johannesburg’s Keyes Art Mile. “Mesh Club is definitely a firm favourite of mine,” du Plessis says. “We were able to work with amazing artists, craftsmen, and clients who were completely on board with pushing the boundaries of design.”

Du Plessis’ success as a designer is contingent on his ability to reconcile the practical imperatives

the art of design

South African designer Tristan du Plessis, SA Style Awards winner, is adept at integrating the local and the specific with the global and the futuristic

of space-creation with an artistic approach that funnels musical, cultural, and visual influences into his designs. It’s easy to forget that, in addition to moulding the aesthetic character of spaces like Mesh, Studio A is responsible for “internal architectural requirements, such as the construction documentation, services layouts, and council plans,” enumerated by du Plessis. But he is adept at juggling the pragmatic facets of his job with the creative impetus that lends his work its finesse.

According to du Plessis, music is integral to his design process. “Contemporary art is also a large part of it,” he adds, “and my recent obsession is with street art. I try to infuse a mural by a great street artist into most of my interiors.”

Studio A specialises in hospitality design, and

THE FUTURE

is busy applying its expertise to myriad projects across the globe, including a boutique design hotel in Rome and restaurants in Miami and Kansas City.

Simultaneously, du Plessis has a vested interest in contributing to the evolution of South Africa’s blossoming design culture. In addition to his international schemes, he is involved in the creation of boutique hotels, luxury private residences, and restaurants in Cape Town and his native Johannesburg.

“South Africa has so many unique cultures and aesthetics,” du Plessis says. “That really leaves its mark, and positively inspires my work. Being such a young city, Johannesburg in many ways is quite progressive in terms of design, which I found

OF TECH

interesting when I started doing work abroad.”

Du Plessis is inspired by the likes of Japanese designer Masamachi Katayama, British designer Tom Dixon, and Swiss designer Yves Behar; but he is also enthused by the work of South African trailblazers across disciplines, such as Michelin-starred chef Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen, film director Neill Blomkamp, and music magnate Black Coffee. It is on the back of this ability — to integrate the local and the specific with the global and the futuristic — that du Plessis is emerging as a South African designer with real potential for long-term global renown. At the same time, he cautions aspirant designers that the art of great design is, to an extent, about tempering one’s personality, especially in the realm of hospitality.

“I think one of the sins of design is to design for yourself, or for other designers,” du Plessis says. “The best you can do as a designer is to infuse new ideas into your client’s brief, and create the best experience for the intended patrons, rather than creating spaces solely as a platform to showcase your design skill.”

We chat to Brett Coulton, the mastermind heading up design and product innovation at Dyson, about the direction of tech and his favourite gadgets

What has been the most exciting technological innovation you have been a part of, and why?

When I first started at Dyson, I worked on laundry products, and, in particular, our CR01 and CR02 washing machines. These were not as commercially successful as Supersonic, but from an engineering perspective, the technology of the counter rotation drums and spinning of the big drum at 2000rpm was a real challenge.

THE FUTURE IS GOING TO SUCK MOTORING

The electric car may dispatch with daily drudgery, but it takes all the pleasure out of being a petrolhead

TEXT

Thomas Falkiner

Dyson is known for pushing boundaries. What are your predictions for the next wave of technical innovations?

James Dyson is an incredibly ambitious man and it’s no secret that we have 40 university partnerships. Dyson has invested in the Singapore Technology Centre, as well as a battery company that is looking at extremely power-dense batteries. More recently, there is the electric car. I think this shows that with someone such as Dyson, you can never predict which technology will drive us forward.

THE OTHER NIGHT I was lounging on my sofa watching Two-Lane Blacktop, an existential road movie starring musicians James Taylor and Dennis Wilson. It’s kind of like Easy Rider, but with cars instead of bikes, and ending in a different kind of heartache. The internet calls it a time capsule, and for once it’s right. For within its frames lies a beautiful ossification of automotive culture at its most golden: the high-water mark of mobile Americana, in which Detroit muscle cars and homegrown gassers romped down drag strips (or airport roads) for money or pink slips, sometimes both. The world and the machines depicted in Two-Lane Blacktop may be 41 years old, but they still hold massive appeal today. And I’ll bet you anything that, in another two decades, this movie will stir up even more yearning. Why? Because the future of the automobile is going to suck. Cruise the internet, observe what’s happening at all those glitzy auto shows, and you’ll see that the world’s car manufacturers are all falling over themselves to develop electric cars that will, in the very near future, become the everyday transport staple. Now, I don’t mind electric cars. I think they’re pretty good at dispatching with daily drudgery. Beyond sitting in the drive-through queue and dithering in traffic jams, however, they’re pretty damn uninspiring: soundless entities with about as much character as the Dremel or Dustbuster charging on your kitchen counter. They break or get too old and you simply trade them in for a new model. There will be no legacy. No history. No soul. Making matters worse is that manufac-

Which three innovative gadgets are at the top of your wish list?

