« Previous Entries

Category

Fashion Friday

Fashion Friday, Style Catalogue
Knitwear Wishlist
24.05.13 | Permalink | Comment?

I have a beautiful new jumper to show you!!

It’s from Markus Lupfer and is SO cool; it may be the new love of my life (sorry, Ferragamo scarf). I can’t wait to wear it with my black pleat skirt, stockings, black studded brogues and neon pink lipstick.

Jumpers and knits are a new thing for me… In past winters I have preferred to dress up plain merinos with cute skirts and chic scarves but this year, I have a real thing for proper knitted jumpers worn with a collared shirt underneath. I’m really enjoying the old school combination of elegance and simplicity and it is sooo cosy!

These are my faves that I’ve seen around recently:

♥ Spotty, sparkly beauty; LOVE. (Roll on payday!)

♥ Who can resist a unicorn jumper?

♥ Have been crushing on this top for a while…

♥ This jumper is sooo pink it kills me! Gorgeous.

♥ I really love the bold print on this jumper, and can visualise a million different ways to wear it.

♥ I have a vague distaste for (okay, fear of) horses, yet love this cardi. Go figure!

♥ And adore the cutesy appeal of this one!

♥ This dreamy top comes at a slightly nightmarish price… but sooo pretty.

So here’s to keeping toasty warm! Long live the knit.
Fashion Friday, Style Catalogue
I <3 Flamingos
20.05.13 | Permalink | Comment?

I’ll admit it; I have a bit of a crush at the moment. On… flamingos. Yes, you read right. Basically, if I see ANYTHNG with flamingos on it, I need to own it straight away.

I recently bought this dress online and am soooo excited for it to arrive.

I also have a brand new phone cover! Flamingo-themed! Yusss! I have a newly-acquired LOVE for Ted Baker accessories, they are so feminine and chic and shiny. (See here, here and here for my most lusted-after pieces…) This phone case combined my Ted Baker love with the… thing I have for flamingos, so double win.

I have had this fabulously flamingo top for a wee while and I absolutely killed it over summer (with my bangin’ teal pencil skirt – best buy ever). Am already counting down until the warmer months come around so I can start wearing it again! Unfortunately, this is a top which is tricky to make trans-seasonal (cute blazer over top is not gonna cut it on a Wellington winter’s day).

I was also dangerously close to buying this skirt, but bf did not look pleased. Although I wish I had now, because I still love it! So cute. I also have a mad crush on this dress, but when I counted up my digits it was going to be waaaay too short. Alas.

The next items on my list are a silk square flamingo scarf (naturally) and a flamingo wall print (am thinking this one).

And, on a non-flamingo note. We have this sassy new number:
The closet stylist : your guide to personal style / Anna Caselberg.
“Do you have a wardrobe full of clothes but you still can’t find the right thing to wear? Do you find yourself buying the latest season’s styles but then never wear them? Do you put off buying clothes until you can shift those last few kilos? Then fashion stylist Anna Caselberg is here to give you expert advice on how to dress to suit your body shape; mix and match outfits; choose the most flattering styles; shop on a budget; update your wardrobe while including last season’s styles. By following Anna’s style tips and wardrobe advice you’ll discover your inner stylist and learn to create the most flattering looks to suit your body shape and lifestyle”–Publisher information.

I am particularly excited about this book because it’s written by a New Zealand author, which means the things she writes about will generally be available here. Yay! If this sounds like your thang, I recommend you reserve it pronto (beware: wee queue) as it’s proved pretty popular so far.
Fashion Friday, Style Catalogue
Winter Watches
10.05.13 | Permalink | Comment?

Image from Tom Selby, via TheNewsGallery

Firstly!! This made me laugh. Karl Lagerfeld in a library…lol.

Aaaaand, onto business. I know it’s not quite winter yet, but the weather has been feral. And one of the highlights of feral weather is DVD time! I don’t know if you realise, but the library has really good fashion documentary DVDs; I have been well-stocked for the entire time I’ve worked here, and we still get more! SO good. Our DVDs are $4 for one week. I’ve watched most of them and, so far, these have been my favourites:

I love this DVD for the insider’s view on the world of Vogue… one woman really shines in this DVD and, I can tell you, that for me it is not Anna Wintour.
The September issue [videorecording] / an A&E Indiefilms production in association with Actual Reality Pictures presents a film by R.J. Cutler.
An unprecedented behind-the-scenes look at the making of the coveted September Issue of Vogue in 2007, which was the largest and most sold to date. An intimate, funny and surprising look at the legendary editor-in-chief Anna Wintour and her team of larger-than-life editors. This is the captivating story of how they create the must-have bible of fashion. At the eye of this hurricane is the two-decade relationship between Anna and Grace Coddington, incomparable creative director and fashion genius.

