Joie de vivre at Val De Vie, with Ryk Neethling & Lieschen Botes…

Last year on an exceptionally hot and gorgeous day in October, I set off to Val de Vie Polo Estate, nestled between Pearl Valley Golf Estate and Franschoek. I was making my way to the estate for a shoot with one of the most renowned photographers in South Africa, of course it had to be Mark Cameron. I had the proverbial ants in my pants feeling… We (as in myself, Mark, Jo, Carla, Bianca and Alexis) were shooting Ryk Neethling and Lieschen Botes for the Val de Vie magazine.

It was a marathon shoot, no mistaking (5 looks in total!), and we kept working until every last bit of light had left us… Lieschen was more than a dol, she was sweetness and light personified and so pretty! And Ryk, well Ryk was every inch the gorgeous gentleman and lovely (he hardly complained at all about the number of pink shirts he had to wear in the shoot ) And Mark, well Mark was the dynamic, energetic, professional and inspiring photographer I had thought he would be…

You see the story was about summer attire for a day in the winelands and my feeling was that nothing said airy sophistication like a selection of sorbet whites and shades of coral and pink and zesty lime. Lieschen’s hair references had a touch the 1950s pin-up-girl-retro look to them which was exactly what I wanted and Carla was great to work with in this regard, at the time I was very much in love with some Louis Vuitton ad campaigns that picked up on exactly this hair trend. Funnily enough it’s a trend that has pushed through even more strongly this year – Yay! for beautiful, feminine locks.

Thanks must go to Jo Skelton for all the hard work that she put into the shoot and to the team for making it such fun! Enjoy!

Val de Vie Image 1:
Ryk wears jeans R499, Levi’s; paisley print shirt by CSquared R699, Stuttafords; Wayfarers by CSquared R300, Stuttafords; rubber thongs by Linfield R199, Country Road. Leischen wears jeans by Fornarina, R2800, necklace R19.99, Mr Price; silver shimmer knit jersey R599 & bikini R499, both Country Road; gold earrings by Bella Bella R199, Stuttafords

Val de View Image 2:
Ryk wears shirt by C Squared R699,Stuttafords; White shorts R899, Pringle; fuschia V neck jersey by Studio
W, R299, Woolworths; rubber thongs by Linfield R199, Country Road; Wayfarers by C Squared R300, House of Monatic. Leischen wears party skirt R2200,Kluk CGDT; vibrant flame cotton jersey tee R149, Trenery; nude pumps by Florsheim R899, Stuttafords; gold leaf earrings by Bella Bella R199 and coral stone ring by Bella Bella R149, both Stuttafords; sunglasses by Gucci R2750, Extreme Eyewear

Val de Vie Image 3 & 4

Leischen wears shift dress R5564, Iracema; nude wedges by Paris Hilton R1299, Stuttafords; gold and purple earrings by Bella Bella R199, Stuttafords. Ryk wears pink and white shirt R699, CSquared; white linen trousers R1,999, Shakur Olla; specs by Andy Wolf R4275, Extreme Eyewear; brown leather belt R499, Pringle; brown leather shoes R899, Carducci

Val de Vie Image 5:
Ryk wears shorts by Ben Sherman at Stuttafords and t-shirt his own.

Val de Vie Image 6:

Ryk wears Val de Vie golf shirt price on request, Val de Vie; white jodphurs R920, black leather riding boots R2950, Arco Iris Polo belt R490, all Equestrian Affair; Ray Ban Wayfarers R2250, Extreme Eyewear. Leischen wears white jodphurs R620, black leather belt with studded detail R320 and black leather riding boots R2950, all Equestrian Affair; white silk blouse by Banana Republic R999, Stuttafords; Floral silk scarf, stylists own; pearl fan necklace R95, Diva; sunglasses by Blinde R3700, Extreme Eyewear.

Val de Vie Image 7

Ryk wears white suit and coral shirt R699 and Wayfarers R300, all by C Squared; brown leather shoes R899, Carducci; brown leather belt R499, Pringle. Leischen wears gold and peach metal detail top R2100, Iracema; nude slip R 1 400, Kluk CGDT; sunglasses by Gucci 2750, Extreme Eyewear; white bag by Fornarina;flat gold gladiator sandals R799, Nine West, Stuttafords. The girls wear mint green sundress R280, Truworths and peach sundress, models own

Val de Vie Image 8
Lieschen wears dress by A-list, R599; Earrings R199 Bella Bella and gold sandals Hush Puppies, R899, Stuttafords.

Production: Jo Skelton, Paper Rabbit

Photography: Mark Cameron

Styling: Catherine Bowen

Make-Up Artist: Carla Gersia, The Radical Crew

Fashion Assistants: Alexis Olbe & Bianca Lee

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