Gareth Pugh for M.A.C

What is the best way to wake up on a day when you are feeling a little crook? To a courier holding a parcel from M.A.C! This morning I received a precious black box filled with goodies from the Gareth Pugh for M.A.C range. TO ♥ DIE ♥ FOR.

Gareth Pugh is a designer I name as being influential in my design journey. I remember countless discussions at fashion school gossiping about his great talent and the poverty from which he created greatness.

The exterior cases of the compacts are beautifully angular and house mirrors even for the eyeshadow boxes.  I am  a big fan of the "OUTRAGE" lip glass (it's the darkest purple pictured above.) AND HAVE YOU SEEN THE FALSE LASHES? Angular heaven!

This limited edition range hits selected M.A.C stores on December 16. You are going to want to get in quick because it will FLY out the door!

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Strawberry fields forever

Summer is here! 

I'm kind of obsessed with strawberry imagery. Every time I remember this I mourn the loss of a pair of strawberry earrings I bought from a tiny little jewellery store in The Eaton Centre in Toronto. They only cost about $6 but were the prettiest pink strawberries I have ever seen!

 

Have you watched Across the Universe? Best movie EVER. And amazing use of Strawberry motifs. 

Here is a taster: 

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Stand out Rookie 2011 - Vihanga Mahesh Sontam

Image: Vihanga's graduate collection // All photos by Max Lemesheko  

It was a total joy to meet Vihanga last week and chat about her graduate Rookie collection. She has created a contemporary collection inspired by elements of high fashion culture and the stories that she was told as a child that have been influential in developing her vivid imagination. I was really impressed by the hand woven textiles that she created! AND HER USE OF COLOUR!

Here are the transcribed moments from the formal part of our coffee date:

Tell us about your graduate collection? Where did you start? 

This collection is mainly inspired by an ancient Indian story from the Mahabharata. And all my inspiration/colour palette comes from these two painting by Niladri Paul and Raja Ravi Varma.

I see hand weaving! Did you do that yourself?

Yes it is hand woven!  I created my own loom and I had to get all my fabrics in there and my colours together.

WOW!

Tell me about the way you cut your patterns? You used an alternative technique?

All my garments are very cut oriented. This type of cut comes from subtraction cutting inspired by Julian Roberts . I developed my own technique out of what he does.

For you does the way you pattern inform your aesthetic?

Definitely!

Tell me about the paintings that inspired your collection.

His name is Niladri Paul's  and painted Lord Shiva in 2007. He paints very abstract paintings of Indian gods. He painted an image of the story I'm inspired by. I'm also inspired by an 1800s artist called Raja Ravi Varma who paints images I'm also inspired by.

Is that were you drew the colours from?

I drew the colours from these paintings and developed a colour palette.

What about the silhouette that inspired the range? Are there some elements of homage to your Indian heritage? Like the drape of the Sari?

Yes! All my collections rely on drape. Draping and getting the subtraction cutting together has helped developed my own technique.

Something you want to explore more?

Definitely! I'd love to explore more of my cuts and [hand made] textiles!

What elements of fashion have inspired your journey?

Yohji Yamamoto and Issey Miyake.

Tell me about your upbringing/had you always wanted to go to fashion?

I was brought up in India and came here for university. I always kind of knew fashion was something I wanted to do!

In 10 years time where do you want to be in your career?

I'd be a slave to Yohji Yamamoto!

What next?

I'm thinking of doing post grad study.  Maybe honours and internships somewhere after that?

So someone should snap you up and give you an amazing job?

I'd love that!

 

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Lita addiction

In celebration of my newest shoe purchase I turned my tumblr into a Lita shrine.

CLICK HERE TO SEE PRETTY SHOES! 

I am now the proud owner of the Spike Lita by Jeffery Campbell (pictured below). They had their first outing last night at the Whitecliffe College of Art and Design fashion show. 

SUCH FUN!

I definitely feel pretty fierce in these babies~!

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Stand out Rookie 2011 - Anna Findlay

Image: Anna Findlay's graduate collection // Max Lemesheko 

In the second interview in my Rookie 2011 series I chatted with Anna Findlay who has an infectious interest in subcultures and Cyber Goths. Her knit wear caught my eye at the Rookie 2011 show and I just had to know more!

 Here are the transcribed moments from the formal part of our coffee date:

What were some of the influences behind what you presented at the Rookie '11 show?

