From the moment I received my invites and then tickets printed as a paper bouquet of spring daisies, I knew Trelise Cooper ‘Theatre of Fashion’ SS16 show at Q Theatre would be a visual feast. The runway event was held in a theatre next to Auckland Town Hall and guests were ushered to their seats as though watching live theatre – the ‘Theatre of Fashion’. Elements of theatre were incorporated in the opening and finale of each of the three labels, with groups of models coming out together en masse.
Below: the tickets alongside some sewing of my own; lavender hearts. It promised to be a really beautiful event if the floral invites were anything to go by – and it was.
The first thing you saw as you entered Q Theatre was the wall of flowers, and it took your breath away. Instagram almost had a meltdown as images uploaded of the thousands of test tubes filled with water and fresh white blooms suspended from the ceiling on nylon and a flower bed below. The garden wall was created by Ratahi Tomuri and the Tomuri team. Models walked up one side of the hanging garden, posed for photographers at the end, and walked back down the other side, so we caught a glimpse of them coming, through the floral wall, then saw them come into full view.
The guest of honour was Zsa Zsa Bellagio, a top USA blogger – whose daughter, a dancer, also walked in the show – sat front row next to Auckland Mayor Len Brown.
The three labels showed in this order: COOP, COOPER, and Trelise Cooper.
Hair and Makeup
The beautiful hair look for all models was created by Bettjemans, lead by hairstylist Sacha. Hair was big and bouncy in full curls and centre-parted and flattened slightly on the crown then curling into lots of volume. Makeup was incredible – all done by MAC Cosmetics – with lashes a key look with long black false lashes on the top and I believe false lashes on some of the bottom lashes, too. Lips were a creamy peach lipstick with a buttery-gloss finish but not too shiny, and eyes complemented this with coral eyeshadow. Cheeks were strong with warm apples of the cheeks with peachy blusher. The overall look was coral, rather than pink or red.
Samantha Holley, the Key Makeup artist for the Trelise shows, told Thread about the key products that was used on the show:
M.A.C Studio Face and Body Foundation
M.A.C Paint Pot in Perky
M.A.C Eye Shadow in Sushi Flower
M.A.C Lip Pencil in Lasting Sensation
M.A.C Lipstick in Razzledazzler
M.A.C Haute & Naughty Lash
M.A.C Cream Colour Base in Pearl
COOP
The youngest of the Trelise stable, COOP designer Kayla Jurlina took a trip to Tokyo Japan, with basketball singlets, Japanese-inspired blossom prints, a Konnichi wa Bicchis and a Harajuku College teeshirt, and then festival-going girls with scarves in their hair and also a French print, below.
COOPER
The next label was the diffusion label COOPER (they have dropped the “by Trelise Cooper” suffix) which also went travelling; this time to the streets of Cuba with bold colourful Peruvian fabrics and a bird of paradise print.
Trelise Cooper
This final stage of the 3-part show featured the premium line, Trelise Cooper, and began with a series of white outfits in cottons, broderie anglaise and laces, before turning to ornate and colourful pieces largely decorated in floral embroidery. The collection was inspired by the Palace of Versailles which we saw in the French flair, flamingo dresses, and garden floral prints.
The designer herself, Dame Trelise Cooper, took to the catwalk at the finale.
Lastly, here’s a peek at what was in the goodybag before I munch it all. Highlight is the Whittakers chocolate bar in her signature SS15 print, and some wildflower seeds for Spring.
Megan Robinson
All photography by Kevin Robinson
9th June 2015
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