The Global Critic

The Fine Line Between Self-Acceptance & Self-Improvement

April 27, 2017 by Clare Wiese-Wentzel

Last week, the call for entry was launched for my new television series, MOOIMAAK, set to air on kykNET from 5 October 2017. Since then, I am happy to report, we have been snowed under by entries and social media responses, some of which have included the following wonderfully candid comments: “I need something positive like this in my life’; “It’s as if my prayers have been answered, I need a smile makeover. I am unable to afford a dentist and, as a […]

Categories: Best In Beauty, My World • Tags: Mooimaak, Television

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How I Learned to Embrace Imperfection Through The Concept Of Wabi Sabi

April 13, 2017 by Clare Wiese-Wentzel

I was recently introduced by a close family friend to the super cool Japanese concept of “wabi-sabi”. During an impromptu “pop-in” to my parents’ place, where Lynda and my mother were enjoying espressos and rearranging furniture, I rather strongly suggested that the way-too-visible air-conditioning unit in the lounge, amongst some rather nice pieces of art and a shiny black piano, might warrant a relocation. Lynda looked at me, with a knowing grin on her beautiful face, and simply said “no, […]

Categories: Health & Wellness, My World • Tags: Japanese Philosophy, Life, Philosophy, wabi sabi, Wisdom

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Inside My Wardrobe (& The Silo Hotel) Part 3 | Dancing On The Rooftop

April 4, 2017 by Clare Wiese-Wentzel

So, this is our final instalment in the fabulous Silo fashion series, which award-winning New York based photographer Jean-Pierre Uys lovingly shot & directed for us at Cape Town’s hottest new hotel (you guessed it, The Silo). Don’t miss Part 1 & Part 2 of this editorial, if you didn’t catch them previously. As I type this, it’s 23h22 at night and I can’t sleep. It might have something to do with the Very Exciting But Nerve-Wracking Project I am about to […]

Categories: Fashion, Art & Design • Tags: Cape Town Hotels, Design, Fashion, Five Star Hotels, Silo Hotel, Style

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Inside My Wardrobe (& The Silo Hotel) Part 2 | In Herve Leger at The Willaston Bar

March 30, 2017 by Clare Wiese-Wentzel

As you might have seen, last week I posted the first of our launching three-part fashion and beauty series, featuring a simple black cocktail ensemble I am currently loving, set inside the marvellous penthouse of the The Royal Portfolio’s brand new Silo Hotel. For today’s post, I am sharing our second round of photographs by the incredible Jean-Pierre Uys, featuring a super formal black-tie look that is very close to my heart: I first wore this dress at my thirtieth […]

Categories: Fashion, Art & Design, My World • Tags: Beauty, Fashion, Silo District, Silo Hotel, Style

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Inside My Wardobe (& The Silo Hotel) Part 1 | A View From The Penthouse

March 23, 2017 by Clare Wiese-Wentzel

I recently decided it was time for The Global Critic’s first fashion & beauty editorial series. It all happened quite serendipitously (which, in my opinion, is how the best things always happen). My dear friend Jean-Pierre Uys let me know he would be in town for a few days and was keen to collaborate. JP is recognised as one of the world’s best wedding photographers (which is why I had no choice but to “import” him from New York to be […]

Categories: Cape Town City Guide, Fashion, Art & Design • Tags: Cape Town, Cape Town Hotels, Fashion, Luxury, Royal Portfolio, Silo District, Silo Hotel

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My Father, Christo Wiese, On What Defines Happiness, What Doesn’t Matter & What Keeps Him Grounded

March 16, 2017 by Clare Wiese-Wentzel

A few years ago (OK, if I were to give away my age and be brutally honest, I would confess it was about 14 years ago), I found myself working as a naive, annoyingly enthusiastic intern at Marie Claire magazine in South Africa (think Anne Hathaway in The Devil Wears Prada. Pre-makeover). This internship took place during my three-month summer break from my last year of studying journalism in London. I was about 20 years old at the time and […]

Categories: Interviews, My World • Tags: Christo Wiese, Inspiration, Life, Philosophy, Truths, Wisdom

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The Skin Care Products I’m Loving Right Now

March 9, 2017 by Clare Wiese-Wentzel

As you might have seen, I’ve done some once-off blog posts on what I believe are some of the best (if not THE best) beauty products in the world. Find them under the BEST IN BEAUTY category right here on The Global Critic. Today, I want to share a whole list of some of the essential skin care products I’m currently using daily and can’t live without: some newly discovered life-changers have been thrown in amongst the oldies-but-goodies (those iconic […]

Categories: Best In Beauty • Tags: Beauty, Products, Skin Care

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My Oscars Best-Dressed List for 2017

March 3, 2017 by Clare Wiese-Wentzel

I haven’t done a fashion-related post for a while, so I simply couldn’t miss the opportunity of rounding up my favourite fashion moments from this year’s Academy Awards. Aside from the Best Picture Award mix-up (which I happened to catch live on television, in the early hours of the South African morning…and, yes, it was #superembarrassing) the most entertaining part of the whole event, for me, was of course the fashion. So, here is a list of my top ten […]

Categories: Fashion, Art & Design • Tags: Academy Awards, Best-Dressed, Celebrity, Design, Fashion, Luxury, Oscars, Red Carpet, Style

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Jo-Ann Strauss on Finding Balance, Handling Self-doubt & Flirting with George Clooney

March 2, 2017 by Clare Wiese-Wentzel

Jo-Ann Strauss is one of those girls it would be easy enough to hate. Not only is this former beauty queen and university graduate a self-made media mogul and one of South Africa’s most iconic faces, but she is also married to an almost uncomfortably attractive surgeon (her very own McDreamy) with two gorgeous toddlers filling their home in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Cape Town. Oh, and I forgot to mention, she’s had personal interactions with the […]

Categories: Interviews • Tags: Celebrity, Entrepreneur, Jo-ann Strauss, Media, Presenter, South African, Television

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Why I’m Obsessed with Marie Kondo’s World-Famous Decluttering Method

February 23, 2017 by Clare Wiese-Wentzel

It was a few months ago that I found myself browsing the book section on Amazon (I must confess, I always find book stores – whether online or offline – much like pharmacies or, as the Americans will call them, drug stores. There’s something about spending time in them, wandering around aimlessly, that makes you realise all the things you never knew you really needed). Maybe that’s just me (although I know my sister feels the same about pharmacies: we […]

Categories: Health & Wellness, My World • Tags: Books, Decluttering, Home, Interiors, Japanese Philosophy, Konmari, Organization

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