I love what Renault has done with the Zoe. It’s an affordable electric car with a great range. If you want something flashier, the new Tesla X looks great. If I could afford it, I would get the Nikon D850, but at £3 500, I’m going to have to save up. The next item on my wish list is the Sennheiser Momentum wireless headphones, because the world is a better place with music!

If you could engineer any device, without any monetary or technological limitations, what would it be and why?

I watched a documentary a few years back on the innovations being made in bionic limbs, which was pretty inspiring. Being so active, I can’t imagine what it would be like to lose a limb or the movement in your limbs. It would be great to be part of the design and development of truly affordable prosthetics.

turers are also looking at splicing autonomous driving technology into these amp-sucking appliances. So instead of actually piloting them, we can all just lurk on the back seat, hunched and drooling over our smartphones. In 2037, it’s not about either the destination or the journey, but the 10G data you can devour en route. And don’t for one minute think that you’ll escape all this hideousness by hanging onto the classics: your old, air-cooled Porsche 911 or a Nissan Skyline. To force you into electrified hell, the evil powers that be will tax the shit out of anything running on dinosaur juice and huffing out CO². Sin tax. Congestion tax. Fun tax. Noise tax. Pollution tax. Yep, to enjoy the roar of pumping cylinders and the rush of changing your own gears, not to mention that sweet smell of hot engine oil,

you’ll have to remortgage your house. And, even if you can afford it, keeping these cars will just lead to a public lambasting by annoying, new-age, earth liberals. In 2037 the old school, fun-loving car enthusiast will be a most abhorred species. Fortunately, it’s 2017 and we have some time left. So fill up your tank with old-fashioned petrol and attack the asphalt for all that it’s worth. Go on that road trip, attend that Sunday-afternoon track day, and destroy that Friday-night drag strip. Or films such as Two-Lane Blacktop and Easy Rider and Vanishing Point will be more than just a nostalgic reverie: they will be a painful eulogy to a glorious era in which the automobile transcended faceless, disposable transport. The future sure is going to suck, so best you and your car make the most of the present — while you still can.

Everyone loves the trendy look and feel of denim. Your favourite pair of jeans is the first item you grab from your cupboard when dressing for a night on the town with friends, or a date at that restaurant everyone’s been talking about. Now, Diesel allows you to look and feel as sexy as you do in your favourite pair of jeans, with the added benefit of the comfort of that pair of sweatpants you wear only when you’re home alone. #joggjeans are so comfortable, you’re going to want to wear them to bed. The clever combination of materials provides you with the best of both worlds, so you’ll be looking and feeling good throughout the day and into the night.

The jeans of your dreams

diesel.com

This summer take it back to school with oversized glasses; effortlessly layered, bright, buttonedup golf shirts; and bold printed cottons, tucked into waisthigh trousers

1. GOLFER, R1 499, POLO; SHIRT, R329, H&M; TROUSERS, R13 750; GIORGIO ARMANI; SCARF, R149, H&M; BELT, R795, KURT GIEGER; PELAGOS WATCH, R62 690, TUDOR

2. JACKET, R15 010, GOLFER, R2 420, TROUSERS, R5 900, SCARF, R2 790; ALL ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA; HERITAGE BLACK BAY RED WATCH, FROM R47 740, TUDOR

3. GOLFER, R2 495, VERSACE; SHIRT, R699, TOPMAN; SCARF, R199, H&M

4. CARDIGAN, R3 750; SCARF, R1 995, BOTH PAUL SMITH; BRENTWOOD TROUSERS, R1 100, SKYE; BELT, R100, MRP; BLACK BAY S&G WATCH, R70 890, TUDOR

5. JACKET, PRICE ON REQUEST; TROUSERS, PRICE ON REQUEST, BOTH FLOYD AVENUE; T-SHIRT, R699, DIESEL; BRENTWOOD GOLFER, R700, SKYE; BLACK BAY S&G WATCH, R70 890,TUDOR; SOCKS, R99, COUNTRY ROAD; SHOES, R670, GREEN CROSS

Polo BY THE NUMBERS

Polo, known as the “sport of kings”, has a growing presence and following in South Africa. The Prince of Wales Polo Cup is the oldest polo tournament in Africa. It’s sponsored by Mr Concierge, and director Masedi Molosiwa gives us a by-the-numbers look at the traditional sport of chukkas, mallets, and ponies

TEXT Nothemba Mkhondo

3

The age when polo-pony training begins. It lasts from six months to two years.

