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Fashion Blog: 2010

24 December 2010

Now that I have the amazing Topshop Patti sandals I have become obsessed with heels. Big ones, smalls ones, studded, architectural, space aged…. the new trend is not the front of the shoe, it’s all in the back.

Just check out these amazing colour blocked heels from Balenciaga. Always on the edge, Balenciaga have taken the trend usually reserved for clothing to heels – colour blocking on your feet? Who’d have thought.

And it seems that they weren’t the first to start the crazy heel trend. In 2008, Chanel created the amazing light bulb heel, complete with working lightbulb! Impractical? Or practical? On the one hand you will never struggle to get your key in the door after a night out with the girls, but on the other, having glass heels taking all of your weight? I wouldn’t like to think of the consequences if it went wrong.

Completely out of my price range I will have to wait until this trend turns up on high street. When it does I will be the first to let you know.

Rebecca x

09 December 2010

I have brought the most impractical shoes ever made and I think I am in love.

Opening the package that arrived at my door yesterday I was almost bursting with excitement. I knew what was inside and I could barely wait a moment longer. The 10 days it took for them to leave their UK homeland and travel to my door were absolute torture. No outfit satisfied my sartorial lust and all my shoes looked worn, tired and completely irrelevant. My style had updated to embrace the 70’s look of summer, how come my wardrobe was yet to catch up?

One look at the platform velvet 70’s inspired beauty’s you will see why I became dissatisfied with everything else I owned. The Patti sandal from Topshop.com was true love at first sight.

However there is one slight problem. Not having worn high heels in the last three months (one of the side effects of pregnancy no one mentions) the HUGE heel has proven more than challenging - remaining upright in these heels will be no mean feat.

Baby steps. Quite literally small, carefully placed, baby steps are the key. One amazingly clad foot in front of the other. A couple of sprained ankles will not deter me. I will persevere. I have to. These shoes are the missing puzzle piece to make all my outfits Vogue worthy. Broken ankle or not.

Rebecca x

26 November 2010

Man Repelling has to be my new favourite term. I can apply it to mine and many of my friends uber fashionable wardrobes which are geared more towards impressing other woman than attracting the opposite sex.

Witty and superbly accurate, manrepeller.com is a blog about what fashion girls love and boys loath – and it is my latest internet addiction. Harem pants, clogs, turbans and jumpsuits are all lumped into this category – men just don’t get why woman wear them. Unflattering or strange (like jewellery inspired by weaponry) fashion seems to be embraced by woman the world over yet highly despised by men for ruining the female form.

I have to say I don’t get the harem pants thing. Looking at the reflection of your own bum in a pair of parachute pants should be reason enough not to wear them. No matter how fashionable they become, I will never be a fan.  Why make your bum appear larger? However I am guilty of enjoying other man repelling garb – I love clogs, floor length skirts, boyfriend blazers and ridiculous heels. Medine’s rule of thumb: if its tight and black its not for the man repeller.

I wonder how long it will take for Leandra Medine’s man repelling language to filter into popular culture? Soon we will be talking about the last time we met a Mango and how our outfit is “man repelling today”.

I have read the entire blog and I suggest you all do too. Now to plan my next seriously repelling outfit. xx

Photo courtesy of manrepeller.com

19 November 2010

I think I may have been a bit optimistic about being ready to work three weeks after Poppy Scarlett was born. I agreed to do wardrobe on a TV series much before she arrived and much before I really knew what I was in for in the newborn baby department. I thought babies had a schedule right from the get go, but apparently not. No two days are the same. I’m all for mixing it up a little but this is ridiculous!

Anyway… visiting my fav showrooms, designers and celebs was a complete mission but a total treat after a bit of a break from the fashion scene. I didn’t realise how much I had missed everybody. Talking about clothes, shoes and accessories was a welcome change to my baby talk routine of late.

Being a busy mum working in fashion is a bit of a dream really. I am very lucky to still be able to work in a field I am passionate about while being a new mum (something I am also passionate about). Not everyone is that lucky. However the two jobs couldn’t be more different! One minute its all glamour at TVNZ, fitting out their top stars in fabulous clothes and the next minute I am changing a nappy in the carpark (true story).  Not so glamorous. But I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world, not even this Chanel quilted 2.55 chain bag in lemon lambskin. Or maybe I would? Kidding.

