It’s been a busy year for the jewellery firebrand Kirsten Goss, culminating in the opening of her eponymous brand’s Silo District store and launching the ‘DIAMOND’ collection. And summer might be around the corner, but she’s not slowing down. ‘We are launching a fine stud collection and plan on having a resident piercer in-store to curate your ear for you!’ She approaches her down time with a similar high-octane energy.
On a typical family morning…
I have a new baby, which means I’m usually awake to watch the sun come up. It’s beautiful, as we have a brand-new bedroom wing that overlooks the mountain – it’s a complete haven. I’m also super spoilt as Aggy, our beloved housekeeper, brings my partner Clive and me our café and health smoothie in bed every morning – how does this even happen, you cry – she is just the kindest soul. We’ll have breakfast in bed while the kids get ready around us – a tie to be done here, hair to be braided there – while Cosmo [Balthazar Maguire Will Goss, her newborn] has his bottle. Then I’ll pop on my FitBit almost immediately as I’m obsessed with making my cardio every day, much to my family’s ridicule.
On her beauty routine…
I routinely do a QMS Medicosmetics exfoliation, which takes 10 minutes, before showering and getting ready for the day. I’m a big QMS Medicosmetics devotee – I cannot leave the house without doing all the steps and finishing off with an SPF50 sunscreen. A close second is a fresh scent and I’m back on my old favourite Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin and for a great lip, Chantecaille. I’m also half a person without my diamond stud earring in the top of my ear and my fringe in place.
On her creative process…
Having your own business means not having a stop button. Even after going for 16 years I’m still inspired daily by the tiniest, unexpected things. An interesting piece of cutlery, a cool building, the forms and cuts of gemstones, dreaming of great shapes – they all command me back to my studio. I scrawl these in a very thin black pen in my design notebook. Creativity is a constant process, not an isolated moment.
On making New Year’s resolutions…
As I get older I find experience and knowledge-based resolutions fly with me more. Getting to Japan to see the cherry blossoms or doing one of the big Table Mountain walks are way more inspiring than the usual suspects. I find ones around six-packs are doomed to fail. That being said, I do have a very racy pre-pregnancy costume I wouldn't mind getting back into. And that Discovery thing of maintaining diamond status does have me rushing to the gym for those points.
On the perfect summer soirée…
When it comes to entertaining I’m a social glutton. My birthday is usually a non-event as it’s in early January when everyone’s over it. So, this year, I did a really long formalist table in the garden for 45 guests and got the amazing Karen Dudley of The Kitchen to cater. It was the most magical affair – I think I’ll try do it every year. I love to entertain, so I find inviting people for home lunches and suppers to be the best fun – even if I sometimes outsource the catering. I have such a weakness for good crockery, cutlery and glassware. I recently invested in a Lukhanyo Mdingi and Michael Chandler dinner plate set. Makes eating so much more wonderful.
On nailing a strong new look…
I love supporting local designers. Having statement pieces from W35T, Klûk CGDT, Good Clothing and Nicholas Coutts are perfect for the transition from fresh spring to warm summer. The other thing is having good headgear and no one does it better than Crystal Birch, who brings irony and lightheartedness to the classic. Also, it’s time to get your hair sorted. Make sure you have a look. Don’t pussyfoot around here – be brave and cut a fringe or change your length. Drama is great for summer. It all grows back anyway.
On her summer crowd pleaser…
We’re all vegan – or vegetarian at least, so no guesses what we eat. I am the biggest fan of Olami and follow Nirit’s cooking with gusto. I also follow lots of vegan sites, like Minimalist Baker and Vegan Foodspot. For health I love Vietnamese summer rolls, such a great fresh DIY lunch. For poison, I make a dirty martini that gets served poolside. You’ll need water wings after you drink it.
On the secret to unwinding…
My partner is a movie buff, so we end up watching obscure and wonderful art-house cinema, from the first silent movies to Japanese and Eastern European flicks. I had to get my head around subtitles a long time ago and, thanks to him, I find most of what’s on Netflix quite lame – although I love Louis Theroux and Dark Tourist. And, of course, The Crown. At the moment I’m reading Rahla Xenopoulos’s masterpieces Tribe, Bubbles and The Season of Glass.
Featured Image:
Illustration by Thea Pheiffer
