When Food Meets Fashion
A FEAST FOR THE EYES
In the heart-warming fable of Stone Soup, a hungry traveller arrives in a village with nothing but a small stone and a brilliant idea. Through collaboration and the generosity of the villagers, a delicious and nourishing soup is created that everyone can enjoy, highlighting the idea of collaboration and generosity, and the potential for abundance when people work together towards a common goal. In a similar spirit, drawing inspiration from this timeless tale, we embarked on a collaboration with The Local Edit exploring the synergies between food and fashion, and in a delightful fusion of worlds found intriguing parallels.
Picture this: that transformative moment when you look in the mirror and realise that your outfit is not just a collection of fabrics and colours, but in the artful arrangement, confident execution, and personal touches, a reflection of your inner-self. Your unique perspective went into every detail and therefore, the whole garment becomes a translation of your innermost self. It’s a revelation that transcends trends and takes you on a journey of self-discovery. Â
IT’S ABOUT HOW YOU WEAR IT
It goes without saying: when you feel good, you naturally radiate confidence. But styling yourself goes beyond simply following trends – it’s about expressing individuality and feeling confident in your own skin. Embracing that confidence means owning your individuality. Building a wardrobe around your true self makes styling much easier, allowing you to effortlessly mix and match pieces that exude confidence. It is therefore essential to develop your own, unique style and take the time to discover what truly reflects your personality and what makes you feel authentic.Â
At the same time, paying attention to details is crucial, as small elements can elevate your style: Whether it’s through thoughtful, fun, bold, or subtle accessories, these finishing touches can transform a simple outfit into a fashion statement. While it’s tempting to chase the latest trends, fashion doesn’t necessarily mean style. Therefore, instead, draw inspiration from trends while always considering what truly resonates with your individuality. That is where you’ll find the true essence of style.
THE DEVIL’S IN THE DETAIL
As we embrace this notion of being stylish rather than fashionable, that same notion can be applied to food when styling it. As with fashion, confidence is essential to impress your guests. It starts with believing in your culinary creations and presenting them with flair. Developing your own unique style in the kitchen involves discovering flavours and dishes that reflect your personality and authenticity. Paying attention to small details, such as garnishes and presentations, can elevate your food styling game. Remember, trends come and go, but classics endure, so prioritise style over fleeting fads, and don’t be afraid to mix and match ingredients and textures to create culinary balance and intrigue.
SHOWING YOUR TRUE COLOURSÂ
Colour palettes, much like the flavours on a plate, have the power to evoke emotions, set moods, and create a feast for the eyes. Just imagine a vibrant array of ingredients in a beautifully arranged salad, where the crisp greens, juicy red tomatoes, and vibrant yellow peppers create a harmonious blend of colours. The Local Edit represents a variety of local producers with an affinity for natural, raw materials, and therefore embraces a palette rooted in the natural tones of wood, clay, sand, ceramic, linen, cotton, leather, and steel, exuding warmth, comfort, and simplicity. Alongside these foundational hues, they explore vibrant and unconventional colour palettes, incorporating trending tones like bright green, deep mustard, joyful pink, lavender purple, calming dove blue, and serene sand.Â
For winter, their choice of tonal palettes with a classic heritage green as the grounding element resonates with the current food styling trends that emphasise natural and earthy tones. Just as food stylists use rich warm natural tones like stone, sand, terracotta or oak to create a visually appealing and inviting presentation, The Local Edit’s curated collection reflects a similar aesthetic. Their commitment to fostering a greater appreciation for local design aligns with the growing emphasis on showcasing local and sustainable ingredients in food styling. By representing local producers with an affinity for natural raw materials, The Local Edit’s approach echoes the desire in food styling to highlight organic and locally sourced ingredients that promote a connection to nature and a sense of authenticity.
WHAT STORY ARE YOU TELLING?Â
Just as we use visual elements in food styling to evoke a mood or context, fashion styling also has the power to create a narrative through clothing, accessories and overall presentation. What you wear and how you wear it serves as a visual translation of your identity and values. Consider a meticulously plated gourmet dish at a fine dining restaurant. Every element on the plate is carefully arranged showcasing a harmonious blend of colors, textures, and flavors. Now picture an haute couture runway show where models gracefully strut down the catwalk, adorned in exquisite garments meticulously crafted with intricate details and luxurious fabrics. The runway becomes a stage for artistic expression, as each ensemble tells a unique story through its impeccable tailoring, innovative design, and refined aesthetics, and finds itself within the context of the fashion show. Both in food and fashion has the ability to captivate the senses and leave a lasting impression, demonstrating the power of styling to convey a narrative and create an immersive experience.
DESIGN, GLOBAL STORY
With a strong online presence and deep connections in the local design industry, Christine Meintjes and Berdine Swart came together to establish The Local Edit in September 2021. Their mission was to promote sustainability and celebrate the people, products, businesses, and brands within the South African design industry. By curating a magazine-like experience, The Local Edit offers a hand-selected collection of local designs while providing the convenience of a one-stop shop for discovering and purchasing high-quality South African products. Read more about our recent collaboration in JAN the Journal Vol 11 – available now.
