WORLD's Next Top Model

The most hyped show of the year was about to start, as we waited, cellphones turned off, for the announcement of NZ’s Next Top Model at the live finale at WORLD’s spectacular Fashion Week show. This will trend on Twitter, I thought…

GOOD vs EVIL
WORLD AW12 at New Zealand Fashion Week Friday 2nd September 2011

Sara Tetro, Colin Mathura-Jeffree, and Chris Sisarich jogged – gracefully, as only former models do- out of the Westpac Tent at the Viaduct Event Centre and came back in to announce that South Island barista Brigette Thomas was crowned New Zealand’s Next Top Model.

Luckily, Brigette was already wearing a crown; an Ice Princess headpiece suited to a Narnia remake if they ever do it with a sci-fi bent. We commented that she looked more regal for the papers than if Bianca had won, in her black I-just-got-my-suit-back-from-the-drycleaners bag with glow in the dark piping.

The show started for me with a sprint in wedges to the venue and making it to my seat just as they closed the doors. The Delegate Passes said 8pm start but actually the tickets said 7pm seating for a 7.30pm start, so I was very lucky to have made it at all.

As if we needed any more excitement, in addition to the WORLD Autumn Winter 2011 collection and the NZNTM announcement and live filming, the show represented the release of WORLD’s colaboration with Number One Shoes, WORLD Made Me Do It, with models in each section wearing shoes named for famous female singers.

Speaking of female singers, but with feet far too big to wear the shoes, the glamorous hostess, Buckwheat, welcomed guests. She entertained guests with a performance with her "henchmen" in heels (with the best names: Venus Mantrap and Tess Tickle) before taking us through the protocol of tonight’s show; no cellphones texting the winner before it was announced to the public on TV, and we were to not "sit there like stunned mullets" when the winner was announced – mulletdom is apparently Bad TV.

Then the show began. Models in light suits with silver haircuts walked in the first of three sections, entitled Story 1: Thus Spake Zarathustra (which I Googled and is a philosophical novel by German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche); and WORLD described as "A space based collection inspired by the nostalgia of sci fi, religion, philosophy and film. A modern monastic suiting with an electric sensibility."
Shoes: Nancy Sinatra.

And before you say no-one will wear this, the art gallery’s Peter Shand was wearing one at the show.

The second story was The Future (no need to Google that one) with "Futuristic Florals set against the monochrome idea of the unknown future, twisted by a sense of the past we never knew…an effort to portray the Duality of Women."
Shoes: Dusty Springfield.

Models, all from Sara Tetro’s agency 62 Models, had their nails painted by Magic Tan & Beauty. "We spent weeks planning the nails with Harold and each model had different nails, so 25 different looks. Most girls wore customized Minx nails and long tips" says Magic Tan & Beauty’s Petrina Martin.

Hair was created by Creative Director Michael Beel for ghd with Derek Elvy, the ghd team, Cut Above Academy and Buoy Salon Wellington. Make-up was created by Creative Director James Leuii for Shiseido.

Rosanagh was the next of the three NZNTM finalists to walk, with her hair in a sleek updo worthy of Natalie Portman’s Queen of Naboo in Star Wars.

The third story was A Modern Oligarchy: "A new and distinguished Criterion of Merit built on Beauty and sourced from the times we are surrounded by. The dream of a Winter Princess for 2012."
Shoes: Grace Jones.