Fashion Week highlights

Velvet from Yvonne Bennetti. Picture / Martin Sykes

TRENDS

Dresses: Floating and floral, or chicly shaped.

Waist watch: Hitch up your pants and suck in your tummy.

Shorts: Short, short, short, cuffed mid thigh, or to the knee. Rompers for those who kept up their PE lessons.

Skirts: Pencil straight or puffed, tulip-shaped or ballooned.

Coats: The trench for women, the carcoat for men.

Necklines: Deep Vs, front and back; fluted and scalloped edges.

Sleeves: Fluted, or gently puffed.

Fabrics: Velvet, but buy the best or move out west. Subtle checks and plaids.

Menswear: Twisted suiting, colour-charged collars.

Colour: Black is back, velvets are in jewel shades, teals, blues and palest pink and muted autumn tones, especially in floral prints.

HIGHLIGHTS

Best show: Kate Sylvester and Zambesi.

Best music: Live at Zambesi, with Pluto on stage.

Best soundtrack: Deborah Sweeney, with Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton's classic Jolene.

Best quote: "Oh, my god they're all so ugly" - a fashion insider on the fur protesters outside.

Best goody: Flax kits to carry the press releases, very Kiwiana.

Best styling: Deborah Sweeney, shades of Karen Walker in subverting pretty.

Best pampering: Herald Inkroom: Not just 'cos we work for the paper, but because Kai Productions Chris Store was host with the most.

Best dressed: Nippon Vogue international fashion co-ordinator Leeyong Soo

Most improved: IPG's Turet Knuefermann.

Most disappointing: Miss Crabb, failed to live up to the hype.

Most surprising: Liz Mitchell gets funky. Caroline Church breaks her mould.

Most promising: Cybele

Most luxurious: Yvonne Bennetti.