7½

The number of minutes in each chukka (the term used to describe the period of play).

38

Polo clubs in South Africa with affiliated players.

450

Number of polo players in South Africa.

80

Countries in which polo is played worldwide.

10 African artists to invest in

Walker Scott Art Advisory highlights some of the continent’s artists whose work will add value to your collection

1. WANGECHI MUTU

VICTORIA MIRO Mutu was born in 1972 in Kenya, and lives in Nairobi and New York. Her afro-futurist work investigates gender, race, colonialism, and politics in Africa

2. AIDA MULUNEH

DAVID KRUT GALLERY Muluneh was born in 1974 in Ethiopia, and lives in Addis Ababa. Her signature rendering of painted human bodies is inspired by the African practice of body art.

3. TURIYA MAGADLELA BLANK PROJECTS Magadlela was born in 1978 in South Africa, and lives in Johannesburg. She works with fabrics loaded with cultural significance, from pantyhose to institutional textiles.

4. IO MAKANDAL KALASHNIKOVV GALLERY Makandal was born in 1987 in South Africa, and lives in Johannesburg. Her work explores chance and the role it plays in her compositions.

23 947 18

110

Times that the Prince of Wales Polo Cup has been held, making it the oldest polo tournament in Africa.

Number of polo players worldwide.

1874

The year in which the first recorded game in South Africa took place, between the Gordon Highlanders and the Cape Mounted Rifles.

R1 200 “A

The average price of a polo mallet.

RTISTS CARRY the most subversive force that we have on the continent,” says Adama Sanneh, a man of many hats with a penchant for contemporary African art, who is influencing the art and education industries from Milan to Africa.

Even though Sanneh is Italian and identifies as “first-generation, black Milanese”, he is talking about Africa. As a proud mix of Italian, Senegalese, and Gambian, Sanneh has always seen the intrinsic power of art as a multifaceted tool in personal expression, culture, and education — an insight which led him to enter the world of education, and, most recently, open C-Gallery, a new gallery of contemporary African art in Milan.

“Africa is producing some of the most interesting art internationally, but what we see is just the tip of the iceberg, so it’s up to our generation to push it further by really engaging the art space and building a new way to make use of the art medium,” says Sanneh, and he is doing just that by broadening the African art space in Italy.

As a child, Jean-Michel Basquiat was one of his favourite artists, and Frances Goodman and Simon Njami are his good friends today. Sanneh

recalls the persistent, powerful impact art has had on his life, as he has navigated the complexities of having multiple identities, languages, and nationalities.

“I’m very engaged in the African art space because it is new in Italy and there are narratives that have to be built, not only for people to realise that black Italians exist, but to fundamentally stretch the concept of Italianness. There are all those emotional, political, and intellectual tools that

5. SERGE ATTUKWEI CLOTTEY, GALLERY 1957 Clottey was born in 1985 in Ghana, and lives in Accra. He describes his practice, which comments on the effect of material culture on Africa as “Afrogallonism”.

6. KEMANG WA LEHULERE

STEVENSON GALLERY Wa Lehulere was born in 1984 in South Africa, and lives in Cape Town. His work displays layering of ideas that explores black South African history and the function of memory.

7. PEJU ALATISE

RED DOOR GALLERY Alatise was born in 1975 in Nigeria, and lives in Lagos. Her work examines social, political, and gender-related issues, and focuses on women in contemporary Africa.

8 KUDZANAI CHIURAI GOODMAN GALLERY Chiurai was born in 1981 in Zimbabwe, and lives in Harare. His work is infused with youth culture, street art, and graffiti, and addresses exile, colonialism, and migration.

9. PATRICK BONGOY EBONY CURATED Bongoy was born in 1980 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and lives in Cape Town. He works in rubber, a material that is charged with significance in his native country.

10. MONGEZI NCAPHAYI SMAC GALLERY Ncaphayi was born in 1983 in South Africa, and lives in Johannesburg. His practice is inspired by jazz and he is fascinated with the complexities of migration.

