The Year That Was: 2011

Thanks for reading Thread! It’s been lovely having you here. It’s that time of year to do a retrospective look back at the past twelve months. Here we take a glance at the parties, shows and events that Thread.co.nz attended throughout 2011…

Thanks for reading Thread! It’s been lovely having you here.

It’s that time of year to do a retrospective look back at the past twelve months.

Here we take a glance at the parties, shows and events that Thread.co.nz attended throughout 2011…

Click on the links to take you through to the original articles, all on Thread.co.nz.

Pictured left: Samantha Shorter, Daisy Uffindell and Ngahuia Williams at Moet Amongst the Stars.

January

Thread attended Parachute music festival and reported on style highlights at Parachute and the fashion at the festival.

Thread was proud to publish our very own fabulous, and exclusive, New Zealand fashion editorial from a shoot by photographer Jessica Higueras; Girl on the Go.

February

Summer music festivals continued, with Auckland’s second Laneway Festival at the recently upgraded Aotea Square.

New York-based photographer and home interiors blogger Todd Selby – known as ‘The Selby’ – came to Auckland for a book-signing appearance and slideshow at The Department Store on Thursday 24 February.

Hairdressing icons Cut Above celebrated their Ruby Anniversary with an awards gala.

MOTAT held a fantastic Valentines Day picnic with live music and tram rides for couples. What a great concept.

Thread sipped champagne and listened to Nathan Haines while watching the horses in the first Veuve Clicquot marquee at the BMW Polo Open at Clevedon on Sunday 20 February. Below: Aja Rock and Jaimie Webster.

Oscar & Co salon opened in Takapuna at 78 Hurstmere Road, and Cybele opened in Ponsonby – her first ever boutique – at 62 Ponsonby Road.

Kathryn Wilson launched her diffusion shoe range, Miss Wilson, at a party on the rooftop of Rydges with J.Williams performing R&B on Thursday 24th February.

March

New Zealand Fashion Festival brought fashion week to the public at ticketed open shows (including The Herald Viva show below) every evening over a few nights in Auckland city, including an awesome M.A.C beauty seminar.

Below: the Cleo Collections at NZFF featured in-season designs from Sabatini, Celine Rita, Michelle Yvette, Doosh, Sable and Minx, Claire Barker, Kimberley’s, Who’s Henri, Brady and Adrian Hailwood.

Once again we thoroughly enjoyed traipsing around viewing over 50 creative practitioners from the worlds of art, fashion, design, multimedia and architecture who created installations in 13 design showrooms for Urbis Designday.

We got cultural at a Handel opera costumed by Trelise Cooper at the Civic Theatre.

I had my hair done by UK celebrity hairdresser Thomas Taw in Auckland on his worldwide whirlwind tour.

April

The first New Zealand Bridal Fashion Week brought a flurry of white to the mezzanine at Auckland Museum.

Soul Bar hosted Moet & Chandon celebrating the launch of the of Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage 2002.

Kagi jewellery turned 5 with a party at James bar for 100 guests – all given necklaces.

May

Starfish launched in Ponsonby bringing the popular Wellington label to its second Auckland location, in addition to Newmarket.

The International Comedy Festival and Film Festivals kept us busy at night.

Sherie Muijs showed her SS11/12 collection in The Kitchen Atrium at Hotel de Brett.

We Can Create launched its design seminar event – which took place over two days in August 2011 at Auckland’s Aotea Centre – with a party at design firm The Church’s K Road headquarters.

Playpark by Karen Walker opened in her Newmarket store.

June

Clyne and Nova models celebrated the winter solstice with a Mid-Winter Models party at Mecca & Bubble in the Viaduct.

Huffer launched its colab with ABSOLUT – a limited edition black vodka bottle – with a party at Huffer HQ featuring band The Circling Sun.

Misery’s Tanja Jade and her own sisters – under the new label Cuda Sisters – launched their colourful fashion collection with a show at the K Road Ballroom.

We learned lots about champagne from the experts at Pol Roger who showcased their fine champagnes over a three course long lunch at One Tree Grill.

And – more wine – later that week, heard from women viticulturalists at the Taylor wines Women in Wine long lunch at Longroom in Ponsonby Road on Wednesday 29 June.

July

An art installation told the stories of jazz muso Nathan Haines, Black Box’s Dan Gosling and Cloudy Bay’s Ian Morden at a creative collaboration at Starkwhite Gallery in KRoad on 5 July where vintage years from their lives were matched to wines from Cloudy Bay made in those years.

Trelise Cooper held a charity fashion show at Mercedes Coutts in Newmarket for Trelise’s Morrocan-inspired 2012 Summer Collection launch with proceeds going as usual to the Breast Cancer Research Trust.

