I got some semi-crappy news earlier this week and its full effects kinda reached maximum impact yesterday. Even though I’d RSVPed to attend the launch party for Nicky Greenwall’s new TV show, The Close Up, I felt like I just couldn’t do it and sent Marina Nestel, the PR queen who threw it together, a last minute mail to let her know I’d prefer to marinate in my bleakness at home. Thing is, I was wearing my little cocktail rokkie at the time and was only just a dash o’ peach blush away from semi-fabulosity… and maybe a slick of MAC Lustreglass…  So ja, before I knew it, I was running out the door. (I reckon this is ‘cos I’ve got a super positive attitude and had nothing to do with the fact that I remembered that Nederberg was one of the sponsors and that I’d have the opportunity to ‘drink the pain away’ on someone else’s tab…)

Anyway, upon arrival I made a bee line for the bar…

…and got up close and personal with these babies:

Scene-wise, the place was jam packed with the celebs who feature in Nicky’s new show. (Each episode is an up-close and personal mini-doccie and interview with a different local celeb. I’ve yet to watch one, but look forward to it as I imagine they’re kinda like E’s True Hollywood Story… ) One of the first sterretjies I ran into was Flash Republic frontwoman Tamara Dey.

I told her she smelled divine and she whipped her perfume out of her handbag to show it to me:

For those of you who don’t know, Penhaligon’s is an iconic British perfumery that’s been around for zillions of years. (Kate Moss and Sienna Miller are crazy about their Bluebell fragrance… )

I also nabbed a shot of Lee-ann Liebenberg and her hubby Nicky van den Walt.

As for Lee-anne, you wouldn’t think it possible, but I think she’s gotten even hotter after popping out a kid. Girl was also showing off her new ink; a tiny little tattoo of her and Nicky’s initials on her wrist.

Other celebs on the scene? The Locnville cuties:

As it turns out, they’ve got more than just the sun in their pocket… Thanks for the evil ciggie boys! And on the topic of beautiful boys; get a load of my friend (and Little Black Book girl) Jules’ boyfriend:

Anyway, aside from le vino and delish canapes, the Wings Group promo peeps were also out in full force.

The girls from Just Skin where also out and about.

Salon owner Carol tells me that she’s the first in Cape Town to offer SilkPeel Dermal Infusion treatments. Apparently, SilkPeel is a system that combines non-invasive exfoliation with a facial technique that’s able to infuse specific ingredients deep within your skin.

So ja… this turned out to be a fab night out and in retrospect I’m really glad I got over myself and pitched up. My only regret is not getting to chat to Nicky herself as she was totally swamped with media interviews. She’s heavily knocked up at the mo, but looking tanned and radiant. I managed to snap a shot of her chatting to Clay just before I ran out the door:

I also scored a fat 20 gigs of internet courtesy of Web Africa!

Another big thank you to Marina, I always have fun at all your opskops.

Love, love

Leigh

X x x

Keep an eye out for The Close Up on e.tv on Saturdays at 7:30pm. It’s replacing Nicky’s other show, The Showbiz Report.