Walker Scott Art Advisory offers end-to-end art services to corporate and private clients. walkerscott.co.za

Gallerist Adama Sanneh is using art to make a difference ART

From Milan to Africa: art and Afro-Italian influences

you need to build your own sense of freedom and identity and art is a great part of this,” he says. Sanneh, who frequently travels the world for work, has carried his love for art through his career. As co-founder and chief operating officer of the recently launched Moleskine Foundation, he promotes art as an important element of education, and is working to disseminate innovative and quality education that leverages the power of the art and cultural narratives of Africa.

“What Simon Njami likes to say is that Africa is the perfect metaphor for the world. Everything that is happening here is happening everywhere else, and vice-versa. But, at the same time, Africa is the youngest continent in the world and this makes it the perfect laboratory to set new standards and create new narratives,” Sanneh says.

When you’re next in Milan, be sure to visit C-Gallerycgallery.it

what’s your whisky?

WHO David Kibuuka, writer and comedian

WHAT Ardbeg An Oa

Traditionally, comedy and whisky don’t mix, but Ardbeg’s campaign for An Oa — its first permanent expression in almost a decade — made light of a darkly delicious dram. Dark comedy? Fun puns? I know… sounds a lot like the kind of material

Kibuuka has been writing for his good mate, Trevor Noah.

WHO Wayde van Niekerk, athlete WHAT Balvenie 12-year-old

Triple Cask

He’s the only sprinter to have run sub-10, sub-20, and sub-44 in the 100m, 200m, and 400m, a triple achievement deserving of a Balvenie matured in three different casks. It’s for travel retail only, so van Niekerk can pick up a bottle when his worlddomination tour continues. Dram the Man selects bottles

LWHO: Lupita Nyong’o, actor WHAT: Hibiki Japanese Harmony Master’s Select

Whether she’s burning up the screen, accepting awards, lending her voice to wolf mothers, or voicing her opposition to predators, Nyong’o holds a calm centre that is charming, nuanced, and sophisticated. Hibiki may well have had the unstoppable star in mind when it blended this exceptional whisky.

OUIS VUITTON has travel at the very heart of its brand DNA. So who better to make a truly luxury smartwatch appealing to savvy global citizens, both young and old? The French master of exclusive customised luggage and high-end fashion fineries launched the travel-themed Tambour Horizon this year, joining a few Swiss luxury watchmakers determined to secure their spot in the wearable technology sector.

Do you need one? Well, if you’re a watch afficianado, then absolutely, yes. However, call me old-school, but having another device that requires charging does make me anxious. But it’s not so much about functionality as it is about the fascination with and appreciation of beautifully designed objects and their intricate moving parts or clever technology. Despite not having an optical monitor to gauge your palpitations when you place its perfect Swiss-made, drum-shaped case on your wrist for the first time, the Horizon promises to serve you well as you traverse the planet. At 42mm it is definitely the most elegant of wearables.

I don’t entirely get the point of a smartwatch. When I’m at the gym or on a mountain trail, I don’t want to be interrupted or check my emails, and I’m happy with my rough calculation of the kilometres covered. Don’t get me wrong: technology is life-changing. It’s there to enhance our experiences and serve us, making our daily tasks easier. Unfortunately, we’ve also allowed our minds to be hijacked by technology, our umbilical cords attached 24/7 in fear of missing out. My iPhone is everything, and if its screen were big enough I’d be writing this column on it. So why do I need another device on my wrist that requires a smartphone or accessible WiFi for connectivity?

My Casio CA53W Digital Calculator Watch in the ’80s made me feel connected to the future. However, our current obsession to stay connected has to find a tipping point. A backlash is imminent and the next generation will hopefully be masters of their devices and, therefore, their lives, plugging in only when absolutely necessary.

to spendyour time

how

The number of reimagined historical and retro-inspired timepieces launched by luxury watchmakers this year is not merely a sign of the global financial climate, but an answer to a nostalgic global hankering for something more real and substantial. Time and mass-production broke the bonds between consumers and brands, which are now desperately trying to create memorable shared experiences and evoke some emotion through events and devices. Instead of the design goals being instant, quick, and easy, we need to go back to looking at the technology being used to create the highest-quality engagements possible.

