Now that Fashion Week 2011 is over, here are some of our thoughts on New Zealand Fashion Week; the good, the bad, the ugly, and what media delegates get in their goody bag…
Now that Fashion Week 2011 is over, here are some of our thoughts on New Zealand Fashion Week; the good, the bad, the ugly, and what media delegates get in their goody bag…
So, the week starts with picking up one’s delegates bag from reception and scanning the invites to see what shows you got. Here’s the delegates bag:
The highlight was the Showroom 22 gift: a personalised diary for recording notes on each show, and Punched & Ruled, a zine profiling creatives. Nice.
I also loved this Missoni patterned water bottle by San Pellegrino.
Top Requirements
We couldn’t have survived the week without M.A.C. Studio Fix Fluid Foundation (because it stayed on all day), M.A.C. Prep & Prime Highlighter (because it hid all the dark circles under our eyes) and M.A.C. Ruby Woo lipstick (because it is the perfect red). And the purse sized Kevin Murphy Session Spray.
Top Models
WORLD was the most anticipated show ever- thanks to NZ Next Top Model filming the final live. Rosanagh makes a pretty geisha, pictured left.
Imogene Watt – who is also Anya’s nanny – with her jaunty little walk, and she seemed to be in just about every show.
Penny Pickard was one of the oldest models, incredibly versatile from grunge to glam, and perhaps the hardest working. She looked stunning in lingerie at Kathryn Wilson Footwear, below.
Top Fashion
Loved the black and white print from Jimmy D – I NEED the off the shoulder dress for next winter.
We loved Adrienne Whitewood from the Miramoda show – a very wearable collection. There are some silk pants of hers we must acquire for next winter.
Everyone in the media room was scrambling to get hold of the Ebb & Flow maxi skirt in yellow (and it comes in gunmetal) from Derryn Schmidt (New Generation Show).
Those Dutch cotton-covered wedges from Trelise Cooper’s show – they were amazing.
Best newcomer in the New Gen show: Katie-Maree Cole.
Surprise of the week was Zambesi and colour. Amazing, though we are still struggling to come to grips with the concept.
The styling from Chris Lorimer for BLAK was our favourite for the week – the crown of twigs was gorgeous.
Most spot on the colour-blocking trend: this green and blue RUBY dress.
Best knitwear was a toss up between the oversized letterman cardigan from Salasai, and the men’s knitwear from MisteR
The We Weren’t Expecting That Award goes A La Robe for the stunning wedding dresses designer Elizabeth Sojak, put down the runway. If we ever have to get married again – she is our girl. We loved the last black wedding dress. Stunning
The Tailoring Award goes to Crane Brothers for the stunning Escorial luxury wool suits (from cloth merchants Holland and Sherry). Perfect
Did I mention we really missed NomD?
Thank you MisteR for reminding us this isn’t such a serious business – they are only clothes, but they/you made us all so happy this week.
People at Fashion Week
Winners of the oldtime glamour award goes to Honor Dillion and Dan Carter they both looked amazing at the Moet Opening Party.
The Happy All Week Award goes to blogger Hannah of www.aychblog.com for simply being her sunny colourful self all week.
The Most Calm Person Award goes to the unflappable Julie Roulston who had a lovely word to say about everyone/thing this week. And she was gorgeous company.
Blogger Gala Darling (below right) with Megan from Thread.co.nz (left)
The Scariest Person Award goes to front of house maestro Miro from Sydney who commanded a huge amount of respect running everything, without knowing anyone. Or he has the most amazing photographic memory.
The Charm Award goes to the ever-stylish Ricardo Simich who looked after the Thread Girls so well – basically he looked after EVERYONE. We assume he is sleeping for the next two weeks to recover…
Kind ushers who went out of their way to show people around with a genuine pleased-to-assist smile and attitude.
Fashion Shows
Best Use of a Soundtrack Award goes to Salasai who played Black Sabbath in St Matthews in the City. Very tongue in cheek.
Best opening was the prom dresses at Stolen Girlfriends Club.
Best finale was Aja Rock in a cake and a party on the catwalk at Huffer.
Please don’t make us EVER go back to the old building! We much prefer the swanky surrounding of the Viaduct Events Centre. We all felt very grown up and respectable swanning around here – out of the usual flapping tents and echoing tin sheds.
Best use of scarce budget goes to Twenty-seven names who used a gallery space and showed photos of their collection. We loved them. And it was one of the best parties of the week.
Did I mention how much we loved Zambesi? Loved the draped navy blue velvet dress.
Lots of theatre and performance in shows (Miromoda, Phoenix…) often panned by media there for the clothes only, but loved by regular guests.
$10 nail polish applications that really dried in one minute
Lots of full size products in goody bags
Some healthy food options for snackers (sushi and salads)
The Bad
The Phoenix show starting 20 mins late; and Trelise starting over an hour late.
The Cooper backdrop banner falling to the ground prematurely revealing the Trelise Cooper backdrop. Such a shame, but models side-stepped around it gracefully.
Our passes dropped off at reception were misplaced (again).
Coffee vouchers in a goody bag from Westfield were one week expired.
We really missed Cybele, Alexandra Owen, NomD and Kate Sylvester – we missed their theatrics and their experience (which was sometimes lacking this week)
The Ugly
Guests busted stealing goody bags from the front two rows before the VIPs arrived.
The woman usher checking passes at the door who wouldn’t let VIPs in until they prove who they are – a VIP pass was not enough.
Guests not giving way to mothers with children or more mature patrons.
The Scandal
No red wine throwing this time, just Pieter Stewart announcing will need a sponsor to come forward in order to go ahead next year. NZFW announced days later that it "Will open dialogue with Government, Fashion Industry New Zealand (FINZ) and other industry leaders, with the goal of forming a governing body to provide much needed financial and organisational support to the New Zealand fashion industry." So watch this space.
The goss in the media circles was Bronwyn Williams’ critical review of Hailwood.
Herald on Sunday commented on how scant the goody bags were this year but they were like that last year and it is a recession; we’re lucky sponsors give anything at all. Below: Cyndi’s stash from three shows on Friday.
Otherwise, not too much on the scandal front; the gossip columns are scraping the bottom of the barrels this year. No-one complaining the models are too thin, or too young, or – as heard one year – too fat!
Compiled by Megan Robinson, Anya Brighouse, and Cyndi Greep.
8 September 2011
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