We will frock you: N - Z of NZ Fashion week

<<Back to part one

N Numbers. More than 7000 people are expected to put in an appearance. Last year saw 2000 garments in 31 shows for 190 buyers from 11 countries and 110 media from 10 countries. Together, the delegates downed 42,000 glasses of champagne. In dollar terms, an onsite show starts at $5000 and goes up to $18,000. For this, designers get venue hire, a show producer, lighting, sound, PR, staff, video footage, power, security and cleaning thrown in.

O Official merchandise. Buy the bag and the T-shirt. Just like brands J. Lo and Britney, there is official Fashion Week memorabilia. First there's the official T-shirt Passport to Fashion, designed by Christchurch student Hannah Ogilvie, which won the Max design a T-shirt competition. It was one of more than 220 entries whittled down to four by a panel of judges, then put to the vote. Democracy in action. More than one million votes poured in over the internet. There is also the bag. Max managing director David Wright decided to use Ogilvie's concept on the official bag. Pick up the T-shirt for $49 and the bag for $79 from Max stores from Monday.

P Party. Though there are bound to be many, many unofficial parties, the Official Party happens at Coast Bar on October 21 from 9pm. This will be an intimate little party with a mere 500 tickets for sale, so you get to rub shoulders with the glamorous movers and shakers of fashion with DJ's Soane, Rob Salmon, Greg Churchill, Roger Perry, Jason Eli, Christiaan, Manuel Bundy, Sugar Licks, Mr Big Stuff an Sam Hill. It could well be the place to get the lowdown on what really went on backstage. Tickets are $29.90 from Ticketek.

Q Quaff. After coiffing, fashion's lovelies are fond of a bit of quaffing. If the number of cocktails created for the week are anything to go by, it could be the week's most important accessory. For a start, the cocktails from the designer cocktail competition are being served this month at the Hilton's Bellini bar, including Karen Walker's winning Minted Greenstone. Then there are the official cocktails on the menu at Pasha and Match bars. But, if you're keen to whip them up in the comfort of your home, here is a recipe.

Flightless Fin: 50ml Finlandia Lime Fusion Vodka, squeezed lime, flesh of 1 kiwifruit, 2 tsp sugar, dash of De Kuyper Melon Liqueur. Muddle fruits and sugar in a solid-based tumbler to release the juices. Add vodka and melon liqueur and drain/stir. Serve in a martini glass with a slice of kiwifruit on the side. Now, see H.

R Rookies. The future of New Zealand fashion is being showcased as part of Tuesday's lineup. Appropriately called Rookie, it's the AUT graduate show in which 45 third-year Bachelor of Art and Design fashion major students send their knitwear, apparel and costume designs down the runway. We'll be keeping our eyes peeled for the next possible Karen Walker.

S See the fashion. If you're keen to watch the fashion live as you would a rugby game - with a drink in one hand - there is a big screen at the Viaduct Harbour that means you don't have to tear yourself away from the bar to see a bunch of frocks. If you don't want to leave home to see what all the hoopla is about, go to NZ Fashion Week, click on the link TelstraClear Live Video Stream and watch it from the comfort of your computer screen. Then, there is the telly. C4 is planning two half-hour shows during the week at 7pm and then at 10.30pm showing each day's highlights with the lovely Jaquie Brown, Clarke Gayford and Camilla Martin hosting the spectacle. If you feel that nothing is as good as being there, there are corporate hosting opportunities that include entrance to a catwalk show. You need to call Mike on (09) 623 8089 or mikem@corporatehost.co.nz

T Taxi.Leave the helicopter at home. Max Yellow Water Taxis are the new, cool way for delegates to arrive at the venue in style. Comfortably carrying between 15-20 passengers, they'll be leaving from outside Euro and the Loaded Hog bound for the venue. What's more, they have red carpet down the inside aisle. $5 for a one-way trip or $8 return.

U Unmitigated success. There is almost universal agreement that Fashion Week is a great triumph. Designers and their fabulous fashion aside, it's all thanks to founder and managing director Pieter Stewart, who doesn't do it for the personal glory. It's the personal drive and challenge of orchestrating and creating the event that has brought her to her fourth one. Her highlights: being surprised by all the shows. "I'm always proud of the collections."

V Velvet rope - the right side of. Previously L'Oreal's Powder Room was the place to be between shows. You could grab a drink and a plate-load of nibbles, and have your hair, makeup and nails done if you got in before the hangers-on. This year, there are almost more exclusive hospitality areas than there are VIPs to go around. The Herald has its Ink room for Viva cocktails, massages, manicures, makeup and so on. Naming rights sponsor Air New Zealand has a lounge complete with deck, and Smashbox - a new cosmetics line by two of Max Factor's grandsons - is doing a makeup studio. A select few will be given makeovers then plied with refreshments. Ah, the life of the pampered few.

W Who's coming? Not since former Sex & the City stylist Rebecca Weinberg turned up at Fashion Week a couple of years back and created a sensation with her outrageous personality, brilliant quotes and endless enthusiasm for what she saw, has the lineup of international buyers and media been so strong. Last year's hardly-heard-of milliner Cozmo Jenks was barely fashion royalty, after all. This year, though, Fashion Files Tim Blanks is coming to Fashion Week, as is British newspaper the Times' fashion editor Lisa Armstrong and Dazed and Confused deputy editor Alex Rayner. From the United States, Sportswear International, BlackBookMag, Fire Wire Daily are all sending people, along with Brian Long, the Hilton sister's stylist. There's also a strong presence from Asian media and buyers. And from Australia, the Australian, the Sydney Morning Herald, Vogue and Harper's Bazaar will all be here. As for international buyers, American giants Fred Segal and Nordstrom are coming.

X xxx. Kissing is hazardous to perfect lipstick application. Which is partly why air-kissing was born. As we all know, being in fashion means lots of that. It's also difficult to know if you're supposed to throw in some sound effects, do a one, two or three smacker one, so we suggest a return to the good old handshake. That, too, comes with its quagmire of problems. How long, how firm, and should there be any accompanying back-slapping?

Y Young thing. One of the youngest designers taking part in the week is Nikki Lawrence. At 18, she already has her label, nikki-L, up and running and is part of the New Generation shows. She's much decorated, having won the Modus Operandi New Zealand Fashion Designer of the Year title, and was the overall winner of the ASB Tennis Classic Glam Slam Design Competition last year.

Z Zambesi. Because Fashion Week just wouldn't be the same without a Zambesi show. Although there was talk that the new uniforms the label was designing for Air New Zealand's staff would be unveiled as part of Fashion Week, it's not going to happen. Something about not having the right fabric and, as both Zambesi and the airline are perfectionists, we all have to wait. Never mind. Designer Elisabeth Findlay is still excited by the label's inclusion into i-D magazine's fashion book, Fashion Now, as one of the 150 most influential designers.


Herald Feature: Fashion Week

NZ Fashion Week