Simba Mhere’s wardrobe will never be the same again. The newest addition to the Top Billing presenter team is Simba, catapulted onto our TV screens after a lengthy presenter search across the country.
Alexis Chaffe, our Fashion Editor met with Baker, head designer at Viyella to create a new wardrobe for Simba. The Top Billing TV crew joined the magazine team at the Taj Hotel in Cape Town, where we would be shooting the Top Billing Magazine April menswear fashion shoot. A few days prior Alexis and I took a closer look at the venue and selected the areas where we would be shooting. The plush décor of the Taj would compliment Viyella’s collection inspired by the nostalgic and decadent era of steam trains and propeller aeroplanes.
Baker ensured that Simba’s bow ties matched the pocket-handkerchiefs and were folded just right. The touch of colour looked glamorous and sophisticated, a look Simba was quickly getting used to, and all the attention too. There was a shout from a passer by, “Oh, that is that guy from Top Billing!” We giggled and continued working. Well there were four camera’s on set that day. My two assistants were armed with their cameras and the TV crew had their impressive HD camera – so we created quite a stir at the top end of St George’s Mall as passers-by stopped to take a closer look. A shoot like this takes a lot of planning and pre-preparation but on the day, things may change and the key is to be flexible and create a great product at the end of it.
On set: Presenter – Simba Mhere. Magazine – Angie Lázaro (Photographer); Tiro Sauls and Richard Aaron (Photographic assistants/ behind-the-scenes photographers); Alexis Chaffe (Fashion Editor); Kate Russell and Lauren Downer (Fashion assistants).
TV Crew – Buddy (Insert director); Julian Bruyns (Camera), David Minnaar (Sound).
