It’s fashion showroom Open Day season! Auckland boasts some eight fashion showrooms now, and most of them are hosting formal looks at their labels’ new Spring/Summer 2012/12 (SS12/13) collections. Murray Bevan of Showroom 22 started the concept of Media Open Days in New Zealand in 2006. He says “the idea was to compress the launch of a new season to capture the hype and the spirit of the 'newness' in a short, sharp event.”
Spring/Summer 12/13 Salon Show
Imagery Nikau Gabrielle Hindin
Some Open Days are low-key and by individual appointment. Showroom 22 traditionally puts on a Spring/Summer salon show and a bit of a party, and this seasons there are lunches – in the girly-haven showroom at Lily & Louis, or at luxurious Kermadec with Paul Blomfield PR.
At Eden & Stokes – the showroom arm of Pead PR, housed in impressive purpose-built premises in Mt Eden – newer label lennox shone. Designed by Lisani Lennox, a former fabric wholesaler, the ‘Destinations of Desire’ collection offered beautiful fabric in unfussy but interesting shapes. The Empire Coat was a very clever standout – with a tailored drill sleeve, yoke and front facing and a light, sheer body, it will be perfect for our four seasons in a day Spring climate. It comes in sand, black and ink, with options of slim pants or cute shorts to match.
The Empire Coat by Lennox
Tanya Carlson’s new season had already been glimpsed on the runway at iD Dunedin earlier in the year, but alongside her luscious coral and orchid colour blocking, some shimmery lace was particularly beautiful up close. With her sculptural, clean version, Carlson also gets our nod for the most bearable peplum we’ve seen to date.
On the accessories front, NZ Mint’s little Tikitoon tiki ring looks brilliant ‘in the flesh’ and would make a great alternative to the ubiquitous skull ring. Emu’s suede and leather summer styles speak joyfully to your inner surf chick – anyone for a little sheepskin lining on your thong’s toe-piece?
Over on High Street at Showroom 22, the racks always boast lots to love, but this year there were some particular scene stealers.
twenty-seven names Cat Cameo Graphic
Imagery Nikau Gabrielle Hindin
twenty-seven names’ cat cameo graphic is a winner, and works equally well jumbo-size on a sweatshirt front, or mini, as an all-over print. Designer Anjali Stewart says the starting point for the ‘Nine Lives’ collection was Katherine Mansfield’s short story ‘The Garden Party’. “When we imagined the garden party guests the cat was one of them, and Rachel (Easting, the other member of the design duo) hand drew it herself.”
Left and Right: Rachel Easting and Anjali Stewart, twenty-seven names
Centre: Anna-Lise Sharma, Showroom 22
Sadly the print won’t translate so well for the not-so-young, but they can choose Vicki Taylor’s sophisticated, artistic layering for her ‘taylor’ label, or Ingrid Starnes’ piercing acid summer knits, or may even be able to rock Juliette Hogan’s very cool animal print.
Taylor Boutique
Imagery Nikau Gabrielle Hindin
Off the runway, it’s quite dizzying looking at the Kathryn Wilson/Miss Wilson shoe wall at Showroom 22 – always so many gorgeous shoes, with SS12/13 no exception. We fell head over heels (!) with the new ‘Darius’ with its chain detail – the latter matches detailing on Wilson’s two swimwear styles in the most fun surprise of the season, to date.
-JULIE ROULSTON