I was mostly influenced by Cyber Goths. I'm really interested in subcultures and translating them into a modern context. Cyber Goths are a really interesting group of people, they like to manipulate themselves to look like they are from a post nuclear era. They have all the bright colours like blues, purples and pinks combined with black. They often wear gas masks and implants.. They manipulate themselves to look crazy/psycho! I wanted to take aspects of that and create something that would be hopefully quite interesting!

Knitwear is quite a challenging major! What lead you there?

I was really interested in taking some of my own textures and putting that into my collection. My work isn't that colourful and I don't often create dimension through colour but thought texture could be a really interesting way to create some depth

10 years time, where would you love to be professionally?

I would love to be designing for someone really interesting! Maybe in Germany/America something along the lines of what Gareth Pugh is doing. Also possibly working in styling creating more "edgy looks" out of more normal garments. 

Had studying and working in fashion always been the dream?

I have always been into making things! I'm definitely a  hands on kind of person! Liked to make thing when I was a kid. When i was at intermediate we had a sewing class and I made a skirt by taking a pair of jeans apart and put them back together so I guess it all started from there!

Any advice for a 1st year fashion student or someone who is thinking about getting into formal study?

Advice that I wish I had been given (I possibly was given but ignored): Take some risks! Especially if you are at university it's a great place to make mistakes. Don't put up any walls! Let it all happen - you get the best results that way!

Had studying and working in fashion always been the dream?

I have always been into making things! I'm definitely a  hands on kind of person! Liked to make thing when I was a kid. When i was at intermediate we had a sewing class and I made a skirt by taking a pair of jeans apart and put them back together so I guess it all started from there!

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Happy Turkey Day! UPDATED!

Happy American Thanksgiving!

In the spirit of pumpkin pie and gushy emotional sentiments I have compiled a list of 5 things I am thankful for:

1. I know this will be a give in for many people but I'm thankful that I am relatively healthy. And I'm thankful that I live in a country where if anyone has any health drama they can go to the hospital free of charge. What a luxury.

UPDATE: After watching the Inside New Zealand documentary on child poverty I am so so so sad that many kids on our islands can't access basic healthcare for a variety of reasons. If you are in NZ you can watch the doco here (not sure if overseas readers can view it) and see point number 5 about making sure you VOTE ON SATURDAY. Let's build a society that is passionate about the well being of our young people

If it upsets you as much as it does me that not everyone has this security I would encourage you to think about donating to OXFAM this Christmas through their Unwrapped catalogue.

2. I'm thankful that people other than my Grandmother (Hey Gran!) read my blog. Traffic over the last three months has been astronomical. To all the kind people who leave little comments or notes on my Facebook page or say hello on Twitter: I LOVE YOU!

3. I am thankful for family and friends who constantly remind me of the good in humanity. 

4. I am thankful that in New Zealand WE CAN VOTE for our governing leaders! Remember Kiwis, get to a poling place in your electorate THIS SATURDAY and exercise your democratic right!

5. I am thankful for the internet. Instant communication of ideas? Awesome. Except where it is censored. That's lame...

I feel like kind of a bad person for saying that I am thankful for all of these things because it reminds me that there are so many people in our world without food, shelter, health care and people who care for them... 

It is a good time of year to think about how we can love more. Maybe this Christmas there is someone you can invite along to your festivities? Maybe someone who doesn't have family in your city or someone who would otherwise be eating two minute noodles alone?

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Concrete Playground 2011 BLOGGERS

Friends!

I need YOUR HELP!

As I vlogged last night I am lucky enough to be a finalist in the fashion section of the Concrete Playground 2011 Bloggers but I am up against some tough competition. 

Could you take a couple of seconds to click here and vote "aych" ? 

It only takes a couple of seconds and no sign up or anything like that is required :-)

Thank you so much for all of your support dearest readers!

You make my heart skip a beat!

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Stand out Rookie 2011 - Charlotte Cho

I had a total blast at the AUT 2011 Rookie show! Over the last week I had a chat with my favourite seven designers from the graduating class about their ranges, their journey to fashion school and asked "What's Next?"

Charlotte Cho is the first of the seven Rookies I interviewed from the 2011 graduating class from the Bachelor of Design - Fashion programme at AUT here in Auckland. The colour and textural elements of her range really caught my attention.

Image: Charlotte Cho's graduate collection // Max Lemesheko

In her graduate collection Charlotte explored questions around defining traditional Korean outerwear. She was born in Korea and immigrated to New Zealand when she was just seven years old but she speaks about the Korean influences on her with such passion you can't help but a) want to buy every garment in her collection and b) get on the next plane to Seoul!

