Worker bees rule windy fashion bash

A model showcases a design by Carlson at the New Zealand Fashion Week. Photo / Babiche Martens

The 10th anniversary of New Zealand Fashion Week has been and gone, leaving in its wake thousands of empty Moet bottles and hundreds of delegates with raging head colds.

Auckland's notoriously fickle weather was even more capricious this year, fortified by a nasty storm, so all those who stood shivering in queues for hours in draughty tents have paid the price.

But I expect they were happy to do so. I wouldn't have missed the World show for quids.

The team at World are gracious hosts - there was high tea and high fashion - and they are one of the few New Zealand labels whose designers can justifiably be called avant-garde.

There was the usual grand production from Trelise Cooper. Her team really knows how to put on a show and although this year there were fewer flounces and more tailoring, it was no less well received.

Veteran Fashion Week commentator Noelle McCarthy said there seemed to be less fun and nonsense around Fashion Week this year - it was all quite workmanlike and serious.

She's right. Gone is the time when you could loll around for days on the bean bags overlooking the harbour, swilling champagne.

It's all about the worker bees, rather than the queen bees, in 2010. So fringing is in, duffel coats are back and dresses are flirty and feminine. Wedges are the new platforms, bronze is the new black and Sam Hayes is the new Petra Bagust.

Congratulations to the team behind Fashion Week on a milestone birthday.