Michiko Hughes and Clifton Piper's Blog
Monday September 28
Michiko Hughes, Head of Wardrobe at TVNZ knows the score when it comes to Fashion Week and all that it entails. Read her thoughts on this years fashion extravaganza
Saturday September 26
Zambesi Retrospective Show
What a perfect show to end an amazing week of New Zealand fashion. The Zambesi Retrospective celebrated their designs over 30 years in the biz with many a drink flowing!
The show kicked off with an incredible performance by the dance troupe, Black Grace, known for their contemporary and pacific dance fusion.
After an energetic and much applauded performance, the show began as we went back in time to view Zambesi through the years. It's amazing to see designs that are still so wearable now as Liz and her team have remained resolute with their own particular design aesthetic.
What we liked:
We loved the one-shouldered, green and floral print dress with
the amazing origami-like folds in the skirt. We also loved
the blue eye make-up on the models and the crazy, candyfloss
hair.
The finale was very emotional as Zambesi's designer, Liz Findlay, stepped onto the runway to receive a huge bouquet of flowers from her two main seamstresses, who have been at her side since from the beginning. Even the die-hard fans had tears in their eyes! All in all a great show - one of the very best.
Early evening Friday September 25
Huffer
Held at Audi/Prestige Motors, it was obvious that something very cool was going down thanks to gaggles of 'too cool for school' fashion folk and super-hip kids converging around outside the site, eagerly slurping potent Jagermeister and Red Bull jelly treats on offer.
After much milling around we took to our seats (in the front row of course, darling!)
It was a really fab place to host a show as huge screens beamed the models back to us so we could see them as 3D and in the flesh as they walked past.
The Huffer brand has a definite following and are totally loved by all the pretty young things and has really gone from strength to strength since its early beginnings as a skateboarding orientated label.
Huffer is all about cool streetwear and we definitely saw loads of that!
For the gals:
There were short little mini-dresses, micro-mini floaty skirts,
insanely teen-tiny hotpants, cropped woollen 'biker chick' jackets
and lots of knits layered up with longer line cardigans.
For the lads:
Chunky, oversized pullovers, tartan/plaid jackets, three quarter
length coats, hoodies with leather jackets over them and powder
blue 80's looking slim cut jeans.
We loved the styling by Karen Inderbitzen-Waller. Teeny-tiny panties and sexy suspender belt stockings on the female models counteracted the oversized/heavier knits.
Huffer needs to be purchased. Start creating a Winter 2010
fund for yourself and squirrel away until then!
4pm Friday September 25
Roll on 5pm..... We know that Pammy and Richie Rich are going to give us the show of all shows.
Read about the launch of A*Muse at ANZFW here
Thursday September 24
Stolen Girlfriends Club
Auckland is known for erratic downpours and naturally, the timing of one of these deluges occurred just as Style Blog got out of the car on their way to the much anticipated Stolen Girlfriends Club show held off site at St Benedicts Masonic Hall in Newton.
One half of Style Blog, namely the female half i.e Michiko got completely drenched! So much for that big, sexy do!
Instead, the hair was plastered to the head in homage to a drowned rat. Kind words of sympathy were offered to ease the pain of looking like a 'la dumpster chic' as hypothermia set in...
The problem was that the organisers weren't letting anyone in so we got left in the pouring rain. Finally the cruel people let us go through and it was absolutely packed to the rafters! As we swilled the cheap beer and the dodgy-looking vino in jam jars, we found our places and then waited over an hour for the show to start!
Luckily enough for the label, it was well worth the wait and SGC produced an exciting collection of designer vagabond, derelict chic numbers. By accident, I think the 'drowned rat look' was a leading look for the whole night!
The Vivienne Westwood influence was huge as the themes revolved around a nomadic bunch of kids drawing inspiration from their travels.
