Fashion Week gossip: Petra Bagust's new record

Petra Bagust's new record and other celebrity gossip from day two of Fashion Week. Photo / Supplied

I counted three costume changes for TV3 star Petra Bagust yesterday who has volunteered to own the celebrity-as-fashionista brand. I say costumes, for that's what it was: a leading lady's starring role in her own one-woman fashion theatre.

From too-cool-for-school at Nom D rocking a pair of mint green Doc Martins, to the glamour of the 80s sitting front row at Trelise Cooper's show last night wearing a short black-and-lurex-gold short shift and ageing up-'do.

Straight afterwards, I'm told, Petra dashed upstairs to the Air New Zealand lounge to change into her third outfit of the day - a black dress and felt hat to attend the Kate Sylvester show where she sat front row in prime position, accessorised by her lovely hubby and ever-present mum right behind her in the second row.

There's no doubt Petra is drop-dead gorgeous. High cheekbones and long legs will do that. And there's also no denying the girl knows fashion... which puzzles me as to why she got so offended by comments I made recently in my Herald on Sunday column about the ensemble she chose for the Qantas Awards.

I know this because she told me. Yesterday. The telly star put me on the spot outside the Nom D show and asked if she had somehow offended me. Why had I criticised her outfit? she said.

I explained there was nothing wrong with the ensemble... for an 18-year-old. Petra is 38. A hot 38-year-old, nevertheless, but at some point, we women over 30 need to stop and address when is it appropriate to wear a micro-mini pinafore dress, sequin leg warmers and stilettos? My money's on NEVER. But that's just me. Petra disagreed.

But Bagust is, to paraphrase Hayden Jones, a "good sort". She is excruciatingly beautiful and immensely talented on television. I hope she takes my comments in the fun-loving nature they were intended.

Also at Trelise last night and sitting front row were Noelle McCarthy, Keisha Castle-Hughes, Kate Hawkesby and her clan (gorgeous sis Jessica, sister-in-law Gretchen and her mum Robyn Hart) - but alas no Mike.

Gilda Kirkpatrick was seated by an usher in the front row, in what she later found out was Miriama Smith's seat. Oops. She only knew this because the actress snapped rhetorically post show: "So, you're the new Miriama Smith?"

Theresa Healey, Greer Robson, Sonia Grey, Sharon Finn, Maggie Barry, Lauraine Jacobs, Rowena Roberts were all there, so too was Kerre Woodham who arrived looking frazzled in jeans and a paint-smeared tee-shirt. She'd volunteered to work on Habitat for Humanity's building down at the Viaduct Village and came straight from the construction site. Bless her.

Kate Sylvester's highly-anticipated show at a warehouse on Wellesley St brought out the most celebrities so far. It was impressive, considering the torrential rain.

From Niki Caro, to Eating Media Lunch's Paul Casserly, Madeleine Sami, Jaquie Brown, Keisha (again), Shayne Carter, Antonia Prebble, Robyn Malcolm, former Goldenhorse singer Kirstin Morell and her babelicious boyfriend Nick Atkinson from Supergroove and Marcus Lush.

Honor Dillon looked a little like a fish out of water. The All Black WAG sat next to her celebrity agent Sara Tetro (in an awesome pair of YSL black patent cage boots) in the front row. Her black halter-neck dress and long dangly earrings screamed more cocktail party at Eden Park than grungy glam at a schlebrity-packed show.

Today is the day Pammy makes her public appearance at a press conference this afternoon and reportedly afterwards at Adrian Hailwood's show. Stay tuned for goss.

- Rachel Glucina

Pictured: TV3 star Petra Bagus. Photo / Supplied