The champagne is chilled.
The designers are making last minute decisions and cutting the loose threads.
The goodie bags are full.
Front Row invitees are perfecting their outfits.
The media are ready for the onslaught.
The countdown is over.
It is Air New Zealand Fashion Week 2009.
Welcome aboard.
There are high hopes for ANZFW 2009. It is to be the best yet. The line-up certainly excites those in the know. The invites are both alluring and intriguing, from doodles on lined refill, to dream catchers. Fashion Week 2009 is going to stand out. Heres why.
Kicking off with, What is Your Damage? , an off-site film installation from Lonely Hearts, the week promises to be both fashion forward and entertaining.
It is Day Two, Tuesday, however which I am shaking in my stupidly high heels for! Cybele, Sable & Minx, twentysevennames, Juliette Hogan, Basquesse, Annah Stretton, Alexandra Owen, and Zambesi! Oh my!
I am picking the combined showing of twentysevennames and Juliette Hogan as the standout of the week. Both are fresh New Zealand labels which transverse boundaries and hold cult followings. It is going to be an unbeatable combination of Twenty-Seven Names' part-rebel, part -dancer style, and Juliette Hogans sexy contemporary fashion under oned with a classic femininity. Juliette Hogan swept so many of us off our feet with her latest collection, and twentysevennames has left its cult followers gagging for more. I seriously cannot wait. It promises to be a collision of the most beautiful kind.
And Basquesse, with their signature of daring styling, use of colour, texture, and superb finishing make them one label I will be keeping my eyes on this year! Of course, Zambesi cannot be forgotten. Although this year marks the label's 30th birthday, they are anything but middle aged as they go from strength to strength. They have shown at every ANZFW to huge acclaim, and this year promises to be no different with an off-site show to end the terrific Tuesday.
Day Three sees the dark intellectual style which has become synonymous with New Zealand fashion continue from the night before, as Nom*D show first on Wednesday. Yet colour is promised with Sera Lillys show. The rising star of New Zealand fashion has a love of fabric, and flattering feminine styles, but always puts her unique twist on garments. Wednesday also sees The Carpenter's Daughter show that high fashion is for real women with curves too! Trelise Cooper promises an intriguing mix of luxurious fabrics, and the quirkiness we have come to know and love from a designer who loves living on the edge of the world here in NZ. Day Three winds up with a firm favourite of mine Kate Sylvester, whose shows always create a bit of hype. This yearSylvester's show is entitled Diamond Dogs and already has commentators guessing as to whether nthe inspiration is coming from Bowie, bling or both!?
Day Four has the ghd New Generation Group show. Always exciting, fresh and inspirational. I am especially excited for emmaford Swimwear… amazing prints, colours and cuts are promised, and I want it all it will be a good summer when you are wearing one of these suits by the pool! Stolen Girlfriends Club will undoubtedly leave their own stamp on Fashion Week, as has come to be expected of the fresh but cheeky label! And it would not be ANZFW without the Westpac Red Collection a show which is planned with utmost secrecy, and always delivers! Last year models walked on water literally, and this year organisers are promising an ethereal and out-of-this world experience.
On Friday there really is a mixed goodie bag to round off the week, we get Stitch Ministry, Trelise Kids (which will be oh so gorgeous, and cute and will leave us all clucky for the little models!), Federation, A*Muse featuring Pamela Anderson (an animal friendly range of shoes and casual clothes), and of course, I can hear you all saying wheres Karen? ANZFW would not be complete without Karen Walker and Huffer. Karen's team will be freshly returned from New York Fashion Week, so we can expect BIG things! And there is no question; Huffer will close the week in style.
Oh I am sooooo excited! And you know what, the wait is over! I can hear the champagne corks popping in celebration already.
– Kate Goddard, aka Lady Winsome, aka Sartorially Sublime