NZFW '11: Tuesday in review

The first full day shows kicked of New Zealand Fashion Week today with a good 10 hours of effort put in by the fashion pack today at the brand new Viaducts Events Centre and then at two off site shows this evening. I must say I was feeling a little glum by early evening not having been blown away by any catwalk shows but this was before Salasai took the stage.

 Image: Salasai // NZ Herald

Set in the beautiful old church of St Matthew-In-The-City Salasai presented their AW '12 collection entitled "Uncharted Territory" to a full house. Mixing elements of school yard tartans with feminine lace and exaggerated proportions in sleeve, hem and crotch lengths a friend remarked that it had a bad ass anime feel to the range.

 

Facehunter / aychblog/ Lady Petrova

The most incredible part of my day today was meeting designer Petrova Hammond. I totally went fan girl and asked a mutual friend to introduce us! Petrova was a finalist in the first season of Project Runway Australia and just so happened to be wearing a piece from the collection she designed for the finale which I recognized immediately! 

This woman is uber delightful and super encouraging. If you live in Melbourne you should totally check out the Lady Petrova Prom happening THIS Friday. Click here for the details

Big day tomorrow with Ruby, Celine Rita, Jimmy D, NZ Weddings, Lonely Hearts, Trelise Cooper and Stolen Girlfriends all hitting the catwalks. Remember to follow me on Twitter and Facebook and chat with me throughout the day! XX

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Let #NZFW begin!

Best NZFW invite goes to Untouched World who gave delegates a tin of Merino Wool with invites. Super soft! X

Welcome to New Zealand Fashion Week! It's game time!

My rego pack is all collected, opening night party under my belt and I'm just putting another coat of glitter on my outfit for tomorrow... it is going to be a super fun week! 

 M.A.C hosted an incredible NZFW opening bash complete with body painted models (pictured below) representing iconic works by Lichtenstein, Matisse, Mondrian, Haring, Vasarely, Albers, Pollock and Warhol. Massive congratulations to M.A.C Pro artists Amber D, Nicole Thompson, Fatima Thomas and their very talented team of senior artists.

I'll be Tweeting away and posting content on Facebook throughout the day and writing daily wraps and other interesting bits and pieces here on the go thanks to the awesome Motorola Xoom. I'll also be writing some guest posts on SASSYBELLA.com! 

Super super super exciting! Let me know if there is anything in particular you are interested in or someone you want to meet via the internet and I'll make sure you see it here :-)

XX

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XOOM XOOM XOOM

I am very excited to be trialing the new Motorola Xoom on Telecom's XT network over New Zealand Fashion Week this year. It is so pretty! And run on Android technology it is super easy to use, customise and navigate. With a fancy camera, beautiful touch screen and super fast internet thanks to Telecom it really is a bloggers dream piece of technology!

As longtime readers will know I limit advertising on my site and only offer it to brands/products that I believe align with my brand ethos of inspiration and innovation. This my friends is one of those products! 

Check out all the technical specs here.

As I discover all of the super exciting ways the Motorola Xoom changes my life I'll mention them in the posts I write over the coming week. I am SUPER EXCITED!!!

Thanks to Motorola and Telecom in advance for all the fun I am going to have!


XX

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#3 The Week That Was

1. Highlight of the week has been working with the delicious Ruby Frost and her creative team on her next music video. This girl is so freakin' gorgeous and a delight to work with it is surreal.

2. I'm going to be all technologically onto it at New Zealand Fashion Week this year. I'll fill you in on my next post :-)

3. I'm going to have the gadgets at NZFW but NO CLOTHES! Serious serious issues with my wardrobe.. blahghr #feelinglikeanelephant. Time to make it werq...

4. At least my nails will look pretty at NZFW! I just bought three new shades from Ruby:

Image: Thread.co.nz

I bought the shade Berries (pictured above) and a purple glitter called Disco and a dark purple called Marina. Deeeelicious!

5. Exciting to see Elizabeth Hawthorne make an appearance on the episode of New Zealand's Next Top Model this week. The last time I saw her she was acting a raging lunatic in Auckland Theatre Company's production of Mary Stuart. Awesome woman!

6. I Received amazing advice from a makeup artist today "just play". This made me happy! I'm always so scared of breaking the rules... too many lunchtimes reading teen mags at school.