This was quite a startling look into the world of modelling. A real eye-opener, and an insanely good watch.
Picture me [videorecording] : a model’s diary / Digital Bazooka presents a film by Ole Schell and Sara Ziff.
“It’s one of the most glamorous and controversial jobs in the world, but what is it really like to be an international fashion model? In this frequently shocking behind-the-scenes documentary, filmmaker Ole Schell presents a visual diary of his partner Sara Ziff’s rise to international acclaim as a globe-trotting fashion icon. Ziff soon realises that the fairy-tale glamour of the modelling industry has a thin veneer, under which a culture of sleaze, exploitation and sexual abuse is prevalent. With her unparalleled access to fellow models, she and Schell present a hard-hitting and honest insight into the dark side of fashion”–Container.

This was my absolute fave; SO entertaining and I demand you watch it.
Valentino [videorecording] : the last emperor / Acolyte Films presents a film by Matt Tyrnauer.
It is a behind-the-scenes look at the world of fashion, featuring unprecedented access to the high temples of Haute Couture. Follows the legendary Valentino and his longtime business partner, Giancarlo Giammetti during the final two years of their careers, and shows the struggles the two men face as they confront the final act of a nearly 50-year career at the top of the world’s most glamorous and competitive game. An intimate, engaging and very funny fly-on-the-wall exploration of the singular world of one of Italy’s richest and most famous men. Tells the story of his extraordinary life and work, and also explores the larger themes affecting the fashion business today.

We have a few documentary movies on Chanel; I’ve watched them all and this is by faaaar my favourite. Audrey Tatou is so incredibly charming, and Coco Chanel’s story is really quite amazing.
Coco avant Chanel [videorecording] / a film by Anne Fontaine.
Years after being abandoned at an orphanage by her father, Gabrielle Chanel finds a job in a tailor shop where she meets, and soon begins an affair with French millionaire Etienne Balsan. Through Baron Balsan she is introduced into French society and given the opportunity to design her own style of hats. Though her career takes off, her personal life becomes more complicated when she falls in love with Balsan’s former best friend Arthur Capel.

These were also really great to watch:

L’amour fou [videorecording] / Les Films du Lendemain and Les Films de Pierre present a film by Pierre Thoretton.
A documentary on the relationship between fashion designer Yves Saint-Laurent and his lover, Pierre Berge.

Lagerfeld confidential [videorecording] / Realitism Films presents a Realitism Film production ; a film by Rodolphe Marconi.
A look at the life of the man who ruled the House of Chanel for over 20 years through interviews with those who knew him best, including Lagerfeld himself. Features Princess Caroline of Monaco and Nicole Kidman.
(omg, SO entertaining. lbr)

Catwalk [videorecording] / a Daniel Wolf production.
A camera follows model Christy Turlington through the spring fashion shows in Milan, Paris, and New York one year in the early 1990s, probably 1992. She and others dash from one designer’s unveilings to another. Extended footage looks at Versace and Armani in Milan, Galliano, Gaultier, and Langerfeld in Paris, and Isaac Mizrahi in New York. With Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, and Turlington, we see the nature of friendships among models.

The tents [videorecording].
New York. The name is enough to make fashionistas weak at the knees. But only a few years ago, New York’s now-famous fashion scene was a mess of mismanagement. THE TENTS traces the genesis of New York as a fashion powerhouse, the success of which is linked almost exclusively to the setting up of “The Tents” at Bryant Park, which finally brought the couture together under one (removable) roof. Featuring interviews with world class designers and fashion personalities such as Caroline Herrera, Michael Kors, Tommy Hilfiger, Betsey Johnson, Carson Kressley and Miss J Alexander, THE TENTS is an insight into the coveted and glamourous world of New York’s fashion scene…and how it almost failed.

