What was hot (and not-so-hot) in my best of New Zealand Fashion Week 2013. It was a leaner and meaner schedule this year with some breathtaking moments…
What was hot (and not-so-hot) in my best of New Zealand Fashion Week 2013. It was a leaner and meaner schedule this year with some breathtaking moments.
Best showmanship:
Zambesi’s backstage-on-stage concept that had the backstage hair and makeup crews revealed as the screens opened so the audience became involved. Fashion as theatre. Zambesi always nail it.
Best makeup:
The Stolen Girlfriends Club face by James Molloy for M.A.C with stripped-back skin and a heavily painted eye.
Best hair:
Danny Pato for Joico at Hailwood with this slicked down look and a wavy, pretty 70s look.
Most creative concept:
The installation under Sofitel Auckland by Chris Lorimer of Ciel PR with ten of his showroom’s labels in silver foil-divided rooms. Very art school hip and really exciting to view.
Most wearable collection:
Easily twenty-seven names, with their soft dresses, blazers, and a stand-out camel coat.
Best headgear:
Marmalade Hats at NYNE.
Best offsite venue:
Sofitel carpark, seen at UNDERGROUND with Ciel PR labels, and for Company of Strangers.
Best stage:
Trelise Cooper’s elevated catwalk and massive white tent descending from the ceiling.
My personal favourite piece:
Scarf! Cape! Jeans! Wavy hair! This look is SO me; I would wear ALL OF IT. Hailwood AW14.
My favourite whole collection:
Salasai, also my favourite collection styling.
Key Make-up Trends:
Punk – with piercings at both Stolen Girlfriends Club and Trelise Cooper.
Witchy/pagan vibe – at Stolen, Lela Jacobs and Company of Strangers.
Strong lip – this continues with the best one being the multi-layered red lip at Zambesi.
Dewy faces – at Salasai and Gloss Texture on highlights at Stolen Girlfriends Club.
Key fashion trends:
Tartan / checks seen at Salasai, Stolen Girlfriends, Trelise Cooper.
Punk and goth circa early Nineties
Colours: olive, camel, red, duck egg blue, black.
Graphic prints (no florals, no stripes)
Paisley
Best use of a topical theme:
Marriage equality used well at Sera Lilly with her elegant ‘Here Come the Brides’.
Worst wardrobe malfunctions:
Loss of a shoe at Annah Stretton at Designer Selection Show, bleeding feet on ankle straps at Trelise Cooper, and cleavage boob reveal at Hailwood.
What I’d like to see more of:
More races of models
Curvier models doing swimwear and lingerie
Carpark shows – they were a highlight
Shuttle buses to offsite shows
What I’d like to see less of:
Novelty show openings with whole songs and performances. Play while the models walk.
The same garments out in every single colour. Judiciously edit.
In-season garments. Best for consumer events.
Shows being an hour late.
People being ungrateful and complaining about goodybags – they’re not an entitlement.
Fashion week was shorter but it was still fabulous and had moments of brilliance. Long may it reign. It’s adapting well and changing with the times – moving towards consumer shows, introducing fashion TV, corporate hosting, and distributing photos after the shows. The Media Centre also worked well this year – probably the best I’ve experienced it (all it needs now is tea making facilities…jokes.) Well done, Dame Pieter Stewart and team. See you all next year!
Megan Robinson, 5 September 2013
Leave a Reply