The Department Store – host to many of Thread’s fave events – held an ‘Urban Health Retreat‘ in association with Jerry Clayton BMW Takapuna in a pampering, and information-packed evening for over 80 women from cars, to hair, to skincare, and some delicious food matched with Bella wine from Invivo.

Stephen Marr salon demonstrated two hair looks, while Lucy & the Powder Room showed us the latest in skincare from Osmosis. Dr Libby Weaver author of new bestseller, Accidentally Overweight, spoke on weightloss, in one of the classiest events of the year.

The Food Show Auckland launched with a cocktail party at the Hilton.

August

In the run up to NZ Fashion Week – brought forward this year due to the Rugby World Cup 2011 – there were a number of pre-fashion week events. One highlight was the Kermadec Fashion Lunch where models wearing summer styles from three of New Zealand’s top designers – Zambesi, Juliette Hogan and Huffer- walked around tables at Kermadec restaurant at the Viaduct.

Wella Trend Vision Awards saw hundreds from the hairdressing industry gather to watch 18 visionary stylists from all over the country compete in a live show at Auckland Town Hall, hosted by Amber Peebles.

HiFashion.co.nz launched its online store with a fashion show in Taupo featuring NZ designer labels as well as the designs of Sera Hathaway, pictured below centre.

Cuisine held its annual food and wine awards at Auckland Museum, and Ted Baker opened in Auckland at Britomart.The Britomart retail explosion continued apace with ‘fashion gallery’ Curate opening 28th September.

Gucci launched its children’s line at the Auckland Gucci store with giant golden bears, a magician, and a candy bar for children and adults alike.

Jaimee Ridge (L), Sara Tetro (R)

September

This one needs no introduction – Fashion Week!

Thread loaded about 40 articles, many with original photographs, so there’s too many to list here. Instead, here’s a summary of our thoughts on fashion week and my personal fave show for sheer glam – not to mention the final of NZ’s Next Top Model– the WORLD show.

Cloudy Bay brought a little bit of Marlborough to Britomart to celebrate the launch of their 2011 Sauvignon Blanc.

September also saw the welcome home party for Karen Walker after her success at New York Fashion Week, and also the start of the 16th annual Italian Film Festival.

October

Rugby World Cup fever is gripping the nation. There aren’t any articles on Thread about it, sorry.

Kate Sylvester – who didn’t show during NZ Fashion Week- showed AW12 inside the newly refurbished Auckland Art Gallery on 4th October with a sexy collection entitled Secretary.

Sabine relaunched its boutique womenswear label, this time around exclusive to Farmers.

My personal highlight was a roadtrip to Rotorua to take in the city’s best. The itinerary Destination Rotorua recommended for us included staying at Regent Rotorua, visiting Treetops Lodge, a flight with HELiPRO, a cruise on Pure Cruise, a facial at Polynesian Spa, and a Maori meal and tour at Te Puia.

November

Brown Bros showcased their just released and highly acclaimed Cienna Rosso over a long lunch: Brown Bros Pacific Flavours, with wines perfectly matched with exquisite Pacific dishes at the Four Seasons on 1 November 2011.
Concept hairsalon French Revolver opened in Auckland. Andrea Moore opened a store at 35 High Street. Flying Nun celebrated 30 years with a gig at the Kings Arms, and Prada Candy launched in New Zealand.

We attended a seminar by Tabatha Coffey – of Tabatha’s Salon Takeover’ TV show fame – at an industry workshop by JOICO.

Matua Valley Wines launched its Cellar Door at iconic historic homestead, Hunting Lodge, with a degustation wine-matched feast on Thursday 10th November.

Gaultier sure cancan To celebrate the coming together of fashion and Champagne – namely, a colab between Piper-Heidseick and Jean Paul Gaultier – the Champagne house held a bubbly evening of Parisian glamour at Dida’s complete with French canapes, bubbles flowing all night long and the piece de resistance; high-kicking French Cancan dancers from Oh Mes Ananas dancers in Cancan costume.

Below: Prue Hill, Megan Robinson and Mary-Louise Dare.

Fashion schools held their graduation shows in November, with Whitecliffe Fashion Show, Massey University in Wellington’s Bright Young Things show and AUT Rookie shows all bringing new talent.

FINZ (Fashion Industry of New Zealand) held a series of three fashion industry workshops – DHL Express Apparel Export Series – on media and branding.

Nyne were announced as winners of the DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship for 2011.

December

A glamorous end to the year was Moet Amongst the Stars, billed as "the red carpet event of 2011." Guests glammed up in a variety of short cocktail dresses and floor-length maxi gowns, for the party set on Rydges Hotel rooftop balcony. Friday 2nd December saw a mix of the music and fashion industry along with media and guests ascend to the rooftop directly underneath the Skytower, lit in green and red for Christmas.

Above: Dane Rumble and his band. Below: Sally Ridge and Amanda Midgley.

See you in 2012!

Megan Robinson
27 December 2011