I have recently had this DVD recommended to me and am excited to watch it:
Bill Cunningham New York [videorecording] / the New York Times and First Thought Films presents ; a film by Richard Press.
For decades, Bill Cunningham “has been obsessively and inventively chronicling fashion trends and high society charity soirées for the New York Times Style section in his columns ‘On the Street’ and ‘Evening Hours.’” Presented “is a delicate, funny and often poignant portrait of a dedicated artist whose only wealth is his own humanity and unassuming grace”–Container.

Have also just put a somewhat nervous hold on this… having read the synopsis, I think this could either be a super awesome or super painful watch! Will keep you posted!
Shopgirls. Series 1 [videorecording] / directed by Giorgio Capitani.
Marta, Roberta, Fiorenza, Paola, Lucia and Romen are very different but work together in an elegant Roman fashion boutique. They must put up with their overbearing manager Francesca, and each has dramas of their own.

We also have a whole lot of your favourite episodes of Project Runway, Gossip Girl, Sex and the City and, one of my all-time faves, Ugly Betty! Does that show my age too much?!
Fashion Friday, Style Catalogue
The Prada Project
03.05.13 | Permalink | Comment?

Image from fashiongonerogue

Did you know that luxury designer brand Prada is actively supporting arts and academia? Neither did I. But it turns out they are, and they’re hosting a writing competition! Yep!

As you may or may not know, Prada’s creative director Miuccia Prada has a PhD in political science (pretty impressive) and, together with her husband, she has launched the Prada Foundation; a not-for-profit organisation devoted to contemporary art.

The competition is inspired by their new range of prescription glasses, and is seeking out those “who can see the world with a unique, rare gaze.” The brief is “What are the realities that our eyes give back to us? And how are these realities filtered through lenses?” Entries are accepted from all around the world and must be between 4,000 and 8,000 words. They are to be submitted here, via Prada’s website, by June 18.

Winners will be revealed in September with €5,000 up for grabs! So if you, or anyone you know, is a budding (or established, for that matter) writer, you should get IN!
Fashion Friday, Style Catalogue
Monochrome Craze
26.04.13 | Permalink | Comment?

Image from fashiongonerogue

I LOVE this image. It’s so chic and glamour, but still kinda edgy… love. I’m really enjoying the black and white monochrome trend at the mo. It’s quite surprising for me, considering I absolutely adore colour and love wearing really outrageously bright tones. But the monochrome look is so simple yet chic, I kinda like it.

Images from ArtDepartment.

It’s definitely a trend I’m wanting to milk this winter. I recently bought this dress and really love it for its versatility – it can be worn with any colour, but also looks so sweet by itself. And, negl, I rock a lot of polka dots. Am also in love with this top! I am obsessed with cat clothing at the moment (think it’s because I’ve made friends with a cat that lives in my building – she’s black and fluffy and SO CUTE. We cuddle daily.) and this sweet shirt is no exception. I love wearing it with my 90s black pleat skirt – swoon! Also really digging this classic houndstooth skirt… it has such a chic vintage London vibe. Who knew just black and white together could be so much fun?
Fashion Friday, Style Catalogue
New and See-through
19.04.13 | Permalink | Comment?

This morning, a beautiful new book landed on my desk and I can’t wait to read it. But, alas, when I went to reserve it, there were 27 people in the reserves queue! 27!!!! So if you are also wanting to read this book, I recommend you reserve it prooooonto.

Grace : a memoir / Grace Coddington with Michael Roberts.
“Coddington, creative director of the American Vogue magazine, has much to impart. Fashionistas, rejoice, because not only does she chronicle the life and times of a former model turned editor; she also discusses those whose names appear in any celebrity column. What saves this from becoming a download of the activities of the rich and famous is, first, her amazing candor. We learn, for instance, that marriages don’t agree with her, that her sister Rosemary died of a combination OD-hospital malfeasance issue, and that editor-in-chief Anna Wintour is not as portrayed in The Devil Wears Prada. And, second, her charming and lively pen-and-ink illustrations grace every chapter and almost every page. Just what you would ask for from a revered behind-the-scenes magazine editor is what you get here.–Jacobs, Barbara Copyright 2010 BooklistFrom Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.” (Booklist)

I SO enjoy and admire Grace Coddington’s work – cannot wait to read this one! If you can’t wait either (and, sadly, the 27 people in the reserves queue means you’ll probably have to), then check this in the meantime:

Grace : thirty years of fashion at Vogue / [edited by Grace Coddington ; essay by Michael Roberts].
“Grace Coddington’s celebration of fashion has danced along its cutting edge for over 30 years. Abandoning a highly lucrative career as a leading model on the 60s London scene, Coddington signed on in 1968 as a junior fashion editor at British Vogue. She quickly established herself on the other side of the camera, coordinating photo shoots with David Bailey, Cecil Beaton, Helmut Newton, Sarah Moon, and the eccentric Guy Bourdin. A close working relationship with royal photographer Norman Parkinson produced a series of startlingly vibrant location shoots that have come to be considered classics. At British Vogue, Coddington also introduced the sweeping narrative epic, a familiar feature of her work nowadays at American Vogue, where she has been creative director for the past 14 years. GRACE: Thirty Years of Fashion at Vogue is not only a collection of Coddington’s greatest work, it is a visual reminiscence of her life in fashion.” (Amazon.com)

She also features predominantly in this DVD* (which I loved, by the way!) Watch it, watch it, watch it.

The September issue [videorecording] / an A&E Indiefilms production in association with Actual Reality Pictures presents a film by R.J. Cutler.
An unprecedented behind-the-scenes look at the making of the coveted September Issue of Vogue in 2007, which was the largest and most sold to date. An intimate, funny and surprising look at the legendary editor-in-chief Anna Wintour and her team of larger-than-life editors. This is the captivating story of how they create the must-have bible of fashion. At the eye of this hurricane is the two-decade relationship between Anna and Grace Coddington, incomparable creative director and fashion genius.

So, there’s your Grace crisis sorted! Now, to the see-through…

Images courtesy of blackdiamondsky

Am wondering what ya’ll think of the see-through clutch trend? It is huge at the mo and am guessing it will hit us next spring / summer. I am torn on it, to be honest… I think they can look a bit cheap and nasty. They need to be signicantly adorned and blinged out in order to be beautiful – otherwise, they can end up looking like a pencil case. I love the top two in this pic – so pretty! Valentino, Chanel and Gucci have all done them with enough glam appeal to keep it luxe, although I feel this Prada one is walking a fine line between cheap and chic… the elaborate diamond clasp only just saves it, methinks.

Accessorising intensifies. Matching your handbag contents to your outfit… pressure!

However, have just seen an idea which may explain some of their appeal. This one here, by Charlotte Olympia, has a range of different inners available, so you can completely change the look of it to match your outfit. Genius! But what do you think? See-through for the win?

* $4 for one week.
Fashion Friday, Style Catalogue
LoveLoveLove
12.04.13 | Permalink | Comment?

Around this time of year, when it’s just starting to get dark (sob) and cold (shudder), I think we all need a wee pick-me-up… These are some of the fashion things that have been doing it for me lately! My latest Love-it List. In no particular order:

Prettiest. Case. Ever.

1. Yves Saint Laurent lipstick
This YSL lipstick is both beautiful to hold and to wear… perfect for wearing on a day when you’re feeling (and looking) super tired. Instant pick-me-up.

Just twist the ring top around to get at the sweet fragrance within – genius.

2. Marc Jacobs Lola solid perfume ring
I got this gorg ring for Christmas and I love it! Filled with Marc Jacobs’ uber popular Lola fragrance as a solid perfume, this thing is genius! Perfume you can wear (gettit). Perfect for a hit of fragrance when you’re out and about.

3. Michael Kors indigo clutch
For as long as I can remember, I’ve enjoyed huge handbags. I am the type of person that has a mini first aid kit, a selection of no less than 12 lipsticks and glosses, a multitude of hairties and bobby pins as well as mini deodorant, solid perfume, oh and money, phone and keys, wherever I go. Plus any other necessities which I may require. But my latest handbag crush is this sweet wee number; I love the rich colour and the luxe gold chain handles. Also, my shoulders are getting a well-deserved break from carrying around about 3 kilos daily!

4. Gold lapis luzuli ring
I bought this ring recently from etsy and I am in LOVE with it. You can’t see it well in this photo, but the lapis also has tiny flecks of gold running through it… gorgeous. Ever the nerd, I was also impressed by the fact that it was made in Israel by a boutique jewellery maker and arrived covered in Israeli stamps. So cool.

5. Marcs floral skirt
Marc Jacobs is not paying me to write this, I swear. (Although if he is reading and he’d like to; CALL ME!) I snapped this skirt up on sale and I love it. Gorgeous pattern, beautiful colours and perfect length. Tick, tick, tick. It also came with a really pretty navy bow belt which I now wear with everything.

