Fashion in the Capital

Support towards the local retail industry is as crucial as ever, so we were excited to attend the in-season consumer fashion shows of Fashion in the Capital…

It’s admirable to see businesses in retail operating today with so many factors competing with local industry’s success- such as the rise of Internet shopping, a flood of cheap imports, rising rents, and the recession. Therefore, our support towards the retail industry more crucial than ever.

One way retail is striking back is through consumer events to promote their wares and build brand awareness and loyalty. The crew behind Wellington Fashion Week held ‘Fashion in the Capital’ directly after New Zealand Fashion Week, with summer season garments and various workshops and events for the Wellington public.

On Saturday 14th of September I attended the Spring Summer 2013/14 Boutique showcase. Here are a few of my personal highlights…

The Design Loft. The showroom showed a range of labels, including Mavis & Osborn, BA Rooney and my personal favourite, Jacque Shaw. In her second range, ‘Confection,’ Shaw has cleverly created pieces that have a feminine, candy girl feel, yet are still geometrical and structured (pictured below).

Below: models wear Jacque Shaw. I love the white strap details against the pink.

I was also pleased to see outfits accessorized with ‘Flash’ Jewellery by my friend Nina Flash Gordon, also stocked at the Design Loft. BA Rooney described his collection as being bold but modest, with white and blue making up most of the colour palette, inspired by the Wellington waterfront. My favourite piece of his was the blue wrap dress.

The Service Depot has become a fashion mecca in Wellington, appealing to a variety of ages with their classic yet contemporary pieces by labels including Jimmy D, Lela Jacobs and Maaike, in the most impeccably-styled show of the evening.

Feminine fabrics and glamorous prints made up the Coco show. This boutique should be a shopping checkpoint for any woman who wants to stand out in our monochromatic town. Coco stocks an assortment of designers such as Two Wonders, Juliette Hogan, Saben, and Zimmerman.

The hair and makeup here were divided into a soft and a strong look. The soft hair was a loose, ethereal bun and the strong hair consisted of two pulled-back plaits tied into a sleek ponytail by Jade at Buoy. The makeup was produced by Makeup Director Olivia Wild and the Weltec team, using L’Oreal Paris. The strong look was created using two strong lines on the eyelid to create a blended arch eyeline, BB cream was used on the skin to give it a natural, luminous look and the idea with the lips was as if the model had been sucking on an ice block, leaving a pinkish residue in the centre of her lips.

The soft makeup look was achieved through keeping the skin natural, with lots of contouring, watermelon-coloured gloss, and a purple eye, to complement the loose, romantic hair.

Below: Models backstage in Coco.

The following evening I attended the second Designer Showcase. I managed to chat to Mandatory designers, Claire Bowden and Fiona Edwards, whose SS13/14 collection is entitled ‘Popsicle Punk’. High quality fabrics at lower price points, such as rich cottons and fine linens, resulted in more freedom for Bowden and Edwards to experiment in this collection. We saw a smooth base of earthy tones, highlighted with vivacious pops of pastel and splashes of print.

Below: Mandatory and STORM.

STORM’s latest collection was the perfect fusion of masculine and feminine. A woman can throw on anything from this range with the self assurance that she looks understated yet still modern and sexy.

Contrasts of white riads against the blue skies observed by Jane Daniels on her Moroccan travels inspired the colours of her latest collection. The range features richly-coloured silks in a nod to Matisse, whose paintings drew upon his own Voyage in Morocco. Jane Daniels’ collection has an elegant bohemian vibe to it, and instantly makes me dream of summer escapes.

Below: Jane Daniels and moochi.

moochi showed two collections: “Nevermind” and ‘Tokyo Drift’. ‘Tokyo Drift’ honours Japanese street style, in a range focused on strong lines, delicate drapery and pretty pleating. Black and sand dominated the colour palette, with a bit of ‘punch’ thrown in; an ode to the minimal and energetic Japanese aesthetic. ‘Nevermind’ most likely refers to Nirvana’s debut album, and is moochi’s nod to the everlasting grunge trend. The ‘Nevermind’ colour palette is made up of neutral grey, blue, black and white with dashes of a blossom print. It’s nice to see this trend in a range that flatters the female form, rather than swamping it.

The models loved the makeup this time round, which was again applied by Olivia Wild and the Weltec team. Orange and pink lips complemented contoured eyes for a gorgeous, summer look. Olivia and I discussed the show backstage where she told me that one of the biggest drivers that keeps her working on these shows, is so that she can allow her Weltec students to experience what it’s really like to work in the industry. While Wellington is known to exude culture, art and fashion, opportunities to even get a foot in the door are rare. I hope this kind of momentum continues along with the opportunities for designers, retailers and others who aspire to work in this industry.

Boutique Showcase photos by Olivia Wild
Designer Showcase photos by Reema Alfouir
Written by Reema Alfouir September 2013