It is the annual pinnacle of the party scene, a glossy awards ceremony that draws the fab and famous in all their finery.
However, the organisers of the South African Style Awards (Sasa) decided to hit pause on handing out their Franz Grabe-designed gongs until next year.
Instead, they invited a select few of the country’s who’s who — from a government minister more familiar with black robes and orange uniforms than red carpet outfits, to a new celeb couple stepping out in public for the first time — for a more intimate dinner.
The Sasa Judges Dinner, hosted by beer brand Peroni Nastro Azzurro last Sunday evening, commenced with an aperitivo at the Zebra Square Gallery in Joburg’s swish Hyde Park Corner shopping centre.
Stepping into the showroom for classic collectors’ vehicles owned by Klaus Grogor (the husband of Jill, convener of the awards), I am greeted by Tino Chinyani as I make my way to the bar.
“Are you really single, or is it a PR stunt?” I ask the hunky model and sometime-TV-presenter after his baby mama, Simphiwe Ngema, took to social media in September to announce they were separating.
“Do you see a ring on my finger?” he replies.
On to greeting singers Tamara Dey and Lira before catching up with one of my social faves, Peta Eggierth-Symes, who had a bit of a wardrobe dilemma. The dress she had planned to wear was a little too snug, so she enlisted hubby Peter to snip the lining but he ended up cutting the actual fabric as well. Mind you, her canary-yellow backup dress was a striking replacement.
Someone else who needed to think out of the box for her outfit was heavily pregnant influencer Tshepi Vundla, who raided her mom’s closet to find the full-length V-neck azure Bride&Co gown she wore on the night.
In walks Lalla Hirayama, the lithe TV presenter who recently made her debut on M-Net’s telenovela series Legacy, and she gladly reclines on one of those classic red cars for a photo.
Next, we’re escorted up the elevator to the Southern Sun hotel, where a seated dinner is held on the pool deck.
In walks that couple who have kept internet sleuths looking for clues to confirm they’re dating.
That’s media personality Boity Thulo, wearing a beaded dress by Joburg designer Ryan Keyes, and suited-up actor Anton Jeftha, who also appears on Legacy.
On the other hand, someone who should make more of an effort when she steps out is Blood & Water star Ama Qamata, who pitched in a very boring check blazer and jeans.
“I said this was going to be a casual judge's dinner,” explained the actress.
All around, you can spot familiar faces at socially distant tables — restaurateur Nicky van der Walt and his wife Lee-Anne Liebenberg, award-winning fashion designer Thebe Magugu, actress besties Mampho Brescia and Terry Pheto, and stylish sisters Vicky Crease — the society caterer — and Maira Koutsoudakis, the interior decorator.
Blonde gal-about-town Taryn Louch is the night’s MC. She explains that the awards will now take place in February, fitting into global “awards season”.
And Taryn points out there is a birthday boy in our midst — inviting Ronald Lamola, our minister for justice & correctional services, onstage so we can all wish him well.
The minister, there with his wife Bawinile Msiza, sheepishly obliges.
Though I’m not sure pizza slices are typical stylish soirée fare, I did enjoy the spinach and ricotta ravioli and deboned chicken cacciatore, and I hear the prawn and lime gnocchi was yummy. As for dessert, individual choc tarts with compressed strawberries, tiramisu and gelato.
I expected an equally stylish affair on Thursday after scoring an invitation to the South African premiere of that much-talked-about biographical crime drama, House of Gucci.
Things looked promising after I slipped into the pre-premiere party at the Melrose Gallery at the tail end of Sandton City’s Diamond Walk, thrown by Wanted magazine, the supplement periodically inserted into sister newspaper Business Day.
Opera singer Lynelle Kenned entertained us with a few arias while Vicky Crease whipped up a feast including a lavish harvest table fit for fashion royalty.
Sad to have not seen Wanted’s ed Siphiwe Mpye (he had a Covid scare but was later cleared), but guests such as fashionista Trevor Stuurman, kitted out in head-to-toe Gucci, and PSL comms head Connie Motshumi dressed the part.
Style isn’t a word I would use to describe the main event downstairs at the Ster-Kinekor cinema, where the actual premiere took place.
I had to sympathise with host Siv Ngesi, who was left trying to whip up excitement.
“Are you wearing any Gucci?” I asked the Cape Town-based funny man, to which he quickly retorted: “Fokol. I don’t wear designer brands.”
As for the movie, as a huge fashion fan, maybe it’s because I’m familiar with the story of how Patrizia Reggiani arranged a hit on her Gucci heir husband, but I found that watching two hours and 28 minutes of Lady Gaga looking troubled, Jared Leto bald and Salma Hayek (whose real-life husband actually owns the Gucci empire) reading tea leaves a little too drawn-out.
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