6. Salvatore Ferragamo wallet
This, I received as a birthday gift – yep, someone loves me! (I know, there are some themes building here - a. I am quite spoilt and b. My loved ones really know what I like.) As you know, I’m a huge Salvatore Ferragamo fan but could never afford to purchase such a thing. I love it because it is neutral but glam, and it still smells like leather. Love.

The toughest part of compiling this list was choosing what to include and what had to be left out… boo! So here is a big shout out to my rad Roberto Cavalli tote and my beautiful peacock dress which, sadly, had to be cut from the list.

If you’d like to know more about any of these designers, I recommend you check out the following:

Marc Jacobs / Mary Boone.

“Marc Jacobs’s reputation is that of a rule-breaker. When one of his 2007 runway shows started two hours late, he found himself at the center of a public war of words with some very influential fashion critics. And some of his most memorable designs-a grunge collection he created as head of Perry Ellis in 1992-resulted in his firing from the label. Jacobs now designs for three major labels: Marc Jacobs; Marc by Marc Jacobs; and the French luxury house Louis Vuitton. Rule-breaking aside, critics have hailed Jacobs as one of the most influential fashion designers of his generation.Famous Fashion Designers celebrates the lives of the most important designers in the history of fashion. These biographies examine the creative inspiration and career trajectory of the tastemakers who have influenced the way we dress. Book jacket.” (Syndetics summary)

Salvatore Ferragamo : evolving legend 1928-2008 / [editing, Emanuela Di Lailo, Raffaella Gallio ; Christopher Shanti Evans ... [et al.]].

“The company Salvatore Ferragamo Italia S.p.A., founded in 1927 by designer Salvatore Ferragamo, is a luxury brand with more than 450 stores in over 55 countries. It sells footwear, handbags and small leather goods, scarves and ties, men’s and women’s ready-to-wear, bijoux, watches, fragrances and eyewear. Salvatore Ferragamo made the name famous in California, first in Santa Barbara and then in Hollywood, creating footwear for the most beautiful women in the world–the “divas” of emerging American cinema. This book is also the catalogue of an exhibition that took place at the Shanghai Museum of Contemporary Art (29 March-7 May 2008) to celebrate the eighty-year anniversary of the company. Photographs, sketches, and drawings explore design processes and showcase shoes, handbags, and accessories–a magnificent selection of fashion works embodying social and cultural changes over time.” (Syndetics summary)

Yves Saint Laurent : 5, avenue Marceau, 75116, Paris, France / David Teboul ; foreword by Pierre Bergé.

“Le grand couturier Yves Saint Laurent has been challenging the fashion establishment for nearly half a century. One of the first to revolutionize street style with his 1960s “Beat Look” collection, and credited with the creation of the pantsuit — his le smoking, a tuxedo tailored for women, provoked the androgynous movement in fashion — Saint Laurent continues to produce sexy, vibrant lines. Now, the French television network Canal+ has documented the making of his Spring 2002 collection for its upcoming film, 5, avenue Marceau — the address of his famed couture house.This deluxe, definitive volume follows YSL through every stage of his preparations for his 2002 spring collections. Also included are never-before-published quotes from YSL as well as photographs from his early years and pages from his mother’s scrapbook. The clippings are lovingly annotated in her own handwriting and illustrate a personal dedication to one of fashion’s greatest talents.” (Syndetics summary)
Fashion Friday, Style Catalogue
A Moment with a Model
05.04.13 | Permalink | Comment?

Well, peeps, Wellington Fashion Week is well and truly underway! The highly anticipated, sold-out WORLD opened WFW on Wednesday night; you can have a wee peek at the video here. There’s plenty of other news and hot goss flying around, too – you can revel in some of the best here and here.

For the third and final interview in our fashion series, I asked luminous Wellington-based model Edward Woolhouse some questions about what really goes on behind the scenes during a fashion week show. Is it really that glam? Turns out, it is!