Here are the transcribed moments from the formal part of our coffee date:

What lead you to explore traditional Korean garments?

It was based on the idea of how traditional garments are not really respected these days and I wanted to bring in the Hanbok [a traditional Korean garment]. I wanted to do something quite fun and acceptable to a younger generation.

In Korea do you wear traditional Korean garments every day or are they saved for family events and formal occasions?

We don't wear a lot of Hanbok  these days but back in Korea we would at special occasions.

You use a lot of colour! Are these traditional Korean colour ways?

My colour palette was inspired by current trends and also have used in traditional garments as well!

What is the 10 year dream?

I would love to work with someone like Comme des Garçons or Rae Kawakubo. The things she does inspire me all the time! Her shapes and her innovations are very inspiring!

How do you usually work? What does your creative process look like?

Sketch initially! Then I move onto drape and take photos and then develop from there working with different fabrics.

If you were to develop this summer collection into a winter range could you see yourself working with similar inspiration? Have Korean influences become part of your signature?

Yes yes! Last year I did something similar. It is pat of my handwriting at the moment . I can see myself doing something quite similar again. If I was doing winter I could see myself doing lots of layers and experimenting with colours

How would you describe your design handwriting in a few words?

Drape, colour, quirky, fun!

What advice would you have to a young aspiring fashion student?

Definitely take care of your health! And be prepared for what you are doing! Don't study fashion for the sake of loving clothes. You have to have that will to make something new, to be challenged and to take risks!

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Auckland Daze - Deleted Scene 1

Have you seen the the new show Auckland Daze airing exclusively on TVNZ On Demand? After Danielle Hayes (NZNTM Cycle 1) tweeted about it I checked out the first episode and have been hooked since. Such hilarity! 

On Film describes the show as "a spoof comedy that follows four hapless wannabes; a model, a stuntman, a dwarf entertainer and a stand-up comedian, who are all chasing fame in Auckland's ridiculously small entertainment industry."

I have been lucky enough to be offered the chance to air some exclusive content from the show and this week's clip is the video that Millen and his mates make of their Ninja friend Glen taking on some rivals during a game of golf.  In the show this clip caused and internet stir and Glen was launched into nation wide stardom overnight. *Snaps for the internet* Glen is possibly my favourite character so far with his Ninja skills!

Check it out below:

One of the really exciting aspects to this show is that it is filmed each week after gauging audience feedback. I this is pretty rad! New episodes are out each week on Thursdays at 5pm - You can watch full episodes online here.

As someone involved in the fashion and theatre industries I have enjoyed all of the digs at the lifestyle of the wanna-be-famous, the gay-mous, the we-should-invite-you-just-cause-you're-famous  and the not-quite-sure-how-you-are famous Aucklanders. Let the fun continue!

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In the interests of full disclosure: I am receiving financial reimbursement for involvement in this campaign. As longtime readers will know, I rarely offer advertising space and have strict criteria that must be met. This is a creative project that I think is a pretty revolutionary model for viewer engagement on such a large national scale. I'm excited to see where this goes!

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Babes on bikes

I turned my tumblr into a bicycle shrine! 

CLICK CLICK CLICK! 

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Pan Am + the gender divide

I have only seen a couple of episodes of the TV series Pan Am but I am captivated! 

My inner feminist rages at the gender oppression faced by women (men too!) in the 60s all the while thinking progress was rapidly taking place. For example in this show the women mention that once a woman marries she must leave her job as a stewardess. One even mentions excitedly to a good looking new recruit "You will have a husband in no time!"

Gender policing in this show fascinates me. The different ways the pilots interact with each other in the company of women and in the privacy of the cockpit is an interesting example of gendered space. I feel that this series would be an amazing text to analyse in a gender studies class!

This series is rich in historic references to social issues, political movements and fashion trends. All while dishing up a bit of glam in the form of period drama.  #MajorFan.


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If I should have a daughter by Sarah Kay

I am a massive fan of spoken word and have just been introduced to this beautiful work by Sarah Kay. This piece entitled "If I should have a daughter" made me well up with tears!

My favourite part reads:

"And, baby," I'll tell her, don't keep your nose up in the air like that. I know that trick; I've done it a million times. You're just smelling for smoke so you can follow the trail back to a burning house, so you can find the boy who lost everything in the fire to see if you can save him. Or else find the boy who lit the fire in the first place, to see if you can change him."

