Fri, 24 Sep 2010 2:27p.m.
By Sylvia Varnham O’Regan
Like two parents with shared custody of an overgrown, fashion-forward baby, my co-reporter and I have been splitting attendance down the middle this week.
The pros to this situation: I can spend half the day in semi presentable clothes, and the other half at home in sweats.
The cons: I have been flying largely solo at shows, which only accelerates my already pronounced staring problem.
Sub-pro: This is how I gather my finest material. Cough.
Day three saw me on the night shift, with one of fashion week's most anticipated shows: Stolen Girlfirends Club at 9pm. My partner in crime took on the day, attending Twentysevennames and Salasi, respectively. Her thoughts below:
Golden girls Twentysevennames opened Thursday’s shows with the launch of their new collection ‘The Fearsome Five’. The Wellington based designers know what they like and they like what they know; sending out a gaggle of nymphets clad in broderie anglaise, nude silk chiffon and polka dots. Their trademark ‘model army’ marched down the runway in a pretty and resolved collection that will no doubt sell by the bucket load, and designers Rachel and Anjali very adorably thanked their mums in the show brochure.
Salasai launched absurdly titled winter collection ‘Sacrificial Grace’ at the Hilton this evening. Everything was black, or white, and models donned an awkward looking sticky substance on the backs of their heads. The highlight (apart from the two male skirts that featured in the range) was when the mental old woman next to me clamped her second rate goodie bag behind her legs when I leant down to pick up my wine.
My thoughts on Stolen Girlfriends Club later that evening:
Where to begin? The show was scheduled to start at 9pm, but the majority of guests were waiting outside the venue on mercury Lane until about 9.30. Auckland is experiencing some mighty unfortunate weather at the moment, so this did not make for a happy crowd. Things started to stir to the point that I was imagining the possibility of a human stampede, and with the amount of Beau Coops and clog heels on display, someone could have got hurt.
Once everyone finally made it in, there were jam jars of wine on offer to warm us up and nurture the atmosphere of excitement. The venue itself was a theater, setting the mood for a theatrical display, which was undoubtedly delivered.
After the lights went out we were subjected to a promotional video for sponsors Mini Cooper, which illustrated a custom Stolen Girlfriends Club Mini in the making. This included a 'pick your accessory' feature, to which an invisible user selected a hot chick, from the options of three hot chicks and one child. Hmmmm, women, children, 'accessory' tag; the feminist in me groaned.
Bright lighting drew our attention center stage as models began to walk out to the delight of the audience. The collection itself was largely cream, black, beige and crimson with fabrics such as leather and fur out in force. The label stayed true to its street-wear-meets-glamour aesthetic, producing over sized cardigans, body-con dresses, cropped t-shirts and a floor length skirt finished with a fantastic split.
The collection's strength was in the menswear, and the brilliant bride and groom ensemble that finished the show. It was all topped off with an eruption of confetti and the label’s trio of designers - with stylist Zara Mirkin - bowing to rapturous applause.
Stolen Girlfriends Club created an unrivalled buzz, producing a complex and elaborate show, with all the trappings and an after party to follow. Too many gimmicks? Maybe. Too many jam jars of wine? Never.