What’s your favourite part about being involved in fashion week? Least favourite?
My favourite part about fashion week is walking tall and proud with designer clothes on. I enjoy the buzz backstage with other models and designers. It’s a very happening place, especially when it’s seconds from walking.
My least favourite would be the waiting game, but other than that, it’s all good

What is a typical work day for you?
My typical day of work consists of my day job, which is working for a Danish design company named BoConcept. Then when there are shows on that I am a part of, I will be either at the gym before the show or just relaxing going through my routine before I leave the house…

What’s it like being involved back stage in local fashion shows? Is it as glam as it seems? Must be demanding at times!
As I mentioned before, I really enjoy the buzz. It’s busy; everyone is slightly manic. Female models are running from hair to makeup with final touches to apply. As myself and other male models are usually done a good hour or so before the show, we get to relax. We usually have worked together before, so there are no awkward silences. The glamorous side of it is enjoying being a part of a show, being able to wear clothing to represent the designer and, of course, get great photos.

Favourite book?
I do have a few books that I have enjoyed. I like to read biographies… I have read one about Kate Moss which was interesting. Also Patti Smith ‘Just Kids’.

Just kids / Patti Smith.
“*Starred Review* Patti Smith devotees know that she writes electrifying songs and spirited and spiritual poems, yet her first narrative book, a portrait of the artist as a young searcher times two, is a revelation. In a spellbinding memoir as notable for its restraint as for its lucidity, its wit as well as its grace, Smith tells the story of how she and Robert Mapplethorpe found each other, a true and abiding love that survived his coming out as gay, and the path to art in New York City during the heady late 1960s and early 1970s. As much as she succeeds in revealing little-known aspects of Mapplethorpe’s temperament, it is Smith herself who fascinates, from her earliest childhood memories of entering into the radiance of imagination; to her stints as a factory worker; to the loneliness of being 19, unmarried, poor, and pregnant; to her fortitude during her penniless and homeless days and nights on the streets of New York in 1967. A lifelong book lover, Smith works in Scribner’s bookstore as she and Mapplethorpe seek their true callings while living in the now legendary Chelsea Hotel, a crazy laboratory for experimentation artistic and otherwise. Readers can only hope that Smith will continue to tell her stories and share her visions.”–Seaman, Donna Copyright 2010 adapted from BooklistFrom Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.” (Booklist)

Kate Moss : the making of an icon / Christian Salmon.
“Years after her discovery at age fourteen at New York City’s John F. Kennedy Airport and her quick ascent to the top of the supermodeling world and choice luxury-brand figurehead, Kate Moss represents an unusual success story: that of a middle-class teenager who became one of the best-paid models in the world with no apparent effort. Hers is a story of endless reinvention: more than twenty years later, despite tabloid scandals, drug use, rehab, and tumultuous high-profile romances, Kate Moss appears before us as a fresh creation each time, an ideal subject able to adapt to any circumstance, recast herself ceaselessly through self-staging and self-narration, and make the world fall in love with her over and over again.
In Kate Moss: The Making of an Icon, Christian Salmon’s insightful text, accompanied by more than sixty gorgeous images, explores this phenomenon—the story of an icon, a muse, a legend, an enigma—and how our culture has created the collective Kate Moss myth.” – amazon.com
Fashion Friday, Style Catalogue
WFW Forecast
29.03.13 | Permalink | Comment?

Umm, guess what. Wellington Fashion Week is only one week away! ONE WEEK! Excite. To count down until glam time, I present to you the second in our series of Wellington fashion interviews. (Read last week’s here!) High-fashion WORLD staffer Freddie Aitchison is here to tell us all about his predictions for WFW 2013, his current fashion lusts and to give some sweet tips about dressing for the coming cold months (shudder).

Love. This. Outfit.

What trends are you expecting to see emerging at WFW this year?
Huge mix; all the designers showing are all very different in their own way.

Which designers are you looking forward to most?
WORLD of course, JimmyD, Ruby and Mandatory.

What are you hoping to see at WFW this year?
I really hope there will be some strong, innovative new prints emerging and maybe some tartan.

Favourite trends at the mo? Any trends you really don’t like?
I love metallics and pops of print in an outfit, so anything like that will get my attention.

Any hot tips for winter dressing?
Layering is great and works so well in Wellington; at least 4 layers plus accessories. Bold colors, just play with it; just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you can’t dress up.

What’s your favorite fashion book?
Alexander McQueen “Savage Beauty” is a must read!

Alexander McQueen : savage beauty / Andrew Bolton ; with contributions by Susannah Frankel and Tim Blanks ; photography by Sølve Sundsbø.
“Focusing on the most iconic and acclaimed designs of his prolific career, this stunning book examines McQueen’s inimitable technical virtuosity and its subversion of traditional tailoring and dressmaking practices.” (Syndetics summary)
Fashion Friday, Style Catalogue
Love Hotel AW 2013
22.03.13 | Permalink | Comment?

