KEY POINTS:
If you tire of seeing fashion's future on Auckland runways this week, you can step into the past next weekend. As part of the Auckland Heritage Festival, an Art Deco fashion parade will be held in the rather glamorous, old world surrounds of the Winter Garden at the Civic Theatre. The parade will showcase the work of Margery O'Meara, now 94 years old, who worked as an Auckland dressmaker from the 1930s to the 1950s and kept many of the beautiful evening and day dresses she owned and made. Her collection of more than 40 garments will be shown in a parade organised by her great-nephew's wife, Margaret O'Meara. The runway shows are free, and will be at 11am and 2pm on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23.
And to really get in the mood for the show, you could have high tea in the grand rooftop tearoom of what was Farmers Department Store and is now the Heritage Auckland hotel. There will be tours, archival film and champagne! Tickets cost $35 and are available from Ticketek.
Win this
L'Oreal will again be backstage at Air New Zealand Fashion Week, working on hair and makeup for many of the designers' shows. We have a L'Oreal Beauty Hamper worth $1000, filled with all the star products being used to create the looks including makeup, skincare and professional hair care and styling products - because you're worth it. To enter, write your name, address and phone number on the back of a postcard or envelope and send to: L'Oreal Hamper Giveaway, Viva, NZ Herald, PO Box 3290, Auckland. Entries close September 26, winner announced October 3.
Blokes' turn
In the fashion industry, there's a lot of emphasis on breast cancer charities. Maybe it's because the industry is dominated by women. But now the guys are getting a well-deserved turn. Prostate cancer kills more than 600 New Zealand men a year, yet we don't really hear much about it. But now menswear chain Barkers has asked several prominent New Zealanders to design a pair of boxer shorts to aid the Prostate Cancer Foundation. All Black Neemia Tialata, artist Dick Frizzell, musician Chris Knox and designer Agustina Ellis have responded to the challenge, and the undergarments will be modelled by league player Ruben Wiki, television presenter Alison Mau, musician Boh Runga and entrepreneur Marc Ellis. Barkers has taken such an interest is because the company's managing director lost his wife to cancer two years ago and wanted to give something back.
The designer boxer shorts are on sale at Barkers stores and at www.barkersmensclothing.co.nz. They cost $29.95, of which $10 goes to the foundation. Barkers is also organising a live art project. Called 600 Alive (for the number of men who die from prostate cancer each year) it involves human bodies, clothed in the new boxers, forming the number 600 at Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday. To participate, register at: www.barkers600alive.co.nz.
Ink spots
The Inkroom is a place of refuge for a lucky few at Fashion Week, where they can have their hair, nails and makeup done. The rest of us will just have to get by with some tips by those dispensing the treatments. Here are their recommendations for easing into summer.
Makeup, Napoleon.
Metallic accents are big news, so consider bronzer. Try Napoleon's Light Patrol Luminizer Palette to create a luminous look on eyes, cheeks and lips. With the 80s revival in full swing, dark lips and defined eyes are one way of channelling Jerry Hall.
Hair, Servilles.
Colour needs to be updated for summer by softly distressing it to give more of a beach look. For blondes, smudging darker roots and leaving the ends slightly lighter is a good idea; and on brunettes, to get a sun-kissed look, mix your base colour with cool and warm-toned flashes. Redheads should consider merging fiery coppers into smudgy strawberry and honey tones through the fringe and tips of the hair.
Nails, OPI.
White and light metallics are the modern must-have and work with the season's neutral-hued fashion. Colours such as the silver satin Birthday Babe and soft white Funny Bunny are cool, clean and sophisticated.
Body, Guinot.
A good exfoliating scrub is the first step. It also ensures your self-tanner is more Biarritz babe than Bognor brown. Guinot's Summer Radiance Self Tan for the face and Self-Tanning Cream for the body are lightly tinted so you can see where you've applied.