Rebecca xx

1 November 2010

Marc Jacobs, Tom Ford, Karl Lagerfeld, D&G and the late YSL all have two things in common – the Y chromosome and careers that have spanned decades. But it seems the two aren’t mutally exclusive.  Here in Aotearoa we seem to be bucking the “boy is best” trend. Gone are the dashing male leads and in their place we have our own leading ladies -  Kate, Karen, Ruby, Juliette, Alexandra and Kathryn are just some of the names that spring to mind.

These amazing female talents have been leading our fashion scene into the future and onto the international stage for seasons past and next winter is sure to be no different.

Juliette Hogan’s ladylike aesthetic is back with a vengeance but this time it seems that her muse has a naughty side to her persona. Her collection title “The morning after the night before” really says it all. Gone are the “butter wouldn’t melt” pleated full length skirts and in their place are leather skirts, tees and cropped bustiers. Juliette Hogan’s alter ego has grown up, and we like it.

Ruby hit on a huge international trend with their NZ Fashion Week show “The Adventurers”. Models snaked down the runway in forest green wool coats, culottes, and beautiful oversized sweaters - a perfect wardrobe for life at an English country manor.

Rachel and Angali from Twentysevennames (pictured) went back to the traumatic high school years for their inspiration for next years winter collection. All the cliques were represented on the runway - jocks, goths, art types and the snobs, to name a few. The collection was super cute. Look out for the collegiate style blazers, knitted cardis, letterman jackets and white on white lace dresses.

Shoe designer Kathryn Wilson wowed with a solid collection for next year as well as an amazing runway show, and Alexandra Owen continues to wow audiences here and abroad with her impeccable tailoring.

And lest we forget Karen Walker and Kate Sylvester. Two woman that no fashion update could leave out.  I’m not sure I know many women that don’t have a garment or two from these lovely ladies. I sure do, and I am looking forward to collecting a few more pieces next season.

Let’s hear if for the girls!

Rebecca xx

22 October 2010

Times they are a changing

As you all may know I am expecting the arrival of my first child, a wee girl. We are only a few days away from the intended arrival date now, not quite counting on one hand, but almost!

Being heavily pregnant requires an entire new attitude to getting dressed in the mornings. Gone are the outfit changes and deep contemplation of what to wear. My morning routine before baby consisted of “are four Karen Walker garments in one outfit considered tragic? (yes, most definitely)” and “I wore this outfit to my friends cousins boyfriends house party two months ago, I hope no one notices I’m wearing it again. Oh I’ll change just incase”. I was very deep.

Nowadays the general rule in this last stage of pregnancy is: if I put in on and its fits it ain’t coming off for a few days – kidding! But all clothes that even slightly fit me are on high rotation in my wardrobe right now – it’s like daily déjà vu.   

Apparently it doesn’t get any easier once the baby comes. Yes, you fit more of your clothes due to having a more traditional, less egg like shape, but you now have to think about things like nursing and comfort. Comfort?? I didn’t sign up for that.  

When placing clothing orders for next winter it didn’t even occur to me that I should be choosing practical fabrics that are easily cleaned. The lovely, and right, Juliette Hogan pointed out that I should probably not go for a pastel pink silk tee dress as it’s not the most forgiving for baby spills. What an outrageous thought! Surely my baby would know that you can’t spot clean silk and would puke accordingly? Preferably on anybody but me.

It seems I have a lot to learn in my quest to be a glam mummy.  Rebecca xx  

13 October 2010

Over the past few weeks I have been admiring the outfits not of woman my own age but of girls, yes girls, that are sometimes 10 years younger than me. Shocking I know.

At 14 years old I was dressed in daggy gear that would have been lucky to have a recognizable label. Clothes were about function, not fashion, and you added a bit of sparkle with body glitter, not $500+ Opening Ceremony shoes. So what has happened here? Are people giving birth to inherently more fashionable people, or has there been a noticeable culture shift?

In my day to day existence as a fashion writer I encounter girls as young as 14 and 15 in the most awe inspiring designer get up. Outfits I would never be brave enough to try and clothes that my elderly figure (yep, 24 is getting on!) just wouldn’t allow.

I have a few theories as to why the younger girls (and boys) have got it together nowadays, when at the same time in my life I was stuck in scrunchies and slouch socks.

1.Fashion is so much more available now. When I was in high school there were the very average chain stores and there were surf stores. That was it. Outfits became a mix of plain basics and boyish skate wear. I remember pairing a denim mini and a teal v-neck singlet with a super cool pair of black Etnies that had teal edging (to match my top) for an intermediate disco. Yep, that was me dressed up. The outfit sounds completely tragic but I assure you, boys still wanted to dance with me.

