Editor-at-large Julie Roulston brings FashioNZ readers the very best from her fashion beat, each week…
Invitation of the Week
Marilyn Monroe was photographer Bert Stern’s most celebrated subject – see Fashion Flicks of the Week (below)
You know a fashion event is a big deal when you get a ‘save the date’ email five weeks out. Taking place on 4 July, ‘Redefining Max’ will be the brand’s first big event since 2008, when ‘Kirrily Johnston Loves Max’ and then-designer Meegan Webster’s first collection for the label were revealed.
The event will in part be a celebration of a new Creative Director and new Head Buyer for Max. Creative (and Marketing) Director Tracy Heaven has been with Max for six months. She most recently worked as Head Designer for Moontide International and has a long and label-studded CV. Buying Manager Liz Mannell comes to Max from Dress for Success.
As well as fashion, Max is involved in philanthropy, having set up charitable trust the Max Foundation for New Zealand Women in 2007. The Max Foundation donates around $75,000 per annum “to support individuals and initiatives whose actions enhance the wellbeing and advancement of New Zealand women.” Applications for the current funding round close in 30 June, with the past grants list making interesting and moving reading.
Max was founded in 1986 by David Wright – guess we can look forward to a 30th anniversary party in four year’s time.
Fashion Flicks of the Week
Diana Vreeland – subject of NZFF film The Eye Has to Travel
An unquestionably good thing about winter is the New Zealand International Film Festival, and there two fashion films are on July’s schedule. ‘Bert Stern: Original Madman’ (aka ‘Becoming Bert Stern’) is a bio-doc directed by the legendary photographer’s longtime companion and frequent subject, Shannah Laumeister. Stern made his name in the ‘50s and ‘60s, taking breathtaking pictures of the world’s most beautiful women, from Elizabeth Taylor to Twiggy to his most celebrated subject, Marilyn Monroe. City Pages writes “his all-consuming passion for women was both his gift and his curse, bringing fame and fortune along with shattered relationships and at least one mental breakdown…While Laumeister’s narrative is filled with frank recollections from Stern and a host of his famous associates, the pictures are the real stars of the show.”
Then there’s Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel. “Diana Vreeland is mostly remembered as a commanding New York high-fashion figure, rip-roaring editor at Harper’s Bazaar, then Vogue, and the one who made the first exhibitions of haute couture happen at the Met…Part of her style was to be a consummate professional, an editor who ‘from the age of 30 worked every day of [her] life.’ As a style-spotter, her job was to be at least two weeks into the future at all times.” -Bill Berkson, San Francisco International Film Festival 2012.
One fashion gig where you won’t want to be in the front row! NZFF tickets are on sale at www.nzff.co.nz from 28 June and cost $16 (Early bird tickets before July 19) or $17 in season.
Assorted Appointments of the Week
Edwina McCaan and Kellie Hush – new Harper’s Bazaar Australia editor
Kellie Hush was last week announced as the new Editor of Harper’s Bazaar Australia – she’ll fill Edwina McCann’s shoes now the latter has gone on to edit Vogue Australia. A local insider comments that this is “a very obvious stop gap choice, but (Hush) is very capable, and will be good at it.” Local journalist Helene Ravlich, who has worked with both Harper’s Bazaae and Grazia for several years now, met Hush in 2010. “Kellie is flawlessly glamorous yet totally approachable, and a bloody great writer to boot. Her experience is vast and she has such a passion for fashion as well as the written word.”
In heady Jubilee London, New Zealand blogger (Just So Pretty) and London College of Fashion fashion journalism graduate Evelyn Ebrey recently worked (for money!) in the Conde Nast offices for two weeks. While a member of the Glamour Magazine digital team, she didn’t encounter any ‘Devil Wears Prada’ behaviour, but does share that “as a perk you get to take home copies of all their magazines’ latest issues.”
Back home, in the fashion PR world, Lucy Slater has gone out on her own and is looking after PR for Federation and Havaianas. A former PR at Workshop, Lucy has worked at both Showroom 22 and Beat Communications before taking time out to have her family.
– JULIE ROULSTON