After a wait that felt like forever, ZARA, one of the world’s most exciting (and affordable!) fashion chains has set up shop in the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town.

If my creative skills were up to it, this is where I’d insert a montage of happy babies, prancing unicorns and cute li’l hamsters in tiaras. The soundtrack? ‘Walking on sunshine!’ Like, duh! But I’ll stop rambling now and just cut to what I know you’re all dying to get a look at – the klere… the awesome AWESOME klere… gorgeous bang-on-trend statement pieces like this boy:

Studs and spikes were EVERYWHERE girls! On jackets… on belts… even on pretty little whimsical blouses:

They also had a lot of Chanel-inspired jackets like this one:

Oh! And peplums! Peplums were also all over the place too:

Price-wise, I was seriously impressed. I mean, sure, every now and again I’d pick something up and be all ‘ouch’ but it was almost always justified. Like this jacket for example:

It’s buttery softness and beautiful craftmanship make it easy to understand its price. It’s not like when you walk into YDE and are affronted with rack upon rack of badly run up crap that costs you the earth but can only be worn twice before it falls apart in the wash.

Ooh! And how cute are these minty l’il cut-out pumps (R499)?

They also had lots of brightly coloured skinnies:

And how divine are these little chain sakkies?

At one point, Karisa, who was with me, gripped me by the arm and said ‘this is actually too good and it’s freaking me out. Seriously, Leigh. I can’t feel the left side of my body… it’s gone all numb… I think I’m having a heart attack from all the awesomeness…’ Still, the poor baba managed to work her right arm and swipe her card for these boys:

I also indulged in a little retail therapy myself and splashed out for this super cute coral blazer, R659:

If I wasn’t so damn impoverished right now thank to Invisalign (more on that in another post), I’d have sprung for this boy…

…and maybe these guys (R1299):

Other things I liked?

…and suede coral strappy heels:

ZARA also have their own fragrance collection:

I was most taken with one called ‘Oriental’ which smelled warm, sweet and sexy and reminded me a bit of Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle. The best bit? It was only R160! I also liked that despite being inexpensive, it really didn’t smell that way. Oooh! And the brand’s even created a new scent in honour of its foray into Cape Town:

I’m not to sure how much that big bottle cost but Clouds, who was also there, snapped up a mini roll-on for a mere R60. It smelled fresh, green and citrusy; tres mooi.

As a parting gift, Go4Word PR who handled the event, dished out these divine studded clutches:

Anyway, if you were thinking about skipping work tomorrow to go check out the store (it opens at 9am), I say do it! I mean, come on, what’s a written warning in the face of sizzling hot fashion?

Love, love

Leigh

P.S. Le boyf just got home. He hates my blazer and thinks it makes me look like ‘an air hostess’. Does he not realise he’s talking to a girl who now owns a studded clutch o’ death?!

P.S.S. ZARA also have a very nice men’s and kid’s section, just so you know…