New Zealand Fashion Week Day 4

On Site Report by Clif Loftin

NZFW RETROSPECTIVE SHOW

What a wonderful way to wrap up an exhilarating week -- 10 years of New Zealand Fashion at the NZFW Retrospective show featuring runway fashions from past years. Around 80-plus outfits from 40 designers were shown after Fashion Week show producer Yasmin Farry contacted the main designers involved over the decades and asked them to submit garments from previous collections to be considered for retrospective show. The show featured fashions from Adrian Hailwood, Cybele, Kate Sylvester, Trelise Copper as well as Nom*d and Zambesi to name a few. Fashion Week founding director Pieter Stewart and her daughter, Myken, brand manager, stood to a room full of applause and gigantic bouquets of flowers as they were honored in tribute for their tireless efforts and hard work in making NZFW what it has become today.

HUFFER

Set underneath the stars outside the Owen G Glenn building at the University of Auckland. 1000 people were invited, and as I made my way to my seat I could not help but think I was about to watch a baseball game back in America. The runway was set atop the giant concrete square that surrounded the quad that surrounding a prestine green lawn while giant lights were hoisted above the scene by monster cherry-pickers. Male models came strutting out in double-breasted coats with Huffer crests, including circular Old World compass inspired crests. The symbols repeated throughout the show on cardigans, including a trail of them down the back of a cream honeycomb knit. I loved the softer side of the women’s wear, especially the peach belted dress with its flared out skirt, worn by America’s Next Top Model winner, Krista White, who was present and walking on the show as part of a prize for Huffer’s winning the Air New Zealand export award. There were also several cool and playful little knit dresses with frilly hems and lace. I also, like the uniformed drill pants worn by the men and the suit jackets with plaid shirts underneath. Good job Steve Dunstan and Dan Buckley – I am officially a HUFFER Fan!!