KEY POINTS:
Last night's Trelise Cooper show was memorable for all the wrong reasons.
Not so much the Trelise Truck that pulled up and unloaded a warehouse amount of gorgeous outfits - 109 in all - that took a lengthy 30 minutes to parade on 25 whippet-thin models. Steven O'Meagher (Theresa Healey's other half) couldn't stifle his yawns any longer. I knew how he felt. Luscious but long; exquisite but extensive; beautiful but by buggery, 'is-this-show-going-to-end?' was the look plastered on some front-row faces.
The drawn out nature of the show, combined with the funeral march anthems blasting from the speakers, and the lack of any over-the-top sets and props like last year, gave the extravaganza a final hurrah quality. Was this Trelise's swansong?
But that wasn't what was most memorable. Neither were the ring-in celebrities on front-row seats - bar Sally Ridge, Jaime and Adam who were Row B - the same as Steven and Theresa, Greer Robson, Theresa Gattung and Suzanne Paul and her hubby, who was sporting the fashionable balding pate with mullet ponytail - fashionable, that is, if the show was in bogan country.
Kerre Woodham and Noelle McCarthy were bumped up from B to A, looking quite self-satisfied. They sat not far from Casey Green and her beau All Black Ali Williams, who bizarrely told a male photographer to "go f*** yourself!" when politely asked for a snap. I'm sure his Adidas sponsors would be most proud.
They would have been of Dan Carter, who sat pride of place with his drop-dead beautiful but little-seen girlfriend, Honor Dillon of Black Sticks fame. They were the couple du noit. The hottest property on Row A, and the cameras knew it. They happily posed for the shutterbugs, knowing it was par of the course of being invited to the show. So did neighbour Kate Hawkesby and her pretty sister-in-law Gretchen (Graeme Hart's daughter). Smile, pose, and watch the show. It's not difficult, so why does Ali need to make it so trying?
But that wasn't what was most memorable about the Trelise Cooper show. The most unforgettable moment came when two lovely women - who work for a prominent business organisation - were escorted to two front row seats near me and instructed by an Air NZ usher to sit down. They sat, rifled through the swag bags (good on them!) and waited in anticipation for the show. Sometime later, Alex Brandon, the baby-faced general manager of Trelise Cooper Ltd, sidled up and blurted: "Um, I think you're in the wrong seats!" No biggie. Clearly one had occupied his front row seat next to Jack Cooper (Trelise's hubby). Brandon was most peeved.
The ladies apologised profusely explaining they were instructed to sit there and would gladly move. They looked to the usher for guidance, who explained to Brandon it was his fault for the mix up. I presumed then, like the ladies, that Brandon would have chivalrously offered up his possie so the female friends could stay together and retain their row A seats. I presumed this, because that's what good business is about - keeping the punters happy.
But oh no, Brandon wasn't having a bar of that. "I'm only the CEO!" he berated sarcastically when the seat didn't become free immediately. And for extra effect, added forcefully and dripping in sarcasm: "I MEAN, I AM THE CEO OF TRELISE COOPER, YOU KNOW!!"
They did then. How pathetically small-minded, I thought. One of the women (who works for a business organisation that frequently promotes Trelise's brands), utterly red-faced with embarrassment, got up immediately and suggested she switch her seat to a free one in Row B, to which the clueless people pleaser spat: "Yes, let's switch seats!" And so Brandon got his wish. In the front row; next to the co-owner; feeling like a self-important executive; but demonstrating to all those in ear-shot how pathetic the front row power play really is. Not surprisingly, straight after the runway show had finished, Mr Self Important made a beeline for Dan and Honor. Was he hoping to be seen and snapped with the A-list pair? Oh dear.
Here's some piccies from yesterday's Day Two at Fashion Week:
Celebrities at Fashion Week
Jaeha at Fashion Week 2008
Deborah Sweeney at Fashion Week 2008
Lucie Boshier at Fashion Week 2008
Twenty Seven Names at Fashion Week 2008
Rachel Glucina
Pictured above: Dan Carter and Honor Dillon at the Trelise Cooper show. Photo / Norrie Montgomery