And this snippet of advice from mother to daughter makes my heart sing:

" And always apologize when you've done something wrong.
But don't you ever apologize for the way your eyes refuse to stop shining.
Your voice is small, but don't ever stop singing. "

I've included the full poem after the jump so click through if you want to read along while Sarah Kay recites it in the You Tube box above!

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Huffer NAIL Summer! (Part 2)

Yeow check out the second instalment in Huffer's Summer movie~! 

I wish I was at the beach right now chilling in the shade reading a good book or frolicking around rock pools with amazing friends! 

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FAN ART FTW!

Image: "Hannacorn" by Louis Wee

I have officially received my first piece of fan art! 

The very kind Louis Wee emailed me this wee pic soon after I turned my tumblr into a unicorn shrine. 

This is possibly one of the most thoughtful things I have ever seen! 

Check out Louis and his brothers shakin' it like they got it:

(Louis is the babe in the black waistcoat) 

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The Week That Was

1. I fell in love with these two incredible pairs of shoes at my Ciel PR press appointment this week for their Winter '12 clients! I'll get bloggy bloggy on the collections closer to the time they hit stores but I'm telling you: start getting excited!

2. The AUT Rookie 2011 show on Friday night blew me away! So much incredible talent... More on that soon :)

Image: Me, Jade and Nadeesha. HOLLA AT ROOKIE 08!

(Thanks Linh for the photo!)

3. Fashion family is for life. Like, FO LYFE! It was so precious to chill with some of the kids from my graduating year of fashion school and my tutors at Rookie. That bond is radical.

4. How good is old-school-remixed-Robyn?

5. There is a rumour floating around that someone quite significant in my life accidentally had all their hair shaved off at the barber due to a miscommunication. This person likes to let his opinions on my hair cuts be known so after this situation I reckon have a get out of jail free card on all hairstyles choices for about 4 months! Beyond hilarious. 

6. Living with passion I think is a legitimate life goal. 

7. Have you sponsored someone for Movember? I got told on Friday that New Zealand has kicked butt and is setting participation records! Awesome! Now go donate some mooolah for mens health. 

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Sparkle

Image: TheNonBlonde.com

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Refined + RAW talent

Image: Me pretending to be part of the scenery at Showroom 22  

My mind is overwhelmed by all the incredible creative projects I got to see today!  
 
This afternoon I visited Showroom 22 for their media open day to check out the collections they are looking after for Winter '12. Absolutely beautiful! I'm looking forward to writing about the collections closer to the time they hit stores. There are some winners! It's also always lots of fun to catch up with media/bloggy friends and hear about everyone's adventures.

 Image: At Showroom 22:  Me + the Karen Walker frames I *NEED* (Hey Santa!) 

This evening I attended the opening of AUT's 2011 Art and Design Festival entitled RAW. Showcasing work from graduating students across the Bachelor of Design and Bachelor of Visual Arts programmes over several buildings this festival is curated brilliantly. I only made it through the Fashion, Textiles and Spacial exhibitions but I am lost for words. This country is exploding with creative talent! The high standard of workmanship, bucket loads of original ideas and commentary on current trends blew me away.
  
The festival is open to the public from the 10th of November to the 12th of November (10am -6pm) and is based across the AUT city campus. For more info check out the website here. I'll be heading back to the exhibition tomorrow to get through the rest of the work! 

Congratulations to all of the students about to graduate! 

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Modern mediascape wisdom from FINZ panelists

**Warning: wordy post ahead but stick with it because I think some of it's insightful** 

Yesterday FINZ hosted an incredible discussion on building a brand in an international market  as part of their three weeks of discussions in the DHL EXPRESS Apparel Export Series. 

I was in awe of the wisdom in the room! Patty Huntington, Murray Bevan, Rae Begley, and  Dan Gosling shared their thoughts on brand accesibility in the global marketplace and some of their personal experiences with the changing face of fashion media.

This quadruplet of Australasian fashion royalty generously gave the assembled crowd in Auckland (and via the internet in Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin) some of the most concise fashion analysis of current trends that I have heard recently. 

Image: The FINZ brand panel (from left to right): 

Patty Huntington, Dan Gosling, Murray Bevan and Rae Begley

Some really interesting discussion took place around which comes first - the brand or the product?  For example, Dan and his crew created just one t-shirt that they marketed the hell out of before they had even designed a line. They let what the brand became dictate the aesthetic of their collections. Similar situation with Ksubi and their rat stunt at RAFW. 


