The-Collection.co.nz

Work is finally over and I have time to update my blog.  I wanted to let you all know about a site called 'The Collection'.  It is New Zealand's only designer charity auction site and every item sold results in a donation to the charity of your choice - for me this is the SPCA, a great cause - so go and trawl through your wardrobe and pull out the items you think you can do without.  It's def worth having a look what's on offer.

Image from The-Collection.co.nz

Twentysevennames wins scholarship

I attended the annoucement of the DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship on Monday at Studio Lumiere - what a fabulous space, and very fitting for this award.  Check out my review here at Thread.

Topman launch

Read my review from last month on the Topman launch at The Department Store, here at Thread

Maxi dress

Spent today in a conference about social media - brushing up on my blogging skills and while I was downtown I thought I may as well pop into the shops. I made a quick purchase of this navy and white striped maxi dress from Supre, perfect for the summer weather.  I'm wearing it right now as I was so hot when I got home.  Nice and breezy!

www.supre.com.au

Shop doors are open!

Hi everyone, my store is finally open!  Took a while but finally got there... a couple of things loaded so check them out and flick me an email if anything takes your fancy'.  I hope to get some more items up over the summer months!  Go to Shop Fashion Fairground

And happy birthday, its one year of blogging this month!

Got that Beat

Another addition to my summer wardrobe are these great pair of 'Got that Beat' pants by Sass & Bide.  Amazingly comfy and can be worn with sneakers or heels.  I need to stop myself going into this store!!

Image: shopstyle.com

Topman joins the Department Store

Yay Topman is coming to Auckland this weekend, Saturday 23rd October!  Boys get ready for some great shopping down at the Department Store in Takapuna.  With the many comments I get from my male friends about the lack of reasonably priced, stylish menswear this is sure to be a hit.   .

Image: www.topman.co.uk

Converse where are you?

I'm embarrassed to say that I don't own a pair of Converse/Chucks but now that I've decided I want a pair I can't find what I want.  Yes I'm aware that Auckland store, Pat Menzies is a big stockist of this brand as well as Footlocker but I find  it rather strange we only have two stockists seeing as this brand is extremely popular.  I've spent a bit of time researching online what style and colour I want, only to find that the official Converse website doesn't ship internationally! Grrr what's with that!   Here are two options on my wish list.

Starfish comes to town

Wellington label Starfish has launched its new Auckland store in Newmarket.  Check out my photos and story here www.thread.co.nz

NZFW

Quick post - my work colleague Megan and I at NZFW

The Designer Collection at NZFW 2010

Stoked to be offered a VIP ticket last night to The Design Collection show at NZFW.   As the name suggests over 50 designer labels hit the catwalk including Huffer, Brady, Sable & Minx, Cybele, Hailwood to name a few.  Outfits were a mixture of current season and previews of some winter 2011 pieces.   My favourites were Zambesi, Juliette Hogan,  Twentysevennames, and NomD.  Quite suprisingly I really liked Treslise Cooper whose outfits were more funky than her typical frilly and flowery numbers.

BTW annoyingly my camera died after the drinks so unfortunately I can't show you any of my own pics from last night. But here is a taste from Stolen Girlfriends Club.

You can tell a Wella woman by the way she wears her hair....

.....you can tell a Wella woman anywhere!  Read the low-down from my night out on Monday at the Wella Trend Vision Hairdressing Awards at Thread.co.nz

American Apparel full length skirt pleeeease

Just wanted to show you my next summer purchase, it's this beautifully floaty, full length skirt made of chiffon by American Apparel.  I hunted high and low online to find out where this skirt originated from!  AA have a great collection of basics, as well as skirts, blouses, leggings etc.  I'd always thought they stocked simple cotton tees and sports wear - but no!  Check out their site here.

Image: Topshop Blog

Image: AA

Auckland say hi to Sass & Bide!

My all-time favourite store has arrived in Auckland, and right on my door step in Ponsonby.  I'm absolutely loving this seasons graphic and tribals prints and have already been in there to hunt out a purchase or two!  

Carrousel - the new pop up store

Read about Hayley Iggo and her new pop up designer clothing store - Carrousel, here www.thread.co.nz

Glassons - The biggest fashion fairground

Hmmmm slightly irritating that my website name is being used in a marketing campaign for fast moving fashion store Glassons. If you haven't heard Glassons aka the House of G has opened a flagship store in Newmarket with the tagline - 'The biggest fashion fairground'.  It looks like they are attempting  a copy cat of Oxford St, London's Top Shop.  In any case this promo I'm sure will help send traffic to my site! Haha.

Semi Permanent Design Conference 2010

Lucky enough to get a VIP pass to New Zealand's largest design conference on Friday, I was able to hear from some very inspiring and fascinating young designers.  One of interest was Jessica Hische a young 20-something girl with an amazing talent for illustration and typography.

Another highlight of the day was listening to Karen Walker and her partner Mikhail Gherman and what was even more interesting was to find the creative inspiration for the Karen Walker brand comes not from Karen but from Mikhail.  I got the impression she was more focused on the 'business' side of things. Slightly disappointed they didn't get into the nitty gritty of how the brand evolved from the very beginning though.

A great line up of speakers from Dick & Otis Frizzel, Storm Thorgenson, Pixar and Frost Design to  name a few.

