NZFF Collections Three

A full house was in attendance for the Thursday evening show. Masters of luxe knitwear Sabatini kicked off proceedings with an edgy collection referencing vintage film noir.

 

Fringing and tassels were a key trend mixed up with plenty of slick leather. The standout piece was a black and gold striped floor length gown with bell shaped bottom. From Celine Rita there was an effortless, wearable collection epitomising her pretty aesthetic with a touch of quirkiness. Pops of psychedelic colour, cropped silhouettes and wide leg trousers all featured heavily.

 

Next up was Michelle Yvette who provided a heady dose of old style glamour. Ladylike fur jackets, ruffles, bows and oversized flower corsages paid tribute to filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock’s muses. Streetwear label Doosh livened up the typically muted winter colour palette with some super bright fuschia and blue and a nod to the colour blocking trend we’ll be seeing everywhere next season.

 

Sable & Minx celebrated elegance and timeless femininity with the classic dresses and distinctive silk prints they are renowned for. A brief interlude came courtesy of Cleo magazine with their ‘Bachelor of the Year’ contest in which four strapping young men took a bare-chested strut down the runway. Needless to say this raised more than a few temperatures and murmurs of appreciation from the crowd.

 

Clare Barker referenced the Swinging Sixties with an elegant, whimsical playfulness and her sumptuous coats and capes with fur detailing on the cuffs and collars were a highlight. A strong retro vibe was showcased by Kimberley’s who favoured peasant blouses, flowing sleeves and ruffled details.

 

New kid on the block Who’s Henri by Postie showed some great casual weekend wear pieces with a focus on military detailing and checked prints. From Brady there were stunning fluid silhouettes complemented by a bold geometric print in cool metallic hues.

 

The ever popular Adrian Hailwood didn’t disappoint with an appealing mix of rich 70’s inspired colour and texture and lashings of sexy street appeal. The impressive finale came in the form of a sculptural origami inspired black mini dress featuring large folded circles of fabric. A memorable end to a strong, diverse show with lots of reasons to dash to the shops and get excited about the onset of the colder months.

 

Reviewed by Faye Larsen

25 March 2011

 

*Photos: Norrie Montgomery

 

For all of the runway images from the Collections Three show at NZFF, head to TheAList.co.nz