Hello Pretty is Winding Down

After more than ten fulfilling, magical years beginning in the good old days of 2012, Hello Pretty is retiring and heading off to the beach with a drink with a tiny umbrella.

Read our goodbye letter

Blog

Studio Visit to Leg Studios

If you were to ask us what we like better - good design or good coffee, we'd find it extremely hard to give you an answer. Thankfully, when we invited ourselves round to Leg Studios, we didn't have to choose!

Leon, Giulia, and Tim have created a bright, busy, and welcoming space with something delightful to look at every way you turn.

Leon Erasmus, Giulia Odendaal, and Tim Richert of Leg Studios

Their studio (in the Salt Circle Arcade) is part office, part store, part experimental and creative space. Along with the beautiful Leg products we know and love, they've also selected a handful of items from some local design favourites, and engaged in collaborations with others - see if you can spot them!

The team made us some superlative coffee, and offered us pastries - which means that they're now basically our favourite people on earth. Conversation covered everything from their background in installation design to what makes their creative engines tick, with a few detours discussing boarding schools, impulse purchases, travel, and more.

 

We were also lucky enough to be allowed a first look at one of their brand new designs - a concrete version of their beautiful butcher block table. Naturally, I fell head over heels in love with it. The only thing stopping me from trying to sneak it out the studio in my handbag was the fact that being concrete, it would take a little more muscle power than I had to spare.

Thanks again, Leg team, for allowing us to invade your studio (and for the coffee and pastries - nom!). We'll definitely be back for another visit - I'll just need to bring a bigger bag for that table...
You can see the rest of the snaps from our visit here.

If you've just found out about Leg Studios for the first time, you can check out their fantastic designs in their Hello Pretty store, and stay in touch with them on Facebook.
 

Hello Pretty Staff Picks: Sam

Hello Pretty Staff Picks: Sam

We're doing staff picks again! This time our lovely designer and bosslady Sam is at the helm with her Hello Pretty Lust List:

From the horses mouth (For the record Sam, you are nothing like a horse):

"All of the items on my list are simple in their designs, but with a lot of personality. And I appreciate how difficult it is to make something "simple."

That bed is an item of great beauty. Just look at it. And given my propensity to have more things than space, I just love that their underbed storage actually looks beautiful rather than utilitarian.

As for that cat cushion, well, it's a cat. What more reason could one need?

The Civetta Spark bracelet I want so that I can wear it and feel like one of the first-class passengers in the Titanic (but without the deathly ending).

I no longer need to covet the wine rack because I just went ahead and bought one last week. Yay. It is yellow, and fun, and superb quality.

I have a fixation on creative and beautiful bookshelves (I dare you to try and drag me away from http://bookshelfporn.com) and Simpli Decor's shelves are unlike anything I've ever seen. Even on the internets. One day when we move out of our shoebox and have high ceilings and sweeping open spaces I'll fill a wall with them.

Sandy's plates I fell in love with from the moment I first saw them. Just look at them! They're incredible! All of her work is.

I hate walls being wasted with emptiness when they could be filled with beautiful things. Lynsey-Anne's photo is so delicate and lovely, and Lillian Fairall's balloon dog is the cutest, quirkiest thing ever. I must have him."

There you have it! What are your favourites?

Ermahgerd!

I can't even tell you how much joy this brings me. I get a chuckle every time I look at it, and it's on my list of must-haves for my new apartment. This beauty is by Runny Babbit, who actually does custom requests as well, so you can let your imagination run wild! If you want this one specifically (and why wouldn't you), you can get it here. 

We featured this item in our newsletter this week, along with a curated collection of our favourite knitted, crocheted, and cross-stitched items from the site. There's a new theme every week, so if you'd like to be kept in the loop, sign up below!
 

Hello Pretty at the Smeg WDC2014 Event

We were recently invited to paint the town yellow with Smeg and WDC2014, and since we've been all about the #dailyyellow this year, we obviously couldn't say no. With the dress code requiring a touch of yellow, and the invite hinting at a special unveiling done by Smeg CEO Vittorio Bertazzoni, we were all kinds of excited when we made our way to the brand new Smeg showroom on Strand Street.
 

The Italians know how to do things in style, and this evening was no exception. Prosecco and beautiful people were in abundant supply - as were some extremely liberal interpretations of the dress code!

But if we're honest, the highlight of the evening was the ENORMOUS wheel of Parmesan made for and at the Smeg family farm. This meant two things: Amazing truffle risotto made and served inside the wheel of cheese; and that I have a new life ambition (have my own Parmesan that's made on my farm in Italy).
 

And there it is! The limited edition WDC yello Smeg Fiat. With a belly full of Peroni, naturally. Here's the official video from the evening which includes some of the speeches made (and bonus cameos by two of Team HP).
 

This picture of Scott going to town on the frozen yoghurt and macarons pretty much sums up the evening perfectly: Great food, great company, great design. Many thanks to Smeg and WDC2014! Now if you'll excuse me, I have to start looking for my Italian farm. My Parmesan's not going to make itself.

Win with LO and Hello Pretty!

Remember when we were fancy ladies at MBFWCT? And remember when we absolutely swooned over the SS14/15 collection from LO? And remember when you absolutely fell in love with this amazing thing?

Well, hold on to your hats, because the LOvely and very generous Elzanne from LO has decreed that since it's Women's Month, one lucky lady gets to win this amazing piece, straight from the runway. Can you even deal?! We certainly can't.

So, in the spirit of girl power, we'd like you to nominate who you think would make the perfect "Woman in the Red Dress" - friend, girlfriend, family, anybody!​

  • Like Hello Pretty and LO on Facebook
  • Nominate your Woman in the Red Dress by tagging them in a comment on this post.
  • Get an entry extra when you tag @HelloPrettySA and your nominee on Twitter or Instagram*
  • Nominate more than one person - just tag them in separate comment or tweet!
  • And get an extra entry by leaving a second comment telling us which is your favourite piece from the LO Hello Pretty store.

Basically, we've just given you half a dozen ways to make a special woman's day. So what are you waiting for?

This gorgeous frock is made from linen and silk voile and is a one-off piece straight from the runway. It comfortably fits a size 34/medium. The winner will get this exact piece, in this size. Entries close at midday on Friday 29th August. Hello Pretty's standard competition Ts and Cs apply.
* Please note that only one comment or tag per channel per nominee will be counted.
 

Pages

Subscribe to Blog