Friday, November 6, 2009

The Samantha vest by Sophie Burrows


There have been some amazing things happen in my career to date but when Sophie Burrow's, a young Massey University fashion designer, who I admire for so many reason told me she had named a piece in her first collection (she's still in design school by the way) after me, I was blown away.

It's called the 'Samantha vest' and it's beautiful, I love it! Giving my time, knowledge, love, well everything, charges me with energy, sometimes I've given to wrong people, this time I know I got it right. When Sophie hand delivered my very own 'Samantha' vest she told me how much she appreciated my help and this was her way of giving back to me. What an amazing lady.

Sophie's collection "is inspired by the opposing themes of military uniforms of the 18th century and the femininity of the romantic movement, rocked up with images of the 80’s. Floaty floral prints vie with ideas of tight lace and leather to make an edgy contrast. The collection features mini dresses, draped waistcoats, exposed zips, brass buttons, and dropped v-necks". It's super cute and I like her attention to detail.

Below are some of my other favourite pieces: check out her facebook fan page here http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sophie-Burrowes-Designs/168789316235







Monday, October 19, 2009

Day 3 - Stolen Girlfriends Club

Stolen Girlfriends



For me this was easily one of the best shows of the week. Stolen Girlfriends Club collection is clever and original. How to make the Pocahontas look cool!



There was so much to fall in love with. Some of my hits: the heavy cable knits, cropped vests layered over fitted dresses that finished at the knee, peachy pink silk shirt and mini dress with ruffle detail on the back in the shape of a triangle and interesting cuff detail. The colour palette was gorgeous and knits are cute.



Dare to be different in SGC next winter!

































































Sunday, October 18, 2009

Day 4 ANZFW - Stitch Ministry

Stitch Ministry was another hit show at fashion week for me. The use of fur and bejewelled detail created a decedent looking collection that oozed WOW factor.


Hits for me were the tie dyed leggings (who would have thought leggings would have paased the test of time), bodysuits, silk dresses with subtle prints, slashed top, all the detailing including on the back of the garments and the jackets.


Wear Stitch Ministry next winter and feel like a modern 1940's women mixed with 80's glam rock!




















Day 3 ANZFW - trends, colours and standouts

Trends
Group shows!
Garments
Leather
Harem pants
Silk
Detailing - back of garments, off centred detail
Bodysuits
Sequins
Jodhpurs
Fur
Piped pants and leggings
Double breasted jackets
Tie dye
Colours
Warm rusty colours
Teal
Navy
Green - pale and emerald
Grey
White
Silver
80's brights - hot pink and orange

Standouts
The passion at the Miromoda show. I felt really emotional at the end of it.
Starfish making history by becoming the first ever fully sustainable fashion house to show at Fashion Week.
Miromoda
Samara Vercoe hits: the flowing teal silk dress, cropped jacket with butterfly pleating on the back and tie dyed body suits.
Rerehau and Tutina hits: Beautifully constructed traditional Maori jackets with leather belts.
Junette Ward and Liz Adams hits: Piped linen trousers and subtle harem styled trousers.
Keri Wanoa hits: Navy silk dress with net like sleeves, silk pantsuit, feathered mini skirt, trousers with front pleating and off centre button detail.
Shane Hansen and Bianca Walford-Collier hits: Statement T's and jeans
Kiri Nathan hits: Beaded materials and fringing used to detail her gowns in weave like effect.
Wiremu Barriball hits: Fab music, funky sports wear and shoes. Look out for the orange and yellow basketball boot. The colours in Barriballs collection had real impact and design. Tight body skin showing off the muscles of the men had the crowd flustered.
Group Show
Barbara Lee hits: Her jackets - The animal print jacket that opened the show, lady like crop jacket with collar detail and the long Orange jacket. Lee had fabulous shoulder detailing and back pleating on garments. Look out for the hot pink and the long sequin dresses. This collection was sex kitten and elegant.
Starfish hits: This show was eagerly anticipated for me. Being a big advocate of sustainable and organic clothing, I couldn't wait to see how Starfish would measure up to others at fashion week. I wasn't disappointed. It was colourful and on trend with detail on shoulders and double breasted jackets. Look out for the full length ruffle dress, relaxed boyfriend pants and dress with blue/white print.
United Constructions hits: Piped jodhpar pants and good basics.
Mild Red: Great vests of all lengthens, which could be a layering essential, Bright merinos, fantastic detailing; pockets, ties, straps and buckles. Beautiful tailoring and construction of dresses. Look out for the military jacket with back pleating and shoulder tassels.
GHD New Generation group show
ISBIM hits: Silver bedazzling blazer, faux fur crop jacket and textured fabric leggings.
Emma Ford hits: Ford wanted to show something different to her well known swimwear during NZ fashion week, so decided to showcase body suits and floaty shirt dresses. I loved the quirky prints. Look out for the velvet body suit with chiffon cut outs.
Trix and Dandy hits: The fabulous spectacular that is Michael Pattison. This is wearable electric streetwear! Flirty fabrics and prints on shirts and dresses. The collection is super colourful and playful.
Chapel hits: wearable basics
Serena Fagence hits: 80's glam punk, Fagence knows how to design body suits and jackets with dramatic style. Look out for the triangle shaped detailing on jackets and full body suits in shiny materials.
Whiri hits: Mesh sleeves that had a weave like effect.
House of Ezis hits: The black bat wing dress, it was dramatic!
Tara Cuncliffe hits: Origami detailing was extraordinary. Her collection was filled with vibrant colour and exceptional tailoring; like the pleating on the jodhpurs, which gave an insect like effect and back pleating on dresses, which almost resembled a spine.
Watching all those group show was intense. I cant wait to see the look books!
Whiri


