7. FASHION WEEK THIS WEEK!

XXX

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NZNTM Cycle 3 Episode 12

Image: Brigette

Models! Money! Here we are the week before the live final of NZNTM with just Rosanagh, Brigette and Bianca in the running to become New Zealand's Next Top Model. Who will it be? I hope to all powers that be that it is Brigette. Rosanagh is in the headline again this week with drama surrounding her drink driving conviction and Bianca's "me and ... don't go together" has gone from quirky to unprofessional.

This is the business end of the competition. Sending the girls out on model go sees is a great way to see if they can land work in the real world. Rosanagh was booked by all four designers she visited and Issy didn't land a single booking. Sadly her walk let her down.. Such a shame because she received so many comments like "she has a great look" and "great energy".

Image: Issy

The photo shoot this week required the girls to hold a pose for 12 seconds to capture a kadrillion frames that are put together to create a 3D image. Issy was took home the best image by far but sadly her zero bookings sent her home. Is it strange that out of the top three girls only one of their images (Brigette's) is half decent?

We wait with baited breath to see who is chosen! Next weeks final will be broadcast live from the WORLD show at New Zealand Fashion Week. Very excited :-) 

I just hope to my fairy godmother they choose Brigette...

xx 

All images: TV 3
Check out the full album from the photo shoot this week here

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Can I have that in a size GAGA?

Have you seen that Lady Gaga and her sister are set to launch a fashion line? LDN Fashion quotes Grazia:
 
"According to Grazia the pair are designing “a relatively normal” fashion range based on style icons of the past such as Marilyn Monroe and Grace Kelly.
However, there is a twist – the clothes won’t be entirely normal as the white Marilyn dress is said to be made from rubber. We wouldn’t expect any less from the Germanotta sisters!"

Can I say EXCITE!!!

Working on a big project over the next 24hours but lots of fun fashiony bloggy stuff to post soon but in the meantime you can chat with me on Twitter :-) 

XXX

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A shaky day in NYC

Image: 

"A bride in her wedding dress runs from the courthouse in Lower Manhattan" 

- The Hollywood Reporter

A few scary moments were felt by our East coast American friends today as a 5.8 magnitude earthquake hit Virginia and was felt as far North as Toronto. I can't find reports of any major damage but two beautiful tweets have surfaced from New York City:

Garance Doré (@garancedore)
Have now instituted weekly #earthquake drill in studio, because we doubt immediately checking Twitter was the wisest plan of action…

Joe Zee (@mrjoezee)
Everyone’s ok at my @ELLEmagazine office here – clearly, since they’re all tweeting like crazy going down 41 flights of stairs. #Earthquake

Social media FTW! 

Obviously experiencing any major (potential) natural disaster is terrifying and  added to New Yorkers stress levels is the approaching 10year anniversary of September 11. Not so fun for them.

I found myself today asking a workmate about the American earthquake commenting quite intelligently about economic impact and geographical hazards. Ohh it seems every New Zealander is now a seismic geologist after our last year of scary earthquakes!

XX

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8 sleeps till Ruby hits the runway!

One of the shows coming up at NZFW that I am really getting excited about is Ruby who are showing on Wednesday 31st of August with a breakfast pre show.

Remember how everyone raved about their debut show last year? Do you know where I was? In the acute eye clinic at Greenlane clinical centre having painful things done to my left eye during the middle of Fashion Week (too painful and gross to write about on the internet). So it goes without question that I am very excited to be able to attend their show this year. 

Lots of exciting things will be happening for the Ruby brand over New Zealand Fashion Week with the launch of a new line called Liam and retail engagement with their show. How delicious is this teaser image:

"Designed by Emily Miller-Sharma, the womenswear brand possesses the spirit of RUBY with a sophisticated ease.

She is playful and strong, distinctly modern with classic touches - Liam is intrigued by the creativity and stories behind women and what they choose to wear. Meaning 'strong protector', Liam offers a unique take on modern femininity."

From the moment the AW 12 collection hits the runway a NZFW '11 specific capsule collection will hit stores inspired by elements from the runway show. 9 styles will be available for limited purchase including accessories and garments. The show will also be broadcast live into the six Ruby Boutiques across New Zealand. Awesome! 

I am a BIG fan of Ruby and I can't believe that in just over a week I will be getting all bloggy bloggy live from their second Fashion Week show. Sometimes life is just too incredible. Time to hit the day running - I think I am going to paint my nails lilac with my yummy Ruby polish!

XX

P.S. Check out current and previous ranges at the Ruby Boutique online store, read some uber fun blog posts here and remember to follow Ruby on Twitter and Facebook. 

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NZNTM Cycle 3 Episode 11

Firstly can I say that Sara Tetro is a mega babe? Such a beautiful woman! She introduced the contestants this week to Stephen Lee , a representative from Next Model Management in New York. The girls had a few minutes to introduce themselves.