Images: www.semipermanent.co.nz

First attempt

I wanted to show you one of my sewing attempts - which is trying to make a loose fitted, scooped neck, v-back, sleeveless top.  Now the trouble I had initially was finding the perfect pattern, I mean most of them still look like they're designed for the 70s and uninspiring at that.  I've tried to do some re-designing of the pattern to cut it into the shape I'm after.  This is the result and most of it's still to be finished off.

Oh and these are my new G-stars - as posted back in April

This is the pattern I was talking about (pic on left) - as you can see, not the look I'm trying to go for but the basic template is there :)

Why not Waihi

A recent weekend away to Waihi in the Coromandel was just what we needed.  The weather was  beautiful and the town nice and peaceful.  The best part about getting out of the city is being able to visit the antique and second hand stores in the small towns on the way.  I found these gold pieces at Arkwrights in Paeroa.  The matching set are clip-on earrings and I'm thinking of taking the backs off and turning them into rings.  I'm slowly building up my gold jewellery collection as I have a significant amount of silver which doesn't always work depending on the outfit.

You might spot the feather ring in this dish.. it's a crazy little ring I got a few months back covered in baby feathers which sits on my little finger.  I've only worn it a couple of times as I have to be very cautious wearing it as the feathers are so fine and I have been known to get my hands wet while wearing it, ha.  Not a good look to have dead-like bird on your finger!

Kate Sylvester for summer

Doosh - it rhymes with whoosh

I headed down to the Viaduct on Thursday night with my friend Jo for the launch of the SS 2010 collection of edgy Kiwi street-wear label Doosh.  To read more about this event read my story 'Get your toosh into Doosh, here at Thread.

My friend Jo and I enjoying the pre-show drinkies. 

(Image from Alex Tee at thepeople.co.nz)

A change is always good

Nails Inc London is my new favourite nail polish brand right now.  Tired of my eight or so different shades of red on the shelf (no not in the fridge!) I was keen to get amongst the new colours that have been popular over summer in the UK - let's see if this product hits NZ soon.  

These polishes came as a set of four, my favourites being 'Jermyn Street' which is a combination of soft grey and muted beige (far left);  the slate grey polish (second left) is titled 'Southbank' and goes with almost anything.   As for the pale pink 'Warwick Avenue' and 'Taxi Black' I'm sure I will manage to make use of these at some point!

If you liked it then you should have put a ring on it.....

The connector ring, all the rage at the mo.  I found this little gem at Forever 21 .  I've had several comments on this little knuckle duster, it's just something a bit different and yes, you can still have full use of your fingers!  The gold beads were given to me as a birthday gift and the index ring is from the Wanaka markets - a piece of broken china with sterling silver edging.

Be coveted

Thanks to Nadine at Coveted (thanks for your email!) I now have a new place to shop online.  If you are after boutique shopping, one of a kind pieces then this is the site for you.  Items are sourced from all over the world and you will even find some lovely homewares on the site, what more could you ask for!  These were my favs.....

Freckle studded waistcoat $119, very rock

Dahlia petrol blue military coat $199 (I absolutely love this coat - it's almost like a cape but with a brass band  feel to it!

and these pants are just gorge...I could definitely replace my grey trackies for these. Plum Pretty Sugar Lounge Pants, great for those summer nights, $69.

Happy Bastille Day!

As I was pondering what to wear this morning (always hard to do when it's freezing cold) I realised it was Bastille Day, easy I knew what to wear - stripes!  I found a simple little navy and white striped sleeveless top in the nearby Sallies last year for $3... anyway I have worn it with a little tulip skirt over thick tights, some heels and topped off with a red scarf.  It's interesting to see that  the 'Breton' stripe doesn't go out of fashion. 

Thread

Very excited I am now a contributing writer for Thread one of NZ's leading online fashion sites!  Went along to my first event last night - the Wella TrendVision 2010 Hair Dressing Awards in downtown Auckland.  The venue was perfect and totally suited to the funky and oh so stylie types that were there.  A great night out and I met some lovely people.  Check out Thread  www.thread.co.nz for all your fashion, style and culture updates.

Oh and I now have a new camera... long time coming!

Gorgeous stylists

Bottom two images thanks to Fresh PR

A couple of pics of the work that made that it through to the finals.

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Twenty8Twelve

Images: Twenty8Twelve

Sienna Miller and her sister Savannah have put together a great spring/summer collection (note: northern hemisphere) mixing rock chic with femine pinks and thigh high body-con dresses.  Make those winter boots go the extra mile in your spring wardrobe this year.  As long as your feet are warm you won't notice the cold so short dresses shouldn't be an issue.  Hard to visualise really as I gaze out my window into a very bleak and miserable Auckland afternoon.....

ONCE’IT the new invite-only luxury fashion site

ONCE'IT is the new place to shop online for luxury labels at discounted prices, but only for those special few who are members and by invite only.  Once a member you can sign on your friends and you'll receive a $20 credit when your friends make their first purchase.  A selection of international and local fashion brands favourites such as World, Sabatini, Twenty Seven Names and Juliette Hogan.  Check out http://onceit.co.nz/

She's got legs and she knows how to use them....she's got leeeegs...

Rachel Comey silk petal shorts, high waisted with lovely scalloped hems -  pair them with the very sought after Henry Holland tights and a great set of heels or boots and you will be ready to hit the street.  One tip - be careful putting these tights on, they are easily snagged having managed to put my finger straight through them upon easing them up my leg!