Celebrity guest bound to turn heads at fashion week

By LEANNE MOORE

It's not entirely fair to arrange to interview an "It" girl at 10am on Sunday. And it's certainly not fair when she has flown halfway around the world the day before.

Despite her jetlag, and a night of tequila-fuelled partying in Auckland the previous evening, London society girl and milliner Cozmo Jenks was a remarkably good sport.

Performing one of her first duties as a VIP at L'Oreal New Zealand Fashion Week, Jenks good-naturedly answered questions over breakfast at the Hilton Auckland, including taking part in an impromptu fashion quiz.

Asked to name four New Zealand labels, she immediately reeled off Zambesi, Nom D and Nicholas Blanchet, hesitated briefly, then added World.

She came a little unstuck when asked to name the designers from each label, apart from the easy to answer Blanchet, of course, but was adamant she'd know the others by the end of the week.

One of the reasons Jenks, 30, has been brought to New Zealand by Fashion Week organisers is that they hope she will return to London and talk favourably about what she saw from her prime front-row seat at the runway shows.

In marketing terms, she's known as an "influencer".

Her address book reads like a who's who among the rich and famous, including pop stars, top models, and the young, fashionable royals.

Singer Jamiroquai, who always performs in a hat, is a big fan.

"He likes to wear a trilby when he's on stage. It's a form of protection," says Jenks. "He likes the fact that people can't see his eyes - and it gives him some height. He's not very big."

Kylie Minogue is another diminutive customer.

"She can wear anything and look gorgeous.

"We've done her a mini trilby, a mini top-hat, and she's also got lots of button caps."

Fashion-conscious royals, from David Linley's wife Serena to Lady Helen Taylor, are also attracted to Jenks' flamboyant creations.

It took 30 hours to apply the crystals to the mini top-hat Jenks wears, which sells for about £800 ($2250).

The self-confessed "colour freak" particularly adores pink, purple, orange and turquoise.

All her hats are lined in orange silk, and yesterday she was dressed from top to toe in varying shades of purple and pink, from her striped Marks and Spencer cashmere jumper, to her purple Diesel mini, plum lace tights, and pale pink Marc Jacobs suede stiletto boots.

Jenks, whose suitcases are overflowing with hats, plans to wear a different one every day.

"I'll stand out in the crowd - I'll be the colourful one."

Who's coming

Buyers from Britain, the United States, Asia and Australia will be attending.

These include representatives of leading department stores, including Selfridges and the House of Fraser (UK), Nordstroms and Henri Bendel (US), and David Jones (Australia).

Influential boutique buyers, such as D Mop from Hong Kong and freelance stylists from the United States and Britain are also on the list.

Magazines rather than newspapers dominate the overseas media attending.

Louise Chunn, the New Zealand-born editor of In Style UK, is in town.

Also from London is a team for i-D magazine, who have already used garments by Nom D in their shoots.

Elle US and Australian editions of Vogue and Harper's Bazaar are coming. The Australian newspaper will be represented and correspondent Tatiana Boncompagni will be here for the Wall St Journal.

Fashion Wire Daily will post reports.

Herald Feature: New Zealand Fashion Week

L'Oreal New Zealand Fashion Week official site