5 For Change

Despite returning to work this week – after such a memorable and wonderful trip (blog posts coming soon!) – Monday was not all too bad as we received the official invitation to this year’s “5 For Change” Annual Black Tie Fund Raiser.

While neither Ilaria nor my CFA-studying husband will be joining me, I am extremely excited to attend the fourth event of 5 for Change. You see, not only is the event gaining traction around Cape Town as a serious event in the social calendar, but it is also the (part) brain-child of my brilliant brother, Dave* and two of his friends, Ross and Adriaan. 5FC aims to change the perception that professionals, entrepreneurs and leaders in South Africa have towards charity by connecting them with organizations and social movements at this annual black tie event.

5FC selects five beneficiaries each year, who are proactively making a difference in the communities in which they live. This year, amongst the beneficiaries is Read to Rise – an NGO promoting literacy in under-resourced communities, inspiring children to read and providing access to new reading books. I have a deep seated love of reading – thanks to my beloved mom – and honestly believe in the power of books providing stimulation and motivation to young children. The other beneficiaries this year are Generation Ubuntu, Beyond Expectation Environmental Project, TRADE-MARK and My Own Cup. You can read more about these beneficiaries here. 

Besides the event being a wonderful, charitable initiative, the evening always turns into a massive party. This year, Good Luck (love them!), Valve State and Rumspringer will be entertaining the crowd, while Siv Ngesi acts as the MC for the evening.

Photos sourced from the 5 For Change website and Facebook page.

In case you might not have guessed the dress code is “black tie”. I love the idea of getting dressed up; to me, there really is nothing quite like wearing a beautiful dress, donning a pair of heels and glamming-up my day-to-day look for an event.

For the guys – black tie means a dark tuxedo. Maybe at a push: a black suit and a funky bow tie but all the extras (socks, belts, buttoned up shirts) are not optional on the night. For us girls, black tie dress code is somewhat more complicated these days – a floor length dress is not strictly enforceable (although always elegant); a cocktail-length dress can be just as appropriate if the right fabric, colour and length is chosen.

And because a girl can dream, I created a look set from Polyvore of how I would love to show up on the evening (if money were no object). The look incorporates a few necessary items for a black tie look – an open evening shoe (girls, please don’t pull out your black work pumps!), an embellished clutch handbag (go to town here – beaded, embellished, brocade), a statement pair of earrings finished off with the “little black dress” of fine jewellery – a diamond tennis bracelet 🙂

If you do happen to be around Cape Town on Saturday 30 May, make sure you book your tickets here and join me, and a few hundred other glamorous people in raising money and awareness for this year’s beneficiaries.

(* – Dave, admitting your brilliance still does not mean you are the favourite child 😉 )