If you are going to set aside your magnificent mechanical ticker with in-house movement for something “smarter”, the value lies in finding a replacement that also fits your lifestyle and style, and is an aid rather than a hindrance. For an on-thego individual who wants something practical yet luxurious, there are a host of impressive releases this year, among then the larger 46mm Montblanc Summit and 45mm TAG Heuer

Connected Modular 45. Tambour was Louis Vuitton’s first mechanical watch collection launched 15 years ago, and the Horizon is an on-brand, fashion-first extension offering 60 interchangeable straps and customiseable dial options for world travellers with handy “24h in” exclusive content from the Louis Vuitton City Guides. The Tambour Horizon features an Amoled touchscreen for the crispest viewing. The operating system is Android Wear 2.0 developed in collaboration with Qualcomm and Google, but is compatible with iOS, and has WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity. It has 521MB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage, with a 300mAh battery. The permanent 24-hour markers on its bezel are a reminder of the functionality, which includes related apps and interchangeable complications. “My Flights” information includes departure times, gate numbers, terminal, and “boarding now” alerts. You can access a step counter and weather conditions by tapping the screen, and the “Near Me” city guide has a useful geolocation function. louisvuitton.com

WHO: Nathan Reddy, chief creative officer

WHAT: Compass Box This Is Not A Luxury Whisky

If you’re suggesting a whisky for a design guru, it had better look beautiful. This limited release from Compass Box is Magritte-inspired, elegant, and award-winning, with just enough irreverence to make it highly alluring and decidedly different — a lot like Reddy’s ground-breaking work.

WHO: Nakhane Touré, musician, author, actor

WHAT: Laphroaig PX Cask

Triple Matured You wouldn’t expect a successful musician to write an acclaimed novel, then star in an awardwinning film. But Touré doesn’t do expected… he does exceptional, much like Laphroaig’s decision to infuse its traditional medicinal taste with some sweetsherried goodness. It’s not what one does. Thank goodness.

WHO: Lady Skollie, artist WHAT: Single & Single Glencadam 1991 16-year-old Lady Skollie doesn’t compromise. Neither does independent bottler Single & Single, and this sweet, sensuous, vibrant expression pairs perfectly with the abundance of fruit in the artist’s work. Both have deep roots in Cape Town, and both have plans to shake things up all over the world.

THE CHARENTAIS copper stills of Martell have produced a new expression in the luxury brand’s collection. South Africa is only the second market in the world to receive this elixir, and we can now enjoy what is the cognac house’s latest innovation: the first VS cognac to be produced by the House of Martell that is distilled from a single source.

cognac

South Africa is the second market in the world to receive the VS Single Distillery

TEXT Thembalethu Zulu

market, as we feel it will be a game changer in the consumption and appreciation of cognac,”

“We are very excited to be launching Martell VS Single Distillery into the South African Martell’s latest innovation: a singlesource

NO ONE ever wins the English Premier League in November. Or December. Or January. But one Josep Guardiola Sala — Pep to you and me — has Manchester City galloping like a Spanish stallion on a steroids overdose.

The roll call of a 10-match unbeaten run (nine wins and one draw) details disturbing evidence of teams drowning in a glut of goals courtesy of Guardiola’s mean machine.

The marksmen of the blue side of Manchester seem to be in a perpetual mood to tame alligators. While others win matches by football scores, Guardiola’s team guillotines opponents by tennis scores.

Stoke City were put to the sword 7-2. Watford were walloped 6-0. If matches are not won by Roger Federer margins, an emphatic chesa mpama (hot klap) gets delivered. Lousy Liverpool got 5-0. Crystal Palace were pulverised by a similar scoreline.

As a result, City’s fearsome foursome frontline had accounted for 26 of the 35 goals the club had scored in the 2017-18 campaign at the time of writing.

In 10 rounds, rifleman Raheem Sterling has equalled last season’s tally of seven goals. Leroy Sané has bulged the net with the pigskin six times, one more than his total the previous term. Gabriel Jesus is walking on water with his six strikes. Sniper

THIS IS GUARDIOLA

The Manchester City coach is back to his old form in his second season at the club

TEXT Bareng-Batho Kortjaas/ Sports Editor, Sunday Times

Sergio Agüero was born to hit the bulls-eye — he has obliged with seven goals.

The manner in which City are going about their business, nonchalantly butchering all before them, stands in stark contrast to the kind of football fare they showed in Guardiola’s first season on English territory.

says Sibusiso Shangase, head of Prestige brands. The bottle has a distinctive design modelled on a “montre”, a traditional sampling bottle used for cognac.

“Not many cognacs can look to fuse a celebration of historic French luxury cues in a contemporary African setting, and we believe this product will shape the future of how cognacs are appreciated in Africa,” Shangase says. Martell VS Single Distillery is available at leading retailers.

