The Westfield Fashion Festival celebrates all things fashion.
The Fashion Festival is brought to you by the Westfield Fashion Collective, a group of industry experts. Events range from personal style sessions to evenings of tips and tricks.
We asked Westfield fashion ambassador Amber Peebles to fill us in on her own shopping habits and what she is coveting for autumn and winter:
FQ: Are there any colour palettes or hues in particular that have caught your eye this season?
Amber Peebles: I’m having a love affair with neutral tones right now. They ooze easy sophistication and can be layered together without much thought.
There’s a big trend towards neutrals and nudes for winter – what are your tips for wearing neutrals with different skintones ie. porcelain, olive and dark?
I’m of the thought that if you love it, make it work. But if you are unsure, first find out whether your skin tone throws out cool colours or warm colours. You can usually do this just by holding up fabrics to your skin or Westfield offers a colour consultation service where experts can help determine your best hues. I would suggest you gravitate towards nude and neutral shades that have the same undertone as that will be the most flattering. I think it’s an elegant trend and it looks stunning with a natural/rose or bright red lip.
Which three key pieces will you be updating your wardrobe with for this autumn/winter?
A glorious chunky knit, a lightweight cashmere pullover and I have my eye out for a great new boot. I don’t know what i’m looking for but i’ll know it if I see it!
What’s your fashion weakness aka the one thing you can’t stop buying?
White shirts! I can’t get enough of them. My husband thinks I’m mad but they all have small differences, I assure him.
Can you pick out one item in your wardrobe that you could say is your absolute favourite piece?
This must be what it’s like when trying to choose a favourite child! Hmm, I’d probably go with my sass & bide boyfriend jeans – they are perfect with both flats and heels and when I don’t want to face my skinny jeans they are always a stylish option.
Tell us about your role with The Westfield Fashion Collective… What does the position entail?
I’m the Westfield fashion ambassador so part of my job is working with the Fashion Collective, which includes some of New Zealand’s best stylists, and putting together the Westfield Fashion Festivals. As you can imagine, it’s a pretty fun job and I’m very lucky to be working with so many talented people. We see hundreds of women, and some men, throughout the festival and it’s an amazing feeling to see the satisfied and inspired faces in the audience. We all love to see the latest trends but what really matters is how we make them work for ourselves and our wardrobes. And that’s what the Fashion Collective is there to help with.
What do you find most rewarding about the role?
I’ve had women come up to me after Style Workshops to tell me they have been re-energised and re-invigorated. Seeing that spark light up within someone is a really special thing and I’m so happy to be a part of it.
What do you think it is about your style and personality that resonates with women?
Gosh, I’m not sure! My style changes from day-to-day and with the world of Instagram now booming, it’s become the perfect way to visually communicate that. It’s also where I get a lot of my inspiration from. I’m a huge fan of fashion but I don’t want to ever take it too seriously.
What will New Zealand women get out of interacting with the Fashion Collective and attending Fashion Festival events?
The fashion collective is there to help guide you through the new collections and trends so you can pick out a few pearlers that will compliment your lifestyle and the wardrobe you already own . It’s a relaxed atmosphere so everyone has a fabulous time, whether they are alone, with a mother / daughter or a couple of girlfriends. Its a lot of fun!
* To find out about Style Workshops, Style Lounges, Shopping Tours, Colour Consultations and Personal Styling Sessions, visit westfield.co.nz