For the girls we saw little Lord Faulteroy with frilly overalls, hotpant ensembles (those knitted versions aren't for 90% of us out there!), crazy long-john looking bodysuits, poncho chic, Andes-après ski looks from the 90's with Nordic design, sexy fur (faux?) jackets 'n' gilets and braces made out of string: true hobo chic at it's best!
For the lads, some of those chunky grunge Nirvana-esque oversized, cable-knitted jumpers were tres Dunedin student like. An interesting look for the boys continued with the 80's logo printed sweatshirts with tasselled shoulder pad details and chunky legwarmers worn over leggings.
The final look was a peyote-inspired number, the model donning only skinny black pants and big, biker style boots with a giant dream catcher fashioned to his body a la Jim Morrison style. Yay.
It was a look that aptly ended a collection that was all about
youth, travel, being inspired by other countries and dreaming
without fear. Yay.
Adrian Hailwood
To be honest, the show was a bit of a mess with a major seating issue and organisers getting lippy with fashionistas. However sometimes that dramatic tension helps create a buzz around a show!
Hailwoods Autumn/Winter collection had the most amazing electric blue pieces that really stood out.
The colour palette was mostly blues, soft taupe's, muted violet tones, fleshy nudes and greys, black and flashes of baby pink and cherry red. We loved the wool camel jacket that tied at the back and the sweet powder blue 'denim' heart shrunken jacket. There were heaps of thoroughly wearable dresses that I could see a lot of fashionistas sporting come next season.
The 'blue wave' dress had the sweetest capped sleeves with a black skirt that was pleated and gathered in all the right places.
We loved the silk satin cream coloured tunic mini dress with the art deco print on it and also the orange, insanely short mini-skirt that was paired back with the nude blouse.
And finally, we loved the sexy1930's style silvery, mushroom satin dress with chinoiserie motifs.
There was lots of joy in Hailwood's collection and we
loved the Pirates of Penzance looking/70's disco turban action
headwear especially on a long, bright orange kaftan
maxi-dress. Marcia Hines anyone?
Wednesday September 23
Kate Sylvester
We loved Kate Sylvester's Autumn/Winter 2010 collection titled 'Diamond Dogs'.
Based around rock and roll and military themes, there were so many fantastic pieces we can't wait to get our little mitts on!
The show was held at an abandoned warehouse/dilapidated car park and there was a real energy in the air! Richie Rich from Pamela Anderson's label A*Muse was present and we got the chance to have a good chinwag with him as we sat next to one another in the front row. What a fun, likeable and friendly guy!
Finally, after much waiting and hype, the show began with a succession of models featuring a punky, hard-core look comprising a slicked-back, wet-look hair style with pale complexions and dark lips. The rock 'n' roll soundtrack, big chain necklaces and military inspired styling (detailed by the extremely talented Karen Inderbitzen-Waller) set the tone of the collection.
We saw lots of short coat dresses with waists clinched in thanks to a good leather belt. Striped, tight mini dresses with cropped fur jackets over the top also featured and we hoped they were faux fur.
The military theme was everywhere with army coloured cropped khaki coloured fitted jackets worn over soft silk chemises and negligee looking dresses in soft baby pinks and greys. The palette was muddy greens and diffused plum tones, greys, charcoals and greens.
We love the pleated pants with rolled up hems in silky fabrics and also the PVC, shiny tailored jackets for the girls and the boys.
All in all we thought the collection was fabulous and can't wait
until it's in store!
NOM D
The show began with a beautifully shot short film that framed the 'feeling' of the collection from the outset. It featured a rag-tag group of young gypsy looking nomads hanging out dreamily in a large spooky house.
They all looked like they were on the edge of insanity, languishing around with huge, glazed eyes and crazy tousled hair.
Dressed in white tiered outfits with huge up-standing frilly collars a la Pierrot style, the lunatic-like misfit kids played around the house and basement before wandering out and running through the woods. It was like tripping on magic mushrooms and after the psychedelic film ended, the models emerged once again to walk around so we could see the garments in the flesh.