This particular discussion made me reflect on why I started this blog and the journey I have been on since. I started this blog as a way to show my tutors at fashion school the target market I was designing my final year denim line for. The music these kids listen to, the gigs they went to, the people they admire and the political ideals they ascribe to. I was building a brand to show them before I had even presented my product!

Another pearl of wisdom that caught my attention was the discussion around creating content for media. As fashion designers it is not just clothes that need to be designed but an entire way of selling the collection and the brand. Both Murray and Rae agreed that creating specific content for specific mediums is a very clever way to project a fresh yet consistent image. For example, creating specific content for online resources, sending particular info only to magazines ect. 


One of the KEY items discussed that every designer must embrace is the utilisation of the World Wide Web and having an easy to use website with clear and interesting images of your product. As Patty pointed out if your images can be easily viewed and they catch readers attention those images could be reblogged thousands of times potentially attracting new fans and hopefully the attention of influential buyers, stockists and media.


FINZ events are always incredibly insightful and I recommend you keep an eye on their website for the soon-to-be-released details of the next two discussions in this series!

Keep in touch with FINZ via their website, Facebook and Twitter.

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F YEAH Art Student Owl just changed my life

I have just discovered Fuck Yeah Art Student Owl and it has made me feel so much better about my life. I'm a graduate of a Art and Design school and I empathise with the excruciating pain (and joy) this feathered face screams about. 

Is it weird that after about an hour of on and off browsing I feel like I KNOW this owl? HE SPEAKS TO MY SOUL! 

ZOMG...

All images: Fuck Yeah Art Student Owl

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Introducing Katie-Maree Cole

The super cute Katie Coleman (the designer behind the label Katie-Maree Cole) delivered a little package to my doorstep a few days ago! 

 Look at this deeeelicious marshmellow slice:

Ooosh that girl! So so so SWEET!



We have had a bit of email chitter chatter going back and forth post NZFW where Katie showed for the first time. So dearest readers, I introduce you to Katie-Maree Cole with my fave images from her Summer 11/12 collection:

You mention that you have a commitment to using natural fabrics - is this a reflection of your design aesthetic or are there some underlying ethical commitments you have to plant and animal based fibres? 

Yes I am committed to using natural fibres! I really want to encourage consumers to commit to buying quality natural garments that will last the distance - buying quality over quantity seems to be a lost art - especially when I see the next generation coming through who are happy to re-buy their whole wardrobe with the latest trends etc and throw it all out the next year as it falls apart.

We use all natural products around the house and are committed slow food movement lovers so this was a natural next step. We have done some organic cotton printed Tees for Summer so looking forward to getting those online too :)

Can you tell me a little bit about what lead you into the world of fashion? And then to launch your own label?

I got into fashion as a young kid my mum really wanted to be a designer when she was growing up but she ended up getting a more "sensible" degree in accounting. So when I came along we used to do lots of projects together, making dancing costumes and volunteering at working bees for school plays etc. Everything was always really vibrant and colourful for the stage so I guess that 's where my love of colour and texture came from. My brother's also a Fine Arts Graduate so he was always throwing his bit into the story too.

I studied fashion at high school right up till seventh form and followed in my brothers footsteps to  Whitecliffe School of Art and Design. I completed the certificate there and then oved to Otago to do my Bachelor in Design.

You can check out Katie-Maree Coleman's full Summer 11/12 collection here and follow her on Facebook here.  Massive congrats to this little lady!

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New Doo - The blonde edition

I got my hair did! The lovely girls at Tony and Guy kept me entertained for the afternoon as I got a "sensible" summer colour. It looks a little more silver IRL and I love it.  When it came to styling I asked for a unicorn mane! 

SUCH FUN!

And do you like my glasses? Snookie inspired! 


I need to buy some Colour Bug by Kevin Murphy this week so I can still add splashes of colour to satisfy my cravings!

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Procrastination cupcakes

"I should be blogging" 

... instead I made procrastination cupcakes... 

 "Selling assests is DUMB!"

... and political cupcakes... 

"#PEOPLEMATTER"

...and social issue cupcakes. 

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Huffer nail SUMMER!

 
Huffer have just released this video for their first Summer '11 collection entitled "Coming Attraction".

The inspiration reads:

"a tribute to Carnivals, traveling fairs and festivals. Reminiscing summer days, festive nights, fortune tellers and the thrill of the ride." 

And guess who I spotted? Uber babe Jimmy aka Friend Rock. 

Delicious! 

I must say I AM kind of excited for Summer now that I have seen this... Roadtrips, friends, time slowing down... yeow!

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