Serena Fagence
















Trix and Dandy



ISBIM




Emma Ford






Group show - Barbara Lee, Starfish, Under Constructions, Mild Red

Mild Red


United Constructions




Starfish




Barbara Lee





Miromoda show

Rerehau and Tutina

Wiremu Barriball

Kiri Nathan

Keri Wanoa

Junette Ward and Liz Adams

Samara Verco

Friday, October 16, 2009

My recent obsessions:

Antipodes grapeseed butter cleanser, it really does leave your complexion divinely fresh and deeply cleansed!
All of Antipodes products are scrumptious, this is just my latest find. J'aime!






















Tints of nature natural hair colour - as natural as you'll get for a hair colour. I'm love it so much I've asked my hair dresser use this on me instead of theirs.



























Tracey Neuls shoes! www.tn29.com

Designed for comfort and practicality, and they're still incredibly stylish! I found these at the Taylor opening in Wellington on Thursday night.








Friday, October 9, 2009

Day 1 ANZFW - trends, colours, standouts

TRENDS
Garments
Heavy knits
Detail - pleating; collars; sides of garments; shoulders; sleeves
Blazers
Body Harnesses
Bodysuits
Shorts
Capes
Fur
Colours
Burnt Orange
Olive Green
Brown
Purple
Navy
Peach
Nude
Cream

Above: Cybele

Standouts

I love colour and was well pleased to see that through the expected sea of expectant black there was some vibrant, playful, soft and feminine colours shining through. These colours will be magical against grey skies and dominate black outfits us kiwis seem to love wearing in Winter.


Cybele's show kicked off with fantastic sounds I have to say, Licantropia Avanzada (Larsson remix) starting my day with bang. Her collection was exciting, clever and filled with detail. Never afraid to explore colour and pattern, beautiful, interesting pieces flowed down the runway. A couple of my favourite pieces were the burnt orange mini (above) the grey silk shift dress with calla lily print and the pale peach silk dress.



Cybele tulip print shift dress
Cybele peach dress
Sable and Minx's standout pieces were also vibrant in colour like her green maxi dress, very goddess like and purple silk cape. The collection was pretty, feminine and very wearable as the 2 shift dresses show below.











Sable and Minx
Sable and Minx
Twenty Seven Names opened their show by sending all the models en masse down the runway, which had strong impact. This collection was hard edged in the beginning, finishing with some floaty pretty silk pieces. I enjoyed the contradiction as it mixed well with the way they began the show. The start being the end. My picks were fine silk dresses, waist coats with exposed pockets, pleated front dresses, bodysuits and peachy coloured cape.

















Twenty seven names cape



Twenty Seven Names
Twenty Seven Names
Juliette Hogan continued on with her feminine look from her summer 09 collection in an aptly named show 'So pretty it hurts' and it was. There was Shoulder detailing, pleating, ruffles and feminine shapes in dupion silks, tweed, wool and fine silks creating a decedent, polished look. My fav's were the dove grey cape, wool blazer and purple prints.

















Juliette Hogan
Juliette Hogan
Juliette Hogan
Basquesse leather puzzle like cape
It was clear from the beginning that Basquesse had been influenced by Africa, her collection was filled with animal prints and feathers (ostrich I believe). Some models were decorated in animal print makeup. Her stunning jigsaw puzzle looking leather detailing, short leather cape and statement black dress were standouts for me.















Basquesse
Basquesse
Annah Stretton celebrated Freda Stark in her 1940's inspired show. Lots of vintage underwear came down the runway followed by feminine layering, detailing and good tailoring. You'd be excused for thinking it was a lingerie show in the beginning, but as the show developed Stretton's true style came through. If you like Annah Stretton collections you will not be disappointed. For me, I'm in love with tutu's so these stood out. Along with the frilly detailing on the sides on her knickers.















Annah Stretton
Annah Stretton
Annah Stretton
Alexandra Owen knows how to bring intelligence and humour into a collection. Her equestrian
inspired collection was one of my favourites of the day. Clever styling saw the models legs wrapped like a horses ready for show jumping and horse halters featured around the models necks. I loved the leather scarf, exceptional tailoring and detail that signifies Alexandra Owen. You can see why Alexandra Owen has been invited to NYFW 2010. Stunning!





Alexandra Owen
Alexandra Owen
Zambesi's art of putting on a great show never fails. WOW! For most, a show like this would have overwhelmed the clothing. Not Zambesi. The first off site show of the week took us to Skycity, where we sat in front of a big screen and open stage. One by one the models walked out from the back of the stage, tiny figures wearing clothing you couldn't quite see; they were to far away. Then as they came back through the wings from the opposite side of the stage, a
TV camera projected them up onto the large screen and the models looked like they were walking straight at you. I have to say I thought this was one of Zambesi's best collections to date. Standouts for me were the soft, feminine, pretty coloured silks juxtaposed with tailored, dark pieces. The knits were beautiful and jackets to die for.
Zambesi