Cape Town is well known for its stunning landscapes and vibrant culture. But these days, it seems its not just backpackers and nature-lovers extolling its virtues to the world. Cape Town is fast becoming the place to see and be seen in the heady world of celebrity, and it seems the rich and famous are catching on to what we mere mortals have known for years. Fashionable eateries seem to be springing up all over the place and shopping has taken on a distinctly cosmopolitan air with many big-name labels moving in for a slice of the action. So, if you like a bit of the high life and you want to make sure that your next holiday is ‘in vogue’, why not try a taste of Cape Town? After all, if it’s good enough for the rich and famous...

Fashionable Food

Cape Town’s answer to Gordon Ramsay is, well, Gordon Ramsay! The fabulous resort "The One and Only", the brainchild of tycoon businessman Sol Kerzner, has attracted Ramsay to open his Maze restaurant in the complex, along with the likes of Nobu, another famous culinary institution. Native Capetonians have embraced the stunning decor and unrivalled outlook – a full-length picture-window view of Table Mountain – and Maze has also played host to a growing band of celebrity aficionados. Utilising local produce and meat wherever possible, Ramsay has drawn on the rich traditional cuisine of Africa to create a unique fusion of dining pleasure in Cape Town which is proving to be an international blockbuster.

Fashionable Sports

Long known for its sporting prowess, and with a culture understandably proud of its achievements, Cape Town now plays host to a number of high-profile events. Probably the most hotly-anticipated is the FIFA World Cup in 2010 which expected to draw record crowds as well as, probably of more interest to some than others, the WAG (Wives and Girlfriends) contingent. These lovely girls bring an element of glamour to proceedings sometimes overshadowing their hard-hitting husbands. Their hair dos and accessories, while perhaps not as important as the results on the pitch, set the bar for the fashionable Cape Town set and probably do more for the local retail economy than any other event. But, love them or hate them, no-one can deny that the WAGS do add a certain something to the already stunning vista of Cape Town’s scenery.

Fashionable Films

There has been a trend, in recent years, of films with a distinct South African theme running through them. Whether by design, fashion or coincidence it seems that the country is fast becoming known by Hollywood as an extremely viable commercial proposition when it comes to shooting films. In what has been hailed as a massive boost to the local economy, the opening of Cape Town Studios on the outskirts of the city signifies a hot new kid on the block in international filmmaking. With the first phase set to open in mid 2010, Cape Town Studios is an ambitious $56 million project which encompasses sound stages, production offices, and workshops over a vast 183,000 sq ft area.

Looks like there’ll be no end of famous faces in Cape Town for the foreseeable future and the city is taking her well-deserved place as one of the most fashionable cities in the world. Cape Town – you’ve arrived!