The story behind The Kahlo and The Hexi

It was a sunny Saturday morning in Johannesburg when Lou and I came across a fabric that stopped us simultaneously in our tracks. I grabbed it immediately and then looked to Lou in complete horror and desperation as we saw how little was left on the roll. Thank the pope, we spotted another roll of the same fabric that was hidden behind a bunch of others (probably on purpose). And then we spotted a few more heart stopping designs…

And so in an interesting twist of fate and true love, Fox & Flair brings you our very first range of scarves made from “designer fabric”. The creators in question are US fabric designers Amy Butler and Tula Pink.

Considered to be somewhat of a “celebrity fabric designer”, Amy is one of the top selling fabric designers and her work has been featured in decor and design magazines world wide. Amy describes her work as "A fresh, modern take on vintage style”. 

Tula Pink describes herself as an exiled rock princess on a throne of bolts and bobbins. Her main function in life is fabric design and she rules the roost from a small town in the Mid-West.

With a perfect mix of vintage and voile, we’re so thrilled to introduce you to The Kahlo and The Hexi, our latest statement scarves.

The Kahlo in Jade and in Coral

The Hexi in Salmon and in Teal & Lime

The proof behind the polka

Having quite a few polka dot scarves in our range, we couldn't help but wonder what it is about this famous dot that has survived endless fashion trend changes. Why has this dot survived from the 10th century all the way to 2014? What makes it so famous?

The polka dot dates back to the 19th century and shares it's name with the Central European dance form which originated in the middle of the 10th century in Bohemia. 
You would think that the two share a link between pattern and dance but this is not so. The polka dot, as a pattern, was made fashionable just as other trends and products took on the name polka during this time, some of which include "polka-hats" and "polka-jackets" but most disappeared with the fad of the actual polka dance. Only the polka dot remained popular and hence the name remained intact. 

Whether it's the influence of the "King of the Mountains" red and white polka jersey of the Tour de France or the well known song "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini", this dot has certainly stood the test of time. 

Be it is music, fashion, interiors or even a party, this amazing polka dot goes on and on and translates beautifully within any medium. We love polka dot fabric and that's why we just could not resist adding this timeless classic to our range. What's your favourite?

Lady in Red

The Manhatten

Polka Perfect in Coral

Polka Perfect in Aqua

The Caroline

A Month Of Firsts

It's been a month of firsts in the world of Fox & Flair and we thought we'd share some of our special moments with you. From having the jitters before publishing the site to packing our first orders and sending them on their merry way... 

Ali sits waiting for the green light

And just like that, we're live!

 A pile of orders

And off they go!

A big thanks to all our very first customers.

A Brief History Of The Snood

We're pretty into our snoods here at Fox & Flair, so thought we'd do a little digging into how they came to be.

Did you know that the snood has been around since the middle ages? The word means "headgear" and was usually a knitted head piece worn to hold women's hair in place in the "olden days". It became popular again during World War II as wearing one demonstrated wartime support due to the rationing of garments.

Snood collage - Image source: pinterest.com

Over the last ten years, it has been reinterpreted by Dior, Versace and Chanel and become quite the fashion item. Whether you wear it around the neck like a conventional scarf or over the head like a hood, we think it's the perfect winter accessory and a great addition to your scarf collection. 

Who knew that snoods had such a past? Take a look at our colourful snood range and bank on a cozy winter.

Ali in Autumn Snoods of various hues.

Fox & Flair: The Story So Far

Well, the story actually has two different beginnings. For Lou, it pretty much began at birth - that natural vision for style. Lou has always been able to see what will look good, be it in redesigning the interiors of a room, looking behind a lense or putting an outfit together. 

For Ali, it was about 10 years ago when she was given her first fashion scarf. She relished the way it felt and made her feel - elegant, glamourous, sophisticated - and she noticed how it could turn just about any selection of plain items into a good look. 

And so coupling Lou's sense of style, Ali's love of scarves and a little experience along the way, Fox & Flair was born. We believe that there is a little "fox" and a touch of "flair" in everyone and we hope to celebrate those attributes in the form of our scarves. 

Ali in "Aztec Ali" and Lou in "Simone Snood"

We're a mix of Jozi and Cape Town, blonde and brunette, extrovert and introvert… but we have some things in common too. We like the simple and the beautiful things in life – like a good coffee, a comfy pair of takkies and spending time with family and friends. We love inspired design, simple solutions and pretty pieces. 

We make our scarves in South Africa and source all materials here too. We promise to always make things that we love and want to wear ourselves. We hope to share this love and inspire great outfits all over South Africa.

That's it for now.

Ali & Lou's Latest Favourites

Everyone has their favourite favourite, right? Although we love all our scarves, here are our current crushes and what we love about them.

Ali in a Sailor Snood

Sailor Snood - Two of my favourite colours in one scarf make this an easy favourite. This is such a fun scarf.

Dress up with: A monochrome dress, black tights and pumps.
Dress down with: Jeans, gum boots and a neutral pull-over.

Check it out here

Lou in The Grace

The Grace - It's just the perfect range of colours, they look good on anyone. I love the texture and adore the way the fabric falls.

 Dress up with: Neutral, stove-pipe pants, white button up shirt and nude heels.
Dress down with:  Grey, chunky jersey and jeans.

Check it out here

Ali in The Zoe

The Zoe - This scarf fits straight into my winter wardrobe which is very monochromatic. I love the sophisticated yet edgy look and adore the silky fabric.

Dress up with: Black dress, boots and a blazer.
Dress down with: Charcoal skinnies, cream sweater and white sneakers.

Check it out here

Lou in a Simone Snood

Simone Snood - If you were only to own one scarf this winter, this should be the one. It's unbelievable warm and pairs well with almost any winter outfit.

Dress up with: A woollen dress, tights, boots and winter coat.
Dress down with: Jeans, hightops and a woolie number. 

Check it out here

Ali in Aztec Ali

Aztec Ali - This scarf reminds me of my travels and I really love the subtle print. It suits my style which is generally quite simple, casual and elegant.

Dress up with: Black pants, dark shirt and a tan leather jacket.
Dress down with: Grey t-shirt, jeans and sneakers. 

Check it out here 

Lou in Polka Perfect

Polka Perfect - What is it about chiffon? I just love it. The crisp white and coral puts me in a good mood and makes me want to spend the day outside in the sun.

Dress up with: Navy shift dress & heels
Dress down with: Cream & navy striped t-shirt with beige shorts.

Check it out here