Does Christchurch have style?

opinion

By Michiko Hughes & Clifton Piper

Published: 1:20PM Thursday June 11, 2009 Source: ONE News

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Style Blog has recently been "on location" in Christchurch.

We travelled down the line with ONE News presenter Wendy Petrie and Close Up's Mark Sainbury, who were there to cover the trial of fellow fashionista David Bain .

Style Blog was extremely pleased to see David had traded in those lurid Coogi-esque jumpers for a more sophisticated, tailored silhouette. Well done, David!

Since Style Blog had never actually been to Christchurch before, we wanted to see what Canterbury had on offer in the fashion stakes! Would the inhabitants of the "Garden City" be as pretty as their beautifully manicured flower gardens?

We had long heard of Christchurch women being clad in metres of chambray and pearls with a focus on stiff shirting with collars standing up!

Unfortunately, to be quite honest, that would have been a vast improvement on what was actually on display.

Although we accept that maybe standing outside the High Court for hours on end doesn't really give you a good representation of what the most stylish southern folk in town like to get out and about in.

Luckily for us, we ended up getting quite up close and personal with the local scallywags who were doing their best to keep the court extremely busy all day long.

Bless them!

The general "P"- addled criminal look is universal - it can be found globally in any city - battered, leather motorcycle gang emblazoned jackets, Doc Marten boots, ugly haircuts, ne'er been washed tees of a highly questionable taste and an affinity with skanky ripped jeans. Hey, that actually sounds quite cool but, alas, this was not the case with those donning the look in Christchurch!

Funnily enough, the ripped, bleached jeans is so on the money right now in fashion.

Check out Balmain's version that have been making fashionistas overseas drool with lust. If you fork out $5,000, you too can own a pair! Or get out the scissors, sandpaper and think about an ex-boyfriend and then just go to town on a pair of your old jeans. Price tag $0. Something all our fellow recessionistas are bound to love!

Down in Christchurch, there was also a notable trend for shaved heads and a nod to a certain long dead fascist dictator! Always a great way to stand out in a crowd.

However, there were a few interesting trends we took a liking to while being perched outside the court.

Style Blog was fascinated with one strong look that most of the male Bain supporters were loving in a big way - shorts. Bizarrely enough, shorts were everywhere! Keep in mind it was about 2 degrees down there. Just a tad too chilly for shorts, you'd think!

The shorts were naturally teamed up with pasty white legs, white tube socks and lace-up dress shoes.

All jokes aside, great fashion looks in Christchurch may be few and far between, but they do exist. Perhaps it doesn't flow consistently like the Avon River or emulate the beauty of the Garden City, but Christchurch fashion is unique in its own way.

Once we got away from the vicinity of the court house, (memo to all visitors to Christchurch: Don't go near the High Court!) we were able to see some Cantabrians who actually like fashion. Go Christchurch!

Like our chic European counterparts who also suffer living through severe winters, Christchurch folk certainly know how to wrap themselves up warm and keep as toasty as possible.

Once you have your thermal layers on, merino knits and polyproprelene (that is, if you don't mind getting smelly, sweaty and itchy!) the key to a great Christchurch look is having a great coat.

Something that is made well, made of wool and has a great cut is an investment piece that will last in your wardrobe for years. A great coat will always make you look stylish and also keep you warm.

Style Blog loves the coats available for men and women at Workshop/Helen Cherry this season.

Check them out!

What do you think of the style in Christchurch? Share your thoughts on the messageboard below.

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