If you are a lover and fan of fashion, but cannot quite extend your budget to a couple of couture masterpieces a season, then there is a solution for you. DuSud, the ready to wear collection under the much loved and well known Errol Arendz brand, offers you couture inspired clothing and shoes straight off the runway. Being African in origin, but international in essence, the DuSud team is renowned for its wit and talent in creating glamour with a strong focus on individuality.

Upon entering the store, Bianca, the store manager, welcomes you with a warm smile, and takes you through the collection as you sip on a coffee or refreshment in a glamorous boutique / lounge like atmosphere. The space is reminiscent of a giant walk in wardrobe filled with indulgent luxury items for you to spoil yourself with. “The experience is all about subtle indulgence, from the service and silks caressing your skin, to the elevated feeling you get when you slip on a beautiful shoe, to the dark caressing environment indulging you in the experience even more. Everything needs to make a woman feel like the most coveted of all God’s creations,“ says South African designer Errol Arendz, the name behind the luxury ready to wear brand.

Here you can find on-trend work wear that easily transitions to the perfect after work drinks outfit, to laid back weekend wear paired with gorgeous shoes, boots or flats. “Cape Town is known for its high society events and each season we also have a selection of drama queen dresses which will make sure you are one step ahead amongst the local socialites,” says Arendz.

Currently hosting both the Winter 2013 Collections of clothing and shoes, the Errol Arendz DuSud Cape Town store has something inspired for women of all ages.

The DuSud flagship store in the Cape Quarter Lifestyle Village in Somerset Road, Green Point has been a well kept secret amongst Cape Town’s best dressed for a while. So make sure you pay them a visit for the perfect opportunity to adorn yourself in these luxury ready to wear items. At the Cape Quarter you’ll be surrounded by unique boutiques, jewelry stores, restaurants and coffee shops all under one roof. After your shopping session at Errol Arendz DuSud, you can pop over to the central square for a delicious lunch break.

The Errol Arendz DuSud store is situated on the 1st floor in the Cape Quarter Lifestyle Village overlooking the piazza. For more information call Bianca on 021 425 or visit the Errol Arendz website.

Post and photos by Sammy Guinness*

As part of their Miracle Tour the travelling dinner-cirque extravaganza, Madame Zingara is now on show at one of Cape Town’s premier tourist destinations, the V&A Waterfront until June 2013. When entering the theatre of dreams be prepared to experience an exhilarating journey with a tantalising three-course meal prepared by gourmet chefs accompanied by a world of magical performances by contortionists, aerial acts, singers, foot jugglers and fairy-tale characters all under one tent of wonders.

The Zingara group also own a chain of theatrical restaurants in the Mother City including the Don Pedro and all his Beautiful Wives in Woodstock. Chef Mark Milne has ruled the kitchen at Don Pedro for the past three months, where he is encouraged to explore his creativity and is challenged every day.

Mark Milne, 35, was born and raised in Scotland where he studied to become a chef at the Dundee College of technical arts. His love affair with all things culinary began at the tender age of 15 when he started to experiment with spices and flavouring. His first position was in a local hotel outside of Dundee where he worked many hours after school to learn and gain experience. His passion instilled instantly, he knew that this was the only career he would ever follow.

He travelled and worked in and around Scotland and England gathering a wealth of experience, and nine years later he found himself running his first kitchen. He did this so well, that the newfound popularity of the establishment prompted the owners to sell and this spurred Mark on to broaden his horizons.

After a holiday in Spain, Mark accepted a job at a fine dining restaurant called The Mariners in Cornwall for two and a half years. Mark has inherited his own unique style of cooking which is a fusion between classic French and Mediterranean using local and seasonal products and has brought it to Don Pedro.

Don Pedro and All His Beautiful Wives:
Known as a beloved Cape Town restaurant, Don Pedro has long been the heart of Woodstock and favourite hang-out for locals, tourists and art crowds for more than a decade. Don Pedro invites guests to step back to a time when the parlour was always the living area of a home and the verandah the place to unwind after a long day.

For more information about the restaurant or to make a booking, visit their website.

Source: Lina from Madame Zingara* 

Welcome to Cape Town. It’s the second-most populated city in South Africa and it’s also the provincial capital and primate City of the Western Cape.

Travellers journey here from around the world to explore this beautiful City. It was after all, a major stopping point in the late 16^th century for the Portuguese, French, Dutch, Danish, and English, while traveling to the Indies. Now it’s a popular tourist destination all year round. Before embarking on your trip to Cape Town, make sure you pack these essentials:

Bring Your Camera
You’re going to want to take pictures of the amazing scenery while you are here. It may also be a good idea to pack a pair of binoculars, as there are places in Cape Town you can’t reach on foot. Your cellphone’s camera will be sufficient for close-up pictures, but if you want pictures of Table Mountain or the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, bring something a little more power with an optical zoom lens.

Good Shoes
The best way to see the City is to walk; therefore it’s advisable to bring comfortable shoes. You probably won’t need hiking boots unless you’re planning a serious adventure, but it certainly couldn’t hurt to bring them along. If you are planning an adventure there are plenty of places to hike like the Cecilia Forest. This forest has paved paths for you to walk on, and can be enjoyed as a light leisurely stroll. It’s also a great way to avoid the punishment of the sun.

Your Papers, Please
When you arrive in Cape Town, you’ll need to keep certain documents with you. Citizens from the U.S need a valid passport and a return ticket or onward ticket) just to enter the country. You are permitted to stay in the country for up to 90 days as a visitor, after such time you will be required to leave. You will also need proof of a yellow fever certificate if you’re traveling through the yellow fever belt of Africa.

It is recommended to bring another form of identification such as your driver’s license with you. Make copies of important documents, like your birth certificate, and consider bringing that along too – just in case you encounter any problems.

A Change of Clothes
The weather in South Africa can change throughout the day, so to be safe, bring clothes for every season. If you’re here to swim, bring swimming gear and if you’re here for hiking, well, bring hiking gear. Keep in mind that it may be sunny one moment and change to cool, breezy weather at the drop of a hat. If you are sensitive to sudden temperature changes, consider bringing a windbreaker or a light sweater – even during summer months.

You should also pack light gear as it might switch from being cool to really sunny and warm. Ideally, you should pack clothing that can be layered.

A Travel Guide
A good travel guide is indispensable. Cape Town is deceptively large and there may be many places you wish to visit which cannot be found without a guide book. A good travel guide will direct you to all the touristy spots, but you may also want to check out places that are “off the beaten path.” After all, you’re in Cape Town. It isn’t every day that you’ll get to see sights like this anywhere else in the world.

About the author: Jodie Bishop is business executive that spends a lot of her time traveling for work. She likes blogging about her travel experiences on various travel blogs. Find out more about cheap flights from Travelstart, visit the link.