Editor-at-large Julie Roulston brings FashioNZ readers the very best from her fashion beat, each week…
INTERNATIONAL CELEBRITY STYLIST OF THE WEEK
Gok Wan and Jackie O'Fee
Gok Wan kicks off a circuit at Westfield this week, and Jackie O‘Fee and her team from Signature Style are the visiting TV celebrity’s support team. This has entailed sourcing more than 40 outfits across a range of sizes to be used as wardrobe on the tour. All will be pre-scrutinised by a stylist, who has worked with Wan on five previous Australian tours, before being subjected to approval by the man himself. The “huge and exhausting’ project has not dimmed O’Fee’s excitement for meeting and and working with Wan. “He’s so absolutely adored and I’m fascinated to see if his public persona matches the reality.”
Wan came to New Zealand for Spec Savers in 2011, but this is the first time he’s done anything here fashion-wise. With a reputation for being ‘exacting’ in his brief, he has been a great enthusiast for the ‘50s/‘Roland Mouret’ look of late, but those in the know say it’s entirely possible he’ll be over it by the time he arrives in New Zealand.
SOON-TO-BE FORMER WELLINGTONIAN OF THE WEEK
Fashion Editor for 11+years Carolyn Enting is working out her notice at The Dominion Post and will soon move to Auckland to take up her role as Associate Editor (NZ) of MindFood Magazine. “It’s definitely time for a change after all these years” says Carolyn. ‘I started as a general reporter before specialising in fashion, and I’m looking forward to expanding to work across all the other sections of the magazine. MindFood really fits with my core values sustainability and smart thinking. To be honest I don’t really enjoy reading (dedicated) fashion magazines for the same reason I don’t like shopping – I feel like I’m working. When I went to see ‘The September Issue’ I was really stressed!”
Carolyn Enting
Carolyn’s protégé Bronwyn Williams, fashion reporter at stuff.co.nz, also intends to relocate to Auckland. The role at the Dominion Post must be one of the most pivotal fashion journalism roles to become available since Zoe Walker was recruited to Viva, and Megan Bedford to Fashion Quarterly in 2008. Dominion Post editor Bernadette Courtney says “Fashion is a very important part of the Dominion Post and Wellington. We have a strong commitment to it across a range of our publications (including online and our magazines), and we will be bringing in someone who can develop the fashion brand within the Dominion Post, and become something of a brand identity themselves.”
METAMORPHOSIS OF THE WEEK
More than one Fashion Editor did a double take at Lily & Louis last Thursday when they saw the new Briarwood shoes summer collection. Holy reincarnation!
2012 marks the 20th anniversary of the brand. It was founded by Ange Marshall who, together with longtime 2IC Jayne Thomson and new Marketing Manager Catriona Stewart, says it was time to look at the Briarwood from every angle. The result is a much wider product line which the trio promise won’t forget the loyal Briarwood customer, but will offer more directional, contemporary styling. Judge for yourself: above is an exclusive first look at a couple of shots from the new ad campaign, shot by Tony Drayton and styled by Kylie Cooke on Meghan from Clyne. The collection will be available instore and online from July.
– Julie Roulston