Style Blog was very impressed and many a Fashionista in the house had a tear in their eye because it was such a beautifully thought-out and wonderfully executed collection.
We saw lots of layered pieces&actually layer upon layer upon layer which is a NOM D design trait and so very South Island style. (but in a good way that is!)
The gypsy-like models had tunics layered with folds and pleats, gathers and flounces with ribbons trailing behind them. Druid-esque and mediaeval-like hoods featured heavily and hidden leather corsets made of strapping peeped from underneath the layered ensembles.
The colour palette was subdued& khakis, dark purples and smoky charcoals with flashes of red complete with wonderfully huge mirrored neck adornments.
All we can say is we like very muchly!!!
Tuesday September 22
Yet again, it was a whirlwind morning for our Style Blog, as day two of ANZFW coincided with a huge ONE News publicity photo shoot that featured just about all of our beloved TVNZ people.
Once the shoot was wrapped, with seconds to spare, we raced down to the ANZFW HQ by Auckland's viaduct. We'd spent the morning concerned about how everyone else was going to look so hadn't even had one moment to consider what we'd be wearing!
It's very important to look uber-cool on the first day of fashion week and then as the week slides by, one tends to relax a bit more. Of course, trying too hard is a horrendously bad look, so the key is to be super confident in your look and own it 100%.
No-one likes a wannabe who will never be, it's nasty and catty but hey darlings, that's fashion week!
As the Kiwi fashionistas emerged from out of the woodwork to congregate together, the sneaky, stolen sideways glances also emerged. It seemed everyone was sussing out each others looks giving them an instant "yeah" or "nay" rating. Checking out what everyone is wearing can be just as entertaining as the shows - whether you're laughing at their bedraggled look or you're glancing over in envy. It can work both ways!
ZAMBESI Winter 2010 - WE LOVE YOU!
It was great arriving at the show which was held at the Sky City Theatre as there was such a buzz in the air. Yes, this is what fashion week is all about. All the stars were out rubbing shoulders with each other and air-kissing up a storm!
The show had music that was deafeningly loud and yet the crazy, hard-core, industrial style music so suited the show. As huge screens relayed the models coming down the catwalk, Zambesi presented a collection of military inspired coats and dark, edgy pieces that we love from them. Zambesi know their design aesthetic inside and out and don't follow trends which we love. They just get their own followers!
Menswear
There was a lot of short pants for men with turned up cuffs. In the suiting department, we saw a lot of fitted double-breasted numbers in mushroom and taupe coloured fabric and also grey trench coats worn over slim line black pants and white shirts with skinny black ties.
Womenswear
Oversized knits were draped over fitted dresses and cowl or funnel necked sleeveless shift dresses in greys and sombre toned wools featured heavily.
We loved the black PVC looking wet-look fabric that had more than it's fair share of 'the dominatrix sleeps tonight' look and feel appearing in sexy fitted jackets and coats.
In general we loved the collection, we are fans of course as
Zambesi always does the most amazing winter collections.
Cybele
The day began with the
highly anticipated Cybele show. Cybele is
well-known for her love of beautiful printed silks and interesting
drapery in her well thought-out and immaculately executed
collections.
Cybele's A/W 2010 collection didn't fail to deliver and
Style Blog saw some beautiful must-have pieces we will definitely
save up for next season.
The recurring theme through the collection was Victorian. The look was feminine and highly dramatic with prim and proper dresses and coats featuring big ruffles and frills at the neck.
The first look down the runway was a beautiful gothic looking black chiffon caped number that Stevie Nicks would have been proud of - in a good way!
Cybele has consistently used a theme of flowers and insects in her work over the years. This was highlighted in the A/W 2010 collection with fabrics printed with moth wings and animal inspired print motifs as well as some skirt panels resembling insect wings.