How cool was the fashion show last week?! I know you only got to see the pics and a video, so you’ll have to take my word for it – it was SO cool; very chic, edgy, glamorous and sooo fashionable. Loved it!

This week, I’ve been lucky enough to score an interview with the very lovely ladies behind sweet young label Love Hotel (who I’ve told you aaaall about before). The label is run by two sisters, Harriet and Ella. I asked them some questions so you get the goss on this super hot label.

Harriet and Ella, of Love Hotel.

How and when did your label start out? Have you always been interested in fashion?
We have always always been interested in fashion and have started other creative projects together. We officially launched Love Hotel at Wellington Fashion Week 2012 but had been working towards it for a while.

With the two of you in different cities, is it difficult to keep in touch and work together? How frequently are you in contact?
We are in contact most days, and we prioritise Love Hotel so we do spend large amounts of time together, despite living apart.

NB: I would very much like Harriet’s outfit. The whole thing, exactly as is, please. So hot.

Are there any designers you’re inspired by?
We are big fans of Sonia Rykiel, particularly the way she puts on a show. We adore Romance was Born, the way they draw from inspiration and obsessions. John Galliano is a guru. We love Miu Miu and their attention to textiles.

Which aspects of fashion and the fashion industry are important to you as designers?
It is important for us to create clothing that women feel good in when they wear it. Accessible clothing that makes the wearer feel feminine, flattered and a little bit sexy. We design with the mindset that we want a range of women to feel gorgeous in Love Hotel – beginning with ourselves. Fashion is a fabulous way to express identity; it is about feeling a certain way when you put something on, not just the way it is projected to the viewer. Timeless, rather than on-trend.

What were some of the ideas behind your winter 2013 collection?
It was based on the sometimes sinister world of orchid cultivation; the eeriness of glasshouses, the pedantic manicuring of plant cultivation, hobbyist dens, misty stark windows fogging up at dusk, with references to times of opium dens and layers of overcoats and satins.

Can you tell us about a typical day for you at Love Hotel?
Every day is very different. At the moment it is all about the summer collection, which will be showing at Wellington Fashion Week, so very much the fun stage.

Do you feel as though you have different roles within the company, or do you both do a bit of everything?
We tend to do a lot together but have been defining the roles more and more. We work together through all stages of design, Ella does the photoshopping and graphics things and I work through the production side of things.

Is it sometimes tricky to balance Love Hotel business around other commitments? For example, I know Ella is at uni, which must be demanding at times!
Yes it can be very demanding, but we have recently pushed a lot aside to get into doing what we really love. Ella’s final year seems to be complimenting our work so far, there is still so much for us to learn.

I really love your maroon cherry blossom singlet dress. Can you tell us more about it?
Thanks! The subtle black print on maroon really captures the feel of the winter collection. The vintage chiffon is a key feature in all of Love Hotel’s collections. We love the feminine beauty of the fabric, and it is great to wear. The cherry blossom print is our new AW screen print for this season. The hand-drawn detail is what sets this dress apart.

♥ this dress also! Be mine.

What trends are you enjoying at the mo? Any trends you’re looking forward to for winter?
I am enjoying the new textiles that designers everywhere are playing with…

Any trends you really don’t like?
The bare-all trend at the moment turns me off; sexy can be subtle, drapey and soft. I am curious to see how fashion bends gender boundaries in the future as it seems the lines between womens and mens fashion are becoming increasingly blurred.

What other collections would you like to get into in the future?
We are looking to move into lingerie in the not so far future; we love the idea of blending divisions between under and outer wear. Exciting things coming to you soon!

What are your favourite books?
I have always adored Caroline Quartermaine’s book “Unwrapped” which features a house dressed in her beautiful handpainted textiles. We have both recently read “Just Kids” by Patti Smith, which has become an huge inspiration for our summer collection. Also a fan of Egon Schiele’s sketches!

Just kids / Patti Smith.

Egon Schiele, 1890-1918 : the midnight soul of the artist / Reinhard Steiner ; [English translation, Michael Hulse].

All photos (apart from my instagram effort!!) taken by Chris Park at NZ Style Collective. Huge thanks for sharing your work with us!

« Previous Entries