Grab your diaries for Viva's essential guide to what everyone will be talking about in 2011. Here's to an eventful year.
JANUARY
She shocked the international fashion community by announcing her resignation in December, and this month Carine Roitfeld finishes as editor-in-chief of Vogue Paris - a 10-year role that saw her become one of the most influential and iconic fashion editors. Roitfeld says she is leaving to concentrate on "personal projects"; we eagerly await her next move, and to see what her replacement, fashion director Emmanuelle Alt, does with the magazine.
Also of note:
* New winter collections start arriving in store.
* Black Swan, with tutus by designers Rodarte, released in cinemas on January 27.
* New season Chloe Sevigny for Opening Ceremony shoes arrive at Fabric.
FEBRUARY
New Zealand's best-loved footwear designer Kathryn Wilson is set to launch a new diffusion line called Miss Wilson this month, featuring designs at a lower price point to her mainline - from $199 to $385. Wilson herself describes the capsule range as fun and playful, and says the price point enables more fashion-savvy girls to access the Kathryn Wilson brand. The first Miss Wilson collection features re-issues of popular styles; we like the brightly hued "Minnie" wedges.
Also of note:
* Karen Walker will show her new collection at New York Fashion Week on February 15. What to expect? "Northern soul," says Walker.
* Annah Stretton will show as part of London Fashion Week this month.
MARCH
Fashion fever will take over Auckland with the second New Zealand Fashion Festival taking place from March 21-25. While NZ Fashion Week is industry focused, the festival is all about you, the consumer of local fashion, with the NZ Herald Designer Garage Sale, beauty seminars, and lots of other fashion related activities around the city. The Viva team will also be hosting a special fashion show during the festival, with some of New Zealand's best designers: tickets go on sale later this month. (Don't worry, we'll remind you when they do.)
Also of note:
* Trelise Cooper's designs for the NBR New Zealand Opera's production of Xerxes hit the stage, from March 2 at Auckland's Civic Theatre. For ticket info go to nzopera.com
* Dion Lee's first collaborative collection with high street store Cue will arrive in store.
* A plethora of dance, theatre, music and visual arts at the Auckland Arts Festival, March 2-20.
* LOMO "Diana" exhibition at Black Box at The Department Store, March 18-31.
APRIL
There'll be only one fashion event on everyone's mind this month: ROYAL WEDDING! Speculation over Kate Middleton's wedding dress has already reached fever point, with designer Bruce Oldfield considered the favourite. Other sources are saying she will go for a "little-known British designer", which sounds interesting. Here's what we do know: whatever Middleton is wearing when she arrives at Westminster Abbey on April 29, it will become one of the most photographed dresses of the decade.
Also of note:
* The bridal theme continues with Auckland Bridal Fashion Week, April 1-5.
* Dunedin iD, April 5-10.
* Gwyneth Paltrow is set to release her cooking book this month, called My Father's Daughter: Delicious, Easy Recipes Celebrating Family and Togetherness.
MAY
Karen Walker joins the likes of Karl Lagerfeld and the Rodarte sisters in creating costumes for the ballet. Walker's designs will be seen in Scenes de Ballet, a new work by Kiwi choreographer Cameron McMillan which is part of the Royal New Zealand Ballet's Stravinsky triple bill. The performances start in Wellington on May 20, before touring the rest of the country. For ticket information, visit nzballet.org.nz.
Also of note:
* The Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty exhibition will be unveiled at the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum in New York, from May 4-July 31, following Vogue's annual Costume Institute Gala on May 2.
* A New Zealand contingent of designers will head to Sydney for Rosemount Australian Fashion Week this month.
JUNE
Attention top model fans: filming will already be under way for the third season of New Zealand's Next Top Model, which is set to return for 2011 this month. But will this year's winner be as beloved by the industry as Danielle Hayes has become?
JULY
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II will be released this month, and while usually it wouldn't excite us, we suspect that this will be pretty major seeing as it's the last film - plus Emma Watson has proven herself to be a fashion plate to watch this year, and her premiere outfit will no doubt be amazing.
AUGUST
The dates for New Zealand Fashion Week have been brought forward this year, with the event starting on August 30 and running until September 2. There's also a new venue at the new Marine Events Centre, conveniently located just around the corner from the former venue, so fashion types won't get lost. The Fashion Weekend, with designer selection shows and garage sale, returns again for 2011. Here's hoping that our favourite designers have their autumn/winter 2012 collections ready in time.
Also of note:
* World of Wearable Arts, August 25-September 10
* Wellington on a Plate, August 6-12
SEPTEMBER
Nothing will matter except the Rugby World Cup this month, and next. Instead of fighting it, embrace it and support our team by wearing all black, all month.
OCTOBER
Foodie heaven Taste Auckland returns again, on the weekend of the 19th, following on from the successful event in October last year. The best cuisine and produce New Zealand has to offer will be on show in the week between the semi-final and grand-final of the Rugby World Cup - so we can take time out from the rugby obsession and enjoy some really good food.
Also of note:
* Cult-Couture Fashion Design Awards, October 27
* Style Pasifika, October 18-19
* Gisborne Wine and Food Festival, October 23.
NOVEMBER
Summer collections, that are currently just an idea in fashion designers' minds, will have started to trickle into stores over the past month or so, but this month is the time to bare your legs and embrace their new creations..
DECEMBER
Can you really think this far ahead? We're struggling to, but with the quality of the Viva Fashion in the Field still fresh in our minds from the recent Boxing Day Races at Ellerslie, maybe it's time to start planning your outfit for this year?
