New Zealand fashion and lifestyle blog

Hailwood's LA Dolls

Adrian Hailwood’s AW11 collection is inspired by the work of the LA artist Alex Praeger, with living dolls fighting a war against constructed beauty – and losing. “Everything is opulent yet shrouded in a veil of fragility,” says Hailwood.

Adrian Hailwood
NZ Fashion Week 21 September 2010

Adrian Hailwood’s AW11 show hit the runway at NZ Fashion Week with a collection inspired by the work of the LA artist Alex Praeger. Praeger has photographed women look like living dolls fighting a war against constructed beauty – and losing.

“Everything is opulent yet shrouded in a veil of fragility,” says Hailwood. “It is all slightly left of centre; there is a beauty there and yet just on the periphery there is something that tells you it is all make believe.”

With a definite 70’s vibe, Hailwood’s models wafted down the catwalk. With a very loose thematic thread holding it all together, things started off with a gorgeous grey oversized jersey, followed by a black ‘bobble’ knit which would be perfect for the current weather as we write.

This was followed by one of his gorgeous cocktail dresses in chocolate satin with a clever pleated detail.

I liked the black lambswool shaggy coat.

The two stand out pieces for me were the glorious polkadot top (below) and dress (intro image above), with bold velvet multi-coloured dots on a black background; simple but striking.

There was lots of denim; shirts, and pants.

And some touches of green – again, loved the satin cocktail dress, and hints of bronze.

I like that there are always a few t-shirts in the mix; I remember long ago when Hailwood used to sell t-shirts out of the tiny shop in Ponsonby that is now home to Alexandra Owen.

The show ended with a wool dress in the most energising shade of yellow. Beautifully cut and executed, it was Hailwood tailoring at it’s best.

By Anya Brighouse, 21 September 2010.
Photography Kevin Robinson.


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