BE MY (MYSTERY) VALENTINE.
Featuring Death On The Nile and Starring The Dirty Thirties, a Dollop of Diamonds and a Few Feisty Frocks.
Death On The Nile, the remake of that 1937 ultimate ‘whodunnit’ classic by Agatha Christie is on our big screens on February 11th, conveniently just a few days before Valentine’s Day. And the snippets that we’ve been fed in advance have whet our appetites for … perhaps neither plot nor mystery, but instead for feasting on the fabulous fashion on offer.
We’re dying to be a fly on the wall on board the Steamship Karnak on its graceful journey op the river Nile, passing ancient temples, pyramids and Sphinxes, to get up close and personal with Hercule Poirot, his bevy of beautiful suspects and handsome beaus and of course we’re keen to help solve the murder mystery … but in truth it’s the CLOTHES, the HATS and the JEWELS that we’re really wanting to clap eyes on!
We’ve made our own little selection of must-have Death On The Nile pieces for you to feast your eyes on. Be inspired by our hand-picked offering of Thirties-style linen ensembles, floppy straw hats, bias-cut frilly frocks and diamond accessories and plan your very own excursion up-the-river – wherever you are (if you can’t get yourself to the Nile, that is).
But perhaps you want to start by (ad)venturing to your nearest cinema to catch this marvel of a movie on Valentine’s Day.
1. The FILM that Inspired the Fashion …
Watch the official trailer of Death On The Nile here:
A crime is committed: a string of pearls is stolen from heiress Linnet Doyle. This is followed by a string of murders aboard the Steamship Karnak, while it’s gracefully floating up the Nile. On board are Inspector Hercule Poirot and The Karnak’s guests, each a key suspect of course …
Kenneth Branagh’s adaptation of Death On The Nile (2022) stars the likes of Tom Batemen as Bouc, Annette Bening as Euphemia, Russell Brand as Windlesham and Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot. No spoilers here – you’ll have to wait for February 11th. What we can disclose, is that the costumes and wardrobe are truly to die for!
Without further ado, let’s dive into the frocks, hats and jewels.
2. LINEN – Perfect for that Trip up the Nile …
Changing a few times a day would’ve been exactly what our elegant 30s jet set crew aboard The Karnak will have done: they’d be wearing one outfit for breakfast, another for lunch, yet another change for evening dinner and a ball, and definitely would’ve had a few alternatives on hand for when the ship docked for exploring the local towns and villages …
HANNAH LAVERY
South African Fashion designer HANNAH LAVERY finds that perfect point between pyjamas and power suits that’ll let one relax on deck, or better still, let you set off on an excursion exploring the local villages in effortless elegance when the ship is docking. HANNAH LAVERY’s neutral tones, clean lines and kind-to-skin, breathable materials are just what the Inspector, errr, doctor ordered for that trip up the Nile.
https://www.hannahlavery.co.za/
Instagram @hannahlavery.sa
100% CAPRI
Natural linen of the highest quality is used to manufacture these Italian beauties. 100% CAPRI boasts that they ‘use linen as if it were part of your skin, it is a pure pleasure to wear.’ Their exquisite offering are retailed in the most exotic of global destinations, from Portofino, St Trope and Mykonos to Miami, Dubai and the wine region of Franschhoek, South Africa, and boasts all green credentials, from zero waste and zero irrigation to being 100% ecological and biodegradable. Along with all that, we think these pieces would also have been ideal for relaxing on board The Karnak!
Instagram 100capri_official
3. HATS off to Solving that Mystery!
CRYSTAL BIRCH
Maverick milliner CRYSTAL BIRCH knows the importance of topping off the best fashion with an adorning crowning glory. Her creations are fun, functional, unique and manufactured in her factory in Cape Town, to impeccable standards. We thought her fabulous straw hats would keep our heroines and heroes super elegant and cool under scrutiny by Inspector Poiroit, and equally so under the scorching Egyptian sun.
https://therealcrystalbirch.com/
Instagram @therealcrystalbirch
4. Those 3Os FROCKS are Shouting Seduction …
ERRE
South African design house ERRE has dressed celebrities like Princess Charlene of Monaco and Terry Pheto with their glamorous and timeless creations. Their dresses are famous for their powerful silhouettes and classic, figure-flattering styles and we’re convinced Inspector Poirot will have had immense difficulty not being steered off course by our heroines dressed in ERRE.
Instagram @errefashion
STEFANIA MORLAND
Fashion designer to celebrities and stars, STEFANIA MORLAND’s playful, exclusive and most distinctive creations are beyond glamorous. Working in the best quality silk chiffon and other natural fabrics, STEFANIA MORLAND’s layered, colourful and exotic pieces are skillfully crafted in her studio in Cape Town, adorned with tiny and exquisite details that set them apart from every other fashion collection in the world. We also believe that in wearing these pieces our heroines aboard The Karnac will effortlessly have pulled the wool over the eyes of the most distinguished detective!
http://www.stefaniamorland.com/
Instagram @stefaniamorland
5. The JEWELS Worth Committing a Crime For …
Few places in the world are as synonymous with diamonds as South Africa. The 1937 version of Death On The Nile showcased a delicate string of pearls as the key jewel star of the film, but the costume designer to the 2022 version, Paco Delgado, upped the ante, opted for unrivalled opulence and used the 128.54-carat yellow Tiffany Diamond (famously worn by Audrey Hepburn to promote Breakfast at Tiffany’s) for Gal Gadot to wear as Doyle.
(Incidentally, this cushion-cut diamond is still one of the largest yellow diamonds in the world more than a hundred years after it was discovered in South Africa’s Kimberley mine.)
THE DIAMOND WORKS
THE DIAMOND WORKS is one of the most legendary destinations for diamond and tanzanite shopping in South Africa, with unique hand-crafted creations, cutting-edge design and tours of the entire process and gallery on offer. Their diamond experts and jewellery designers are on hand to advise on how to best utlize their vast range of loose diamonds and extremely rare tanzanite in crafting your very own special jewel. Their motto, ‘genius starts great work, craftsmanship completes it’, would no doubt have inspired our genius Inspector Poirot no end in trying to figure out ‘whodunnit’.
http://www.thediamondworks.co.za/
Instagram @thediamondworks
Happy VALENTINE’S DAY to all the (mystery) Valentines out there!
Stockists:
HANNAH LAVERY
https://www.hannahlavery.co.za/
Instagram @hannahlavery.sa
100% CAPRI
Instagram 100capri_official
CRYSTAL BIRCH
https://therealcrystalbirch.com/
Instagram @therealcrystalbirch
STEFANIA MORLAND
http://www.stefaniamorland.com/
Instagram @stefaniamorland
ERRE
https://erre-fashion.com/
Instagram @errefashion
THE DIAMOND WORKS
http://www.thediamondworks.co.za/
Instagram @thediamondworks