Federation at FW'09

Goodie bags took the form of paint tins... and one could not label the crowd glamorous, rather the hip and edgy (think Mikey Havoc and Rhys Darby). The show began in darkness with an acoustic rendition of The Stones 'paint it black' as black paint ran down the white runway back drop and over the designers cross emblem. This was no flirty, frilly show we were about to witness... It was the high end street wear of Federation.



Federation's Winter 2010 season implores the wearer to take a wistful trip to the forgotten years of Josephs technicolour dream coat wearing youth. Models with their fingers dipped in onyx or neon coloured paint mooched down the runway in layers of marl and dropped crutched leggings. Chunky knitted knee lengths with hoods in block colour, dropped chino's paired with hooded waist coats, paint smudged skinny denim and flashes of lengthy red or navy tartan armoured by the obligatory rock 'n' roll leather aesthetic did not fail to impress.



Ground sweeping chunky knit scarves and thick woolen mittens in zesty yellows added pops of colour to the basic marl, black and white palette, as did a bold red bodysuit and bright neon yellow tights in the female collection. 

Cropped tuxedo jackets were well tailored and often layered both over and under. Distressed and slashed acid denim along with torn hosiery provided the base to build on for many of the looks. Visible zips, rouched shoulders and vertical stripes added complexity to the youthfully inspired collection.

It was Rhys Darby's 'very first fashion show ever' and he 'loved it'... as did I. Winter 2010 marks a very happy 10th birthday to Federation.

- Janelle Rennie

Images ©Air New Zealand Fashion Week/Michael Ng