With South Africa's plethora of fashion weeks, if you're anything of a fashionista, then going to at least one of the shows is a must. This topic is on our mind at the moment because we've just been to AFI Cape Town Fashion Week.

It's great fun, going to the shows, mingling with the fashionistas and checking out what everyone is wearing, but it's also lots of waiting in between, lots of meeting new people, trying to catch the eye of the important ones all the while looking fabulous and sipping champagne while you keep your clutch under one arm and balancing your weight evenly across your six-inch heels. It's an art and not necessarily for the faint-hearted.

We think it's important to support our local talent, and there's loads of fashion weeks to choose from. There's AFI Cape Town Fashion Week, Sanlam Fashion Week which runs in Johannesburg in March and Audi Johannesburg Fashion Week in February, MTN Durban Fashion week also in February and Africa Fashion Week also in Johannesburg in June.

They exist to showcase the designers interpretation of what's up and coming, as well as giving the buyers a chance to put in their orders and for the press to loudly proclaim the next hot trend. So go and see a show... and if you do, follow our advice...

You'll Need:
In your bag your must have items are a scarf, to cover your hair after a long day running from show to show, plasters for your feet which will get sore in those heels, vitamins, lipgloss, a bottle of water and a little something to snack on.

Before You Go:

  • Have something to eat. Shows always run late and you will get hungry. Stash some peanuts in your bag just in case.
  • Take a handbag that's capable of holding all of the above stuff, including a pair of flip-flops to give your feet an in-between-show break.
  • Take business cards with you. It's such a great place to network and meet people, no matter what you do.
  • Dress appropriately. This is a time when you can really go for it! Don't worry about being overdressed, there's always someone more over the top than you.
  • Don't drink too much alcohol, but do stay hydrated! Guzzling the champagne is tempting, but you might live to regret it.