Beautiful sleeves and capes, with medieaval slits cut out for arms in charcoals and black were also apparent. Soft, easy to wear tunics also featured.
The colour palette was very natural with soft apricot tones, nudes, khaki olives, mustards, rusts and powdery soft blues.
The hair and make-up look seen at Cybele was full-on. There
were insane amounts of fuchsia pink blush sculpted right up to the
hairline with centre-parted hair detailed with gelled
pre-Raphaelite curls. A fantastic look on the catwalk but not
for the faint hearted on the streets of Auckland!
Check out the show
Twentysevenames and Juliette Hogan
What more can we say other than we absolutely loved the combined Juliette Hogan and Twentysevennames show and we can't wait to order the lot!
The colour palette for both collections consisted of a great deal of white and cream, nudes, apricots and of course black pieces.
Both had a romantic 1960's feel about them with pieces that Jane Birkin or Francoise Hardy would easily have worn back in the day. Sweet laces and softly draped tops with bows and wonderful, swinging capes in an amazing apricot, lit up the runway.
Style Blog also LOVED the hair and make-up by MAC.
Such a beautiful, covetable collection that had the right amount of romanticism and cool modernity. It's so exciting to see our young kiwi designers going from strength to strength and creating collections that are of a world class standard.
Check out the Juliette Hogan and Twentysevennames shows
Monday September 21 - Moet & Chandon opening
evening
Fashion week kicked off with a bang! Actually it was more a happy popping of champagne bottles, which was music to our ears after an extremely busy day.
Moet & Chandon hosted an extravagant VIP only fashion event celebrating the grand opening of ANZFW. The stars were out in full glory, dressed to the nines.
The popping of the cork was eventually done by none other than NZ's favourite sporting hero Dan Carter, there was not a tighty whitey in sight, rather he was decked out in a fabulous grey suit that hugged in all the right places.
As we all quaffed back the delicious Moet & Chandon champagne and feasted on the seemingly unending trays of canapés, we reflected on what it has taken for us to get to this point.
As the country's top fashion designers rubbed shoulders with local celebs and politicians, there wasn't a bitchy comment to be heard. Then again this was only the first day of fashion week. 'Mwah' still has ample time to become 'meow' - stay tuned.
Check out the pics courtesy of
www.thealist.co.nz
Monday September 21
Naturally the plans for a restful start to the biggest week in
fashion were turned completely upside down. Instead of a
Monday morning 8am wake-up after a relaxing weekend, we were up at
5am in order to head down to Wellington for a guest appearance on
the Good Morning programme.
It was a fly-by-night visit to the windy capital, spending a
mere two hours on the ground - just long enough, as far as we
were concerned as we were champing at the bit to get back to the
excitement of ANZFW.
It was our first visit to Avalon Studios and we were stunned by the
amount of space they have down there. It was like being on a
Hollywood backlot in the 1950's. What it lacks in mod cons it
certainly makes up for in sheer size. IT'S HUGE!
In true Miss Piggy and Kermie style, we had our own dressing
rooms and we made sure to include our names by scribbling them in
chalk on the door, 1950's style and all that.
Just as we were trying to gather our thoughts in the interrogation
room also known as 'make-up', we were thrust onto the set in front
of a huge studio audience. Talk about flying by the seat of
your pants television, it turned out to be very exciting!
Steve Gray managed to calm our nerves in the few minutes before we
went live and once the camera's were turned on we babbled away, as
per. Then after a quick hair and make-up demo on a model it was
time to skedaddle, racing against the clock to make it back to the
airport in time to catch our flight.
As one would imagine when faced with early morning flights and
guest appearances on national television, high drama ensued with
terrible traffic and the thought of a missed flight. After
abusing the poor women at Pacific Blue we realised we were actually
flying Air NZ. DAH!
With Michiko in stilettos as high as a tower, we sprinted to the furthest gate at Wellington airport only to find out that we were EARLY! Drama!
Check out the
Good Morning interivew here
