KEY POINTS:
A jewel of a tale
European Antiques Roadshow host Klaas Akkerman has a few stories to tell about famous jewels and famous scandals. He's in Auckland in association with Graeme Thomson Antique & Estate Jewellery with a fabulous collection of diamond jewellery and telling all. The scandal that most amuses him has to do with Coco Chanel. "She once received a valuable pearl necklace with a diamond clasp by Cartier from her admirer the Duke of Westminster, the richest man in Great Britain at the time. The Duke proposed to her on this occasion, though already married, when they were on one of his yachts in the Mediterranean. Chanel refused, explaining that she thought there would be probably a number of duchesses of Westminster in the future, but only one Coco Chanel. She threw the pearls overboard, saying: 'They go back to where they belong'. This was a very expensive gesture, verified by Cartier who exchanged a huge building on New York's Fifth Avenue with the owner Morton Plant, for a double strand of pearls, valued at US$1,500,000 ($2,067,115) at around the same time."
Sit pretty
Soon it will be possible to have a bench by Trelise Cooper. New Zealand decorative stone company Stonex approached the designer about creating a colour range for interiors. The result is Stonex World of Colour by Trelise Cooper. "I use a lot of what I see around the world in my designs and have always enjoyed exploring the application of colour. To be honest, I wonder in New Zealand why we don't make more use of it," says Cooper. Subsequently, the range has intense pink to the "midnight light of the moon on the beach through to sea glass, a favourite of mine, which will look stunning with stainless appliances". For information, ph (09) 580 0458.
Take note for dad
Flag the grey socks and the fishing tackle. Instead, take some advice from the nice folks at kikki.K, the best-looking stationery store in town, and consider investing in some stylish stationery for Father's Day. They offer everything from designer writing equipment - like the very groovy Lamy pens- and masculine, cloth-bound books to classic leather compendiums for those who are not on a budget. As an added bonus, if you do get your Pop a pen and you add what they call a Cloth Dad Book, you'll also be eligible for a free Lamy mechanical pencil. Check the website for details, www.kikki-k.com.au, and to browse the design company's brand new online magazine.
Trimmed with velvet
More new releases from Bendon for your winter wearing pleasure. The new ranges feature pretty loungewear, lacy detailing for layering and looks ahead to summer with brighter pastel shades. Best of all, there's a pair of short shorts to be found in the Springtide range, trimmed in brown velvet ribbon, that the girls at Bendon says will not only remain hidden under rising miniskirt hemlines but which is also seamless, for body-conscious dressing.
Renewed and improved
Popular local women's website, NZ Girl, has relaunched after almost eight years online. As long-time readers of the lifestyle site, we can confirm that the new site is much prettier, more streamlined and user-friendly. Added extras now include a variety of new social networking features as well as the usual mix of stories, advice and fashion articles.
Fancy feet
Your credit cards are in for some serious damage. Fancy designer shoes for summer are now in store all over Auckland. Mei Mei, on Ponsonby Rd, has the new Marc by Marc Jacobs range. And at Ashley Ardrey, on High Street, you will find footwear by Celine and Donna Karan for the first time and from Givenchy Couture and Kenzo, after a break of several years.
New home
Sad customers may have noticed that the small but perfectly formed design store next to Ponsonby cafe Agnes Curran has closed. Don't fret. For Butterfly Net is bound for bigger and even better things. Owner Stu Barr has taken his design philosophy out to the Te Tuhi Centre for the Arts in Manukau City. He's in the process of redecorating the gift-shop there, as well as sourcing a whole new lot of interesting stock. The centre already holds a range of unique and interesting exhibitions, so Barr's new venture will be an added drawcard for fans of art, design and fashion. For more information, check the website: www.tetuhi.org.nz
Silky winner
It started out as a silk sleeping-bag liner and has developed into a collection of classic outdoor clothing. And now Silkbody, a range of layer-able garments designed in the South Island, has won a major international design prize. A panel of industry experts gave Silkbody's new "SilkFleece" fabric an OutDoor Industry Award at the recent European Outdoor Industry trade fair in Germany. At the fair there were 730 exhibitors and 17,000 trade visitors from 70 countries. The New Zealand-made product beat 204 other entries from 21 countries to take the award.
Looking the part
Dress for Success, the charity that supplies women re-entering the workforce with suitable office wear when they may not be able to afford it themselves, has dressed its 5000th client. The charity has been performing such good works since 1999 and over the next few years they hope to clothe more than 1000 women a year. Anyone wishing to donate office or business wear they no longer require to a good cause can check the website (www.dressforsuccess.org.nz) for drop-off points and more information. Maxwells Drycleaners is a sponsor and often accept suitable clothing.
ID crisis
Got a wad of spare cash and looking for an event to sponsor? Then Dunedin's biggest fashion event, the ID Week, needs you. Vodafone, the key sponsor for the past few years, is pulling out of next year's event and the organisers are looking for a new sponsor. If the event doesn't happen there's no doubt that a lot of fledgling fashion designers, as well as Dunedin locals, will be very disappointed.
Fashion Week countdown: Minus three weeks
See it on The Seen
If you want more fashion coverage than your average nightly television news coverage will give you, then you had better figure out how to tune into alternative local channel Alt TV. Hostess of The Seen, Anna Fitzpatrick, who's more often been seen modelling on Fashion Week runways, will be putting on an hour-long show about the day's events every evening during the Week.
Strutting shoes
Local shoe designers will also be strutting their stuff on Fashion Week runways. Kathryn Wilson's footwear will be seen on the feet of models for the Huffer, Juliette Hogan and Love Lies Bleeding shows. And Sarah Riley is putting the boot - and other styles - into the Cybele show.
Opportunity knocks
It's not enough for the Federation streetwear label to put on their own runway show during Fashion Week. Oh no. They've decided it would be an excellent time to open their first flagship store in Auckland's Britomart development too - only a few days before Fashion Week begins. "We are also moving our workroom on September 1 and we have two kids under three. And we're designing three ranges," writes designer Nick Clegg, who puts the collection together with his wife, Jenny. "September is really huge for us." Clegg is not only good at designing sportswear, he's also a master of understatement.