Walk around any mall now and you’ll find international catwalk trends and designer imitations that only weeks before were being strutted down the runway. It is almost impossible to dress badly. Don’t get me wrong, there are still young fashion victims(insert bow headwear here) but unless you are wearing your entire wardrobe at once you are generally safe.

2.Young girls seem to be more aware of fashion and are taking bigger, bolder risks. I blame the “streetstyle” blog. We are now dressing everyday as if Scott Schuman from The Sartorialist is around the next corner waiting for us to pose against a chicken wire fence in front of a deserted parking lot.  There is now a reason to get dressed up in the morning.

3.Their parents disposable income. Enough said. A head to toe Lonely Hearts look is beautiful but unfortunately it hasn’t quite figured out how to pay your rent for you. Embrace the parental support while you can you youngsters.

If these are our next generation of New Zealand fashion designers, writers and stylists, then kiwi fashion can only really get better. Having a love of clothing from the beginning can’t help but be a good thing.

It seems young is the new black.

Rebecca x

21 September 2010

Fashion Week started with a bang Monday night, or was it a fall to the knees? Well, the pretty young thing that fainted during the 10 year celebration may have thought the later, but the topless cultural dancers certainly pleased the eager crowd. A touching tribute to NZFW organizer Pieter Stewart was the highlight for me – the best part? Marc Moore from Stolen Girlfriends Club declaring his love for Pieter with a “Call Me” type come on.

Now on to the shows…

Juliette Hogan continues to wow each season and her new collection is no different. Her pretty, polished style was toughened up with leather tee’s and skirts this time around. I am coveting the most amazing polka dot halter dress from the collection – definitely a highlight.

Kathryn Wilson showed the first ever shoe collection on the runway with a this scene setting intro video that lead to leggy models strutting their stuff in leotard’s even the Baywatch babes would be self conscious in…

The shoes were to die for, and so were the 80’s power ballads that made up the sound track. Trends? Leopard print heels, brightly coloured suede boots as well as the black lace up wedge are bit hits for next winter.

Cybele and Adrian Hailwood were both crowd pleasers. Cybele seemed to be following on from her last winter with a slightly more eerie, dark feeling to the clothing and the show styling. Known for her prints, Cybele pleased with an acrid yellow abstract print.

No lowlights so far… well maybe the weather.

20 September 2010

So the week that the New Zealand fashion industry waits for is upon us. The questions on everyone’s mind? Where will I be seated? Have I moved up in importance from last year? Will I see anyone wearing the same outfit as me? Will any models fall? All very deep and thought provoking.
 
This year’s New Zealand Fashion Week has been particularly challenging in the outfit planning stakes. At 8 months pregnant I do not have the usual figure for designer clothing so the task was decidedly harder than last year. Fortunately Charlotte Deveroux at Egg Maternity has saved me from a near fashion disaster by kindly outfitting me in her beautiful designs at Egg.  Her collection is full of beautiful prints and long dresses – both things I love. Look out, yummy mummy coming through! Hehe.
 
I will be updating my blog more regularly over the next week so be sure to check in with my show highlights, looks of the day and other fashion ramblings.
 
Rebecca xx

08 September 2010

I am crazy excited about seeing international fashion designer Nicole Miller at New Zealand Fashion Week - in less than two weeks! The uber amazing designer is known for having an ageless elegance to her clothing and has dressed heaps of celebrities like super stars Angelina Jolie, Halle Berry, Eva Longoria Parker and Gossip Girls Leighton Meester – how’s that for an A-list line up?

Having an international design star on our catwalks is a huge coup for NZFW and will no doubt put New Zealand on the map for future international designers to show here. Last year we had the enthusiastic Pamela Anderson with her A*muse range and now we have a serious America design star – what’s next? Maybe Marc Jacobs…. We can only dream! I just hope that Nicole picks up stockists in NZ so we have access to her fab designs. With 15 stand alone stores across the states and 1,200 stockists worldwide - what’s a few more?

Fortunately for you guys this show is open to the public! The Nicole Miller catwalk show has a limited number of tickets available for you to enjoy a slice of international fashion straight from the New York fashion week runway. Head to iTICKET to secure your seat to watch Nicole Miller present truly international fashion down-under. I know I will be there!

Rebecca xx

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