The finale on the runway at Hailwood’s show at New Zealand Fashion Week 2016.
Every so often we’re fortunate enough to witness something truly spectacular on the runway and Hailwood’s New Zealand Fashion Week 2016 show was exactly what our fashion dreams are made of. As the curtain parted to reveal The Graduate Choir dressed in shimmery blue sequined Hailwood gowns and grey suiting, a live pianist began to play before the choir serenaded the audience in Te Reo with their dulcet tones and the runway show began.
Superstar model Ashleigh Good was first up on the runway in a glamorous black dress with a full skirt and silver and gold floral detailing. The nipped-in waist and draped panel over the bust made for a modern take on a classic style and reminded us of Raf Simons’ elegant couture creations for Dior in 2012. Each beautiful look that followed had us falling hopelessly in love with Hailwood’s Autumn/Winter 2017 collection as stunning sequined dresses in feminine silhouettes and perfectly cut wide-legged trousers paired with soft knits made their way down the runway. Hailwood is a master of incredible eveningwear and the looks for this range had a distinctly vintage-feel with a modern twist, emphasised by the winsome 1920s finger wave hairstyles set with silver clips and complemented by flawless skin and nude lips.
Luscious velvet, delicate silver lace and plenty of gold sequins made sure the glamour factor for cocktail attire was off the scale while plaid, stripes and animal print kept the day wear charming and easy to wear. Hailwood’s favourite bomber jackets returned in this collection and worked just as well with slouchy knits and trousers as they did over alluring evening dresses. The motorcycle jacket teamed with a pencil skirt or cigarette pants added a sensual feel and made for confidently cool looks.
We were absolutely enraptured with the whole collection and by the time the dramatic floor-sweeping gold sequined gown came down the runway for the final look we were at peak swoon and feeling very emotionally attached to this collection, aided by the crescendo of opera music that accompanied the finale. Bravo to consummate showman Adrian Hailwood who captured our hearts with his show-stopping presentation.
Beauty Notes: Subtle gold glitter eyelids with a vintage-style black eyeliner flick by MAC led by lead artist Kiekie Stanners.
Soundtrack: It doesn’t get better than having a live choir and piano accompany your show and The Graduate Choir were pitch perfect in every way.
Hot Item: Absolutely everything!
Check out our gallery to see every look from the Hailwood NZFW 2016 show here.
By Evelyn Ebrey
Images by James Yang Photography