Oh dear our poor Bianca immediately lets Stephen know that she "doesn't make good first impressions" EEeek! Stephen remarked that New Zealand's Next Top Model should be a hybrid of Rosanagh's face and Issy's body.

Image: Screen grab // NZNTM Cycle 3 Episode 11 // TV3

The girls attended a casting with designer Aiisha Ramadan and all of them blundered except for the graceful Rosanagh. I'm not her biggest fan but the girl presented herself well and walked like it was an interview. Brigette looked absolutely incredible in her outfit and totally glowed. Aiisha wrote on her blog:

"The winner of my challenge was Rosanagh. Although she’s the shortest, she walked the most comfortably and she has sharp features, which I love. My second favorites were equally Brigitte and Issy."

 

Image: Brigette // Aiisha.com

The HOTHOTHOT photo shoot that we have been waiting for took place this week with Chris Sisarich in THE DESSERT! The heat was so intense the finishing on Rosanagh's shoes melted off! Our little AJ struggled in the 40 plus degrees heat and had to call it a day before the end of her shoot.  

Image: Brigette // TV 3

NZNTM stylist Kylie Cooke made THE best observation at elimination this week: Is AJ cut out for the world of modeling and the fashion business in general? In the end AJ didn't make the cut and was sent home back to New Zealand from Abu Dhabi. Will we see her pop up again on the New Zealand fashion radar?

It is interesting to note that the official Facebook fan pages for the current contestants favour the girls in this order: Issy (1,604 "likes"), Rosanagh (1,543 "likes"), Bianca (1,374 "likes"), Brigette (936 " likes" ) and in last place AJ (591 "likes").

If the social media savvy audience could have their pic we would have Issy and Rosagnah battling it out for the top spot. I think Issy or Bianca will be next to go.. I hope it is a Brigette vs Rosagnah final... I would be SO sad if Brigette doesn't make it!
 
Best #NZNTM tweet:

Xenojay asked: "Why is Kirsten Stewart still on #NZNTM" (referring to Bianca!)

Babe of the week:
Sara Tetro

Best moment:
Watching Chris work his magic on the photo shoot.

XX

Check out the full album from the photo shoot this week here

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WHAT TO WEAR! WHAT TO WEAR!

Image: Tatty's sign on Ponsonby Road this afternoon

In case you had forgotten... New Zealand Fashion Week is in 8 sleeps!!!

Remember to be following me on Twitter and Facebook for the bits and pieces that don't make it onto le blog. 

I'm tres tres tres excited and can't wait to see what delicious creations hit the runway!

#snapsforfashion



XX

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Lazy Sundays are the best

I am very lucky to be the new owner of a sparkly new Canon G12 so I promise life around here will look a little prettier as I start to learn how to use it! 

Here are a couple of test shots I took today when out and about with a lovely friend. We went for a nice walk in the sunshine (fingers crossed that spring is on the way?) around Ponsonby and stopped in at Agnes Curran for lunch and I FINALLY checked out the uber cute Pencil Boutique next door run by super babe Pebbles Hooper.

I *may* have broken my buy-no-stationary-or-books rule for the month...

XX

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#2 The Week That Was

1. NEW GLASSES! X2 PAIRS!

I misplaced my old black ones so I got a replacement pair plus the ones pictured above. Do you like? I was worried about the round face+round glasses situation but I think they work... Yay for specsavers!

2. Whitecliffe College of Art and Design students are awesome! 

They invited me to have a chat with their fourth year Fashion majors about building a brand online and social media strategies. We had fun! We talked about how the internet is like glitter... it gets f***ing everywhere!

I played this clip at the start of our session for the absolutely pure gold statement at the end:

"Basically I'm a part-time blogger and I design my own jewellery line. It's like a mix of religious iconography, kind of with a Save By The Bell vibe...


We're putting on this rave, and there's a band in the mosque, and all the proceeds are going to that thing that happened in the Middle East or Africa or whatever"

3. I found out I am severely allergic to the coffee bean. 

4. Stop with the drama already! We are grown ups. Act like it. I had a chat with my momma this week and asked her "Does this mean I'm a grown up now? Now that I make good life decisions and have goals and ambitions and take responsibilities for my actions/desires?" She answered "Sadly yes! You are a grown up!"

