Roses, not shrinking violets, are in

The ladies who lunch turned out for canapes and champagne to welcome Trelise Cooper's High Summer collection.

After a Moet or two in a marquee specially erected in front of the designer's Parnell showroom, any thoughts of the cool evening outside were soon swept aside by a covetable, colourful collection for warmer days ahead.

Fashion's 1950s floral moment was in full bloom, but a sharper edge was also seen in some shorter skirts and sculptural Empire-line cutaway jackets.

A standout was a black sequin racer-back top. Sinous cocktail skirts in pink and black dripped 2c-sized sequins in vertical rows to mid-calf length.

In a season that is definitely not for the shrinking violet, shots of emerald, turquoise, lime and red emblazoned bold floral print fabrics, but the canny Cooper also offered softer options with tulle peeping out from full skirts and barely-there pink silk crepe cut into delicate jackets.

The event also marked the launch of Moet's 1998 Vintage rose and blanc and an auction of photographs of old-style Hollywood stars raised several thousand dollars for one of Cooper's charities, Odyssey House.

Herald Feature: Fashion Week

NZ Fashion Week