Get the look: Claudia Li ‘Boxy Side Slit Shirt’ jacket, $1580.
How would you describe the mood or feeling you wanted to capture for Spring 2026, and how did that come through in the styling?
Spring has always been one of my favourite seasons. There’s something incredibly hopeful about it. It carries a sense of renewal that feels both deeply personal and universally familiar. I wanted the styling to embody that same feeling of optimism: to feel fresh without feeling forced, romantic without becoming nostalgic, and deeply connected to the landscape that inspired it. More than anything, I wanted the shoot to evoke a sense of freedom – as though the subject had stepped into the first truly warm day of the year, when everything feels lighter, more playful, and full of possibility.
That feeling translated into the styling through colour, texture, and movement. I gravitated towards a palette of vibrant yet delicate hues – pastel pinks, electric greens, luminous blues – colours that echoed the energy of the season without becoming overly literal. I also played with contrasting fabrics and unexpected textures to create depth and dimension, allowing each look to feel alive and in motion. The intention was to celebrate Spring not simply through florals or seasonal references, but through emotion: capturing that fleeting feeling of emergence, joy, and effortless beauty that arrives with the changing of the season.
Get the look: Harris Tapper ‘Knot’ top, $698, and ‘Tilda’ skirt, $529. Meadowlark ‘Paperclip Heavy’ necklace, $539, ‘Taboo Midi’ hoops, $789, ‘Signature 3 Stone’ ring, $2055, and ‘Signature 5 Stone’ ring, $2489.
Get the look: Caitlin Crisp ‘Midnight Mini’ dress and necktie from NZFW26 runway collection. Niicolé ‘Divine Retribution’ drops earrings, $456. Camille Paloma Walton ‘Triple Dot’ ear cuff, $450. Knuefermann silver bangle, $165.
When building the looks, where did you begin — with a colour palette, a silhouette, a hero piece, or something else entirely?
What made this edition particularly special was the opportunity to champion New Zealand designers. There is such a wealth of creativity here, and it felt important that the story reflected the talent and individuality of our local fashion community.
Rather than beginning with a rigid colour palette or a singular hero piece, I started by reaching out to the designers themselves to understand what they were currently creating. I wanted to see what was new, what they were excited about, and what felt most representative of where their collections were heading. There was something incredibly rewarding about responding to their work in real time, rather than imposing a preconceived narrative onto it.
Because we worked with all New Zealand designers, (except for the sunglasses, which are international but thoughtfully curated by the incredible team at Sunglass Style) there was also an authenticity to the wardrobe that felt important. Many of the pieces already carried a dialogue with our environment through their craftsmanship, palettes, and silhouettes – for example, the Adrion Atelier Jacket, is made from wool and other recycled materials. So my role was to weave the garments together into a story that celebrated not only the arrival of Spring, but also the creativity and perspective of New Zealand fashion.
Get the look: Adrion Atelier ‘Fringe Vest’ jacket, $1168. Knuefermann ‘Base’ dress, $350, ‘Saddle’ belts, $289 each. Rebe ‘Sheer Slip’ skirt, $295. Deadly Ponies ‘Alastor’ slides, $449. Right earring: Camille Paloma Walton ‘Dot’ hoop (one of a pair), $400. Left earring: Niicolé ‘Questionable Heart’ earring (singular), $450, and ‘Exalted’ choker, $1800. Tom Ford ‘Falconer’ sunglasses, $519, from Sunglass Style.
Get the look: Zambesi ‘Amp’ dress, $650. Emma Jing ‘Princess Pleat Belt’ worn as scarf, $290. Kevin Thorne ‘Xuān KT6385’ earrings, $2400. Camille Paloma Walton ‘Blossom’ ring, $1550.
How did you curate the mix of New Zealand designers for the shoot, and what made certain pieces stand out?
This was probably one of the hardest parts of the process because there is so much incredible talent in New Zealand and I wish I could include everyone! I wanted the wardrobe to reflect the breadth of our fashion landscape – to honour the heritage brands that have shaped our industry, while also creating space for newer voices who are redefining what New Zealand fashion looks like today. It was important to me that the story felt like a conversation between generations.
We featured established brands such as Zambesi, Rory William Docherty and Taylor, whose influence on New Zealand fashion is undeniable, alongside emerging designers whose work represents the exciting future of our industry. I was particularly excited to highlight Kayla Cancare, whose beautifully crafted blouse and collar showcase the artistry of hand-work through the traditional Japanese shibori pleating technique. We also featured Fashion Quarterly Emerging Designer of the Year, Tough Auto, whose exceptional leather craftsmanship brings a bold yet refined perspective to contemporary New Zealand fashion.
