One of the world's most powerful women will soon be wearing Kiwi-made.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's visit here may have been short and sweet, but she still managed to fit in a bit of shopping - meaning that a local fashion designer's outfits are set to grace the world stage.
She may have been in the country on business, but when the US Secetary of Stage felt the urge for a little retail therapy, Auckland-based designer Adrienne Winkelmann was invited into Rice's hotel room for a private viewing.
Winkelmann says she was impressed when Rice introduced herself with a smile and helped bring the rack of clothes in.
A past inclusion in Vanity Fair's 'best dressed' list, Rice looked Winkelmann up after seeing her designs worn overseas. Amongst her eventual purchases was a luxurious evening tuxedo.
"She looked amazing in that." Winkelmann says. "She's very tall and slim, so it's just a beautiful line on her."
Winkelmann says Rice had a surprising eye for colour ("She wasn't timid about wearing bold colours") and also ordered two business suits - one red, and one turquoise.
The controversial Secretary of State mentioned her shopping spree during a formal reception, but almost made the most undiplomatic faux-pas of sending the credit to our trans-Tasman rivals.
"I was just helping myself out a little bit with Australian - um, ah - New Zealand fashion and...I want you to know you've got good dress makers out there."
Just how much Rice spent in New Zealand is a closely-guarded secret. But there'll be more to come - Winkelmann has been asked to design a ball dress for the Secretary of State to wear to an upcoming US ball. For the record, she estimated Rice at a tall NZ Size 8.
