Finale at Huffer’s New Zealand Fashion Week 2017 show.
Huffer is celebrating their twentieth year in business this year and when I interviewed founder, Steve Dunstan, a couple of months ago I got the sense that he had something epic in mind for NZFW 2017. Lo and behold when the invitation arrived with Spark Arena on it, it was clear that Huffer were going to blow the roof off and it would be spectacular to see.
A huge crowd gathered at the arena for the last proper show of the trade section of New Zealand Fashion Week, and we were greeted by a massive elevated runway with the party getting started as the crowd waited for the show to begin. Huge video screens projected detail images from Huffer’s twenty years as a thrumming beat played and veteran model Ngahuia Williams emerged onto the runway.
The opening look featured a classic double denim combo of shirt and jeans with a signature Huffer down jacket in pale blue belted at the waist over top. Blue high-heeled boots, soft makeup and slightly messy hair made it look as though she could have stepped off of the farm or small town as well as onto the street. This look set the tone for the country meets urban feel that ran through the Winter 2018 collection and featured lots of subtle references to the brand’s history.
Huffer is well known for their effortlessly cool streetwear that is functional, practical and very easy on the eyes. This collection featured a cohesive range of men’s and women’s wear that had all their key pieces: tees, sweaters and hoodies, with lots of denim, coats and the amazing down jackets they’re so well known for. The women’s looks were casually elegant with plaid shirts, mini-skirts and dungarees keeping the collection youthful while wrap dresses and soft knits in peach added prettiness.
Jackets and coats were fastened with leather belts at the waist to emphasise the feminine silhouette and when teamed with Akubra-style hats and leather cowboy boots had a strong urban cowgirl feel. We loved all the tomato red pieces and the closing red down jacket and matching knit underneath on model Eden Bristowe was one of our favourite looks of the range. There were so many great options for Huffer’s ladies but we’ll start with the sophisticated plaid coats that will elevate any winter outfit.
Guys were well catered for with this collection and among the excellent range of bombers, coats and jackets were Huffer’s always covetable down jackets in varying hues of blue, red, green, black, tan and a camo print. Plaid shirts and double denim gave this collection a 90s feel which perfectly suits how things were in 1997 when the brand was founded.
For the finale the huge lineup of 40 models took to the stage to form a line across it with Steve Dunstan looking elated as he joined them and waved to the crowd who responded with wild applause. As the last of the models filed off the runway the set parted to reveal the always brilliant P-MONEY mixing the decks live and kicking off the party, which will no doubt have been a very big night and well-deserved celebration for Dunstan and his team. Congratulations to Steve and Huffer on a show of epic proportions and a stellar twenty years of their beloved streetwear brand.
Beauty notes: Soft makeup that had an outdoorsy glow by Lochie Stonehouse for MAC Cosmetics.
Soundtrack: All the bangers mixed by the incredible P-MONEY.
Hot item: Those classic down jackets in every shade.
Images by Katherine Tuenter.