“I imagined a very well-dressed, well-bred woman who had run off with the band, circa 1975,” says Helen Cherry. “I wanted a sense of refinement and elegance but with an attitude that was more rock ‘n’ roll cool than classic conservative.”
HELEN CHERRY AW12
NZ Fashion Week 1st September 2011
What a class act.
Who else in our nation but Dame Helen could send out clashing animal prints and look this elegant?
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“I imagined a very well-dressed, well-bred woman who had run off with the band, circa 1975,” says Helen Cherry. “I wanted a sense of refinement and elegance but with an attitude that was more rock ‘n’ roll cool than classic conservative.”
Which explains the Studio 54 style seen in boyish tailored pants along with cashmere-wool biker jackets and "short, gypsy-sleeved dresses that wouldn’t look out of place on Marianne Faithful in her Rolling Stones groupie heyday."
The last time Thread saw Helen Cherry at Fashion Week was a few years back in their Newmarket store. They have been sorely missed and bring a much-needed dose of self-assured style and a large amount of experience to the schedule. The show had high production values and just looked expensive. I especially liked the audiovisuals with a backdrop of billowing white shapes, perhaps images of the crystals that hung from models’ necks.
My favourite in the whole collection is this blouse and trouser pictured below. Oh, the clutch! Such effortless style. Helen Cherry is so good at doing sexed-up corporate wear; if you wore any of her pieces, you’d be sure to get a raise. Of some kind.
Softness in this watercolour animal print and a rose print is juxtaposed with the hardness of the tailored silhouettes.
Colour blocking in fur.
Helen Cherry should be dressing Kate Middleton and she’d lose the mid-height pumps and fleshtone pantyhose, and get into a silk blouse with long, lean trousers and killer metallic heels.
This is totally my style, below; particularly if I were a lot taller and thinner and richer. I adore the boots and gloves – so many designers are doing Mad Men-esque retro which can turn out looking costume-y; not so Helen Cherry, here.
The striking crystal jewellery
Helen Cherry can even make short+lace+see-through look elegant; no mean feat.
Models walk across the length of the Town Hall stage in the grand finale.
“When I design I am always working from a very personal point of view; I am always thinking about the perfect wardrobe for the busy, modern woman” she says.
Good thinking, Helen.
HELEN CHERRY AW12 SHOW NOTES
STYLING – Jamie Huckbody
HAIR – Lauren Gunn and team at Stephen Marr
MAKE UP – Fatima Thomas and team at M.A.C
MUSIC – Scratch 22; Dylan Cherry
CASTING DIRECTOR – Rachael Churchward
PRODUCTION – Grant Fell
HELEN CHERRY shoes – Alexander Wang at WORKSHOP
HELEN CHERRY jewellery – Wunderkammer and Loumina
BMW, Max Gimblett, Gow Langsford Gallery, Whitecliffe College, Sacred Hill, Deutz, Steinlager Pure and San Pellegrino.
By Megan Robinson
Photography by Kevin Robinson
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