Finale at Hailwood’s New Zealand Fashion Week 2017 show.
After last year’s spellbinding NZFW show expectations were high for designer Adrian Hailwood’s 2017 presentation and he definitely didn’t disappoint. The blue velvet curtains parted to reveal Hailwood’s leading lady, Ashleigh Good, in a stunning faux fur chevron jacket with each panel in different tones of caramel, grey and brown. It was paired with black flared trousers, bouncy curls and a taupe leather bag that made for an alluring look with true seventies appeal.
Luscious knits, wide-legged pants and pencil skirts featured in his winsome range of daywear with Hailwood’s ladies rocking big hair and big earrings that added to the vintage charm. Midi-length full skirts swished by teamed with skivvies and soft knits while the designer’s favourite bomber jackets and motorcycle jackets added an edge to ladylike dresses. His new range of structured leather bags graced the arms of the models in tan, navy and grey perfectly complementing the warm colour palette of his Winter 2018 collection.
Hailwood innately understands how to flatter the female form and his precise tailoring makes for classic silhouettes that skim the body in just the right way. Striped knits were beautifully combined with black velvet trousers or swing-skirted dresses for lovely daywear options but it was the evening wear that started coming through that really got our pulses racing.
Good returned to the runway in a stunning grey faux fur coat over a gold knee-length dress looking every inch an alluring seventies babe. Following her were some stunning evening looks with moss green, gold and black featuring on dazzling cocktail dresses that reminded us that Hailwood really is the master of incredible evening wear. We adored the gold cape-style mini-dress and full-length black sequined gown with its key-hole detail not to mention his clever take on the female tuxedo.
The finale look was a beautiful delicately-pleated black gown with sheer sleeves and a trailing hem that swept the floor as model Ella Verberne graced the runway. We were definitely enraptured from start to finish with Hailwood’s collection and have no doubt that his covetable designs will be high on the list of many elegant women’s wish lists next winter.
Beauty notes: Vibrant green and mustard eyes with glossy lips by Lochie Stonehouse for M·A·C COSMETICS.
Soundtrack: Club mixes of suitably seventies jams.
Hot item: As per usual with Hailwood it’s impossible to choose as we wanted everything!
Images by Katherine Tuenter.