Tag along on day three of NZFW 2018 with FQ features director Lucy Slight. It starts off grey and dreary, but we know it’s going to be a lovely day… And let’s be honest, it wouldn’t be Fashion Week without a dramatic downpour.
7:00am: I gave myself a late pass this morning to get an extra hour of sleep and wake up feeling chipper. I chug down my green smoothie, get fresh turmeric on my freshly painted nails and eat some eggs on toast.
9:30am: My first stop of the day is Penny Sage to check out their latest collection, which is dropping in stores now for summer and is a bright and sunshine-y change from all the winter we’ve been seeing on the runway. I’ve got my eye on a beautiful almost-mustard yellow dress and make a mental note to do some online shopping later on.
10:00am: I jump in my taxi (the driver offered to wait while I do my stop-offs this morning, what a gem) and head to the Georgia Jay store where she’s also holding an open showroom with her new summer bags. She tells me most of her leather is sourced from dead stock, which makes me very happy – and also aware that if there’s something I like I’ll have to snap it up quickly! Perhaps a yellow bag to go with my yellow Penny Sage dress? I’ll add one to my mental wish-list, too.
Seen during the open showroom: Penny Sage (left) and Georgia Jay (right)
11:30am: Time for the NZFW Graduate Show, which is a collection of looks from top fashion graduates from around the country. The stand-out for me was Caitlin Crisp’s incredible gingham ruffle dress, below. Can I get a loaf of French bread and a bottle of Veuve up in here? I feel a romantic river-side picnic in my future.
Standout designs from the NZFW Graduate School show
12:00pm: Back to the office to feast on a meal that touches all sides of the food pyramid – sushi, a goodie bag chocolate chip cookie and a Toffee Pop – then write down some notes before they vanish from my brain.
2:00pm: The New Gen show is another incredible group show from a bunch of very talented young designers. Ruffles are the theme du jour in several collections and I’m pleased to see plenty of exciting pops of colour, too. Special shout out to the collections by Olli and Havilah – such incredible designs and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.
Models at the New Gen show
2:30pm: We hunt down our Samsung street style photographer to check out some of the epic snaps he’s caught. Yet again, people are really going ham on the colour today – despite (or because of?) the grey and dreary morning. Who said Kiwis only wear black, aye?
3:00pm: It’s time for Wynn Hamlyn, which is the first standing show of the week – meaning it’s all about jostling to get a good spot. Huge light-up plinths line the room forming the runway and setting the tone for the show ahead. There’s beautiful pleating and some stand-out ribbed knitted dresses that would look great with a pair of sneakers. And as we walk out, the FQ team are all raving about the styling.
Backstage at Wynn Hamlyn
4:00pm: The sun has come out for the Hej Hej show and just as well – it’s on a boat! Docked in the Viaduct Harbour just over the bridge from the Fashion Week venue, the Pacific Eagle played home to a beautiful collection of red, apricot and pale blue linen pieces that just screamed summertime happiness. We all slipped into toweling slippers to board the boat, and armed with the perfect ginger gin cocktail, it was the most relaxing show of the week by far. PS. These pieces are all available for spring!
Hej Hej presentation takes place (oh so appropriately) on the Pacific Eagle Boat in the Viaduct Marina
5:00pm: My friend Beck and I do a repeat eat at Miss Clawdy because we both can’t stop thinking about the mushroom tacos we had yesterday. This time we swap our fries for guacamole and corn chips and commend ourselves on our excellent ordering.
6:00pm: The Viaduct Events Centre is a-buzz with excitement for the Kathryn Wilson show. Always a riot of colour and frivolity, the parade of new-season footwear paired with red sequin bodysuits and teased-up hair brought glee to the whole room. Any show that opens with a Beyonce banger (Who Run the World (Girls)) is going to have the crowd fizzing.
Models walk during the Kathryn Wilson
8:00pm: The doors are open for the Stolen Girlfriends Club show in the basement carpark of Red Bull HQ in Grey Lynn and every cool kid in Auckland is filing through, grabbing a vodka Red Bull, Master of Ceremonies rosé or Asahi to down before the show is scheduled to start at 9pm. A black smoky eye is the makeup look of the day which is exactly what I expected, but the real stand-out styling cue from the show was none other than Crocs. Yes, the shoes that sit at your parents’ back door for gardening and other dirty domestic chores. But not just any old Crocs. Crocs lined with faux fur and emblazoned with STOLEN on the back strap. Could Crocs be the new Birkenstock? Something to ponder as I dream of bed.
Make Crocs cool again: Crocs x Stolen Girlfriends Club seen backstage
Find out more about Lucy Slight here.