Guardiola arrived with a king-sized reputation — scooping silverware at a canter was second nature for the Catalan at his previous employers.

However, the first year of his three-year contract at Manchester City was an abject failure — zero trophies — by Guardiola’s astonishingly lofty standards.

But, boy oh boy, has he turned on the magic! And he is weaving it, if not flaunting it, for all to see. Sterling is going through a rebirth showing finishing finesse. City pick their opponents apart and up pops Sterling, fox in the box fashion, to tap home. Without a question, Agüero has been scintillating for City in his six seasons at the club. But it is to Guardiola’s credit that Diego Maradona’s former son-in-law became City’s greatest goalscorer in the first week of November.

In the 4-2 Champions League defeat of Napoli, the Argentine entered his name into the annals of the club’s history with goal number 178 in all competitions, surpassing Eric Brooks’ 177. City remain unbeaten in the Premier League. Can they finish the season without tasting defeat as The Invincibles of Arsène Wenger’s Arsenal did during the 2003-04 season? Call me crazy, but this is Guardiola. Yes, no one wins the Premier League in November. Or December. Or January. But this, my friends, is Guardiola.

A wardrobe of advertorial

ENGLISH BLAZER’S

THE ORIGINAL GENT

JUNIPER | CORIANDER Base

VETIVER | OAKMOSS | CEDARWOOD

IT’S COMPLICATED

S’thembiso Msomi, deputy editor of the Sunday Times, throws the bones... Four scenarios post the ANC elective conference in December

Ramaphosa decides if he should become president of South Africa or appoint a caretaker for two years until the 2019 general election.

Zuma is recalled and does not even deliver the state of the nation address.

A new Cabinet is appointed. A commission into state capture is appointed.

The National Prosecuting Authority has a free hand. Zuma spends the next two years in and out of court, along with his allies. In January

Zuma and the Guptas are investigated.

Ramaphosa is fired as deputy president. DlaminiZuma is appointed deputy president for the rest of Zuma’s term.

is not charged. Huge cabinet reshuffle. All ministers who opposed Zuma are cleared out.

Commission of inquiry does not focus on the Guptas, but its terms are expanded to include pre-’94 capture of the state by white monopoly capital.

There is another breakaway from the ANC.

A new political party is formed, like COPE and EFF. The 2019 elections are much more interesting. We could end up with a coalition government that may or may not include the ANC.

IN LATE OCTOBER, I joined hundreds of South Africans, black and white, at the Wits University Great Hall for the OR Tambo memorial lecture by former president Thabo Mbeki.

As I took my seat next to an old friend and Mbeki’s former presidential spokesman, Mukoni Ratshitanga, I mumbled something to him about how this Year of OR Tambo had turned out to be exact opposite of what it was supposed to be. The year was meant to honour one of the greatest ever South African minds. Had Tambo lived, he would have turned 100 on that very day, October 27. Unfortunately, he died in 1993, on the eve of our democratic breakthrough.

There’s no reason to be confident that the Year of Nelson Mandela will be any different

President Jacob Zuma announced in his annual state of the nation address in Parliament in February that he was declaring 2017 the Year of OR Tambo. “This selfless patriot (dedicated) his adult life to a tireless pursuit of the liberation of our country and its people... In his honour, we have declared the year 2017 the Year of Oliver Reginald Tambo. It is the year of unity in action by all South Africans,” Zuma said. I must admit I felt a little fatigued by all these memorial lectures. Speakers have often glossed over issues, failing to provide an honest assessment of the state of our country and the governing party. Mbeki did not. He was brutal in assessing the challenges facing the country and the ANC.

The new ANC president will not go after Zuma, but will insist that he steps down as president of the country to avoid the party losing the 2019 elections.

Mbeki spoke about how the historic value system of the ANC of serving the people with honesty‚ sacrifice, and selflessness, without expecting any reward, had been replaced by a predatory value system.

This Year of OR Tambo was meant to usher in tranquility, calm, ease, and comfort. We needed that after a turbulent 2016. But this year has been as chaotic as all the Zuma presidency years. This year alone, Zuma reshuffled his national executive twice. Zuma again fired a respected finance minister, like he did in 2015. Ratings agencies responded by downgrading our economy to junk status.

