Known for her spectacular runway shows that present something uniquely magnificent each time, it was with great anticipation that a capacity crowd filled the Westpac Tent for Trelise Cooper’s Winter 2014 show at NZFW.
Upon arrival into the space the audience were greeted with a nicely elevated and widened runway creating a cross symbol, which gave every seat in the room a fabulous view.
Beginning with her diffusion range, Cooper, models took to runway in an English inspired collection which spanned references from punk rock to country gardens. Models appeared with (fake) facial piercings and teased ponytails in a succession of plaids and stripes in autumnal hues accented by moody dark lips.
A juxtaposition of tough and romantic, heavily studded jackets mingled with shimmery plaid pieces as a hip-hop soundtrack accentuated the rebellious attitude of the collection. Sport-luxe jumpers contrasted with barely-there sequinned dresses that are eternally popular amongst Cooper fans.
The finale look was an outfit worthy of a punk-rock princess with a glittering plaid mini-skirt complete with full length-train featuring under a rebel-worthy leather jacket.
Next up, white sails tumbled from the ceiling to create a tee-pee like centre-piece on the runway, as Trelise Cooper’s mainline collection began, with stunning colour-blocked garments in fuchsia and turquoise up first in refined silhouettes. Rosy hues featured in flirty tulip-skirted dresses and feminine skirts, the look alternating between refined lady-like lengths and tailored suiting to cheeky mini-lengths and fabulous partywear.
After all it wouldn’t be a Trelise Cooper collection without a healthy dose of sequins!
Beautiful coats punctuated the range in various rainbow hues, the oversized fur ones adding a vintage glamour, whilst crisply cut military-style ones in crimson with gold epaulettes perhaps referencing Trelise’s position as patron of the Auckland RSA. It was also lovely to see the beautiful poppy print Trelise wore on Anzac day finding its way into the range on dresses and shirting.
Ending the show with a breath-taking display of divine dresses and gorgeous gowns, featuring an abundance of beading and sparkle on sumptuous silks and tulle, Trelise left the audience in no doubt of her position as the glamour queen of NZ’s feminine fashion scene. This was certainly a collection with so many covetable pieces, it will be hard for her fans to decide what to acquire first.
– Evelyn Ebrey
Imagery: Yvonne Shearer