Students get creative at Karl's Pool Party

Lycra Has It Student Fashion Awards activewear design runner up Sue McArthur.

Should designer Karl Lagerfeld throw a pool party, he really should get in touch with Sue McArthur. She has just the thing for him to wear.

The Bay of Plenty Polytechnic fashion student has just won this year's Lycra Has It Student Fashion Awards with a witty Chanel-inspired two-piece called Karl's Pool Party in honour of the Chanel designer.

The outfit first won the menswear section before being judged the supreme winner.

The judges were RJC designer Claire Kingan-Jones, television reporter Nickie Omer and Viva editor Fiona Hawtin.

McArthur was also runner-up in the activewear category where she turned Chanel's classic suit into houndstooth running gear, complete with pearls and camellia. Well, the theme for the country's fashion students - who had to use lycra in their garments - at this year's 25th awards was "come to the party".

Activewear winner Ana Walsh did clever things with lycra by coming up with a sexy red and black version of a motocross outfit for those who want to ride a bike, then party afterwards.

The category winners, who each get $1000, are:

Swimwear: Selena Ounsworth, Wanganui UCOL; runner-up Stephanie Scott, Christchurch Polytechnic.

Streetwear: Juniper Hull, Wanganui UCOL; runner-up Mingwei Li, Massey University.

Intimate apparel: Sarah MacDonald, Otago Polytechnic; runner-up Haley Morrison, Otago Polytechnic.

Activewear: Ana Walsh, Bay of Plenty Polytechnic; runner-up Sue McArthur, Bay of Plenty Polytechnic.

Menswear: Sue McArthur, Bay of Plenty Polytechnic; runner-up Shanell Jarvie, Otago Polytechnic

* Read more about what's happening in the world of food, wine, fashion and beauty in viva, part of your Herald print edition every Wednesday.