The Supreme Court of Appeal ruled that the decision to withdraw the 783 counts of

This scenario may lead to the party splitting and a new political force competing for power in 2019.

criminal charges against Zuma, was irrational. This effectively means we now have a president who is an accused. Newspaper front pages have been dominated by Zuma, his family, his friends, their hands, and the cookie jar.

When Zuma made the announcement about the Year of OR Tambo, many of us hoped for a laid-back and scandal-free year. We were not alone. The ANC had hoped that the invoking of the spirit of Tambo would deepen unity within the party and its alliance partners. Those people who know and served with and under Tambo have been relating stories of his profound influence on the ANC during its difficult years in exile.

They all speak of a man who was cool under any circum-

stances. Tambo was a man of peace and unity — thoughtful, warm-hearted, and wise. This was probably the reason Zuma announced 2017 as the year to unify all South Africans. That unity in action was just another dream. Today, South Africa is as divided as it has been since 1994. Ever heard of #blackmonday? And #blacktwitter? It is a shame that the year that was meant to bring us together as a nation is responsible for us drifting apart. There is nothing we can do now. We are six weeks away from saying goodbye to the Year of OR Tambo. But we will also be saying hello to the Year of Nelson Mandela. Will the Mandela year be different to the Tambo year? Your guess is as good as mine.

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LOVE A BIG INTERNATIONAL CITY in which you can walk wherever you need to go,’ says Emmanuel de Bayser, who divides his time between Berlin and Paris. In Berlin, de Bayser runs his fashion and design store, The Corner Berlin, and when in residence in his Paris apartment, he spends his time working intensely on selecting the very best in current fashion, design, and décor for The Corner.

The apartment is de Bayser’s base when he comes to Paris. In a typical month he spends about 70% of his time in Berlin, and 30% in Paris. He views the cities as offering different experiences. “Berlin,” he says, “looks to the future — it is always becoming something — while in Paris, one has such a clear sense of its history and culture.”

De Bayser’s Paris pied-à-terre is situated in a building that is typical of the neoclassical style in which Parisian dwellings were constructed during the time of Georges-Eugène Haussmann’s “renovation” of the city in the

19th century. Originally, each entire floor of the building was a single luxurious home, but these large spaces have been divided over the years, and this apartment was subdivided from the residence next door.

It’s a small space — just 70m² — but feels spacious and expansive. This is the result of the building’s elegant “bones”, which include high ceilings that make for light-filled rooms and interconnecting doors with that open up the space and again allow light to move through. All of the apartment’s rooms look out over an elegant Parisian park.

As someone who has been collecting (predominantly, but not exclusively) French mid-century design, furniture, and collectables for the past 20 years, de Bayser has a refined view of the history and principles of modern design. “This genre of design is timeless, and also mixes so well with the architecture from periods before it was created,” he says. “It has a patina and a lively character that somehow both contrasts and fits with other styles.”

His Paris home is proof of these assertions: in this neoclassical

FRENCH

apartment, pieces by iconic mid-century designers Jean Prouvé, Pierre Jeanneret, and Serge Mouille seem perfectly at home, while items by contemporary French designer India Mahdavi add sophistication to the mix. And then there are colourful ceramics by Georges Jouve, a collection of African tribal art figurines, and a “final layer” of contemporary artworks and books.

As someone who

7

5 In a corner of the bedroom, a table lamp and colourful ceramics form a sculptural tablescape

DEALBREAKERS

When it comes to fashion, deal breakers go beyond the obvious. If you own any of the items below, lose them, and quickly

1. PEARL BOSHOMANE SUNDAY TIMES LIFESTYLE FEATURES

EDITOR

Dad sandals! I don’t mind them on toddlers or their grandfathers, but no male between the ages of 12 and 49 has any business walking the streets in those hideous, strappy leather sandals. You know them. They’re usually brown. Sometimes they have Velcro straps. Sometimes they are worn with socks. Unless you’re asking me for directions somewhere, don’t talk to me when you’re wearing those revolting things on your feet. My husband tried to buy a pair once. I’m glad I shamed him out of that terrible decision.

2. SUE DE GROOT

SUNDAY TIMES DEPUTY FEATURES

EDITOR

Speedos! I don’t really care what a man wears, as long as it’s not a non-ironic Trump-supporter badge. His appreciation of Withnail and I matters far more than his shoes. I am attracted to men who hate shopping, who couldn’t give a damn what they put on in the morning, and who are genuinely sad when their 30-yearold shorts become too indecent for public view. That said, I’d think twice about a man wearing a T-shirt that says “I hate cats” on the front (unless it says “because they rule my life” on the back). And a crocheted Speedo is obviously right out of the ballpark.