Jewellery was another important part of the story. New Zealand is home to an extraordinary group of jewellery designers, each with a completely distinct point of view. From sculptural statement pieces from Niicolé and Kevin Thorne, to more delicate forms from Meadowlark, each designer brought their own personality to the styling. Rather than acting as accessories, the jewellery became an extension of the narrative, adding texture, character, and individuality to every look.
Ultimately, I wanted the shoot to celebrate the richness of New Zealand fashion in all its forms. My hope is that readers discover a brand they already love alongside one they may never have encountered before, because that’s how our industry continues to grow – through curiosity, collaboration, and championing one another!
Get the look: Caitlin Crisp ‘Royal Ballet’ show piece from NZFW26 runway collection, POA. Knuefermann ‘Truman’s’ boots, $1600. Kevin Thorne ‘‘The Glacial KT2823’ ring, $3200, ‘The Glacial Ring I’ ring, $1800, and `The Mirror` earrings, $800. Anna Balasoglou ‘Ponga’ cuff, $400, from The Poi Room. Meadowlark ‘The Bone Necklace Bold’ necklace, $2235.
Get the look: Victoria Beckham ‘7007/S’ sunglasses, $499, from Sunglass Style. Tough Auto ‘Asphalt’ peacoat, $2400. Commonplace Essentials ‘Bentley’ windbreaker, $249. Taylor ‘Sequin Narrative’ skirt, $1200. Kevin Thorne ‘The Rise I’ ring, $650.
How did you work with the photographer, Guy Coombes, to bring the story to life? Was there much conversation between the styling and what was happening behind the lens?
Working with Guy was an incredibly collaborative process. He’s exceptional at what he does because he understands that fashion photography isn’t simply about capturing a beautiful image – it’s about telling the story of a garment. He has such an intuitive sense of composition and knows how light, movement, and framing can completely transform the way a piece is experienced. For every look, we discuss what the garment was trying to communicate. Sometimes that meant finding a pose that emphasised the silhouette; other times it was about creating movement so the fabric could come to life, or allowing a particular detail to become the focal point. Those conversations were constant throughout the day and made the process feel incredibly fluid. I think the strongest editorial images come from that kind of dialogue. Styling doesn’t end once the clothes are on the model, and photography isn’t simply about documenting the outfit. They exist in conversation with one another.
Get the look: Ohen Underwear ‘The Lift’ bra, $139, and ‘The Highwaist’ brief, $69. Rebe ‘Cotton Crochet’ dress, $395. Marmalade Hats ‘Pill Box Paper Straw’ hat, $350, from The Shelter. Bronwyn ‘Sadie’ sandals, $299. Camille Paloma Walton ‘Line’ earrings, $1200, and ‘Livia II’ ring, $1250. Meadowlark ‘Bone’ ring, $249.
Get the look: Rory William Docherty ‘Crushed Short Sleeve Turtle Neck’ top, $450, ‘Striped Holiday’ skirt, $845, ‘Everyday Holiday’ skirt, $685, and silk necktie, $195. Deadly Ponies ‘Road Rider’ sneakers, $499. Kevin Thorne ‘The Rise’ earring (pair), $720, and ‘The Rise II’ ring, $2100. Socks, stylist’s own.
What’s something about putting together an FQ cover shoot that readers would never know from seeing the finished image?
I think one of the biggest things people don’t realise about cover shoots is how much unseen work goes into creating what ultimately looks like a single, effortless image. A cover photograph can feel spontaneous and natural, but behind that moment is an incredible amount of preparation, decision-making, and collaboration.
Sometimes, a garment that looks perfect on a rack can tell a completely different story once it’s on the body, under the lights, and in front of the camera, so a lot of problem solving is involved, and the final image can often come from unexpected discoveries. For example, the scarf featured in the cover image wasn’t actually a pre-existing garment or accessory – it was an additional swatch of fabric I took from Caitlin Crisp’s studio. Originally, the scarf wasn’t included in the outfit, but as we moved into shooting more intimate frames, I felt the look was missing something. The neckline felt a little too bare, and voilà! Out came the fabric swatch, that I quickly fashioned into a scarf. I just knew it would come in handy!
Get the look: Kayla Cancare ‘Hand-pleated Shibori’ blouse and collar, POA. Layla Kaisai Collection ‘Recursive’ ear cuff, POA.
Cover credits
Model: Monique Haywood at 62 Management @monique.h07 @62management
Photography: Guy Coombes @guycoombes
Styling: Estelle Schuler @estelle.schuler
Make-up: Kiekie Stanners @kiekies__
Hair: Sara Allsop @saraallsop
Styling assistant and videography: Troi Atkins @troiatkins
Photography assistant: Felix Jackson @felixrjack
FQ’s Creative Director: Georgia Bramley @georgiabramley
FQ’s Editor-in-Chief: Sarah Murray @searsmurray
This article was originally published in the spring ’26 issue of Fashion Quarterly. On-sale now.
Words: Estelle Schuler.
