Designer, fashion historian and the founder of the New Zealand Fashion Museum Doris de Pont steps into the Canvas Confession Box
LUST
You say shoes are your weakness. What sort?
All sorts of shoes, wearable shoes primarily
- they have to be comfortable. I like something that's a bit unusual, with an unusual colour or pattern. My favourite is a boot with cutaways. It's got a closed toe and then it's got strapping across the top like a roman sandal and tucks up to the ankle. It's in a gold snakeskin with a little kitten heel. They're made by Sarah Riley and they are at least 10 years old but they are still always a huge hit, just gorgeous. They do everything, they dress up a look. I work from home, I am often in clothes that are comfortable and if I pop those on, I am dressed up.
How many shoes do you own?
I am very modest at the moment, I only have 40 pairs. I do a cull every now and then and sometimes they wear out, too. I've got a beautiful pair of snakeskin cowboy boots, cowboy shoes really, and they can't be repaired anymore. I haven't thrown them out yet, they are in a cupboard somewhere waiting to be thrown out.
GREED
I am guessing fast-fashion is not your bag?
My shoes are old and I look after them and that's what made me love them. If they were cheap shoes that were just the latest thing and didn't have those qualities of design and longevity, I wouldn't have built up a relationship with them.
Do you have quite a pared-down closet?
I work out of a reasonably limited wardrobe, for a season I might have 30 pieces in rotation. I have more, items are edited in and out. I still have a lot of Doris de Pont which still does very good service. My husband wears a coat I made for him in 1985 and never ceases to get a comment on the street when he's wearing it. I buy New Zealand designers because they understand what it is to be a New Zealander and to dress like a New Zealander.