MUSÉE YVES SAINT LAURENT, Marrakech

Marrakech was a city of great inspiration and solace to legendary designer Yves Saint Laurent, and now it is the home of his collection and archive at the recently launched Musée Yves Saint Laurent. The Art Decoinspired building, with pink stone and concrete walls, is a must-see for those with a penchant for fashion.

DESIGN SOCIETY, Shenzen

The Design Society in Shenzen, created in collaboration with London’s V&A Museum, transcends the traditional definition of a museum by becoming a new cultural hub that combines, art, theatre, shops, and a roof garden. The contemporary building will also house a V&A Gallery within it.

3. SHELLEY SEID

THE TIMES SENIOR REPORTER

Skinny jeans! In first place are the affectations of hipsterdom: the man bun (may your deity reach down and pull you up by the bloody thing); skinny jeans unless you are Mick Jagger or on heroin. Men in tights — great if you’re hanging with Robin Hood, too much information anywhere else. At the opposite end of the spectrum there’s the farmer two-tone shirt. Smart on top, casual on the bottom so you can go to Spur and then go kill a warthog without changing. And if you count language as an accessory then men who talk in Kardashian: totes — literally totes.

ZEITZ MOCAA, Cape Town

The recently launched Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz Mocaa), is the largest collection of African art on the continent. The museum was created using huge grain silos, which were hollowed out and sculpted to create an astounding interior and cultural space.

4. YOLISA MKELE

THE TIMES SENIOR FEATURES REPORTER

Gold teeth! Why in the name of Midas’ unholy touch would you gild your tooth? What agent of Satan has infiltrated your brain? Plaque is yellow, so you have basically just gone ahead and advertised that you like your plaque ostentatious. I’ve yet to hear a sensible reasoned argument about why one would do this, which leads me to believe that the wearer has an innate sense of comfort with catastrophic aesthetic decisions that I cannot abide. PS — I would unreservedly give my vote to any political party that outlawed this ridiculousness.

5. EMMA JORDAN WRITER

Pointy Shoes! I’m a firm believer that you can tell a lot about a man from the size of his feet. So when I see a guy in those ridiculously elongated, pointed, lace-up boat shoes, I crumple. Most of the time they’re in a shiny material — a patent, faux, or real croc skin. Does a man think he’s the Don when he wears them, because there’s

TATE ST IVES, Cornwall

The Tate St Ives has extended to encompass a new gallery space. The museum exhibits work by modern British artists who have links to the St Ives area. The all-new Tate St Ives features concrete beams, light-flooding skylights, walls covered in sea-blue ceramics, and a roof garden with expansive sea views.

EMST, Athens

The National Museum of Contemporary Art (EMST) in Athens has had many incarnations, including being a mid-19th century brewery. It was rebuilt by a Greek architect in 1954, and established as a gallery in 2000. Its latest expression is as

#TWITTERVIEW

LOUVRE, Abu Dhabi

The iconic Louvre has laid new roots in Abu Dhabi. The highly anticipated museum was designed as a micro city that combines sun, sea, art, and architecture. The Louvre, accessible by land or sea, is an urban space made for wandering, with pools and streets illuminated by a dome structure above.

Fashion designer @ThulaSindi shares his thoughts on creative inspiration, that time he was turned into a meme, and #blacktwitter… all in 140 characters or less

Who is Thula Sindi on Twitter? That is a strange question… I’m just me. I speak my mind, no matter how serious or quirky.

Do you think having a personality on Twitter is important to your brand? I think having an informed opinion is more important than just personality or online charisma. What is the craziest thing you have ever been asked/told on Twitter? Hmmm, definitely not PG. Let’s just say unsolicited propositioning.

QUESTIONS Nothemba Mkhondo

Have you ever been turned into a meme? Hahahaha, yes I have… It is the “Dilo Tse Snaaks” meme of me pulling a disapproving face. What entertains you the most on Twitter? People’s very sharp and varied sense of humour.

Who is your favourite person to follow on Twitter and why? So many people on Twitter are so smart and hilarious, but if I had to choose I’d go with @Papa_Action.

What are your views on #blacktwitter? It is arguably single handedly keeping the app going and constantly evolving Twitter’s impact on pop culture. What is your take on the local fashion industry? It is definitely growing. South African designers just need more support from the government and private sector to gain access to the market. Twitter or Instagram? And why? They are very different apps: both have their vital uses.