Walk the Line @NZFW 2014

This year I decided to entire the YMCA Raise Up's annual Walk the Line competition. Walk the Line is a platform for Young NZ Designers to get their designs into fashion week, with 5 categories; Canon Wonderland, Beatnik Recyclable, Auckland City Council Cultural, Revlon High Fashion and BNZ Open Design. I chose to enter Revlon High Fashion, creating a simple black cashmere dress with a cape/sash hand embroidered with silver thread. The catch? I chose for my model to be a male. Here are some photos from the event.

Hailwood @NZFW 2014

    Wearing: Zara Top, Glassons Coat and Skirt, New Look Boots, Burberry Bag. My sister wears Tatty's coat and Doc Martens

I was fortunate enough to attend the Hailwood show last Thursday as part of New Zealand Fashion Week. Showcasing his 'Blackout' collection inspired by "luxe streetwear", Adrian Hailwood has created a line with something for everyone and every occasion. From their trademark jeans paired with blanket-like ponchos emblazoned with the Hailwood unicorn to tailored suits for the power driven business woman inside all of us. The stand-out pieces were the sequinned evening dresses, ending the show with a real statement and highlighting just how versatile the label is. The make-up, designed by MAC's Nicole Thompson was inspired by the 60's with Thompson describing it as " 'Beautiful Ugly', or a three day old Twiggy" paired with bouffant hair by Fraser Foulagi the look really embodied the "rock'n'roll" vibe Hailwood wanted. Unfortunately I left my camera charging at home so you'll have to find photos else where, and you should, because this collection isn't one to miss!

#2

                               

Up

1. I MET ALANA HAIM!!! The Haim sisters are my absolute favourites, so there was no way I was going to miss their set despite being underage and not having a ticket. So perched a top a playground my friend and I watched them perform from outside of the Laneway's grounds. Worth it. Hell yes.

2. My new boots arrived! They are from New Look and are everything I could have ever wanted in a boot! I will post photos soon

3. I went to The Graduate at Silo Park on Friday, and despite not really focusing on the movie I had a lot more fun than I expected. I was just glad I'd brought enough to wear!

4. I tried the bomb Alaska ice block at Milsé. Oh man. Those things are perfection on a stick. Too bad I can't eat them for 3 months

Not so Up

1. My denim skirt still hasn't arrived. And I have so many outfits planned for it!

2. I found out my last ever school exam is on the 1st of December. Which is the second to last day of exams. So most of my friends will finish a week before me.

3. I haven't really done anything this week. Just pre school prep. Urghh

4. I've been told I have to start a gluten, dairy and sugar free diet for the next three months. No more ice-cream for me.

#1

                                                                               Follow the Party of the Whale - Te Ao and Ian Frengley

Up

1. I'm doing a play (Arthur Miller's All My Sons) and I've been told that I should draw character inspiration from the mothers in Dance Moms and Toddlers and Tiaras. Ultra fabulous/horribly immoral here I come.

2. A bunch of my friends (me included) have recently got restricted licenses, this has created a whole level of freedom we haven't had before and has meant that spontaneous activity ideas can actually be put into action. Well as long as we all have cars and it's between the hours of 5am and 10pm that is. Not quite free yet.

3. Henry Holland liked my photo on Instagram.

4. I have a new favourite author, namely Haruki Murakami. I'm reading his book Kafka on the Shore and it's a new level of cool. It reminds me of Latin American magical realism, but Japanese. On of the old characters is a mentally handicapped old man who struggles to communicate with people, but can speak to cats. What more could you want in a book?

5. I went to the Freedom Farmers exhibition at the Auckland Art Gallery with a friend who'd just arrived back from Paris. I loved it, though I wish I was better at remembering artists names. My highlights were Te Ao and Ian Frengley's art film Follow the party of the Whale which was inspired by a Maori Proverb and oppression of the Maori in colonial Dunedin, and Ava Seymour's crazy collaged photographs which reminded me of my childhood favourite Angela Anaconda. Don't judge, she was cool.

Not so up

1. I have done way to much online shopping, and I'm too impatient. Why can't my clothes just arrive instantly?

2. 1 week till school starts. I've been off school for 3 months now. I don't think my body, let alone my brain, remembers anything to do with it. I may go into shock.

3. I don't know what to call this 'feature', give me any ideas

Zambesi NZFW '13

I was lucky enough to go to the Zambesi show at this years New Zealand Fashion Week. I loved the simplicity of the collection, which definitely had key characteristics of Zambesi, it was on the avant garde side of street wear, but I don't think that would put me off buying it. From the opening of the show I knew it was going to be good. The moment those sliders opened you could here the buzz in the show. Being able to see the 'secretive' backstage workings added a whole new level to the show and at times I caught myself focusing on what was going on back there, rather than on the models in front of me. The makeup and hair was a perfect accessory to the outfits, the half slicked hair was a work of art and encompassed the sophistication and edginess of the clothes. The thick red lipstick was perfectly glossy, to the point where it looked wet, which I adored. I loved the heavy, structural woolen coats and the matte leather t-shirts and skirts. The gradual increase of colour from black and olive green to accents (and whole dresses) of bright poppy reds. Overall the collection was the perfect balance of simple and urban edginess.