5. Fashion week is in 10 sleeps and I am wetting myself in anticipation. SO much bloggy fun to be had. The delicious Tulia Jack will be in town and I can't wait to see her again :-)

6. James Dobson is a delicious human being. He makes me feel like a rock star. AND he is a kick ass designer/store owner/business man/master of cool. Excited for HIS fashion week show!

7. I NEED THESE JEFFERY CAMPBELL SHOES.. NEED NEED NEED... In other shoe related lust news have you heard about the WORLD collaboration with Number One Shoe Warehouse? They are releasing a diffusion line called World Made Me Do It that will hit the catwalk at their NZFW show and will be available in store at Number One Shoe Warehouse the next day... fast fashion FTW.

XX

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Hey Isaac Mizrahi, can I borrow your wheels?

Extraordinary Paths Series - Albert Pereta from Share the Path on Vimeo.

Did you see that JC Report have told the world that Bowery Lane Bicycles are creating a series of customised bikes for the fashionable to get around on during New York Fashion Week? I can't wait to see the rides inspired by Diane von Furstenberg and Isaac Mizrahi!

Image: JC Report

I was thinking to myself as I wandered around Wynyard Quarter (the new home of New Zealand Fashion Week) that it would be amazing to do fashion week on two wheels then I remembered we live in Auckland, a city of 52 volcanoes. Boo for hills!

***Disclaimer: aychblog.com in no way endorses riding bikes without helmets. We think riding without a helmet is really really stupid no matter how chic it looks on vimeo. 

 

*******And to the babe riding down Symonds St on Saturday on her cute bike with shaved blond hair that my bus nearly hit: you are a babe but very stupid. PUT ON A HELMET AND RIDE IN THE freaking BIKE LANE!!! 

 

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Mother Monster does it again...

Lady Gaga has released her video to "You and I" and goodness it is filled with so much incredible imagery:

I have an obsession with magical creatures like fairies and mermaids so to see Gaga as both a mermaid AND representing herself in an alternate gender than she usually manifests her persona in is just TOO MUCH to deal with. In an amazing Gagasmic way.


All images Haus of Gaga

XX

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❇ ❈ ❅ Snowflakes and Cherry Blossoms ❅ ❈ ❇

For the first time in 80 years it snowed today in the city I live in!

So bizarre to see tiny little snowflakes in Auckland!

Fingers crossed the sun comes back out again soon as the blossoms are already starting to come out and the baby lambs are making their way into the world.

I made my tumblr all blossomy to celebrate the coming of spring to our part of the world:

CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK! 

CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK!  

XX

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NZNTM Cycle 3 Episode 10

Image: AJ

What an episode! Were you expecting this much scandal? I have to hand it to NZNTM I didn't see all the drama coming... 

As the girls packed for their trip to Abu Dhabi and prepared to depart they were unknowingly taking part in a challenge that analysed their manners and ability to deal with tough situations and the paparazzi. Cue rude taxi driver, appearance by A-List photographer Norrie Montgomerie and a difficult check in clerk. 

Hillary's manners kept her in the episode and sent to Abu Dhabi on business class (with her bestie Issy) while the unfortunate shot of Aroha's knickers that Norrie shot got her sent home before the plane left the tarmac. 

Image: Bianca

The girls screamed and wailed as they experienced a work out with Colin and personal trainer Dane Kent but it was ultimately the photo shoot that would be their biggest test this week. 

Shot by Karen Inderbitzen Waller at a low shutter speed the girls had to gracefully move while keeping their heads still. There were a couple of terrible images but I think the strongest two images were Bianca and AJ. It pains me to admit this as I think they both have more to learn about life (like manners and group dynamics)  BUT they both did showcase their garments.

Image: Issy

Sadly it was Issy's bestie Hillary who was sent packing. I thought it could easily have been Rosagnah sent home but it looks like she stays for another week.... Hillary and Issy are by far my two favourite personalities on the show and it was so sad to see them parted! Even NZNTM judge Sara looked like she had a tear in her eye!

Image: Colin and Karen at judging

Quote of the week:

AJ: Wow imagine if we go to Africa!

Issy: do you know where Abu Dhabi is?

Photo of the week:

Bianca

Babe of the week:

Karen Inderbitzen Waller

XX

All images: TV3. My fave images are pictured above!

Check out the full album here.

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15 sleeps

Image: Viaduct Events Centre 
Looking into where (I'm guessing) the catwalk will run

On Friday night my delicious date and I checked out the fancy new Wynyard Quarter and Viaduct Events Centre that will play home to New Zealand Fashion Week in 15 sleeps. 

