Fairlady April 2017

My book club is branching out. We have started occasionally taking in an edifying event before supper, but only if it is really, really quick – anything longer might cut into our wine/skinner earnest discussion time. It was at one of these pre-club events (actually the opening night of The Book Lounge’s brilliant annual Open Book Festival – not to be missed if you’re in CT in September, by the way) that we met a writer… let’s call her Mary. Mary was fabulous – clever, opinionated, hilarious. In fact, she was so much fun that we invited her to join us for supper and wine books afterwards. At which point, she looked completely stricken. ‘I can’t!’ she whispered. ‘I’m already cheating on my book club with another book club. They’ll…

1. MAD EASTER WEATHER Because Easter Sunday is the first Sunday after the first post-March equinox full moon, it usually marks the beginning of winter in Cape Town with wild storms and loads of rain. Bring it on! 2. LALELA SCARVES These exquisite silk scarves showcase work from the young artists and designers working with the Lalela project. Lalela identifies at-risk youths and uses ideas, art and music to develop their entrepreneurial skills – with exquisite results. Go to Lalela.org for more. 3. BAR ONES I’m not quite sure why, but I am having a little retro chocolate moment. Mmm… 4. DIRK GENTLY’S HOLISTIC DETECTIVE AGENCY (Netflix) I loved the book, and the series is beautifully filmed, completely bizarre and features some extremely odd characters and conditions. It’s very violent…

WINNING LETTER Happy, shiny people (with curves) In the February issue, there’s a stunning feature on underwear (‘Glorious Curves Ahead’), worn by beautiful women. All the curves are there, all the beauty in their smiling faces – they look magnificent! Why don’t we use women who have normal bodies to model underwear, rather than thin, gloomy-looking lasses? These gals look robust and happy, and you want to buy the underwear. Also, you can see what the garments will really look like! Thanks for your beautiful magazine with unbelievably interesting articles. I’ve always loved FAIRLADY. I’ve been a reader since I was a teen. Yours in fabulosity, Colleen Flower Ed: So glad you liked it, Colleen. It was a wonderful shoot to witness: it reminded us of the power and energy…

A Rotary watch worth R6 500! Celebrating more than 120 years of Swiss watchmaking, Rotary combines quality craftsmanship with the latest design trends to create pieces that never go out of style. This classically elegant timepiece is crafted in stainless steel with rose gold (swoon!) PVD plating and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal glass – and it features the finest-cut Austrian crystals. It’s the perfect modern-day timepiece, boasting the legacy of Swiss heritage and vintage design!…

‘ Swimsuits for every body – that’s our motto!’ Pintuck Resort JO SPRINGTHORPE AND BERYL GOSLETT Pintuck Resort Co-owners: Jo Springthorpe and Beryl Goslett Start-up costs: ‘We’re self-funded. We found vintage fabrics we liked and made a few styles. It all took off from there! Turnover: ‘Our business plan currently requires us to invest our profits back into the business.’ Jo Springthorpe and Beryl Goslett are veterans of the local and international fashion scene: Jo has a career as a stylist and fashion editor behind her, and Beryl was a swimsuit designer – so they know what makes women feel confident in a swimsuit. ‘We were on the beach and I was complaining that I couldn’t find a one-piece that suited my body,’ says Jo. ‘So Beryl said, “Let’s make…

I am on a film set in Smithfield, east London. Emily Watson, Oscar-nominated screen star, is walking towards me with a smile. We are just two of a crowd of people in a grand building called Haberdashers’ Hall, where the most important scene of the BBC adaptation of my novel Apple Tree Yard is being filmed. The scene appears towards the end of episode one. The main character, Yvonne, played by Watson, is at a champagne-fuelled leaving do for the head of department of a university where she does some freelance work. Yvonne is a high-achieving, 50-something research scientist, with a husband and two grown-up children and a beautiful suburban home. At the beginning of this episode, she has been giving evidence at a House of Commons select committee on…