Designer Jane Daniels.
Jane Daniels has been designing elegant collections for her eponymous label since 1986, and is a favourite designer of many New Zealand women who appreciate her eye for style. She is often inspired by the joy and discovery of traveling and uses every opportunity to explore a new part of the world bringing home ideas to create each collection.
We caught up with Jane to find out more about her brand, what inspires her and what you would never catch her wearing!
Tell us about your latest collection?
Textured textiles and 3D innovations define Spring Summer. Extraordinary limited edition Italian lace and exclusive silk prints form elegant silhouettes, while fabulous tumble washed Irish linen and Italian euro-jersey is styled for relaxed urban wearing. Crisp navy and white with highlights of cerise, matisse blue and citrus feature throughout a foundation palette of stone, grey and black, ensuring there is something for everyone.
What made you become a designer?
I wanted to encapsulate all of my interests in my career; fashion, fabric, art, architecture, travel, so I started my fashion label which allows me to travel to Europe and pursue all of those interests.
What inspires you?
Culture, colour, architecture, brilliant people and the fact that one connects to another. I am lucky enough to explore these inspirations as ambassador for the Innovative travel company on my Ancient Kingdoms trips. And when I can’t be travelling I am reading history and biographies which lead me to the next interesting character and place.
Looks from Jane Daniels’s Spring/Summer 2016/17 collection.
Describe your personal style and how it influences your products and brand?
My style has changed over the years, it has always been elegance first but I now favour the Japanese aesthetic to go with flat boots and sandals. I am fascinated by origami and the different shapes you can make within a clothing structure. I like to weave that throughout my collections to keep things fresh and ever evolving whilst remaining timeless. Colour-wise my style is very neutral especially when I’m doing design work. Wearing a bright colour only detracts and confuses the work I’m doing. Overall a huge percentage of every collection is what I personally want to wear. Most of my team from twenties to fifties choose the same pieces but end up styling them differently which is what my collections are all about.
What is your all-time favourite purchase?
My signature silver necklace that looks like something from an engineering workshop and my industrial look shibori technique silver cuff studded with nails from Christine the Artist Goldsmith on Waiheke.
What wardrobe item should every woman invest in?
A great jacket like our cropped architect jacket. The Italian faux leather is so versatile – it also comes in bright and neutral silks and Irish linen.
Do you have a style rule you always obey?
The three colour rule. More than three colours and you start to look cluttered and not pulled together. If in doubt, leave it out.
Looks from Jane Daniels’ Spring/Summer 2016/17 collection.
What is the highlight of your career so far?
I’m so lucky I’ve had several. One of them would have to be; at a very young age winning the competition to design the victory hostess uniforms at the Christchurch Commonwealth Games.
What can’t you live without?
My little sketchbook, where I record sketches of fashion ideas and ideas from exhibitions, museums, restaurant menus and recipes. Any inspirational details. Obviously I have a library of these now.
Finish this sentence – You would never catch me wearing…
Anything I consider tacky. Bright patent stilettos and a plunging cleavage revealing top.
Images supplied.