Definitely worth the kadrillion dollars spent on the venue and surrounding restaurants, art, parks and lookouts. Who will be the first to stage a high fashion shoot amids the industrial shipping containers?

CAN I SAY EXCITE!!!

XX

I'll be blogging away throughout New Zealand Fashion Week so make sure you are following me on Twitter and Facebook for updates, snippets and photos that don't make it onto the blog! 

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Jeffery Campbell: Would you like to make a baby?

Image: Lita by Jeffery Campbell in Pink Glitter

$259.90 at Andrea Biani

It's not often I write a fan girl post on footwear but OHMYGOOODNESS! 

Have you seen these Jeffery Campbell Lita shoes? In Pink Glitter? Absolutely incredible! 

I need these shoes in my life. I tried them on at Andrea Biani this week thinking "There is no way I'll be able to walk in them.." BUT they were so fabulously comfortable. AND the price tag isn't too astronomical... 

Image: Lita by Jeffery Campbell in Turquoise Suede 

$259.90 at Andrea Biani

Goodnesss my life would be complete if I owned a pair of these shoes. I would kill for the Pink Glitter but would settle for Turqouise Suede...

XX

P.s. I take a size 6.5 incase you were wondering!

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#1 The Week That Was

This week past has been hectic so I am going to write a bullet point post stylistically inspired by Katherine. (She is awesome dot com)

 Image: Nom*D at NZFW '10 // Venus Tong - Party of Wolves

Casie et moi. Isn't she a TOTAL BABE? Gosh I want to party with her again ASAP!

1. 21 more sleeps till New Zealand Fashion Week! Eeek! Tres excite! Friends, fashion and bloggy fun all equals some well needed escapism from real life.

2. Has anyone else realised there is so much unnecessary drama in this world? Seriously, it gives you wrinkles and cancer. Back away from the drama. 

3. Rescue Remedy Sleep Formula is amaze.  Get on that. Also, Iron melts. 

 

Translation: "I want to become famous on the internet!"

4. I have been upping my French revision and have started to visualise my life dreams en  français. Actually I was trying to write a sentence that ended with "on the internet". Actually.. 

5. Finally up to date with Drop Dead Diva. It's so "The Devil Wears Prada" meets "Legally Blond"! The basic gist is a blond bombshell is killed in a car accident and comes back to life in a plus size lawyers body. (I know this is a total contradiction to write "so hectic" then "up to date with tv watching". blah. *Internet guilt*)

6. LOOTING IN LONDON? Insane.

7. FAMINE IN AFRICA? TOTALLY INSANE.

XX

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Karl FTW!

Image: Karl Lagerfeld for Macy's // LDN Fashion

Have you seen Karl Lagerfeld's collection for Macy's? Talk about shrine to the Kaiser! I think there is something fabulous about these image of Karl... Like "Oh I'm so fashion I only drink Diet Coke from the bottles designed by Karl." View the full collection here.

 

Image: Karl Lagerfeld for Macy's // LDN Fashion

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The home of NOT rugby

Image: Ad Media 

In case you missed the memo New Zealand is hosting the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Every bar/cafe/restaurant/convenience store is filled with flags from competing nations. Some do it well, many don't. Maori TV are playing their "We are broadcasting the games for free" advertisements on buses and a new RWC merchandise store has sprung up on Queen St.

So you can imagine how much I giggled at FOUR's "This isn't rugby" campaign hitting billboards around central Auckland. 

Image: Ad Media

I'm as rugby mad as your average Kiwi but honestly without the influx of the promised tourists the city just feels like a party that no one has arrived for yet! You know that awkward half hour before anyone turns up? #superawkwardemptycity dot com . 

 XX

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Dans le jardin de M. MacGregor...

Look what I have? Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter en français! Childhood revisited!

My Momma just returned from France and brought back this little gem pour moi. I heart this story! I know it nearly off by heart in English and grew up with characters like Jemima Puddle duck, Miss Tiggy Winkle, Squirrel Nutkin, Mrs Tittlemouse and Peter Rabbit often frequenting my dreams.

Image: Peter Rabbit // Pierre Lapin

A little expert from that famous advice Peter Rabbit's Mum gave his siblings:

"Mes enfants, dit un jour madame Lapin, vous pouvez vous promener dans les champs ou le long du chemin, mais n'allez pas dans le jardin de monsieur MacGregor"

Quite a relevant life lesson:  Don't piss off someone who can kill you and have you made into pie.
 

Image: Jemimah Puddle Duck

You can follow the adventure of Peter Rabbit on friends on Twitter and Facebook and relive your childhood on their official website.

XX

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