The names on everybody's lips: Nom*D, Cooper and Zambesi

Star turn NOM*D. Picture / Richard Robinson

What did the international buyers and media think of Fashion Week? It depends who you ask.

Paul Sexton, from Koh Samui, a favourite place where London It Girls pick up pretty pieces, liked Trelise Cooper a lot. He ordered 30 pieces from her collection, three times as many as he usually buys from one designer. Cooper's vintage-inspired feminine dresses and skirts won him over, as did lesser known label Widdess, by Yvonna van Hulzen, showing for the first time. Sexton placed an order for her 50s style dresses and skirts. Another favourite was Helen Cherry's floaty floral dresses, which he said would sit very well alongside Koh Samuis Chloe and Balenciaga.

For Moira Peach, a Sydney boutique owner who has not missed a New Zealand Fashion Week yet, her standout show was Nom*D. Nom*D designer Margi Robertson got her nod for consistently delivering original and provocative work. As well as buying Nom*D, she placed her usual order with Trelise Cooper. Peach praised the quality of shows in general this year, a big improvement on early fashion weeks.

The styling was not so good and the shoes were bad, but these days everyone is putting in so much more effort. For Paris-based American blogger Diane Pernet, her number one favourite was the deft work of Zambesi, followed by Nom*D, Liz Mitchell and Kate Sylvester. Nom*D got her nod for its oversized streetwear with a military edge, while Liz Mitchell's fine transparent sunburst pleated dresses took her fancy, along with her elegant long black skirt and high-neck white halter top. Kate Sylvester's sexy secretary collection was another standout. I much prefer that to overt sexuality, said Pernet.

Nippon Vogues Leeyong Soo and Asian buyers liked the quirky young looks of Cybele, lonelyheartsclub and the Chloe-like Kate Sylvester.

Authoritative Italian trade magazine Collezeonis Peppe Urru liked Nom*D, Zambesi, Karen Walker, Kate Sylvester and Yvonne Bennetti.

He thought Trelise Cooper had the potential to be a great international brands. While in town he also saw Mala Brajkovic and liked other young designers Cybele, Deborah Sweeney and lonelyheartsclub.