Helen and Chris Cherry frequently travel to Europe to source fabrics for their labels, and the influence of those trips was clear at last night’s Workshop/Helen Cherry show. Not in a literal, berets-and-baguettes way (though Breton stripes did feature).
On the rack, the designers’ garments are simply gorgeous, avoiding any one strong theme. But styled together they ooze the sort of ineffable coolitude normally found in a French street-style snap.
In practice, that meant button-ups tucked into skinny pink jeans with thin blue belts, dinner jackets tossed over georgette shirts, leather leggings with sky-high heels, and a good dose of faded denim.
A stand out outfit for us was a sleeveless black dress in neoprene, the stiff fabric curving out from the body to form a killer hour glass shape. Other sporty touches were noted in a white netting tee, knee-length shorts, and the choice of footwear: Velcro-strap stilettos and those wedge sneakers already beloved by many a Victoria’s Secret model.
Speaking of which, we had our own VS angel in attendance last night. Mega-babe Georgia Fowler (who had a stint with VS last year) led a stunning line-up of New Zealand’s freshest and best down a runway, this time chalked with a grid design that referenced the Ponsonby store’s exterior.
All (save the boys) wore winged black liner and coral lips, with hair pulled into low, textured ponies.
The effect was simple, sexy and fresh – a perfect fit for two labels which prove that Kiwis can do it just as well as anybody.
Helen Cherry and Workshop, je t’aime!
-Delaney MacDonald
Imagery: Oliver Rose